![]() Alfie is a constant inspiration and always gives me real talk when it comes to my creative endeavors and life in general! I know she's been on a crazy journey this year. We've talked about our own ups and downs and how this year is the time for us to be only honest with ourselves. To not get in the way of our own progress. To not being afraid. I'm so lucky to have her as one of my early cheerleaders. Alfie's awesome and this interview will show why! I You should check out her show this Friday! "All The Right Weaponry/She Verses I" opening up this Friday, Feb 21st at The Artform Studio (701 E 3rd St, Ste 120, Los Angeles, CA 90013). You'll be able to meet Alfie and check out her artwork! ![]() Name(s) Alfie Ebojo aka alfie numeric Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : FilAm Arts, Beatrock Collective, Balagtasan Collective I love people, culture and peace. I make art or advocate for ideas to ensure that those three things are protected and nurtured. What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? If you ask my parents, I Instagram too much. I don’t know why. Maybe because I am always at home creating, running around solo and I want to share intimate snapshots of my life. Or maybe because I want to brag about some awesome experience or event, not to annoy people, because I myself can have a digital archive of a timeline of my life and remember the cool people and events that happen. My life speeds by in a blur and as much as I try to be present with it, I miss things. Taking pics is my way of remembering, processing and learning from them. ![]() How did you end up doing what you are doing now? I took the red pill Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? Well, despite of having a huge crush on him throughout my college and 20s, I won’t say Method Man. And to not blow myself into something doper than I really am, I won’t claim Ghostface Killer; I’m not at that level yet. I’d have to say RZA would be the Killer Bee that best describes me. I nerd out on kung fu flicks, Eastern philosophies and like to dip my hands into everything. I won’t say I will master them all but shit, nothing will stop me from trying new things and wanting to do it my way. Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs by default simply because I am allergic to cats. And technically, I am allergic to dogs too but for some reason, there are a select few who don’t cause me any problems.. So I’d say the champs are Koki and Harper, because I am biased like that. What is the best part of any given day for you? The ability to change a bad mood or situation around. So long as I have time, I have a chance to always to bend my life to where it needs to go, Avatar-steez. LifeBender. Favorite Buzzfeed list or quiz? Why? That is like asking me to go to th beach, pick up a handful of sand and pic your favorite micro-shell… Fine. Since you like to put limitations on me… http://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/struggles-that-only-people-with-big-butts-will-understand In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? Seeing that Michonne was was handy with the blade, I’d like to have my own version of the Crazy 88s except they wouldn’t suck like they did in the movie. The Professor from Gilligan’s Island would be cool to have too. I like being comfortable in whatever compound we have to make while we travel. Or and a goose that lays golden eggs, but it won’t lay eggs; she will lay golden 22lr bullets so I will always have a never ending supply of ammo for my Hello Kitty Smith and Wesson M&P15 What is the last thing you searched for on google? What Buzzfeed was. If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? Stop second-guessing yourself! Oh and dump him because years later, he’s going to cheat on you. Only you knew him but you act like you got a endless supply of “benefit of a doubt” to give out. Listen to your gut. You are more powerful than you even realize. What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? Whatever I eat after running 7 miles on a mountain. What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? Transforming myself and bringing all aspects of me- spirit, emotions, mind and body- to vibrate on a higher frequency. Thank you Alfie for doing this! And for always being their to support Oblivious Nerd Girl!
Check out more info on the facebook event page here: "All the Right Weaponry" and "She Versus I" Featuring the Art of Alfie Numeric and Stephanie Takemoto
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![]() My favorite thing about these interviews is learning something new about amazing people in my life. Maya is someone I've always admired. Her work through Form Follows Function is beautiful. I love her ability to tell stories through film. I'll let her words speak for themselves! Name(s) Maya Santos Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : FORM follows FUNCTION, creative director & founder FORM follows FUNCTION http://fffmedia.com/ FIELDWORK https://www.facebook.com/fieldworkla SOUL IN THE PARK http://www.soulinthepark.com/ I like to bike, draw, paint watercolor... meditate, space out..... I like space and making space experiential. I like architecture and architecture history, visualizing how places were in the past and seeing what's possible in the future. I like music of all kinds, sounds where I can hear soul. I like seeing and experiencing art...gravitating toward what resonates. I like to conceptualize projects with people, and to connect people with people who have could potentially collaborate together. I like graphic design, people watching, movie watching, traveling, and dreaming, especially remembering dreams. What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? netflix. How did you end up doing what you are doing now? My background is in architecture. I graduated with a B.Arch and B.S in Architectural Studies, worked in the field for a few years and got bored. Have always loved to shoot video and document life around me. Also enjoyed dabbling in multi-media installation. Learned how to edit on an analog 3/4" system and made a documentary on Filipino turntablists with my crew isangmahal back in Seattle. Years later in the Bay, learned how to edit digitally and made a short abstract piece that made it in some film festivals. That piece helped me get a job in a documentary studio in LA, called Sustainable Media Studio. I became Lead Editor there and had the opportunity to direct and co-direct my first short documentaries about places; "BUILDING A" was about the historic restoration and rehabilitation of a building at Trade Tech Community College, and "A CONVERSATION" was about the MLK Library at City College as told by Dorothy, a Librarian who worked there for over 30 years. After that particular piece got in a few film festivals, I soon realized that my education in Architecture did not go to waste and that I had knack for making short films about places through the perspectives of people who use them. Focusing on this angle really resonated with me because 1) I've always wanted to use architecture as a means to help empower people, especially marginalized people with a voice in how they see the places in which they live, and I've always wanted to support their visions of how to make the built environment more enjoyable and useful. 2) Making short films highlighting people's experiences, stories, memories, visions about the places around them can help create more awareness about the places around us all, AND can help people learn more about one another. This can only help in the process of breaking down barriers. 3) The relationship between people and their environment constantly creates place and because everything changes, places constantly change. In telling the story of one place, so many stories and lessons emerge because of all the energy that intersects there throughout time. Sharing stories of one place can reveal how that place is evolving and reflect how people are evolving in the way they use it. Exploring these relationships really is fascinating to me, which is why FORM follows FUNCTION was founded in 2011. It is an open collaborative studio dedicated to creating media about places. By being collaborative, we are open to working with anyone who wants to tell a unique story about a place, whether it be about the architecture or landscaping, or your grandmother who lived and worked there for many years, or about people coming together to create a community garden there, and in the case of THE COTABATO SESSIONS, about the music and art that originated from the land there and is still alive...all of these elements and more is what creates a place. FORM follows FUNCTION is interested in supporting the dialogue about place in this way through media. shameless plug: fffmedia.com ... thanks for the support guys! Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? ummm...not really sure I know them all well enough to say, but I was a fan of Method Man or at least he was memorable to me. So maybe that is something. Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? DOGS all day...I'm deathly allergic to cats though they are intriguing ;) What is the best part of any given day for you? Early morning before dawn, in my second dream....usually very vivid and sometimes lucid. In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? the one with the master plan. What is the last thing you searched for on google? to be honest, wu-tang clan...but before that "Where or When" by Peggy Lee on youtube. If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? discipline yo self girl! it will help you in the long run! What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? When I ate meat, adobo, was my favorite meal ever. Now as a vegetarian, I long for anything close. What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? THE COTABATO SESSIONS was like a dream seriously. First of all, I've always wanted to shoot outside of the country...and to be able to go to the motherland and to shoot with talented cinematographer and friend there, Ruelo Lozendo was just perfect. To be in the country side of Mindanao (where a lot of people were telling me not to go), was really the one of the most peaceful places I've ever felt. The production itself had a lot of unknowns, but the combination of Joel Quizon, Susie Ibarra and her husband Roberto, Master Danny Kalanduyan along with the entire Kalanduyan family, and local sound crew there, it seemed that nothing was stopping this project and all the elements came together to support the grace and ease it all really was for us. I've heard the Kulintang before in the US, but to experience this live and direct from the source, especially from entire women elder ensembles was unlike anything I've experienced before. It was like the land and the people and the ancestors were speaking through them and we were truly blessed to witness and document it! There were many timeless moments behind the camera where I was just in complete awe and had to recognize the dream that was really happening. For me it was a true honor to be there and I will always be thankful for it. Super hyped to finally get to edit in full. For now the trailer is on the kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/350747284/the-cotabato-sessions-a-music-legacy-from-the-phil The support that has been coming through on this project has been overwhelming. BIG THANKS TO ALL FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS! Many thanks to Maya for doing an Oblivious Interview with me! I am so stoked for The Cotabato Sessions to be completed. The images and teasers that are shown in the trailer are not enough. If you can contribute to their Kickstarter campaign, please do! They have some amazing incentives that you can receive by donating to the film.
The Cotabato Sessions Kickstarter Campaign ![]() I first met Yumi when she was volunteering for Tuesday Night Cafe. It wasn't until years later that I found out we had a random connection. She actually was in a Asian American theater group with my bff Jen called LCC. I've been a big fan of her work for quite some time. In fact I didn't know this but I had a piece of hers hanging in our staircase/art gallery section of our house. I won a painting of Yumi's through a Tuesday Night Cafe silent auction! She's an awesome artist who's currently on a Valentine's Day book tour for her book "I Think I Am In Friend-Love With You." The book is amazing and you should definitely pick it up at your local bookstore and mayhaps an Urban Outfitters! Without further ado here is my Oblivious Interview with Yumi Sakugawa! Name(s): Yumi Sakugawa Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : L.A. Zine Fest exhibitor and part-time volunteer, comic contributor for The Rumpus, former volunteer now lurker of Tuesday Night Project What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? It's a tie between "awesome" and "like." I'm a So. Cal gal. How did you end up doing what you are doing now? Years of doodling, reading comics, worshipping Sailor Moon, breathing in way too much Sharpie ink pen fumes and being a mediocre art school student. ![]() Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? I am so embarrassed that I don't know how to answer this question. I will say, however, that out of all the Sailor Scouts in the Sailor Moon universe, I'm totally a Sailor Saturn and if I had to choose between Rei and Asuka, I am such a Rei. Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? In a war for my love and affection, dogs win hands down. Because I need lots and lots of unconditional love. What is the best part of any given day for you? Anytime I am in a mindful flow and completely accepting of the present moment. It is cheesy but it is completely true. Favorite Buzzfeed list or quiz? Why? This is the easiest question for me to answer. Because NOTHING, NOTHING can ever top this BuzzFeed list on The Baby-Sitters' Club: The Definitive Ranking Of All 131 Baby-Sitter’s Club Cover Outfits (link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/the-definitive-ranking-of-baby-sitters-club-cover-outfits) In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? My partner David. Because without him, I would probably be eating a lot of contaminated food and drinking a lot of contaminated water without knowing it. This applies for non-apocalypse scenarios, too. What is the last thing you searched for on google? I momentarily forgot how to spell "fumes." For some reason I kept thinking it was spelled "humes." I think it was all those adolescent years of breathing in Sharpie ink pen fumes. ![]() If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? I think I would have a list of all these aspirational things I would want to say, like "love yourself" and "don't be so hung up about finding your soul mate," and then I would take a look at my high school self, completely forget everything I had planned to say, and then simply give her / me a big, long, wordless hug while she / me cries into my shoulder. What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? Pretty much anything my mom makes is the best thing or meal I've ever ate. As far as non-homecooked meals go, right now I am way too obsessed with the tsukemen ramen at Tsujia Annex on Sawtelle. What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? Right now I'm working on a short comic story about a young woman who is nervous about telling her parents that she had just gotten very intensive cosmetic surgery. I'm hoping to get that all done by L.A. ZIne Fest. I completely agree with Yumi on her Babysitter's Club buzzfeed list choice. It is pretty spectacular and I believe all of Claudia's outfits should win all the awards.
If you have the chance to check out on her tour, please do! But if you can't make it out to your local bookstore there is always the internet! You can pick up "I Think I Am In Friend-Love With You" on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. ![]() Mark and I were once co-directors for the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture. I think he was just starting his Ph.D program and I remember thinking HOLY CRAP, that's a lot of school. More power to this brother for pushing through and being almost done with his program! Mark is a co-editor with Kuttin Kandi (of 5th Platoon) and Roderick Labrador of the recently published, "Empire of Funk: Hip Hop and Representation in Filipino/a America" The book sounds awesome and I can't wait to pick up a copy. Name(s) Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : Mark Redondo Villegas, Ph.D. candidate in Culture and Theory and UC Irvine ![]() What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? Empire How did you end up doing what you are doing now? Ph.D. stuff? They accepted me Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? Ghost Face Killer, because I like to tell stories, but the difference being my own life story is filled with too much Street Fighter 2. Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs because they rely on you, whereas cats think you're just another big cat and will fuck you up. What is the best part of any given day for you? Breakfast because I cook a big, giant breakfast almost every day. Favorite Buzzfeed list or quiz? Why? I don't really know. In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? Actually, I'd rather be a zombie because who wants to "live" during those rough times? Who's to say that zombies aren't actually thrilled, passionate, and purposeful about what they do? What is the last thing you searched for on google? Wingstop If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? Don't overdry the skin. Moisturize instead. What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? Grilled fish on a Bohol beach with mango juice What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? Empire of Funk: Hip Hop and Representation in Filipina/o America This was fun and now I'm hungry. All this talk of breakfast food and wings! If you get the chance definitely pick up Empire of Funk! Mark, Kuttin Kandi, and Rod Labrador will be at the SCPASA Summit at UC Riverside this Saturday. SCPASA Summit participants get a 10% discount. Here's your chance to meet these folks and contributors DJ Icy Ice and Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales.
![]() I can't remember when I met Jenny, but I do know I am grateful to have her in my life because she's one of the funniest people I know. She runs the hilarious tumblr ASIANBOWLCUTS. She's a community organizer. She's been in a documentary with Joan Rivers and other female comedians called Why We Laugh. She's a professional organizer and when I am brave enough to have her come purge my house I will call her. Presently I am not that brave, so I will stick with my quasi hoarder house tchotckey filled home. You can like Jenny on Facebook for updates on her upcoming comedy shows. And now for the Oblivious Interview with this this awesome woman! Name(s) Jenny Yang **real legal name in Chinese you will never understand** Yanger Yangster Jen Jenster Jennyyang (one word) That obnoxious Chinese girl Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : Dis/orient/ed Comedy (http://disorientedcomedy.com) The Highland Park Gentrifier Set. What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? Apparently... KnowwhatImean? How did you end up doing what you are doing now? I met societal and parental expectations to be a good Asian. Then realized I could be happier doing other stuff. That other stuff is now writing and stand up comedy and working in television production. I'm saying this process simply because there was a lot of fear, tears and freakouts in-between. I get into it here: http://jennyyang.tv/blog/2012/02/03/ive-been-a-good-asian-now-i-want-to-do-what-i-love and here: http://jennyyang.tv/blog/2013/03/04/coming-out-to-my-parents-about-doing-standup-comedy-repost-from-creativelifepod Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? I'm working my way up to be RZA - the producer and visionary. But alas. I'm be Wu-Yang, the 10th unknown member who only raps about snacks. Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs. They're friendly. And they work for their food. I respect that. What is the best part of any given day for you? The part where I get to lie down - for any number of purposes. What is the last thing you searched for on google?
Wu-Tang Clan. If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? Follow your joy and screw what others think. It's all an illusion. What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? Chicago. A restaurant called A Tavola. Roasted Lamb Shank on a bed of white bean puree. Delicate hand-made butternut squash ravioli. Followed by the lightest panna cotta ever. That. And my mom's "water-fried" pork buns. What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? The project of figuring out how to make a living writing and performing is quite a life-long project. Searching for what I need to say in my work to help others. Dis/orient/ed Comedy ) is a part of that. Getting to be on a Showtime documentary "Why We Laugh: Funny Women" with Joan Rivers and other comedic veterans was kinda of amazing too. Oh. And I'm fixing to write a book about "Being a Good Asian" - at least redefining what that is. And then there's this other thing I'ma do that's called "3 Seconds of Crazy" with Jenny Yang. It'll be on YouTube. (btw: i'm listing these last two because they are ideas that have been incubating and the more I say it out loud the more likely it will happen) I've actually written about this dude on the old tumblr, when Sean became Mr. Hyphen 2013 Name: Sean Miura Stuff he does: Tuesday Night Project, LTRoots, Chaotic 3, Team Ferosha, Family Bizness, Ninjas for Social Justice, Sawai Koto Academy (Shamisen), Apartment J386, sometimes I hang out in Little Tokyo. Once someone called me Mr. Hyphen. What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? "Folks" How did you end up doing what you are doing now? I was born in Seattle, spent thirteen years in Vancouver, spent a further five years in New Jersey, then landed in Los Angeles for school. Through all that I picked up random side-hustles and ended up working on a bunch of projects (see the first question) that led me to this moment! Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs. They're loyal, fun, and I'm not borderline afraid of them. What is the best part of any given day for you? That moment right before a meal, though without the payoff of actually eating the food I suppose that would be a pretty terrible moment. So I'm going to say mealtime, overall. If you could talk to your high school self, what would you say to them? Calm down. What is the last thing you searched for on google? "Ruby Ibarra" In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? Steve Yuen because he's awesome and probably knows something about surviving zombies. What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? When I was in high school my mom would buy these huge bags of frozen gyoza, so I would come home from school and make a giant pan, reheat some leftover rice, and then eat the whole mess while watching Family Guy. Nothing better. As a producer of Tuesday Night Cafe Sean informed the audience last week that an anonymous Japanese American elder has proposed a challenge to young folks under 35. If you are under 35 and donate to the Keep TN free campaign, this anonymous elder will double your donation! So you put in 5, someone will put in 10, making your total donation $15! Imagine if you put in $100, someone would put in $200, making your donation $300!! Support the this 15 year old FREE community art space in Little Tokyo! Click on the #keepTNfree image below to show your support!
![]() I will confess when I first met Patrick Huang, I really thought his name was Phatrick with a PH. I did not question the spelling at all. After growing up with Filipino kids with combo names, I've just grown accustomed to not questioning the odd spelling of peoples names. This is why I say "Oblivious meets Phatrick" aka DJ Phatrick aka Phatty. He currently is the Program Director for Sessions LA. I met Phatty years ago when he was the touring dj for Native Guns. Before he moved to LA, Phatty would drive back and forth between the Bay Area. We would hang out when he was around for Native Guns and later on Bambu's shows. (Random Tangent: When looking up links for Native Guns, a wikipedia page came up. This trips me out that I know someone with a wikipedia page. That is just nutso.) When Phatty moved to LA and was looking for gigs, Strawberry Farm Boy Mike let him know about Sessions LA. The program had gone through several incarnations with different instructors. At the time Sessions LA needed new instructors and Phatty was the right fit. He's continued to grow the program and transform Sessions LA from a dj class to a simple beat making class to a full blown music production program. Here is Oblivious meets Phatty. Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : Sessions LA, Bambu, Native Guns, Devil's Pie, Motown On Mondays What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? Hipster How did you end up doing what you are doing now? Been mentoring and teaching youth through music programming since the college days. Specifically with Sessions LA, I hit up Mike Nailat about possible opportunities to teach youth music when I moved to LA in 2008. The rest is...you know. Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? RZA: Because I'm a control freak ![]() Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs. Reason: What is the best part of any given day for you? At night, when Steph and Laila are asleep, and I can catch up on Tumblr!!! In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? Walter White ![]() What is the last thing you searched for on google? Again: ![]() If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? Real G's move in silence like "Lasagna" What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? My maternal grandmother's everything. What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? This: Help out Phatty and his tumblr, googling dog habits.
Support Art. Support Youth. Support Good Music. Donate Here: Sessions LA Summer Institute ![]() I can't actually remember the first time I met Ali. I'm sure it was at random community event. He later joined the Sessions LA staff as one of the instructors. During the academic year I check in with the Sessions LA youth and provide them with college counseling. It's fun to sit in and watch the Sessions LA instructors do their thing with the youth. As a self proclaimed music nerd it's crazy to see these kids develop their talents and broaden their music knowledge. Ali is a good dude and I'm super stoked to have gotten the chance to have him do an Oblivious Interview! Name(s): Ali Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : Sessions LA....educator...DJ....beatmaker....vinyl & um, boba addict What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? Recently, "sus", as in short for "suspect", as in "questionable"...I'm 31 and not really "about that life", so me using it is super sus, but there it is. How did you end up doing what you are doing now? I ended up at Sessions initially through a former Sessions instructor, Paul Laughlin (DJ Spingineer). We were in the same photography class. Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? Cappadonna - I have consistency issues :( Wu-Tang "Clan" got hella members... Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Depends on the dog or cat. ![]() What is the best part of any given day for you? The moment I arrive at Sessions. In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? My girlfriend. She is an expert on zombies. She even made a zombie apocalypse survival kit. I'm a believer. What is the last thing you searched for on google? Hypochondria If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? You have no idea what you're about to step into, but it all works out in the end....I hope. What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? Anything my grandma used to make. What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? Sessions LA SessionsLA currently has an indiegogo campaign to raise 5K in one month. Please support them and help them reach their goal! Donate here: Sessions Summer Institute 2013
I met Jackie Huang when I was a Graduate Intern at USC's Career Planning and Placement Center (CPPC). While I was reviewing resumes and cover letters, Jackie was a student worker who was the graphic designer for the department. When I needed a break from doing my intern work I would bug her and our friend Peter in their IT office. I have always been drawn to IT folks since Strawberry Farm Boy Mike is an IT junkie himself. He gets embarrassed when pull basic IT fouls like not understanding how to upload things or figuring out certain operating systems. Years later I was at an "It's a Small World" themed art show at Gallery Nucleus and I recognized a familiar name. It turns out Jackie was showing her work in the show! Jackie had started doing intricate paper art that was truly astounding. It wasn't your average cutting up snowflakes arts and crafts. Jackie's creations were intricate works of art. Now on our frequent trips to Disneyland, I make it a point to look out for something of hers at Wonder Gallery in Downtown Disney. She recently wrapped up a June residency there. I usually end up taking a picture of her work because it is crazy awesome! Without further ado here is Oblivious meets Jackie Huang! ![]() Name: Jackie Huang Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : Motivarti! On the side, I founded an organized dedicated to helping young artists get into the animation industry. Our biggest thing is running a 10-week mentorship program with industry professionals. www.motivarti.org What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? "Like". Not in terms of a Facebook 'like', but the valley girl, 'like.' I sometimes even wind up writing it in emails and have to go back to delete it. How did you end up doing what you are doing now? While at USC studying film, I wound up getting an internship at DreamWorks Animation. There, I discovered this amazing profession called, visual development (basically designing characters and backgrounds for animated films). I was told by the artists there that going to art school would be the next best step. So I wound up going to Art Center College of Design to study illustration after USC. About a year into the program, I took a class on making pop-ups and started making paper art then. It took up until my last semester at Art Center to decide whether I wanted to try and work as a visual development artist or a paper artist. I chose paper art and have never looked back since! Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs, hands down. They don't hold grudges. What is the best part of any given day for you? Napping! The best part of working from home as a freelance artist is being able to take naps when you're tired. That's the one thing you can't do at a full-time job. So it's a reminder of how happy I am to be on my own path. What is the last thing you searched for on google? "The Hash House A Go Go". Apparently it's a restaurant in Las Vegas and I was hoping they'd have one in LA. Nope. Sad. In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? Ugh. Kill me now. I don't think I'd want to live during a zombie apocalypse. I'd rather be a zombie or dead...maybe the zombie a little more. What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? They're all memorable! Some of my favorites are the pop-up proposal books I get to work on that guys commission me to make for them. It usually tells the story of how the couple meet, first date, first kiss, memories, and them popping the question at the end. Another one would be both my Rapuznel pieces -"Rapunzel" & "Rapunzel 2.0" - they're both landmark pieces in my artistic development. Interesting to see how my skills are developing! What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? I probably have the world's biggest sweet tooth so it'd probably be Sprinkles Cupcakes. It has the prefect ratio of cupcake to icing. If there parking wasn't so bad I'd probably go there all the time! Thank you again to Jackie! She's really rad and I completely understand her answer to the zombie question. Sometimes I think I could survive. Other times I'm like, "Just eat me up. I'll join you in your quest for brains."
If you are an artist looking for a mentor I definitely recommend Motivarti! The program sounds really cool. I wish I could do it, but I cannot do anything visually that fits their criteria! For all you lucky folks heading to San Diego Comic Con, Jackie will be at SDCC this year, so definitely check her out at Table F9! She'll be selling prints, pop-ups, and some original artwork. For more info on Jackie's work here are all her interwebs links: website: http://jackiehuang.com/ blog: http://jackiehuangstudios.blogspot.com/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackieHuangPaperArt twitter: https://twitter.com/jackiehuangxu etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/jackiehuang Edren Sumagaysay is not someone I went to high school with, but is related to a couple of people who went to St. Gen's with me. In fact that was our common point of conversation when we first met a really, really, long time ago. When we were in college Strawberry Farm Boy Mike was the coordinator for a API conference. He invited Zero 3 to perform. Zero 3 was a 3 person performance group that consisted of Edren, Traci Kato-Kiriyama, and Kennedy Kabasares. Due to unusual circumstances Zero 3 did not perform at the conference. Instead they were tabling and hanging out. Somehow this led to hanging out at The Anthill Pub (similar to how I met John Castro). Through that gr818 valley connection we figured out we are related in that Filipino way where everyone is related through marriage, etc etc. Our friendship formed over hanging out at Tuesday Night Cafe, drinks at the now closed Weilands, drinks at Bar Nirvana, ballroom dancing lessons, and conversations about writing. Edren has always been a quasi writing sensei for me. In grad school he convinced me to join The Writers Workshop. In our conversations I shared that I would always pick up and put down writing. Edren challenged me to write for an hour each day. It didn't matter if it sucked, all that mattered was that I write. The Writers Workshop was writing as practice, honing skills. I accepted and ended up writing Laughing Through The Tears through that first session. ![]() While I don't participate in The Writers Workshop now, I do write. And I have Edren to thank for that! Edren is also part of The Park's Finest who will be featured on Diners, Drive In's and Dives with Guy Fieri tonight. Check your local listings and catch the show! So here's the man, the myth, the legend himself: Edren Sumagaysay Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : -Today, I'm the Public Relations/Social Media Manager and Human Resources for The Park's Finest. I'm also the Executive Editor of theundeniables.org. In the past, I've been a Case Manager for SIPA, a ballroom dance instructor for Cotillion Creations, a writer/performer for zero3, an actor for hereandnow, a manager of a strip club (can't name them because of the NDA), and a dancer for Sarindiwa. An ex-relationship on the romantic tip didn't find these affiliations to be 'boyfriend' qualifications, so she said 'I love you, too' and left me. What a bitch. What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? Bitch. How did you end up doing what you are doing now? I'm pretty sure that everything on Monday plays a part with what happens on Friday. Even waking up a minute after the alarm goes off. Sends a person down a direction that wouldn't have happened had a person woken up a minute earlier. The little innocuous things on Tuesday has inadvertent influence on Saturday, and so on. Fucking butterfly effect, yo. For me, I dropped out of high school, but I still wanted an education. So I'd read a lot books, I tried a lot of new and different things, and eventually, I am where I am because of my Monday. Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs will do anything for food and friendship. They are extremely loyal. Some would even die for their owners. For us humans, that's a rare quality to find. I still like cats better, though. They're selfish, lazy, and manipulative. Cats are more familiar to me. They remind me of us. What is the best part of any given day for you? The morning. The few minutes before I wake up. It's the starting gate, ready for action in consciousness with motivation from some weird dream in unconsciousness. It's also the time when I'm the most happiest. What is the last thing you searched for on google? Porn. But I use Mozilla for that. So if we're talking Chrome, I searched for "that China Beach episode that went in reverse". And I found it! It's called, Holly's Choice and it's about a red cross volunteer, played by Ricki Lake, who had an abortion and how she and her friends dealt with it in the middle of the Vietnam War. But it was done in reverse! Like the movie Memento. I saw that episode when I was a kid and the way they presented the story was amazing to me. Made me believe there are a hundred different ways of telling the same story. And that is why there are so many artists. ![]() What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? theundeniables.org and The Writers Workshop. It started off with a couple of drunk dudes in a corner booth of a bar that doesn't exist anymore and somewhere along the lines turned into an international writing group. We gutted it recently because we wanted to keep it close to the hip, but to see how it grew without us expecting it to, that was memorable to see. I would even go so far as to say, The Writers Workshop had a tiny hand in this Obliviousnerdgirl's conception. It's what happens on Monday, you know what I mean. In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? Just someone who knows how to farm and someone who is a mechanic. Because killing zombies is easy. But creating food and creating utilities is invaluable. What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? After a three day session of Dungeons & Dragons, where we were sustained on potato chips and soda, we went to Beef Bowl to get some beef bowls. That beef bowl was the best thing I've ever eaten in my life. Aren't you glad you got to know Edren? Wouldn't you want him to be your neighbor? Your awesome writing, Dungeons & Dragons playing, ballroom dancing, badass reading neighbor. He's got lots of things going on. Besides The Park's Finest BBQ gig and theundeniables writing; Edren's also the other half of the podcast 3AM with Jenny & Edren. If you like drunk shit talking then their podcast is perfect for you!
Know someone I should talk to? Email me at obliviousnerdgirl [at] gmail [dot] com and send me their way! |
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