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

LOVE BUG the movie: the premiere

we had a super successful and overwhelming response at the premiere of LOVE BUG the movie...so much so that we had two screenings in one night, and the house was packed in both! many of the film's actors were in attendance including willy monfret, chris collins, mari agory, jennifer daniel, michael medugno, and aimee thrasher. it was a fun celebration for the cast, crew and producers to see their hard work reach completion on the big screen and to reconnect with each other.

katia sherman, owner of major model and
ramazan nanayev, writer/director LOVE BUG the movie

actors mari agory, chris collins, willy monfret and stylist christian wong

katia sherman & ramazan nanayev with lead actor willy monfret

check out more pics from the premiere of LOVE BUG the movie here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.499300513520471.1073741835.436818239768699&type=1

for more about the writer/director, ramazan nanayev, visit:
www.ramazannanayev.com

this is just the beginning for ramazan. excited for his next project, stay tuned...

previous post on LOVE BUG the movie:
http://onamindbogglingjourney.blogspot.com/2013/12/love-bug-movie.html

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.

merry christmas 2013

i worked on a special project called "the tale of the emergency landing at christmastime." it's a radio play written by playwright tyler grimes who's currently working, creating and collaborating with the distilled theatre company here in new york city. i derived a warm amount of joy working on this. (1) it's my first radio play. i appreciated the challenge of bringing a story to life without having the usual tools at my disposal to employ. there's only voice, imagination, emotions and listening. (2) this play contains all the magic you hope the holiday will bring but it also touches on the feelings of frustration, cynicism, sadness, and complexity of family that can be present during this time of year.

i hope for you to have your own miracle this season and going into the new year.
the download is free, a gift to you.

http://dtc-radio.podomatic.com

dutch kills

last friday night, i had the pleasure of attending a screening for a film i worked on. "dutch kills" is about a guy who's released from prison only to be pulled back into one last gig. the special things about working on this film are (1) it is a completed project and will be submitted to film festivals, meaning people will see it and hopefully connect with it in some way. and (2) the process by which this film was made is nothing short of inspiring. written and produced by a group of friends, it started out as an idea. pen was put to paper, friends were reached out to for support, these friends and friends of friends were cast, money was raised through a crowd-funding campaign, the project was shot, and the post-production process was endured. and now there's a living, breathing movie. there are so many stages to completing a film that allow for slim to none short cuts. i'm always amazed by those who commit to the process, taking it day-by-day and overcoming the inevitable challenges that present themselves. beyond inspiring.

congrats to tama filianga, r.l. mann, joseph mazzella, and liam leguillou for your talent, hard work and dedication. thank you to rotimi paul for bringing me to the project and lodric collins for your unwavering support.

here's the official trailer for the project:

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

sunset baby

this post won't do this play justice. "sunset baby" is a play written by dominique morisseau about a young woman who manages to pick up the pieces of her life after her mother passes away and her father comes looking for her collection of letters written to him. the young woman is caught in the middle of her parents' dreams, choices and work as revolutionists.

the subject matter, the language, the history, the emotional pain, the family, the lack thereof, the scars...was palpable. and that's putting it mildly.

i'm still digesting most of this play, so i'm not quite sure what i want to say about it. but time is of the essence and the last show is this sunday. go see this play. http://labtheater.org/sunset-baby/

LOVE BUG the movie

hey guys,

i've been very quiet on my blog this year. i've been working on a few things, but that's no excuse! that's even more reason to keep you up to speed on all-things-the-journey. one project i'm currently working on is "LOVE BUG."

the film follows a young man looking to love and to be loved and what happens when he falls for women at first sight. it features willy monfret, eugena washington, mari agory, kaitlyn raymond, charlotte lemay, katherin schlegel, chris collins and a host of other beautiful models from major model management, helmed by katia sherman. i'm the marketing lead for this film, brought to the project by writer and director, ramazan nanayev. he's a super talented filmmaker, and he also happens to be a classmate of mine through the independent film school (shout out to ela thier!).

take a look at the trailer...

follow us on one (preferably ALL) of our many social media vehicles.

twitter: @lovebugthemovie
instagram: @lovebugthemovie
facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/lovebugthemovie

we're working on a film premiere here in the city which ain't easy with an independent short film budget!...but...we forge ahead. stay tuned...more exciting news to come!!

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"

showing up

a famous woody allen quote is "90% of success is just showing up." i first heard this quote in one of my acting classes at william esper. we were discussing the auditioning grind. this quote can be applied to  various aspects of our lives, mainly our relationships.


Women really want a man who is consistent, who shows up for her and who doesn't waiver. It's a man's grounded, single-pointed focus on following his purpose, plus showing up for his woman that proves to her that she can open up to him. A woman just can't open herself and give herself fully to a man she doesn't trust.


Call her bluff. See her hesitancy not as rejection but as a test to see if you are going to leave or stay. She will open up and give herself to the steadfast man whom she trusts. Be that man. Sometimes you have to fight for love. And sometimes you just have to show up, be present and let it emerge. 


for the full article:
how to trust, even after you've been hurt 
by mastin kipp