These Boots (Update)

The poet I wanted to collab with on a video--Joyce Conley--has dropped out.  These things happen, life gets hectic.  I'm contemplating if I want to change the These Boots theme or not.  It began with my idea to film a music type video with spoken word, to have the female empowerment thing hittin with a 1-2 punch!  Of course Joyce was my go-to girl!  She won me over with her poem Preconceived Notions long ago.  She mentioned liking the song These Boots Are Made For Walking, and I said "that's it!  it'll be about boots!"  But, it will feel odd doing it without her.  :(  I do have a girl who does sign language who said she'll sign for my spoken word--YAY!  That will open the audience to the hearing impaired, and I'm geeked about that!  Though I'll have lots of other people as extras in the video, I didn't want this to be a one-woman show.  I'll figure it out.  I like to tell myself that everything happens for a reason.


I read an interesting article in the Sunday New York Times The Rise Of the New Groupthink: Collaboration is in. But it may not be conducive to creativity.

The article brings up many strong points that I believe to be true, but wasn't sure if it was just me, trying to rationalize the reason behind my being so solitary for the majority of my life.  I tell myself that perhaps I'm meant to be alone so that I can bring my creative ideas to fruition.  Working--though I like my job--is often painful to my psyche, who would rather be following through on some of my minds creative ideas.  I spend the majority of my time alone, and I'm comfortable with this--to a degree.  I long for a companion, but there is no way I could be with anyone who would dare stifle my creativity!!!  I need to get out and get social periodically, but even with that, I want to spend my time on something that will inspire me further, and allow me to grab some good photos.

The portion of the article on brainstorming groups was especially enlightening.  I think I probably blew it with Joyce by having her and I meet with Chris to brainstorm.  I already had my idea solidified.  I should have just assigned the tasks individually, and then allowed us to come together when it was time to rehearse or film.  Joyce could have went off and written her own thing--which I have complete faith in her that it would be as deep to the point as I would want it to be.  Sitting there with the intention to discuss my vision for the video with Chris (had already ran it by Joyce), the topics strayed.  Joyce and I have varying viewpoints on some things, and that's ok, but it shouldn't have entered into this creative project.  I might come off as bossy, but it's just that my visions and my goals with my art are just that...mine.  For example, my desire to include diverse people in my various art projects to promote my overall message of unity in diversity and acceptance.  My In the Bedroom series included many models of diverse backgrounds, but I was in charge, and they willingly and happily cooperated--it was not a collab, there was no brainstorming, it was my brainchild and I guided them through their segment of it.  With my photo projects, and with my art project Hung Out to Dry, I am the director.  Those participating bring with them their own individuality.  I don't wish to turn them into something they are not--I value them as they are--but I direct to keep the vision fluid.

Still, this new adventure of moving in the direction of film is a learning experience for me.
Everyone is free to do whatever they want to do as a human being or an artist.  When it comes to a vision I have it's difficult to budge me.  I take the lead.  But, if Joyce invited me to do something she had an idea for, I'd follow.  If Chris is the creative mind behind a film project and he asks me to participate, and I do, then it's his game...it's teamwork, but not groupthink so-to-speak.  Expressing ideas is fine, but coming to a stalemate is no good.  Someone has to direct.  He's ready to film this video, is open to my ideas, and I'll value his input and expertise when it comes time to do the filming aspect, but it's still my storyline so-to-speak.  Can u dig it?

Aight...now go read that article and share your thoughts with me!


Images from Hung Out to Dry during Art Peers Fall Festival 2010:

 

 

   Standing is Kwame, who I want to be a part of the video too

 

Here's Joyce!  :)

These Boots!

Doin' my research for my upcoming video debut "These Boots" (see previous posts to find out what's up).  It all began with my sis Chasity sayin that I'm Cee-Lo Green's twin.  I watched his Fuck You video and had an idea to do a version of it using my Caddy, me as the male figure--though feminine in appearance--demonstrating how to treat a lady right, and givin the finger/FU to the mens who be F'n up.  u dig?!  So, the beat woulda been the same, but the lyrics shifted, with the exception of Fuck You!  and you too!  haha  This might still happen, because I dreamed of a pool scene for the ending that would bring together some of my Hugh Hefner livin-the-impossible-life fantasies!  For now....

Joyce n I decided to take on a project ourselves, and if others choose to join in they need to be dependable and show up to make it happen, or we go it alone--with the help of Chris our film dude of course!  He is equally on fire to release some creative energy!  When she and I sat down at Ming Ten to put our heads together and discuss what some of our goals are for publishing poetry, taking on more performances for charities and open mics in other cities, we came full circle back to video talk.  I said, "The Caddy video can still happen, but we need to just get started, let's pick a theme and GO!  We can always keep goin, and make new and fun videos, but we gotta get something going--take that step!"  I knew I wanted beats in the video, and I know I want it to be sexy, fun, and thought provoking.  Female empowerment sista!  Write On!  Joyce mentioned liking that song These Boots Are Made For Walking, and I said, "That's it!  It will be about boots!  and we'll wear some of our fly ass boots!"  Chris happened to be at Ming Ten last Sunday nite too with his wife, but he wasn't in our convo.  I filled him in a bit later, and we've arranged to meet with him tomorrow to bring these ideas together and get it movin.  Another woman (Christina) was there (saw her at the sushi counter and I didn't get to say HI to her) n I didn't know it then, but she will likely make an appearance in this video.  I ironically met her at Ming Ten for the first time for her birthday party, she is a body builder and friends with my friend Elise--who is going to do the makeup and make an appearance too!  These two girls and I talked about doing some sort of project together involving their body-building bods, my camera, and possibly some of Christina's fashion designs.  I haven't seen any of Christina's designs yet, but am eager to!  So, pulling these ideas together, I imagine them as my body guards in the video--hot eh?!  Hells yeah!  I've got several scenes playin out in my mind...gotta discuss them with my girl Joyce!  I know Chris will be up for Girls, Girls, Girls!  haha!  I even want to throw my belly-dancing neighbor in the mix, if she'll join in.

In this week with my own thoughts...I was thinkin I don't want to simply copy the song, though some of the lines in it might find their way in, cuz they are 60s hip and fit with the hip hop of today!  Like:  "You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'"  LOL  I want it to be a poetic collab between myself n Joyce.  Kwame will have a verse in there if he joins us on this endeavor--and I have this scene pictured as well.  He'll be rockin' his guitar and singin/poetisizin.  Joyce & I will be strictly spoken word.  I've been playing around with GarageBand, but it's been a while since I've used it, so can't figure out how to remove beats in the timeline when I wanna change it up.  grrrr  But, I thought I'd do some sort of mix of beats to show my love of diversity--u know, a little Latin, a little Asian, some reggae/hip hop, mix of who knows what.  Then have Kwame's guitar in the mix.  We'll see how this evolves.

Like any good writer does...I'm doin my research.  I pulled up some videos of the tune These Boots Are Made For Walking on youtube, and totally forgot about Jessica Simpson's rendition of it!  Whoa!  smokin hot!  Ironically...I was planning to wear a pair of Jessica Simpson's boots in our video!  And...I just created a little dance move last nite in front of my mirror, and now that I've watched this, I so know it's goin in the video!  Along with my bodybuildin body guard hotties as my backup dancers!  LOL  Oh...and Willie Nelson is in Jessica's video!  Guess Kwame's gonna be our version of Willie!  can u dig it Kwame?  ;)

So many boots...so little time!  Will we be able to fit in several costume changes in this?  We gotta!

Without further adieu I'll leave you with Jessica and a trip back to 1966 with Nancy Sinatra!

I chose this one of Nancy Sinatra because they actually have a little shimmying goin on.  Some of the videos from TV appearances she doesn't move her hips at all!  Whoa...the day of the TV when they didn't allow that!

Did I already say I LOVE youtube?!!!!!  hahaha  I just had to go and look up Shimmy Shimmy--no...it's not Coco Puffs (like we all thought, including me!)--Ko Ko Bop!  aw this video made me smile!

Girl Panic!

Oh MTV...silly, silly you...banning Duran Duran's Girl Panic with the just-as-hot-now-as-they-were-then-if-not-hotter Super Models of the 1980s/90s! Hell, I don't even pay for that raunchy cable TV anymore...MTV has all those joke ass reality shows with teen pregnancies, and they air some controversial Lady GaGa videos--that woulda been banned if Madonna had done them in a sweeter, more sensual way!  Let's not forget some of the rap tunes that are all about fucking, and have the girls revealing way more than the models in Girl Panic do!  tisk tisk

Well, a little controversy goes a long way, and in the age of the Internet, we love getting our eyes and ears full on here--because nobody wants their MTV like they used to!  YouTube -- we love u!  And here's the sexy, fun, fashionable, music video Girl Panic:

I really dig Naomi Campbell as Simon Le Bon (frontman/vocals), especially at the end when they are in their menswear suits rockin it out!  She's got his moves down!  And I dig her in the beginning when she snaps her Louboutin heels together (yes, I'm jealous!).  And I dig her when she's being interviewed.  I dig her legs.  Wow!

Yasmin Le Bon --she's Simon's wife?  seriously?  I guess so.  I thought all those dudes were gay.  Oh well.  Anyway, she is smokin' hot!  She's the guitarist, who claims she's not in the band.  She's rockin the ombre hair, make up how I like it...and yeah...I wanna look like her when I make my video....or...maybe....

Cindy Crawford!  Still gorgeous!  Not as great of an actress as Naomi & Eva...but still has that eye candy appeal!  She plays the bassist John Taylor.  Maybe he's more reserved, I dunno, maybe that's how he acts, I dunno.

Eva Herzigova--wow, girlfriend can act!  I'd like to check her out in a chick, kiss-ass, action flick!  She had the androgyny thing goin as the keyboardist Nick Rhodes.

Helena Christensen--do you remember her from Chris Isaak's Wicked Game video?  In case you don't....here...watch....and swim in her eyes:

Here are a few yummy still shots from Girl Panic:

"No Super Models were hurt during the filming of this video"  hahaha!  luv it!

So, this has given me ideas for the spoken word/music video I'll be filming with poet Joyce Conley & film maker Chris Penney!  My friend Elise Brown will do our super model makeup!  & she n her body building friend Christina will appear as my scantily clad body guards!  Christina has a background in fashion design too...so Oooo la la!  the possibilities!  A guitarist/poet/singer friend Kwame Kamau might join forces.  I've been messing around with GarageBand on my iMac, so we gonna drop some beats some how, some way!  It'll be sexy--Yes!  It'll be fun & funny--Yes!  It'll have that female empowerment thang goin--Hells to the YES!

Ok, enough, enough!  No...let me leave with prolly my fav video from the Super Model yesteryears of 1990:

She's Baaaaaaaaaaaack! hahahahaha!

So...I'm making a New Year's 2012 resolution to write in this blog daily...I'm started today--why procrastinate?!  I'm just gonna write about whatever gets into this pretty, yet strange, often highly intellectual, yet goofy, little head, and yet big brain of mine!  Maybe I'll touch on politics or religion.  I'll definitely talk about male/female relationships, and LGBT friendly conversations.  You know--well now you do--I'm all about supporting diversity, yet finding unity within our diversities.  I like to take photos...so there will be images.  I'll share an occasional poem with you.  I'll interview artists, writers, musicians, and people of interest.  If I watch a film and it moves me somehow, I'll share it.

Here's a link to my fav movie scene ever!  crazy ass dance scene in Wild at Heart by David Lynch

I watch documentaries and foreign films that are thought provoking.  I watch tripped out films.  Sometimes I just like to laugh!  I'm compiling a list of some of my favs, so I'll post that here and add to it along the way.

Yesterday, my friend and fellow poet Joyce Conley discussed how we want to take our poetry to the next level.  Last August we delivered some empowering spoken word to the guests at a Women's Equality Day dinner to support the NOW  National Organization for Women and in celebration of the 19th Amendment giving women the Right to Vote.

Gosh, I just teared up watching that clip, and I don't know if it's cuz I can't stand how dorky I look, or I was actually touched by my own words--I think both!  haha!  Anyway....Joyce and I would like to participate in more events such as this one to help support non-profit organizations, and be the change we wish to see in the world (as Gandhi suggests!).  With our poetry we want to educate and uplift.  We are going to begin creating video versions of our poems with the help of Chris Penney--our local bad ass film producer dude!  And trust me...we are gonna look way more fly in these videos!  We wanna give ya'all something sexy to look at, something silly to laugh at, something cool to listen to (yeah, we'll add some jams) and most importantly SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!

WRITE ON!

Oh...and lemme throw this one in here too where Joyce did a dedication poem for ME!
at the Avant Garde 2434!  Love U Gold n Bold girl!