Filming for Education New Zealand

Hi! :)

So just last week I was filming with Clemenger BBDO, making a video about a day in my life here as an international student in New Zealand, for Education New Zealand, which is a government organisation. The finished video will be uploaded online on ENZ's website, and can be used by study agents worldwide to promote New Zealand as an international study destination xD

I got to this amazing opportunity by being one of the five winners chosen from a video competition held by ENZ months before (did not expect that at all!!). We had to make a video of ourselves and the 5 things we love about living in New Zealand. I thought my video was just okay and that there would be other more spectacular, talented students who would crush me down haha. But I still remember the time the ENZ brand manager contacted me to announce that I had been chosen as one of the top 9 finalists; I was at the school cafeteria during the holidays surrounded by Japanese exchange students who had come to peruse our school's empty classrooms for their own classes during their field trip here. I literally hyperventilated, naturally drawing the attention of lunch-eaters nearby.

Filming happened on Monday last week, and the day started at 7:15am. They arrived at my door at around 7:20am, and we began filming the first scene of me walking out of my house. In the rain. :P

We walked to the bus stop and one of the camera guys filmed me while on the bus which was rather embarrassing but kind of...flattering? (Idk haha) at the same time. Other passengers nearby were grinning though haha

When we got off the bus at the Civic Theatre, we filmed some more scenes of me 'getting off the bus' and walking across crossroads in drizzle to mid-heavy rain. We had to stop and patiently wait for the weather to show mercy quite a few times that day. They gave me a delicious spinach and cheese scone! :9 After that, we invaded my school!

Equipment invasion - more stares from entering students.

 I was lucky enough to encounter my friends Sela and Teri as we entered, because we were supposed to film a scene where I would greet students as I walked in, so it was nice to actually be able to do it with people I know instead of having to do it with random students! Nevertheless, it was still awkward, but I thank you all for being professional hahaha

The scene we were to film at ACG was me in biology class, but not my usual biology class. Mr Meur wasn't my bio teacher, Lidia, my already-acquainted lab partner, wasn't even taking bio, and it wasn't my usual classroom either. Our real topic was evolution, but we were doing protozoa observation on microscopes instead (which actually beated any microscope observation we've had in these past months). Mr Meur was so good at acting natural in front of the camera that I was impressed, and it turns out that he actually had an acting background for a hilarious Just Juice commercial :O

This was taken inside the van as we were waiting for the rain to subside. Three of my friends joined me for the Albert Park and city scenes, and eventually we got really good at pretending to have real conversations and laughing like crazy on camera xD Sunshine was prevalent throughout the whole day afterwards, and we were able to film the lunch scene smoothly. While we were filming at Albert Park, we saw an Asian parent drag his baby inside a shopping trolley (the cloth kind with a flap on top that you can zip). The baby's head was peering out under the flap, which made us laugh sooo hard the crew made us think of it every time they wanted us to laugh and be happy.

The Viaduct Harbour/Wynyard Quarter area was especially fascinating to film in, and I had never been to this particular place before filming. I remember how the camera assistant joked for us to start when the bridge was vertically all the way up, and how heartbroken we were when it was revealed that we were too short to show up (Asian midget problems) behind the railing of the bridge so they had to change the angle x'D

My beautiful and talented Thai trio, who faithfully stayed with us and the crew despite having to miss classes :') I cannot thank them enough for joining and helping us. Thank you so much naaa <3<3

พีว!! <3

 We next filmed at High Street, showing me parting with my last friend remaining, จ๊ะจ๋า. Before that we parted with my two other friends after shooting inside a souvenir shop.

Lastly, after we dropped off my friend at the school, we returned back to my homestay to film. They 'invaded' my room for the study scene, and I sat with my host mum and little brother on the couch to film. Afterwards, they filmed me pretending to make breakfast and lastly, dinner with my host family.

That's a wrap! A crew selfie to end the day before they moved on to Hamilton to film the next student :) It was my first time being filmed professionally, and to have been praised by the crew that I was a supposed 'natural' in front of the camera sent me over the moon beyond any description.

I would like to thank everyone involved once again, for those who have supported me. This once-in-a-lifetime experience would have never been possible :')

I tried out for the competition because I didn't want to leave behind any regrets of not trying, even though my expectations were small, but . So I can tell you just this -  if you want something, just go for it! :)

Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a nice day! Happy term break to my fellow ACG students!

アリシア

Now listening: 넌 내게 반했어 (You've Fallen For Me, Heartstrings OST) - Jung Yong Hwa