Vintage Shopping!?!!

I walked, and walked and walked. I looked down at my map, than up back at the long street in front of me, through the white cloud of warm air that has left my slowly cooling body into the freezing air that entered my lungs with every heavy breath that I took while trying to reach my destination. I was vintage shopping. And what a blast it was.

Although it was cold I had an amazing time doing it. It was actually a class assignment. We had to create a scene with a certain theme (i.e. 60’s or grease etc.) and go vintage shopping for the clothes or the costume of the scene which would later have to be the ‘hook’ for the scene for under $10.00 per group member. I had a great time. My group decided to do fresh prince. So we had to find retro clothes. After walking for a long time we finally found what we thought to be the perfect store. We all got our costumes and made a break for the finish line. We made it there with two hours to spare and realized we were way too early. After doing some journalism on the streets of Toronto we met up with the other groups. Only to find out that both groups went to the Salvation Army got more than we did. This was kind of disappointing but never the less we are confident in what we got.

But back to vintage shopping. At first I didn’t understand the concept. I mean the idea of putting on somebody else’s clothes let alone buying them was a bit of a stretch for me. But as I got into the swing of it I realized that it was really fun. And I saw some really neat stores that I do plan on revisiting for some clothes of my own! Of all the stores I went to I enjoyed Black Market Vintage the most. It’s a great little store on Queen just west of John that had a variety of retro style clothes that were in my opinion; priceless. I must admit when it comes to fashion; my intellect is lacking but I do have a style. And it will only get more defined as I do more shopping. I was never really a fan of shopping bit I did have a good time. Maybe next time I will bring some more cash and have some fun!

Riches to Rags

I had the opportunity to spend some time downtown today (Friday). It was great, I had time to shop in some vintage stores and I had a great time people watching. I observed many things...

The eyes are truly the windows to the soul. But some souls have been so beaten up, it’s easy to assume you are looking into an empty abyss when gazing into the eyes of a tired soul. It’s interesting when you approach somebody. You look at a person and recognize their position or relationship with you and most often you pose a question or salutation and assume a response is coming. But perhaps the richest conversations are when it is not necessary or even wanted. Sometimes the greatest conversations are even not spoken rather told with a look or a gesture.

Imagine staring into the eyes of a homeless widow, who fell from glory when her successful husband passed away and whose fortune the government swallowed up. Who has been living on the streets for ten years. Who knows struggle better than love. Whose only daily wish is some decent food and a slightly warm place to sleep. Now imagine her hand stretched out to you and with an optimistic but painful disposition she asks if you have any spare change. And you, with your bags of vintage clothes and $3.67 in change walk right by as if that plea was unworthy of an act of kindness.

What a story.

 

Whats Cookin Good Lookin?

So I'm reading this amazing book called Action Professionally by Robert Cohen (great book for all potential actors). I read a section in chapter 1 called What You Will Need. The section was about looks.

Let’s face it. Your looks are important. I’m not going to be the regular voice and tell you that you need drop dead gorgeous looks to become a successful actor/ actress. The truth is, looks are a big part of it, but as wit can beat strength in a fight, talent can outshine looks, but not often.

What’s interesting is how much more looks matter for females than males. Especially when the majority of consumers of media products like magazines, online subscriptions, DVD’s and tickets to see plays and the ballet are females. What is it about women that make us feel like they can’t be successful without a sexy body and beautiful hair?

We can’t just blame the directors or even the writers of these movies and TV roles for making such degrading roles for women because they are in the business making money. I think the real person we need to look at is ourselves. I’m not going to make you admit it in public but don’t you support all these degrading roles? By buying movie tickets, purchasing their music? Wearing their clothing lines? My question to you is where do you stand? Are you a supporter? Or are you counter culture?

All I can say is; if you say that you’re counter culture, be counter culture, if you aren’t willing to give up some things for the greater good; accept the fact that you are a supporter of these degrading themes in media and live with it!

Blessings

J~Maali

Why all the Sex?

Sex sells. Sexy women sell. Sexy men sell. I want a sexy girlfriend and she wants a sexy boyfriend. Sex is the pinnacle dating and the most fulfilling thing a pagan can do with his life. Our generation is plagued with some serious issues; sex being arguable the biggest, if not the most influential.

Whenever I think about my culture and sex's influence on it, I get amped for Christ. I see so many things that need to be changed. I see more and more that sex and everything wrapped up in the pursuit of it is depressing and oppressing. My youth culture is plagued with expectations. Expectations to fail, drop out of school, have sex and have kids, lose jobs and money and end up dead or in jail. Expectations often box and limit us as people. And the serious thing about my generation is how much we peruse sex and how much the roots of sex (lust and temptation) are openly and commonly accepted and almost encouraged.

Take for instance the average television show on Family channel or YTV. Relationships are the common thread that ties all the stories together. Boyfriends and girlfriends are a household item. How than can we expect our young men and women to grow up and make all the right decisions; when we start selling sex to them at the earliest 'appropriate age'?
 At the end of the day, we need to be able to differentiate between what is ‘acceptable’ and what is right. Because clearly there is a big difference. And because we have started to accept things that are unhealthy and immoral we need to begin to take big steps as a society to change our minds and start cleaning up our kids!

Soo, I Read This Article...

Will I refuse bad language or sexually explicit scenes? Will I reject negative storylines or less than moral stories to act in? These are all questions I ask myself often.


So I read this article on Theactingroom.com - (for all those who are looking for great acting resources, theactingroom is a great blog!). It was called Staying True to Standards in the Acting World.

The article pretty much talked about being a Christian in the acting world and not only staying true to acting standards but to your own, and if that is a possibility. That is really interesting. I mean, when I am a successful performer, will I want to be known as the person who 'wont' do any 'cool' roles? I mean the real issue is who am I?
do I know my standards? And if I do know my standards am I willing to behold them? Even if it means lack of success in the acting world?


The article was great. It put into perspective the struggles faced by so called 'Christians' in the acting world. More often than not Christians bow under the pressure. They often trade in their standards for success. But it depends on your definition of success and where your heart lies.

As a Christian actor, am I trying to be rich and famous? Or am I trying to advance the kingdom of God? Will I find success when I strike my first major million-dollar movie deal? Or will I find my sucess when I win millions of souls for Christ? Just a thought.

~J-Maali :D

A Giant in the Promise Land!

Denzel Washington is and has always been my favorite actor. I have admired him for a long time. I remember when I was nine, I actually got the chance to meet him and act in a movie of his called 'John Q'. Even though I was an extra, it was a spectacular experience. I spoke to him and got the chance to explaine to him that I wanted to be an actor when I grew up. He told me I would be. He told me he saw something in my eyes and in my attitude that was rare. That stuck with me closer than white on rice. What an experience!!!!

 

Denzel is an iconic, amazing, legendary, and a breakthrough actor. Born in Mount Vernon New York of a Prenticoltal minister for a father and a Beautition of a mother; Denzel's intention was to become a journalist. But the acting bug stayed in the back of his mind like a nagging ear wig. After attending Fordham  university and moving to San Francisco he joined the American Conservatory Theater and got into acting with his first major role one year later in Carbon Copy with George Segal. Currently Denzel is working on his 49th title. That in and of it self is an amazing feat. Denzel's ability to portray a character in front of a camera with such conviction and realism seperates him from the pack. His roles are most often well written and he never settles for anything other than greatness. He is truly an Iconic Actor.

 Now Denzel is a great among actors. He transcends perfection in acting and is not only an actor, producer and director but a leader and a true visionary. Denzel is Only the second black actor (after Sidney Poitier) to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (for Training Day), Poitier received the honorary Academy Award that same year. I hope to be able to meet him again one day, but maybe, this time, he will be meeting me!

Thanksgiving

What an interesting thanks giving I had. Going into this long weekend I had a lot to be thankful for. A good house, great family, amazing parents, successful education, blossoming dreams, amazing mentors and promising future to say the least. But something amazed me. many times we treat thanksgiving like a day that we all look at ourselves for the truly greedy, selfish and unthankful people we are. And I must admit I did do some introspective investigation in that field and I am still examining my heart when it comes to that subject. But my thanksgiving was so much more meaningful than a dinner and some self pity.

I spent Sunday waking up at 6:30 as usual to get to my film mentor's house for 6:58 sharp to pack the van and film KBM Live TV at my church, like I do every Sunday. I have always said I am more thankful for that opportunity than I am tired of waking up so early. After church my sisters and I went to my father’s house and had a spectacular thanksgiving dinner. A first for my father (having all of his kids at thanks giving) and a first for all of us kids. The emotions were so present, laughter and tears communicated messages beyond time or meaning.

I woke up on Monday morning sick as a dog. I didn’t see it coming at all but for some reason, although I had a pounding head ach my mind was at ease. I spent the majority of the day home alone in bed while the rest of my family went to thanksgiving dinner. My step father picked me up and drove me to my grandmother’s house where my family was around four o’clock. I ended up spending all that time curled up on the couch, than the bed. But I was so thankful for all my family who was there for me, to bring me tea, to pray for me, to get me orange juice or to rub my back. And although I was sick, I felt better than I'd felt in weeks. What an amazing weekend! 

A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun is a touching spiritual on screen journey about an African-American family in the 1950’s that struggles with poverty, racism, and inner conflict as they strive for a better way of life. The movie is based on the play by Lorraine Hansberry. Kenny Leon directed the movie exceptionally well. Paris Qualles re-wrote the original play by Lorraine Hansberry as a screen play. Lorraine is a brilliant writer. Her vision was to make a movie that commented on many different socio-economic and cultural themes. It was truly an awe inspiring movie based on the truth about what every day people went through on a daily basis in the 1950’s. The cast was phenomenal; the style of camera operating was exceptional and really reflected what I believe the overall moral of the story. The wardrobe was fantastic and I believed the movie the whole way through. It brought me ona  spiritual journey with exciting highs and riveting lows  and kept my eyes fixed to the screen from commercials to credits.

What happens to a dream differed? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load? Or does it explode?

I think its safe to say that I thurougly enjoyed this movie. Interestingly enough it was an amazingly insightful and introspective commentary on African American culture. It put a very interesting spin on opression. The way the writer exposed the mindset of freedom from generation to generation of black north americans was thought provoking. It made me wonder where we are as an african american culture in Canada. Do we have one? It is so common that we analyze the American culture but ignor our own, or our lack there of.

So where are you? Just a thought.

-J~Maali

The Essence of Acting

Can an Actor be a Christian??!!?!!

Acting in my opinion is an amazing form of expression and is one of the best mediums to comment on the human condition in an artistic way. To act is to react, reacting to different situations in life that one might experience or might not experience. An amazing article that I read commented on acting as an art form.

The Essence of Acting

 The article was awe inspiring. Really insightful and help to put acting into perspective. “to perform determined actions that are willfully directed toward attaining conscious desires.” What an amazing line. If you are an artist this is essentially what you are doing. You are commenting on certain themes and perspectives in life.

The article made me think about a few different things; specifically about my mission as an actor/ artist. Am I just trying to be a talented actor that makes money? Or is it something more? My career is my ministry and my ministry is my career. This article really made me think about what I am doing with my life. I do believe an actor can be a Christian. As long as you  are communicating a message through art and your message does not cross your moral line you are safe. In closing this was just a commentary on my life and how it applied to this article and vice- versa! God Bless You!

Your Little Bubble...

A lot of us live in this world and are blind. We walk through life wrapped up inside our little bubbles thinking we are experiencing life for what it truly is. Often we are so blinded by this blanket that we do not see past the masks put on by those we encounter. Our relationships are so skin deep. In fact we become so used to not being personal with people we live our entire lives not really knowing more than a few close family members.

 

I recently experienced something mind blowing. My mother deals with at risk youth and I have been following in her footsteps. Recently a young girl showed up at my door after being missing for a few months in a frantic panic. I looked at her with very compassionate and open eyes and all I could think about was how good I have it. She explained to me that she was caught up in a human trafficking ring and was forced into drugs, prostitution and stripping. After sharing with me her story she told me she was 16. We later brought her to a shelter and are still looking for a permanent place for her.

I left that situation changed. I had heard about this type of thing but when something as serious as human trafficking hits that close to home, you are bound to have a life changing encounter. So why is it that we lead such impersonal lives? I challenge you to step outside of your bubble and experience life for the first time.

God Bless You.

A Real Man!

Latley I've been thinking about what makes up a real man. It is his friuts or claims to fame? Is a real man measured by his wallet size or how many women he attracts? What about whether or not he is popular or in the public eye?

I wrote a poem about just this subject. Enjoy the blog!
A real man
I was told to be a man, a real man, the man the only man
But what is that?
What is a real man,
According to fans of rappers and bands real men do anything they want because they can
They’ll drive around in Ferrari’s flashing cash
Dashing stashes and laughing all the way through life
A real man only 1 wife but 1 thousand concubines
Combine that with a egotistic state of mind
And you will find a real man
I’m sure of it
Real men be rocking glocks
Banging shots
Forcing blocks
Slanging rocks
Got 50 hoes
A big afro
Stacks of do and
11 toes
Real men have
Are funny
Make money
And Have honeys
Real men are strong, with big muscles and even bigger ego’s
Real men work 4 hours a week and have four different baby mamas
Real men don’t take anything from anybody, except drugs from dealers,
Money from the government, tickets from cops and lessons from women
Real men believe in God, but only enough to keep them in church 1 a year
And out of hell
Real men rock big chains and Rolexes
Still bang their exes
Watch young and the restless
And buy their girls diamond necklaces
Real men are tough, buff drink beer like duff
Never have enough
And when life gets rough they take a few puffs
And unwind
Real men have time but no minds
Real men have enough money to club once a week
but not enough to keep their bastard sons off the street
real men act crazy, are lazy
don’t shave and wear braids b
strong like tom Brady but slim like shady
and somehow always manage to get all the ladies
because their real men
real men are just…
Real men show no emotion
Their the calmest in the midst of commotion
Have yachts that cruise all through the ocean
And walk away from explosions in slow motion
Real men are hard,
Have huge scars
Show no pain
Have government names
Real men love women, right before sex until
They are done and it’s on to the next one
Real men are dogs
Are born princes and kissed into frogs
Real men need to be careful on the path they trod
Because one thing not commonly heard, is a real man Needs God.

God Bless You