For Colored Girls

I saw the film a while back, but wanted to wait and ponder on this movie for awhile before I did my promised blog entry. I actually didn't mind this film, even though it got panned from critics. It was way better than I thought it would be. Tyler Perry did an amazing job reconstructing this book of monologues into a sequence, that actually made sense. It was a hard movie to sit through at times, as sometimes the truth about your culture hurts the heart more than expected. The cast was all A list and I was amazed by every one's work. All except one person, and I will mention that later. The highlighted performance for me, was Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, and Phylicia Rashad! This movie was highly anticipated for me, and I didn't leave feeling numb like most African American women I know did. I left enjoying peoples work, it didn't make me feel the way I wanted it to. The one moment that got on my nerves was the cough, that Janet Jackson, kept doing ( I am sure directed to do so) it was so unbelievable and took me out of the moment. As they "indicated" that she was getting sick from her homo-Down Low- boyfriend. I know many people with HIV who don't walk around with a random cough. It would have been a stronger choice to just surprise us the audience, with the sickness, with the papers at the end, instead of giving away the final surprise! BAD ACTING CHOICE OR BAD DIRECTION!!!!! Other then that, everything seemed quite on the up and up! I enjoyed the actors work, and I would love to give kudos to the beautiful new comer:Tessa Thompson!!! Now to the performance I hated in the film, and it was so disappointing for me, it was Whoopi Goldberg. Her performance was contrived and not honest enough for me. I will state this by saying I am a huge Whoopi fan, and will devote my next blog entry to her. I can't dog my girl without giving her praise. I think Whoopi is an actress who needs a good director to help her along to find her character. This did not happen for me in "Colored Girls"! This film is all about the folks acting, and a must see for great performances!!!

Miami Pictures/Gabrielle Union Party/I made the cut!

I partied in Miami, on my Birthday and was invited to Gabrielle Unions Birthday party. As me, Gabrielle and Tracy Ross all share the same day of Birth. Here are some of the professional pictures from the party that I found online. As previously announced I respected the actresses decision to not allow cameras! You know I always know how to find the camera and my light! LOL! The surprise was that I found a photo of me online. I made the cut!!!! YAY! Such an amazing night, and wanted to share some of the photos!

My Favorite Movie..."The Color Purple"

My favorite movie of all times is "The Color Purple", and I decided to revisit this film the other night. It is amazing how I find new moments that make tears run down my face. It is interesting how relevant this movie is today as it was twenty five years ago. I also can quote a ton of scenes in the film, and I almost got the script memorized. Steven Spielberg is a genius, and his attention to detail is brilliant in this film. He captures the period, essence, and this culture as if he was African American and was born in this time period, like he lived this depressed experience. Spielberg brings the best out of the actors, and even finds humor and joy through out this film. This to me is still today his best work ever, and I can't wait for the blue ray version of this film to come out on Jan. 25 2011! This movie has some of the best acting in the world in it, this ensemble piece is so extraordinary as every actor was amazing! It is also some of the best work some of these actors have ever done. Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah for instance would do there best work in there film lives in this flick. Although Whoopi won an Oscar for the movie Ghost, which is superb performance, Ghost can't ever measure up to her work in "The Color Purple". That year was intense as "The Color Purple" had many nominations, but was robbed in my opinion of all them. It should have been best actor, actress, supporting actress, best direction, and even best picture..I can go on and on....This movie should have cleaned house at the Oscars!!!!! I haven't seen any movie that can come close in my eyes to touching the work done in this film. We have come close, but no cigar for me. That is how highly I praise this film!

"The Color Purple", is celebrating its 25Th year anniversary this year, and they were on the Oprah show last night. I learned some inside on the film that shocked me. It was thrilling to watch this beautiful cast together on Oprah. News flash for me was that Whoopi and Oprah who haven't spoken in 20 years, because of petty "he said she said", break there silence and confusion. The Oprah show had me laughing, crying, and just in awe of the talent on stage. Learning inside information on the casting process, was one of my favorite moments on the Oprah show. Finding out that in the dinner table scene, they were all tore up from partying the night before. My biggest surprise is that Oprahs "Sat in that jail cell" speech was all improvisation. As it is one of my favorite acting moments in the movie. It goes to show when you are connected to a character, that the right thing will just flow out of you, whether scripted or not! I have to to give a shout out to Danny Glover and Margaret Avery whose performances are riveting in the film.

This movie is in a class of it's own and hasn't been replaced yet as my all time favorite film ever! I honestly don't know if it ever will......

Addiction

I wake every day and I think about it. I can see it in my dreams, it makes me crazy, and insane! I sometimes get on the train, and imagine it right next to me. I walk around like a crack head on the streets needing it so badly. I go crazy when it is not around me. I love it more than so many things in my life. I will get so angry if it is not around me. I can't live without it, and that is the bottom line. I eat, breathe, sleep, dream it everyday. I'm on the treadmill at the gym, and my mind wonders to it. When I have it I am so happy, and everything feels complete. I get so depreesed, don't want to get out of bed, and cry when it is not near me. I will do anything for it, and that scares me sometimes. I am obsessed with it, and I can't shake this addiction. I even bring GOD into it. I need it near me at all times in some way shape or form. I am addicted to acting!!!!!!!

Nowhere Boy

When I was in Miami, I did manage to catch a movie, and I was searching for this film in New York City! Unfortunately in one of the most diverse, artistic, amazing cities in the world (New York City). I could not find "Nowhere Boy" anywhere but at two random theaters. Then in Miami, right down the street from my hotel this film was playing. I was so excited as I love bio films that are based off of legends lives. If you don't know this film is about John Lennon's beginning of his life. As I expected it was a brilliant movie, that left tears, joy, power and ambition in my soul. Lennon's story is so interesting, and the Beatles gain a whole new respect from me. I had no idea Lennon's childhood was so complicated, and how tough a boy he was, John was a bad ass. In my head Lennon is like the ultimate hippy, and to see this different side of him, was a thrill. I can't wait for this film to come out on DVD as I will definitely own it. It was so well done, and the acting was superb. Every actor was extraordinary, that I can't even single anyone out as a favorite. Which you can almost always expect from British actors. They just are trained well over there, and have mastered the acting art form. I highly recommend this film if you can find it in your hometown!

Namaste

I took the most amazing Yoga class yesterday, that I just had to mention to all my New York Friends and New York Blog Followers. It wasn't even at a yoga studio, it was at New York Sports Club on 14th Street, at 12:15 p.m. on Mondays. The teachers name is Sarah, and when I tell you I was so inspired. After class I felt like I could accomplish anything. My body felt so amazing and great. The most important thing was that my soul was lifted, it reminded me of vacation. I came out of there so relaxed, and my inner being was happy. This class I will take every Monday (if I can make it) with bells on. It is a little difficult for a beginner, but if you are a dancer friend of mine, you would love it. If you have taken yoga before you definitely can handle the class. If you are a beginner it can be a little tough, but my advice is to still come and try, as there were many people who were beginners in the room. The most special part of the technique and the class is the words the instructor Sarah spoke. It was amazing, as every thing pertained to my life. She encouraged, and the sound of her voice illuminated the air, and my heart. I felt like she knew exactly what to say at the right time. My friend Steven who I went to this class with said "He felt like she was talking directly to him the whole time, like no one else was in the room"! I too had the same experience.....Well, if you are in New York City, and you want to take an amazing yoga class, come to my gym, and I will see ya there....

My Amazing Birthday

I haven't blogged in two weeks, because I was so busy with life, and my Birthday just backed me up for a couple of weeks. I have so much to speak on, so stay tuned blog world as I try to fit in all my ideas this week.

I went to Miami for my Birthday weekend, and I had the time of my life! I left on Thursday October 28 and the first day I just lay on the sunny beach all day, and ate some of the most amazing Cuban food in the world! When I checked into the hotel, they handed me a cocktail, with a big welcoming party. I knew from that moment that this was going to be an amazing weekend. I also hit every bar I could find on the Miami strip, made new friends, and partied it up on my Birthday weekend. Every single night I felt like I was up at a bar or club until 6am. This is very unlike me as I never go out anymore, but this was so much fun. To forget about New York, Auditions, Family Troubles, the real world was out of sight, out of mind. It was exactly what the doctor ordered.

The big day of my Birthday was the best Birthday I had thus far, as I went into a Hollywood dream land. I was invited by a friend to Gabrielle Union's Bday party. Which we share our Birthday's on the same day. It was such an amazing atmosphere to be amongst so many celebrities. To chat with many of them on a social level, and to feel like there peer and not someone who you see on T.V. and admire. It was also amazing to meet some cool stylist, publicist, make up artist, managers, and just industry folks! It was a great way to help me dream bigger, as my career goes through transition, being a part of that click, dancing, drinking, and just having a great time was such a high. One of my celebrity crushes-- that I will keep nameless-- was there, we had a great conversation as well......HMMMM????? I will keep you guessing blog world, and if you are my friend, you can ask me in private. LOL I now know more than ever where I fit in, and where I belong. That statement probably sounds cocky, but I have to write how I truly feel, in my blog. My emotions were heightened and hey it was "my day" as well. She had old school bands come up and sang for us; such as Silk and Al B. Sure. It was a kick back to the music I grew up listening. UH-OH blog world I am giving away my age...... I wish I could post pictures from the night, but I tried to respect Gabrielle Union as she said "No Cameras"!!!! Again, if you are my friend, I did sneak and take a couple, and some videos..LOL I would never post them online out of the actors, respects...This day was truly blessed, and I will never forget it. I hope there are many more parties of this nature in my life to come.

Lastly one of the most spiritual moments of my whole vacation was when it got dark, I would wonder onto the beach. I would look out at the dark ocean, and up at all the stars glaring back at me. For some reason the beach at night, I feel so close to GOD! I would reflect, pray, cry, meditate, and talk to the my saviour. It was one of the most beautiful moments, and the beach at night is now one of my favorite things to do.

Well, that is the short, of my BDay celebration, but it was a blast, and I will never forget any moment of it.