My Own Personal Summer Blockbuster

While I'm sure there's plenty to say -- good or bad -- about Baz Luhrmann's glitzy 3-D version of "The Great Gatsby," I'm staying mum. Same goes for "Star Trek into Darkness," "Frances Ha" and all the other movies coming out this summer that would surely appear on my review schedule.

Instead of spending my summer evenings inside of a movie theater, notebook in hand, I'll be settling in to what will undoubtedly be an overpriced, undersized San Francisco studio apartment and preparing for the early morning shuttle ride down the peninsula to my new job at Google. Considering that the movie houses didn't let me bring my dog to work, and they never once provided me with a catered meal, I think I'm coming out a winner on this one. 

Of course, I'll also get to work for a company that is, as cheesy as it sounds, inventing the future. Alright, fine. As a technical writer, I won't exactly be the one churning out the killer code that makes the future a reality, but I will be responsible for helping the rest of us figure out how to use it. I couldn't be more excited, both for the career shift and the location leap. I've always wanted to live in San Francisco.

Will I miss reviewing movies? Did you really have to ask that? Of course I will.   

But I won't miss trying to cram a film critic's job into a few nights per week and most of my weekends, which I've been doing ever since I started freelancing for U-T San Diego in January 2010. I spent business hours (at least until 5pm today) in a cozy, double-wide trailer on the UCSD Extension campus, where I've been happily employed as University of California Television's communications director since 2003. (I can't yet bring myself to officially say goodbye to the job and the people on this blog.)

Just like when I decided to leave L.A. and the entertainment business behind in 1999, movies will once again become my hobby. Sure, I'll have to get to the theater early to make sure I get a good seat, suffer through the commercials and eardrum-busting previews and, of course, buy a ticket. But at least I can put the notebook down and pick up a handful of popcorn instead.

Of course, if I feel so inclined, I can always write about the movies I see on my blog. Just like everyone else.

I'm eager to see where all of this new found free time will take me. My plan is to resume my own writing projects, which have been on hold since I signed on with the U-T. If you're interested, I'll be posting updates right here. 

And just in case you start missing me, I will have one more story running in the U-T in June. It's my SXSW interview with Joss Whedon about his micro-budget  summer release, "Much Ado About Nothing."

Until then, enjoy your San Diego summer. While you're soaking up the sunshine, I'll be in San Francisco, adjusting to what it's like to wear a jacket in July.