Smarty Girl Leadership

My WordPress Blog

  • About The Editors
    • About Erica
      • Erica on Fashion/Tech in Vegas
  • Home
    • Tech News
      • Wired’s Clive Thompson Interview
    • Entrepreneur Tips
      • CEO Beer Summits
    • Entertainment
      • Live Concert Review
      • Book Reviews
  • Dating & Other Sports
    • Dating Soccer Players
    • Bicycling
      • Bike Pretty Blogger Melissa Davies
  • DIY
    • Photo Editing Tutorial
    • Fitness Tips
    • Healthy Eating
    • #FilmRace
  • Audio Scriptwriting and Video Storytelling Services

Live True Story Competition: The Moth Story Slam in Berkeley

September 9, 2015 by Tabby Constantennia Leave a Comment

 

On Wednesday September 2nd, I attended the Moth StorySLAM at Freight & Salvage coffee house in Berkeley.  The Moth hosts a regular radio program called “The Moth Radio Hour” that features the true life stories of ordinary people.  At this live event, produced by Anna MacKinnon,  facilitators pulled 10 or 11 names out of a white bag.  These names, the owners of 22 submitted stories, were then enthusiastically cheered by the audience as they mounted the stage to spin their yarn.  All stories centered on this event’s theme:  Betrayal.

In addition to the audience enjoying the drama of other people’s personal stories, Wednesday’s participants received a score from 1.0 to 10.0 from the three multimember teams of judges: “Brutus,” “Trojan,” and “Karma is a [the one word designation for a pregnant female dog].”

While the audience was limited in their quantitative judgment of the stories by clapping and cheering for the raconteur before and after their presentation, they were given an opportunity to participate in the proceedings as well.  Before the event started, each person entering the auditorium was given a slip of paper with a question typed on it: “Describe a time when you were dishonest.”  The roughly 3in by 7in format forced the individual into a concise retelling.  But it also concisely proved that good stories are not determined by length.  Between each story told on stage, the facilitators randomly selected for reading one to three of these little vignettes from a red container where the audience members deposited them.  This same format was used at the end of the story telling for the other 11 or 12 full stories left over.  Each of the remaining raconteurs spoke a few sentences to convey the “hook” of their tale.

As this was my first time attending such an event for stories, I wasn’t sure whether to expect folksy tales passed down from an older acquaintance, an academically focused anecdote with a clearly delineated theme and form, or something that would be at home in the “True Confession” magazines of old.  It was actually a pleasant mix of all three, where the “older acquaintance” was the storyteller themselves, relating a tale from their own past, whether as recent as 3 years ago, or in a distance youth.  But sometimes the stories included a few added twists.  Two put pets in the instrument or catalysis of the betrayal.  One featured a personal maxim whose owner modified due the number of times it rang falsely.  The very first one retold a perfidious relationship with the human inspiration for the song “You Light Up My Light,” whose number one hit status so shortly after the breakup made coping for the teller exquisitely painful.

But as expect from the personal nature of betrayal, most of the events discussed took a very similar form:  a hurt inflicted by a loved one.   The stories scaled the elegiac range of a high school friend cavalierly revealing an episode of another’s’ “peed pants” in front of romantic interests, to the encouragement of an unsatisfying relationship until “someone better” arrived.   The story that received the highest judges’ score was one of several that related the tale of a(n almost) significant other that decided to end the previously enjoyed relationship.  The judges did not discuss their reason for their scores, but I suspect this one received their highest approval because it was recent enough to still provoked tears in the teller during the relating, and was one for which the teller revealed the ongoing search for resolution.  Plus, it involved the classic rom-com situation of boy meets girl, girl relegates boy to permanent friend status, but realizes her true feelings just as boy decides to move on to greener pastures.

I enjoyed all the recounts, and especially how the storytellers indicated their particular salient point of their tale.  One of the audience’s clear favorites highlighted serendipity’s favor to fools and small children in the form of an unpayable debt to a loan shark, rendered void by said shark’s unexpected death, and overdue accounting.

Another came from two audience members’ terse comments on the provided slips of paper:

I told my girlfriend our breakup wasn’t her fault.  It was.

I told my dad I loved him.

Even the intimations of the untold stories proved fascinating, like the raconteur that briefly stated he wondered how an old acquaintance was doing now, but not knowing was teller’s price for his betrayal.

The facilitators encouraged us to talk to the storytellers after the event ended, especially to the ones that could only tell their hook.  These stories would be comfortably at home in a written collection of short stories.  At least one of them is part of the teller/author’s current writing project.  All of them reminded me that inside each human is at least one story of their life just waiting for the opportunity to leak toward an appreciative light.

Guest Blogger Tabby is a writer and podcaster. If you missed it, she’s also the on-camera interviewer for Indie Arts & Tech for community tv.

Guest Blogger SmartyGirl

Photo Credit: SmartyGirl Guest Blogger Tabby

Seven Questions For An Actor: Interview with Alex Hager of Seattle Part 2 of 2 for 48 Hour Film Project

August 17, 2014 by Tabby Constantennia Leave a Comment

SmartyGirl Chasya Hill interviewed Actress Cami Okins, most recently seen in Seattle’s 48 Hour Film Project playing Cami “Heart Wants“, a road trip movie.

Did you try a few of the thoughtstarter questions from Ms. Okins list lately as small talk with film actors lately?

Not yet? Well, here are 7 more questions that actors are happy to answer and wish people would ask more often. We promised our readers a follow up to our digital shorts campaign, right? Comment below on the results of your DIY summer filmmaking.

Many thanks to SmartyGirl Tabora Constantennia for her phone interview with Actor Alex Hager, a co-star in “Heart Wants”.

Actor Seattle Alex Hager

Photo Credit: Actor Alex Hager

See below for SmartyGirl Tabora’s questions and SmartyFella Actor Alex Hager’s replies paraphrased by our guest reporter.

1 What got you started into acting?

From the ages from 9 to the present at 18 Alex was involved with a computer company. One

of his chief responsibilities was to marketing, which he accomplished by web design, and web

based commercials distributed by social media outlets such as YouTube. Alex enjoyed producing

and acting in these commercials so much he decided to pursue them outside of his company.

Less than a month before we spoke, Alex had signed on to a talent agency, and was looking

forward to the new opportunities that would offer him.

2 What kinds of work have you done?

Alex focuses his activities to acting and modeling. He still creates and performs commercials for

his company, but he has also appeared in promotionals, commercials, and even a short film for

other companies as well.

3 What is your favorite assignment so far?

One of his first assignments was a promotional for Macys. His job was to dance to the music,

have fun, and hand out promotional items to people as they passed him and his colleagues.

He had a sense of feeling bad that he was being paid to party and have a blast, but definitely

NOT bad enough to reject the paycheck. That experience help encourage him to seek out more

opportunities.

4 What assignments do you enjoy most?

HAPPY ONES!

Alex has an amiable and upbeat personality, and enjoys doing and working in situations that

highlight this characteristic.

But like most actors, he has no intention of limiting himself. Playing personas that extremely

different from his personality and/or that entail intriguing complexities fascinates him,

and presents areas of growth that he is ready to tackle. He would particularly enjoy a role

that would display a person as he journeyed through the struggles and adversities the plot

presented, and give him the opportunities of acting out large varieties of emotions and

responses. But of course, he would not snub any role if the only emotions and responses the

plot afforded were hurtling through the air, or narrowly dodging the bullets and/or fists of a

high action movie with special effects. In fact, to him “that would be SO COOL!”

5 What are your current short term goals for your acting/model stint?

At 18 Alex has deliberately delayed attending college. Knowing that both endeavors require

a lot of time and hard work he has decided to give his attention to acting and model, and

concentrate on developing his skill in this area. He sees his youth, energy, as well as a lack

of any pressing obligations as an excellent reason to take the risk of trying a career in acting

now. College is something he believes can be done at any time, but he may not get such a great

opportunity to act or model again.

6 What are some questions you wish people would ask you about your 

acting and modeling experiences?

Alex has two that readily come to mind.

1) Tell me about your first acting/modeling experience?

Remembering his own experiences, he is sure that would bring interesting insights, if not

humorous anecdotes to the conversation.

2) What was your most difficult experience?

Most people love explaining how they conquered the wiles of life with success. For Alex,

that came in the form of a commercial he did as part of his original company. He had to

complete the commercial within a very short time period. But the day of the performance,

it was VERY hot, and the facility has no air conditioning. Fortunately he and the equipment

survived intact.

7 What is your ultimate goal for this acting/modeling season of your life?

Right Alex is learning the complexities of the acting/modeling world as well as enjoying and

improving himself with each assignment. But he see an excellent opportunity to maximize his

positive amiableness would be in the role of a game show host, where he could foster humor

and spirited interaction among celebrities and/or the ordinary participants. He did not specify

which game show, or what type. But we agreed that should quidditch, the broom flying strategy

game made popular by the Harry Potter franchise, should ever appear in a televised game show

format, we would both anxiously look forward to having him audition for the presenter spot.

 

SF Renaissance Faire Tabora Constantennia

Photo Credit: SF Ren Faire Tabora Constantennia

SmartyGirl Tabora Constantennia is a podcaster for “T is for Tabby” in Northern California and graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her killer homemade green tea ice cream sweetened with honey is a staff favorite at SGL Media. If you liked her summer reporting here and for last summer’s MakerFaire, then visit us again.

√(-1) 8 ∑ ∏ … and it was good: East Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013 by Guest Engineering Editor Tabora

October 26, 2013 by Tabby Constantennia Leave a Comment

√(-1) 8 ∑ ∏ … and it was good!
            For someone who has never attended a Maker’s Faire, or spent more than 24 hours with engineers, the experience can be a little like that first sentence.  What in the world is the appeal, and why is everyone else laughing?  Welcome to the world where crafts are cool, formulas are funny, and science exists outside of third period.

Photo Credit: Engineer Tabora Human Powered Faire Ride East Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013

Photo Credit: Engineer Tabora Hacker Moms Booth East Bay Maker Faire 2013
Photo Credit: Engineer Tabora Human Jenga East Bay Maker Faire 2013

            Like its counterparts in many other cities across the country, this year’s Oakland Makers’ Faire put the latest projects of area locals on public display. Hosted at the Park Day School, visitors could pet the goats of the Montclair 4H club, and hear how the members learn to care for them, and prepare them for competition.  Close by was the booth for home made fermentation that proudly displayed kits for pickle making and micro-brewing.    Blacksmiths and forgers demonstrated their skills and allowed the visitors to participate in the process.  Holographs, homemade hula hoops, jewelry made from cake sprinkles, plant displays, a public loom, and cookies baked from a sun powered oven shared space with a Swap-O-Rama sewing station, a yarn making demonstration, a Nerdy Derby wooden car ramp race, a multitude of small robots, and a bitter taste testing station.  Who knew that certain genes controlled a tongue’s ability to detect certain pungent chemicals?

Photo Credit: Engineer Tabora East Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013 Mission

            These would be the same people that split plant cells for their DNA, or studied one celled organisms for fun, and then have the unmitigated gall to suggest YOU do the same.  Throughout every foot of the faire were invitations to join a “workspace,” community lab, or a hackers club dedicated to learning new skills of building, making, inventing, and discovering.  Even the provocative sign stating:  “Isn’t HACKING a BAD thing?” was clearly designed to involve others in the art of exploring something new.

Photo Credit: Engineer Tabora Mallet of Fire East Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013

            Speaking of hackers, I took a few minutes to ask some more pointed questions of one group called “The Hacker Scouts.”  According to one volunteer and the founder, Samantha (Sam) Cook, this group was designed for children from ages 4 -14to create scientific projects with the help of older mentors.  As of this year they have three programs: Sparks for the younger children ages 4-7 starts later this year.  Open Lab kids meet twice a month to work on a group project with parents and mentors. The third program, the Guild, is limited in number for kids who work with mentors on a special project of their choice.  The mentor helps the child identify their project, what skills will be necessary to complete it, and then assists the child in gaining the knowledge and resources to do it.  Some of the projects can take 12 – 18 months to complete, like a robotics project, during which time the mentor commits their time and the Hacker Club’s resources to helping the child accomplish their goal.  Sam told me one of her goal in starting this club was certainly to bring this type of education and opportunity to places, like Oakland, where some kids many have limited access to it.  But she also said that by stoking the children’s interest in this kind of creative activity at a young age, she could benefit the community by providing adults that had the kind of skills industries crave, like light industrials that burgeon from creative, motivated, and determined workers.  For more information please go to:  http://hacker-scouts.org
Photo Credit: Engineer Tabora Talking Heads Latest Tweets East Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013

            Sam’s mission was encouraging, and fit in perfectly with the mood of the Faire.  Watching teenagers and adults furiously shaking jars of cream to make butter, and reading the displays for people explaining how just like them, you, too, could create your own healthy crackers or spirulina, reminded me that not all the first world is bent and determined on consuming themselves into an early grave.  Not everyone contented themselves to let others entertain them, or create things for them.  Some people really believed that their own brains and determination could develop something they could use every day, and help others do the same thing.

Photo Credit: Engineer Tabora Hacker Scouts East Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013

            A colleague of mine once told me that while the “Idiots’ Guide” series of books probably had a lot of great information, he could not bring himself to read them because of the title.  That’s understandable – the bravado we exhibit as adults still chafes at being called “dummies,” instead of something that loudly expresses our value to the rest of the world, or at very least, those we consider peers.  Unfortunately, the first step to solving a problem is admitting there is one.  If you can admit that yes, you did have secret desire to invent the next iPod-like sensations, or even something as mundane as figuring out how to mend that silly hole in your sweater’s elbow, but didn’t really know where to begin, there is hope.  Yes, you might get called names like “eccentric,” “weird,” or even, gasp, “NERD.”  But if you’re willing to persevere, develop a new set of skills, and use them, two things will happen.  First, you too can snicker at this article’s first phrase, I ate some pie.  And second, you1ll understand why was it so good:  Because you have become a Maker.

Connect with me

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Twitter

Subscribe to new post alerts

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Popular Posts

Meet Team Tacoma: The 48 Hour Film Project Seattle

By smartygirl on July 25, 2014

  My white Nokia smartphone is smeared with mini chocolate donut and I couldn’t be happier. Why? Tonight was the kickoff production meeting for The 48 Hour Film Project Seattle. These are a few of production crew who aren’t camera shy. From left to right: Jon Spieth, Iver Nitz, Serena Berry and Greyson Boevers. I […]

Stunts, Safety & Saving Innocence: An Interview with Stuntwoman Emily Hopkins

By smartygirl on September 16, 2013

Associate Editor Erica Tyler is in charge of identifying 20 Ordinary Heroes in the Community this fall. At the end of the summer the Editor-in-Chief stumbled upon a league of such in West Los Angeles. Would you like to know one of them? She works on the team of Saving Innocence as an Intake and […]

Bargain Bites: Egg-free Lemon Cookies

By smartygirl on November 3, 2011

I’m flying out to see my Grandma Sivia soon because she isn’t feeling so well. Yes, that’s Sivia not Sylvia. My grandma was widowed at 50 and she came to live with my parents to help raise me. I couldn’t be a luckier gal! She sang gospel, cooked amazing food and taught me some peculiar […]

7 Great Valentine’s Day Ideas

By smartygirl on February 5, 2012

Here are 7 actresses that I associate with Valentine’s Day. Why do I include a wayward daughter from Imitation of Life and a willowy actress from Norbit? Read on. Even if cupid isn’t your homeboy this year, indulge in one of these 7 movies for make up and dress ideas for the rest of the […]

Embed Our Badge

Smarty Girl Leadership

Archives

  • August 2019
  • May 2018
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • July 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011

Copyright © 2021 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in