Tuesday 19 February 2013

He didn't get where he is today, either


I haven't had a personal rant for quite a while, and today is so nice and sunny that I think I might spoil it with one.

I already spoilt last night by getting into an impotent rage with the grandson just after we had eaten, and I forgot that when I do this (which I seem to on a regular basis), it also spoils the next morning for H.I. so I maybe should keep my thoughts to myself...

It is all about modern communication, and how it is either misused or ignored by modern kids. His whole family are like this - including his step-father - so it can't be just a biological or generation thing.

Quite a few people - including and not least, me - have gone to quite a bit of trouble sorting the boy out with a wonderful job opportunity to start as soon as he leaves college this year (Film Studies), and not only that, but the job will be right on his doorstep, so he doesn't even have to move to expensive London.

I used a good connection to get him the good chance of a simple job on a well-known and loved TV series, new episodes of which are to be filmed very soon, a few miles from where he lives. His grandmother has already paid for driving lessons, as it will be a great asset to have a licence for this job, but we have not heard about how they are going. Ok, the job will be very badly paid and well down in the pecking-order of the production company, but it is a start, isn't it? This is how most people start in the industry to become A.D.s.

Yesterday morning, my connection sent me an email of the contact information for the entire production company, together with the name of who to arrange a meeting with - ASAP. I forwarded it to the boy, and told him to get in touch really quickly, as these jobs are like gold dust and the man in question was expecting to hear from him - whilst every graduate in the country is prepared to work for nothing on them. I then sent him a text telling him to look at his emails, because - as already moaned about - that generation is prepared to spend all day on Facebook, and not look at their mail for 6 months at a stretch.

Bear in mind that every time I have seen him for the last year or so, he has been hassling me to organise this stuff for him, and I have been telling him that it will happen in good time. That time has now come.

By about 8.30 last night, I had not heard back from him, so I tried calling him - no answer. I tried calling his girlfriend - no answer. I sent him another text asking if he had received any of the previous messages. No answer for about 15 minutes, then the following reply:

"Hi Tomas (yes, he always spells my name wrongly) sorry just read your message. I'm in bed. You mind if i call you tomorrow morning? X"

I make that nineteen words, if you include the X and disclude the apostrophes. He could have saved himself all that effort by simply replying, Got your messages thanks, will sort it tomorrow. X

That is HALF the amount of words, POSITIVELY used to respond to mine. So far, he has not called me back, either. I hope he doesn't blow it, because this will be his last chance from this source.

End of rant.

21 comments:

  1. Tom, I would be exceedingly angry if I had been treated
    to what amounts to either virtual contempt or disinterest.

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    Replies
    1. He's not as bad as may appear from the above, but can be bloody self-centred and irritating! I do love him, though.

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    2. Of course you do Tom after all he is a chip off the old block :)

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    3. Actually, he is not biologically related, but if you met his father, you would understand a little better. Enough said, I think.

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  2. Well Tom, you've done everything that you can on your side so, it's now up to him. If he blows it then so be it, although he will have let you down and ruined his future......you can only do so much then it's up to him.
    If he doesn't want the job then I'll have it !!!! Shame that I haven't got the right qualifications and that I'm too old !! XXXX

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    Replies
    1. Haven't I seen you in a few 16 mm films before, Jack@?

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  3. Some kids, although they want the opportunity have a hard time with making initial contact...it's a bit of a hurdle for them. I do hope he moves quickly with this.

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  4. Ah the old criticising the young Tom - it was ever thus I am afraid. The trouble with the present generation of young folk is that they have had so much done for them that they do rather expect it all to be dished up on a plate. I don't know what the answer is, but for the sake of your blood pressure don't get involved if this doesn't work out.

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    Replies
    1. What's wrong with the old criticising the old?

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  5. When you and I left school the world was our oyster; any job we wanted was there for the taking. Nowadays it's a very different matter (as everyone knows); he should have been bloody grateful! Maybe when he eventually reaches the upper echelons, he'll send you a few zillion smackers as a 'thank you'.

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    Replies
    1. He will probably film my death - against my will...

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  6. Teenagers are such a pain in the ass! My husband has a nephew, 18 years old, that refuses to go to school and hangs out with his (low life) girlfriend and smokes pot all day. He's making terrible decisions and his future isn't looking very bright.

    He was such a good kid when he was small, but he's growing up to be worthless. I'd like to smack him in the head sometimes. But, not having kids of our own, no one cares what my husband and I think about the situation. So we try to mind our own business. I sure do hate to see him going in the wrong direction, though.

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    Replies
    1. Funnily enough, that's just how I spent my youth! Nobody smacked me in the head either.

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  7. Dear Tom,
    I see what vexes you:
    - you asked a favour of an acquaintance, and so you feel responsable for the behaviour of your grandson
    - you see the chance he has
    - and he is not as thrilled as you.
    How come? It is his wish, I understood, to go into film industry? So he will know it isn't easy, and he will know he has to hurry (maybe he is already on his way and will surprise you?)
    You write the interesting sentence "for the last year ...he has been hassling me to organise his stuff for him". You did - now it is his turn. Fullstop. (And I trust they know what they do - and most often they do - though it is not always the way we imagined or like.

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    Replies
    1. You are most right, Brigitta. He is thrilled though, after all. It's just the modern manners which vex me.

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  8. Well look at it this way..in 50 years time....he will write a blog about all this and will wish that he was a little nicer

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    Replies
    1. Less than 50, I think. He thanked me and my mate today, although a little belatedly.

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  9. Right All, update time - I have now forgiven his slight lapse of manners, as he called me today at 1.30 pm. I still had to give instructions again, but at least he called me, and now I think... hope... he will do the right thing. Phew.

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  10. Please let us know if he gets the job, I'm on pins and needles now. :)

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