The blog must go on
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February 03, 2009 - impadmin
Is there any moment quite so satisfying as when you create something you know is extraordinary? How does it happen? Was it a moment of inspiration or was it a gift?
Once in a while, and sometimes too infrequently, I get that feeling from something I wrote, and I guess a composer gets the same feeling from something they played for the first time. A photographer gets it when they see that captured image. The artist gets it when they step back from the canvas and takes it in. It's that goose bump moment when you just stop and go "Ooh! That's good." I think it is why so many of us carry on with our art form when that moment is sometimes the only reward we get.
A lot of new and talented people are coming to IMPnow, after what was perhaps a fallow period when the site was pretty much coasting. Welcome, to all of you. I hope you find this a place where you can find kindred spirits, and the inspiration to carry on, or get started, with your art.
There is much to be done to bring a great sense of community to those who come here. The one thing that will make IMPnow great will be the sharing of the passion for art, so I ask that if you find value in only a little of what you find here, then you will find treasure if you find a lot of it here. Tell your friends and fellow artists about the site because it is the quality of the community that will make us all glad to have a place to call our own.
Grigoroo
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Featured Artist Interview: Carmen Perez
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October 27, 2008 - impadmin
IMPnow.com got a chance to interview actor/singer Carmen Perez and discuss
some of the projects she is working on as well as her inspirations in
art.
Prior to entering the entertainment industry, you joined the U.S. Army, completed your Bachelor’s degree in Government & International Politics and worked part-time at the Pentagon. How did you make the transition from working at the Pentagon to taking on an acting career?
It was psychologically a little tough, yet exciting at the same time. I've always wanted to be a successful business person & the other side of my brain had me wanting to be an artist. I was scared but I secretly researched acting, films, music & I started writing a screenplay. Then I went to this weekend workshop in D.C. and the rest is history. Once I finally made up my mind, it was easy. I couldn't look back. It was sort of like I was ready for the next phase of my life.
In the film "Soldier’s Don’t Cry" you won an award for Best Supporting Actress by the A.D.A.’s (Artistic Director Achievement Awards). How did you prepare for this role?
I actually won for the PLAY version of the film. I am definitely a better actress now than I was back then, but preparation-wise, I used my own experiences from when I was in the Army & just really put myself in the situation as if I were in combat. I also researched women that served in the Armed Forces in Vietnam.
If you could work with any actor/actress who would it be and why?
MERYL STREEP - I would love to work with her because she is so creative and I would hope to be influenced by her. She can play ANY role & always be brilliant, unique and in the moment. Everybody knows this. I would also love to work with TINA FEY because I LOVE comedy & she's such a great comedic writer & actress. I also love NAOMI WATTS' & ANNETTE BENNING's work. With male actors, I would have to say AL PACINO, JOHNNY DEPP, JAVIER BARDEM, BENICIO DEL TORO, ROBERT DENIRO & MATT DAMON.
When did you realize that singing was something you were also going to pursue in addition to your acting career?
As recent as a year ago. I always wanted to but I thought I should focus on only one or two things at a time & I was already acting & writing. I rarely have time for anything else. I also felt my voice wasn't good enough because I hadn't been trained & was not a natural "belter." Then I just started taking voice lessons & my voice coach sort of inspired me to really "go for it." And I did.
Your first single “Emergency” was just released last month, which you co-wrote along with J-Sweet, Ellis Miah and Kyle Puccia. How was it working with each of them?
I was very lucky we all "clicked." It was a great experience. I had already worked with Ellis (as my co-writer & producer) for my other songs & with Kyle Puccia (as my co-writer & voice coach) & they are also my good friends so I feel very comfortable with them. I was a little nervous at first meeting Jay & Sweet 'cause they did write one of JLo's hits & I felt less experienced, but we connected right away & they were wonderful to work with. I think we made a great team.
Are there any plans in the future for a full length album?
DEFINITELY! I love all sorts of music so I'm actually still conflicted on sticking to one genre. I'm thinking my next album might be more on the "jazzy" side.
Who are some of your musical influences?
Definitely Janet Jackson & Madonna. I also think I have a little bit of Jennifer Lopez & Nelly Furtado influences. I'm starting to feel influenced more with what Amy Winehouse & Duffy are doing right now.
In addition to acting, singing and writing, you’ve also started your own film company, Fervent Films. What made you decide to venture out into the production industry?
When I decided to become an actress, I always knew I was also going to be a filmmaker as well. I wasn't sure yet to what degree, and again, I was "waiting" for the right time, maybe waiting for more success as an actress. But I realized I wanted to really start producing this year. I did Finance for the Army & part of my brain has always been very "business" so I know I'll make a great producer. I also want to have more options to choose from as an actress & be able to give my actor-friends more opportunities as well.
How do you hope to set Fervent Films apart from other production companies?
FERVENT FILMS will focus on independent films that are not the "Hollywood" studio standard films. "Fervent" means "Passion" & that's what I'd like to do... Films about passion, intensity, love, hate, beauty, ugliness, human nature, psychology, loss, triumph... & make them "moving." Studios don't make "moving" films too often & they also cast the same "name stars" in their lead roles. I want to be able to cast unknown actors and give them opportunities to really shine because that is rare... I've experienced it myself. I still feel I haven't had the opportunity to express my full potential as an actress & it has happened to me, more than once, where I lost a role because they wanted someone with more of a "name" in Hollywood. I don't want a "name" to determine who plays a role. I also love "goofball" comedies, so those will have to be made also. I know it's a tough thing to not have "names" because even for indie films, sometimes investors want to invest only if you have a few "name" actors, but I will do my best to keep that limited.
Can you tell us a bit about your short film Delusion?
"Delusion" is about a woman who is not "quite right" in the head. She is addicted to Xanax, which is used to to treat anxiety & depression & has become sort of "numb" to the world & society. She has an accident & her mind just gets worse. She doesn't understand the consequences of her actions.
With everything you have going on, how do you balance all of your projects?
I still don't feel like I'm doing enough sometimes. It kind of all balances itself out. It's been a little slower acting-wise, so I focus on marketing my music & writing & when I'm busy working as an actress, it's the other way around, I don't focus as much on my music & writing. I always still need at least one day, usually my Sundays, where I try not to plan anything and relax, unless I feel like doing something at that moment.
What would you like for people to think of when they come across your name?
PASSION. That I've accomplished everything I've set out my mind to do & done it well. I would also like for people to think of me as a great friend, daughter, sister, relative, girlfriend, etc.
What projects do you currently have in the works?
A feature film script titled "La Colombiana"; My album "EMERGENCY"; Preparing another short film to produce; and a book called "Diary of a Female Soldier". I will be acting in two feature films called “The Distracted” and “Locker 13” in November & December & I just acted in a short film called “Diagonal.” I’m also going to be submitting the short film I wrote, produced & starred in, “Delusion” to film festivals.
Are there any other thoughts, insights or advice for aspiring actresses or singers that you would like to share?
If you truly, really love what you're doing, DON'T GIVE UP!
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering their support?
Kyle Puccia has been an amazing friend & inspiration. He is my voice coach, also an amazing singer (he has an album on ITunes) & he was the one who inspired me to really start recording my music. Kyle referred me to the label I did "EMERGENCY" with & that's how I got the deal. He also referred me to Ellis Miah, who has produced all of my music. Ellis is a HOT producer & amazing to work with. I also acknowledge Ellis Miah for being such a great friend & for being so patient with me, working with a first-time recording artist & sort of guiding me. They both have been wonderful & I've co-written all of my songs with both of them. Also, my theatrical manager "OP" has been an amazing manager & has also given me great guidance for the past year and half as an actress. He thinks in & outside the box & I love him for that. I have to acknowledge my publicist, Gloria, for believing in me & for getting my name out there. She is a great publicist & friend & she truly cares for her people.
For more info on Carmen Perez, visit her website carmenperez.us or her page on myspace. Both of Carmen's albums are available on Itunes.
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Photography the alternative way
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October 09, 2008 - impadmin
In the digital, fast-paced world we live in, instant gratification has become a large part in how we do
everything including photography. However, over time photography has become
split into two main categories: digital and film. Sure, there have been countless debates
on which medium is better, or the most cost effective, yet this can hardly be settled as
it’s primarily a based on personal preference.
Moving forward
with the topic of film photography, there are many photographers who delve into
the world of alternative photography which, to the mainstream audience, involve
fairly uncommon methods and techniques. These techniques involve manual manipulations
and very little digital components, if any at all.
Maybe it's time you ditch the digital and try out the alternative
method of taking photos:
Solargraphy
A process
that traces the suns movement in a given time period, such as seasons.
Photo by Tarja Trygg
Cyanotypes
Photos printing
process that created a white image on a cyan-clue print
Photo by aikithereska
Polaroid transfers
Process
of transferring a Polaroid image onto another surface
Photo by David Adam Edelstein
Pinhole photographs
Created
by making your own camera out of simple materials like foam-core board
Photo by Don Argott
Resources on alternative
photography
Alternative Photography – an extremely informative
website with all things alt. photography including artist galleries and
step-by-step instructions
Lomography – includes a series titled “Lab
Rats” which showcases members’ alternative film techniques
The Pinhole Gallery – everything related to pinhole
photography
Solargraphy Gallery – Tarja Trygg’s website for her Global Art Project of Pinhole
Solargraphy
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Thursday's Daily Links Round Up
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October 09, 2008 - impadmin
- Caribbean musician Turtuga
Blanku records music entirely by using a solar powered studio
called the Green Machine
- Artist Robin Rhode creates
simple yet interesting street art
- Interested in a new ride? Someone is selling a replica of the Ghostbusters' Echo-1
car that has been on display at Universal Studios Florida
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Wednesday's Daily Links Round Up
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October 08, 2008 - impadmin
- Photographer Jan Van
Holleben’s Dreams of Flying
series tap into the nostalgia of his childhood
- If you’ve got some incense, a
camera, a black backdrop and photo editing software, you too can make your
own smoke photography
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Typography as art
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October 07, 2008 - ImpAdmin
Most of us don’t stop to think how significant typography
is in our daily lives. However, if you’re reading a book or walking along the
street plastered with billboards, it’s just like typographers say, "Type is
everywhere."
With type being such a large influence in pop
culture, director Gary
Hustwit, created the documentary Helvectica in 2007 which
included designer interviews and footage from around the world showing how
common the Helevetica typeface has been used over the past 50 years.
But is typography really art? Maybe these
artists/designers can better answer that question…
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
Robert Indiana
Si Scott
Marian Bantjes
Jeremy Pettis
Felipe
Guga
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Tuesday's Daily Links Round Up
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October 07, 2008 - impadmin
- Man recreates wall-to-wall art using
sharpies with inspiration from Picasso’s Salon, Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass and George Lucas’s Star Wars
- Forget shadow puppets, Mario
Mariotti (1936-1997) created some pretty amazing hand
painted art
- Tim Burton is filming his own
version of Alice in
Wonderland currently in the UK. The movie features Johnny
Depp as the Mad Hatter and actress Mia Wasikowska as Alice
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Monday's Daily Links Round Up
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October 06, 2008 - impadmin
Check out some of the web’s most interesting and off-beat
arts-related links, hand picked by the IMPnow team and posted daily in our blog
- Artist
Jason Hackenwerth has taken the concept of creating balloon animals and
turned them into art by creating
sculptures resembling sea monsters or alien life forms.
- Visual
artist Yayoi
Kusama creates a spectacular
universe inside a small room using LED lights, mirrors and shallow
water.
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Friday's Daily Links Round Up
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October 03, 2008 - impadmin
Check out
some of the web’s most interesting and off-beat arts-related links, hand picked
by the IMPnow team and posted daily in our blog
- Ever wonder what the Popeye
saga would be like if it was filmed Sin City
style? Abed Ghaith and Sevan
Najarian have done just that by creating the series
titled The Pop (note:
there is some strong language)
- Despite magazine subscriptions
slumping MagCloud (HP Labs) is offering
print-on-demand magazines which you
create
- The Federation of Students
and Nominally or Unemployed Artists was created by a group of ten individuals
who recently offered “instant grants” to those who pitched their project
to the group. Watch their video to see the
group in action in Union Square NYC.
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Thursday's Daily Links Round Up
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October 02, 2008 - impadmin
Check out some of the web’s most interesting and off-beat arts-related
links, hand picked by the IMPnow team and posted daily in our blog.
- These
artists know how to slice
and dice their way through a book or two – literally
- It
takes a team of monks weeks to create
a sand mandala, but the removal of one is just as methodical as the
creating process
- If
you’re a Steven Seagal fan you could win an entire Seagal DVD library
from Aint It Cool News simply by telling them why you deserve the
collection
- Fans
of Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge will be happy; the new trailer for Baz
Luhrmann’s Australia
(featuring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman) has been released
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