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“I swear, if I didn’t love my job, I would have long committed suicide.”
I plurked that message a couple of nights ago while I was busy writing a sequence guide in the office at 11 fakken pm. Now, I know I normally don’t write about my work here but I think it’s about time that I share the details of my day job and the misadventures that come along with it.
As you probably have read somewhere here, I work in production/media. Back in college, I told myself I won’t start my career in those big-ass networks (because ugh, the politics!) so I ended up in a small production house, which, btw, has done some really kick-ass shows. Mind you, production DOES NOT pay well unless you’re Sid Maderazo or I dunno, Ricky Lee and for noobs, it can be such a bitch.
I started as a writer/segment producer while I was still in school, hence, I was immediately made an SP when I moved to the new company. Because it’s showbusiness and I deal with artistas and talents and models and shit, people assume that it’s a glmorous job. Far from it! In fact, it’s so totally unglamorous, I sometimes feel like I do more manual labor than camote farmers.
It’s not an 8-5 job and though we have flexitime (sometimes I go to the office at 1pm and leave at 5 lol), I spend about 10-12 hours a day at work when I have projects. And unlike many desk jobs, too, where you leave your work behind once you step out of the office door, I often go home and do half of my work in my own bedroom whilst illegally downloading Asian flicks.
You see, if I were a celebrity, I’d be Jennifer Lopez- singer/dancer/actress/producer/mother. An over-all performer if you may, sans the butt. My boss doesn’t really believe in the whole “you’re-a-trainee-who-needs-to-be-taught-everything-you-need-to-know-before-I-give-you-work” idea and let’s just say, I was thrown in the middle of the ocean when I didn’t even know how to swim.
Just last year, I think I spent 2 straight months in the office while working on a big project. I’d go there on a Monday and leave on Saturday night. Yes, it did kill my social life, making me swear that I’ll never stay the night there again unless it’s really really really necessary. I FAILED. MAJORLY. LOLZ.
It’s funny, really. Compared to a lot of production companies, most people at my workplace are kids- literally. Fresh grads, people under the age of 24, guys, gals and gays who were in grade school when Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” was the hottest song on the airwaves. We have a rather “untidy” office, too. Like I can’t even explain. You just have to see it. But we treat it as our second home.
I’m so used to working in the wee hours of the morning with people sleeping on the floor behind me, snoring, drooling, grinding their teeth and talking in their sleep. We wake up, immediately get back to whatever we’re doing and forget that there are such things as washing up and brushing teeth. Hell, I’ve gone for three straight days without taking a shower. I didn’t even care if the 7′11 staff in our building saw me everyday wearing the same clothes whenever I bought instant coffee. Speaking of clothes, I love that we can wear whatever we want to work and if you drop by at around 8 am, you’d even see people going around in their pambahays and PJ’s or with a towel wrapped around their head.
WORK MODE!!! (At Araneta, playing with the switcher)
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I’d find myself stacked with work (especially now that I’m also doing management and producer stuff) and I’d ask myself if it’s all worth it. If it’s worth losing sleep for days, getting yelled at by your superiors and even clients, having meetings four times a week at minimum, your brain turning into soup after a 7pm-3am creative session, putting up a brave front for your crew and team and rushing to the C.R. to break down let all the stress out.
I mean, I can be earning more in advertising or the corporate world or even by handling the family business. But at the end of the day, I’d turn on that TV set and see my show airing and everything would just fall into place. I’m only 23, probably still paying my dues and maybe, just maybe, I haven’t seen nothing yet. But I know I have seen the bigger picture and I’ve long decided that I’ll be BIG in this biz, no other options. For now, however, I’d do my share of career investment and close this firefox tab because shit, on Monday I have deadlines for a script, an AVP, documents for client, a meeting with a supplier, costing with the boss and then shoot in the evening. Please stop asking already why I’m still single.
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October 11th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Buti ka pa nga, you really love what you’re doing in your work. Passion = big factor. And I believe you’re going to be big someday. ‘Di naman masasayang yung mga pinagpuyatan mo no? And when that time comes, I will definitely celebrate with you when I have the chance (though 98% malabo, LOL).
-
Now I should really work on my projects since it will really get me prepared for the “real world”, just like what you said to me dati on Plurk. Gusto ko sana mag-freelance, pero mas maganda narin na well-prepared ako kung ‘di matuloy ang plano na yun. But really, freelance I want! FTW!
October 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
work is also fun with you around kring! love you!
October 12th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
You shall be big in this industry. I can feel your aura reverberating that fate. Unstoppable!
I believe in you.
October 12th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I remember last week I was complaining about the new task they assigned to me. Na-overwhelm lang ako pero after that, ok na. Nagustuhan ko na yung task na yun and I am willing to go OT maayos lang lahat.
Now that I am finally working, dun ko narealize na ang success pala does not depend on the compensation, pero kung nageexcel ka sa gusto mong gawin at nakikita mo yung output ng pinaghirapan mo.
Watching you nung wordcamp made me admire you more. Frustration ko rin ang pagiging scriptwriter/director hehe. Oh well We’re still young and sexy LOL pero please, rest ka din paminsan-minsan
October 12th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I remember writing in my obligatory “what I wanna be when I grow up” list back in prep. I wrote down “Be the dictator of a small African country.”
October 12th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I remember writing in my obligatory “what I wanna be when I grow up” list back in prep. I wrote down “Be the dictator of a small African country.”
October 12th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
@ Writer
Thanks a lot. Honestly, I don’t think I’d work for any other reason… Why not, I know of a lot of really successful freelancers! But it would be nice to expand your network first, which you can do by maybe working for a company for a year or so.
@ J
I MISS YOU ALREADY!!!! *glomps*
@ Fritz
OMG Babe thanks a lot! Will still have my photos taken by you even if I become bigger than uh, Charice Pempengco! Lolz. ^_^ Mwah!
@ micamyx
Seriously, if you wanna be in this industry, let nothing stop you! And thanks, just been busy these days but I normally go out and get wasted every Friday night. XD
@ Ade
LOLZ. Have you given up on that dream yet? You shouldn’t. I wanna be friends with a president someday.
October 13th, 2008 at 12:24 am
ayos lang yan, konting tyaga lang yan, makakasanayan mo na rin ang ganyan work, nyahahahaha! even though i dont know kung ilang taon ka na sa field na yan!
October 13th, 2008 at 12:38 am
You know what? Though I’ve only seen you personally just once, with all that you’ve been doing lately, I already smell that star on you. Really. Ilang tumbling pa, and you’ll soon reap what you’re sowing. (I suck at sayings so there)
You’re still young (like me). We have a lot of years ahead of us. A hell lot of years to invest. A hell lot of years to make adjustments, to make errors, to make decisions. Someday… someday… andun na tayo… sa clouds… with Charice…nagba-bungee jumping with Oprah Winfrey.
October 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
YOU GO GIRL! Also, text me when your girl co-workers are walking around half nekkid, k? tnx!
October 13th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
its nice to hear na despite the busy schedule na meron ka, you still find time to write and moreover you are fulfilled in what you do. (although single ka nga lang… bakit nga ba? ha ha)
your post title, which i assume you got from PCD’s latest single, was my LSS for days now.. and i just stop but play. like now. after writing this, imma play it one more time.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:28 am
One step at a time
October 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Stumbled upon your blog from some plurk link. Heh.
And here I was about to complain about my school life. Nooo, you take the trophy.. congrats! LOL.
Seriously.. goodluck.
If it’s something you love, it’s definitely worth it.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
@ kulot
Oh, believe me… Kung hindi ako sanay, I’d give up. Uhm, about 3 years na. ^^
@ Neil
THE BEST ANG COMMENT MO, BUNGEE JUMPING INCLUDED! Ahahaha. I hope you do well in your career, too!
@ Baddie
Will do! And oh, I owe you a yosi break.
@ Source
And I honestly NEED to write, somehow, somewhere or I’d get crazy. Also, I think there’s something wrong with me, I mean… why I’m still single. Serious.
Actually, I didn’t get my title from that song.
@ Juned
I know, right?
@ Cars
Awww.. Thanks a lot! And don’t worry, I used to complain when I was a student, too. It’s training, really coz real life is a bitch, 10 x. ^_^ Hope to see you around more.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
i can smell a star…a huge star!:)
October 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
nice entry! im from the same industry and, yes, production life can be such a bitch