Star Light Star Bright

hiphoplesson1

2012-01-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

my first hip hop lesson in years. I was a little winded lol but I kept up :)

2011-12-22T19:30:00.001-08:00

Niketa Calame Interview on Blogtalkradio

2011-12-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

Listen to internet radio with Motown Maurice on Blog Talk Radio

Lead Vocals on Promise To Remember Me Campaign

2011-11-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

In September the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation aske me to record lead vocals on the Promise to Remember Me campaign song. It was shown at the annual Juvenile diabetes walk at Dodger Stateuim for millions of people. Such wonderful experience working with all the type one children.

Christmas is coming give a innovative gift

2011-10-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

Ribbon Variety Gift Collection: The Holidays are coming! Give a unique Gift with The Ribbon!

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--
Niketa Calame

To find out more information you can call me and i can order for you or you can register on my website and click on more products at the top and then the drop down click on ribbon gift collection

www.amway.com/niketacalame

Interview with Niketa Calame Young Nala and Don Hahn Producer for Lion King 3d Premiere

2011-09-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

Niketa Calame Red Carpet Interview Clip

2011-08-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

Lion King Premiere Weekend

2011-08-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

Young Nala, Adult Nala, Rafiki and Directors

Such a wonderful experience. The hype around The Lion King 3d Premiere at the El Capitan August 27th 2011 was even greater than the 1994 original release. Simply amazing! All the little kids who came to see The Lion King in 94 were now bringing their kids to see the 3D release. The cameras were out the interviewers were out and the fans were def. out. When we moved into the theater we were greeted with complimentary pop corn and sodas. A man center stage was playing wonderful Disney music on this huge phantom of the opera style organ. When the lights dim and the curtains rose thunderous applause filled the theater. Then the opening as soon as you hear that African voice chant as the the sun starts to rise on the African horizon another thunderous applause from kids adults and elders many generation of Lion King fans. Then circle of life ends and the icon in red THE LION KING with black background pops and another thunderous applause happens. Simply Amazing. Kids and Adults were engrossed in the film its amazing how an animated film can hold so much weight across the ages. People laughed and there were even some tears when Mufasa died. After the film ended another Thunderous Applause happened. I was on cloud nine to know that I was apart of such a classic such a great piece of classic animation and it touched so many people.
The after party was just as amazing. There was wonderful food everywhere. A live African Band and African dancers, arts and craft stations for the kids, flip book photo station with timon and rafiki, Wolfgang puck desserts, animated drawing station.

Chatting with @niketacalame and Producer @donhahn. Great back... on Twitpic

2011-08-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Chatting with @niketacalame and Producer @donhahn. Great back... on Twitpic

James Lipton giving me a shot out on Inside The Actors Studio (scroll to 30:32)

2011-08-05T23:38:00.000-07:00

Scroll to 30:32 on the clip to see James Lipton give me a shot out for being the voice of nala in The Lion King

The Lion King in 3D

2011-08-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

The Lion King 3D To hit theaters September 13, 2011

Dont miss Niketa Calame as the voice of Young Nala in Disneys' 32nd Animated Feature Film The Lion King hitting theaters in 3D for a limited time September 16, 2011 and Blue Rey Release in October

On the way to san Francisco to ivory arts camp

2011-06-21T20:48:00.001-07:00

Teaching you either have it or you dont

2011-05-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Some actors wait tables I teach. My side gig to subliment inbetween gigs lol has been to teach musical theater, drama and dance to young artist. I have recently discovered that I actually have a passion for it and am pretty good at it. Reaching into to those little minds to pull out their full potential for the stage is an art of mine that God has given me. I have always been an enrichment teacher since grad school teaching kindergarden - 12th grade in New York city and Los Angeles. This summer San Fransisco calls. My first hired out gig as a Master teacher and it feels so good I cant wait to go. This summer I am also teaching on my own without the umbrella of someone elses foundation which is also exciting.

I am holding a 12 session musical theater class for kids 7-15 for only $120.
Wednesday nights at 7pm and Saturday mornings at 10am
@ Dance Fantasy Productions 10600 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood Ca

First class is Saturday June 4th

Registered my First Screenplay

2011-04-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

So A few months ago I had the inspiration to write a short film. I have been in over 7 weddings in the past few years and I have not been even close to getting proposed to. So I wrote a film called "Never The Bride". I regisitered it with The Writers Guild of America April 1, 2011. Im so excited to start pre production. I am carefully picking my team and starting to research funding sources. I wrote with my cast inind. I could hear each person I picked speaking the words I wrote. I need a director who is great with the technical aspects of things because my cast is so amazing he is not goin gto have to do a lot of actor coaching I need for the visuals to be as strong as the actors. So here we go the start of my writing career I will keep you posted. I hope to start filming in August or October. Im looking to raise 5,000 in six months. Festivals and film competitions here we come.

Settling Into Yourself

2011-03-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

So march has been amazing for me thus far. I just got back from a wonderful trip to DC working one of my charities American Diabetes Association. I headed to NY after to see all my Actors Studio Friends and headed back home to 2 major auditions. My first audition National Tour of Mama Mia and a CGI animated feature film in the style of Across The Universe. I prepped for a week for both and it payed of f in the audition. I am really starting to settle in with myself with respect to the whole "audition process". I was prepared I went into those casting rooms thinking I am the only person suitable for this part so let me do what I do and you decide Mr casting guy lol. Just thinking that before I went in gave my body permission to relax, a sincere smile showed up on my face and I do believe they met the authentic version of myself and not that needing to please casting i want this role so bad cant you tell by my ginormous grin and annoying laugh at your unfunny jokes self. Every now and then even the best actor has those moments lol you just have to tell yourself to relax, you got this, you found your passion in life now embrace it, trust, make a choice and have fun.

Ive been selected to be an advocate at Call to Congress in Washington DC

2011-03-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

New Photo Shoot Photography Mark Lebowitz

2011-02-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

Check out More of Photo Shoot

2011-01-08T16:48:00.001-08:00

On my way to my first major audition of the year at Warner brothers

Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T22:39:00.000-08:00

So we are almost out of here 2010. You have taken me on a rollor coaster this year. From almost loosing my mother in Jan to becoming her care giver this whole year. It is crazy to watch someone who has been sooo independant and full of energy slow all the way down to the point where I had to cut up meat on her plate at times. It has been the biggest acting challenge of my career, acting like im ok day in and day out. Acting like I dont just want to scream or punch a wall when I see my mom so sick all the time but trying to keep her spirits up by disguing my fear and sorrow for her. We have come a long way to look on the bright side. I did not loose her she is and always will be a fighter. She always shocks the doctors thats her style lol. She can be having a normal conversation with you with a 290/90 blood pressure. Some of my friends say im so strong, i dont feel that way some days I feel like all of my sunshine spirit all of my bubbly personality has been sucked dry, sometimes I dont want to smile or engage. Other days I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world to still be pursuing my dreams. It will only get better 2011. Im coming for you full steam ahead.

You have received a YouTube video!

2010-12-31T17:50:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6mLd11yxCc&sns=em

The Plight of the Starving Artist

2010-09-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

Just had a wonderful conversation with one of my close friends today who is also an actress. We were talking about our financial struggles and how actors rarely ever share the hardships of the business. You just know folks are going on auditions booking small projects here bigger projects there but the inbetween time the in the meantime is where it can get challenging. The crazy thing about this business is that you can make $100,000.00 one year and $9,000.00 the next. Even though there are millions of starving artist out there this is not really a business where being close to broke will help you move at a faster pace up the latter to your career goals. Headshots cost, Workshops and Classes cost, Gas to and from auditions cost, keeping your beauty up (which is part of the job) cost and the list goes on and on. So many of my artist friends have the challenge of finding "regular" jobs that will pay enough to keep food in their mouths but are not so time consuming that they have to put acting on the back seat. Agents dont want to hear I cant get to that great audition because my boss and my regular job says I cant leave today. Although there are many making a solid living soely from acting the rest of the bunch are struggling personally while making positive upward strides in their artisitic careers. I know some actors who have put acting on the back burner just so they can catch up financially to breathe and i know some actors who struggle and are determined not to let anything take priority over their dream and are damn near homeless. Where is the middle ground for the starving artist? Sleeping on friends couaches, sleeping in cars, moving from apartment to apartment because of late rent payments, filing for unemployment or even food stamps forget its hard out here for a pimp its hard out here for a starving artist. I know an actor who booked a film, but you know it takes a while for those checks to roll in , had to cancel one of the shoot days because she didnt have gas money nor money to take the bus.
So we ended the conversation wishing that more actors would share with each other and be honest about their situations. You would be suprised at how many people are going through exactly what you are going through or have been there at some point. Closed mouths dont get fed is a fav quote of mine. Actors please lets stop thinking of each other as competition and start thinking of ourselves as a community. More collaborations, more support groups, more mentors- less haters, less selfishness, less judgement. God is LOVE. So lets LOVE.

I want to share 'Conversations with...Jimetta Rose' with you

2010-08-10T11:56:00.001-07:00

Hi!

I thought you would enjoy this video: http://vimeo.com/7527154

Come out and see me in "A HAUNTING SECERET" August 7th 2010 at El Camino College Theater

2010-07-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

You can buy tickets at http://www.jnjproduction.info/ One night only Performance August 7, 2010 4pm at El Camino College Theater

niketacommericalreel

2010-07-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

Niketa REEL

2010-07-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

2010-07-22T03:23:00.001-07:00

Going on as kiswaana brown in Women of Brewster Place the musical at Celebration Theater in Los Angeles CA

My First Time Being A Swing in a Musical

2010-07-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Wow what an experience. Covering four roles in the Los Angeles premiere of Women of Brewster Place the musical was quite a challenge. Learning four different character arcs, with their own solo songs different harmony parts, different choreography and being ready at a drop of a hat to go on. I went on as Tee twice and Kiswana Brown twice, two completely different women and I enjoyed every minute of it. My first time on I had 10 days to prepare for the part but with the help of the choreographer and assistant director I pulled it off and surprised myself. When faced with a challenge the important thing I learned is to breathe and realize that this is what i do and I can do it. As soon as I hit the stage it all flowed through me and I felt like I was on fire. The Cast of Ladies were wonderful and helped along the way. So many talented ladies in one space and not one diva attitude in the building. It was a big family and I hope to work with all the ladies again. I love the stage!

The West Coast Premiered of Women OF Brewster Place played at Celebration Theater on Santa Monica Blvd.

Niketa Calame performing Monologue

2010-06-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

Women in Hats (Watch and Vote)

2010-05-04T00:51:00.000-07:00

Help our film get win a screening at the DGA (Directors Guild of America)

watch "Women in Hats" When you get to website: http://film.chapman.edu/Cecils/Login/asp please do a quick registration and then Log in to the site. Next click on
view and rate films. Look for Women in Hats Thesis and enjoy, then VOTE!!! Pass along to your friends and family to do the same.

2010-03-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

Wrapping shoot today on the scifi film "Reawakenings" in the role of Nurse Aubrey. Screening late April 2010

Dean James Lipton giving me a shot out on Inside The Actors Studio

2009-12-22T12:29:00.000-08:00

Selah Gospel Chior Concert Saturday December 5, 2009

2009-12-03T23:51:00.000-08:00

Selah Gospel Chior concert coming this Saturday December 5, 2009 Altadena 7:30pm - 10:00pm
Location: 943 East Altadena Drive, Altadena, California 91001

Multi-Cultural, Multi-Denominational voices coming together to sing a joyful noise since 2007!

Last Days On Women in Hats Film

2009-11-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

Last Days on "Women In Hats film" praise Dance Scene

The Actors Vow by: Elia Kazan

2009-11-28T10:57:00.000-08:00

I WILL TAKE MY RIGHTFUL PLACE ON STAGE
AND I WILL BE MYSELF
I AM NOT A COSMIC ORPHAN
I HAVE NO REASON TO BE TIMID
I WILL RESPOND AS I FEEL; AWKWARDLY, VULGARLY
BUT RESPOND
I WILL HAVE MY THROAT OPEN
I WILL HAVE MY HEART OPEN
I WILL BE VULNERABLE
I MAY HAVE EVERYTHING & ANYTHING
THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER
BUT THE THING I NEED MOST
AND WANT MOST, IS TO BE MYSELF
I WILL ADMIT REJECTION, ADMIT PAIN, ADMIT SHAME
ADMIT OUTRAGE, ADMIT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO ME
THE BEST AND MOST HUMAN PARTS OF ME ARE
THOSE I HAVE INHABITED AND HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD
I WILL WORK ON IT
I WILL RAISE MY VOICE
I WILL BE HEARD

Part two of webisode series I host "Conversations With..."

2009-11-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

Conversations...with Jimetta Rose from Arias Williams on Vimeo.

My advice to an actor just starting out!

2009-11-24T19:59:00.000-08:00

Stay Focused. Do something related to your career everyday even if its just reading an interview from your favorite director or actor. Keep living, and have a life, dont live and breathe the business have other things that interest you as well. Dont take rejection personally half the time its not about you its about who they already hired to play the mother that you dont look like, or you remind them of thier ex or whatever crazy things happen lol. Casting directors want you to be good they are rooting for you, so relax make a strong choice and deliver. At least when you leave that audition and if you dont get it you know you did your best and maybe they will remember you for the next project. Stay up to date with what is going on in the industry (Union issues, the trend with directors and actors, learn the vocabulary). Dont say no to indies and student films if the project is good its good and you will learn something from the experience and form relationships with the possible next steven speilberg he was only 26 when he did Jaws :)

Just wrapped film "Women in Hats"

2009-11-23T14:08:00.000-08:00

Working on the film "Women in Hats" directed by: Brandi Brown has been one of the most wonderful acting experiences to date. The script was rich the characters were colorful and the cast and crew were oozing with talent and positivity. Every now and then you come across a project that is a diamond in the ruff. Every now and then a project finds you and you know that it is bigger than you. Women in Hats is one of those projects. The film is set in 1947 (which I was super excited about doing a period piece) and follows the life of Maybelle who owns a juke joint and has stemmed away from the church, the only way she will return is for the Pastor Harper to agree to let a Liturgical Dance Ministry develop to bring in new energy and young folks into the church. With the help of Betty, Maybelles best friend and Olivia, Pastors wife the three ladies show strength in believing in dreams and doing something active to help them come into existence.

Coming soon in April of 2010! Be looking out for a trailer in the near future!

New Webisode Im Hosting called "Conversations With...."

2009-11-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

Conversations with...Jimetta Rose from Arias Williams on Vimeo.

How to Deal With Stage Anxiety

2009-08-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

NiketaCalame says when dealing with stage anxiety:

I would suggest getting to the theater earlier than the call time if you can. Bring your ipod and listen to a calm song that is one of your favorites or your characters favorities do a relaxation exercise. Lay on your back (if its clear do this right on stage). Tense and release your muscles one at a time from your toes to your legs to your abs to your arms to your face. Do this a couple of times. Then do this again in your chair in the dressing room or green room when house opens.

You also have to remember its not about you its about the story and the character. If all else fails use it. Think to yourself "might the character be nervous or have anxiety" about an event in the play and see how that can inform your behavior as you play on stage.

Good Luck,

Niketa Calame

Remembering The Icon Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

"We've been, Together, For Such A Long Time, The Music, Music and Me...Don't Care, Whether, Our Songs Rhyme... The Music, Music, and Me" ...Michael Jackson

I don't think I can remember any part of my youth without thinking about the music of Michael Jackson. My earliest memory of his music and me was my first ballad which was BEN well that and Lets Wait Awhile from Janet Jackson. I remember performing numerous Michael Jackson hits in my living room for my mothers VHS camcorder. Learning the whole Thriller Dance and performing it in front of whoever whenever the song came on. Watching every new premiere of a Michael Jackson video cause back then it premiered on regular television for all to see at 8:00pm every single new Michael Jackson video.

Then there was MOONWALKER the movie, I played that movie so much the sound goes up and down in certain areas of the VHS tape. Note to self maybe its time to transfer it to DVD and yes I still have a VHS player, at least I didn't say beta lol. Awe MOONWALKER what a genius making a mini movie that included music videos to the whole album BAD not to mention video clips from earlier Jackson moments. I cryed with MAN IN THE MIRROR and grooved with SMOOTH CRIMINAL (shot out to Brandon Adams who "taught him everything he knows" lol)and was introduced to the Beatles through Mike's COME TOGETHER version of the Beatles classic rock song. I think that was the first artist who had done such a thing make a whole movie out of his album that is. Anyway Michael's music videos told stories they were actually related to what the song was about imagine that. They were mini movies that could be watched over and over again.

The Dangerous Album reminds me of my dancing days at Regina's School Of Performing Arts that was on Labrea near Wilshire. Awe the days where teaching hip hop in a dance studio was unheard of in LA. But Regina fostered that out here in LA and that one dance floor studio with the two dressing rooms in the back two bathrooms midway on the dance floor and the info desk and office in the front was home to some of today's great hip hop Choreographers. I remember taking Fatima's hip hop class when I was a little girl who went on to choreograph the REMEMBER THE TIME video and the rest just went up from there for her. I even remember some of the Jackson's stopping through as so many artist of the 90's did back then.

Oh and when Michael lost his video virginity and got all down in the dirt with Naomi Campbell in KEEP IT IN THE CLOSET. We all rooted for Mike when he kissed Iman in Remember the Time even though I saw that light and space in between their lips, not so smooth Mike, but at least their lips did actually touch. You cant forget the Dangerous tour who can pop on stage with a gold g string suit over some shiny black flooding pants and stand still for like 30 minutes before starting the concert and still remain a G "Michael Jackson" thats who lol.

Not only was he an ICON, one of the Greatest Performers of all times and the King of Pop but he was a craftsman. Held his music integrity and was always pushing boundaries with sounds and visions of how it would be presented. I wish more artist who call themselves artist would care a little more about thier art, their voice, their sound, their music. Maybe their music would transend through the decades and become timeless classics like every single one of Michaels songs. But there can only be one Michael Jackson and he will be missed by all. But The Music will always and forever be with me!

2009-06-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Working with Infiniti Productions in a week. So excited theme: 40's classic hollywood. Pics coming soon for viewing.

VOICE OVER WORK

2009-06-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

SOME OF MY EARLY WORK AS THE VOICE OF "YOUNG NALA" IN DISNEY'S 32nd ANIMATED FEATURE FILM "THE LION KING"

MY DEMO REEL

2009-06-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

CHECK OUT MY DEMO REEL. UPDATED REEL COMING SOON!

"All The World's A Stage"

2009-04-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

What is my purpose? What do I love more than anything else in the world? What makes my soul sing? Performance! To jump into the mind of a juicy character, to figure her out. Her story, her song, her family, her talent, her weakness her faith. What makes her tick? To understand her in relation to the other characters in the story, in relation to the overall theme. What is author trying to convey? To dance that waltz closely with the audience and take them for a dynamic tango for 30 min or an hour or two hours. Then go home and do it again the next day with a whole new group of eager minds.

There is nothing like the theater! I love the smell of the dust backstage in an old theater house. Feeling the old wood, old furniture, old costumes and old props. Looking at the ropes that draw that heavy curtain from the wings. Looking at the old yellow bulbs that illuminate the dressing rooms. To feel the heat they give off from being on for hours and hours. Little mirrors with designated trinkets claiming space by cast members. Carved names of past shows in chairs and dressing tables from cast members. Old untouched green room with little to no style but home for cast & crew before & after rehearsal, during intermission. Old cracked cabnits filled with coffee mugs & tea cups. There are vending machines, old tables & chairs and dusty couches. Black marble floors or old carpets. Florescent bright lights.

Then there is center stage. The hottest spot on the theater. Many a cast will pray around this special area before a show. Many a soloist will be spotlighted there for some dynamic moment in a piece. I like to go there in every theater I work in. When everyone else is in their own world. I visit center stage and look out to the seats, look up to the lighting riggs, look to the back booth where all the cues for the show are called, look to the wings where dancers, cast members, scene changers, stage managers, prop tables all wait for their moments to add to what is going on onstage. I look down to the pit where the empty music stands hold the portable lights that illuminate the scores that the musicians play from. I look to the exit signs where ushers in black with flashlights and programs will stand to usher people to their seats, bathrooms & concession stands. I look up to the shut off spotlight that will follow a many dancer or character or zoom in on a moment like a close up in a film, making the audience realize that they need to focus in on this part because it is the whole point of the piece.

Yes there is nothing like taking my spot on an empty stage in an empty theater. Closing my eyes to realize I'M LUCKY TO BE LIVING MY DESTINY. I am fulfilling my purpose, my passion. Shakespeare reminds us that all the world's and empty stage and we are are mere characters playing our parts. What a juicy part I've landed. I plan to play it with elegance, grace and class till the lights of my world and curtain draw close for my finale. Even then ill get to reprise my role and play along side all the greats for all eternity.

Checkmate Studios LLC.

2009-01-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

Checkmate Studios LLC.

A few clips from director Denton Adams! A director I have worked on many projects with for the last four years!

Its A New Dawn, Its A New Day In America

2008-11-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

Its A New Dawn, A New Day, And I'm feeling good. November 4th 2008 was the best day of my life to date. Today Barak Obama is set to lead this nation to changes for the good.

I was a poll worker for this historic election and the diverse numbers of people who came out to vote was an amazing thing to observe. There were young people coming out to vote for the first time and the percentage of the youth vote had doubled compared to previous elections. There were old women and men in wheelchairs and walking canes determined to surrender their vote by mail envelope and actually come to the polls and click their vote in. The final count for the day was 689 voters that I helped process.

As I drove away from the precinct I headed to the heart of LA to see what the streets were saying. Never in my time on this earth have I seen such joy and celebration for a new President of the United States. There were people in the streets waving at each other, honking their horns, screaming out "Obaaaammmmmaaaaa". There were tough over masculine grown men letting their guard down and allowing themselves to be vulnerable and tears began to fall down their face. From Lemeirt Park to Ladera Center at Magics TGIF to various lounges and clubs everybody was celebrating. The city's heart was beating fast and hard.

When I listened to Barak Speech tears fell down my face. Never had I heard a President after winning still bring it back to the people. All I heard is what "we" still need to do and how "we" have to be responsible as Americans for our own actions and the communities around us. Never have I heard a President acknowledge the groups that didn't vote for him and call out for their help so that "all people" can work together for the greater good. Dr. King believed that "all people" should work together for the greater good of this nation. I have had the opportunity to travel and live abroad and my friends from London from Spain and even an associate from Germany were telling me how happy they were and how America finally picked the right person for the job. Barak Obama is a global president. My colleague from Columbia now living in the states said that finally she felt apart of this place called America. Finally I feel like dreamers can actually live awake. Little children of color who say I want to be president of the United States will not be looked at crazy as if they have unattainable aspiration.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”... Harriet Tubman

Does Love Have to Hurt?

2008-09-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

My friend asked me the other day Does Love Have to Hurt? I was asked do you see it coming? Are their signs? The truth of the matter is when love is in the picture I don't think you ever see heartbroken in the future. I don't think love hurts, I think that falling out of love or not having love when you want it hurts. Breakup hurts, parents divorcing hurts, abandonment hurts. The aftermath of these events hurt as well, not feeling appreciated, not feeling loved, not feeling wanted, not feeling good enough, feeling disrespected... and the list goes on and on to the point where you just don't want to feel anymore.

Although Love is warm and exciting its also unpredictable and thorny. There's no cliffs notes for love and how to sustain it. Sustain is the key word. When thinking of love and longevity, investment, dedication, creativity and openness comes to mind. That excitement and passion you have in the beginning is not enough to sustain for the long haul. You often hear people say communication is key. As I am growing and learning I find that to be the truest statement ever. Just as a good leader needs to know how to follow, a good communicator needs to know how to listen. So often in relationships we are not great communicators. We don't listen for understanding we are simply listening for a pause to start speaking again. Also what we say needs to be thought out way more than we do. Words can hurt just as much as actions. When we criticise we are going against building and contributing toward tearing down the relationship.
Compliments on the other hand are wonderful. Shakespeare's Romeo goes on and on for pages and pages professing his love and admiration for Juliet but for a couple today to just say those three words I Love You is a miracle. When a couple can express their emotions and feelings for each other that is a recipe for long lasting love and passion. Laughing is great. As adults we tend to loose that inner child that can love and live with abandon. A couple who can laugh together and have adventures with each other would have a great lasting friendship. I feel like if friendship and trust is at the core of the relationship it has a chance to last.

People are made to be loved, Things are made to be used. Its hard but if you love like you have never been hurt maybe life can be lived in a full way. So to my friend yes sometimes love can hurt but I would rather have love than not.

Im Gonna Stand

2008-08-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

My First Poem: Written in 2002
I remember the frist time that I realized that being black was seen as being different. I am not talking about my nappy roots black, my big lips and hips kind of black, my got the holy ghost, eyes rolling, hand clapping, eating collard greens and mac and cheese. No I am talking about a different feeling. A disconnected feeling from "others" that dont look like me, my race, my ethnicity, my check this box if you are this , kind of me. Im talking about my unpopular complection me. Trying to ignore preconceived perceptions of what i am suppose to be. How many times do I have to chant Black Is Beautiful, Black Is Beautiful, Black Is Beautiful just to love me, myself and I. I. I have learned that my place in society is the very element that contributes to my daily struggle for my spirit to survive. I am trying to unlearn that feeling of inferiority as a so called minority of any given circumstance. Trying to overstand this black self as a socially constructed fiction and create my own "herstory" composition. "Ive got the skin with the tan thats grand, not from sunnin in the sand but from the motherland". New age, dark maids and exotic characters bulged eyes staring at me in the idiot box, saying yes a massa but fuck all that cause ill be your Nefertti but NOT your Aunt Jamaima. Sometimes I feel like im on the break of insanity but my present mind continually organizes my past mind and I slow dance for awhile and realize that everything will be fine with just a little time.
I will not bow down to my racism

I will not bow down to explotation

I will not bow down to injustice

Im gonna stand, Im gonna stand

What A Day, What A Day!

2008-07-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

So I had two auditions today. One for an ongoing show related to Kaiser and the other one for a musical. The first one went well, I was confident with my monologue. I mean I nailed it. My song was fab, its been one of my audition songs for years. You know how you have one of those audition pieces that just can never go wrong its apart of you, that's what it was. There was an interview afterward and I felt really comfortable with that as well, I was just in a good place and I was comfortable in my skin.

So I get on the crowded 405 to get to my second audition. Side note: (I never thought I would say this but I miss the subway in NY because even though it would be really smelly and crowded around this time and you try not to look in the little kids faces wanting money for candy "basketball team uniform" or the ladies with their hello kitty trinkets or the homeless guy with his cat and homeless jokes or the black muslems with their newspapers or the kids dancing and flipping in the middle of the subway car, I could get to about 3 auditions in one day and not have to worry about LA traffic. LA traffic would not be horrible if people knew how to drive. Why do people merge in and out of lanes as if the bumper to bumper traffic is going to disappear in the next lane. LA traffic would also be bearable if gas wasn't so expensive and I could turn on the AC.)

Anyway I'm sitting in traffic in my hot car and my makeup is getting all shiny (the cover girl look I had in the morning is non-existent now lol) and I don't have a blue tooth yet for the new hands free law so I cant even pass the time with friends on the phone. I tryed to use my speaker phone but that's a hassle because I can barely hear people and I end up asking people to repeat what they have to say like 5 times. So I finally get to the audition and there must have been every musical theater actor in the world there. I love musical theater but sometimes the environment could be a little, whats a word ummm overwhelming. I think like 20 people asked me "so what have you been in". This one girl even asked my age and all the girls gasped. But I humbly replied my "REAL AGE" I know that's a no no in Hollywood right but whatever.Side note: I wish the media would not stress age and size reduction. Women should embrace their beauty at every age and weight. God made the miracle called woman who can carry a life and birth it into the world with different shapes and colors and she should be adored not ridiculed and made to feel less than wonderful.) My commercial age range is 15 to 25 but I'm a couple of years older. I mean come on Stacy Dash was far from high school age in "Clueless" lol and she looks great. I'm younger than that I just thought it was funny that all the girls gasped like she made a racial remark. By the way I was 1 out of 6 black people at the audition and there were about 150+ people there. 3 hours later my name was called, not to audition but to turn in my headshot and contact info sheet. I think 30 min later I went in for my audition. My song for this audition is another piece I use but its always transposed a few octaves down. Let me tell you I have not had to sing first soprano in a few years lol. The audition was a mess, I almost laughed on the way out because I felt like it had to have been the worst audition I had ever given ever lol, but I wanted to remain as professional as I could. Honestly I wanted my headshot back lol. I did not want casting to have a record of my face to go with that audition.

My acting teacher in grad school use to say "If its bad, it happened 100 years ago If its good, it happened 100 years ago" In this business his quote stays with me always. It helps me to be stress free with the rejection, off performance nights, horrific audition experiences and it helps you to stay level headed with great performances and overflow of compliments and rave reviews.

Awe what a day, what a day, but I would not trade it for anything in the world! I LOVE IT, I SIMPLY LOVE IT!

Star Light Star Bright

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