WHIRLWIND IN THE WINDY CITY

9 Days in Chi-town! Phew! What a trip!? A feature at the legendary Green Mill and dinner with Marc Smith. 2 incredible workshops, a Strictly Flow feature, and performance of Penumbra at DePaul University. Not to mention my run at Batey Urbano. Many DEEP DEEP connections were made and I am so proud to have been a vessel. It's all so humbling. I am in every spectrum grateful.

None of this wouldn't have ever been possible without the unconditional and immeasurable amounts of support from Marisol Morales, Jacqui Lazu, Samuel Vega, Tony Bruno, Gabrielle, Lebster, everyone at Batey Urbano, BAKKA, students at the radio station, and everyone else who really helped in facilitating what needed to get done. Also thanks to Victor and Jay for holding down the camera work. (Jay...Final Cut Studio with the master suites is NO JOKE!!!! Good looks on the programs) Much love to all of you who came out and opened yourself to my work. Don't ever hesitate to connect. Def visit the website and keep in touch. Chi-City...I will back!!!

P.S. Shout outs to Dan Kelleghan for the MOST amazing photo shoot in his dope studio! He is so incredibly talented, ambitious, and passionate! Check out some photos from the shoot at his website: http://www.eye2eyephotography.net/blog2/?p=1249

P.P.S. And to Jacqui's students: NEVER FORGET YOUR MANY TRUTHS. EVERY FRAGMENT OF THIS EXISTENCE IS MERELY A THREAD MANIFESTED THROUGH US FROM OUR TRUE ESSENCE. SOMETIMES, ALL YOU GOTTA DO TO DREAM IS CLOSE YOUR EYES...

PENUMBRA VIDEO SHOOT

This is a general shot of the set for Penumbra's new opening video. (Below is the other half of the room) Notice the boombox though! Ghettoblaster in full effect. Also, on the wall are some posters that I bought to get that early-mid 1980s feel. To the right is a rare Beat Street poster that says "Breakin' this summer!" I love it!

Peep the Fruit of the Looms!! Haha.

This is a shot of Christina Benavides (Director on shoot) getting a close up of me playing my Dad. (Yes, I shaved my whole face! Ehhh!) As you can see I got that old plancha, ironing board, and starch spray can! What'ch you know bout that!?) Also...the person taking this picture is also running lights. Her name is Chiara Cristina Fariello (Also Assistant Directing the shoot). Btw, that's a Canon HV40 Christina is using. An HD video camcorder that records to mini DV with wonderful capabilities (which I just recently got a Canon DM-50 Shotgun microphone for).

The jacket to the right is a replicate of my Dad's original Heman jacket. Airbrushed out here in the Bronx. Also, peep the Old Skool television! Ya'll remember 13 channels!!??? Haha. Ahhh, the good ol' days...

So mad this poster never made the cut! If you see the show, pay attention real closely and you might see the bottom inch of it. That's about it. :... ( The footage was eventually edited by yours truly on Final Cut Pro. I'm so proud of the outcome. Several folks broke night with me making sure this shoot got done. SPECIAL THANKS TO:

CHRISTINA BENAVIDES: she not only directed the shoot but helped organize a lot of it! Such a big piece to the puzzle. Thank YOU Christina! You made it happen. CHIARA CRISTINA FARIELLO: designed lights and assistant directed the shoot. We had never met prior to the shoot but she really held it down. What a dope experience! GRACIANO (DJ MELO G): provided the space and made some off-the-chain buffalo wings! Thank you for being so accommodating my dude! MS. B: provided the tv, boombox, plancha, ironing board, and was overall so incredibly willing to help. Thank you Ms. B! MELISSA MONTERO: she was the one who really pushed me to get this done. It was just a thought in my mind but she made me type out a checklist of everything I needed to get done. A month later, I manifested my vision. What a blessing! : )