Vacation 2 bits

So its Sunday, I haven't posted in a while but I want to try to at least keep up with updating the progress of the magazine and my "professional life" in regard to what I'm doing toward that and acceptable distractions from the Magazine.
This is a post about an acceptable distraction toward the Magazine.
I was on vacation from work last week when my homie Twilight dropped into town and decided to take Actor C and I on a journey with him to the land of ReworkingAesthetics(I'm using that name for something else). Now I hate to do this to you but the job is somewhat "Top Secret," however I can say that it is a video/movie/story,and a few other key things. Nothing that hasn't been done before but something that hasn't exactly been done our way or reworked by us.
I was excited before but blogging about what we're about to do, even as restrained as I did, is giving me a high that I can end the day on with a smile on my face.
It's good being creative, falling heart first.
12:44a.m.

BET

Last night I had the pleasure of sitting with my boyfriend for 4 hours while he was a guest on the Koolout show on WVON 1690 A.M. radio. I must say that I was duped, we went to Jokes and Notes earlier for some laughs and to support his “Get A Job” co-star Lil Rell. I guess the show was going a bit longer than he anticipated because we ended up rushing out to the radio station, for what he told me would be about a 20 minute talk segment on Maxim 13:22 production company and the short film ‘Don’t Bite the Apple’ that he did with them.
About three hours later they were talking about BET and the 2011 BET awards. Koolout had just taken a caller who was concerned about whether or not Black people are overly critical of the channel and whether or not the award show was good. The only person in the room with whom I actually agreed surprised me.

Koolout was going on about how BET perpetuates all the negative stereotypes about Black people and how the BET awards were unorganized and of poor quality compared to something like the Grammys. My first thoughts were, wow, why do people not only keep comparing BET to every other station that is not even trying to reach a Black audience and the BET awards and the Grammys are two totally different things with two totally different budgets
Tina the female co-host to Koolout’s Sunday night radio show surprised me by sticking up for BET and the 2011 awards. She was the only one in the room who had watched the awards and said it was very organized and they did a good job of mixing the old with the new with the variety of performers. She was also the one who pointed out the budget differences between the BET awards and the Grammys. Now she also said that the BET awards was live and that the Grammys are not, which I’m not so sure is true but the budget differences are obvious in the look of the two different channels.

Sitting there listening to a bunch of Black people berate BET then start offering ‘Well they are doing betters’ after the only non Black said she thinks BET and Debra Lee are doing a good job, did not sit well with me.

I wonder when people started watching BET, because BET was never so terrible to me.
I didn’t hear this much complaining about it when it was just a channel that played videos on every one of its shows.

For the rest of the story click here.

My memory of BET before Debra Lee is Midnight Whispers, (which I looked forward to every night), College Hill, Rap-City The basement, 106th and Park, reruns of Comic view, bad movies usually staring rappers, Uncut, and infomercials and religious shows after hours and on Sundays. There was also BET J, the ‘more mature’ counterpart to BET and I loved that channel. The programming was varied and fresh, it only had one show that played videos that I can recall and the videos were less Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and all of Young Money, and more Eric Roberson, Beyonce and maybe Common.

Outside of a handful of Black shows sprinkled across a handful of white stations that’s what Black Entertainment was at the time. And then BOOM, one day BET was the downfall of Black people everywhere as if Flavor of Love was part of its Tuesday night line up, as if BET set the formula for rap music videos to feature thick dark girls and any kind of light or white chick, blunts, fancy cars and cash falling from the sky. No people, BET was just a platform for some of the the shit that Black people created and tuned into, to be televised.
Now admittedly I have no idea what went on behind the scences, who knows if the people who created good and positive shows like ‘Everybody Hates Chris’, ‘Girlfriends’ or ‘Making the Band’ came to BET first for a chance to have their show created, or if they went right to WGN, ABC, MTV etc.

As for the awards shows, I didn’t get to watch them last night, but I hope to catch a rerun. I won’t be blaming BET if they don’t catch all the Bitch, Nigga, Fuck, Pussy, etc. and bleep them out on time, that doesn’t make them unorganized in my eyes.
4:55p.m.

Breaks, discovery, rediscovery

Potential shoot location, also my lighting kit was delivered today, and my new 50mm lens came in the mail yesterday...I am making progress, or getting a little serious I'd say, still have tons to learn.

I ordered the Lamb Xacuti, had it with rice and some kind of roti(bread) that was flat and warm, it was pretty good, I'd definitely eat it again. Viceroy of India is located way up north. 2520 West Devon Ave.

Internet is finally back on, Yes. So a lot has happened but not much has changed since I posted March 1st. For starters I've not had the internet for a couple days, my hair is falling out, I tried a new restaurant, scouted locations for upcoming shoot.etc. etc. I really had an awesome Special Sauce Sunday pretty much ready to go for when I got home from work, but I got attacked by a migrane that day. It was just a headache while leaving work, but by the time I got home from the surprise Indian dinner I was incapable of anything other than laying in darkness. So I'll get that to you this upcoming Sunday, which also marks the start of my vacation from retail hell. Can't wait. Main things on my mind currently are my hair, this photoshoot and the magazine, and as much as I want to leave this out the boyfriend.11:09p.m.

Must Work Harder

Sneak Peek My favorite image from an Engagement photo shoot I did on October 30. Click on image to enlarge.

I know its been a little over a week, but its been a hellava week since my last post, some good some bad but most of all some of the same which means its time to step my game up. Time to win! 10:10 a.m.

(l-r) Corey Hendrix, Aayisha Chanel, Brenda Mclain, Director James Reed, and "Lil Rel"
(l to r) Brenda Mclain, Angelica Acebedo-Frint and Aayisha Chanel
Far right Mahogany Monae, Middle Raeja Roofe. The lovely ladies of the movie!
Most of the Cast and Crew

So this was taken a few weeks back while the movie was still being filmed, well I guess you can't say "filmed" but you know what I mean, and the one below is from the the actual premier, its my version of a bootleg.


Great turn out, an excellent movie, and an overall success. If there is anyone out there who reads this blog and showed up to the premiere showing support, its greatly appreciated, Thanks! 1:43a.m.

Combination Rice

Yep, I was still trying to figure out what to wear to the "Get A Job" movie premier. I knew it was going to be cold, and I didn't know if the read carpet was going to be outside so I went with basically what I have on in the last picture, except I wore leggings instead of those tights, nothing to fancy, but very functional since I had to stand basically in place taking pictures and attempting to answer questions, ohh photography how I love you, let me count the ways- almost 500 pictures, let the editing begin. 11:44p.m.

Chicago Incubator Designers Show-pt.2 what I wore

As I readied these photos for posting I noticed just how Midwestern I dressed, for tonight’s event, which lead me down the path to the way Chicago people think and dress, which got me to wondering if Mayor Daley and the rest of em’s efforts were frugal in Launching Chicago Fashion week. I ended up changing my look at the last minute because my friend who is not into fashion at all, but who is for the most part a standard Chicago chick, told me it was going to be cold.
New York women could give a fuck if its cold, they are there braving the weather to see and be seen. No one there is worried about “doing the most” or even outdoing the next. From what I’ve noticed after years of seeing New York, Milan, and Paris, fashions in that order, is that these women and men are only concerned with “doing them.”
So I was all set to go in my leggings I was still trying to decide between boots, when the Midwest sensibility made a special guest apperance in my decision. My girl shows up and is like “leggings, its gone get cold, like real cold tonight,” now I’m thinking damn I really don’t have time for this and ain’t trying to freeze, in a tent, where I’ll surly be standing the whole show long, so I change everything, and put on my good ole trusty dark H&M jeans. Wack. The only thing I had going on was my new trench and old/new belt, and the trench was still a trench when it boils down to it.
Why didn’t I at least go for some kind of pant or skirt. Not leggings or jeans but some kind of trouser, grab a dainty blouse or one of my extra detailed signature white shirts, toss in pumps or booties and hit the road? Because I’ve been so anti work clothes that I don’t really own many pants.
Time to not only switch it up but to expand and be a bit more fearless.
Growing up in Chicago I was NOT surrounded by kids who read Bazaar, Right On! and Seventeen for entertainment and escape while being forced to endure grocery shopping, such as myself.
For the longest without even noticing I’ve basically studied these magazines, photography and looks put together in odd ways with strange and exciting clothes and somehow ended up wearing this…




So yea it’s time to not be the least bit concerned with what people who still shop for matching top and bottom (Dereon, Apple Bottom Baby Phat etc. –I’ve never understood that???) or the people who wear denim jackets, top hats, dirty skinny jeans, super oversized friends current label tees, and 80’s haircuts, might look at me like.
Not talking about them in a negative way, but I just notice that we look at each other that same way and are thinking the same thing about each other, “now why she wear that?”
Pictures from the show tomorrow... hopefully 4:06a.m.

Chicago Incubator Designers Show-pt.1 what to wear?

Getting ready right now to head out to this show which is part of Chicago Fashion Week, and I'm really in a rut with what to wear! I don't know why I can never plan on something in advance and actually stick to it, rushing so no further detail till after the show.

Bought this bracelet, about a week ago, I wasn't even thinking of the belt, so now I'm even more happy I got it.

Ideas? 2:35p.m.

Something old, something new...

So the premiere to Get A Job is coming up next week, Thursday,October 21, 2010. I've been thinking about what I'm going to wear of course, and I came up with this

I've had it for about two years and have never worn it. So I thought this is perfect, just have to find some shoes, not so easy. Because of the weird color of the glittery gold I thought to go with some kind of dark brown pump or bootie, but that's not working, plus it's supposed to be super cold, so the silk semi-short dress thing is out especially now that I'll be working the event, I'm not into having my camera rub against my nice clothes. Now I'm back at square one. What to wear!!!
Check out the trailer here.

"Get A Job" Trailer from James Reed on Vimeo.

So I got a little something special in the mail today...


Can't wait to put it to use, it wasn't that expensive compared to damn near every other lens or the money I spend on clothes, shoes etc. but I, I used money from the last paying gig to get it and that was special because, I was saving it to put right back into growth. And oddly enough I was just booked for another gig, and a possible. Things are looking up. Looks like I'm going to have to do that Facebook portfolio soon, maybe this weekend. Corny but I'm pretty excited. Well goodnight back to retail hell in the morning. Don't forget to check out the trailer and if you're in Chicago come out, support say what's up, we're friendly. 12:33 a.m.

Bahamas/Miami Cruise -the Miami part

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Click on Images to Enlarge. All Photos by Jakina Ado 2:46a.m.