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...
 

https://www.facebook.com/lovebugthemovie Have you ever felt rejected by someone? Well, this is it, multiplied by 100,000. Major Model and award-winning filmmaker Ramazan Nanayev presents a short romantic comedy about a man who's bitten by the love bug, but only there's a twist. @lovebugthemovie on Twitter and Instagram #lovebugthemovie

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!!

Quote Unquote

learning to appreciate the hidden gift and beauty of uncertainty. it keeps life, and you, fresh. what's right around the corner?

the quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers.
- erich fromm

faith means living with uncertainty - feeling your way through life, letting your heart guide you like a lantern in the dark.
- dan millman

when you're waiting for some things, a moment is forever & it will trap you in it. jump into the void of a possible never & just have faith.
- luam

the first two quotes borrowed from www.thedailylove.com. the last quote borrowed from luam's twitter feed www.twitter.com/luamky.

That New New!

hey everyone, happy new year! i hope it's off to a great start. i'm sure many of you, like me, did much reflecting on your life in 2012 and much visualizing for 2013. two things struck a chord with me...

(1) the idea of "support." we all need support...whether it comes in the form of emotional, financial or peer-to-peer support. it's necessary and so beautiful when received and even more beautiful when given. i'd like to thank all of you for following my creative pursuits. it really means a great deal to me, and i think of you all as "trailblazers" because even though i've been at this for a few years, in some ways it feels like the very beginning. you won't enter your local theaters or turn on your TVs and see me on the twi-zube (shout out to martin lawrence) just yet, so you're really supporting a seed. a seed of what's possible. and for that i thank you.

(2) the other thing that struck a chord with me is prioritizing your goals & aligning them with your choices, actions and behavior. this is major. easy in thought, not so easy in practice. i'm an expert at getting off track of what i need to be focusing on. it's the rebel in me. and since this is a safe space to share truth...for me, it may look like...
-feeling scattered and confused, but yet refusing to meditate or do yoga which i know will ground me and put me in a better frame of mind
-wanting to get my body in check, then inhaling half of a pepperoni pizza (shout out to little caesars!) or mcdonald's french fries ("hot, fresh fries please!")
-knowing the screenwriter inside myself, but not putting pen to paper or fingertip to keyboard when inspired

if you feel compelled to share what it looks like for you, you can in the comments section.


in the meantime, i'd like to share with you a blog post by a dear friend of mine who inspired this post. she so eloquently and unapologetically speaks to giving support and prioritizing. 

http://overainteasy.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/happy-new-year-lets-get-this-party-started-right/

here's to better versions of ourselves this year.

Quote Unquote

everybody can be great. because anybody can serve. you don't have to have a college degree to serve. you don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve...you don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. you only need a heart full of grace. a soul generated by love.

- martin luther king, jr.

Quote Unquote

a violinist has her violin, a painter has his palette, all i have is myself.
i am the instrument i must care for.

- josephine baker

A Seeing Eye

as we prepare to spend the holidays with our loved ones, let us not turn a blind eye to those who were affected by the recent tragedies of the sandy hook school murders and the colorado shootings. i'm not sure what is going on in our world these days, but i do know we need an outpouring of love and compassion at every turn. there's a quote by plato that you've probably heard or read a million times.

be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.

more than ever, this quote rings true to me. for someone to have the capacity to inflict senseless harm on another human life is a cry for help, an admittance of strife, a feeling of being lost and hopeless. as this year winds down to a close, hug your family, kiss your friends, and give a warm touch of affection to someone you come across. you never know how much it might mean to them.

we are all connected.

Outside Your Dreams, You 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"

"Never Forget."

this day
11 years ago
innocent men and women
left their homes
going about their usual routine
(some were not)
to experience one of the greatest tragedies
this country and the world has ever seen
11 years ago
the devastation and disbelief
still ripe in our hearts, minds and lives
forever cementing that we
"never forget."

Just WOW!!!

i don't have anything to say. for once, i'm at a loss for words.

*source: a circulating post on facebook

The Work

my actor reel is finally done! thank you so much to my editor andy torraco! i wrote about andy in the post before this one. i can't thank him enough for helping me get to this point. having a headshot & resume is standard for an actor, but having a reel is the icing on top. especially when you're in the early stages of your career and much of the work you do is for students and independent filmmakers without a distribution channel. actors rely heavily on receiving the footage from filmmakers, so that we can put together a visual resume. this reel is a 3min look into the work i've done since leaving my full time corporate life in 2005 to pursue acting as a career. 

special mega thanks to andy torraco for not only casting me in his short film "no more," but also for editing this reel. follow me on twitter @somindBOGgling and on my journey at www.somindboggling.com.

in addition to andy...special thanks go to ela thier & the independent film school, gerard brown iii, rotimi paul, lodric collins, dave reck, cindy narayan, chandra caldwell, kate o'donoghue, the william esper studio, kc's class, karen chamberlain, deb jackel, trisha clark, joanne greco, tony clomax, tanya lewis, sheereen miller russell, brandis russell, candice cook, kasara davidson, aisha langford, kia lowe, brandi colander, phylicia fant, kate simpson, kate goerlich, kenya (robinson), nichole taron, kia barbee, bevy smith, isaiah michael joyner, kym blanchard, jenai emmel, faramarz and om factory, kenneth fabritius, gabriela gudino jaime, ananta cuffee, danelle manthey, stephen wolf, kimon jackson, pamela mckinney, shelley hines, and my mama and family for your faith, support, craft, talent, feedback, encouragement, gentle prodding, shoulder, side eye, you name it!

each one of you has helped me along this journey. 

thank you.

Andy Torraco For Editor

i'd like to introduce you to andy. he's a super patient & collaborative editor who recently helped me out immensely with both a personal project for a dear friend of mine (you'll meet her in another post) and a professional project which felt like an eternity getting to where we are now. 

not only is he a dedicated editor, he's also a creative screenwriter. there's an exciting, action-packed torraco-tino script in the works.

take a look at some of andy's work in beautiful haiti. 

People and places in and around Port Au Prince, Haiti

we're making the finishing touches on the "professional project" today, and then i'll be posting it here on the blog. 

andy comes from a family of three boys, one of which is running for state attorney in sarasota, fl. check out www.vote4torraco.com for more information on john torraco.

What's Your Good Number?

definition of a good number - what you deem as an appropriate number of sexual partners that your significant other has had.

does it absolutely matter? or does it matter up until a certain age, and then it's open season? if you meet & fall in love with someone, do you want to know about his/her past? and if so, how much? if he's clocking in at wilt chamberlain numbers but makes you feel like the only girl in the world, do you care? if she knows & has experimented with lil kim's "how many licks" frontwards & backwards, are you giving her the side-eye? these are just questions...you be the judge.
 

i shot a short film as a wife who's husband and his buddies have strong opinions about how many partners is suitable for a potential wife. who knew a number could reek so much havoc on a group of friends. take a look and let me know in the comments section what your good number is.

"WHAT'S A GOOD NUMBER OF PARTNERS A WOMAN SHOULD BE WITH BEFORE MARRIAGE?" This was the question while three friends were having a casual drink. Little did they know how it would affect their lives. Wives an all...

shout-out to writer/director paul mckoy, director of photography wiener milien, and producer patrick ulysse. the entire cast: lodric collins, alexis davis, james lyones, noriko sato, and paul roberson. the crew: marc enette, andrea monorchio, sarah matte, jacqulyn abergas, jean marie papin, janice lindo, shorn joseph, fredrick weiss, and savanna sweet.

3's for the 3rd

1. daydream. everyday.

2. believe you are deserving of one day living within that daydream. everyday.

3. walk (period) don't run, don't jump, don't hop into a moving vehicle...just walk. everyday.

*image source: www.eracewalk.com

Art as Therapy

i want to feel the love before i die, so i'm getting rid of the anger here first.

- wendy sax, screenwriter & fellow s.g.

Quote Unquote

the highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.
- john ruskin, an english poet, artist & thinker


*source: the daily love 

"And Pleasure...No Pleasure?"

i felt it was time to play. most of my thoughts, time and energy had gone into creative effort. and this restriction of the love drive, the headshrinkers will tell you, is the greatest urge one really has. when one sublimates the sex drive into creative work, it puts a person in high gear, mentally. i admit it. but it is against my nature to bottle up the biological plans of pleasure for any length of time. i hope i don't sound as if i have discovered the secret salve that soothes the universe, but i do want to add my small footnote on the subject.

- mae west

this past week has been all about the idea of pleasure. scripts & books come into my life at interesting times in my life...when i need to learn something from them or have an aspect of my personality or shadow personality illuminated. funny that this week i worked on a script in ela's "directing actors" class by a wonderful writer named wendy sax. the scene was about two 50-something yr olds who meet and are attracted to each other, but are also guarded because they've been down the road of love and been burned by either illness then death or heartbreak and abandonment...the inevitables of life. the two go through the initial push & pull of when you first meet a new love interest. the man hasn't had the experience of pleasure in ages, and the woman challenges herself to see if she can get him to feel any sort of pleasure. she succeeds. by the end of the scene, they decide to take a chance on each other and once again, the hope of love.

wendy gifted me with a book called "mama gena's school of womanly arts" which is all about a woman finding & creating her own pleasure. not waiting for the perfect time, location, or man to swoop in with this delectable delight. i'm craving more pleasure and fun in my life but between financial and work (hallelujah!) obligations, i'm usually left with sore pinkie toes, a checklist of things to accomplish, and exhaustion that begs me to rest my head on my pillow for 30 mins which turns into deep slumber. pleasure hasn't seemed to make it's way high on the list...well up until this weekend that is. according to mama gena (the purveyor of pleasure in the book), "the path to pleasure...begins with a decision, a simple decision that each of us must make: we merely must acknowledge that what we have is good now. not 'life will be good, if only...' not ' life would have been good, except...' no....it is good now." alot of my friends are traveling and bbq'ing this holiday weekend. i'll be working, but that doesn't mean i can't create a little pleasure for myself. decision made.

let me know in the comments section how you plan to create pleasure for yourself this memorial day weekend...

*source:

mama gena's school of womanly arts

, by regena thomashauer