Things Versus Experiences

Ultimately, we will have to keep our appointment with destiny. You do know what destiny I speak of, eh? We all will die.

So why not spend more time having memorable experiences which will last a lifetime. Yes they will. Don't you agree that our daily, weekly, yearly and lifetime of experiences are what make us and what determines how happy or unhappy or how satisfied or dissatisfied we are?

I've been giving a lot of thought today on the importance of having as many good experiences as I can.

It is not to say that you don't wish to have any material things or possessions, but to me, having the memory of taking a fabulous vacation to a destination I always wanted to go is so much more lasting and satisfying to me because I can always return in my mind to that memory.

A lot of the fun for me is to reflect on past holidays spent with my family or an outing such as a movie or dinner with a friend. These are priceless experiences and they are what really makes me happy. See, I can go back in time to those experiences and always and am able to think of the what I had been doing and this makes me extremely happy.

Now I'm not going to say that if I received a red Ferrare, it wouldn't make me happy because it definitely would. But things do wear out but my memory can always recapture all my moments and my feelings. Therefore, I want to continue having as many wonderful experiences as possible. Doing all kinds of interesting things and trying new things, is my goal.

Remember things soon get old, broken, lost, sometimes stolen and wear out. Good memories and even bad ones, last forever.

I'm In the Movies!!

So much is going on that I can hardly wait to write about it. In fact, it seems that nowadays everyone has something interesting to write about.

About five or six years ago, I was invited to an open-call in my city and because I have a lot of "ham" in me, it was natural for me to be there bright and early. Keep in mind that this was the first time I had ever gone to anything like this. Although I had taken acting classes and drama classes, I never dreamed that one day I would be walking the catwalk or doing print-ads and ultimately being an "extra" in a new movie that Russell Crowe is starting in.

But let me go slowly here so I won't leave anything out. I went to the open call for a commercial about cable TV. Although I didn't the role, apparently the two producers there, one for acting and print-ads, and the other was in charge of modeling took notice of me. (This was nearly seven years ago.) Would you believe that both were excited about me and they said I had great potential. They said that they would be contacting me. That they did. I was immediately signed with their agency, which is one of the best in my city and this is where my acting, modeling, print ads, etc. began.

The first thing they said I had to do was get a comp card. This has replaced the usual portfolio in many cases. This comp card is approximately a 5" by 7" card with one large picture of me on the front and four or five others on the back. It also contains all your measurements and sizes.

A photographer was recommended and a make-up artist. Both were hired to do all that the agency required. First the make-up lady did her magic and then the photographer took over 300 digital photos. Some of the photos were shot in the photographer's studio and then we changed locations to a beautiful loft apartment where I descended the spiral staircase in a lovely evening gown. It was my gown, which I had finally been able to afford from Lord and Taylors. I caught an unbelievable sale. I had all these pictures taken of me after changing into many different outfits. I thought I was a real super model on her photo shoot! I had asked my sister to come along to give me moral support and she turned out to be my wardrobe assistant. She teases me now about how she had to carry all those clothes and have them ready for me to change into. But she was a jewel and she really helped and was so proud of her little sister.

Finally, after having my photos taken, submitted to the agency and comp cards ordered and received, I was available for my first assignment. It was really the beginning of learning that perhaps as many as 90% of the auditions or open calls I went on, I didn't and wouldn't get. At first I was so disappointed and hurt. But finally, I realized that this was the nature of this business.

In May, 2009, I got one of my best jobs. I did a print ad and that is probably one of the best paying jobs a models/actor ever gets. It paid handsomely and I was thrilled! One downside is that I didn't get paid for approximately 90 days and that was so hard since I really needed that money. I had already spent it a thousand times in my head. (hahahaha) This agency pays that way though.

Having done a couple of runways shows at two major department stores in my city, this had been the highlight of my career until I received the opportunity to do a print ad.

But little did I know that I would be asked to be an extra in a Hollywood movie production just this week! I was so excited and had no idea of what this entailed. Let me just say that it was a wonderful and exciting experience, but in the long run, I was so exhausted that I just can't appreciate being an extra in a film. It wasn't even that I had to be up and on the set at 6 a.m. daily, or that I went to wardrobe and got my assigned clothing, or the cafeteria-like food, or even one of the nicest things, meeting so many wonderful people. No it was doing something over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over. Add to the constant start and stop of doing a scene, which meant I was on my feet constantly--like over 6 hours the first day. Sorry but I am a senior with health problems. Now this is no one's fault really. Not even mine. I just didn't know. Now I do though.

I only lasted one and a half days before I had to bail out. My feet were killing me along with my back aching and my neck was hurting too. Oh heck, my whole body was screaming at me, had I lost my darn mind or what?

Perhaps I will have another opportunity to be an extra, but you can be sure that I will know every detail of what the extra is expected to do since I know that physically, I just can't do everything.

We were outside my first day and the temperature was just above freezing when I got on the set. I didn't wear enough clothes so that didn't help me one bit. But as I mentioned above, one of the highlights of this whole experience was meeting so many wonderful people who also shared a love for acting, modeling, etc. Two standouts were these twins who looked like they had just stepped out of a Swedish or Germany travelogue. They were tall and very thin and had long, blond hair and bright blue eyes. They were the nicest young women and we had a lot of laughs. One had not dressed for the weather at all. She had a short, sweat suit jacket on and was folding her arms around herself and shivering unmercifully attempting to keep warm. I really felt sorry for her. She was the youngest twin and I teased her telling her that I could see why she was the youngest, since her sister who was a few minutes older, had shown the good sense to wear a heavier jacket than she had. But this a young man, another extra, became her knight in shining armor, and offered her a heavier sweatshirt with fleece lining, and she was all smiles again.

The stars of the movie were oblivious to us and we were to them as far as I was concerned. By the second day, I was just trying to concentrate on not dropping to the ground to get off my aching and swollen feet. In one scene, Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks, his co-star were doing their thing and I as "background" was right in their path. Elizabeth bumped into me as they were rushing by. I didn't even react. Mostly likely in real life, in a busy area where we were shooting, I probably wouldn't have reacted either. OK, maybe I would have turned around and wondered, the least she could have done was said, excuse me.

I met a lady who had so much in common with me. We shared the same first names, both had heart problems and we are both diabetics! Oh yeah, she and I were both in our sixties. I told her at one point that since there were so many seniors and I know all of us were exhausted, that I probably needed to call 911 for help.

All in all, it was an experience that I will always remember and I'll be looking for me in this movie, the "Next Three Days", which will be released in 2011. Maybe you'll see me and maybe you won't. (smile) I told folks that we needed to be real and face the fact that there was going to be a lot of cutting and it just might be some of us.

Halleluia!! President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize!!!! I am so happy!! The Committee sees that our President is indeed the best candidate for world peace.

Until my next blog, be safe and always know that nothing is impossible with God!!

My Love of the Movies

Here I go again, my second Blog. I thought what would make more sense? Writing about something I really know about and really love, or just reading everybody else's blogs? So here I am again. Bear with me because it takes a minute to get started but once I get going, I can really go. hahahaha.

Movies are one of my favorite past times and I have seen some of the best movies in the past couple of months. Naturally, I was glued to my chair watching the Oscars since I had seen many of the nominated films.

I'll start with "Slumdog Millionaire", which did deserve the Best Picture award and got it! I don't want to spill all the beans about this movie because someone who might read this, may not have seen it yet. However, I am going to say that when I entered the theater to see this movie, I really wasn't sure what to expect. I was living in Atlanta when I saw this movie (I'm not back in Pittsburgh) and as was my custom, I went to the movies every Tuesday afternoon. That was senior discount day and for $6.00 I could escape from my every day routines and be transformed as a movie critic for AMC.

So anyway, I hurried and got seated as the movie had already started. Thank goodness I hadn't missed that much so I was able to get the full pleasure and enjoyment of this movie. I had no idea what living in Mumbai was like and my only recollection of India was that Gandhi was from there and there were millions of people there, mostly poor. So as the movie opened and I saw the image on the screen, it really wasn't that far from what I had heard and knew as a child. However, I never realized that there were hundreds of children in the slums and they were trying to survive in the best way they could. I know that I'm being kind of general here, but again, I'm not sure if it is fair to tell the entire story, so I'll just say that it was romantic, exciting, had much passion and I was nearly brought to tears in some scenes, but always riveted to the screen.

The young stars of this movie were really believable and I'm glad I watched it and didn't get up and leave as I saw one couple do not long after the movie started. Yes, it did cross my mind almost five minutes after I took my seat to leave, but something said, just wait. Watch a little more and see where this goes. I'm so glad I did. It was definitely well-worth it.

When the movie was over and I was leaving, I spotted a couple of ladies and I mentioned to them how much I enjoyed the movie and they said they thought it was very good as well. One also said she started to get up and leave but decided to watch a little more. I told her I had the same instinct but was glad that I too had waited.

So here is the synopsis in a nutshell. Three kids from the slums of a city in India, grow up in front of your eyes and two of them fall in love and their impossible dream is realized. That's all about that one.

I also saw "Gran Torino" with Clint Eastwood. Great movie and he was a senior version of his younger days when he would tell people, "Make My Day", alas Dirty Harry. was really very, very good and probably not entirely realistic, but it held my interest from the moment I met this grumpy character Clint portrayed. He literally has to clean up the neighborhood. That's all I better say about this one.

"Benjamin Button" was just so amazing with the entire idea of a movie (it was three hours long!) that took you from the beginning of life to the end of life and in reverse if you can imagine that. Brad Pitt is so fine and he was not a disappointment playing the starting role. All the characters deserve high marks because they made every frame of the movie a joy to watch. How the movie covered so many years from the 1930s or 1940s until nearly present day was phenomenal. You will understand if you see this movie. But it is very, very long but it had to be to develop the character of Benjamin Button. Go see it!

Now for probably the best picture I've seen in a few months or even a few years, "Taken" was it! If you are a parent, you will love the tenacity of the main character, Liam Neeson. He really loved his daughter and he saved her from a life of slavery and addiction because that is what the movie was all about. Again, I don't want to spoil it for you, but everyone should see it because the whole premise of this movie shows how innocent young women looking for fun and leaving their brains at home, can be duped or in this case, doped into a life of the unexpected. Just see this one. I promise you won't be disappointed and I put it up there with a James Bond movie because it is non-stop action and Liam doesn't play. He really doesn't do a lot of talking and reasoning. He just kills your butt and moves on to the next villain.

I also saw "The International" last week. Clive Owen is a good actor and this movie keeps you hooked from the moment the movie opens so I liked that. It is not as good as "Taken" was but like "Taken", it is going to rope you in early and you want to stay with it and see if all these beating and running around are worth it for our star, Clive. You see so many fantastic views of all these European countries and cities, that it makes sense to call it "The International".

Finally I went to the movies, just yesterday and saw Tyler Perry's new movie, "Madea Goes to Jail". If any of you have seen Madea and her host of movie roles, you are not going to want to miss this. I know that some folks say, "oh I don't like those silly kinds of movies with all that foolishness, etc.". Well let me say that I love comedy and Tyler Perry gives you that plus you always get an added bonus of a spiritual message. Now who in their right mind doesn't need to hear from the Lord!! This movie was really good and it has a lot of great stars and the acting is really good too. In fact, you are going to be surprised to see how great little Rudi is from the old Cosby Show is in this movie. Some of it is predictable, but that's o.k. because it is funny and will hold your interest. If you want to laugh and laugh and then laugh some more, hurry to see this movie. Tyler is getting a good reputation of not disappointing and there is something we can appreciate and applaud as Black people and recognize members of our own family in his productions. Again, go see it and judge for yourself. I love it! I have to say that I'm a real fan and I might suggest that you see "Daddy's Little Girl, The Family that Preys Together, Why Did I get Marry, Dairy of a Mad Black Woman and of course, Madea Goes to Jail". I mentioned these other ones because all of them have something very redeeming and inspirational. Now I don't know about you, but I always need to be inspired.

God bless and I hope you enjoyed this post. Remember, I am still trying to get into this writing down my thoughts for whomever might wish to read them. In the past, I wrote so many notes and emails on Black Planet that all my friends were encouraging me to write a book! It just isn't that easy, but I did feel the desire and urge to write about some of the movies I've seen lately.

Before I call it a rap, I must mention the 81st Oscar Show. Naturally since I love the movies and the movie stars, I had to say a few things.

I fell in love with movie stars when I was about seven or eight years old and I had my own scrapbook of all these stars that most of you have never even heard of because they were stars from the 40s and 50s. Some of them were Janet Leigh, Virginia Mayo, Rory Calhoun, Burt Lancaster, Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Peter Lori, Humphrey Bogart, Kirk Douglas and many, many more. My mom even named me after a movie star who was popular during the early 1940s. Her name was Gloria Jean. She did a lot of musicals and maybe that is why I love movies, the theater and acting so much.

Sorry, let me get back to the Oscar Show. I really love it and had to fight sleep trying to stay up until the very end, but I do it every year. This year was no exception and I loved Hugh Jackman. Although my favorite host will always be Billy Crystal. Hugh could dance and sing and he did a good job. The Oscars are just too darn long but they are worth watching when you've seen as many movies as I have this past year.

Goodbye for now and thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts.

To Blog or Not to Blog? That is my question.

My title tells it all for me at this moment. I love to write and I know I have interesting and funny, sometimes sad things that I would love to share with others. However, the title simply is saying do I do this, blog! Or, do I simply be content with being a reader of all those other blogs that are out there? I believe I genuinely have something to contribute that would be worth reading on a regular basis on the subjects that are relevant to a large body of people.

Since I'm a senior, I think that I bring years and years of experience in many fields of life and hope that I shall master this art of blogging and find a subject that I can comment on that would bring a smile to someone's face or a laugh. No frowns please. (smile). But seriously on this side of heaven, I'm sure there are going to be a lot of both.

Perhaps I should tell you or whomever edits, reads, critiques, trashes, etc., the blogs, something about me. I'm a 66 year old African American woman that is loving her retirement more than I would have imagined. Oh except for never ever having enough money. But I get by very well most of the time and am ashamed for even bringing money into the picture. There are just too many people who are really going through the worse of times and being hit left and right and all across this country. So I won't complain. Simply forget I said that. I can keep that to myself and instead offer all my prayers to others that are really finding it hard to cope or exist with their present situations--whether they are financial or emotional.

Back to a few things about me. I have had some college, love to read, love writing even more, and traveling to different islands when I can afford to is my favorite thing of all times. Oh I keep forgetting, is that what anyone wants to know or what. Maybe no one cares what I'm like or what I have experienced, but I sure love it that there are so many avenues in which one can become involved to express themselves. Isn't freedom of speech just the best!!!

In conclusion, I'm beginning to get the hang of this blogging and am ready to dive in head first and do my best to bring a perspective from a senior who is stuck in a 66 year old body with a 35 year old spirit. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity to audition for a blogging spot on this site.