Coburn Childs

cchilds@bryant.edu

Class: 2012 (Senior)-- Major: Communication-- Minors: Business; Literary and Cultural Studies-- Hometown: Pawtucket, RI

Everything is RENT!!

April 12th, 2012

Since the beginning of the semester, the Bryant Players have been hard at work on our upcoming musical: RENT! After a lengthy audition process, I was cast as Roger, one of the lead roles in the show, and I am beyond excited!! If you aren't familiar, RENT tells the story of a group of struggling artists and musicians who are trying to make a living in the 90's in New York's Lower East Side. The show tackles a lot of heavy and controversial topics, but is ultimately about a group of friends who love each other and stick through hard times.

For weeks, we've been rehearsing, and the show is really coming together nicely. Since we are in tech week now, we  are putting together every technical element (lights, costumes, set design) along with the music and the acting to create a finished product that we are performing this weekend. Although we are in good shape, we still have things to work on (getting difficult notes and rhythms down, etc.), so that's why we have tech week — and tech week means longgg nights!!

Over the course of rehearsals, I have had such a fun time getting into my character. Roger is a bitter and sad guitar player who lost the love of his life and is trying to write one last song to relieve his pain — a very interesting character indeed, and a type that I have never before gotten the  opportunity to play! If you are familiar with the show, you know that Roger sings quite a lot, and I have found that sooo many songs have been stuck on repeat in my head for the last few months. Check out "One Song Glory" or "Your Eyes" to get a little taste!

If you are in the area this weekend, you should come to the show!! Tickets are available online at www.bryantplayers.org... and you can also purchase at the door of Janikies Theatre the night of the show! Friday, April 13th is 8pm; Saturday, April 14th is 7pm; and Sunday, April 15th is 3pm.

Here is a picture that our director took of the principle cast (Mark, Roger, Mimi, Angel, Collins, Joanne, Maureen):

Spring Break fun!

March 27th, 2012

Spring Break has already come and gone — yes, it's scary, it means we are already more than halfway through the semester, and I have just about 50 days left until graduation!!! ahhh!!! Nevertheless, Spring Break was an absolutely fantastic time that I can't wait to tell you about.

This year, I packed my bags and headed with two of my friends to Barcelona, Spain to visit some other friends we have there studying abroad. Let me tell you, I could not have asked for a better week! Everything about Barcelona is exactly what I wanted in a vacation from school work — warm, beautiful, right on the water, historic, culturally fascinating, fun, good food, good friends, and plenty more. If you haven't been to Barcelona, I highly recommend it! The Mediterranean Sea borders the city, and the people there are fun and friendly, too.

The first day we arrived, we had the best sushi I have ever had in my life — we paid 13 euro each for an all-you-can-eat dinner, and we stuffed our faces! We also explored some of the fun places for nightlife in the city — late nights are popular, especially when you consider is a common part of the culture in Spain to not even start dinner until 9 or 10 pm.

Our time was spent doing a large variety of things jam-packed into  just the one week we had there. Believe me, it felt like we were there longer than we were, considering how much we were able to do! Our second day there, we visited the historic Sagrada Familia (a church that started construction a couple hundred years ago and still is not complete!), and we toured a large portion of the Gothic District of the city.

Later in the week, we visited my favorite location, the Parc Guell, a beautiful multi-level park designed by Gaudi (a designer who has had an extremely heavy influence on much of Barcelona's architecture) — we hiked to the very peak of the Parc Guell to one of the highest points in Barcelona, where we could see the entire city, the water, the mountains in the distance, and even for a few miles further. It was breathtaking and beautiful!

Many of my friends visited tropical beach locations for Spring Break, but I was extremely pleased with the Mediterranean locale — we walked to the water a few days throughout the week (stopping for fresh oranges at fruit stands along the way), and though it was just a little too cold to go in, we still sunbathed on the beach and had many relaxing, lazy afternoons. At night, we always tried to find something new to do, and by the time the week was through, I feel as though I saw sooo much of what the city has to offer. I have to admit, I wish I had taken a semester studying abroad, though I highly doubt this is the last time I will go to Barcelona — Spring Break just made me want to go back as soon as possible!! Besides, I could get used to taking a traditional daily siesta (afternoon nap) like they enjoy doing in Spain!

Here are some of my favorite pics from the trip:

^Barcelona!!

^some of my friends and I at the magic salamander at the entrance to Parc Guell

It’s a Wonderful Life

December 2nd, 2011

Right now, I am sitting in the lovely Janikies Theatre in between scenes as we Bryant Players rehearse our upcoming December show — It's a Wonderful Life!! For those of you not familiar with the classic film, it tells the story of George Bailey, a depressed man who is given the chance to peek at what life would be like if he hadn't been born and gains a greater appreciation for the wonderful life he has. And I get to play the role of Clarence, the guardian angel who guides George through his journey!

 As a senior, I have been able to act in seven different shows throughout my time here at Bryant, and I have even directed three shows. It's really neat to be able to have that leadership experience of directing, and I have been asked about it several times by potential employers looking at my resume. I've always been so thankful to have a great "resume-builder" from something that I really love and am passionate about. One of the coolest things about being involved with the Bryant Players is that I am able to relax from school work and get into a different mindset when I am onstage doing a show. It really is worth the time we put in.

 Here is a pic from a recent rehearsal, where some of us were still running lines (note that the set is nowhere near complete):

"It's a Wonderful Life" will run this coming weekend (it's December already??!), Dec. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th — if you're in the area, you should stop by and see the play. It is a ton of fun and, in true holiday spirit, extremely heartwarming! (I sound like a Disney commercial.) Although this one will probably be one of my last shows as a Bryant Player, I will definitely continue to pursue my passion for acting. Wow, I'm getting so reminiscent, and I'm still a few months from graduation. *sniff*

My Bryant “Bucket List”!

November 10th, 2011

As a senior, I've spent some time looking back at my experiences here. I get very reminiscent and emotional about things — this is no exception. Sure, I'm extremely thankful about all the opportunities I've gotten at Bryant, but I still can't help thinking about the things I haven't done yet. So, I made a Bryant "Bucket List".

 You know what a Bucket List is, I'm sure... A list of things to do before you kick the bucket. Well, I don't planning on leaving this earth anytime soon, but I do plan on leaving Bryant in a few short months (which will feel like days if they go by as fast as the last few months have). Hence, I've made myself a list of things I need to do before leaving my home of the last 4 years.

On the list: Have my picture on the Bryant website homepage ('sup world!); jump in the pond (I think this one is frowned upon); have a job by the time I graduate (or at least be close); win an epic game of Bingo (thanks, Student Programming Board!); and of course, walk under the Archway (our biggest superstition is that you can't do that until graduation day!). One cool thing I had on the list but just accomplished this past week: getting an article I wrote on the front page of The Archway, Bryant's newspaper!! 1 item down, about a thousand more to go...

Is this real life?

November 10th, 2011

As the semester drags on, things are starting to sink in... I'm graduating very soon! I remember Orientation like it was yesterday. My mom and I got to campus, unsure of what to expect, but knowing that it would be my first taste of the next four years of my life. And now, here I am, a senior.

Over the past few years, I've had many friends who were seniors, and I always tried to put myself in their shoes when they said how busy they were. Suddenly, I actually am in their shoes. Job searching, networking, working on senior 400-level classes, trying to finish my Honors project, and trying to still maintain my friendships before I leave — it all takes its toll on you. "One day at a time." I keep telling myself that over and over.

These past couple weeks have been midterm season. I'm happy to report that I'm doing extremely well in my classes this semester, and I am trying my best to not let "senioritis" kick in — This year matters, so I am really working my hardest. I'll have plenty of time to relax when I'm out of school (or will I?).

Right now, I've mapped out a possible career path for the next few years — it's admittedly a bit foggy and features about a million different roads on it, since I'm really open to a lot of things. As a Communication major, I really am graduating with a very versatile degree that I could apply to about a million different things. However, from my experience, I've found out that I love the world of television, and I love the world of PR and Advertising... Hence, I'm open to either career path. My weeks are filled with job applications in both areas, and I even have two separate resumes that highlight my skills in either area... We'll see where the next few months take me.

Regardless, one of the most important things I've learned is to not take anything for granted. As the days fly by, I try my best to enjoy them, knowing that I won't be here much longer... It's weird to think that a significant chapter in my life will be ending soon. As much as I love college life, I still cannot wait to see what is in store on the next few pages.

The Joys of Film Class

October 14th, 2011

Right now, my favorite two classes this semester are extremely similar: 'Studies in Film and Video' and 'Advanced Topics in Film.' For all those who don't know me personally, it is imperative to know that I am what you'd call an extreme movie buff. Ever since I was young, I've watched as many movies as possible, and I absolutely love them! And since freshman year, I've written weekly movie reviews for Bryant's campus newspaper, The Archway. I don't limit myself to any genre, style, or even language, because I feel that there are benefits to every type — and both of these classes have helped give me an even greater appreciation for film.

Interestingly enough, we have already watched a few of the same films in both classes — Citizen Kane, Dr. Strangelove, and The Bicycle Thief to be exact, so it has given me somewhat of a leg up to be viewing (and then tested on) these films twice. For that, I'm grateful, because I keep managing to catch camera tricks, lines of dialogue, and lighting techniques that I didn't notice the first time around.

In these classes, we've talked about a number of great topics, from adaptation of books to film, to the credibility (or "verisimilitude") of a movie, to nuance used in the setting of a film to convey the story's tone. And it always gives me something to write about in my weekly reviews. Week after week, I see one of the latest movies in the theater right down the road, come back to campus and write a review, and publish it in the weekly paper — and, best of all, I get reimbursed for my movie ticket price every week!

This year, I'm also the editor of the "Variety" section of the paper, which is the section that features entertainment reviews and other various non-news-related articles. Thus, week after week, I get to design the layout of my section and feature the movie reviews and other articles I get from my writers — I never realized how much I loved writing until I came to Bryant. And that just goes to show you how much college can uncover interests, skills, and passions you never knew you had!

Honors NYC Trip

October 14th, 2011

(senior) Adventures!

September 28th, 2011

Well hello everybody, and welcome back to my blog — it's been a while, as you can probably tell, and there really is a lot to catch up on. The important thing is that I'm back to blogging, and back at Bryant for senior year. YIKESSS!! (It still has not sunk in, considering I feel like I was just at freshman orientation!)

Where to begin? Well, this summer, I had a fantastic internship with "The Rhode Show," a morning television show here in RI that highlights the best our little state has to offer! I worked behind the scenes, helped plan some shows, gave cues to the talent, worked the prompters, and even made it on camera a few times over the summer — it was such a cool experience, and it confirmed that Communication is the right major for me!

 Now that I'm back to campus, though, it's full swing into my busy senior year schedule... gotta finish the year strong. My schedule includes a new job as an Admission Fellow, which means I'm working college fairs and giving interviews to incoming students — come in for an interview, and I may get to meet you! I'm also editing the Variety section of the campus newspaper, which includes movie, TV, and restaurant reviews. And, as always, I have the RA thing going on, too, a job I love immensely.

The first few weeks of school have been great. By now, I've settled into my classes, which include my Senior Honors Thesis (a 3-credit research paper due at the end of the year), two Film classes (we've already studied Citizen Kane and Benjamin Button), and a Public Relations course. Of course, the work load is tough, but senior year really pays off — now that I've gotten all my required classes out of the way, I get to take the classes I love more than any other ones!

My free time has been filled with other fun campus activities, too. We had a blood drive on campus last week, and as much as the thought of it freaks me out, I still try to give every time we have one. Here is a picture of me and my friend Alex getting ready to give:

Also, in any spare time I get, I've been trying to cook more often. The senior townhouses have full kitchens, so I have already spent a lot of time making some delicious meals for my friends. Here is some Chicken Florentine I made last week:

I will be blogging more often from now on — no more long lapses of time, haha. Be sure to continue following my blog to stay updated, and try to come visit campus at some point this semester if you get the chance, too! Until next time, cheers!

Spring Fever.

April 27th, 2011

WHAT?! Junior year is almost over?! I don't know where the time went, but it certainly felt like the blink of an eye. Before you know it, summer will be over, and I'll be coming back to campus for Senior Year!! But I don't want to rush it — I still have a week and a half of classes left, and I want to make them count.

Currently, the weather has finally decided to warm up (bout time!), and campus is just beautiful. The sun is shining, the trees are starting to bloom, and campus is crowded with students on the lawn catching frisbees, tossing footballs, and sunbathing — it hit 81 degrees today! And al this nice weather can only mean one thing: Spring Weekend is just around the corner.

Spring Weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year — it's full of outdoor activities, a big concert, and plenty of fun in the sun. This coming weekend, we have the band LMFAO coming to campus, an all-you-can-eat pizza dinner, an outdoor game competition, big bingo, and a comedian on campus. Cannot wait!

Although the campus is a-buzz with fun, we certainly can't forget that the last few weeks of the year are an extremely important time. We've got finals coming up in just a few short days. And for all you high school seniors out there, this is certainly a busy time of year for you too! If you haven't visited Bryant yet and made your decision, you should definitely come by for a tour — I've given plenty of them in the past few weeks, and I love meeting so many new people. Besides, getting out of the classroom and outside in the sun is a great way to spend part of my day!

Busy Days!

April 21st, 2011

It's been almost two weeks since my last post, and (as usual) I've been extremely busy over those days. I cannot believe how fast this semester has flown by, but I must come to terms with the fact that summer will be here soon. Right now, classes are going really well! In my classes, I am working on forming an Independent Record Label (Music Industries class), producing a talk show (Studio Production), and examining the U.S.-Japan relationship during this time of crisis (Environmental Policy). And each day of doing these exciting things just seems to fly by faster than the day before it.

Some highlights of the past few days:

Bryant's "Student Arts and Speaker Series" brought a cool hip-hop dance team to the Rotunda, and they put on a pretty sick show! Here's a pic:

I also took a few days off to attend a church conference in Atlanta, so it was nice to fly South for a little while (though we were there for only a few cold, rainy days). Back at school, I had the awesome opportunity to debate with the world-renowned Cambridge Debaters!! As part of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the honors society I am involved in, I had the opportunity to participate in a debate with 3 other Bryant students and the 4 students from Cambridge. This annual event is held in Bryant's Janikies Auditorium every year — we bring the debaters to campus to showcase their skills, while also raising questions to the Bryant community to discuss. Interestingly enough, this year's topic involved the costs of higher education vs. the benefits we receive, and it certainly was a fantastic debate. Not to mention, I also made some new friends who I can go visit across the pond if I ever want to!

 Finally, the other day when I had a little bit of free time, some friends and I went on a trip to Mystic Aquarium. I felt like a little kid all over again, as I hadn't been in years! The penguins were my favorite (and I'm sure many of you agree)! Bryant's Student Programming Board sponsored the trip, so it's great to be able to do fun things like that occasionally... A pic of me and some friends (with a penguin!!!):

Well, that's all for now, I guess. Wish me luck on my Music Industries mid-term this week. Besides forming a record company, we also have a "listening exam" that involves identifying over 40 different classic songs from just a few-seconds snippet. Good thing I love music so much, or else I would never be excited about taking a test!

Until next time,

Coburn