IMDB is a girl's best friend

I love actors. So I have a pretty good knowledge of actors from all different mediums. I can tell you what the person's name is and what movies,t.v. shows or plays they were in. Not just recent actors, but actors from movies going all the way back to the 30's. You know when you love something, you just dive right in.

So I naturally love The Internet Movie Database also known as IMDB.com.You can go there and type in a favorite t.v. show, film or actor, get all kinds of info. If you want to know where you favorite actor or director is or what she/he is doing, go there. It's my daily place to go. So check out, I'm sure you'll like it.

Embrace Mondays

It's Monday. It's a rainy and misty day here in the city. Days like this always make me want to snuggle in my bed, gaze out the window and curl up with a good book. Still Mondays have that icky feeling that lingers on even if your doing what you love. I feel this is totally unfair. What did Monday do to us? Can Monday help it that it's the beginning of the work week?

Here are some interesting facts about Monday.
Monday is named after the moon. Moonday got shortened to Monday.
Monday mornings is a dangerous time because more people get a heart attack on this day. Why? I'm assuming because of job related stress. Something to think about.
Color associations for Monday are silver and blue.

If you really dislike Mondays, rethink the day. Wear a favorite blouse or shirt today. Plan something yummy to eat for lunch or dinner. Make a list of cool music to listen to on Mondays only. Go to the movies tonight. Here's something radical, if you hate your job. Really can't stand it. Then give your two weeks notice on a Monday and plan you new life.

Embrace Mondays and make it fun for you.

Happy Birthday Jet Li

I first heard about Jet Li from a co-worker who was a martial arts fan. It was a couple of weeks before Lethal Weapon 4 came out. He lent me a older film that Jet Li starred in and I was hooked. Jet became part of my inner circle of actors I admire.

I do consider him an actor as well as a martial arts master. I used his first name Jet combined with my last name to create my screen name way back in 98' which I still use today. My own homage to him. The best film to me that shows how good of an actor is Unleashed aka Danny The Dog. If you haven't seen it, please do. Jet gets to play a whole range of emotions in Danny.

Jet Li is currently starring in The Forbidden Kingdom with Jackie Chan and he'll be out in The Mummy 3 later this summer. Big hug and a kiss from me, Jet Li. Have a Happy Birthday!

The Boys are Back

Happy Thursday everyone. I'm excited because two of my favorite paranormal theme shows are back: Supernatural on tonight and Moonlight on Friday.
I love Supernatural because they combine the serious and silly together. It is the relationship between Sam and Dean Winchester (played by Jared Paledecki and Jensen Ackles) that really make the show. The two brothers have real love for each other even with all the craziness that goes around them. Now the big question is Dean going to die and can Sam save him? I have to admit I'm partial to Dean. Me and the fictional character even share the same birthday! So I guess it's only natural he's my fave.
Then over at Moonlight, we have Private eye and dead guy, Mick St. John (played by Alex O'Loughlin). I always had a fondness for vampires. Mick now is temporarily human and may get to spend some of this time with his beloved Beth. Who knows what will happen? I also love his cynical and many centuries old fellow vamp Josef.

So set those VCR, DVD-R for record, if you have plans tonight and tomorrow. These shows are not to be missed.

Happy Birthday Will

Happy Birthday to William Shakespeare. I like to call him Will. He doesn't mind. Will and I are old friends.

I can go on and on about my favorite plays or characters. That would make too long of a post. In honor of his birthday, I suggest to go to his sonnets.You can check them out here:http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/icomm.htm
Pick one and read it out loud. So you can hear the words, see the imagery, feel the rhythm. Do this a couple of times and watch how you connect more with the sonnet.

Here's a tip for my fellow romantics. This I have done and it does work! Find one sonnet you really like and memorize it. Then when your with that person who makes you heart sing.Hold their hand and look into their eyes. Say the sonnet to him or her. They will be yours for a long time afterward.

Here is one of my favorites.

Sonnet 43:

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

Great Cicely

I finally saw Madea's Family Reunion over the weekend. I really enjoyed it. Two scenes stood out for me when Vanessa ,played by Lisa Arrindell Anderson, confronts her mother ,played by Lynn Whitfield, about what happened to her as a child. It is a powerful and heartwrenching scene. Then later on at the family reunion when Cicely Tyson who plays Mytrle gives a powerful speech to the family especially the younger generation. How I wish someone had posted that on youtube. I did find a great video about Cicely posted by 90Trinity on youtube. Thanks 90trinity. I wanted to share.
What I love about Cicely is that she refuses to take parts that are demeaning. If that meant she doesn't work for a while, well that's what she does. When she does find roles she likes, she is always strong and vibrant in every role. I respect her for taking that stand. It says a lot about her integrity; also,how seriously she understands and respects the power of being an actor. So enjoy and watch this tribute to Cicely Tyson.

Happy Birthday Shemar

Shemarlicious, Shemarvelous, yeah you get the idea.The pretty boy has matured into a handsome man. Did you know he won an Emmy award for his work as Malcolm on Young and The Restless? I try to keep up with when one of us wins certain awards but I missed that. Currently on every week on Criminal Minds. So much love and hugs to you,Shemar. Have a wonderful birthday.

Be The Hero of Your Own Story

I treated myself to Nim's Island today. Yes, I was the only adult without a kid in the audience. No matter, I really enjoyed the movie. It was a sweet film that made me smile and laugh. Abigail, Jodie and, my sweetie pie, Gerard all shine. I especially love the animals in it: Fred the Lizard, Selkie the Sea Lion and Galileo the pelican. The message of the film is you can be a hero in your own life. Courage is always there waiting for us to use. It is true we are all so much more amazing than we give ourselves credit for.
Also,tomorrow is the Full Moon. So if you feel the urge to dance under the moonlight, be daring and kick up your heels, this is the weekend to do so. Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Thursday

Happy Thursday! This is my favorite day of the week. My adoration for Thursdays started when I was little. I had tap class on that day, after I buy some comic books or magazines,and then had a favorite t.v. show to look forward to at night. My love of Thursdays has just grown as I have. When Thursday comes, even if I'm having a bad week, I know everything is going to be better because it's my day. Today, I won a free book from the ladies at the midnightmooncafe.blogspot.com. One of my favorite places on the web to indulge in my mystical side. The sun is out and spring is here. Anything can happen on a Thursday.

Tuesday

It is a beautiful sunny blue sky day in New York. I'm back to looking for work again. I'm more in tune with the gypsy style of my life now. While I'm auditioning and interviewing, I work on other projects. I have my writings to work on: poems and stories. Practice on my monologues and take out movies I want to see from the library. The library is my best friend. They have a great collection of movies. So I ordered online a slew of movies I want to see. I go through all my acting contacts and follow up with some people. Today, I have to see about my order of more copies of headshots. So I do my best to use my time wisely. Keep all those creative fires burning.

How can I serve as an actor?

On Wednedsay evening, I was listening to actor and coach, Peter Pamela Rose, talking about actors on casting director Jeff Mitchell's show on blogtalkradio.com. I went to a seminar she had at Aftra's last year that really inspired me. Peter said actors must ask themselves How can I serve as an actor when they go to audition. So I had three auditions this week and I tried it out.

I went in to every audition by saying that to myself. Peter is so right on the money. It switched the focus from being all about Shell to how I use my talent to serve the script right now. I was so relaxed and free. It reminded me why I still my love of acting. I always felt a calling to be an actor since I was a little girl. Some people are able to walk away from acting, but I can't. Acting is my blood and my soul.

So I am here. I say How can I serve as an Actor? This is going to be my new guiding force this year. Not how I can get ahead but how I can use my talents for the greatest good. I'm not saying that me being an actor is going to change the world; perhaps, as an actor I can help, uplift and entertain some people from a role I'm doing in a movie, play or television. Who knows? I have been called and I must serve.

Feeding My Soul

To be a creative person in whatever profession you choose, you constantly have to feed your soul. Creativity comes from the deepest part of us. If we neglect that, then what we create will come out weak and pale imitations of the greatness that is in us. Even worst, a dry thirsty soul leads us to more shadowy pursuits that draw us down a wrong road away from who we truly are.

This week so far, I fed my soul by going to the movies to see Meet The Browns starring Angela Bassett, watching Dangerous starring Bette Davis, reading Claiming Your Creative Self: Everyday Lives of Women by Eileen M. Clegg, reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, finding a new Shakespeare monologue to work on, listening to podcasts, listening to music, baking cookies and laying down on my bedroom floor watching the sky. As different as all of these things are they are feeding me and allowing me to keep flowing artistically.

If you haven't fed your soul lately, do so today. Don't wait. Get quiet and listen to what your soul needs. Even if it seems outrageous, go seek it out. Soon you'll find yourself feeling better and your creativity bubbling up. Just step back and see what wonderful and imaginative things come from you now.

The coolest Brotha in the galaxy

Much love to the coolest brotha in this galaxy and beyond: Billy Dee Williams turns 71 today. I could not let this day go without showing my deep affection and esteem Billy Dee. When I was kid in the 70's, there is no one that could touch Billy Dee Williams. He was the one of the first Leading Black men of the silver screen with starring roles in Brian's Song, Lady Sings The Blues, Mahogany.

By the time the 80's came, he became even more famous if that is possible starring as Lando Calrissian, the original owner of The Millennium Falcon, in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of The Jedi. The suave and handsome Lando who though put in a tough situation proved heroes always come through in the end.

Billy Dee Williams is still acting in a variety of films and tv: Ladies Man, Undercover Brother, Constellation, Night Shift: General Hospital. What I also find fascinating is that he is a prolific painter as well. You can check out his artwork here:www.bdwworldart.com/

Happy Birthday Billy Dee!!

Fab Bette

“Without wonder and insight, acting is just a trade. With it, it becomes creation."- Bette Davis

Today is the 100th birthday of my favorite: Bette Davis. She can play it all: strong, vulnerable, dangerous, witty and coy. I can watch Bette and never be bored. I find something new every time I see one of her films. One of my acting teachers, Hope, use to say if you find something that you like an actor doing it, steal it and make it your own. If you feel bad about stealing it from them, remember they stole it from another actor. So I am sure Bette won’t mind if I borrow a thing or two from her.

My favorites Bette Davis films are:

Now Voyager: (Vulnerable and romantic Bette)

Jezebel: (Out doing Scarlett O’Hara Bette)

The Letter: (Conniving Bette)

All About Eve: (Strong Bette)

Dark Victory (Lively and Serious Bette)

The Winter Guest: (Edgy and romantic Bette)

Happy Birthday, Bette!! You are greatly missed.

“Oh Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars”- Bette Davis as Charlotte Vale in Now Voyager.

40 isn't fatal!

I have a confession of a secret fear of mine. Something that haunted me but I never spoke about.
Mine is about turning 40. About three years ago, I started sitting in the bed sweating about what would happen if I didn't accomplish all my dreams by the time I am 40. I always had two images running in my head: one of my mom telling me that she cried when she turned 40 and that Linda Evans commerical for Clariol when she declared 40 isn't fatal.

It's not like when next year I turn 40, I will be in an updated version of the movie: Logan's run now called Michelle's run. Being hunted down because I didn't accomplish more of my acting goals. When I turned 39 in January, something inside me began to loosen up. I used the energy I had wasted fretting to what I needed to do now to get closer to my dreams. Action is always the cure for worry.

So when I turn 40 next year. I plan on celebrating. I am shooting for Paris in January for me.
Being able to turn 40 and embracing all that I have been and all that I will become.


Just found this site and i think this is awesome:http://turning40.net/