The art of a good blog is to have a niche. A niche that inspires you to inspire others. A blog that inspires you to write everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I have so many things that I always want to talk about and yet I still can go months without a proper post. Why does this end up being such a struggle? The blogs that I love and click on thousands of times are the ones that focus on one thing, and one thing only. The Sartorialist focuses solely on inspirational fashion from regular (and not so regular) folks. Garance Dore does the same. And every day you can guarantee that I will click onto their site, well over 50 times, just to see if they've added anything new. Fashion is probably my second passion, (if you don't know already, acting is my first) that may be the reason for my obsessive compulsive desires to click the minute I get home, the minute I wake up, right before I need to get out the door (inevitably contributing to the reason why I'm usually late). So ... where does this all lead me? What is the niche in which I wish to write and write and write until my eyes go crossed and my fingers are burdened with exhaustion? Drum roll please .......
Women. Women in film. Women filmmakers. Women who are out there everyday, paving the way for women like myself to have the opportunity to perform for my living. Women who own their own production companies. Women who are writing their own content that chooses to empower our role in society. Women who are filming their own stories as they see them through the camera lens. Women who are casting and giving the jobs to other women so that we can continue to have a powerful and fruitful stamp, not only in the world of cinema, but in the world. Period.
I want to dedicate my time here, on this blog, to writing about my discoveries, my struggles, my successes, my let downs, my triumphs, my true inspirations; in the hopes that it'll inspire more and more women to do the same. To take control of creating more opportunity for themselves, and for other women to work and be fulfilled in this business. Because, let's just face it, there just isn't enough of us out there. There's no need to complain about this. There's only a need to take action. To simply do.
As the brilliant spiritual guru, Eileen Caddy, so eloquently professed. "Stop sitting there with your hands folded, looking on, doing nothing. Get into action and live this full and glorious life. NOW. You have to do it!"
My hands are not folded in my lap, they're on my keyboard. I'm no longer just thinking about writing this blog, I'm writing it. And the what's the reason? Because I'm constantly inspired by the brilliant women that I'm surrounded by. I cannot wait to start writing about ALL of them. I cannot wait to start writing about YOU.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Homeless Chronicles
Living in Los Angeles you encounter your fair share of homeless personalities. Some fill you with sorrow while others ignite nothing but bewilderment through your bones. In recent weeks I’ve had some of my favorite encounters and must share their eccentricities. Let me preface this with it’s all coming from a girl who finds Little Edie to be her fashion icon and solitary hero.
The Joker
I was leaving Michael Levine’s fabric store last week when a tall man approached me with a lot of soul. “I’ll make you laugh for a little dough.” I’m tough to make laugh. If you have heard me say, “That’s so funny.” I really don’t think it’s funny and I’m simply attempting to appease you with my lack of direct enthusiasm. So, I thought that if he were to succeed then he truly worked for any cash flow I could offer him. I accepted his request and there we were, walking together as one liner after one liner was delivered with confidence and perfect timing. There was even an O.J. Simpson joke that when I heard the opening line, I quickly deduced that it was first of all dated, and second of all, that I had heard it before. Nope! It had me laughing hard at its boldness and shames me that I cannot remember the joke verbatim to share with you here. So, as a good businessperson should, I paid heed to our verbal contract and handed the man a few dollars. Sadly, those few dollars are more than most performers get paid during an entire theatrical run.
The Picky Eater
The Trader Joe’s on Hyperion has its staple homeless man. He sits against the wall, sometimes with shoes kicked off and a cup ready to receive change. One time I passed by the man four times in quick succession (I forgot my bag in the car, etc.) and every time I passed he said, “Change?” As if in the span of a few seconds money would somehow materialize in my hand that wasn’t there before. Well, Trader Joe’s has a banana problem. Sometimes they don’t ripen. When I brought back my pathetic and dried out bundle they sent me home with twelve! The other six were to make up for a previous batch. What can one single lady do with twelve bananas? Give them away of course! I walked out of T.J.’S and looked forward to my day of charity. I walked up, wanting to ask first because he may be allergic (like my Mama) and he replied, “No, not this morning.” Well how about this afternoon? And there I went with my twelve bananas and a good deed gone undone. A few weeks later I witnessed the same thing happen to another woman. The woman went to the man, “Would you like a banana?” And the Picky Eater responds, “No, not this morning.” I immediately started laughing and felt the need to commune with this kind woman about the same experience I had with this barefooted hungry, but not that hungry, man that has permanently planted himself outside our neighborhood grocer! But I didn’t. Instead, I went home to try a little bit of everything that I had in my shopping bag.
The Starlet
I was on my way to teaching my preschool yoga class when bam! I was hit with the image of this gorgeous platinum blond woman (well it was more white than blond) who was sitting barefoot near a bus stop. Her hair was full with volume and large curls. She was like a 1940’s starlet. But homeless. She sat there with her hand mirror; legs crossed, and finished perfecting a brilliant smoky eyed look that added drama to her ruggedly aging face. The image of her there is still is so striking to me. I saw her one more time on my way to the same class, getting ready for her day in the same fashion and wished I had had the time to possibly sit and have a conversation. Figure out her name, maybe how she got to wear she was and what possesses her to keep applying such a dramatic amount of make up when she doesn’t have enough food to eat. I fantasize that maybe she’s like the film version of Miss Havisham played by Anne Bancroft in “Great Expectations.” An old eccentric spinster who is out to ruin the romantic lives of the young! But, everyone isn’t a Charles Dickens novel so I’ll continue to pretend. And from one heavy eye make up wearing woman to another, I appreciate that what is important to her, a woman with a very low cosmetic budget, is to continue to look ridiculously fabulous when the odds are against you.
The Joker
I was leaving Michael Levine’s fabric store last week when a tall man approached me with a lot of soul. “I’ll make you laugh for a little dough.” I’m tough to make laugh. If you have heard me say, “That’s so funny.” I really don’t think it’s funny and I’m simply attempting to appease you with my lack of direct enthusiasm. So, I thought that if he were to succeed then he truly worked for any cash flow I could offer him. I accepted his request and there we were, walking together as one liner after one liner was delivered with confidence and perfect timing. There was even an O.J. Simpson joke that when I heard the opening line, I quickly deduced that it was first of all dated, and second of all, that I had heard it before. Nope! It had me laughing hard at its boldness and shames me that I cannot remember the joke verbatim to share with you here. So, as a good businessperson should, I paid heed to our verbal contract and handed the man a few dollars. Sadly, those few dollars are more than most performers get paid during an entire theatrical run.
The Picky Eater
The Trader Joe’s on Hyperion has its staple homeless man. He sits against the wall, sometimes with shoes kicked off and a cup ready to receive change. One time I passed by the man four times in quick succession (I forgot my bag in the car, etc.) and every time I passed he said, “Change?” As if in the span of a few seconds money would somehow materialize in my hand that wasn’t there before. Well, Trader Joe’s has a banana problem. Sometimes they don’t ripen. When I brought back my pathetic and dried out bundle they sent me home with twelve! The other six were to make up for a previous batch. What can one single lady do with twelve bananas? Give them away of course! I walked out of T.J.’S and looked forward to my day of charity. I walked up, wanting to ask first because he may be allergic (like my Mama) and he replied, “No, not this morning.” Well how about this afternoon? And there I went with my twelve bananas and a good deed gone undone. A few weeks later I witnessed the same thing happen to another woman. The woman went to the man, “Would you like a banana?” And the Picky Eater responds, “No, not this morning.” I immediately started laughing and felt the need to commune with this kind woman about the same experience I had with this barefooted hungry, but not that hungry, man that has permanently planted himself outside our neighborhood grocer! But I didn’t. Instead, I went home to try a little bit of everything that I had in my shopping bag.
The Starlet
I was on my way to teaching my preschool yoga class when bam! I was hit with the image of this gorgeous platinum blond woman (well it was more white than blond) who was sitting barefoot near a bus stop. Her hair was full with volume and large curls. She was like a 1940’s starlet. But homeless. She sat there with her hand mirror; legs crossed, and finished perfecting a brilliant smoky eyed look that added drama to her ruggedly aging face. The image of her there is still is so striking to me. I saw her one more time on my way to the same class, getting ready for her day in the same fashion and wished I had had the time to possibly sit and have a conversation. Figure out her name, maybe how she got to wear she was and what possesses her to keep applying such a dramatic amount of make up when she doesn’t have enough food to eat. I fantasize that maybe she’s like the film version of Miss Havisham played by Anne Bancroft in “Great Expectations.” An old eccentric spinster who is out to ruin the romantic lives of the young! But, everyone isn’t a Charles Dickens novel so I’ll continue to pretend. And from one heavy eye make up wearing woman to another, I appreciate that what is important to her, a woman with a very low cosmetic budget, is to continue to look ridiculously fabulous when the odds are against you.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The first, in a series of many ...
Here I am again. I'm at a blogging crossroads where I've decided to delete my previous account and start all fresh and new. My need for a clean slate is brought upon by my constant neglect and inability to encourage myself to write something I felt important enough to be looked at. But, I've narrowed down what it is that may be cause for lamentation and worthy of a blog post. My adventures in Los Angeles as an actress, comedian, writer, and producer. Oh, and yoga teacher, seamstress, doula, and any of the other hobbies I've taken upon in order to be able to pay my rent and feed myself sometimes organic produce, as well as buy new headshots and postage stamps. God, those little paper things are expensive.
My current adventurous obsession has been revamping my P.R. means and getting more of my work out into the ether. I cut my hair and LOVE it. My neighbor ran into me and described the new do as being "mod and fearless." I told him that I appreciated him and his opinions very much. My extraordinarily talented friend Aurelia is going to do the honors and snap some new shots. She was the one who did the brilliant job at recreating all of my American Apparel ads for my latest A.A. show. Here is a teaser for your thorough enjoyment. Radical? I'd say so.
I'm also in the process of revamping my website with my ridiculously talented sister. Christa is the reason that half of my P.R. stuff looks so professional. Otherwise I'd still be living in the days of cutting and pasting. With actual scissors and paste.
And that, ladies and gentleman, has been my life the last week. The revamps (I've used this word now three times) and new ideas. And I haven't even begun to work on my taxes and I have my appointment on Wednesday to make the magic happen! Perhaps I should stop this now and rummage through some old receipts to acquire some much needed write offs. Goodnight!
My current adventurous obsession has been revamping my P.R. means and getting more of my work out into the ether. I cut my hair and LOVE it. My neighbor ran into me and described the new do as being "mod and fearless." I told him that I appreciated him and his opinions very much. My extraordinarily talented friend Aurelia is going to do the honors and snap some new shots. She was the one who did the brilliant job at recreating all of my American Apparel ads for my latest A.A. show. Here is a teaser for your thorough enjoyment. Radical? I'd say so.
I'm also in the process of revamping my website with my ridiculously talented sister. Christa is the reason that half of my P.R. stuff looks so professional. Otherwise I'd still be living in the days of cutting and pasting. With actual scissors and paste.
And that, ladies and gentleman, has been my life the last week. The revamps (I've used this word now three times) and new ideas. And I haven't even begun to work on my taxes and I have my appointment on Wednesday to make the magic happen! Perhaps I should stop this now and rummage through some old receipts to acquire some much needed write offs. Goodnight!
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