Nicholas J. Carroll - The Adventure and Film Blog

The Sweat, Packing Out - Climbin

2009-04-17T10:41:00.005-04:00

There is a man who works for NOLS as a re-rationer. Kay Harris shows up to meet courses in Utah every 7-10 days for what we like to think of as a miniature Christmas. Only instead of gifts, we get food!Kay is known for many things. His truck, his Vietnam veteran status, his mustache, his storyteller's voice (think Sam Elliott in The Big Lebowski)...actually, if I didn't know better, I'd say Kay

Return to Lander

2009-04-12T22:35:00.003-04:00

Well folks, it's not April 18th yet, but here I am back in Lander, WY already. Turns out that chest pain was caused by a condition called costocondritis, an inflammation of the bone, cartilage, or tissue between the sternum and lung. Relevant history often includes altitude changes (check), temperature changes (check), and a cold in the past month (check), but the cause is generally unknown (

Packing Out - Canyon Section

2009-03-17T19:07:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow morning, I will hop on the bus with my coursemates and make the day and a half drive down to southern Utah to begin our 30-day Canyon Section. We'll return on April 18th.We spent all of yesterday in classes and meetings with many of NOLS' key departments and their leaders, including meeting with the Executive Director, Human Resources, Environmental Policy, Risk Management, NOLS Pro (

Log - Winter Section

2009-03-17T02:08:00.012-04:00

*Apologies for the MASSIVE amount of typos in this post before. It was VERY late here in Wyoming, so I was tired typing. Most are fixed now!*Never, ever go winter camping. That is, unless you're willing to get lots of advice from your instructors/guides/more experienced friends, relate your challenging experience with your campmates, and stick it out until you really get the hang of thriving

Packing Out - Winter Section

2009-02-23T09:49:00.005-05:00

Lots to say today!First off, check out IMDb for my very first appearance on that site, for my tech work in the short film Boundaries of Attraction with Dunkirk Studios! This is, of course, a big step for me.Also exciting is that some of you may be visiting thanks to a story in the NOLS eNews newsletter. I was contacted by William Roth a few days ago asking to feature this blog in NOLS' student/

Wilderness First Responder - A Dance, A Sunset, A Night in the Cold

2009-02-18T09:25:00.004-05:00

First thing I've got for you this time is another wonderful video--the last got such good reviews, I knew I had to post this one of two of my coursemates, Dan and Bear (aka Doug), giving a rousing interpretive dance to solidify their Common & Simple session on fungal infections:Also available on YouTube.We had a much needed day off in the nearby town of Pinedale, WY, and in addition to doing some

Wilderness First Responder - Day 5

2009-02-15T01:33:00.002-05:00

My Outdoor Educator Semester here at NOLS includes (if you hadn't already heard me say so) an intensive 10-day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course including detailed first aid, CPR training, and backcountry medical practices and protocols. Today's topics were all environmentally caused injuries or illnesses, from altitude to cold, from heat to radiation and more.Every day of the course

Photo Log 1 - NOLS from 9Feb-11Feb

2009-02-11T22:59:00.003-05:00

Here are some photos from the past few days, including the trip to NOLS and some NOLS facilities, as well as a bit of the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course we're in right now.(I'll do my best to upload some larger images later on and change this post, when I'm not limited by the slow satellite internet here at the Three Peaks Ranch.)Detroit and Denver airports, respectively...interesting

Arrival

2009-02-09T08:27:00.002-05:00

What a trip. I have officially arrived in Wyoming, and things are really getting along great. Right as I entered the Noble Hotel, NOLS' historic dorm-style hotel for students between legs of their journey, I was greeted by a few members of my team. Already before me, ten of my classmates had arrived and were killing time watching The Mask of Zorro in the recreation room. I have never seen a

NOLS Preparation - Departure in 4 Days

2009-02-04T13:40:00.006-05:00

The next four months of this blog will be absolutely dedicated to my adventures on NOLS Rocky Mountain's Outdoor Educator Semester.I'm currently putting together all of my gear in one place, just to see what I have and what I'll need to buy either on my last, frenzied shopping trip tonight or when I arrive in Lander, WY, a place I'll call "Base Camp" for the semester. It's actually already a

The Cybil Lake Show

2009-01-21T09:01:00.004-05:00

My latest project is just getting started! I met a woman named Cybil Lake, a filmmaker in SoHo, and started to work with her and a team on a double-whammy project. We're making a film, and making a reality show about the making of that film, with a focus on the crew. I've been cast and hired, I suppose that means.A few days ago we met in TriBeCa to discuss roles and other pre-production

Boundaries of Attraction Teaser

2009-01-14T13:49:00.003-05:00

This is a draft of the teaser trailer for "Boundaries of Attraction", a short film I've posted about before. I was TD and lighting designer for this one.Also on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lysT6thIGiYSubscribe to Posts using Atom.

Wilhelm Comedy - Look Out, Kid

2008-12-20T22:11:00.003-05:00

This past semester I had the pleasure of being almost the entire crew, including editor, for a television show featuring Wilhelm Comedy, a four-man sketch group at UConn. This sketch is a good example of what I can do as a cameraman and editor with very little time and very funny people.Wilhelm Comedy has their own blog at http://wilhelmcomedy.blogspot.com/ and can be found on YouTube at http://

Boundaries of Attraction Trailer

2008-09-24T11:11:00.006-04:00

Hey there!Your friendly neighborhood movie-making-kid here...just an update on Boundaries of Attraction, the 45 minute short produced by Dunkirk Studios, directed by Jamie Fessenden, with technical direction by yours truly.Starring Billy Baraw, Robert Kersey, Stephanie Aurora Long, Dina Baker, Xebic Smith, Ashley Caron, and Greg Murphy.Here's the trailer for your enjoyment, with a release

Boundaries of Attraction (Clip)

2008-09-11T23:35:00.003-04:00

Hey folks! Wondering what I've been up to? A few weeks before this semester started, I worked designing lights and as technical director on a shoot for a short titled Boundaries of Attraction in New Hampshire. The director released this clip a few days ago. It features both a crane shot and an all-in-one traveling camera shot directed by yours truly. I'm proud of it, and I want you to check

First Job & Clarification

2008-07-22T17:11:00.004-04:00

I have my first real job in this streak of freelancing!I will be designing lights and working some production bits for a short film called Boundaries of Attraction, written by Jamie Fessenden and produced by Dunkirk Studios in New Hampshire. I'll be heading up there for August 2-10. For me it's a professional gig with copy, credit, room, and board, as well as a small stipend. Please note that

And off I go...

2008-06-20T17:38:00.001-04:00

Well folks, it's official. I've quit my day job, because I hate it, and decided to pursue what I love: film and theater tech. Some day I want to be a director. I'm not there yet, but I have to start somewhere.I've got one or two connections, and I'm pursuing a few acting roles as well in order to meet people (and I get to act, which is FUN), but I need two things pretty sorely:-More connections,

How to run a free survey for your research...

2008-04-01T14:31:00.003-04:00

OK, so despite the fact that I've decided to make movies for a living when I graduate, I still have to survive as an undergraduate researcher while I am a Psychology major at UConn. The toughest part of that job is getting participants for studies I have to run for classes. Sometimes I only need twenty or so volunteering souls, but sometimes I need hundreds.I am also broke. This is an issue.No

He Desiccated on What?

2008-01-06T22:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I have officially joined the millions of electronics users whose prized devices have become waterlogged. As I leaned forward over the bathtub, where I was bleaching the whole shower, my beautiful, loyal XV6700 fell out of my hoodie pocket, where it had been casually placed only moments before, and into the bath water.My eyes widened as the screen lit up

Charlotte Bowl Trip

2007-12-28T20:39:00.000-05:00

Day one in Charlotte, NC with the UConn Marching Band, here to play for the football team in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.Here we are on the stage at an ampetheater in the morning, preparing to rehearse music for the whole week's worth of gigs.As part of a pep band group, I played and led the winds into the pregame luncheon, where a large ballroom was packed with both UConn and Wake Forest fans and

Clues, Clues, Clues

2007-09-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

In my ongoing effort to keep you updated on this true mystery, and in response to the eighth paper clue (which I received yesterday evening), I now present to you Clue #4 (3?)....Again, sorry for having no idea about the order.Clue #4 (3?)A simple clue, but as steeped in possibilities as any other. A reverse view:Those three blue squares, once again. They are a staple, and there is no paper

Real-Life Mystery continues...

2007-08-27T22:24:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I mentioned it, but the mysterious clues that I mentioned months ago have been continuing since, and I have totaled now seven paper clues and two rather literally concrete clue. In the next few weeks, I hope to get you caught up with my own level of understanding and presence in this ongoing mysterious game. Now, I will present to you Clue #3.Clue #3 (4?)Please forgive

Facebook Blank Group Invitation

2007-08-14T17:36:00.000-04:00

What the hell is this? I have a "group" invitation. But there is no group name nor image, and when I mouse over the "?" placeholder, it links back to the main Facebook page. Has anyone else run into this?Apparently even the mighty Facebook has coding flaws...r />var sc_project=1427185; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=12; var sc_security="b8271aba";

New Site Design, Old Home

2007-08-13T21:09:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the all-new, completely redesigned www.NicholasJCarroll.com. I got a little sick of the old format and had a hard time uploading any new content, so I have put together an entirely new way of looking at my blog.Now included are features such as keyword labels, mobile blogging (which works wonderfully well with my XV6700, I'm sure), dated archives, my profile, and more.You may also

My God, Is That a Clue?

2007-04-12T20:45:00.000-04:00

Originally Posted April 12, 2007There have been developments! Late last night, I went out to my car to meet up with some friends on the other side of campus. There, on the windshield of the car, wrapped neatly in a plastic bag acting as prophylactic to rain, was this folded piece of paper: The magazine cutout