 |
STANDTALL THE-ACTIVIST
The blogHer worthy Experience- My Chicago Trip
|
Hey peeps, I missed you all and I am sorry for my inability to do my blog rounds for now. I got back yesterday from the life changing 2009 BlogHer conference in Chicago. I was gone for 6 days out of which 4 of those days were spent flying! This happened as I mentioned that I would be flying to Kenya again. It's kinda painful that I have to cut short my trip and no visit to my friends in the states but I met the tall, pretty and strong Tigeress. Even though our meeting was short, it was worth it. Nice to meet you girl...
The blogher conference was a great experience for me, it was my first time in the United State of America and it was an enthralling experience meeting change makers, the makers of change makers, those wonderful women that know the importance of living a fulfilling and happy lives while helping others to achieve the same. It was indeed a blessing to meet the BlogHer founders; the 3 Super women that concieved and gave birth to BlogHer.com. It's being 5 industrious and rewarding years for Elisa Camahort Page, Jory Des Jardins and Lisa Stone for bringing together community of women who blog, for making others grow and for creating incredible opportunities for others. I was delighted to finally meet the other awesome International Activists, Cristina from Bolivia, Pilirani from Malawi and Annie from India. It was even of a greater inspiration at our session when listening to these women speak, when feeling all the changes they are making, when listening to how similar some of our stories are.I leave for Nairobi tonight. Inside of me is more determination to do more and make more contributions to the world...
|
|
|
|
|
Interview Thursday: "The movie Roots gave insight to blacks around the world into what it meant to have been kidnapped, sold" Ms. Catwalq
|
She is so talented that she gathered some of blogsphere talented writers together to participate in the stories on 14thandserenity blog. I am impatiently waiting for thise damsel first movie as I believe she will go places and make a lot of differences in the movie industry. I present Ms. Catwalq!
You are a movie critic, where do you get this desire from?
I am not sure I would call myself a critic. I am an aspiring filmmaker and because I have no formal training, what I know about film and filmmaking is from watching others, selecting what elements I like and what elements I don't.
 You are into productions, can you give us some details of what your work entails?Bani Productions, is still in the development stages. It is intended to be a production company with projects for stage, television and cinema. What can you say about Nollywood?
A lot and not much at all. I don't work within the industry so I am not that much of an authority on how it runs as a business machine or as an artistic medium. The industry's development and growth mirrors in so many ways the way things are in the country. Survival is the motivating factor, no one can afford to have artistic flair unless they can figure out how to make it commercially viable. I believe that to crack the Nollywood code, its mechanisms will have to be rewritten to suit your project's needs. The ideas that I have don't currently have a place in the market, so I am going to have to create a market of my own. Because Nollywood is still building its structure, there is opportunity for this to happen as long as one is willing to put in the work.
Do you see yourself producing movies in Nigeria any time soon?
Of course...why do you think I do what I do? Just wait...a little bit longer....
How will you be able to change the face of Nigeria Movie Industries, espcially with their discriminatory stories of women?
There are discriminatory stories about women because women who know otherwise are not doing anything about it. If you read my blogs, I am sure you would have deciphered where I stand on women's issues and rights. The only way to change the way things are viewed will be to put out an alternate view. I also realise that I will not only be working to change the outlook of the men but most especially the women. Go to any of the popular blogs written by Nigerian women, assess the material and the responses of the female commenters and if you don't break your ribs laughing, you will most likely develop a depression-induced headache.
All I plan to do is offer an alternate point of view. I know that I am not the only female that thinks the way that I do and so, my stories are and will be for those who either think like me, would like something else to think about or are trying to figure out what kinds of thoughts to have.
 You are the originator of 14thanserenity, do you intend writing books, novels in the future?The funny thing is that I started blogging because my first manuscript was rejected by every agent I sent it to. Having been blogging for four years, I do see that it was a ridiculous effort and have since honed other writing skills. I am working on alot of projects, so we shall see.What can we expect from you in the creative business in the next 5 years?
Whatever is allowed to happen. I am taking each day as it comes but I intend for Bani Productions to be a much more recognisable name.
Are there any female writer or actor that have inspired or impressed you with their work?I have been inspired by many different people over the years and the list is evolving as my tastes and skills are evolving. When I was little, I tried to write like Enid Blyton because that was what I read alot of. Then when I was in my early teens, it was Judith Mcnaught, Amanda Quick and a host of other female romance writers because that was what I read alot of. Alot of female bloggers have also entertained me and influenced my work: Waffarian, Allied, Jola Naibi, Wordsbody, to name a few This is not to say I read exclusively stories by women but your question only asked about the females. With film, I like many actresses from around the world. If I were to start naming them, I would have to go by country and that would take me a long time. I follow the director's more, since that is my destination. I would like to be able to make the hard hitting, controversial movies like Deepak Mehta, presented with the visual spectacle and seduction of Mira Nair and relevant like Amaka Igwe.
Do you think film is a powerful instrument in changing mentality and addressing social issues.
Film is probably the most powerful instrument there is. The movie " Birth of a Nation" was a powerful instrument for presenting the black man as an animal to be reigned in by the Klu Klux Klan and the latter as a respectable organisation whose goal was the preservation of America way of life. Most especially it depicted the white woman as a thing to be protected from the amorous and unwanted advances of the Negro. Till today, the idea still persists that the white woman is a thing of coveted beauty. You can google the KKK for stories of what they have perpetrated, the Jim Crow laws and what blacks have had to endure in the United States. The movie Roots gave insight to blacks around the world into what it meant to have been kidnapped, sold and transported into slavery for the African. Coming To America, gave the African American the belief that their history was one descended from a monarchy. Film is a visual representation of a story and most people believe what they see. Before, Jenifa, most people were not saying, "I gats to be bigs" but now they are. Most people still refer to the actor's Ego Boyo and Bimbo Manuel as Anne Hastrup and Nduka, respectively. Why? Because those are the characters they played on the tv series, Checkmate. And most likely, no one knows the names of Yoruba film actors and actresses because they go by the name of the character that launched their career. So when someone argues that we don't need movies for more than pure entertainment, I chuckle at their naivete. How do they not realise that many aspects of their lives are influenced by what they see enacted on screen.Most people expect certain actions and reactions because they have seen it on screen. The X men don't exist (or at least, that is what I am told) but if I were to say mutant, you would know what to imagine. With film, you present a "reality" and that is always the first step to asking the questions that make a change.
Any advice or suggestion on how to have more vitual images to address social issues?
I think when I start doing so, I will be better able to answer this question. For today, I have my blog, my folders on my computer and my ever creative mind.
|
|
|
|
|
The Chicago and Kenya Marathons
|
I am beginning the marathon tonight as I leave for Chicago for the so much planned for and awaited BlogHer conference where I will be speaking as one of the International Activists Scholarship winners.I had looked forward to an week extra in Chicago but this has being cut short as I am leaving immediately after the conference for an interview in Kenya. This face to face Interview in Nairobi will finalise my participation at the 2009/2010 Peace and Security for African Women Fellowship that start in London in October of this year. I have got a lot to prepare for within the little time at my disposal as I will have to be back for the 2nd Girls' Technology Camp for secondary school students, a program of Women's Technology Empowerement Centre which will take place in August. I look forward to this empowering camp for girls.So, my bags are ready but my dollars not, let me hurry and finalise everything.... Will miss you all but I am with you all. I will try and update at the conference but if not, I shall give you all the necessary update when I am back. Wish me luck and safest trip!
|
|
|
|
|
Varieties; mothers of diversity: A blog Review
|
This is a review of blogs submitted to Nigerianstalk by Standtall. Enjoy.Blogsphere has provided a great opportunity for all of us to bring to the table, different views, ideas, projects or passion. It is a wonderful thing to get here and see different bloggers talking about what they are passionate about. The change they wish to see, the fun they want to transfer to others, the problems they want resolved, entertainment, and music… Blogging has blessed me in so many ways; it has helped me discover talents, change makers, and it also helped me to be updated on what is going on around the world. Some of the bloggers that I read theirs posts regularly are doing enormous job of transforming the blogsphere which in effect will affect the world at large. Sokari is a publisher at http://www.blacklooks.org/ , visit to her blogs clearly tells you this is an activist and she is good at what she does. She is a human right fighter without discrimination in her purpose, she believes the right of the LGTBI people, children rights and women’s rights should be respected and promoted. She relentlessly talks about the need for African development with a strong focus on Nigeria. Naija Blog is one informative blog I like to visit as he exudes the confidence of someone that is current and have a lot to say about what is going on especially in Nigeria; it was shocking to discover that the owner of the blog is white. There always up to date information about political situations in Nigeria, Art and Culture, event promotion and any other contemporary issues. Vera Ezimora who recently started a “talk radio” is a lady I admire her work. She talks about her personal life; she brings to the table her day to day experience in a less serious way and with a dramatic tone. She is a darling of a lot of bloggers with nothing less than 50 comments per post and series of phone calls from other bloggers to her. This is a lady that will turn tragedy to comic in a way that it will not lose it true meaning but you wont feel so bad reading it. She is gifted, she is truly Nigerian and she is someone I am proud of her work. Solomonsydelle runs 2 blogs, one focuses on her family life as a mother of 3 and she uses the blog to seek advice for people that are in one fix or the other. She calls the advice column “Talk To The Easier Crew- TTTEC” Her second blog focuses on development issues mostly from Nigeria aspect; she brings development update on political issues in Nigeria, Leadership, Niger Delta crisis etc. Her Nigeriancuriosity blog has bring in the top 10 for a long time on Afrigator while her solomonsydelle blog still tops 20. Sugarbelly: this is an entrepreneur, she owns her t-shirt lines and her blog talks about different issues that might be considered controversial but very relevant. She defends Nigeria where necessary, she critics where necessary and she is not afraid to speak her mind. I love the confidence of this blogger and her bold ways.Linda Ikeji’s blog just like Bella Naija's blog is a total package, you find undiluted and detailed information on entertainment, fashion and other contemporary issues on her blog. I often wonder if she leaves on the internet as I can’t beat the rate at which she gathers information and shares it. Freeflowingflorida [FFF] started another blog this yea, the focus of her new blog is to invite contributors that can share their life experience with others. Different stories had being told on the varied experience of the pregnant women from the horse mouth. You will be struck with what is being like to have a new life growing inside you, the pain, the joy and all. I love this initiative of hers. With time as I believe, there will be more personal experiences that are in no way related to pregnancy to be shared at her new blog. Ore is an old blogger like Sokari, Solomonsydelle and Naija blog, what fascinate me about her blog is the dynamic way she blends art, natural hair, feminism with her moving back to Nigeria experience. Her tips and curiosity about natural hair and who else keeps it in Nigeria is a catch. Ms. Catwalq is a film critic and producer. She often does a review of movies in one of her 2 blogs, discovering new films to get down with or the ones not to waste time with, makes visiting her blog interesting. She was one of the fiction writers at 14thandserenity. I am usually fascinated by the inspiration I get from Aloted, Jaycee , Rita and Writefreak. These 4 blogs make you want to love God, they make you want to bask in His glory at all time. What makes all these blogs unique is the fact that their focuses vary and it helps in having different things to read, the flavour it brings, the dimension of it all makes me want to click these blogs and get their updates.
|
|
IT'S OUR ANNIVERSARY
|
Just taking a moment to say a happy anniversary to Standtall and Husband. It's being 2 years of friendship, companionship, partnership and love. Happy anniversary dude! Let's dance to friendship.
|
|
|
Latest Posts
Monthly Archive
Change Language
Tags Archive
aboutme affection aridewithmyfather award beginning catlover catsworld dairy gender hairstyles information interviewthursday learning legendary life lovelycats mistake movie myhealth obama onlinecommunity poem sharing sharinginformation star tagged training wedding weekend women
Friends
Links
views
|
|
