"Darkness" is Now LIVE
take a look and drop me a message letting me know what you think. what came up for you?
It's Comeback Time
Tonight begins the NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Cavaliers. Two years ago, I worked on a super fun commercial with ESPN's Jalen Rose that ran during the Finals. It was a huge year because it was the Cavs 1st time winning in umpteen years. The following year, both teams squared off again and the Cavs took home the title. Now for the 3rd year in a row, here they go again. Who's your money on?! The Cavs or the Warriors? My vote...Go LeBron!
"Darkness" Short Film
I wrote and co-produced a short film called Darkness. It is now complete, and I very much look forward to sharing it with you and having the necessary conversations to go along with it. More to come...
"Pizza Slut" Reading
My next gig is this Sunday as part of writer Sarah Elisabeth Brown's hilarious, yet tender feature film turned stage play called Pizza Slut. Synopsis: When a pizza junkie falls for a raw food vegan, she defies her habitual "chubby best friend" role in life and discovers just how far she's willing to go for love.
Sarah has been working hard on this bad boy, and the cast she's put together is both talented and some of the warmest, most inviting people I've ever worked with. I was just recently brought on, and it's been a real treat. If you're free Sunday, come on out to The Workshop Theater. Click here for deets.
*New and Improved*
Hey Everyone,
I'm back! I'll be doing a better job of updating you on all things I'm working on. Things have been busy and most importantly, creative! This month alone, I started Improv: Level 2 here in New York City. Improv is not easy for me, but just like eating vegetables and working out - it's good for me (*insert eye roll*). I had the opportunity to meet back up and perform with my classmates from Improv: Level 1 last weekend. We performed under the name "Destiny's Chili" in the Super Indie Takeover Show at improv favorite - The Pit! Click here. I'll be sure to let you know when "Destiny's Chili" graces the stage again.
2015 Highlights
june 28, 2015: shot a scene for the trailer for the upcoming feature film "otis" by writer/director alex etseyatse. alex & i worked on his first short film ever (mine too!) called "first sight" (click to view) many moons ago. it was great to reunite with him after all these years when we've both worked on so many projects since.
may 1, 2015: my espn/amazon fire commercial with jalen rose is now live! look out for it during the 2015 nba playoffs or click the "videos" tab above. i loved shooting this commercial, so v grateful for the opportunity. special thank you & shout out to hamid!
may 1-3, 2015: shooting the short film "glass flowers" by writer/director petol weekes
apr 30, 2015: shooting an industrial for cambridge publishing
apr 13-14, 2015: shooting the short film "cashier" by writer/director alexander hochberg
apr 11, 2015: "somindboggling journeys" podcast is live! our 1st interview subject is with writer/director ramazan nanayev who is working on his 1st feature film "roads to olympia." click on the tab "somindboggling journeys" above.
apr 7, 2015: shot a really fun, super exciting commercial!!! the director has sworn me to secrecy at the moment...but soon come.
apr 3, 2015: performing in the distilled theatre's 24 proof play festival. actors, writers and directors come together to create, rehearse and perform a play all within 24 hours. for more info and to buy tickets, click here: http://24proof2015.bpt.me/
mar 12, 2015: playing the part of gail in writer/director alexis holloway's "page 45" feature film reading, nyc
mar 10, 2015: playing the role of woman ii in writer/director yvette dubel's "women crossings" staged reading, nj
feb 24, 2015: www.bettinagoolsby.com is up & running! thank you for visiting!
The Invitation
“it doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
i want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.
it doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
i want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
it doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon...
i want to know
if you have touched
the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.”
in preparation for today's staged reading of "women crossings" written by yvette dubel
The CRAVE is a POWERFUL thing: the Amazing Spider-Man 2
i'm so excited and thankful for the projects that have been coming my way this year in the commercial world. my other job is in the publishing/media world in the role of freelance marketing and events, so i'm used to working with brands, but this was a welcomed opportunity to work on the talent side of the business.
this is my 3rd television commercial ever (2nd national) so when i showed up on set, i was super elated to be there - UBER ELATED - actually. it's funny because i've noticed that while i take in every little thing on set and soak it up like a sponge, the pros who are working around me and who do this everyday for a living get a little kick out of my exuberance. for them it's just another day at the office. for me, it's the biggest, most amazing thing that's happened to me...EVER! it's mind-boggling to audition, audition, audition and then to actually book something and then...GO TO WORK...ON SET...WITH A CREW...AND OTHER CAST MEMBERS. i love it. every minute of it. i PRAY & CRAVE for more.
the talented actress i'm working with in this commercial is kate costello. she was awesome to work with. you can check out some of her other work here:
what is it that you crave?
let me know in the comments section.
happy labor day wknd!
Quote Unquote
i am not a courageous person by nature. i have simply discovered that, at certain key moments in this life, you must find courage in yourself, in order to move forward and live. it is like a muscle and it must be exercised, first a little, and then more and more. all the really exciting things possible during the course of a lifetime require a little more courage than we currently have. a deep breath and a leap. writing is acting is directing is living your life.
- john patrick shanley
Quote Unquote
we cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection. love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves. shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed and rare.
- brené brown
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:
this is just the beginning for ramazan. excited for his next project, stay tuned...
Quote Unquote
this quote has popped up in my face via various articles, posts, etc. so i thought it was the perfect quote to kick off the new year.
far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
- theodore roosevelt
A Simple THANK YOU...
thank you to all who have supported the journey this year. other actors, writers, directors, producers, teachers, casting, crew, peers, colleagues, sorority sisters, linesisters, friends and family. you have either attended a reading and/or screening, inquired about one of my projects, downloaded a podcast, posted on your social media account about a project i'm involved in, forwarded on an email i've sent or simply just let me know that you are rooting for me and excited for what's to come. it is very much appreciated. following a path with no set destination, standard hierarchical structure or guaranteed success according to society isn't easy. it's scary, anxiety-inducing, nerve-wracking, frustrating and downright lonely. it can be painstakingly lonely.
thank you so very much.
while you support me on my journey, please make sure to support yourself as well and to give voice and action to your own dreams. and let myself and others know what you are doing and/or what you want to be doing. at the end of the day, we are all in this together. it doesn't have to be so lonely. it shouldn't be.
see you in 2014!
bettina
xoxo
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.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
actress lupita nyongo
Quote Unquote
well-behaved women seldom make history.
- laurel thatcher ulrich
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.