‘Father’s Day’: Film Explores Black Girls Growing Up in Fatherless Homes

Madamenoire.com thought it interesting to do an article on myself and partner Ashley Shante' on our film Father's Day?, about a young girl's journey to confront her issues of abandonment and rejection. Correy, played by writer, c0-producer, Ashley Shante' is forced to confront the "elephant in the room", her absent father, after she is given an assignment from her professor (played by myself, also co-producer).

Read the article here:

http://madamenoire.com/tag/squeaky-moore/

FILM DIRECTOR SQUEAKY MOORE CHATS WITH MASS APPEAL NEWS. By Wayne E. Hodges

I am very grateful for Mass Appeals' Wayne Hodges for taking the time out to interview me about my career successes! Also I would like to personally thank Shawn Edwards (channel 4 news and Wayne Hodges), for having our film promo, for upcoming film Father's Day? in their Kansas City Urban Film Festival!

You can read my exclusive interview here:

http://www.massappealnews.com/2011/09/12/squeaky-moores-qa/

Wanting vs. Believing

I waged a war with self on the difference between wanting and believing. I realized that I've been wanting with all of my soul to become a renown actress, recognized by millions for my great skill and naturalism. What I realized however, was although I wanted to become renown, that wanting was miles away from believing that I could actually become it. In fact, as I begin to think it through, I realized just how much doubt was there: how much my belief system didn't match up to my wants. In my soul, I didn't believe that I could carry a movie from the beginning to the end; a TV series. I remember once sitting in an acting class and the subject came up how producers are looking at you and thinking, Is this the face that millions would want to watch night after night in their living room? I cringe when I think back to that class. On that day, I did not believe that my face was interesting enough to watch. I didn't think that I could have millions of fans, and get fan mail. When I closed my eyes, I couldn't visualize the call that I would get from my agent saying, "Squeaky, I got good news...".

What pains me even more is that I truly had the talent, yet lacked the confidence-and I wouldn't find out that my wants and beliefs differed greatly until years later. So I waisted years asking myself "why?" Why didn't I book the role? Why can I book smaller roles and not major ones? Why am I not consistently booking? Why should I go with a major agent and get loss in the shuffle? (This was such a foolish thing) Why not search for a boutique agent?

My answers to these questions never came close to the truth. For me, it was my hair- "That's right, maybe they want longer." Then it was my teeth- "Picture guy, when you are retouching, can you take out my gap...just a little", "I have picked up weight", "I'm not what they consider "beautiful" so I won't submit for that role"....and all these things that would flow through my mind. It all came down to one thing. I was a nut! I didn't believe in myself, my talent, my body, my smile, or my hair. How in the world could I walk into an audition and feel conviction about the role I was reading for. Sure, some roles were an exact fit for me, the lines rolled trippingly off my tongue as if I created the words myself. Those jobs, I couldn't help but book-luck some would call it- and with that came a bit more confidence of course. But, I was still so far from believing in self that I could play a leading role, be nominated for an Oscar and win! It was ludicrous really with the talent I possess.

I was even further away from receiving what I wanted because I never allowed myself to relish in the small successes of booking small roles, because "it wasn't where I wanted to be ultimately." I remember when I first booked a role on "Law and Order: CI", and I can recall the moment of heat surging inside of me when my agent call to tell me I booked the job. I was so excited! Soon as I made my first call, the person asked me, "How many lines do you have," or maybe it was, "Do you have a big part?"....I immediately sank-my spirit and my joy plummeted. I had only booked a U5 (under 5 lines). So my happiness for the success I had lasted a total of 60 minutes....maybe.

The truth of the matter is, I should still be happy for that one role! It was the role that made me eligible for SAG. It was the role that went on IMDB. It was a role that attracted agents, managers, and casting director's attention, it is the one role that MANY people think (thanks to my fans), "Squeaky is doing it!", because they are major fans of L&O:CI. I should still be happy because to date, I am still getting checks for this U5 role. It was the role that when I first learned I had book the job I was elated about, because I was going to be on TV. Which was my goal in life anyway!

I learned sometime along the way, that we have to celebrate every small success. How else will we appreciate the larger ones. Let's face it, no matter how big the jobs are that we book, if we are ambitious, we will always be looking for more, bigger and better opportunities.

I worked on changing my thoughts about myself. To change my beliefs, I learned to visualize myself on TV and in film. I learned to accept myself through the eyes of other people who would rant and rave about my work, since I hadn't thought enough of my skill to believe I could actually become what I wanted. I made affirmations that I would say daily about myself and my wants that I wanted to change into beliefs, and into realities. I would say them right before I went into an audition too. I would tell myself aloud 3 things that I love about myself right before walking in. I begin to say, "I deserve this". I also thought on the people who were playing the leading roles that I wanted to play. Then I thought on people who were quirky, and odd and overweight, people who had bad hair and weird eyes. And stuff like that, yet they booked the lead role in films and on Television.

So I share with you some of my affirmations:

I deserve this role.
I am beautiful and perfectly perfect.
I deserve to have have millions of fans.
I deserve to have millions of fan mail.
I can carry a film from the beginning to the end and have viewers in awe of my work.
I can play roles with depth.
People talk about my work and how it is done in excellence.
Producers love me. Directors love me. Casting Directors love me.
I'm the next best thing!
I can win an Oscar.
I am a star.
I am red carper worthy!
Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I am Victorious!
I win!

Interview with Dr. Boyce Watkins - On upcoming film, "Father's Day"

I was so honored to have Dr. Boyce interview me on upcoming film, "Father's Day". Check it out below.

http://boycewatkins.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/meet-the-ladies-who-made-fatherless-black-homes-into-a-viral-internet-topic/

First Refusal as it relates to commercial auditions-Blog by Ed Wagenseller

So, I went on a commercial audition yesterday that went really well! Actually, no more than 2 hours later, I got a call from someone who put me on a "first-refusal"! I hate first refusals! Every-time I get one I have to go back and get an understanding of the meaning again! lol. So, I go to research what it means exactly, all over again and come across a blog by this guy Ed who made the best sense of it ever!!!! So ofcourse I want to share....oh btw. I have already put this commercial shoot dates on my calendar and am claiming to God that I book it! NOW! so I will let you know soon. Just check my "extra, extra, read all about it", section.

Here you go: Right of first refusal doesn’t mean squat, but at least I was in the race.

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Ed Wagenseller After a relatively quiet six months in the auditioning world things have suddenly picked up. It started with an audition for a national commercial for GreenSmart Lawn Care for which I was called back on and almost booked (more on that later), a reading for Teen Spirit a TV series being done for ABC Family, Army Wives on Lifetime, and an industrial read for Qwest which is some kind of computer security thingy. What does all of this mean? Nothing. The GreenSmart Audition was in Charlotte, NC. For those of you just joining this blog or are not familiar with NC geography, I live in Wilmington, NC and Charlotte is a three and a half to four hour drive (one way) depending on traffic. Yep that is 8 hours round trip, 16 hours total including call back and add a another 8 if you book it. One day of my life for the opportunity to land a job. That’s America’s worst commute hands down. But anytime there is a national spot, even one for cable as this one, I make a point of going. I always check to see if there is a callback. This one had no callback listed. Of course when I arrive I find there will be a callback for which I am sure I will be asked to come back to Charlotte for next week. I am called back, I do go back and I am offered right of first refusal. So what does this mean? In my 11 years of doing commercial work anytime I was offered right of first refusal I always got the booking up until last year when Crestor reneged on their offer and chose a male model for the spot. I was devastated. That was going to be a cash cow. So this time when I’m offered first refusal, I’m not counting any chickens, but I am still confident that things will go my way. Surely it couldn’t happen two times in a row! You know how this one ends. In my frustration I call the world’s greatest agent to vent. “Hey Rusty, this is Ed”

“Hey buddy”

“What the hell is going on?”

“Hell if I knew that I wouldn’t be a casting agent.”

“It just doesn’t make sense, why do they offer me first refusal if they are going to cast someone else?”

“Yeah its frustrating, but its out of our control and we are all in the same boat.”

“ This is the second time in a row this has happened.”

“Well this happens more often than not.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“This business doesn’t make much sense.”

“I just don’t understand why they tell me to clear my schedule just so they can cast someone else.”

“Happens all the time.”

“Did they book one of your talent on the job?”

“Yep, sure did.” “Did they put him on first refusal too.”

“Of course” (pause) “Huh?” “Oh yeah I had four guys on first refusal.”

“That’s crazy. You mean they offer first refusal to more than one person?”

“Oh yeah.”

“But every time I’ve been offered first refusal I’ve booked the gig with the exception of Crestor and now this one.”

“Sounds to me like you’re spoiled. Like I said, it is the rule more than the exception that folks put on first refusal don’t get the job. You’ve just been lucky.”

“So they put multiple “dads” on hold and then let the client (aka company) choose? Wow, I have been lucky.”

“Oh yeah, man. They put four on first refusal within one hour after the callback.”

“Well damn. (pause) That makes me feel a little better. Hell I thought that I was the only one and that for whatever reason they didn’t like me and went back through the tape and chose someone else. I didn’t know it was, in essence, a third call back.”

“Oh yeah, like I said more often than not folks put on first refusal don’t get the offer.”

“Wow. 11 years of doing commercials and I’m just getting a grasp on this.”

“Yeah. That’s just how it works, all we can do is be battling on the last lap”. Rusty is a big fan of NASCAR.

“Alright, Rusty. Thanks for your time and I appreciate the clarification.”

“You got it buddy.”

Click. So the moral of this story is simple. You don’t have the job until you are on set shooting the damn thing. The up side is I’m getting ready to board a plane for Las Vegas to work on some Industrial video projects for RE/MAX International with Corporatainment Productions and Hank and Jed Moving Pictures. Should be a blast, plus I’ve never been to Vegas. That’s all for now. Check in soon. Peace, Ed

PSA "64"- Goes Viral and has become controversial!

PSA "64" (a promo for upcoming film Father's Day), focuses on the topic of the 64 percentile of African American children in the U.S growing up fatherless. Since the release of the PSA (5 days ago), it has gone viral! It has become an Internet success. It has struck controversy provoking heavy conversation in the Black Community. With the heavy talk and controversy behind the psa and this topic, I had to blog about it! Just in a few days the psa has spread all over the Internet and has been featured on over 10 major sites. Two of them being Bossip.com and http://www.hiphopstan.com/tag/psa-64/ ; two ofthe largest black entertainment sites in America. Our inboxes, facebook pages and the website messages has been flooded with messages from all different points of views.

• "Thank you for being brave enough to discuss the elephant in the room"


• "How dare you all publicly air out the black community's dirty laundry?"


• " I used to make my mother father's day cards as a child"


• "As I watched this video, my chest swelled up with hot air.My nose started burning and sharp pain shot up to my head, and made my eyes water. But I wouldn't dare cry. "

Why is this topic so taboo? Why are we continuing to ignore the elephant in the room? Why are so many black children fatherless in today's age? Because this is a hugh issue, that's why! It needs to be addressed.

Ashley Shante' (Writer, Director, Producer) and myself (Asst. Director, Producer) have decided to use our creative talents to get the message across to help change the well-being of the children within our communities.

You can view the PSA and help donate to our film making process by clicking here.

Read some of the controvery on BOSSIP

Also, if you need advice about the subject matter in any way, please contact the National Fatherhood Organization

Sincerely,

Squeaky Moore

Dear Diary Productions

PSA "64" promo for short film "Father's Day?"

PSA "64" Brings home a message about fatherlessness in the African American Community!

To bring awareness to the heartened subject matter, I recently teamed up with Ashley Shante' (writer, actor, producer), to produce a Public Service Announcement (PSA)- "64".

Justiin Davis (Boardwalk Empire), Osas Ighodaro (Miss Black USA 2010), Lawrence Saint Victor (Remy of Guiding Light), and Roz Coleman( Frankie and Alice, with Halle Berry), are just some of the noted actors that are involved in the PSA. The PSA drives on the sad, but large percentile of children who grow up fatherless, with an emphasis on the 64 percentile who are African American .

Our stories about growing up fatherless are similar, yet different. But the passion we share to get the message of it's affects out are the same!

Check out the video and tell me what you think. Support us too! We need your help to get our message out.

Who’s Got Next: Alexis Nicole

Who’s Got Next: Alexis Nicole
By Squeaky Moore of XI Magazine Online
Posted on 07 Mar 2011 at 11:29am

Listening to music while enduring heartbreak can turn the soul every which way but loose. You can listen to Mary J Blige and gain enough strength to stay awayfrom the person who has emotionally abused you. You can listen to Jill Scott’s music, and she can make you reminisce on the good times to the extent that it drives you right back into the arms of the person you walked away from, no matter how good or bad they were to you. You can listen to Beyonce and premeditate a way to kick your partner out of your home, escort him out to make sure he does not ride away with anything you bought him, and arrange it just so that your old man sees your new guy coming to visit. The reason we connect to the stories within the music and are lead emotionally by the music, is because we share a similar hurt, pain, or joy. We share a similar experience. It is the reality of the experience the artist writes about that makes their music come alive in and through us- making their reality, our reality. When an artist creates from this stand point-that is, from their experiences, their music becomes an impression on the history of your mind. It becomes timeless.

This is exactly the approach Alexis Nicole says she took when she wrote her sophomore album, Loves Last Stand. “It involves a lot of heartache, [that] was the fuel for writing the album,” says Alexis Nicole. “When I write, I write from experience, so anything I have put pen to pad [to create], I lived it. I think that any music that your listeners or the consumer can relate to is timeless music. There are but so many subjects you can write about, but if you can find away to touch the listeners and fans in the way they feel like ‘oh this song is exactly what I’m going through right now,’ or ‘this is exactly how I felt when this happened to me,’ your music will be timeless, because it’s not about what’s trending right now.”



For Alexis Nicole, her second album is about the ups and downs of relationships and all that

comes with it. “So my creative process was just living life!” When I asked her to elaborate on how she came up with the title, she said, “The Cd in itself is about love, the ups the downs, the heartaches and heartbreaks, and the overall concept of being in love and falling in love.” She named it Loves Last Stand, because she felt that no matter what the decision is, when you love someone, you have to stand for something. “Either you’re going to take a stand and say, ‘even though I love you, I know we are not suppose to be together,’ or you take the stand, ‘I love you, and you are the last person on this earth that I want to be with.’ No matter what, you have to take a stand.”

Alexis Nicoles’ music on both her freshman, and sophomore album stem from her experiences, but what distinguishes her recent album from the first is its commercial appeal. “This album was a big step up from the last. The first album was acoustic, there really weren’t many elaborate tracks, and it used more piano and drums—just natural sounds. Whereas the second album takes on those sounds and adds a level of commercial approach, which is radio friendly.”

Though she wrote all the songs on both albums, she feels Loves Last Stand“is an album with something for everybody.” Native of Richmond, Virginia, (home of Chris Brown and Trey Songz), Alexis Nicole began singing at 3 years old in the church choir, and overtime, what began as a hobby became a pursuit. “It didn’t hit me until middle school, ‘I’m kind of good at this!’ And then, in high school is when I made up my mind that this is the career I wanted, instead of it being a hobby.” Though she started in Gospel, “it was a smooth transition into R & B,” says the soulful singer. “I started singing in the church choir, but I always had a love for soul music. I was always an Anita Baker, Gladys Knight, and Debra Cox fan when I was younger. I love God, but I don’t think that Gospel music is where I fit. When I initially branched off, I started doing Neo Soul Gospel and eventually I switched all the way.”

Eventually, Alexis Nicole made the move to Atlanta to pursue her dream, grow her music and to attain a stronger fan base. “Since I have been in Atlanta, my song writing has really picked up. I have been doing some collaborations and really big stuff down here that I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do in Richmond. I asked her to describe the music market in Richmond, VA, to get a sense of why she chose to leave and why she chose Atlanta over other cities to pursue her dream.

“I don’t want to call Atlanta the land of opportunity, because you still have to work at whatever you are doing, but it is certainly a lot more open to fresh music, new artists, and there are many opportunities to perform, to go out and to mix and mingle here than there was in Richmond. The market in Richmond is weird. Like in Atlanta, the artists have a distinct sound, or perhaps, D.C., Baltimore area artists there have a distinct sound. Richmond is influenced by many different states. It’s not as southernly influenced, as it is northern. Still, there is not really a particular sound per se, so the market in Richmond is kind of weird because whatever filters through other markets is kind of how it is picked up in the city. They are starting to do a lot better, the local artists, in creating their own sound.”

Needless to say, Pop and R & B Stars Chris Brown and Trey Songz were stars that rose from the trenches of Richmond, VA. They have unique voices and commericially, trendy music. Because of their success, I wondered if they inspired Alexis Nicole’s creativity. “I respect both Chris and Treys’ music. We actually share acquaintances. I wouldn’t say they inspire me, because we are in different boxes musically.”

She says artist like Lauren Hill, who came in, and paved the way and changed the game, inspires her. “Lauren changed the game as far as ‘image’ is concerned. What it, [image], has to be and needs to be, and she’s even changed the game regarding what is considered radio music now. She definitely is my inspiration.” Alexis Nicole also says she’s inspired by people like Monica and Brandy, “those are the artists who inspire me. I wouldn’t say they, [Chris Brown and Trey Songz] are inspirations to me, but they are motivation. Knowing that we came from the same proximity and location and seeing the work they put in and where they are now, helps me to keep going and work hard, because I can see that success comes from that.”

Alexis Nicole is certainly no stranger to working hard. In fact, as an independent artist, every day is a grind. She says that her process as an independent artist is a feat. “It’s very tough. Because when you don’t have a label backing you, there are many things you have to do on your own and you’re stuck with having to get it done because you don’t have the label’s connections. So it’s a lot of groundwork. It is really hands on.” However, the upside of being an independent artist is “having complete creative control over my music and where it goes.”

Alexis Nicole does it all, even creating her own treatments for her videos. “It is helping me to develop a strong, business mind.” Taking advantage of social medias and social networks has been a win for her on her journey to fame as well. “I can post something and reach more people than I ever could on foot, so it has definitely helped with getting my music out. It can be a great tool if used properly. I just utilize them all when I’m doing a video or dropping a mix tape or a new song. It’s like instant feedback, so I’m definitely grateful for the Internet.”

After conversing with Alexis Nicole, I learn that she is a straightforward, no-nonsense, well thought out chick. She certainly knows what she wants out of life and is willing to pound the pavement to get it. I respect her grind and I strongly believe it will pay off soon.

Check her out for yourselves citiXIns and tell me what you think of the up and coming R & B Soul Sister! Click on the links to hear a few of her tracks. You can also follow Alexis Nicole on Twitter, check out her Youtube, Myspace and of course hit up her website.

Love’s A Game

Keep It In The Pocket

Shooting a Feature Film- Do You Like My Basement-Director's Blog

So, I am beginning principal photography for the film "Do You Like My Basement," and I am quite excited about this production. It is a suspense, horror, thriller and my first-I'm a virgin to this type of acting. Never saw myself doing this type of work before now. The auditions proved intense. I spent 3 hours prior prepping for the auditions, going so deep into my hurt, my pain that I had a head ache from crying! I gave myself a 30 minute break before auditioning so that I wouldn't look like Mike Tyson before going into the audition. So the prep worked well. A couple of weeks ago, the director brought me in to do some shoots in preparation for this weeks shoots. And I had to dig deep all over again. I tell you what- you can't "call in" this type of work. You really have to be living in the moment. I had to appear desperate, frightened, tired and more...it will pay off in the end, I think, I did a great job. We'll shall soon see.

Since, I was mentioned in my Director's Blog, (about the pre-shoot), thought I'd add his to mine. Read if you want...and Stay tuned for shooting day, blogs. I believe they will go well.

http://limeyfilmsonline.com/?q=content/do-you-my-basement-production-fully-and-running

Helpful Hint of the Day

On creating a sound bite...

If someone asks what you do, get specific. Tell them who you are, and what you do in a vague, but exciting way! Be authoritative in your telling of what you do. Speak with skilled confidence. To do this you have to shift the view of yourself, and give more credit to self. See yourself the way other people see you (hopefully it is positive). You have to believe that you are interesting and dynamic enough to make people like you and what you have to say. Your sound bite should be about what you have to offer.

make sure it includes:

1. Tell them your name and give them a unique take on what you do.
2. Tell them something interesting about you. Talk about a personal tibit in your life that makes you feel natural
3. List your recent activities and credits most proud of
4. practice role playing

In The Mean Time, Between Time: My Life As In the Corporate World Consists of Bathroom Breaks.

REPOST: In The Mean Time, Between Time: My Life As In the Corporate World Consists of Bathroom Breaks.

I like to compare adapting to the corporate world, to an elephant living in a single family home as a pet. It just doesn't fit. I don't fit in the corporate world, because I am an artist, I think like an artist and I don't have the same sense of urgency that other corporate workers-women, have about their work. Corporate worker buffs enjoy waking up and putting on full makeup, and adorning themselves with jewelry on their ears, necks, wrists and fingers. Corporate buffs also really think through what they are going to wear to work. I imagine they wake up maybe 2-3 hours ahead of schedule to get ready for their day, shuffling through the 3 inch heels that would match perfectly with their navy executive business skirt suit. Then they carefully put their make up on and grab their coffees and head out the door. I admit to seeing a few sporadic corporate buffs, appearing rushed and who are wearing flip flops and making up their faces on the subway; 3 inch heels in tote. I wonder if their jobs are their first loves or are they in the mean time in between time.
Still, those few are nothing like me. I just don't care about what I look like when I am at a corporate job. In my case, while over sleeping, I pre-think of an outfit I will wear to my dreaded corporate job in between snoozes. I get up just in enough time to take a 2 minute shower, promising myself that I'd wash the other not-so-important parts of my body more carefully later when I am back at home and fully awake and energetic. I lotion only the important parts of my body which are the ones that will show; and this can vary from day-to-day depending on my pre-thought out outfit. I grab a pair of underwear not caring if they are appropriate for the outfit I have chosen or not, because it is just too early to think about that! Then I learn that the pre-thought outfit is wrinkled. This means that I grab what ever I can find that is thrown on the dresser or over the bed or over the sofa, because I was too beat after working hard the day before to hang them up-which of course means that I never get around to washing those other less-important body parts because I am too tired for that too.
Jewelry and make-up are not even on the agenda for the day, (though I always carry a make up kit with me and an audition shirt, in case my agent calls me for an audition). My hair is brushed into a pony tail while walking to my car. Once on the train, I look around and wonder where the other corporate buffs got their coffee from and how they managed the time to make a stop before work or how they allotted time in their schedules to make coffee at home, let alone find the mugs to put them in.
When I am in the office, all the women are chatting loudly and skipping around uprightly with an exuberance that I can't muster up until late afternoon. I turn on my computer and I have about twenty five emails, well written, with the proper salutations. It is just not like this for me. I get to work and immediately take a bathroom break; in the handicap bathroom (because it is a single stall and I can lock the doors). I sit on the toilet with my clothes on, prop my elbow on the bar that helps the handicap to balance themselves and I prop my head ever so... between my wrist and the tip of my fingers and I narc out for about 15-20 minutes, after I pray for forgiveness for having little concern for the handicap. I sleep about the length of time my computer is set to lock. I return to my desk and delete all of the emails that are of no importance, and flag all of the emails that I definitely have to respond to, with a reminder for me to answer them in an hour. Then I get up and head to the cafeteria to get breakfast and coffee. I return to my desk, eat my breakfast and browse my personal emails for any audition notices and all audition breakdowns.
After about an hour, my flagged messages are alerting me that I need to adhere to them in which, then I make a decision which ones need to be answered right then and which ones I can snooze on for another hour or two. Again, I don't care!!!! I do what I have to do to get by. i take another bathroom break. Afternoon comes and the coffee has settled and now I am awake. I do a once over my appearance and hate myself for looking like a complete idiot! I question how I could have forgotten that the black pants that I am wearing had an oatmeal spill on them from two days ago. I decide that I will make an effort to prepare myself for work that night so that I can look better at work, I promise myself that I'd wake a little earlier the next day so that I can at least curl my hair and look more presentable for work. Needless to say, I repeat the same cycle over again the next day, with very little variance.
It all comes down to the fact that I think it is stupid that all these people have to dress in 7 piece suits, only to stare at each other for 8 hours. Who in the hell made that rule! It irritates me to wake so early to do something; I absolutely hate doing and could careless about. I could careless about the email I receive that says, "WACIS 2.0 will be a platform life cycle upgrade of the existing WACIS 1.0/1.1 environment with Application Platform and specific enhancements." You should know after reading an email with a message equivalent to the one above, I am in need of a bathroom break-just so that I can be rested enough to process the meaning of it all.

What does this have to do with acting on cameras and the word, "cut" and auditions and "alpha 1, take 4, camera's rolling, and...Action!" Those words are music and melody to my ears they get me fired up. Those words make me walk upright with a sense of urgency. The thought of hearing those words each day gets me to talking loud and chipper in my upper voice register. And even if my call time is at 5 am in the morning, I can still come to work in my pajama's if I choose, because they have someone at my job that will dress me and do my hair an makeup and prepare my jewelry and make sure through the day that my lipstick is reapplied and my face is powdered. They will feed me and bring me coffee if I need it and walk me to my exact location when it is time to work!
Now that's life. This is how work should be. But that's not even the best part about work, the best part is, while I am waiting to work, if I choose to lie on a sofa and sleep because I am tired, I can. I can kick off the carefully chosen shoes I have on and prop my feet up, lean my head back and sleep-while at work-without getting fired and without hiding in the bathroom.

My advice to all: Spend time daily searching for a job that you love to do that you can get paid for. My advice is also to daydream about the perfect job so that you don't get trapped into doing something you hate. You should never give up dreaming. Like me, use sometime at your job, running your lines with the computer (acting as substitute for the other person in the scene). or take a bathroom break and do mirror exercises using your eyes as the eyes of the other person while reciting your lines or monologues. And definitely research online auditions that you can go on the next day or week. But DO NOT BECOME CONTENT, because this job is just a means to an end- the mean time, in between time.

Helpful Hint of the Day

On your next audition, try locking eyes with your reader for like 3 seconds before speaking. Especially if you have the first line. 1. The eyes are the window to the soul. The camera will love you. 2. It will slow you down and allow you to get a sense of the energy coming from the reader, and 3. You will control your read, not the reader! Pace and vitality....

Marjuan Canady's, Girls, Girls, Girls..written by Squeaky Moore of XI Magazine

Sitting in the audience, watching “Girl’s, Girl’s, Girl’s,” a craftily written and candid satire by Marjuan Canady, is like sitting in my living room during a get-together, dialoguing with a bunch of girlfriends. It is sidesplitting deliberation, reflecting on the latest and greatest topics including celebrities, entertainers, fashion, news and politics…but with an angle. Aside from amusing recreation, you don’t immediately feel as if you have absorbed much from the exchange as its depth is less obvious. But, if you listen longer, you would realize the profundities spoken throughout the hysterical commentary.
In her first ever written, comedic, one-woman play, Canady uses pop culture as the basis of her social commentary regarding the media. Canaday does this from varying perspectives; men, women, White people, Black people and Latinos, just to name a few. She transforms herself into ten diverse and relatable characters through which she tells the story of how the public – her main focus being black women - are controlled by the media. She draws from her various life experiences to play all of these different characters, in which she questions what it means to be a black woman.
The fictitious story revolves itself around the life of a girl named Rihanna who is preparing to audition for the lead role in the new music video of rapper, 40 Ounce’s new hit, “Gutta Money, P**** and Rim Chicks.” Using witty lines like “encouraging fathers to leave their daughters so they can develop strength at an early age,” Canady catches your attention and keeps it. From playing a prostitute turned author, who tells what it is like being a ‘hoe’ in her new book, “Confessions of a Super-throat,” to playing a girl who is trying to prove she can be the hottest white girl on the set of a music video, Canady uses these and other brilliant characters to express herself through her writing, which stemmed from her anger at women in mainstream hip-hop and leadership positions.

“I became upset at women like Ophra Winfrey and a few others…not so much upset [at them], but the limitations they have as women in the public and

having so much power. What they can talk about, what they can’t and even how politics plays a part in the type of news they deliver.”

Being of mixed race, Canady says her own politics has influenced her to write this play as well. As an Afro-Caribbean American, she is comfortable in her skin. She doesn’t choose one race over the other, she says. However, she relates more to being black, but often questions what it that means.

“It’s a lived thing, a cultural thing. Another element in the play that is thrown in your face [is] particularly what it means to be a black woman and the politics that go along with that. What it is to be a darker skinned black women, and a lighter skinned black woman, you know, and what comes with that. As a browned skinned women with ‘good hair, ’ I get certain privileges or certain [acting] roles. I get asked all the time ‘what are you?’ Having my identity always questioned and on the table, I decided to write about it in the play. Everyone’s identities are questioned. All of the characters and how they relate to black women are all very different. Some are negative and some are positive. Some use black women to justify their own actions. It’s a play that looks at where black women would be ten years from now if we keep going the same way we are going in the media. It focuses on the image of black women throughout history and how we all play a role in it.”

In crafting what I feel is a well-written play, Marjuan Canady used television and people-watching on the subway to help her form her characters. In addition to that, Director/playwright Noelle Ghoussani, simply, but brilliantly staged this production and helped with developing the through-line of the story to connect all of the characters. The production also integrates multimedia videos, allowing smooth transitions and aiding to the commentary of women in the media by allowing the audience to see young women in the act; making women question why they objectify themselves.

“I used a lot of social gazing and improv; asking myself a lot of questions. I also used a lot of material that came from actual women auditioning for rapper/producer Diddy and Plies. Even from my own experiences of some of the things they ask in the audition room. [Requests] like ‘do your tricks’ or ‘take your shirt off,’ … just the degradation that goes with putting yourself out there as a woman.”

Marjuan’s future plans are to target three main audiences: the community centers-to foster more dialogue for people who can’t really afford to get into theater; colleges – to go on a college tour to perform for students and have dialogue in hopes that young people will be a little more active in talking about issues that are important and stand out to them; and going to different festivals to continue receiving commercial appeal. Marjuan also plans to work with the Bronx Brotherhood project, a small non-for-profit organization that works with Black and Latino male teenagers. Her hope is to perform the play and open discussions about what it means to be a man and have relationships play a part in their identities, as well as to discuss sexism.
From the writing and media, to the directing and acting, Marjuan Canady’s play, “Girl’s, Girl’s Girl’s,” delivers engaging storytelling with wonderful characters that we are all probably very familiar with and can most assuredly relate too. All of these things definitely make for first rate theatre experience.
You can learn more about Marjuan on her website, “LIKE” her on Facebook and follow her in Twitter!