Aesthetics over practicality = lame: Compton - part I

This past week I went to Compton twice. I know, I'm hooked. Whether it's voluntary or not, who's to say?

Ok, fine. It's totally not voluntary. However, I'm getting so well acquainted with freeway and streets there, I feel like a local. A regular. Like it's almost, almost almost but not quite, voluntary.

Tuesday pre-meeting -

I had to go to the city council meeting. At night. First time. My mom suggested my father come down to LA to take me to an hour-long meeting in Compton. Ummm..yeah.

I, on the other hand, sent a mass text to my "local male friends" asking for volunteers to come with me. Whether my "local male friends" were scared pitless or they were just busy, who knows. I was prepared to venture off alone. I filled my tank, didn't wear "colors," got mapquested directions, I was set.

Then the Persian randomly texted me a couple hours before I was going to leave asking if I found someone to come. I said no, but that I'd be ok. And then he says something about a guilty conscience if I die. Thanks, really.

He brought his friend's dagger. No joke. Case and all. It had a jungle/animal embossed print on it or something. Serious business.

We arrive and the city hall doors are locked. We had to find the "Council Chambers." We go to the back and, I don't know how to describe this properly, but there was a giant shallow pool thing in the back of the building that, well, I failed to see pre-walk-in. You can't blame me, the water was so still, it looked like the floor. AND ladies and gentlemen, it was super shallow so it also...looked...like the floor.
You had to have been there!

I was looking into this window and then, to get closer, closer, closer "I put one foot in front of the o-ther...." and soon I'll be walking into wa-aa-ter. I missed the pool. Just didn't see it.
I didn't know it existed. The next thing you know, BAM, both my feet are in this pool, the homeless man in the distance is like "Uh-oh," and Omid's eyes widen as he looks almost as perplexed as I do.

"You know, I was just gonna say this pool looks kind of nice."

He couldn't have said it, like, two seconds earlier?

Who puts a pool there!? Against a government building? Really, now. Really? I mean, I.... wouldn't.

I walked into the meeting with soaking feet, jeans that were wet a little less than mid-calf height. It was so cold. So very cold.

Maximus and U-ee

We went to the ghetto Ralph's tonight. I just needed a few things, you know? Thought I'd make it quick.

I'm driving out of the parking lot and get to the intersection to make a U-turn back onto Vermont going South.

It's a skinny street. Not a lot of room. A lot of "shady-looking" pedestrians on the corner that Safia pointed out.

It's green. I go. I turn the wheel. TURN TURN TURN. I'm slowing. It's too close. I'm too close. Are there cars coming the other way? The pedestrians are staring too. The look in their eyes. "Is she gonna make it? IS SHE GONNA MAKE IT??"
TURN TURN TURN.... TU-ERN

BAM! I make it and vroooooom away.

Great vehicles come in small packages that make rough U-ees.

Tramma Lamma Tram Tram

So.

For my most recent broadcast class, I had to a video story (VSV) on the USC Tram Service. Sounds simple, no? But try having to MAKE time in your schedule to take a tram you don't need, to film a tram you don't usually pay attention to, to interview people that, well, would prefer to get on stop A and get off stop B and not be pestered by my tramming homework. But it was my first assignment, and boy oh boy, I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty excited.


Until the commuting happened.

My earliest Monday class is at 1. I know, I know...old story. So I figured in the morning I'd get all my filming done.

I wait at the second stop on Route A's uh, route. I hop on the third tram after filming a bunch of b-roll. Bumpy ride but pleasant. Umm... the people look a little tired. Not as enthusiastic as I was. I did get some funky stares for filming inside a very bumpy tram ride. I go through the whole route and stay on for the second.

Here was the sketchy business...

I wanted to interview this guy who we'll call Tim. He and I both concurred on the moving tram that I'd interview him at his stop because it would be best place. He said it was the third stop. WELL..... Maybe I should have checked the stops online. Or at least known where the "USC Research Annex" was.

We get off 3 blocks east of campus on Exposition. I passed it along the way the first time, but we hadn't stopped there so I was a little confused. A little shady-looking, but oh well.

The tram jets off like nobody's business. I do the interview. He leaves. I pack up my rather expensive equipment and look all professional with this accomplished look on my face and BAM! Where's the tram??

Oh that's right! It left.

TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!! I call.

"Where's the tram going to come? Is this a pickup stop?"

"Well, the next stop is down the street at the school. And the stop after that is at the [very dingy looking] parking structure building down on Jefferson. You can make it to the last stop if you maybe run there or something"

"Ok, thanks!"

Yeah...right. I'm not running with rather expensive equipment and pointy flats in a location where there are, seriously speaking, hobos at every turn.

Oh brother... I guess I'm going to walk.


I live about 2 blocks west and then 1 block south of where we were. Not bad. It's morning and it's breezy and personally I like walking under freeway bridges with sleeping homeless men and their shopping carts.

I make it back, obviously; just via the scenic route. Tram A - DONE.

TRAM B

Tuesday night I decide to shoot some more b-roll so I go over around 4:30ish to take Tram B and do the same thing.

I'm standing kind of outside the USC Valet courtyard entrance fountain corner School of Law-ish area. I ask the guy next to me, "Excuse me. Is this the tram stop?"


"For the Parking Center Tram? Yeah, it is."

"Thanks!"

BAM! Safia walks by laughing at me and my poor little tripod and video baggage. She's the first non-stranger to see me in action. IN ACTION! She laughed. There goes my credibility. Haha. Ahh..roommates.

So she leaves and I wait next to the guy. This tram/bus comes and as I'm about to get in, the guy says,

"Oh. This one is the Long Beach tram."


!!?!??!?!??!

Holy mother! "Oh gosh, thank you!"

If he hadn't told me, I'd have been in Long Beach Tuesday night. Stranded. Waiting for a ride. My naiveté would have gotten the best of me...again. But once again, I made it home, obviously - and without having gone to Long Beach.