the gift named lupita nyong'o

accepting her oscar for best supporting actress

accepting her breakthrough performance award at the essence black women in hollywood event

all abroad!: the "yo i'm making films" train

who:  ava duvernay. writer/director/producer. credits: i will follow, middle of nowhere, the door
what:  keynote filmmaker speech
when:  2013 film independent forum (october 27, 2013)
where:  los angeles, ca
why:  film independent organizes a networking weekend for filmmakers to meet other filmmakers at various stages in their journey. the keynote speeches are usually a big highlight.

all of that energy, all of that focus on trying to extract from other people, is preventing you from doing.
- ava duvernay

i wanna be on this train. 2014 inspiration.
if filmmaking isn't your thing, this speech is still worthwhile. it applies to anything worth pursuing (career, relationship, etc). the message is all the same.

beysus lives!

beyoncé: the visual album

what a model of inspiration we have in beyoncé. for any type of artist and we're all artists. even if your art is nothing more than the way in which you choose to live your life. we are all creators, and we create all the time. even when we are inactive, or scared, or negative, or down-trodden, we are creating that experience. one of the greatest gifts is to co-create with the universe through our choices and actions. 

this year alone, beyoncé performed at the 2nd inauguration for barack obama, gave an electric performance at the superbowl, released an intimate self-directed documentary on her life, embarked on a sensational international tour with her baby girl in tow, and just today released a visual album containing 14 songs and 17 videos. when does this woman sleep, or eat, or just "be?!" i/we are not working hard enough! :)

#artistry #grace #humility #dedication

outside your dreams, u lie awake...

the "dreams" video is out.
such a catchy song. i love the video, esp the animation & the sword fighting scene!
check out my cameo in it too.

shout out to: music artist daniel giel, writer/director sandy chase, producer/ad (lady who hired me!) huriyyah muhammad, talented actors koji nishiyama and lisa itabashi, make-up artist michael serapiglia, animator peter parlegreco, fellow actor jorge alvarez, gaffer tom chaves, key grip mike keane, 1st ac akina vandevelde, and production assistant amanda kizigha!

life is full of sweet little treats

merci beaucoup chandra caldwell & margaux hallenstein!
beautiful song & video
if you look hard enough...or play in slow motion...but don't blink...

a study for staircase no. 111012 - looking for volunteers

a study for staircase no. 111012

who: kenya (robinson) and jerome marshak

what: 
(in the artists' words) we are mounting a one-night intervention at a famous cultural institution. by using elements of the actual space (staircase) and a curious collection of materials (metronomes, laser pointers, vinyl decals, and people) we will create a choreography of unlikely interactions that speak to the accessibility of fine art, race and expectation.

when: sat, november 10, 2012

where: the MoMA

why: click here to hear and read more
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1531282719/a-study-for-staircase-no-111012

CASTING:
- 60 volunteers 
- age 21+
- self-identify as black
-able to walk up stairs
- availability: next wed, november 7 from 7pm-9pm (meet&greet/rehearsal date); next sat, november 10 from 5:30pm-11pm (performance date)
-the opportunity to work with two respected artists at one of the most influential art museums in the world
-all performers get a limited edition, signed and numbered silk-screened poster 

if you're interested, send an email to kenya.robinson@yale.edu.

tis the season for...screenings!

this fall has been really special in that a few projects i've worked on saw the light of day at a screening. such a rewarding feeling to see the culmination of your work on a screen and shown in front of an audience. the feedback is spontaneous, honest, and immediate. and...it can give an artist that extra little push that is sometimes needed to keep going.

good number

writer/director: paul mckoy

synopsis: a group of friends explore how many sexual partners is too many. 

role: val, wife

premiered at: the katra film series, manhattan, nyc, 9/29/12 

next steps: you can see this short film in its entirety on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLsQWaeo7tI&feature=plcp

the family dinner

writer/director: peter davenport

synopsis: secrets and surprises unfold at a family’s formal sit-down dinner.

role: production assistant

premiered at: mango screening room, manhattan, nyc, 10/1/12

next steps: the short film received its first award for “best narrative short” from the columbia center for the arts: mount hood independent film festival. next up, the film will be showing at the big apple film festival in nyc from nov 14-18.

dreams

writer/director: sandy chase

synopsis: daniel giel's music video featuring a student who falls asleep in the middle of his exam only to awaken to a strange dream world.

role: bubblegum girl

premiered at: the filmshop, williamsburg, bk, 10/25/12

next steps: the music video will soon be released on youtube. stay tuned. 

koji (castmate) and i at the premiere for "dreams"

Meet: K(Rob)...The Artist formerly known as Kenya (Robinson)

Last week, I received a call from my good friend Kenya.  In short, Kenya is an artist.  In long form, she's an installation artist, a writer, a painter, a designer, a performer, and the list goes on.  She invited me to perform with her in her latest show called "Displaced Threshold."  We (Kenya and myself) were the worker bees constructing a runway of mirrors for model Isis (from America's Next Top Model).

The best part about this performance was that it was completely improv, which I usually shy away from.  She instructed me to take a look at her artist statement or as she refers to it..."performance score" and come with a pair of sneakers.  I showed up, and we just let it flow.

Check out pics from "Displaced Threshold" here:
http://kenyaworkspace.tumblr.com/post/2380957795/check-the-some-of-the-images-from?ref=nf

Check out K(Rob)'s "Displaced Threshold" performance score here:
http://kenyaworkspace.blogspot.com/2010/12/displaced-threshold-performance-score.html