Sleepwalking is usually defined by moving around and performing normal actions as if awake. I say if you're chasing your dreams you're a Sleepwalker. If other people doubt, or don't think it's possible but you push on...you are a Sleepwalker! Live your dreams!
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!
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.
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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