Back in Action

Alright, so I owe you guys a new blog entry. I mean it’s been since August! Four whole months! What have I been doing? A lot actually. Let’s start at the beginning.

I had surgery in mid August that had me down for a while. (Yes, even more a reason to blog but not when you can’t walk to the computer). Doing better since then, thanks for asking! lol. Then after that has been the mixture of graduate school, and work. Going out of town almost every other weekend, and having other projects to do. Enough excuses. I’m back and I’m going to be consistent again.
Although I haven’t kept things going, you can rest assured that I’ve been working hard in the mean time! On October 16-17 I shot my first short film independent of grad school. It was awesome. I had a great crew and cast. Everything came out well, and even the few mistakes have been a great learning experience. The film is entitled “Who is Chelsey Hood?” It’s a murder mystery involving two roommates and the hunt to find the answer to that question. I’ve put a couple of photos up on the blog, and I’ll release the trailer in an upcoming entry! Thanks for your continued support, and I’ll get my act together and keep bringing you stories of people following their dreams!

Kevin

Can We Do Lunch?

I recently had lunch with the president of the company I work for currently. Quite frankly, the lunch was great! I was able to ask him many questions and he gave me great advice from business, to leadership, and life overall. I felt that after leaving the lunch I was equipped with great tips for life from a lifetime of leadership.

Can we do lunch? It’s a simple question, but how often do we ask? Of course, you have to know the appropriate way and time to ask based on your work environment, but ask! What do you have to lose? The knowledge gained, and the relationship cultivated can be very useful to you in life.

Here are a few tips I found on asking the big question:

1) Have a purpose. One of the most important points in asking your boss to lunch is asking for a specific business reason. Whether it's discussing a new client or talking about that raise you mentioned some time ago, it's important to come to the boss with a specific business purpose so that the parameters of the lunch are clear from the outset.

2) Ask well in advance. It's good to let the boss know at least a few days in advance so that the request doesn't strike your boss as strange or impulsive. Asking in advance will provide a regularity to the lunch and give the boss an opportunity to schedule the right amount of time.

3) Make the request in person. Asking in person will allow you to use facial expression, voice tone and body language to give the right impression about the lunch. An email, on the other hand, can be interpreted incorrectly so it's best to ask face to face.

4) Ask at the right time. Requesting a lunch in the middle of a harried season or crisis is not the best idea. Instead, ask when things are relaxed enough to spare the time. This will make both you and your boss feel comfortable about the meeting.

Good luck with asking! You'll be happy you did.

Kevin

Sleepwalker Showcase: MIDIMarc

This showcase is so easy to write that I almost might not give it the justice it deserves. I mean MIDIMarc is Wal-Mart when it comes to producers making a name for themselves. He’s a one stop shop. Beats…got em…marketing and self promotion…on it…winning resume…got it…personality…got it. The guy even raps! The list goes on, but I need to slow down and fill you in on the back story.

I met MIDI for the first time around that 2003 era when us Columbia, SC cats were trying to put together albums. Anyone that knows MIDI knows that if you hang around him long enough you’re gonna lose quite a few calories from laughing! From our first meeting he’s always been a great person to be around and call your friend, but even then I could see his drive and determination just in his name. MIDI (space) Marc! He got his name after the human interface component of a traditional instrument redesigned as a MIDI control device. Such a device provides a musical keyboard and perhaps other actuators (pitch bend and modulation wheels, for example) but produces no sound on its own. I know I had to school you real quick, but we’re back now. (lol) I had to respect him from the get go as a manipulator of tunes from his name, and his beats back him up.

Hustler is defined as an enterprising person determined to succeed; go-getter. Indeed that’s basically what a Sleepwalker is, and MIDIMarc has proven himself over and over to be one! Just a week and a half ago I was back home in Columbia where I witnessed him win his 3rd SC Beat Battle! His remixes of Jay-Z, and Nas albums have brought him strong buzz and fans all over the globe (no joke). What sets MIDI apart though is that he markets himself and his products so wisely you’d think he went to school for it. Whether it’s a comic character of himself on a flyer, carrying BEETS on stage at a BEAT BATTLE, blogging, or collaborating on mixtapes…MIDI will find a way to get his name out there and make you remember it. Although he may associate himself with other entertainment groups, MIDI really pushes on his own dime and his own steam. When other people would give up, he keeps pushing. When we sleep, he’s being productive! That’s why I’m 100% sure that the only thing that will stop this Sleepwalker is himself! If you haven’t already, you’ll definitely be hearing about him soon enough!

I asked MIDI the top 5 Sleepwalker questions and here’s what he said:

When did you first start Sleepwalking?
I've been doing things that gave people a glimpse of my interest in music my entire life. The memory that always stands out to me is the summer that Wu-Tang Forever came out. I was still too young for a summer job so I spent everyday listening to the album. I was already a fan of their music, but The RZA switched his style completely on that one. It sounded so good to me that I made up my mind that I wanted to make music forever. In short...I started Sleepwalking on June 3, 1997

What motivates you to keep going after your dream?
The thought of changing my life for the better, and the lives of the people that are Sleepwalking with me.

Wake up: What have been some of the biggest challenges in going after your dream?
Honestly, the biggest challenges I've had have involved me trying to motivate my friends to continue to Sleepwalk. I'm usually the one that people in my circle call for insight and inspiring words to keep going.

Don’t sleep on this: What’s one thing you have learned in your craft that fellow sleepwalkers shouldn’t sleep on?
I've learned that "Who You Know" and "What You Can Do" are very important factors. Its important to get out there and meet the right folks, and its important to be good at what you do. Some people say its all "Who You Know", but trust me....being good at your craft will keep you around.

Top 5 accomplished sleepwalkers you admire in your craft and why?
1. 9th Wonder - For succeeding and keeping it Carolina since day one.
2. RZA - For taking sampling and song arrangement to a new level
3. Mannie Fresh - For really incorporating musicianship into his beats
4. DJ Paul and Juicy J - For continuing the Memphis sound and turning it into a pillar of southern production
5. Pete Rock, J Dilla, DJ Premier - i had to make 1 spot into 3..haha. But I admire these three for crafting styles that are synonymous with HipHop.

If you’re looking for beats, or miss the refreshing boom bap in Hip Hop beats then check this Sleepwalker out here:

http://www.myspacebeatsbymidimarc.com/
http://midimarc.blogspot.com/

Sleepwalker Hall of Fame Showcase: Michael Jackson Tribute

How do you do a tribute to the greatest entertainer of our time, and perhaps all time? How do you say all the things that should be said, that you want to say, or must be said? It could take too long. The truth is, on June 25, 2009 an icon passed. Whether you’re one of the billions that loved him or one of the few that didn’t…his talent is undeniable! His art is timeless! His performances were magical! His heart was filled with love!

My Memories of Mike
For me, like most young black kids, I grew up listening to Michael on vinyl, then tape, then CD! My parents started blasting it, but eventually I was taking their tapes to blast it on my own time. Some of my fondest memories involve doing the “Michael Jackson” for family at a young age. I remember every Halloween one of the music video channels would play “Thriller”, and on his birthday there would be video tributes all day!

One of my big memories was doing "Billie Jean" as a talent for my high school's male contest. My freshman year of high school I participated in the Mr. Richland Northeast contest. What was I thinking? I guess I thought I would win as a “nobody” freshman doing a self written monologue! After that loss, I promised myself I would participate again…and I did in my senior year! I knew I had to go for the gusto if I really wanted to win. There were a lot of talented guys who were participating in the contest. My mom actually came up with the idea of me taking my childhood entertaining performance to the stage! Time was short when I decided to do it. I remember getting help from my mom’s friend to learn how to moonwalk. I watched tapes and the “American Dream” film over and over. My mom had one of her friends make the sequined black jacket. I remember hating to have to wear those Bubblegum tight black jeans. I remember my soccer coach making fun of me for doing a “pageant” at practice the day before the contest! But nothing beats the memory of taking the stage, the curtain opening and hearing the people scream. It was electric! The oversized glove, tight jacket and pants were all worth it. The screaming wasn’t really for me so much as it was for the music, for Mike, for the Moonwalk. It was the fact that we could all identify with the music and the moves, and we've all had great memories from them! Even when I watch the video now I cringe because I was so nervous that I moonwalked in the beginning of the routine. Regardless of how much I hate watching the video, it’s a great memory that I can hold on to and that's what Mike was great at...creating pleasant memories.

Lessons from Mike’s Life
So what can we Sleepwalkers learn from Michael Jackson’s life? There’s more than a few things but I’ve tried to narrow them down.

One, he worked hard to be the best. He practiced countless hours and pushed himself creatively to do things no one else was doing or thought of. Two, he surrounded himself with the best! I used to love MJ videos (I still do, and in part think it’s why I got interested in film) but looking at them from an older perspective I see that he had Martin Scorsese do “Bad”, John Landis “Thriller, Spike Lee “They Don’t Care About Us”, David Fincher “Who is It”, and the list goes on. We all know how many hits he made with Quincy in the studio! He collaborated with Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder…I mean “We Are the World” is just one all star cast on just one song that proves my point. He was a genius in surrounding himself with people in the top of their craft and trusting their knowledge and creativity as well. Perhaps his biggest contribution was that he gave back to the world. He was a humanitarian. So many of his songs were about loving other people, caring for your fellow man, and healing the world. Not one of them was lame! He made “Kumbaya” cool, and helped us to analyze ourselves and be the change we wanted to see in the world. He gave millions to charity, and still gave from the grave!

Ultimately, he made timeless music that everyone could feel good to from the bottom of their soul. The funny thing is that earlier I said that like most young black kids growing up I listened to MJ. Yet I’m finding out in talking to co-workers of other races, they shared the same experiences! They grew up listening to the same music and making some of the same memories with their family huddled around a record player. He broke down barriers and brought people together at the same time. He touched the world with his gifts by giving us his soul in the music!

I was one of the many people watching CNN Live on head phones at my cubicle today. I had to catch the memorial service of one of my childhood heroes! The final prayer really struck a chord with me when the pastor said “the King of Pop must now bow before the King of kings”. In the end I see that Michael Jackson didn’t take a thing with him. Mark 8:36, what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (Now I don’t know Mike’s status and I'm not making a call on that), but to me…this is a huge lesson. I could shut down the internet with my death, be known worldwide, sitting on stacks of old money but at the end I can’t take it with me! So I better get it right on this end, and make a positive impact. Something to think about! His death has inspired me to do the great things that I’ve always felt I am destined to do, but I want to do it humbly knowing who’s Boss.

Closing Thoughts
All in all. I loved MJ! I’m sure you did too if you took the time to read all of this! So let’s blast his music, remember the memories we may have from his music/videos/performances, and celebrate his artistic impact on the world. Michael Jackson was an ultimate Sleepwalker! So he is my first inductee into the Sleepwalker Hall of Fame! May he Rest In Peace.



Kevin

Sleepwalker Showcase: Frank Love

To be a Sleepwalker you really have to go against the grain at times and just throw yourself wholeheartedly into what you’re passionate about! There are a few people that threw themselves into the film industry after graduating from undergrad in the Media Arts Department at the University of South Carolina. I’ve always admired their drive, commitment, and vision in trying to pursue our craft. One of these people is Frank Love.

We had a few classes together in undergrad, but it has always been fun to Facebook surf and see what he’s up to. Every time I come across his profile he’s working on a new movie, working with gear I wish I was working on, and just chasing his dream! He didn’t get to where he is without hard work and sacrifice, and that’s what I really appreciate! Read his story and you’ll see why Frank Love is a Sleepwalker to watch! Yall know the deal by now, so check out his answers.

When did you first start sleepwalking?
When did I start, well I suppose there's no specific date to this, but rather a period in which I really looked at it and then went for it. I moved here to NYC where I live now in Jan '06 during my last semester at SC to do my internship. I was in a short term lease and could have very easily moved back to SC or somewhere after graduating, but rather I decided I'd find a more permanent living situation and after graduating in May '06 came right back here and started looking into how I could work on films. I can sort of equate it to a pool, instead of just up and getting into the deep end, I had the chance to check it out, test the water, really know what was there before jumping in. I got a position as camera intern on a feature in Aug that year an have been working camera in one way or another ever since.

What motivates you to keep going after your dream?
I guess how much I enjoy doing what I'm doing. I have sort of committed myself to do this thing, and every time I get a chance to work on a film, I love the experience. I don't work in an office day in an day out, I can wear clothes I want and not what's according to policy, and I get to go places most people don't sometimes. I got to also see the premiere of a film I worked on at Sundance and got the VIP treatment at the screening and parties, that same film is coming out in Aug and the trailer is out now (Cold Souls). So the finished product feels good to know I was a part of that. Also getting opportunities to do more, like the short I'll be shooting next month on 35mm funded by thedoorpost.com after having shot a finalist film which got us the funding. It's a huge opportunity for me.


Wake up: What have been some of the biggest challenges in going after your dream?
Biggest challenges, money namely. This line of work is freelance, so I don't have a steady income, I often don't know when or where from my next paycheck is coming. So forget budgeting, collecting unemployment comes into play sometimes. Doing my taxes are a nightmare since I have to keep my own records, I have a w-2 or 1099 for every job I work that year, plus I'm taxed a lot since I make good money for how much I work, but since I don't work all the time I'm usually owed it back. Scheduling is a challenge as well, last minute jobs are common, so advance plans aren't easy to make without already having work lined up. A social life is hard for the same reasons plus the long hours that we work, though that's usually compensated by the crew hopefully.

Don’t sleep on this: What’s one thing you have learned in your craft that fellow sleepwalkers shouldn’t sleep on?
What not to sleep on, discerning things you need and things you want and why. Part of why I was able to living here and then work as an intern for a month for free is because I sold my car and lived off that money. No way I could have interned and had a normal job as well at the same time, but without that internship I wouldn't know what I do now or the people I do. Sure you'd want to start with a paying job, but I didn't know enough to be able to get one. Working for free will teach you more usually than going to class where you have to pay anyway. At least for filmmaking and photography, if your goal is to do, to work, then you need to do and work. In whatever way you can, do. I got my camera intern position off craigslist. Past that though it really is who you know, so make good impressions on people, show that you're eager, willing, and competent and that can go a long way. People will remember you and call you back, then you'll meet more people, and so it goes. So I'd say have a financial net when starting allow for at least a month or more without any income, and a back up plan. This may involve something drastic like selling your awesome car, but I don't need a car or even want one in NYC...what are you willing to sell? Do whatever you can to implant yourself into what it is you want to do, and network network network.

Top 5 accomplished sleepwalkers you admire in your craft and why?
1. Andrij Parekh, he shot Cold Souls a well as Half Nelson and more recently released Sugar. He is someone who has a style and approach I admire and has shown his ability and professionalism time and again. After him there are two DP's that picture after picture I can admire what they accomplish, 2. Roger Deacons and 3. Robert Elswit. Deacons has shot countless Oscar nominated films and nearly every Cohen bro's film. Elswit who recently won the Oscar for There Will Be Blood, also shows he takes care in his craft and doesn't cow tow to trend and cliché. Another who follows that school of thought is 4. Wally Pfister, DP on the Dark Knight, being able to shoot a decent chunk of the film in IMAX to put the best image possible on the screen regardless of what challenges that may present. Where some have given in to the HD and 3D trends out there, these guys have made a point of delivering the best product they can.
5. John Bailey. He's another DP who I admire because he has also resisted trends and goes with the science of the craft. He recently stated in an interview how 35mm Anamorphic would come out to about an 8K to 10K equivalent digital file so his eyes tell him. So to do a 2k or 4k DI scan versus optical printing is essentially a waste. He shot 2 entries in Sundance this year, both he shot 35 anamorphic and both were very low budget films.


Just reading his story makes me want to go and sell something to live the dream! lol. We all have to go our own paths, but Frank has definitely found his and is jogging down it!

Michael Jackson Tribute coming

I wouldn't be me without a tribute to Michael! I mean he was the greatest to do it. He paved the way for blacks to get on MTV. He inspired us to chase our dreams, get on the dance floor and have fun, give back to the poor, and just enjoy life. Some of my all time family memories include "doing the Michael Jackson" in the middle of the living room for the rest of the family. But I can't do my tribute correctly right now without some embarrassing video footage that I have to get in order to post. I'll do it for the King of Pop! So don't worry, it's coming.

Sleepwalker Showcase: Justin Boyd

I don’t remember when I met some of my friends. I can tell you the age range or that I was in 3rd grade, 6th grade, 11th grade, etc. but I don’t know the exact date and situation. They’ve just been there since I can remember. You know the type? It’s those friends that usually mean the most or you’ve been through wars with, etc. Well Justin Boyd is one of those friends of mine. I don’t remember when our friendship started, it just is!

We met at church sometime between 8th and 9th grade after he moved down to Carolina. We had our fun as young teens, hanging out, playin’ ball, videogames, sleepovers, etc. but one of our common bonds was music. Whether we were freestyling, playing in the teen band at church, or just listening to it…music was a common thread. He was ridiculous on the drums then, and he still is now. Lately he’s been performing across the US and in the UK. To me, I’ve always called him the Quest Love of our age group…but you can get to know him as Justin Boyd, another Sleepwalker to watch!

Born and raised on the South-Side of Chicago, at the age of eight Justin got his first drumset and was playing in church. He began playing piano, guitar and drums when he was about five years old though. A self-taught musician, Justin was influenced by Gospel music as a youngster. In the late 80's his older cousin turned him on to artist like LL Cool J, Biz Markie, Eric B and Rakim and Das Efx. Throughout his middle school years his parents played a lot of James Brown, Average White Band and Boz Scaggs, the “clean up” music as he calls it. He fell in love with the pocket (get your drum vernacular up! lol) from listening to all those James Brown recordings. In high school he began listening to groups like Rage Against the Machine, Metalica, Dave Matthews Band, Art Blakey and Freddie Hubbard. Basically, Justin has been infused and molded by a variety of musical artists from different genres.

It’s this infusion that has taken his talents across the US and UK, and allowed him to play on stage with Talib Kweli, Robert Randolph, Mr. Lif, Blues Traveler, The Beatnuts, The Perceptionist, Floetry, and the list goes on.

Sleepwalkers Unite posed our 5 “Walk with Me” questions to Justin, and this is what he had to say:

When did you first start sleepwalking?
I started seriously chasing my dream in 2002. After graduating high school I decided to go to college and be around as much music as possible. I was playing drums, interning at WGCI (a local clear channel station) and interning for Dunn Ruff Entertainment. I was really learning a lot during these times from everything I was involved in. I just really wanted to be involved and be the best I could be and have a great understanding of all aspects of music. I was also working a part-time job while doing all this stuff. I was often burnt out and very tired but I learned a lot. I was getting like 4 or 5 hours of sleep some nights so it was like I was sleepwalking literally!

What motivates you to keep going after your dream?
At this point in the game I have had a glimpse of what I have been chasing and right now its about being the best at the roles that I play and be dedicated and focused. Right now it's about getting back to the discipline and hunger that I had back in 2002. What motivates me is that I can look back on what I have done and I realize how confused I was. But I learn so much from being confused that I believe I have the ability to make my dream a reality. Not that I think I can do it because I know it's a blessing from God. But, I have the faith that it can happen.

Wake up: What have been some of the biggest challenges in going after your dream?
A big challenge is waking up and continuing to push things forward and make people see what you see. When you have people depending on you and family that don't understand the passion you can have for something that's not guaranteed and doesn't always pay great it can be rough. Forgiving myself for mistakes that I have made is a big one as well because I can be my own worst critic and enemy.

Don’t sleep on this: What’s one thing you have learned in your craft that fellow sleepwalkers shouldn’t sleep on?
One thing I believe everyone apply in any craft is you never know it all and once your in a place where you know it all that's when someone who is more hungry than you will get to where you want to be because they never stopped learning. Learning is key in Life!!

Top 5 accomplished sleepwalkers you admire in your craft and why?
Wow, I will go backwards from 5 to 1. Since I play drums and make beats my list will be mixed.

5. Chris Dave (drummer), he is very original in innovative in his playing and he plays what he wants to play and doesn't apologize for it.

4. Thomas Pridgen (drummer), he is a great drummer. I had a chance to meet him when he was in Chicago playing for Keysha Cole and now he is the drummer for Mars Volta. He has been a dope drummer forever but it seems like he really made a lot of advances in the past three years.

3. ?uestlove (drummer/producer), he is the leader of one of the best hip hop bands that has been out since like 96. He is influential in live hip-hop and he loves music period. He is also a great producer and has worked with everybody from D' Angelo to Al Green as a producer.

2. Dana Hall (drummer/educator), I had a chance to study with Dana when I went to college. He is very intelligent and he is an amazing jazz drummer. He really has the education game on lock that's really inspirational to see a black drummer who is working on a Doctorate in Ethnomusicology and he can really play.

1. Kanye West (producer/artist), this dude is amazing to me period when it comes to being creative in art period. He is number one on my list because he overcame a lot of things from people not believing in him to his mom passing away. He is not scared to take risk and be himself.

Sleepwalking is hard to do! Justin is trying to maintain his busy schedule between drumming, producing and home life with his beautiful wife and baby boy. He says “The thing I love about music is that if you continue to work at it you will always be better than you were and there is always something new to learn.” With that attitude, I have no doubt that he’ll be blessing the world with his music for a long time. He’s currently available for live studio work, programming and tours.

Contact this Sleepwalker at:
www.myspace.com/thebeatpusha

What am I going to accomplish this summer?

It’s been a long time. I shouldn’t have left you…without a dope blog to bless you! LOL. That was lame, but oh well. I know it’s been a while since my last blog. I’ve been productive though. I started working for the summer at an awesome international non-profit as their video intern! It feels good to get paid for what I love to do, and there are a lot of good people over there.

In the meantime I have been working on scripts…filming the Prince of Cambodia, collabing on a nationwide documentary…you know, small stuff. LOL j/k. I’ve been blessed. Enough about me. Let’s get back to business. Since we are about to turn into the summer months the question has been on my mind: What am I going to accomplish this summer?

I’m hitting that quarter life …not even a crisis…but realization. I’m realizing that life has ups and downs, but you really can steer it where you want to go, or ride in the back to where ever it takes you. So this summer I have made plans to finish at least three scripts and another side project (to remain nameless until the proper time). I’ve got my ducks in a row for the fall and spring semesters as well. Plan and execute. What have you got planned? What are you executing? Start thinking about it if you haven’t already. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and telling you how I’m coming along with my plans.

Kevin

Laundry Anyone?

So the semester has finally come to a close for me, and I’m excited to get a small break. Exams and final paper are never fun, but the end justifies the means!

Last week I was working out on one of those elliptical machines that have a TV on them. (Yes an elliptical, I got knees that I still want to use when I’m older and playing high school soccer didn’t help much.) I was watching Larry King Live and he had comedian Dane Cook on. I don’t know how I started watching it, but I think it was because the caption said “Started doing comedy in a Laundromat”. I listened to Dane describe how he used to go in to the Laundromat and go through routines because the facility provided him with a free audience that couldn’t really go anywhere. He described how he would go in and go through his routine. Sometimes people would laugh, and sometimes they wouldn’t. A lot of times people would just stare at him, but he got the opportunity to practice his craft and eventually got better.

I thought to myself, “that’s interesting”. How many times do I visit the “Laundromat” to perfect my craft? (Not literally, but you know what I mean.) Am I making the most of opportunities, starting out in what may be humble beginnings in order to rise patiently through practice?

I’m sure that performing in the Laundromat was difficult. Think about how your stomach would feel as you sit in the car and watch the people inside. You run through your routine one last time, and then open the door to the breeze outside. Some kind of way you move your legs to get you to the door, and as you open it you know you’re not there for laundry. As you take a deep breath, you look around at the people focused on their clothes. You open your mouth, and start your routine. That may have been a dramatic description, but the point is that it took guts for him to do that and now I’m watching him on Larry King Live.

Chasing your dreams is all about having the guts to go after it. I know I’m building my “no fear” level to do what seems crazy every day. It is great to hear stories of the pay off at the end of the tunnel though! What have you done that took guts for catching your dream as of late?

Sleepwalker Showcase: Lee Peterkin

It was my first year as a Resident Advisor at the University of South Carolina. I had been through the training, and the day arrived for students to come. As students poured in over the course of the day, the night greeted me with my first hall meeting. There were a lot of great guys there, many who I still keep in touch with to this day, but one who stood out was Lee Peterkin. The “American Pie” series was hot at the time, and if you know me…you know I like to dub nicknames for people, and I called Lee “Biggs”. (short for the main character’s real name, Jason Biggs) It was obvious to me that he was a leader from the jump. Maybe it was his charisma, but I watched as many of the guys on the floor were drawn to him. (I’ve noticed all the people I’m showcasing seem to have the “It” factor. I think most Sleepwalkers have the “It” factor in which they are a force that without words is admired or respected.) Although he was a year behind me, we had a couple of classes together and I was able to see his talent and drive for acting and film. (I’ve added one of our student films to this blog.) It’s been seven years since we first met, and Lee is still working hard in the entertainment arena. The writer, actor, director is making things happen and isn’t waiting or asking for hand outs, which makes him a Sleepwalker to watch!

Lee has had an interest in film since as far back as he can remember. Born in Sleepy Hollow, New York, he grew up in one of the film capitals of the US. His interest in film grew enormously with each viewing. He loved everything about it from the cinematography, the stories, to the acting, it was all intriguing. He wanted in, and quickly.

He started out as a small child performing in his first grade class’ version of Aesop’s fable, “The Lion and The Mouse.” By the time he got to middle school he began learning the art of movie making by attending a filmmaking summer camp. After that experience he’d pull friends and family in to create short skits, using the family video camera while continuing performing in school plays and musicals.

Taking his interest to college he enrolled in the film school at the University of South Carolina. There, he majored in Filmmaking and minored in Theater. He made several short films while attending the university, performed in South Carolina’s theater productions, and on TV while residing in the state. If you live in South Carolina, you may have watched a commercial for the South Carolina Education Lottery that he wrote.

After school down south, he returned to NYC and started working as an actor. Since then, Lee has starred in many short independent films, commercials, and has been featured as a day role on the television shows Rescue Me, All My Children, and Damages. For Lee, his work as a Sleepwalker never stops, as he is currently working on a web series called "Stupendous League", writing a feature film, and working as an actor and producer on a feature to be shot in NYC this summer.

Sleepwalkers Unite posed our 5 “Walk with Me” questions to Lee, and this is what he had to say:

When did you first start sleepwalking? (chasing after your dream)
I really started "sleepwalking" way back as far as I can remember. All I know is that ever since I saw my first movies on TV or in the theater I wanted in. My family had no idea how to help, so I really found everything our on my own as I created my path.

What motivates you to keep going after your dream?
What motivates me is my passion to tell stories and deliver messages to an audience. I do this in hopes that my audience will one day be the world. I have always had the desire to reach as many peoples lives as possible and be able to teach them something or bring out something inside of them, whether that is an emotion, a memory, or an argument. I am motivated daily by seeing others succeed, as well as watching others fail. I have a lot of things that I believe in and motion pictures is my medium to expressing myself and give the world a piece of me. I truly feel that making movies is my place on earth.

Wake up: What have been some of the biggest challenges in going after your dream?
My biggest challenges were/are time and money. If I had the money, I could create the time to work on all the projects I have wanted to put together. If you want to know what my biggest challenges growing up were, then I'd say that they were people believing that dreams can't come true. My parents never truly believed that I could achieve my dreams, because that's all they thought they were - dreams. So I had to figure out how to go about it all on my own.

Don’t sleep on this: What’s one thing you have learned in your craft that fellow sleepwalkers shouldn’t sleep on?
Go to where your passion takes you. For me I have found so may opportunities in NYC, where there a lot of people like me who want to do the same things I want to do. This allows all of us to feed off each other and help each other work on our own projects. You can't expect anybody to do the work for you so you really need to find the right people to help you create the work together.

Top 5 accomplished Sleepwalkers you admire in your craft and why?
1. Jon Favreau - wrote, directed and acted his way into success. He wrote and starred in the cult classic "Swingers" beside Vince Vaughn.
2. Matt Damon is another guy who did the same exact thing. Although he started out acting professionally as a kid, he wasn't noticed until "Good Will Hunting" was produced.
3. Lupe Fiasco - His music is inspiring and exciting to listen to. As an art that seems to be dying, rap is an elusive creature that has been tamed by this young prodigy. When I listen to his music my mind wanders and images consume my brain. When that happens a movie is waiting to be born.
4. Paul Rudd - Paul has been actor that I have watched since I saw him in "Clueless" (don't judge, I have seen it). I have always loved his characters and the fact that he had been so successful and stayed under the RADAR, until recently of course.
5. Martin Scorsese - From NY, Scorsese wrote and produced his first films himself and truly made an impact on his own accord. I admire his way of doing what he wanted to do and coming out on top.

Sleepwalking is hard to do! One thing I’ve learned in life is that if you keep working at your craft and opening doors for yourself rather than waiting on them to open, other people will start to notice. With Lee, people are definitely noticing! If you’d like to contact this Sleepwalker, you can find him at the following:

www.leepeterkin.com

Don't Sleep on This: They are Watching!

Now I know as Sleepwalkers we all want to grind. We want to work hard to achieve our goals. Sometimes starting from the ground up with our business and/or dreams makes us feel that we must reach out to people on our social networking sites in whatever way we can…but please, don’t be stupid! The Bible, The Art of War, any gangster movie, they all tell you to watch what you say and that too many words are never a good thing.

Be careful what you say on Twitter, Facebook, and really just in life in general…especially when you have a paper trail. I’ll give you a few articles to read up on, like this one about the boy who got fired from Cisco before he even got the job all because he wanted to express himself on Twitter. He made the mistake of revealing his cards all too soon. Yet, at the same time…maybe he should have been honest with himself from the get go.

If you truly want to build your brand or just your social network online this article is perfect: six reasons why no one likes you online. This was a great informational for me to think about and I’m sure if you’re trying to build a network you will agree. Here's a great article on leaders to learn from on Twitter entitled "The Leadership Playlist".

At the end of the day, I try to remember that if I’m trying to make a dream come true where I have eyes on me, then I need to put my best foot forward. That doesn’t mean I can’t joke with friends online, but that does mean that if a potential client or employer can see me…I’m not going to be as silly as I may be in person. Does that mean be fake or lie? Of course not! Just be wise! There’s a time and a place for everything. I just wanted to share some nuggets I learned, feel free to share some you've learned.

Kevin

The MPC won't work by Itself!

What up Sleepwalkers? So last weekend I was riding with my wife to good ol’ South Carolina to visit our family. We rented a SUV that happened to have Sirius satellite radio in it. I was listening to “DJ Premier: Live From HeadQCourterz” to try and keep myself awake in the early morning hours. I can’t quite remember the overall topic at hand in specifics, but obviously it dealt with producing. Premier said something that was quite profound to me. It was one of those things that I’ve heard before, but some time later…new situation in life, etc…it stood out to me.

He was talking about making beats on a drum pad with someone and he said “Like I always tell people, you make the machine work for you. The MPC won’t work by itself!” He went on further in discussion to talk about how great producers work with the machine they have and make great music regardless of if it is or isn’t “the best drum pad out”. He said you have to press the pad and work the machine to create. If that scene were a movie though- time slows as the radio becomes ambiguous chatter and we push in on Kevin’s face. “You make the machine work for you.” How true indeed. In life, things don’t just happen. You can’t just think I have to clean my house and “WHALA”…the house is clean. You can’t just think I want to open the door and “WHALA” …the door is opened. No, you have to take action. Just like a producer can’t make the beat he/she hears in his/her head, but instead he/she has to take the keyboard/MPC and slowly build the composition. I can’t just see the film in my head, I have to get a crew, the equipment and execute it. Not only that, I can’t think that a Red camera is going to make my film hot…no, I have to storyboard the shots and let my creative juices flow so that I use the machine and get the most out of it. So I guess the same would stand true for my dreams and your dreams right?

Who ever had a dream and didn’t have to put in work to make it happen? Oprah didn’t become the greatest personal brand overnight. Obama didn’t become the President overnight. Spielberg didn’t start making blockbusters overnight! In fact, I watched his first directing film debut (after he did tv shows) recently. It was a made for TV movie entitled “Duel”. Besides it being an old film, it definitely wasn’t the Spielberg we know now…but the creative shots and good storytelling was there.

My point is that from that moment in the car I decided I was going to do at least one thing every day towards reaching my dreams and achieving my goals using what I have. I can’t put time into making my dreams happen every once and a while. It has to be consistent DAILY effort. Whether it’s writing in my blog, writing pages in a script, writing new music, recording, and you fill in the blank for yourself…I have to do something! I have to work with what I have and make the machine work for me. I have to make beautiful music on the level I’m on so I can take it to the next level. I challenge you to do the same. Every day, do at least one thing to bring you closer to your ultimate goal. The dream isn’t going to come to you or me. We have to go after it. As Diddy says “Lock In!” Tunnel vision, heat seeking missile on that dream! That’s what I’m doing now and that’s my focus. That's what all true Sleepwalkers do. What’s yours? How are you systematically chasing your dream? No for real…comment…tell me…let’s inspire one another!

Sleepwalker Showcase: Likwuid

The first time I became acquainted with Likwuid was on the cover of her “Likwuidation” album back in 2003. So like any guy I was thinking…“She’s cute. She raps? I doubt she’s any good.” (I’m sure being a woman in the Hip Hop industry is tough, because we look at them first and scrutinize them the hardest!) Likwuid is one of my favorite female rap artists to this day because when I heard her talent, her heart, and her passion come through the speakers for the first time…I haven’t doubted her since. In fact I respected her for dispelling any stereotypes I had by letting her talent speak instead of femininity (while she still embraced it wholesomely) and even more so as a person when we first officially met. Years later she’s still demanding respect and dispelling stereotypes through one simple word: action. To me, she is an inspiration as a Sleepwalker chasing and living her dreams that you shouldn’t sleep on!

Born in the suburbs of Columbia, South Carolina, entrepreneur, activist and hip hop artist, LaShanna Mickens, better known by friends and fellow music makers as “Likwuid”, has made a commitment to change the negative portrayal of women in the entertainment industry. Upon moving to New York City, Likwuid along with two childhood friends decided to form a company, Royalty Media Group, with the aim of empowering women by promoting progressive ideas and images for women of color. “For women to attain the respect that we deserve, we must celebrate our champions and give support to our weakest links. Misogyny is another plague that, unfortunately, has poisoned our society, our minds, and our music. Instead of TALKING about the problem, we at Royalty Media Group decided to offer a SOLUTION. This website is about getting our voices heard and celebrating our champions as business minded and artistic spirits.”

Likwuid is currently a member of the group Rebel Starr. “When she raps, you can hear her love for the music in her voice,” says nationally syndicated radio personality Charlemagne the God, “Likwuid let’s her mind and soul, not her body, dictate her destiny.” She has received countless awards and recognition for her music to include Disc Makers/Taxi Top Artist in the Southeast (IMWS) award, JumpOff.TV Battle Winner, EOW Challenge Winner, Power 94.3 Freestyle Battle Champion, Charleston Idol Award, and numerous showcase winnings. Likwuid has been featured on MTV Asia, H20 on Demand, BK Magazine, WACH 57, Hot 103.9, Rise Up Radio, Rago Magazine and countless other mediums.

Sleepwalkers Unite posed our 5 “Walk with Me” questions to Likwuid, and this is what she had to say:

When did you first start Sleepwalking? (chasing after your dream)
I've always been a writer and a lyricist for as long as I can remember. I wrote my first rhyme when I was 8. However I didn't actually start pursuing my goal until around 2002.

What motivates you to keep going after your dream?
What motivates me is my sincere love for music. I was drum captain in high school and it's something about a snare pattern and bass kicks that gets me amped. I grew up listening to Motown and gospel while other kids my age where listening to ONLY hip hop. I loved hip hop then, but I also loved and respected writers and composers in other genres. I want to be that person that creates that song the generations can sing together...timeless music. My motivation is my love for music and my passion to want to bring all races, all ages, and all genders together through my words.

Wake up: What have been some of the biggest challenges in going after your dream?
The hip hop culture is entirely too misogynist and it's becoming disgusting. I can't stomach half of the rappers/emcees that I truly respect as artists. It's challenging to love and respect a culture that boldly HATES and DISCRIMINATES against you.
So it's like a double standard...sometimes I want to be known as one of the most talented women in hip hop and then sometimes I don't even want to be associated with it. Right now I'm on my W.E.B Dubois Double Conscious tip...the gender version. Lol.

Don’t sleep on this: What’s one thing you have learned in your craft that fellow Sleepwalkers shouldn’t sleep on?
You HAVE to know your music and you HAVE to know your music BUSINESS. ALL contracts have fine print and EVERYONE is trying to get over. Don't trust anybody...well, I would say, don't put anything past anybody. My best friend even hustled me for a measly $200.
Also be ready to love unconditionally. There are going to be a lot of people that LOVE you and there will be a few that despise you because of what you do. You have to keep focused and not be swayed by either. Just make love to the globe...one person at a time!

Top 5 accomplished Sleepwalkers you admire in your craft and why?
HMMMMM, that's a toughie being that I admire so many folks for so many different reason. Unlike most emcees, I'm not a complete egoist, so I can give respect when it's due regardless how I personally feel about a person:

1. Homeboy Sandman: This guy is the hardest working man in the NY hip hop scene. He reminds me of what one of my coaches used to say...HEART will take you further than TALENT. Are there doper emcees out there, of course, do they have as much heart as this guy...DOUBT IT!

2. Nina B: This woman has created a woman from the ground up. I don't understand how she hasn't received the Unsigned Hype title in the Source. Like most emcees, that happen to be female, Nina B is not only lyrically sound, but also business savvy. I dig her a lot.

3. Rebel Starr: Yep, I said it! My group has had so many doors close and open it feels like we are on a revolving door trajectory. First we get on 3 tours one with Bow Wow, one with Talib and one with Lyfe Jennings. Then we landed a slot on MTV TRL just to get slighted by 50 Cent. Then we got our song placed in an MTV Networks indie film only to have our video release party canceled due to a murder at the venue (a week before our event). To add we finally get offered a record deal, only to find out it's a single deal and they want 90% of our publishing. THANKS, but no thanks.
So after ALL that, we had to start all over and WE ARE STILL here. We got the URB NEXT 1000, we are rocking every stage in NYC (finally getting paid shows) and we are almost done with the album. All those ups and downs just made us stronger!

4. Midi Marc: We share the same birthday with Rakim...which automatically makes us awesome! Midi is not only a true lover of music, but he is also a wise business man. Midi has not only worked the web, but has found a way to make the web work for him. Every time I hear a beat from Midi, his growth shows. He's also taken the time to brand himself and I think he's going to definitely make it as a music professional.

5. Peace: I can honestly say that I have the pleasure of being a fan of such a really good friend of mine. Her music is soothing and if you've spent any time with her you know that music is her true and only passion. I think that she is industry ready and she will make her mark as a musician and songstress.

Sleepwalking is hard to do! I'm sure you'll agree that Likwuid has had her share of trials, but she continues to push forward! The amazing thing is...because she hasn't given up, things are working for the best and she's living her dreams! I'll keep you updated on her progress, but I think soon enough she'll be a household name. If you’d like to contact this Sleepwalker, you can find her at the following:

www.myspace.com/likwuidstylez
www.myspace.com/rebelstarrmusic
www.royaltymedia.net

First Showcase about to drop!

Alright folks, it looks like my first Sleepwalker Showcase is about to drop soon! Again, this blog is about positive people going after their dreams. It's about being inspired to not give up, and to keep chasing and living whatever dream you have in your heart. I hope to do one showcase every two weeks,(twice a month)and in between I'll keep you informed on what I'm doing to accomplish my dreams, interesting thoughts, and nuggets of wisdom/information you shouldn't sleep on!

This is a collaborative blog, so please leave follow up nuggets or positive comments for the showcased Sleepwalkers. As time moves on, feel free to give me suggestions on people or topics to cover. Thanks for reading, and keep living your dream!

Kevin

Don't Sleep On This!

I don’t know what life is teaching you, but one thing I’ve learned is that I want to stay on top of my craft! I like to know what’s going on in the media. (Not the lame gossip of when Brad Pitt blew his nose, but business stuff!) I want to know the trends of the film and music industries, entrepreneurship skills, management, and so forth to grow as a Sleepwalker. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to rummage around the internet for all this information and I probably wouldn’t know where to start in some aspects. Last week I learned about SmartBrief in my Executive Suite course with Russell Williams.

SmartBrief is a media company with a mission to save you time and keep you well-informed. Using their proprietary technology, their editors become your personal research assistants: handpicking, distilling and disseminating the best and most important news stories from a wide range of sources. You pick from a variety of topics that you want to stay up to date on and they send you an e-mail with a concise list of articles with new information in that industry. It’s great! The subscription is free and all you have to do is sign up using your e-mail.

If you want to stay on top of things as an entrepreneur, manager, leader, and/or in your industry…DON’T SLEEP ON THIS! =)

www.smartbrief.com

Sleepwalkers Unite: The Movement Introduced

What's up world? How are you? I go by the Visual Kid. I'm 1/5 of an incredible hip hop group called The Elements. I'm also known as Kevin Sampson,CEO of The LOOK Entertainment. Most importantly, I'm just a man trying to live out his dreams. I'm currently in grad school at American University chasing after my Masters in Film and Video. So already you see I'm into film and music.

I've recently become enthralled with the social media movement. You know, blogging, facebook, twitter, etc! It makes the world a smaller place, and you're able to connect with people of similar mindsets. Which brings me to the Sleepwalker Movement. What is it?

Sleepwalking is usually defined by moving around and performing normal actions as if awake. I like to listen to podcasts, and one of my favs is The Moth Podcast. "Sleepwalk with Me" is one story about a guy who was diagnosed as a sleepwalker. He said that one night he had a dream that he won an olympic 3rd place medal for some arbitrary event. As he got on the podium, they told him he won 1st place instead...so of course he stepped up higher. As the podium started wobbling in his dream, he woke up and realized that he was on the bookshelf in his living room. Needless to say, that story had a funny ending. I use this story to correlate back to the Sleepwalker concept. In his dream he was winning a 1st place prize, but in the real world he was stepping up on his bookshelf. He was dreaming, but acting out in real life.

Chasing after dreams is abnormal to most people after a time. Time and life tells many people to give up and get a "normal" job or live a "normal" life instead of following their heart and the passion that pumps in their veins. Yet for the few trendsetters in the world who don't listen to society, living out their dreams is normal to them. I say if you're chasing your dreams you're a Sleepwalker. If other people doubt, or don't think it's possible for you to achieve your goals, but you still go after them...you are a Sleepwalker! To us who live in a dreamlike state where nothing is impossible, while functioning in a world that doesn't see things quite the same...we are Sleepwalkers! If you have a dream or a goal, make a well thought out plan and go after it. It may not happen over night, but with hard work it will happen! Do what you have to do in the present (honestly and legally) to get where you need to be in the future. Live your dreams! This blog is about me chasing my dreams, and you chasing yours. I'll let you know what I'm doing to accomplish mine, and showcase others who are doing the same thing. Positivity people! Together we can, so let's get it!