The story behind the series Props is a small drama. Last winter I had an idea for a video. The idea had something to do with a skyline getting lost in a desert.
In a small car stuffed with skyscrapers me and some friends drove to the nearest desert (which was in Spain, around 1500km south of Amsterdam). Now this particular desert was supposed to have sunny weather every day of the year; it hadn’t rained for 15 years.
Of course when we arrived there was a huge rainstorm in progress. After days of waiting for better weather and a little bit of filming in the few minutes between the rains we decided to cut our losses and go home.
In the end i was happy with the photographs I took, and though I never got to make that movie, it was worth it and lots of fun.
Q: What do you do in the world? (Do you own your own business or work for a corporation? What is your position?)
A: I work for a corporation and I own my own business. I am an executive administration representative for UEI College. I have my own business; Mobile Notary.
Q: How long have you been doing your current work?
A: 5 years
Q: How did you get to where you are today?
A: I worked at a Law Firm, and real estate, then I had an accident and I couldn’t walk. I was in disability. I attended UEI College in San Bernardino with the BOA class. From the moment I started UEI I was persistent about working there. So I started working in the kitchen, then I would re enroll drop outs, and after that I started working in Admissions. I was top for 2008 in the top 5 of the company.
Q: Would you consider your current work your passion?
A: Yes!
Q: Do you believe you have to be passionate about what you do in order to be successful?
A: Most definitely! Because if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing 100%, then you wont do well.
Q: What is your definition of success?
A: Hard Work, Determination, Measured by own determination to be a good example.
Q: Do you have a Noble Cause? Or something that keeps you motivated each day?
A: Yes, to change lives in single women with children. Or women who have been abused and think that they have no way to get out of it.
Q: Are there critical steps to success that you think every woman should take?
A: Never give up, be honest to yourself, and lead by example.
Q: What are the biggest obstacles that you have faced in your life? How did you overcome them?
A: People putting me down, telling me that I can’t do anything, Domestic Violence, low self-esteem, fear of change, lack of education. I overcame those through faith and knowing that I have something to give and offer the world, being a good example, looking forward, and being a strong woman to show that I can be successful.
Q: What is your advice to women starting out in business and trying to achieve their goals?
A: Don’t let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams and goals, hold your head up high, and do a lot of research on what you want to achieve before you do it.
Q: Have you used goal setting? What was helpful about it?
A: Yes! I set a goal every day of the week, month, and yearly, it gives me something to look forward to every day.
Q: Have you used the Law of Attraction?
A: Yes, I’ve believed in goal, vision, and determination.
Q: Do you believe in collaboration with other women? Do you think women are more in competition that collaboration with each other?
A: Yes I believe in collaboration. It depends on the woman.
Q: We are meeting many amazing women through this project, and we believe in collaboration. Would you be interested in connecting with someone who may be on the similar?
A: Sure, doesn’t have to be in this industry, It will be enjoyable yo collaborate with women who have a passion, and are goal oriented.
A: Sure! Women who have been in domestic violence.
Ophrah Winfrey – Big Breaks with Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle – Tuesdays Show Jan 19, 2010
ophrah winfrey tuesdays big show big breaks with adam lambert and susan boyle
Robin Jay was kind enough to send me an email letting me know my favorite two singing stars are going to be on Ophrah Winfrey’s show on Tuesday, Jan 19,2010. Check your local listings for show times!
During recent years, The Western Star has featured a slew of interviews of callers and club member. Dan Smith is responsible for most, but a few are in a self-interview format, and a couple were by Daryl Daniels. The complete archive of The Western Star is listed on the right. By year, the interviews were:
2003
Ron Masker; Ron Masker, Michael Levy, Andy Shore; Rich Reel
2004
Tomas Todd; Tacks Feliciano & Grey Todd; Kathy Healy & Marie Mohr; Gary Young (two Parts)
2005
Daniel Schweitzer; Joe Casserly & Todd Young; James Williams; Ammon Corl; Davida Ashton; Paul G; Joe Iser
2006
Daryl Daniels; Steve Scott & The Rainbow Girls; Marilyn Fowler; Bob Brundage; Jim Dewsnap
2007
Bob Belleville; Eloise Twining; Mark Nida; Dan Smith; Michael Sui; Mimi Meuller; Carol Cook & Susan Geiger; Mark Yee
2008
Edna Rivera; Teresa Miller; Kristal Kranz; Richard Leadbetter; Christian Hoffman; Tony Attard
Cast members backstage before the final scene of A Midsummer Night's Dream, 2007. Photo: Satbir Singh.
“Not that it is possible to “inflict” cancer on another human being, but I’ve never been able to say “I’d never wish what I’ve been through on anyone.”
Emily is the author of American Amazon, and answered my Interview Meme a little while ago. She’s 25, and a brilliant writer, actress & teacher. We met when she auditioned for my production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream back in Spring 2007. We were in this bizarrely named basement in Exeter College, Oxford. I was in a bad temper with my producer for booking said basement, convinced that nobody would be able to find the auditions. In fact, I ended up meeting two of my favourite people that day – Karina (Helena), and Emily, whom I cast as Cobweb / First Fairy.
I always end up casting actors I think I’m going to like, but who intimidate me as well. Emily came through the door like a hurricane – I don’t know if she was in character or just pissed off – and did the audition incredibly fast. She was very thin, very mobile, with amazing eyes. She and my Puck played opposite each other so well that their rehearsals were the easiest part of the process: constant insight & fun, with much directorial amazement at somehow getting two such talented people to turn out for me.
Ten months ago, Emily was diagnosed with Grade II breast cancer. She’s had chemo, a mastectomy in August, and is now back in the US & on hormone therapy for 5 years. This is not the most interesting thing about her, or the only reason you should read her blog. But it informs some of the questions I ask her, and some of the answers she gives. I asked her five questions — on cancer, mothers, poetry, lust and fame (one very weird dinner party) & she was kind enough to answer. The first Q&A is below:
1. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever imagined inflicting on another human being?
Cancer.
Cancer.
Yep…cancer.
Not that it is possible to “inflict” cancer on another human being, but I’ve never been able to say “I’d never wish what I’ve been through on anyone.” I’m not a good enough person for that. Because honestly–I would. In moments of extreme self-pity and bitterness I have thought “better you than me.” Not necessarily toward people I know, but toward pretty twentysomething girls on the street who seem so carefree and put together; toward stupid, senseless women who take their breasts out on television.
The most concrete, formulated wish for cancer-transference I had was in a Pret a Manger in the Hammersmith Piccadilly line tube station; I was waiting for an appointment at Charing Cross hospital, feeling sick and terrified, and I watched a woman scream at and smack her two-year-old child. I felt something so irrevocably wrong and unjust had happened in the world that I was the one with cancer, and she was the one with the child. It was also the moment at which I most truly and profoundly doubted the existence of God.
[for questions 2-5, with Emily's answers, click here to visit her blog]
The first time I meet a candidate or potential employee is at the job interview. Vice versa, very often the first person from the organisation that the candidate meets also is the HR rep. The job interview, for all its flaws, is still one of the most widely-used selection tools and we take it rather seriously. We prepare, we read the resume carefully, we block the time with no interruptions, we do everything possible to put the candidate at ease even as we look for the right qualities and abilities.
If you are appearing for an interview and meeting one of us, there are some things you must avoid at all costs.
1. Showing up late
Unless you have a real emergency, please please turn up on time, ideally at least a few minutes before the scheduled time. It allows you to take a breather, to settle down rather than directly jump into the interview, and it shows that you respect time. Which is always a good thing.
And if you do have a real emergency, call ahead, explain and reschedule. Trust me, you do not want to get into an interview with an interviewer who is already irritated because you’ve kept her waiting.
2. Lying
Whether you are stumped for an answer or are not certain how your answer will be taken, remember honesty is usually your best bet. Cooking up facts may seem like a good idea at the time but please refrain from it. Interviewers are trained in interacting with people and can pick up on signals that you are not telling the truth. Not only do you lose your credibility, you also lose the job opportunity.
3. Not making eye contact
Nothing is more distracting or disconcerting than talking to someone who refuses to look you in the eye. As interviewers, we find the simple gesture of making eye contact an affirmation of directness and honesty. By implication, someone who doesn’t meet our eyes and avoids looking at us creates an impression of having something to hide or being shifty. Definitely avoidable.
4. Not prepare for the interview
Before you meet the interviewer, invest a little time in finding out about the company and about the position you will be interviewed for. Mentally revise your strong points and figure out how well they align with the position in question. Dress appropriately and be well-groomed. First impressions do matter. The very fact that you have taken efforts to prepare for the interview sends a positive signal that you are interested and keen about the opportunity at hand.
5. Have nothing to say
An interview is your opportunity to convince your interviewer that you are THE person they need. Use it to demonstrate your skills, share your experiences and show how well you’d fit in with the company. Clamming up at an interview is the last thing you want to do. I remember asking someone to share his experiences in leading a team. He thought for a few long moments and then replied “Good, it was good.” Keep the conversation going, share information and you are helping the interviewer make an informed decision.
6. Have too much to say
This is the antithesis of the clam, this is where every single question gets an answer with a prologue, story and epilogue. Rambling on not only wastes time, it also makes you sound as if you are unable to pick the key points to formulate a coherent reply. Stick to the crux of the matter, be specific without being abrupt and share information without boring your interviewer to tears.
Now that’s not too difficult to do, is it?
Part II of the interview for Mendokusai… see part one for gushy-explanations.
Do you find yourself attracted to any certain type of doll? I’ve noticed that a lot of my dolls have somewhat heart-shaped faces and chins that stick out a bit, and they also have full/pouty lips (there are a couple of them that don’t, but most do). I usually avoid dolls that have flat faces (I really like dolls that have a lot of curves in their features) or small mouths.
What kind of reaction would you like people to have from your dolls/ photos, etc? I want them to see the character, not just the doll or mold. I like when people see Brodwyn and focus on her, rather than immediately saying, “Oh, it’s a MNF Ryeon!”
What’s your biggest strength & biggest weakness as a collector/ photographer/ etc? As a photographer, I just really don’t know a whole lot, and I have a really hard time just taking portraits. Also I’m not very good with artificial lighting and have to rely heavily on natural lighting (which sucks once winter rolls around, since I live in Alaska). As far as me as a collector, Hakari-chan says, “Weakness? Mustering up the energy to actually do a shoot XD and constantly talking your hubby into buying you new dolls… and and and *bricked* … Strength? You have a natural eye for good lighting in pictures I think, also very good at making the dolls themselves seem alive with the realism of the poses and what not.” (Well I was going to say my good looks and razor sharp wit, but that will do I GUESS.)
How would you describe your personal doll aesthetic? What do you like most about your own dolls and what makes them “yours” and you? Do you send your dolls out to be customized, or do you do it yourself? I prefer more realstic molds, and really am not a fan of companies that produce more stylized dolls like DoD or Volks. Buuuut really when it comes down to it, I prefer molds that have a lot of character to them and can show a large range of emotions, regardless of the company. I do the face-ups myself.
How would your life be different if you didn’t have dolls?Very boring… and frustrating… It’s nice to get some creative energy out through photostories and face-ups. And lonely! Since I wouldn’t have met my awesome doll friends!
Would you rather make doll accessories (clothes, wigs, props, jewelry ect) or pay for someone else to do it? It’s kind of nice to buy from other people, but it can get frustrating spending the money and/or trying to find something I’m truly happy with. It would be nice to make my own clothing but I ultimately fail at sewing.
Favorite Doll company? Fairyland… not so much the face molds, but I love the posing!
Favorite color of resin: Tan, Beauty white or regular skin? Do you like the more fantasy color resins on dolls for your collection (pinks, blues, greens, grays, etc)? Opinions?
I’m not really partial to any color in particular. I don’t have any tan dolls because I’m very careless and already regret having french resin dolls. I’m not really into the random colors because most of them look like bubbleyum… but if done correctly I think it’s a really cool idea. Most of mine are normal skin, but I have a few that are white skin and I love how much it adds to their character since they stand out that much more against all the NS.
Favorite size doll 60 cm, minis or tinies? Minis.
What’s your most sought after doll prop that you can’t find?
The aforementioned pirate hat. Urrrrrrgh. (Yarrrrrgh?)
What is your “dream doll” that you hope to own some day? The only doll I consider to be a “dream doll” would be Unoa Lusis. I love her but don’t have a character she would fit! I did finally get an Unoa after lusting after them forever, but Sist fit the character better.
What advice would you give someone new to the hobby?Don’t let other people walk all over you and tell you what you do or don’t want based on their own experiences. Take their opinions into consideration but still form your own likes and dislikes. Also, don’t just buy cheap dolls because you can buy three of them for the price of the doll you REALLY like.
Where do you keep or store your dolls?
In our walk-in closet, though I usually have a couple sitting around on my computer desk.
How do you relate to you dolls (are they art objects, toys, things, friends, muses, soul mates, investments, etc)?Um… art objects, I suppose. I’m not really the type to form attachments to inanimate objects (like naming my car/camera/computer/whatever) so they’re just dolls, though I will joke about them like they’re not. I have a hard time referring to new dolls by their character names rather than their doll molds.
Why have you chosen the dolls that you have?
I really like to see the molds from different angles first, and I especially like seeing them blank… I like versatile molds and try to pick dolls that I can do something really interesting with. Some of my dolls I chose for that reason, and/or I can see them really working well for a certain character in mind. I also try to find dolls that fit the same slim mini look so they all look relatively comfortable next to eachother. Sometimes I’ll see a really interesting mold and want to get it just to see what I can do with it.
Love to hear about the evolution of your collection. How did it start? What was your original vision and how did it develop over time to how it is now.
I started with a Souldoll Miryu, so I’ve always had mature minis… but eventually wittled down to the slimmer ones. Not much different! And equally not that interesting, woe.
Since you started, how have you noticed the hobby change? Has the hobby influenced your life? Compared to when you got into BJDs, have you/your tastes changed, has the BJD scene changed?
I notice a lot less MNF Shiwoos crossdressing in skirts and pigtails these days, and a lot more casual tiny collectors. It seems like people are trying a little more with their dolls, either through modding or photography, and more custom face-ups. It’s nice to see!
What outside skills or hobbies do you have that might have helped influence you in your BJD styles/collection/family? Is there a doll that you never, ever would sell, only if it was unavoidable?
Brodwyn, and Linus (Pipos Baha). I couldn’t sell either of them.
When you want a certain BJD, is there a limit to what you’re willing to spend/do to get it?
Hm… I would like to say yes, but who knows I guess.
What do people think the dolls will evolve into in the future?
How far in the future are we talking?! I don’t know, I don’t see them changing a whole lot. You already have “dolls” that move like robots and everything so I don’t really see that branching into this hobby. You get a few companies trying new crazy things but they seem to fizzle most of the time, and in general the only thing that seems to be evolving is the posing ability. I don’t see them changing too terribly much in the future!
Thanks to Amanda for the interview… and you all will be seeing a lot more of her as she uploads news items to Doll-Lite. A HUGE thanks for all her work! YEAY!
