Sunday, November 9, 2014

THE DIARIES OF DEJ

The Thoughts, Muses And Confessions From A Girl Happily Living Her Dream

Q) Why I do what I do?

A) I am passionate about the transformative power of the arts which iss why I chose to make my life’s work being an artist.   I recently started to refer to myself as a creative octopus who wears many hats. I am an actress, artist educator, drama specialist, writer, and activist. producer, inspirational speaker and I working on my certification in drama therapy. I recently added creative entrepreneur with the launching of my new creative business The Rainbow Butterfly Café ( creating Artistic Treats to nourish the mind, heart and soul) . Ive wanted to be an actress ever since I can remember and all the other things I do are an extension of who I am as an actress.

Q) How does my work differ from others in its genre?

All artists bring their own individuality to their art form. There may be similarities but no two artists are completely alike. I have cerebral palsy which mildly affects my speech and gait. I have a quote on my acting website that says celebrating the disability experience in film television and theater. My mission as an actress is to not only entertain but to ensure that disability is an inclusive and visible part of the American Scene. I am also committed to as an actress to performing  my art on a variety of stages whether it is a theater, sound stage or classroom.

Q) How does my creative process work?

My process varies depending on which creative hat I am wearing. When I am working on a character, for a show my goal is to embody that character and see the world around me through the characters point of view. I may use movement, visual art or music to help me build the character from the inside out.  When I am wearing my Artist Educator and or Drama Specialist hat my goal is to use the performing arts as tool to meet the goals of the students I am working with. It is the initial process creation that excites me and challenges me simultaneously.

Q) What am I working on right now?
I have a lot of wonderful things going on right now

I just created my first blog The Diaries of DEJ

 1 I just launched my creative business The Rainbow Butterfly Café The R.B.C. is an innovative and one of a kind “café: committed to creating and producing Artistic Treats (theater productions, performance lectures, motivational speaking performance projects, performing arts based workshops) to nourish, the mind, heart and soul)

2) I am working on a creating a college tour for my one woman show Watch Your Head by Lynda Rodriguez (www.elleviews) which I have produced through The Rainbow Butterfly Café  
 I’m in two films One Score and 17 Nights  (directed by Charlotte Ferrell)  and Brad’s Untitled 
Winter Documentary (directed by Paul Kampf) which are now’ hitting the festival circuits.

I just finished shooting an interview for a documentary with award winning filmmaker Adrian Esposito.