 Latest Journal Entries (Last 500) |
Journal Entries
|
| Posted By |
Details |
| |
|
|
| Glam Discipline |
Posted 7/20/2010 2:05 AM PST |
"Glam Discipline" is a new gallery add. The team behind it is:
photography: Fenia Labropoulou
styling by Evelina Litina / clothes: B.Li.Eve
makeup: Marina Koutsoumpa
hair: Tzako P.
model: Mado [miss Hellas 2010] @ I-M
Online also at: http://www.e-mergemag.com/ page 40 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| iPhone App has 100K+ Downloads! |
Posted 7/1/2010 8:26 AM PST |
In the first half of 2010, this iPhone app received more than 100,000 downloads from the iTunes store. In its first 5 days, the app passed 5,000 downloads, but the continuing momentum behind the app is very pleasing.
I've recently updated with many new images and hope those of you who have enjoyed it will continue to do so.
If you are enjoying the iPhone app, please write a good review and rate it accordingly on the iTunes store. Thanks! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Katharine McPhee from American Idol |
Posted 6/28/2010 1:26 PM PST |
| I had the pleasure of meeting Katherine McPhee from American Idol on the red carpet poolside in Las Vegas this weekend. She hosted a concert at Azure at the Palazzo Hotel on Las Vegas Blvd. What a talented lady! Not only does she have a beautiful voice, but she was charming, lovely and kind in person too! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yummmmmmy! |
Posted 6/14/2010 12:30 PM PST |
| I am such a chocolate fan! I was thrilled when Hershey's booked me to spokes model their new organic line called Dagoba. Talk about a delicious treat! I think they gave me enough Reese's to last me a lifetime! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| - Vulnerable - |
Posted 6/12/2010 8:58 AM PST |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Reshaping Shapes - New Gallery |
Posted 6/7/2010 3:07 AM PST |
A new gallery in the portfolio section featuring our new work: "Reshaping Shapes".
The team:
photography: Fenia Labropoulou -
Styling/clothes: Giovanna -
Makeup: Marina Koutsoumpa -
Hair: Tzako P. -
Model: Sofia Kyriakidou @ Ace
Enjoy and check back soon for new submissions |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| PARIS - MONACO - CANNES Film Festival and Gran Prix |
Posted 5/4/2010 12:40 PM PST |
| Shooting in PARIS - MAY 24-30 as well as Playing in Monaco and Cannes for the film festival…. Mixing work and Pleasure…. Rough Life….. Joaquin |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| How do you hold a horse with a thread |
Posted 5/1/2010 12:49 AM PST |
To run
I feel this urge
But to what and from what
There is only a void
I face with all that was
All that is and all that can be
Running in no longer an option
So I sit not running
But internally kicks the runners urge
It was easier when I got hurt
To run or to summit
Somewhere I realized
Some people will just take use abuse
I used to run from these people
But I would want to run so far
So as to never encounter them again
I ran till I ran out of places to run
Now I know there is nowhere to run
So I stopped but it is like trying to hold a horse
With a thread and yet I know
If I continue to run I will only end up
Running in a big circle
So I face these things which hurt the most
I face these things which cut the deepest
I face those who make me want to
Build a castle under the sea
Yet I find through this
I see beauty and find those who
Make me want to stay
And not feel as if I have to flee
Or else the wolves will leave nothing of me
Yet wolves are tricky often clothed so pretty
When you want to see the best in people
Sometimes it can make you blind
At least for a moment until the costume fades
The mask falls apart and the truth
Becomes like crystal
I am standing on the hill
The moon above the stars hang high
They inspire me to continue
To keep one foot in front of the other
To believe in something
Unseen and not go running
Not this time for the last time
I don't need to run anymore
Just because something hurts
Better to just face it
Allow it to be a sculpture and carve through me
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Cherokee-lar O'Dea |
Posted 4/11/2010 2:36 PM PST |
| Please Visit me @ www.twitter.com/CherokeeLar www.myspace.com/oaktreeproductions |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Modeling Casting couches & the internet & Music industry.. from a girl in a boys world.... |
Posted 3/30/2010 10:44 PM PST |
Modeling Casting couches & the internet & Music industry.. from a girl in a boys world....
I tend to write less about things so literally but sometimes when inspired I have to tackle some of the things that are happening in real time. I found out I cant get on a earlier flight and get to drive late at night and am waiting for my clothing to dry to finish packing so why not tackle something .
We will start with why I care, as a women I dived in head first into modeling and music as a teenager. As most girls from a small town I had my dream and was determined to get there. Upon entering the modeling industry I was met with situations that at fifteen or sixteen I didn't really understand, the pressure from agents, photographers, managers, casting directors that happened not all the time but more often then it should to "take my clothes off", "please the client", or the client or photographer who made it known in so many ways that if I wanted the "gig" they wanted to be entertained somehow all made me feel not so good. Being the female and often much younger then those I was "depending" on to eat or survive put me in a position where sometimes people "above me" would try to manipulate me and or force me to do things I didn't want to do.
I had some good agents and then I had agents who had no problem trying to get me to "give the client what they want" or "show them a good time" to score the job. I dealt with super early on a few people who just thought they could "take" from me and then after that I decided I wasn't going to let it happen again and not only that I would do whatever I could to prevent them from taking from others. I did my best to educate other girls, via writing, interviews speaking at panels in books etc warning people that with all things there is always a light and a darkside and you have to be aware or else its easy to get tricked lied to or fooled.
I didn't like being in the position of depending on those who's ethics went out the window if money fame or power were at stake or viewed me as a commodity and or object which they could profit from. When I found a good agent or agency I would work with them, but I learned often they would overlook huge issues in clients to make the cash leaving me often in sticky situations . I've always only wanted to have sex with someone because I wanted to or loved them, I didn't want to do it for any other reason and people who tried to play power games with me in order to get me in bed only made me mad. So somewhere in my teens I wanted to find a way around it all because I was sick of having to play with those I didn't want to play with , and I also refused to give in and so I was doing lots of refusing and walking or having to play complex games of chess in order to get out of not so pleasant situations. OMP was just starting and it dawned on me what if I went direct and cut out everything in between so i only had to deal with those I wanted to .
So I did my research, I dug and put together list of my own clients photographers, designers, magazines, etc and then I arranged them all by state, I made sure by checking in with others who had working with them or digging they weren't vampires or creeps and then as I found new ones I added them. i used OMP industry books and my trusty friend google to find do my homework and create my list. Then I shared them with girls and others and encouraged other girls to do the same. I also created a list of the creeps and vampires and anyone who was caught trying to get underage girls to make naked pictures or drugging, raping, molesting models went on that list, which then I would share with those who needed to know. One Model Place has been since the get go supportive of "freedom" of expression but has actually tried to protect its members, this of course leads to some being banned and or kicked off , I've know that crew forever, they don't kick anyone off without really solid evidence and so if someone gets booted its only because they were a predator, manipulating, scamming or something. Sure its not "free" like model mayhem but model mayhem has been sold and those running it now are not as concerned with attempting to screen and or protect its members and the reality is when you have young women and men hungry to "make" it you will always have those coming in to try to use that to and take advantage of those who don't see it coming and how can you if your a teenager and not been involved with such complex things.
I have watched the modeling world alter and have been deeply involved in it for years, I burned my own path because I wanted to work with cool people, I wanted to make art, I wanted to be safe and respected, and I wanted to make music so I wanted to make my own schedule . i had my not so fun or pretty experiences regarding abuse , sexual assault, and exploitation as well as fame all before I was out of my teens so I spent the rest of my life so far creating a world in which I was happy I created work I was proud of and I avoided the casting couch, the power games, exploitation and abuse. Burning that path wasn't easy it did require hard work and now its burned I see others burning there own in the modeling industry you can do it now if you treat it like a business and manage it so as well as have a zero tolerance for abuse and or being taken advantage of. I said no more then yes, sometimes my no was to bigger more commercial jobs but the strings attached were not the kind I wanted to be tied to.
I have some concern now watching all these people tossing themselves out there in the thousands without protection. For booking work of model mayhem, craigs list, or even facebook can end people in sticky situations "sometimes". I am able to spot it a mile away now, but its only because I have been around the block long enough to see it coming and yes there is lots of good work out there with nice cool safe fun honest people. But there is also the vampires in ships clothing who have zero problem with lying and then abusing, exploiting or sexually assaulting their prey. If people get too caught up in I am going to get paid or be famous sometimes they miss the trap set up to catch them. Community in the industry has been one of the safety nets and something I have always encouraged amongst anyone I work with or meet or speak to or write about. Models sharing info as well as photographers with each other only helps everyone do better, letting go of the "me me me" can be a life saver. Sadly many girls or boys who get used or taken advantage of don't talk and if so not easily so often someone can do a good amount of damage before they get caught. I've encouraged and continue to encourage people to share it, with others be it me or the heads of the place where they found you for one way we have tried to cut down on the issues has been spreading the word on who they are as well as getting them banned from various portals making it harder for them to get to the girls or boys.
Now the industry has gone from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of people, and with that comes a whole new world. Although only a small percent will make a living at it, and or become a "star" it has expanded into a huge world within the world. Agencies are closing down more and more people are going direct through their networks, or sites like lacastings, model mayhem, mop etc etc. The agencies still hold a place just as the major labels do but its not the way it was five or ten years ago. Navigating this world without education is like trying to cross the country without a compass or a map. I have been building a network for years in both music and modeling for that is my community it is my family my creative kingdom, this network is based on direct connection, with those I work with and for and also with my "fans" and those who like my work as well.
The music industry is in a transition as well, just as the internet has effected the modeling industry it has been effecting the music industry. Once upon a time it was hundreds or thousands of records release now in the us only and only through soundscan is somewhere in the 30,000 ...thats not counting every single myspace band or band releasing records not through soundscan. Now the buzz is market things yourself, and so my myspace has become nothing but people trying to sell me stuff I have zero interest in. I have people sending me spam on twitter about hiring gay hookers and on facebook I get more invitations then I know what to do with. As a "early" adopter I am opting out left and right of anything and anyone who is trying to send me anything I really don't have any interest in. Yet at the same time now at all the music conferences everyone from major labels to independent artist are all being told to "market themselves" using the internet. Its all about facebook, twitter, myspace, and you tube.
Artist who have slacked or are not on top of their "digital kingdom" as in owning their names in all the places it matters, who don't have direct contact with their fans are about to be in a not so pretty situation and when I find or see a band who actually has a fan base but isn't on the fusion of the digital with the real world part of me wants to sit them down like a school teacher and break it down, if you want to call the shots, if you want your freedom if you want to eat you can't just assume anyones handing you golden ticket. But not only that you can't be stupid, just using add bots and collecting "friends" is USELESS if your trying to "market" something and now that the whole industry is gold rushing the internet and saturation is becoming a problem people are tuning out.
You can go the major label path, sign a 360 deal and if you make music that sounds like it does on the radio, don't want to make a political spiritual or any other "statement" which may "scare" the advertisers or be controversial then you can go that path. You can get on american idol get a contract if your amazing and have a team write your songs dress you teach you how to dance and you can make some money. But if you want to say something, challenge the system, break the rules you have the underground, the festivals, touring, the internet and if you can sell enough records, pull enough people , make enough noise then the labels, investors , etc will come calling. But at that point you have already invested a huge amount of time and energy often not making much more then you would waiting tables with the bonus that your seen as cool and hip.
Yet the path can be burned but it as far as I can see is a fusion of a few things all which require being on top of your game or just playing there game. As an artist I have always thought it was a shame to see artist become puppets and or just not say anything. Artist were the ones who could inspire change and balance out some of the darkness, granted darkness to me is not me having black hair but lack of awareness and or truth. I have lots of friends in the underground so have figured it out and have connected the dots and now aren't so underground. As they rise I always watch to see if they get picked up then get watered down, I've also seen how artist who have tried to make statements have been smashed by the system. All because someone was worried about a pay check.
The only way I see for artist now to actually say and create what they want is to build from the underground up. The fusion of a multimedia awareness that crosses video, song, website, social media networks and touring and ties it all together with a direct connect to the fan via phone and email is the only path I see to survival outside of the signing a 360 deal and doing as told to some degree or another. With so much music being made a less quality control it can be overwhelming and if every artist or band thinks the path to "making it" is adding people on myspace who don't like the style of music they make and trying to get them to listen to it is just a waste of everyones time and then makes people like me and others tune out.
Figuring out your network, your community, and then sharing it with others who you know like or are into the same type of thing is a great way to start, for if its good then word of mouth kicks in and that is the best way to share and or learn about new music or art. The majority of new music, art, designers, etc I find are through word of mouth, books, music, art all the same way even movies. I being a "early " adaptor see this a trend for the future, as we build thousands of micro communities via subspace and the real world we share what we love with our "community" . I know I ask my friends for music or movies, or I look at what they post on their pages. Granted everyone else has figured this out in the industry making some head hunt people like me to try to get me to push their product. I am not into pushing things I don't really dig anymore then sleeping with someone I don't like.
Under it all is this, be it modeling or music there is no golden ticket, do what you love, work hard, be creative and share it with those around you and let it grow. Create and put it out there on the networks the internet , get out and shoot or play, and just keep working. As you find those who connect with you , collect them be it people to work with, friends, fans, etc, your contacts and network is like your kingdom. Build your own world within this world, but the reality is it all comes down to the art to the song or the picture. If your work doesn't have soul people aren't going to feel it be it music or photograph film etc. Yes the big machines can still force things down our throats but I am seeing more and more kids are catching on, they are looking for music through there friends, through the internet, through you tube. In the modeling industry stars are and have been born because people worked hard and made lots of amazing pictures which then spread through the internet and the real world creating awareness.
If you make great art but no one sees or hears it then no one will ever find you. Now we have all the tools at our finger tips to not only create art music and film for next to nothing but time and energy but we can release it to the world through this machine. But the quality and those who work hard will be those who rise. I don't know a single person who is "famous" be it on a large or small scale who isn't working all the time and dedicated inside out to that project. Or who wasn't for a period of time long enough to rise.
In the music industry it has its own casting couch which I won't dive into right now, the good news is there is path you can take to avoid all of that. Yet its not the easy path, Its such a male world recently at Ultra and WMC I was looking at the ratio of men to women at the conference as performers and it was shocking. The lack of women is frightening, there are few singers, but producers, female dj's , and even female fronted groups are far less compared to the boys. I noticed this allot when I was on tour with Heavyweight often at a festival I would be one of the few female artist. Granted this means I stand out but it also means I am a girl in a boys club. I learned with Heavyweight I was only as strong as my performance, and i have learned that I am only as strong as what I produce. Yet trying to navigate has been a challenge for i've dealt with my share of projects going inside out or upside down because the boy ( man etc ) decided they were in love with me or they wanted to bone me. The upside of this is it has forced me to learn and grow and do more and more on my own as well as realize that I had a choice I could burn my own path or forever be in the position of having someone dismantle my world.
Music is deep creating music with someone is a really beautiful and amazing place. But sometimes I want to go in with a contract saying i am here to make music, thats it, if you try to kiss me, get in my pants or use music as a way to try to capture me you void all rights to everything we created and its mine. Granted I can't do that but music for me is my art and work, I have zero respect for men who try to play casting couch games with me in the music industry anymore then I did in the modeling industry. I also don't believe that my success is going to be based on anyone person. The way fame or success happens is not one thing, its lots of things over and over until it becomes a huge thing. I've heard the if you don't do XYZ or me you will never work again no one person has that much power anymore even more so if you build your own world and actually do stuff like know who your people are and vice versa.
I am still in my discovery building phase and its fun, I like a challenge though. I always have, I like to burn paths and bend rules its fun:) its a whole new world everyday and now its changing and shifting faster then ever with technology. The beauty of it is if you can flow with it, there is nowhere you cant go and nothing you can't create artistically we have more tools and freedom then ever before. Sadly many seem to have lost simple morals like stealing isn't so nice and or think that art has no value. I am a big fan of artist sponsorship my relationship with my fans/friends/community is so much more about support then for me about just how much is sold. Some of my people may not have money but they go around telling posting spreading the word and i love them for that, and then there are those who do have money and who are inspired and buy the things I create and then there are those who are like kings and queens who like they used back in the day help "sponsor" me. I really like this world and like where it is going because not one person can just dismantle it for me. I have never wanted to be in the position of knowing one person could control my gate to the world. So I have made lots of gates and am always making more and tying them together.
Some people cant afford to buy music and if thats the case just take it, but then if you can spread it share it show it expand it. If I love an artist I will do whatever i can to help them, be it sharing them with my world or interconnecting them with others who could maybe help support them on a industry level and or in a human level. But this is because i believe in community and community isn't all about me. Granted there are times I have to shut a door or not let someone in because they will just come in and eat me and those around me. Just as much as I don't approve mean or negative things in my cyber space, if you want to debate or have a valid perspective thats fine but justing being negative or mean is not something I am going to feed energetically.
I have always believed that whatever you give or create, or share will eventually come back to you. So therefore as an artist the more I create, give and share, the larger it grows . If I get stuck on the why am I not rich or why haven't I sold a million records I am not creating or giving and therefore not growing. As long as I keep creating and growing I have faith it will continue to provide what i need in one way or another to grow. I know the harder I work the more I create and give the more it will grow, and maybe its not all about money or numbers but about quality . So I have peace in that, and I have also come to realize I want to be doing this in one way or another "creating" till I am dead and so its all about producing for me and sharing, and allowing it to burn its own path and not getting attached to the end but rather the process.
For me its all about creating, pictures, music, videos, films, and through each creation I grow and learn and bring that to my next one. This keeps me always inspired sometimes to the point of not ever wanting to sleep. Sure someday I would love to have a house and maybe a little me and so I work really hard so i can continue to build but i want whatever i build to be solid and so I don't believe in short cuts and or things like a casting couch be it in modeling, acting or music. I believe all I can do is work as hard as i can and do the best I can and keep my integrity which is my own path which I can feel if I am on or off. Go with it work hard enjoy the ride and see where it takes me.
If you lose your soul for fame or money , if you lose your capacity to love and be loved because you lose yourself, whats the point. I tasted fame so young and I realized then how empty it was, and how in the end I was alone with just me and my heart and soul. I realized my friends were those who saw " me" not just the music pictures image or song. I realized that power and fame can be taken in a moment and death can come sudden and everything is temporary . I saw so many get so lost and so caught up and then eventually many lost all they had, that I realized the fame game can be a tricky one. So my focus has been about creating connecting and just growing.
No one is me, and I am no one else, I cannot compete against anyone for there is no competition there is only me pushing myself to expand spiritually creatively and to continue to grow and discover and take all that comes painful or blissful as my teacher...
Love with honor create with passion and die in peace.... |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
By 
By 
By 
By 
By 
By 