My Acting Type: Good vs. Bad Girl

Ok so here it is...I'm getting a bit further in acting and I have to figure out my Type of course. It comes before head shots and agent mailers. It's essential to being cast PERIOD. They want to know when you walk in the room if they're looking at a potential killer or a sweetheart. Here's the major bummer...you ain't got a choice in it. From the moment you hit the door you're being nicely packaged in a box. But what happens if the packaging doesn't match the gift inside? YIKES! Would you seriously believe on screen a Rambo-buff looking guy if he sounds like Tyson? Wait...but...nevermind.

That's when I realized I might have a potential problem on my hands. Potentially. See from an outsiders perspective I look like I should be peddling Snuggle Softener and singing a lil lullaby about sweet dreams. I don't know if it's these damn cheeks or Puss N Boots eyes that has sentenced me to the CUTE chamber for life.

Actually, I don't mind resembling the sweet and innocent woman that you would want to bring home to Mommy. I'm actually a fairly decent human being that believes in being positive and sweet to others. Hellooooooo this site is all about inspiring others to live out their dreams. But there is just one little problem. See when you're automatically labeled the "good girl" and the chick that guys want to date because they automatically "trust" you; there is a major side affect that begins to develop. You guys know what the issue is. Those who are reliable and trustworthy often are (yep you guessed it) taken for granted. And what happens to a woman who is taken for granted bit by bit? Yahtzee!!!!

She is either broken down, abused over time and becomes the "damsel in distress"(Halle Berry is the truth at this Type) or she becomes resentful and in the worse case scenario she becomes vengeful (Think Uma Thurman in Kill Bill). "Bad girls" my friends are possibly "good girls" who have been pushed over the edge. The reason why they're deemed "untrustworthy" by men is because they no longer give a damn. Of course there are those chicks who look like they were born solely to do what they damn well please from day one (Angelina).

See, in reality (the goodie-two-shoes you want to marry and the bad a** vixens you want to...), are one in the same. They're on the same spectrum just on opposite sides. Sorry I totally digress, I was talking about my acting type (ahem). Like I was saying, I will play the Innocent Young Lady you'll bring home to mama.

Tootles.

Shakira (much sweeter than Shak don't you think?)

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P.S. If you don't agree with my type, then go ahead and say something about it.

P.S.S. Btw, why are guys constantly surprised by "good girls" wanting to do seemingly bad things? I never get accused of this of course but my friends email me about it. :)

We Run This, Man....

Alternately entitled: The Return of Artisty

So, just checked out "Run This Town" vid.  Super Fresh, indeed.  I must admit the 1st time I heard the song, "eh" is what I felt.  After hearing it a bit more on my mixed cd, I started to fall for it.  Not too surprising because Jay does it to me almost everytime anyway.  But the vid was soooooo dope!  Shout out to Anthony Mandler, the director.  He's been doing his thing for a minute now and I had an opp to work on a vid with him years back before Omarion, Rihanna and such.  So happy to see the return of the artistry.  The thing is, I knew it was coming and have been saying it for a minute now.  The pendulum HAS to swing back the other way.  People can't take the vacuousness for too long.  People are drawn to authenticity not the watered down crap that keeps getting peddled.  True artists are going to keep creating just that, art.  That's what we do.  Loved the visual depth without feeling overwhelmed.  I'll prolly watch it a few more times tonight.  This ish keeps me inspired....love it.

Sidebar: purchased my 1st piece of Mr. Brainwash artwork tonight.  It's a Miles Davis joint.  More on that when it arrives.

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On Change and Selling Out...

Photography: Robert Buelteman

Today, I took a look at a blog my mom posted on her facebook page (sidebar: yes, my mom is on facebook. Your mom probably is, too. lol weeeiiiirrrrd awkwaaaarrrd. But at the same time kinda dope because my mom lives back in Atlanta). Anyhoo, so this blog was about photography which I'm really into and working on getting better. The guy the article was about (one of his photographs is above), Robert Buelteman who at 51 decided to change up his game a bit. He'd already seen success, his work published countless times over, a staple in Yale University Art Museum and so on. If he's winning in his career, why the change?

"It isn’t that I was running from dissatisfaction so much as I was seeking new possibilities for myself and for my art,” he stated.

That's the thing, "seeking new possibilities". When I feel complacent, I feel like I'm dying. Much in the same way Natalie Portman's character felt so compelled to do something unique in "Garden State", I HAVE to do something...anything. I love the people I consort with because they inspire me. My friends are so dope and I feel so fortunate. Diesel(Shak) and I can come up with a trillion ideas without even trying just over our phone convos. I try to fill my life with more people, more books, more websites, movies, etc that really inspire me. Even if that inspiration is just to laugh, you know? As a creative, sometimes I feel stuck. Where will my next treatment come from? Are my thoughts becoming too predictable or gen pop-ish? The worry starts to creep in... did I lose it? The fear is all too real even though I always come out of it. Will I ever have another idea? It sounds crazy when I think about it now, in times of boundless creativity because I know that well is endless. As long as I keep creation in my mind and not competition my creativity will forever be bountiful.

As Buelteman stated, "Dancing is its own reward, and once you try to do it right, you’ve lost the rhythm."

Once you try to create for your audience's sake soley then you've lost your authenticity and with that your audience. People think that artists of any genre sell out when they start to make money. Money is not the "root of all evil." In fact not making that doe-ray-me(tm Shak) off of your natural talent is a "sin". What else is it for if not for you to live from and help others? The real is that when people lose themselves and start making their art to fit a mold instead of constantly growing in the way that is natural for them because of that fear of losing the success, they've already started to falter. It's hard, I'm sure, to stay on the path. That's where that inspiration comes in. I want people to tell me if my ish sucks. Not on some hater type situation but people that are truly for me will tell me the real because that's what I do for them. I have to keep honest people around me who are also working on bettering themselves so that we all grow. No one grows from tons of "yes men", no one.

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Authenticity - Persevere - Inspire

excerpts from http://blogs.photopreneur.com/sparking-new-life-into-a-photography-career

Any1Man: the show, the feeling....

Photography and Flyer Design Work: Jon Genius

Any1Man was amazing. This past weekend, Shak & I attended my homie George's show in Burbank and it was packed when we got there, which was great. I have been wanting to see this play for the last couple of years, since it's inception, but this was the first time he's played on the west coast. Anyhoo...I was so proud, like parent proud, I was beaming in my seat. He was completely engulfed in every single character as each graced the stage. My favs were Wesley ("You better do it, Wesley!"), Adam, and Man-Tan. He really put into action the various types and phases of any man. I was completely enthralled and in awe of someone I've known for so many years. His performance at once touched my spirit and lit it on fire going through a range of emotions as I watched each character's tale unfold. Saddened by Wesley's plight and in love with his love of dance. Entranced by Man-Tan's charisma and wit. Feeling like I've found a part of the piece I can never seem to understand about the opposite sex in Adam's frankness about his fall from grace. Wondering what I'm "missing" when I walk down the street while hearing Bishop rant. Remembering childhood and feeling warm inside while Victor breaks through his fear of the dark (because aren't most fears really that simple anyway?). Knowing that there are so many men whose lives are mirror images of Willie's plight and he's probably the best to put it into words through his "cock"-iness and rage. I cannot wait to see where his immense talent takes him next.

Check out the link to read the descriptions of each character.

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Future in Music - J*Davey

J*Davey (comprised of Jack, left, and Brook, right)

While driving yesterday I got so tired of the mixed CD I was playing, you know how it goes. As I'm changing the CD the regular radio comes on (I can count how many times I've listened to it in the last 12 months, seriously) and some jazzlerific song comes on. I can't get my CD in fast enough. I thought, "J*Davey save me from the radio." lol

I remember the 1st time I ever heard them. A couple years ago a homie was in town and wanted to check out one of his favorite bands. I'm always down to hear/be put on to some new ish. So off we go. We get to the Viper Room and the crowd's eclectic (check, although not terribly odd for LA), and they come on within 5 minutes of our arrival (check, perfect timing by us). I asked my friend to tell me what kind of music they played on the way to the show...he says, "sexy-electronica-punk-soul". A melange? Dope. They come on and they're sexy-electronica-punk-soul-rock-funk. Awesome. Energy? Amazing. The band owns their presence in this interim arena. It's almost as if they're daring you to try to label them. By the time "Might As Well" comes on, I was done. I'm from The "A" and bass is what I grew up on, it's like the heartbeat. So, I felt the lifeline of the song before it actually dropped and was already in love. Near the end of the song crowd participation was in full effect and every single person in there was on the same wavelength. As soon as the show was done, I bought the double disc..."I need this in my life."

Why does J*Davey save me from regular radio? Because they're different, not for the sake of being so but just because they are. You know that they're influenced by "so & so" but they're not mimicking anyone. They own their sound. J*Davey is multifaceted, just like we all are actually, and they flaunt it instead of trying to fit into someone's box. Alright, it's warm again, time to bump some "Hi Sun."

Sidebar:  Jack's been rocking the fresh cut for years now.

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http://www.jdaveybaby.com/