Well, That Was Interesting...

[przed]

Yesterday I had an interview/test for an eLearning developer position. I was told the test was about general theory of eLearning development. In fact it was mostly questions about Flash and ActionScript programming.

I'm not a programmer.

I can tweak Flash code, but I'm not at a point where I can write it myself. (HTML and CSS, sure. Flash, not so much.)

Fortunately, there were a couple of questions on curriculum development, so I didn't turn in a completely blank test, but still, it wasn't totally fun.

At least the experience forced me to put together a very nice training portfolio. And now I know I need to swat up on Flash and ActionScript if I want to get into eLearning. Which looks an interesting route to take.

Anyway, to console myself after such a debacle, I hied myself hither to finally see Legion. Paul Bettany as the Archangel Michael was too delicious to contemplate. And while I wouldn't say it's a good movie, it was certainly entertaining.

Bettany was outstandingly good. I've always admired him as a smart actor, but his physicality in this role was extraordinary. Like the best martial artists, he moves like a dancer. (His sidekick is to die for.)

As a bonus, there was serious angel slash. Michael has two showdowns with Gabriel--played by Kevin Durand, who is, OMG, Canadian!--and in one scene in particular it's a near thing whether they're going to fight or kiss. And the fight itself, when it comes, is rather intimately choreographed.

Apart from Bettany and his fellow angel, the film was middling. The beginning and ending are pretty much stolen from The Terminator, and they've lifted bits from The Seventh Sign, The Prophecy and god knows what else. (Since I love all those films, this is not really a complaint.) Alas, I didn't care much for most of the supporting characters. (Lucas Black made me want to poke my eyes out, though Tyrese Gibson was all sorts of awesome.) But the constant possibility that Bettany is going to save the day yet again with guns blazing and fists flying makes even the dull bits bearable.

Comments

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Oh, ick, not a fun experience! (Um, the interview, not the movie...) But as you say, you can learn from it and it's interesting that eLearning is appealing to you. It's certainly a growing field, with lots of room for cool improvements.

And you almost make me want to go see Legion. *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

ELearning seems to be where a lot of the field is going. I'm starting a certificate in it, but not till next week.

And if you like Paul Bettany at all, you should see Legion. He's utterly stunning in it.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Kevin Durand, who is, OMG, Canadian! This is easily my favourite exclamation I've seen in a while. *g*

I've been amazed how many interviews friends of mine have been to in the last year where it's gone like that, like the people advertising the job don't really know how they should be describing the position.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Durand was doing a passable English accent, and his looks are more British than Canadian, so I was pretty shocked that he's a fellow countryman.

As for the interview, I asked about what the test would entail and was told it would be general training theory, not programming. So, yeah, a failure of communication all 'round. (I've got about a good chunk of the requirements for the job, and learn the technical stuff quickly, so I reckoned it couldn't hurt to apply. Or not.)

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

Argh. Sorry about the elearning test. There's nothing like sitting to do something and knowing you don't have the knowledge a) they want; b) you thought you'd need.

Yay about Bettany, though! I adore him. Of all the actors currently working today, he's my fav (yes, more than my beloved SPN boys). I just wish he'd play the good guy more often. Hollywood seems to like him as a baddie. Of course, they tend to cast Brits quite a bit as baddies, so maybe he was doomed from the start. ;-)

[przed.livejournal.com]

I don't know whether to be happy or disturbed that I can write a cover letter that gets me into an interview I am not qualified for. :-/

And if you like Bettany, which I know you do, you totally have to see Legion. It ain't great, but as I cannot emphasize enough, he is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I'd kill to see him play the action hero in a good film. (I despair of him playing baddies too--The Da Vinci Code? Really, Paul? Did you need the mortgage money that bad?--but maybe this will get him on the radar of more casting directors and directors.

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

I don't know whether to be happy or disturbed that I can write a cover letter that gets me into an interview I am not qualified for. :-/


That just proves what a good fiction writer you are.

KIDDING!!!

:-)

[przed.livejournal.com]

You're 'orrible, you are.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Gah, that interview sounds stressful.

Thanks for the 'review' of Legion, my son and I are planning to see it mainly for the wingporn, so it's nice to hear you enjoyed it, despite it being (as we expected) not that great. ;D

[przed.livejournal.com]

The wingporn is epic, and well worth the price of admission. Go in with low expectations and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Well, you're looking on the bright side that it helped you get your portfolio together. That's good, then.

[przed.livejournal.com]

It's look on the bright side or bang my head against a wall. The bright side involves considerably less pain. ;-)