#ashley mehta

[alchemistc]

He never hid it from Bobby. That's the thing he keeps trying to remind himself, as he sits on the razor edge of this dumb fucking argument and keeps deciding not to ask for advice on how to fix it.

He never hid it from Bobby. It was just -

Bobby's approval means something to him. It always does. Hell, even fucked up coma-dream Bobby digging through pill bottles had been the conscience on his shoulder. And at the time he'd been sure of two things:

1. He wanted this to work with Tommy

and

2. If Bobby had cautioned him he'd have backed off from his speed run to reassess and he didn't want to second guess himself.

Because it had felt right. It had felt good, and safe and warm and terrifying in a way he'd never really experienced before.

So. He'd talked about Tommy at work and he'd dealt with the teasing (he'd loved the teasing) and when Bobby had caught him tucking a toiletry bag stuffed with condoms and lube into his overnight bag, and told him Tommy was good people - good for him - he'd rode that high for another three months.

It had felt - adult. Grown up. No need to hit up Captain Dad for advice on this new thing he'd navigated with advice from people he saw more as peers than authority figures.

Only.

It had felt like the first time Emily Harden had smiled at him from her desk two seats over from his, too - heart fluttering in his chest and eyes catching on the thin skin of her neck right below her earlobe and he'd ducked his head and wanted to bash it into his desk just to make sure he wasn't dreaming because he could still feel her lips - sticky with that sweet tasting gloss - on his from when they'd snuck behind the auxillary classroom after lunch.

And it had felt like that first time he'd fumbled with a condom in the back seat of someone else's car and Ashley J had giggled, two years older and definitely not the first time for her, and steadied his hand as she rolled it on for him, and Buck had been pretty sure he loved her. (He'd loved her the way a child loves it's favorite toy, and he'd cherished her for paying so much frank attention to him, and she'd loved the way his cock filled his shorts and her pussy and how focused he was on making it good for her.) He hadn't even come, that first time, too fucking terrified to go off early that the nerves had settled like a vice around his balls and so instead he'd grunted into the side of her neck, pulled out and gotten his fingers up in her just to make sure the fluttering he'd felt around him was real, and with hushed gasps she'd ridden the palm of his hand until the fluttering happened a second time and he discreetly tucked himself back in his shorts before she could notice.

It felt like - firsts and lasts and everything in between. Tommy - Tommy was something new and good and achingly familiar at the same time Buck felt like he'd never experienced anything quite like this before.

So.

And Bobby - Bobby's been off doing this new thing, away from them because he'd - he'd been done, or something. With the job, with the 118, with Buck maybe too

He's mad as hell right now, though, headset on while Athena relays the absolutely ridiculous plan they've concocted and even as Bobby drives the engine they'd one hundred percent stolen from the set of Hotshots (they weren't even hotshots, is a thing he knows and has ranted about to Tommy multiple times, while Tommy licked icing from Buck's bellybutton and dropped amusing snark into the skin of his thigh). And actually, Bucks's mad too, because he and Tommy haven't resolved the whatever it is that had actually been at the heart of their stupid fight and now he's - now he's -

Mehta is already on scene, commandeering a hangar to set up the engines from other stations, and he's taking over comms even as Bobby's lips purse and Athena's voice trails off.

"They're insane," Buck says, and Bobby's nod is crisp and firm. "That sounds like a bad movie plot."

Bobby blinks, and then he does something inexplicably frustrating. He laughs. "It is. It actually is a bad movie plot."

He barely stops laughing the entire drive there.

Buck isn't actually sure why they took the fake fire engine - it isn't actually kitted out with anything real other than a CO2 tank, Buck isn't even sure the ladder extends, but maybe Bobby had just been caught up in the moment, although - although he's driving this one, after some weird tense standoff with the actor Buck's pretty sure plays the captain in the dumb inaccurate firefighter show (they've never even shown the 119 doing fire suppression, let alone dropping into a wildfire, why did they call it Hotshots), which is not usual at all.

Buck feels the stress all along his spine, in his bad leg, rolling along his arms and up his neck while Mehta keeps the lines mostly clear and then there's Tommy's voice. He's in the air, and it's weird to realize that he's not at the controls, because instead he's gonna do something absolutely batshit insane.

("Give that man thirty seconds and he can figure out how to fly anything," Ruiz had mentioned, three months ago, while Buck piled another scoop of casserole onto her plate and watched Tommy duck his head bashfully like it was embarrassing to be so good at your job that people thought you were maybe a little superhuman.)

Mehta looks simultaneously pissed and resigned when they disembark from the purloined engine. It's gone full dark, by now, and most of the engines in the bay are set up and ready to go, and Bobby's haphazard parking job has put them just out of the way. There's a 217 engine tucked in between two 118's and Buck wants to take a picture of it to send to Tommy because he'll either have something amusing or devastatingly charming and sappy to say back but -

But Tommy's harnessing up in the back of a chopper he's usually flying and also they're still fighting.

Maybe.

Kind of.

Bobby gets a stern look and a finger pointed towards where Hen has the 118 circling her, and Mehta just sighs when Buck looks to him for orders. Buck is - technically - maybe a little suspended right now, on account of being the reason Gerrard has a crack in his skull instead of a saw blade in his side, but the all hands on deck situation seems to be tipping in Buck's favor.

"You leave my comm line open, Buckley," Mehta says and waves him in the direction of the 118.

Buck races to catch up to Bobby

---

It actually works, is the thing, and Buck watches Bobby wrapping Athena up in his arms and remembers that moment something had clicked over in his head - some deep part of his brain following the interesting pull of this firefighter pilot with a wicked sense of humor and the same fucked up crazy fuck it attitude Buck's family had. Who Cares, only they all care so goddamn deeply about everything all the time, and Buck's hindbrain had recognized something long before the rest of it did.

Tommy's the last one off the plane. He's got a helmet tucked under his arm and the harness still in place and his hair is a mess, sticking up on one side and plastered to his head on the other, sweaty and windswept and smiling at Buck the moment he catches sight of him.

Eddie and Chim are both busy dealing with passengers and Buck is grateful as hell because he absolutely knows he'd end up competing for Tommy's attention if they were around to see him disembark.

(They're at work, Buck reminds himself. They are in full view of about a dozen different firehouses and a planeful of passengers besides. Buck is still mad at Tommy.)

"Hey," Tommy says, low and gravelly half a second before he slings out an arm to drag Buck in by his neck.

("Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?" he'd asked, anxiety creeping red hot up the back of his neck, and Tommy had been joking, probably, but Buck can't quite remember the circuitous path they'd made to this point, only the feeling like he was five inches tall and Tommy didn't want to be his date to some official LAFD thing. "Like - I mean - I thought the whole point of you pumping the brakes forever ago was you didn't want to hide or be hidden, Tommy!"

And they hadn't actually gotten past that, because all hands on deck meant every firefighter in LA had gotten the reverse 911 that highly encouraged them to get to their stations immediately.

Buck resists for half a second, and Tommy's eyes dart to his when it takes more muscle than he'd been expecting to tug Buck to him.

He looks so goddamn good. Buck wants to eat him up. He also -

"People can see, Tommy," Buck says, and Tommy's smile is wry.

"Kinda the point, sweetheart," he says, and Buck doesn't fight it when he tips his head to press their foreheads together.

They still gotta have this out. They need to actually talk about it, despite Tommy's aversion to digging deep into his psyche to pick at his vulnerabilities. They need to -

Someone wolf whistles across the tarmac. Probably fifty heads turn in their direction. Tommy tips his chin up to press his lips to Buck's birthmark.

"You're not off the hook for the conversation just because you decided to be a bit of an exhibitionist," Buck says, and Tommy's face does something complicated but ultimately understanding.

Mehta makes direct eye contact and looks somewhere between amused and annoyed, but he doesn't make a move towards them.

"Do I at least get points for being a badass?"

Buck raises a brow, and Tommy pouts a little.

"How about a very public kiss, at least?"

"I distinctly remember you saying something about how shoving it down peoples throats was something you had a problem with."

"I had some time to rethink my position, while I was clinging to the nose of a plane."

Buck loves him. He's - they're -

Buck dips forward for a quick peck, and across the tarmac it sounds like Donato and at least a dozen other firefighters have gathered to heckle - they get a few canned boos and some hissing, a rapt audience. Tommy tosses something over his shoulder that Buck can't see because he's suddenly being crowded into Tommy, hands on both hips and his nose digging into Buck's cheek.

"They're not gonna stop until we give 'em a show."

"They got a whole B Movie plot already," Buck argues, but he's tracing the grooves of Tommy's smile.

"Evan, you know those always close on a kiss before the credits roll."

He does, actually, now, because Tommy isn't shy at all about sharing his interests with Buck. Movie nights happen all the time, and sometimes Tommy gets invested enough that Buck climbing into his lap isn't even enough to distract him.

"I'm serious, though. We actually have to talk about this, at some point."

Tommy tips his head to the side, blows out a breath against Buck's earlobe. "You finally cave and hit up Bobby for advice?"

Buck can't help but nip at a tendon drawn tight against the side of Tommy's neck. Whatever their crowded audience can see in their shadowy embrace spurns them into a catcall or two.

"At least I'm not going to Eddie," he snipes, because he knows Eddie knows more than he's letting on. "Also no, because we can figure this out on our own."

Tommy's cheek dances up against Buck's, like Buck's said something he appreciates. "Will you just kiss me already so we can get rid of the peanut gallery?"

Buck tips his chin and gathers Tommy's lips in his own - a beat, two, three, and off in the distance he can hear Donato making her minions disperse, and then he's lost to the kiss for a bit.

When they break for air, Buck has a hand stuffed half-in the zip of Tommy's flight suit, and Tommy's looking at him with something soft and warm and achingly quiet amidst the cacophony. "I really wish you were a little less of an adrenaline junkie, but, uh... you just rappelled out of a helicopter onto the nose of a plane and landed it safely and that's - really doing it for me."

"Evan," he says, faux-scandalized. "Stop trying to seduce me before we've had excruciating serious talk."

[hividsmarttv]

East Asian LGBT+ Movies

In celebration of PRIDE, we're opening the doors to LGBTQIA+ films all across the world. While not every country acknowledges PRIDE, everyone deserves to join in the celebration. Whoever you are and wherever you're from, here are some stunningly beautiful and inspiring films featuring LGBT+ story lines, characters, and/or actors. This time we're looking at East Asia.

In South Korea, the 2018 film "The Handmaiden," directed by Park Chan-wook and starring Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri, tells the story of a young woman who becomes involved in a plot to defraud a wealthy heiress. The film was praised for its eroticism, lush cinematography, and themes of power and deception.

The 2004 Japanese film "A Crimson Mark" was directed by Shun Nakahara. This drama follows the relationship between a young woman and her father's male lover, as they struggle to reconcile their feelings and navigate societal taboos.

In Thailand, the 2015 film "The Blue Hour," directed by Anucha Boonyawatana, tells the story of two high school boys who fall in love in the midst of a mysterious forest. The film was praised for its haunting atmosphere and exploration of themes of desire and identity.

"Dear Ex" (2018, Taiwan) - Directed by Mag Hsu and Chih-yen Hsu, this dramedy follows a teenage boy who discovers that his father has left his life insurance policy to his secret lover, a man, sparking a conflict between his mother and the lover.

Heart-wrenching and memorable, "A Girl at My Door" (2014, South Korea) tells the story of a police officer who takes in a troubled teenage girl and discovers that she is being abused by her stepfather, while also grappling with her own suppressed desires. Directed by July Jung.

"Suzaku" (1997, Japan) - Directed by Naomi Kawase, this drama follows a teenage boy who struggles to come to terms with his father's suicide and his own burgeoning sexuality, against the backdrop of a changing rural landscape.

"Fire" (1996, India) - Directed by Deepa Mehta, this romantic drama explores the relationship between two women, Radha and Sita, who find comfort in each other's company as they navigate the confines of their traditional Indian family and societal expectations. The film was controversial upon its release in India and faced backlash from conservative groups.

The Third Wife" (2018, Vietnam) - Directed by Ash Mayfair, this coming-of-age drama explores the life of a teenage girl who is forced into an arranged marriage with an older man, but develops a romantic relationship with one of his other wives.

"Dunno Y… Na Jaane Kyun" (2010, India) - Directed by Sanjay Sharma, this romantic drama tells the story of two men, Aryan and Ashley, who fall in love despite societal and familial pressure. The film features several intimate scenes between the two male leads, which were considered groundbreaking for Indian cinema at the time of its release.

Finally, in Taiwan, the 2008 film "Drifting Flowers," directed by Zero Chou and starring Mavis Fan and Serena Fang, tells the story of three women from different generations who navigate their relationships and sexuality in contemporary Taipei. The film was praised for its sensitive and nuanced portrayal of lesbian relationships and earned multiple award nominations, including the Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

[larasblogll]

Mastering the Art of Networking: Lessons from My Marketing Seminar Series

Embarking on a semester-long voyage through the Marketing Seminar Series, little did I know that the path I was about to tread would lead to a treasure trove of networking gems. From nerve-wracking encounters with industry experts to transforming rejections into stepping stones, my journey in this immersive course revealed the secrets to master the art of networking. Join me as I unravel the remarkable experiences and invaluable lessons that shaped my professional network, offering a compass to navigate your own networking success.

Introduction

As the semester draws to a close, I can't help but reflect on the incredible networking opportunities and invaluable connections I gained during the Marketing Seminar Series. In this article, I will share my personal experiences and key takeaways, offering insights on how to master the art of networking and build a thriving professional network.

Embracing Connections with Industry Professionals

Throughout the course, Ms. Greenwood brought in exceptional speakers every week, providing us with unique insights into various aspects of digital marketing. These sessions opened doors to connect with accomplished professionals in the industry. Initially, I hesitated to approach individuals at higher levels, even my own supervisor. However, stepping out of my comfort zone proved to be rewarding. I learned that many professionals are friendly and willing to offer help to aspiring marketers like me. One of the most memorable sessions was with Stephanie Lee, a successful social media marketer. After her talk, I mustered the courage to approach her and express my admiration for her work. To my surprise, Stephanie was warm and approachable, and we struck up a conversation about social media strategies and industry trends. That single interaction led to a lasting connection and a valuable mentorship that has since guided my career decisions.

Transforming Rejections into Opportunities

One of the most valuable lessons I learned from the speakers was that rejection is a common part of the journey, even for accomplished individuals. This revelation encouraged me to overcome my fear of being turned down and persist in my networking efforts. Armed with a newfound resilience, I reached out to industry experts and established meaningful connections that opened doors to exciting opportunities. Adahar Mehta, a seasoned marketing executive, shared his experiences of facing rejection during his career. He emphasized that setbacks are not failures but stepping stones toward growth. Inspired by his words, I embraced rejection as a natural part of the process and continued reaching out to professionals in my field of interest.

Discovering My Passion Through Networking

The well-designed case studies presented during the course allowed me to explore diverse aspects of marketing. Through networking with professionals from various positions, I gained clarity about my true passion: social media marketing, including paid social, content creation, and influencer marketing for local businesses. This realization not only guided my career direction but also allowed me to connect more deeply with like-minded professionals in my field. During a guest speaker session, I met Ashley Walsh, a successful social media and influencer lead at North Strategic. Her enthusiasm for influencer campaigns resonated with me deeply, igniting a spark of curiosity and passion. I initiated a conversation with her, seeking advice on how to break into the influencer marketing domain. Her guidance and encouragement became the catalyst for pursuing my passion and shaping my career goals.

Leveraging My Online Presence

Inspired by Stephanie Lee's book recommendation campaign, I recognized the power of showcasing my skills through social media. I created a series of posts that reflected my interests of handcrafting and marketing knowledge. To extend my reach, I started posting regularly about my passion for marketing and the experiences gained during the seminar series. The response was overwhelming, with comments and connections pouring in from like-minded individuals and industry experts. Stephanie's success with her book campaign taught me the importance of consistency and authenticity in building an online presence. By sharing my marketing insights and engaging with industry trends, I attracted the attention of marketing professionals and potential employers. This online engagement expanded my network beyond the confines of the classroom, exposing me to a broader community of marketers and thought leaders.

Securing the Ideal Co-op Position

The networking skills I honed during the seminar series played a pivotal role in my job search. Armed with a well-crafted resume and cover letter tailored to each opportunity, I confidently applied to positions that resonated with my interests. Despite an initial rejection from Indeed, I persisted and contacted the company directly. My determination paid off, and I secured an exciting co-op position that aligned perfectly with my aspirations. I will always be grateful to Aadhar Mehta for sharing valuable tips on crafting an impactful resume and cover letter. With his guidance, I tailored my application materials to highlight my strengths and passion for social media marketing. The personalized approach resonated with my potential employer, setting me apart from other candidates and ultimately securing the position.

Building and Expanding My Network

The seminar series served as a catalyst for building my professional network. Even out of the class, Ms. Greenwood and other guest speakers engaged with my posts. This also motivates me to continue growing my network. I learned that consistency and authenticity are key to expanding my connections and that networking is a continuous journey, not a one-time event.

With every post I shared, I gained more followers and attracted the attention of industry professionals. Last semester, reaching 80 connections for a networking assignment was challenging, but now I have around 250 connections and participate in four LinkedIn Groups! I found myself at the center of a vibrant community of marketing enthusiasts, collaborating on projects and exchanging valuable insights.

Conclusion

The Marketing Seminar Series has been a transformative experience, not only in equipping me with valuable marketing skills but also in honing my networking abilities. Embracing connections, transforming rejections into opportunities, and leveraging my online presence has allowed me to build a thriving professional network. As I embark on this exciting journey, I am grateful for the experiences shared by accomplished professionals and the guidance provided by Ms. Greenwood. I am confident that the lessons I've learned will push me toward a successful and fulfilling career in the marketing industry.

[lesterplatt]

Pennies From Heaven from Sandy Honig on Vimeo.

special jury award, SXSW 2023 directed by Sandy Honig written by Sandy Honig, Annabel Meschke, and Sabina Meschke starring Annabel Meschke and Sabina Meschke produced by Jake Honig executive producers Ashok Kondabolu, Ajay Mehta, and James Rodenhouse

director of photography: Ben Mullen production designer: Phillip Steiger editor: Jonathan Kramer costume designer: Tory Simons sound mixer: Justin Fox original score: Steve Pardo

robbers/male twins: Tyler & Tevin Bailey waitress: Bernadette Pérez dust bowl father: Gilbert Reynoso dust bowl mother: Jo Scott dust bowl sons: Coleman & Guy Scott twin lounge patrons: Ava & Loretta Minett, Cathy & Airialle Le, Lynn & Ermila Carlin, Chrystal & Chrystian Brooks, Darius & Cyrus Kay

1st AC: Felipe Larrondo 2nd AC: Darrell Ham & Jake Dugger gaffer: Ryan Oppedisano key grip: Bevis Tran best boy electric: Kane Katubig best boy grip: Daniel Kang

on set dresser: Cait Wilson shopper: Andy Casillas graphics: Alyssa Stonoha assistant costume designer Alyssa Stonoha

production manager: Jack Forbes 1st AD: Jesse Hays production assistants: Miguel Orozco, Dariana Buchatska, Joel Dishman, Sarah Handler, Joey Rosenberg hair: Theresa Reish, Emily Mefford makeup: Megan Williams choreography consultant: Andrea Brixius assistant editor: Ashley Sengstaken colorist: Andrew Francis sound design: Bobb Barito main title design: Peter Smith special thanks: Alex Plapinger, Haley Rawson, Mitra Jouhari, Kate Banford, Ben Gauthier, Zoe Rosenberg, Rod's Grill, River's End RV Park, The Overpass, Anthony Giancola, Darwin Vanko, Char Bessette Produced by God's Children & Seventh Floor Films

[fasa-umich]

Ashley Bouse, FASA's 2022 - 2023 Co-External Chair

Hi FASA,

As I’m writing this testimonial the day it is due (shoutout to miss media milly) I’ve reflected on my experience as a general member turned FASA intern turned FASA board member.

But first I’ll start with some context:

I was born in Dearborn, Michigan at the ripe age of zero, and after living in Detroit for the first two years of my life, my parents made the decision to move us to somewhere smaller… much smaller. For the most part, I lived and grew up in a teeny tiny town (literally a village 💀) in rural Michigan.

Those of you also from middle of nowhere towns in Michigan or honestly anywhere in the Midwest probably know what it's like. I was the only Asian student in my grade for pretty much all of K-12 and was the only Asian student in my entire graduating class. It’s interesting to hear how some schools had entire Asian/Asian-American organizations and even their own Filipino clubs. If my high school were to have had an Asian organization, it would’ve consisted of only three members (i.e. me, Alexa, and Tommy Yang).

Anyways, fast forward, I’ve been accepted into U of M and am living in Bursley Hall. 😭 I had heard about FASA but was pretty hesitant to join. I showed up to Fall Mass Meeting at Rackham (with Bryson 😎), went to the LinkedIn Photoshoot at the Law Quad, and quickly despawned from all FASA events in the Fall.

Photo taken Fall 2021 during LinkedIn Photoshoot by Michelle (aka “media meesh”)

I wasn’t an active member of FASA until the Winter semester of my freshman year. I had a lot of hesitations about joining, but I applied to the FASA intern program on a whim, thinking I wasn’t active, qualified, or even “Filipino enough” to be accepted. However to my surprise, a little less than two weeks later, I received an email that read:

Slay.

I basically forced myself into being active in the organization by becoming an intern. It was both a sense of obligation and eagerness to learn as much as I could about FASA, especially about how the organization operates behind the scenes. I went into the program knowing very little about FASA and had only attended a small number of events. I didn’t know any of the other interns besides Angeli and Andrew who were in FIlipino class with me, however I was excited to get to know all of the other interns and board members.

FASA INTERN GALS ✨

I grew close with the other interns, went to “Teen Beach Movie Night” (iykyk), helped plan and eventually had the intern capstone event, went to many FASA events and made many maaany more memories. I got to know my fam (Xfam = best fam), my sexy lineage (Darago <3), and so many people in the FASA community.

Darago Lineage: Jbapo, Ate Janielle, Ate Kennedy, Kuya Colin, Bry-Bry, Krystelle, Zainab, and adings Ash and Nicole + not pictured: Ate Carina

(also not pictured: the Darakunawa alliance)

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Filipino Americans Coming Together (FACT)

Filipino Americans did WHAT???

The Filipino Americans Coming Together (FACT) conference was the first external trip during my sophomore year. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what FACT actually was at first. It had been a few years since they had an in-person conference, but this year they were in-person. I sent out my silly little Google forms, texted everyone and their mom to figure out logistics, and toiled on the master spreadsheet until cars, houses, itinerary, and all of the other details that go into planning external trips were figured out.

FACT itself was a little rocky because UIUC’s first in person conference in a while. I heard that many of the workshops went well, however, the quality/structure varied with each. We attended the FACT Variety Show (sorry Ashley Mehta), many of us pushed Joes, and went on our pilgrimage to Seafood City and Jollibee in Chicago. Looking back, it was a challenge trying to figure out how to manage such a large group of people. We had 55 members attend the conference, but Mikey and I managed to ensure no one perished or got abandoned in Chambana, so overall I’m happy with how the weekend went.

One thing that FACT taught me is that you cannot plan everything down to the T and expect it to go smoothly. The unknown of what could happen on an external trip always has made me a little anxious, but sometimes all we can do is plan, put in the effort, and then leave things to their own accord. This position has taught me that you can’t try to perfect everything. When [REDACTED] hits the fan, you must always be ready to pivot and adapt to what the new situation or challenge brings.

Battle of the Bamboo

FASA takes on Chicago

Battle of the Bamboo (BOTB) this year had about double or nearly triple the number of attendees from the year prior. For me, last year’s BOTB was one of my favorite FASA memories and also a big reason why I feel close with many of my friends in the organization today so I urged everyone to go (or else they’d get severe FOMO).

This year’s BOTB was particularly special because of performance chairs and FASA’s exhibition performance of Pagapir. From a planning perspective, we were more relaxed with overall planning for BOTB and focused a lot of our logistics around ensuring that specifically performers made it where they had to be well in advance. We had 55+ attendees with housing being spread out among several different locations. Many people got the chance to explore Chicago, try new restaurants, sing karaoke, etc.

External quick tip: An easy and relatively harmless way to ensure that Filipino time does not demolish your plans/external itinerary is by accommodating for a 30 minute (or more) buffer time and saying that people need to be places earlier than they actually have to be. We cannot get rid of Filipino time, however we can try our best to plan for it and ensure it does not deter us too much.

One big takeaway I had after Battle is that there is a sliding scale between trips being hands-off and trips being planned down to the minute. That being said, there are pros and cons to both sides. If the trip is way too structured, it can be 1.) too suffocating for attendees and 2.) very stressful for externals to maintain this structure. On the other hand, if there isn’t enough structure then people do not feel secure/reassured during the trip. Meaning that in both planning and execution, you need to aim for the external trip to fall somewhere in the middle of this range.

Additionally, things may seem good on paper but there can be flaws and problems that arise the day of when the plan is in execution. It is our responsibility as external chairs to make the trip fun and equitable for everyone, and it is also our responsibility to try to make things right when they do not go to plan. Battle weekend allowed a lot of necessary and valuable dialogue to be brought up/discussed, and I am looking forward to seeing how external trips progress and grow in future years.

Philippine Culture Night

I remember my first Philippine Culture Night (PCN) in vivid detail. From the “sinigang” to the Toledo coconut boys, the Tinikling set, speeches, poetry, speakers, and so on. However, I wasn’t on a committee or a part of a performance group but I knew I wanted to be more actively involved in the night in the future.

For this year’s PCN, I managed the new External Outreach committee with Mikey. It was a bit of a headache to figure out, but we made sure nearby external PSAs were able to reserve tickets and make it to our PCN.

In addition, I also signed up for a PCN dance at the last minute. I’m terribly uncoordinated (e.g. Tinik on the Diag) and dancing has never been my strong suit. That being said, I cannot recommend enough that people join one of the PCN dance groups if they have the time in their schedule for it. Dance practices, as long and tiring as they can feel, became something I really looked forward to during the week. I enjoyed getting to know the other dancers and bonding with them over jokes, shared exhaustion, and a great PCN performance at the end.

Like all things in life, what you put into FASA is what you get out of it. In order to get the most out of the organization, you need to step out of your comfort zone. Sign up for silly little dances and committees and make the most of all of the opportunities to get to know all of the amazing people that make up the FASA community.

To my Co:

Dear Mikey,

We met at Mass Meeting in the fall of freshman year, but my real first impression of you was at the [REDACTED] mixer during the beginning of winter semester when you accidentally butt-dialed 911 on my phone. I thought you were a complete goon, but little did I know that we would end up becoming co-chairs just a few months later.

With that being said, I cannot put into words how thankful I am to have you as a co-chair and friend (among other things). You’ve grown so much since I first met you, and I admire how driven, caring, and considerate have always been. You make me want to be a better person.

Sometimes planning external events/trips have made me want to explode into a million pieces, but you’ve always been there and have given stability to me through it all. From board retreat to organization collabs, external weekend, late night toiling in the Fish Bowl, FACT & Battle, and everything in between, there’s no one else I could’ve done it all with. Now that our tenure is coming to a close, I can truly look back and be proud of everything we’ve accomplished in the past year. Thank you for always supporting me unconditionally and for always being there for me. We did it!! :)

FASA Executive Board 2022-23

To FASA Executive Board:

I’m so lucky to have served my tenure on board alongside each and every one of you. I’m definitely biased, but this year’s board is such a special and talented group of people. Thank you for making Sunday board meetings something to look forward to, and thank you for all of your support, hard work, and dedication this past year.

To the seniors:

Senior farewell hasn’t happened so I don’t need to be too sappy yet. However, as you all go on to do immeasurably great and impressive things, remember that FASA is always here for you and proud of you.

To those considering external chair or FASA e-board in the future:

FASA board has historically followed a trend: People are a part of FASA, become interns, get elected onto e-board, and then burn out over the course of the year. Although this trend doesn’t apply to everyone, it is important that we each do our best to manage burnout. For the sake of the FASA board and the wellbeing of your fellow boardies, please try your best to alleviate burnout and help out each other as best as you can.

If you need help, feel free to reach out to your predecessors. We’re always here to help and we want to see FASA and the new board succeed. 

Learn to say no. Say no to events you don’t want to do. Say no to events you don’t want to go to. Additionally, know when to take a step back, especially if the FASA calendar is overpacked, realistically ask yourself what you would like to see/accomplish this semester.

I’ve heard this from past and present boardies a million times and I’m definitely sounding like a broken record, however this is one of my most important takeaways after being on board: Responsibilities in FASA cannot be black and white, either your problem or not your problem. Such a dichotomy could never exist because in a cohesive board, it is everyone’s job for events to run smoothly. If someone needs help in FASA, it is everyone’s job to step up (if they can) and assist their fellow boardies when they need it.

In closing:

As Winnie the Pooh (and Celeste at Sunday board one time) once said:

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

It’s hard and bittersweet to say goodbye to FASA board, but I know it will be in good hands. Thank you to all of FASA and board for your support, love, and friendship this past year. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future board is scheming.

I am also excited to push Sound Bar next year at Battle return to general membership status (joke lang).

It’s been real FASA <3

2022-23 Co-External Chair

Ashley Bouse

[gottagolisten]

Rosé (with MiNDTRiX & Ashley Mehta)- Lost Atlas Remix

[sugaftrm]

i just really love this r&b cover of butter

[sadflowrr]

🌠

rommii ft ashley mehta - all my love

Send me a 🌟 and I'll give you a song recommendation        

[mcmichelangelo]

One of my big bros and i

[soulpunkd]

mobile ship list

Masterlist for romantic ships for all of my muses. Partners are tagged where applicable. Numbers (x/y) indicate number of ships versus number of ship slots. a ? indicates that the muse is presently multiship.

if a muse with 0 ships is marked as multiship, that is negotiable if you are interested in single-shipping with somebody.

woori bae (4/?)

mitchell weller (@calledmine)

felix amudee (@bluehcvrs)

hyunshik roh (@illfatcd)

theo han (@duskloved)

siobhan byrne (0/?)

samuel nam (2/2)

gemma lim (@calledmine)

sohyun lee (@bluehcvrs)

asya kaya (0/?)

jasper waxmen (1/1)

emilia rhee (@poetsdie)

keary han (0/?)

spencer morgan-kim (1/?)

youngsun park (@bluehcvrs)

clara morgan-kim (0/?)

daehwi kang (1/1)

dongsub bae (@calledmine)

cassie drake (0/?)

garrett song (1/1)

seojin doh (@calledmine)

hyunjin jung (0/?)

yu kiseok (1/1)

siwon jeong (@calledmine)

veronica peters (0/?)

robin waxmen (1/1)

kyuhyun byun (@calledmine)

maricel bautista (1/1)

seolwoo (@bluehcvrs)

marian hawke (0/?)

bailey kim (1/1)

joonho kang (@bluehcvrs)

hyunjoo choi (0/?)

hansol lee (1/1)

aveline waxmen (@calledmine)

kaya bae (0/?)

gabriel im (1/?)

christopher jung (@calledmine)

naomi matsui (0/?)

isaac song (1/?)

daithi jeon (@calledmine)

harleen quinnzel (0/?)

ezra kim (2/2)

yujin kang (@calledmine)

luca di angelo (@bluehcvrs)

sujin kang (0/?)

dani rojas (0/?)

ashley williams (0/?)

nirzara anand (0/?)

geralt of rivia (0/?)

oliver mehta (0/?)

erika miura (0/?)

luke morais (0/?)

ciri riannon (0/?)

bella of redcliffe (0/?)

[sonyclasica]

MARK KORVEN

BANDA SONORA DE LA SERIE DE AMAZON THEM

Milan Records lanza hoy THEM (MUSIC FROM THE AMAZON ORIGINAL SERIES) con música de MARK KORVEN. Ya disponible, el álbum contiene la música escrita por Korven para la serie antológica limitada de Prime Video ambientada en los años cincuenta en Los Angeles. 

Consíguelo AQUÍ

Partiendo de todo un legado en el género, Korven ha puesto música a películas populares de terror como The Witch y The Lighthouse además de ser tendencia en YouTube con su espectacular vídeo de "Apprehension Engine". Entre las 18 pistas del álbum se encuentran cuatro versiones de clásicos del R&B de los años cincuenta, grabadas nuevamente por The Watts Wonders: "Go! Go! Go!,” “Pink Champagne,” “Rockin’ at Midnight,” y también “Information Blues.” Them -- de Sony Pictures Television y Amazon Studios-- se estrena hoy en exclusiva en Prime Video.  

 Dice de la banda sonora el compositor MARK KORVEN: “La música de Them parecía necesitar un sonido áspero, disonante y brutal. No hay mucho refinamiento. Es gutural, visceral y a la cara, lo que, creo, refleja el terror que nuestros protagonistas viven en la blanca y pura Compton de los años 50."

 Del creador Little Marvin y con producción ejecutiva de Lena Waithe, Them es una serie de antología limitada que explora en terror en Estados Unidos. La primera temporada, ambientada en los años cincuenta, se centra en una familia de raza negra que se muda de Carolina del Norte a un barrio blanco de Los Angeles durante el periodo conocido como La gran migración. El idílico hogar de la familia se convierte en la zona cero donde fuerzas malévolas, del mismo barrio y de otro mundo, amenazan con vejar, atacar y destrozarlos. Them está protagonizada por Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Melody Hurd, y Ryan Kwanten. La serie ha sido creada y fue producida por Little Marvin junto a Lena Waithe, Miri Yoon and Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, David Matthews, y Don Kurt. Them es una coproducción de Sony Pictures Television y Amazon Studios.

  CONECTA CON THEM

WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | TRAILER

 THEM (MUSIC FROM THE AMAZON ORIGINAL SERIES)

TRACKLISTING –

1.       Go! Go! Go! – The Watts Wonders

2.       Pink Champagne – The Watts Wonders

3.       Rockin' at Midnight – The Watts Wonders

4.       Information Blues – The Watts Wonders

5.       Main Title

6.       Cop Shot Dead

7.       Confronting Betty

8.       C.E

9.       Time to Go

10.    Doris and Ruby

11.    For Daddy's Money

12.    A Certain Kind of Man

13.    The Killers

14.    Bus Ride from Hell

15.    First Day at Work

16.    Miss Vera / Henry's Home Invasion

17.    Your Curse Follows

18.    Madness / Lucky's Ride             

 SOBRE MARK KORVEN

El multipremiado compositor establecido en Toronto Mark Korven ha pisado fuerte en el mundo del cine dramático y documental y en la televisión durante más de 20 años. Cuenta con 8 nominaciones Genie, 14 nominaciones Gemini, un Premio Genie, un Premio Gemini, un Premio de la Pantalla Canadiense y, recientemente, ha obtenido una nominación CSA.

Mark ha trabajado con importantes directores como Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema, Vincenzo Natalie y Robert Eggers. Su colaboración con Eggers incluye los éxitos The Witch (A24) y la película nominada al Oscar® The Lighthouse (A24).  Esta última se estrenó en la sección Director's Fortnight del Festival de Cannes 2019, donde recibió el Premio Critics’ Choice a Mejor película del festival. En 2019, Mark puso música a la película de Ridley Scott The Terror: Infamy para AMC, y este año se lanzarán dos películas con música de Korven: Chapelwaite para EPIX y la producción de Sony Pictures Television Them: Covenant para Amazon. 

 CONECTA CON SONY SOUNDTRACKS: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

CONECTA CON MILAN RECORDS: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE