Closed Captions

Intro music, blows out smoke, wood creaks, sound of footsteps, rooster crows, cat meows, opening title music, opening credits, song fades dramatically, fly buzzing, car door opens, door closes, car engine starts, engine revs, zooms, creaks, clanks, squeaks, rolls, door knocks, knocking, door opens, crickets chirping, door squeaks, closes, clinking, groans, awkward silence, gasps, grunts, cat meows, cat whines, sniffles, clinks keys, smirks, sound of footsteps, squeaks, door opens, thuds, door closes, clanks, door opens, car engine starts, revs, tire screeches, accelerates, grunts, punches, groaning, somber music, soft chuckles, disturbance, man speaking on TV, gasps, scoffs, chuckles, birds chirping, dramatic sound effect, shoes creak, approaching footsteps, car door opens, car door closes, door opens, thuds, door closes, clears throat, counting banknotes, soft sinister music, sucks finger, groans, sinister music continues, tense eerie sound, door opens, clanks, thuds, slams, car door closes, engine starts, revs, chimes, sound of footsteps climbing, song playing, soft pop music, music continues, sound of footsteps, ominous silence, awkward silence, door opens, taps, door closes, water trickles, soft upbeat music, clanks, sniffles, deep sniffles, gasps, upbeat music continues, lighter clinks, banknotes rustle, briefcase closes, music continues, sniffles, gasps, upbeat music, music intensifies, intense sinister music, upbeat percussive music, percussive music continues, claps, snap fingers, mutters, sniffles, clears throat, deep sniffs, gasps, dings, sniffing, metal clanks, echos, percussive music continues, music fading, clicks, grunts, eerie ominous sound, soft chuckles, dramatic ominous sound, chews, grunts, groans, spits out finger, groaning, wailing, pleas, begs, crying, sobs, cries, wails, growls, bites, blood splatters, tense ominous music, phone keypad beeping, phone ringing, voice mail, dramatic tense music, keypad beeps, phone dialing, ringing, clatters, dramatic intense music continues, music fades, sound of footsteps, awkward silence, metal gate clanks, squeaks, knocking door, clucks, door creaks open, footsteps, keys clink, briefcase opens, briefcase closes, train horn blowing, train rattling, soft sentimental music, deep exhales, approaching footsteps, ominous music, chair scrapes, music intensifies, intense electronic music, music tones down, soft piano music, cheerful music, intense jazz music, rustles, music fades, pants, sound of footsteps, cigarette trickles, treading, treading faster, ominous sound, creaking of footsteps, clucks, rustles, sound fades, creepy music builds up, sound of footsteps, dramatic effect, bangs, creepy silence, growls, deep sharp exhale, scary voice, crying, sobs, grunts, shaky cries, clatters, diminishing footsteps, clucks, rolling of skateboard, skateboard scrapes, rattles, clanks, drags, sniffs, upbeat party music, indistinct chatter, laughs, smirks, indistinct murmurs, nods, rolls eyes, party music continues, music fades, intense percussive music, seductive voice, thumps, music continues, chatters, murmurs, music tones down, indistinct laughs, music fades, approaching footsteps, crickets chirping, blurry vision, skateboard scraping, footsteps clicking, spits, approaching footsteps, deep exhales, thuds, wind whistling softly, gasps, clomps, skateboard rolls, deep exhales, rolling, creaking, record player starts, pop music starts, creaks, music intensifies, thumping, thumps continue, thumps fade, gentle music playing, calming melodious opera, tense suspenseful music, sounds of heels, clicks, keys clink, scratches, sound of footsteps, dramatic thump, taps, clinks, clanks, gasps, lighter clicks, creepy creaks and clanks, intense ominous sound, thunder roars, dripping sound, whacks, grunts, groans, groaning, sound of footsteps, whirring, footsteps approaching, sinister ominous sound, dramatic sound effect, whooshes, creaks, paper bag rustles, rustling, sniffles, shoes creaking, door opens, music player starts, music playing, song continues to play, lighter clicks, lighter closes, nods, groans, romantic music continues, awkward silence, steam whooshes, roaring sound, train rattles, clatters, dramatic suspenseful music builds, indistinct ringing, tense music, thuds, clicks, sizzles, record player starts, melodious music, bed squeaks, song continues, thuds, zipper slides, gasps, grunts, song continues, thuds softly, breathing heavily, bed creaks, gasps, rustles, song continues to play, eerie rumbles, bangs, screech, thuds, intense ominous percussion, grunts, groans, crunches, gnawing, thunderous rumbles, shaky breath, sighing, dragging, thunders, scrapes, dripping, machine growls, birds chirping, loud bang, soft ominous music, sighing, crow caws, heavy breathing, water trickles, zipper slides, clatters, rustles, car whirrs, rumbles, thunderous thrums, dramatic growl, approaching footsteps, dramatic zoom effect, clucks, door opens, screeches, squeaks, sighing, pants, sniffles, clanks, gasping, snaps, clatters, cat meows, sinister music, dramatic, suspicious music, clinking, car whirrs, engine stops, crickets chirping, car door opens, car door slams, soft whooshing, awkward silence, sound of approaching footsteps, car door opens, car door closes, whooshing continues, clucks, dashboard closes, pop music plays, car engine roars, song continues, music fades, closing credits, outro music.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, 2014 (abridged)

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Mama Always Said I Would Be a Student for Life

Near the beginning of this year I was asked to teach some classes up yonder at Randolph College. I briefly chronicled my experience here. Part of teaching, and part of living for that matter, is to be self-critical. I basically struggled as a professor. But as my anecdote details, I wasn't given much prep time. I jumped in anyways because it was something new and different. At the end of it all I thought, hmm, that's part of my legend now, I can move on. But I didn't. I often mused about how I would go about it differently if I had another chance. My mentor at Randolph, Jennifer, was big on the "if you had another chance" mantra. So I adopted her wisdom and applied it to self. Although I had taught a lot of young adults how to be showbiz accountants, I never formally learned how to be an educator. I was ok with the subject I was teaching, photography and filmmaking, because I had decent experience and I was always practicing. But I never felt at peace in the classroom. I never felt comfortable being an authority, a phenomenon that I recently learned is called, impostership. I needed to fortify this aspect of my experience. I needed some teacher training. So I enrolled in this online course offered by Columbia University called, "Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in the College Classroom." In general, the course was about establishing and supporting an inclusive course climate; setting explicit expectations; promoting diversity and inclusion through course content; designing all course elements for accessibility; and cultivating critical self-reflection. It was perfect. I guess my main takeaway was learning to not universalize my experience. Oh, and that teaching is a process. As my good friend Jesse often says, "Relax hotshot." Good advice. So I'll just keep learning stuff along the way. Mama was right. And btw, Jennifer sent me an email asking if I'd like to teach again in the spring.

I said, sure, I'd love to.

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Professor Wiggins: Higher Education

You read that right, but we'll get to the dirty deets later. Whoa, the last three months just whizzed by. Long of the short, all is chill in Wiggyland. Yay. I've been trying on some new clothes, taking off some used. I'm still living in Lynchburg, VA with the always inspiring Dee W Loizou. We've perfected our spicy fish-sauce sauce. Yes, I'm still vegetarian but this Thai dish we love requires the Red Boat, so we tread lightly and nom, nom, nom the bejesus outta that dish. I took photos for a wedding. My god, that was hard. Probably won't do that again. Thankfully the bride and groom are the best people on the planet. I took on a bookkeeping job for my dear friends at Riverviews...what! Yes, I hear you screaming. It's just temporary, people. No, I'm not moving back to NYC just yet. But I miss it. Dearly. Took photos for a fundraising event. Umm, super hard. But I did it all in character, with a British accent, in striped tights. For the challenge. Makes picture taking wildly mysterious. And fun. I did a few promo videos, bought a battery powered light kit, started using my flash a bit more for stills, and yeah, I taught an Introduction to Digital Photography class and an Advanced Digital Filmmaking class at the local liberal arts joint just up the street. It's called Randolph College. Used to be all women. Then that changed in 2006. I had 19 students and 16 were women. So who knows. I began teaching in February. Unfortunately I missed the first 11 classes of the semester because I came in as a pinch-hitter. Probably won't do that again. So hard. But I would do it all again if given a full semester. I taught four classes a week for a total of nine hours. 4.5 hours on Monday and 4.5 hours on Thursday. But you know what, that shizzle was a full-time job. Seriously. Best paying gig I've had in Lynchburg, but damn, brother barely had time to rest. But I kinda loved it? I know it's trite, but mad respect to all the teachers out there. Bring it in for a group hug! Yesterday was my last day. Graded all the students, sent each a personal note of gratitude, and then I noticed I hadn't written a blog post in three months. Whizzed by. The picture up top was taken at a show ring in Big Island, VA. I imagine myself sitting on those aluminum bleachers just taking it all in. Beautiful scenery, nice and quiet, just me and the cool breeze. What a spectacle. What a show. What a gift.

Might as well be happy.

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