A Grand Adventure or Nada!!!

I finished the documentary on Tyga the rapper.  It took about 2 months.  And a handful of people were allowed to see the finished goods.  But in the process of creating it, I decided that I didn't want to release it.  The film quality was excellent and the editor did an amazing job with the piece.  But towards the end of the process I became more troubled.  I realized that you can't separate the messenger from the message.  I decided I didn't want to release a doc to high school kids that puts this rapper on a pedestal of a role model.  I'm sure like all of us, he's a mix bag of great, admirable qualities and horrible elements, he's human.  But I'm not sure he would even be comfortable with the notion of "role model".  Soooo I canned the project and that was painful. A part of me still wants to release it because it demonstrates the price of one person becoming FEARLESS.  It shows a young kid in a classroom giving everything to his craft, having setbacks and years later, persevering. And I wanted kids to see an example of someone who worked through his FEAR, and what is possible for them.  But what has he done with his fearlessness? Is he raising awareness for a cause?  Is he teaching young boys from the hood his path to entrepreneurship?  Isn't that MORE IMPORTANT than overcoming fear itself?  What will we become on our hero's adventure? But I am severely biased.  I want too much from my students.  And he is still young and has plenty of time to decide his path GRRRRRRRRRRR!

Ah the hypocrisy of being a teacher.  We want what we want from our students.  But great teachers know that we teach students to think independently even if it pains us.  I am also slanted of course in my judgement of Tyga.  I've been called a light worker, an idealist, a martyr, an underdog, and an outlier.  I suspect all of those are somewhat fitting. It is not enough to be courageous to me.  One has to do something to leave this Earth a bit better.  And who am I to judge perhaps?  Even those who do harm in one area (degrading women on videos), many times do good in other areas (donate money to schools). 
Overall, this project made me realize what I cared about the most: Helping to raise people's awareness. And getting rid of everything this year has left me with who I am.  It's been a scary and thrilling ride. I like to call this period in my life "reconstruction".  After all, we are the builders and destroyers of our own path.  We determine how high and distinctly beautiful or appalling the structure.  This may be a big shocker to some.  Many people still believe that life is about blowing in the wind without a rudder or purpose.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  And yet, the secret is YOU determine that purpose.  You decide what it will be and if you are willing to pay the price for what you want out of this life which takes a nice helping of COURAGE.
   
Hellen Keller said, "...Life is a grand adventure or nothing at all."  I couldn't agree more.  Since leaving my stable, well-paid corporate gig, I have finished the documentary that I didn't release, lol.  I have acted in 2 other film projects that I co-wrote one involving filming on the 405 freeway, so much fun.  Annnnd I'm finally finishing a book about FEAR and how it destroys lives.   Lastly, I'm applying to a teaching residency for a charter school program.  Oh and I became a part of SAG, the official union for actors, blah, blah.  I used to think there was a blueprint for success.  In fact our logo was based around this notion.  But what I realize now is that success is about doing what you want to do and being who you want to be.  And for me that entails raising the awareness of others in society.  I'm happy.  And I thank the Universe, God, Allah, Jesus, Buddha and anyone I may have missed for allowing such a grand adventure at such a young age.  Encore!!

P.S. Check out this article by Steve Pavlina.  http://www.stevepavlina.com/articles/courage-to-live-consciously.htm

Shak
100. 

Become on Fire!!!!

It's been almost a year since my last post, at least I think.  It had occurred to me that I was starting to spend too much time watching other people's grind instead of actively working on mine so the blog has since suffered.

It's easier that way.  You know, sitting on the sideline, pointing out the highlights and lowlights of a person's career.  But what about us?  What do WE want to accomplish?  I think that's the right question. But then there's the hard part.  Making a decision!

Do we DARE to go after what we want?

What would happen if you allowed yourself that desire to want what you REALLY want.  Most of us can't stand the thought of desiring something because we don't think it's at all possible to attain.  But what if it was? Very few peeps have dreams that are totally out of reach and yet they still DO NOTHING to move towards them.  We get stuck.  Should I go for that new job?  "Naaaaah!"  Should I talk to that cute girl?  "I dunno what if she doesn't like me?"

What to do?  Show no FEAR.

Take one little, baby step towards it.  And who knows, one thing propels you to the next thing, and before long you're moving in the direction of your dream.

I've had these tapes of film in my closet FOREVER.  It was just sitting there, getting nice and dusty like most stuff that just sits.  One day I had the bright idea to transform the tapes into digital files to see what was actually on the film.  Who knew the film would contain an amazing story just waiting to be sculpted and plucked from obscurity.  6 years ago I had an idea of highlighting what young MCs and Skateboarders do (they grind).  So I wrote/directed a story and hired a production crew without any experience of course.  When you have something you Really want to do, you just DO IT.  The TV pilot was called Grindin'.  I decided to bring along a kid I was helping at the time.  It was his energy.  It was his passion.  He was a MC before he was a MC (CARS, $$$, LADY FRIENDS).  Rappers do that you know.  They're some of the biggest believers.

6 years later.  Tyga is HUGE!!!!

And on film, I have what I saw 6 years ago.  A kid,  (Unknown but On Fire).  It's what I've been trying to tell  anyone who is willing to listen.  "BECOME MORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!"  "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE MIGHTY, INSANE THINGS", "FIND WHAT YOU LOVE AND GRIND".  I have witnessed and helped many on their hero's journey.  And FINALLY I was clever enough to capture it all on film.  YES!!!!  Maybe by coincidence.  I doubt it.
Now, for the fun part.  I have to get the story out to millions.  On to the next challenge.  And so I'm off on my own adventure again.
Shak
100.

P.S.  I'll post the short documentary of Tyga when finished.  :)