Creative Projects
Creative Action Performance
Four months ago, most of us dancers auditioned for a nonprofit West African dance troupe. This rendition of the group’s debut occurred during Creative Action’s first Creative Sunday since the pandemic. We’d rehearsed for several months. This was our first dress rehearsal. The choreographer fussed over our costumes like a mom getting her daughters ready … Continue reading
Now Hear This
As soon as I wished out loud to be part of a real film set, versus the spur-of-the-moment set where I shot my first short film, the universe granted my wish. Originally, I applied for the “Sound Mixer” position not really knowing what all it entailed. The only other open position was DP (Director of … Continue reading
What, It’s Christmas Time?!
I knew ‘Rona had destroyed a little part of my soul when I wasn’t in the mood to dress up for Halloween, my favorite holiday as an adult. Granted, I had no place where I wanted to celebrate Halloween, but that never stopped me every other year. Last year, I dressed up twice for Halloween … Continue reading
Don’t Need an Olympic Team
Watching so much of the 2020 Olympics had me thinking. Those elite athletes have laser-sharp focus and make a tremendous effort within a minute skill set. Countries don’t send one athlete to do EVERY event or even a Noah Ark’s pair, but a team. An advanced team to compete, each in their area of expertise. … Continue reading
Global Grandmother Cures
Remember the last time you were sick? So sick in fact you had to get off the hamster wheel of your busy life and slow way down. As you made the umpteenth trip to the bathroom or blew your nose until it was raw, all you wished was that someone would baby you like grandma used to do. … Continue reading
Screenwriters’ Workshop
A week prior to attending this virtual workshop, I dusted off my one and only script, which I’d edited over a year ago. I’d received a thorough critique with examples of how to improve it, but at the time, I didn’t have the motivation to implement them. This workshop cured that apathy. With fresh eyes, … Continue reading
Filming at The Crashbox
One of the reactions to George Floyd being choked for 8 minutes and 46 seconds by a former police officer kneeling on his neck, was a national call for submissions to The Breath Project. The organizers encouraged spoken word artists to record an 8 minute and 46 second performance to be used as a tool … Continue reading
Born Free
One of my sisters, Renee, often takes advantage of my editing skills. Her latest endeavor was updating the family tree on our maternal grandfather’s side as a member of The Strange Family Historical Society (SFHS). Since SFHS published its first history book over 10 years ago, they’re gathering data via an Excel worksheet to update … Continue reading
Engineered Masks
One of my roommate’s engineering friends designed some masks, which his mother sewed. With a copper wire at the top to pinch in place across the bridge of my nose, the mask fit snugly. An inner pocket held a replaceable filter in the form of a folded half piece of a mechanic’s paper towel. Once … Continue reading
Assume the Position
I know what you’re thinking, but no, it’s not that. What I’m talking about is putting oneself in the financial position to make money. Not something that I’ve thought about until the last couple of years in my professional life. Everything I’ve learned about being an entrepreneur came from reading books, attending a one-off workshop, … Continue reading