#NerdsUnite: Straight shooting with @mcarmona1

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Monique. She's a straight shooter who is running blindly, but confidently, in the direction of her life like the rest of us. She is here today to talk about her life, love, and all things good in her hood. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT MONIQUE!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @mcarmona1

It's been quite the creative past three weeks with screenings and shoots and air dates announced - Showtime! Holla! -  It's been very cool really getting to experience all the different phases of a project in a seemingly 2 week span.  Wether your watching the finished product, doing re-writes before a shoot or on in front of the camera waiting for a plane to pass over, it's where I love to be.  It's my little slice of heaven, my G spot... or should I say A spot, you know, that place where your inner artist is feeling good. And no it wasn't porn.

One of the fun things was the screening and launch of the ADD Channels "The Vitrual Zone" a new webisode that takes real Craig's lists posts and reenacts them by creatively and hilariously bringing them to life.  I got to play "Giggles" on episode 2 which just went public.  During the screening, I  was reminded of the fun I had in the collaborative process with the creators of the show Rozine and Aymman.  This is just one of the many great things these guys are up to. I was also reminded of the joy of creativity when great synergy is happening & how several demented minds can be so much better than one.  These guys wanted to bring this weird, funny, and unbelievable world to life in a fun, fast creative way, reached out to some willing actors and made it happen.  

Sure, they are learning and getting better production wise with each episode but the fact that right out of the gate they were able to play, create and produce humorous content was a enormous sign that with the right attitude, new ideas and some talented friends you can stop waiting and start creating... and you don't have to have it all perfect to start.  Ah, the old gotta have it perfect trick... oldest one in the book.  This illusion, lie, myth, excuse, fear - call it what you will, can keep you from your true passions if you let it.  Well friends, I'm not going out like that.  I'll be the damn poster child of imperfect if I have to be because to me it's much more fun to be making things and messing up beautifully than acting like I really know what perfect is... Cause I kinda don't.  But I know what a good time is.  

So, are you collaborating? Creating?  Where are you holding out?  Where could you join in with a few other that have a similar goal and go out their and   create something awesome?  Regardless of the outcome.  Has your A spot been touched lately?  It can be overwhelming sometimes at first but a little action and a little faith can get you to third base quicker than you realize:)

I mean these guys showed up, camera in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other (thank you very much) with the actual post from Craig's list and some ideas to get rolling with and off we flew.

I, being the type of person who doesn't mind looking carazy for the sake of comedy got right to it with ideas, improv and looking like a good old fashioned meth whore... fun was had by all.  

We got that shoot done in less than 3 hours and I felt pumped!  I look forward to doing more episodes, different characters and even different shows with these guys and they plan on taking it up to the next level each season.  See the momentum you get from going for it fuels the larger plan.  Check out my episode and The Virtual Zone and see what we brought to life. Oh and remember somebody actually wrote this shit!  and by shit I mean gold;)  Say hi to "Giggles."



Until next time,
@mcarmona1

click here to check out more from Monique!

#NerdsUnite: Straight shooting with @mcarmona1 (filling the void)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Monique. She's a straight shooter who is running blindly, but confidently, in the direction of her life like the rest of us. She is here today to talk about her life, love, and all things good in her hood. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT MONIQUE!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @mcarmona1

You ever feel like if you just had that perfect person tell you how to navigate toward your dreams maybe then you could make it happen? Like if you didn't seemingly have to figure out everything at every step of the way by yourself you could somehow make it work.

Well, true story - Several years back, I was graciously invited by Mr. Val Kilmer to a Screening of The Doors. We met on a plane and he sat two seats over, some comedy was exchanged, we laughed we cried and well the rest was as they say... 

Anyways, Oliver Stone had re digitized it for better color quality or some such thing and it was the 15 year reunion.  So they were doing a shin dig.  I know, can you believe it? 15 years? wtf? It was very cool, with some of the band members and cast, whatnot. 

Now, if you're wondering if I always name drop the answer is no.  Not because I'm better than that but because I just don't have names;) I genuinely loved the movie the first time I saw it back in the 90's and to this day think it was one of Val's best... along side Tombstone (can I get a witness?) and luckily Gabe my boyfriend at the time had never see it so I said "Hell to the yeah, let's do this!"  So we go, it's awesome and afterward Oliver Stone gets up to talk about what a poet Jim Morisson was and that above being a performer and singer -  in his heart he was a a true poet.  Now, I liken myself to quite the little poet  and have some pretty good ones to prove it so you can imagine I was totally into it.  "I really get it man," I thought.   

CUT TO:  

The after part and they have rigged 3 after parties together at one space and it's off the hook.  Seriously there was so much eye candy in that place I got a cavity by midnight. 

Oliver is being, shall we say, "entertained" by a younger Asian woman on the exec's couch and I'm dancing the night away... and then as the beat slowed down and the sea of people parted Oliver stood up.  I was close, so close that I leaned in and started chatting with him.  "I just wanted to say I totally related to what you said tonight about Jim and his heart and poetry.  I too..." He  looks me straight in the eye, leans in and  proceeds to tell me... something.  What?  I can't hear a fucking word!  Why is the music soooo loud! 

I heard NOTHING! Not a damn thing, only the moving of his lips as he smiled, grabbed my arm and nodded a profound YES... as if he had just given me the keys to the kingdom. 

I of course couldn't bring myself to say "HA?  What?  Can you say that again? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" I just said "Yes, absolutely, sir" Nodding a resounding yes back.

What was it?  What was the bit of magic he imparted to me?  

How funny right?  I create this sweet opportunity, get a moment with one of the best filmmakers of our time and somehow it turns into a modern day I love Lucy episode!

Maybe he said "I'm in room 406 you should come visit later" to which he thought I'd be right up. To which this story would be pretty naughty... na, I don't think he likes the gingers.

Maybe he said something crazy about love and storytelling and me calling his people and... oh who knows.

We all want to hear that bit of wisdom, guidance or advice.  We all want the big dogs to tell us which way go down the yellow brick road but really what I do know is that as I thought about this story over the weekend I realized, I get to make it up.  I get to fill in the blank and go to all sort of wild and wonderful places.  When you fill in the blanks to your story, you get to own your power in a creative unique way. Then I thought where else I could re-write the script play it to my advantage and be on the right path... just cause I say so and that's how I roll.

So Oliver if you're out there, you know how to get a hold of me... and yes what I made up entails stories of glittery grandeur that you're gonna have to work pretty hard to beat;)  Which is not to say that I'm not open.

Check out this interview with Oliver discussing Jim, Venice, Music and of course... poetry.

Until next time,
@mcarmona1

click here to check out more from Monique!

#NerdsUnite: Straight shooting with @mcarmona1(get to it!)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Monique. She's a straight shooter who is running blindly, but confidently, in the direction of her life like the rest of us. She is here today to talk about her life, love, and all things good in her hood. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT MONIQUE!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @mcarmona1

It's been a few weeks since I came a knocking and in that time there's been death, political corruption and millions of people banning together in the name of women's rights.  I love me some social media, have been able to see some mind blowing things but sometimes, it's all too much - especially at the rate in which we are seeing all the news and seeing EVERYONE's different point of view... "I get it dude, you really really like Ron Paul!" From time to time, makes me just want to start sipping at lunch time... ah, but that's just not an option for the like of this lady;)  It is an option however, to find that perfect song on You Tube that reminds ya of something bigger, maybe tell that joke that you've told a million times because it still makes people smile (my joke includes a couple of clowns and a cannibal btw) and perhaps take some deep belly breaths so you can relax into your fabulous rich selves.  All together now... Breeeeaaaathe.  

Whether or not you were a fan of Whitney Houston at some point in your life or just empathize with the loss... You had to notice people were moved.  It begs the question... What is it about talent, music, song, art, dance, etc., that resonates so sweetly within all of us?  Cause, if you ask me, people weren't just responding to Whitney passing, they were responding to what she shared.  What is it about seeing someone pour out their soul into their work and lay it out for the world to see that gets us so deeply? We're pulled out of our hum drum lives and excited, enthralled, connected. We're pulled from the rigid curriculum of the grind and grid and  momentarily connected to a soul filled symphony. Don't get me wrong, art also has the power to create change, to open minds, to be political and brave which is vital... but it also provides a direct line to the heart and unlike a life without it, art makes it all worth it in the end.

 Check out this Rad Work of art by Chris Davies that has a direct link to my heart.  

So so so cool & a M A zing.  

So, while you're reminding the old men that they better back the fuck off from making decisions for your -  or your loved ones uterus(s) OR you're telling Monsanto you'd rather stick a fork in your neck than eat their seed infested poison, make time to take note of all the beauty that non the less surounds us.  As a matter of fact create some too. Be a part of the sounds, the rhythm, the pulse... cause it's sweet.  I say once again, get up and shake your ass, like I did last night in my living room to a little Peter Gabriel (thank you YouTube). Paint on random walls... and then run away quickly... imagine, cook, taste, feel, revel in the soul filled gifts of your art and other's, cause babes, to me, it's one of the greatest things about being alive.  It's one of the strongest through lines.  So you better get to it... while you can.  Holla.

Now spin the disco ball and cue the awesome 80's video and work it.

Until next time,
@mcarmona1

click here to check out more from Monique!