Why do we always want to shoot the messenger?

Recently Oprah invited Michael Moore to appear on her show to discuss his movie SICKO. By the way, did you notice how the movie came and left very quickly, with no real press or hoopla? The complete opposite of “Fahrenheit 911. That’s because when people are tired of hearing the truth, they want to shut it down.

To my surprise, Oprah endorses the movie SICKO, however, making it clear that she’s not endorsing Michael Moore. She didn’t come out and say it that way, however she insinuated indirectly (after every commercial break) “…regardless of how we feel about Mr. Moore, everyone should see his movie”. It went something like that.

Why is it that people feel uncomfortable around truth messengers?

People praised Mr. Moore when he went after the automotive industry in “Roger and Me” and the NRA in “Bowling for Columbine” and our Government in “Fahrenheit 911” But what happened after “Fahrenheit 911”? Something happened after “Fahrenheit 911”, people were tired of hearing the truth. They wanted to shut him up. They started booing him at every award show and everyone who did believe in him, eventually felt defeated and lost interest. This is what Americans do so well. They can’t lead to save their lives, but they can sure follow blindly, with great tenacity.

I was 13 years-old when at the dinner table I told my parents that I didn’t believe in Jesus. With eight years of Catholic school behind me, none of what I learned made any sense to me. How can a virgin be impregnated without actually having sex? And if it did happen once, why hasn’t it happened again? If Adam and Eve were the first man and woman created, then weren’t their kids committing incest? It doesn’t jive. My mother cried, my father cursed and they sent me to my room to think about what I was saying. This would not be the first time I was sent to my room. But due to my inquisitive mind, I was sent there often trying to figure out why I didn’t just go with the flow. But my parents didn’t realize that I needed to understand why there were so many grey areas in the Catholic religion. So instead of hearing my side, they labeled me a problem child.

So I understand Michael Moore and certainly sympathize. He isn’t inciting trouble for the sake of seeking attention; he’s actually helping us see the corruption in corporate America. This is what he does and does well. Then why is it that SICKO did not stick around longer in theaters? ROTTENTOMATOES.COM rated it 92%. It is a great documentary. Why haven’t we backed him on this one? I think that’s easy for me to answer, we’ve become a selfish society. If it doesn’t affect us in our own backyard, keep it moving. No need to get involved because someone else will figure it out. We have become the pass-the-buck generation.

But it does affect us. As I write this, there is a bill (waiting for Bush’s approval) that will expand the State Children's Health Insurance program. If the bill is passed an additional 4 million children in this country would have health insurance – bringing the total to 8 million. Currently there are 9 million children without healthcare.

“The concern is that parents might be prompted to drop private coverage their children already have in order to get cheaper coverage under the bill.”

News flash: Bush intends on vetoing this bill.

I know first hand what happens to a family who loses health insurance. My husband was let go from a job in 2000 when my son was only a year old. I had no health insurance of my own because I decided to quit working to stay home to take care of my son. When my husband lost his job, we lost our healthcare. Lucky for us we were able to get our son medical insurance through Childcare Plus. My husband and I had no choice but to pay $1500 a month for COBRA. He was out of work for four months and we now had a bill for $6000. I can’t imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t been able to find a job longer than 4 months. It was a tough time for us, but we got through it.

But what about the millions of Americans that lose their homes or become homeless because they can't afford to pay their bills or worse die because they don't have insurance at all? If Canadians can have free health insurance, why can’t we?

Imagine how different the quality of life would be for millions of us? We wouldn’t have to take crappy jobs that don’t make us happy because we’d be able to find alternative ways of making money. Because isn’t it true that most of us stay at jobs we don’t’ want to stay at because we need the health benefits?

But here’s why we may never see UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE and why insurance companies want to hang Mr. Moore. This is what he’s proposing:

1. Every resident of the United States must have free, universal healthcare for life.
2. All health insurance policies must be abolished.
3. Pharmaceutical companies must be strictly regulated like a public utility.

Number two is the main reason this isn’t going to happen anytime soon. How many jobs will be lost if these companies are abolished.? It’s a billion dollar industry, right, that ain’t happening. Yet, we do have to consider all of this, so let’s thank Mr. Moore for making us aware of this problem, let’s not shoot the messenger like we always do.

I ask you now to review your medical coverage. In fact, check all of your insurance policies (auto, home, etc.) Ask questions. Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out what you are covered for. Also browse Michael Moore’s website for more information and draw your own conclusions. And please don’t shoot the messenger!

Inspiration for Dummies

My mind never shuts down. I actually have to force it to. I have to make a conscious effort to just calm myself and breathe. Creative people are like that though. They're always listening and waiting for the next idea, epiphany or flash of inspiration. The mind is always reeling.

I remember when I came up with the idea for SIX LATINAS. I was combing through all the testimonials and footage from the interviews. There were over 30 video interviews, some an hour long that I had to watch to figure out what WE (Latinas) were trying to say. I had to find the one thing that we had in common, or the one need we were trying to voice. When I found it, I cried. My heart started beating fast and I could actually feel the blood flowing throughout my body. If you could see my brain, I'm sure there were little flashes of electrical currents for every thought and emotion I was feeling. It dawned on me after eight hours of figuring out how I was going to write a play about Latinas, that I needed to use SIX WOMEN to do this. I was so excited I immediately started to write these six characters and updated my website daily to let people know what I was up to. (I've since learned not to do that, especially with a work in progress.)

When I came up with JOSE CAN SPEAK, it was the same experience. I wanted Latino men to tell me how they felt so I could write a play about them. But they were not forthcoming with any information (of course). So I decided to be their voice. Immediately, I was hit with the same excitement. The same overwhelming sense of, GOD THIS IS IT!

When inspiration comes, you have to jump on it. You must! Your body tells you to! Your gut tells you to! There is no time for doubting. I will say from experience that the first time is the hardest, the second a little easier and the more you listen to your gut and just allow yourself to fly, risking all for that vision, it will become part of your natural process. Taking creative risks will become second nature. The task of getting the job done doesn't get easier, but the "jumping in" part will.

But what happens to most people is that they hear this silly little voice that says, "B@tch, who you fooling? You can't write. You can't act. You can't be the President of the United States. You can't change the world. Who do you think you are? Stop. Just stop and get real. You need to pay the bills. You need to face reality. You need to be a responsible adult."

Tell that voice to kiss your natural (insert color) ass! Because you have been responsible! Which is why you haven't done what it is you want to do.

Again, I've said it before, if you're afraid of failing, then nothing I say will motivate you to take the leap. Your only destiny is to live in the land of regret forever. Wondering, what if.

In the past ten years of working with writers and actors I have seen the most inexperienced and "not so great" actors and writers get better! I have auditioned people two and three times and when they send me that headshot for the fourth time, I still want to see them. Because the creative process is about taking risks and growing. So when they take that risk of sending me that headshot, again, even after I declined to use them, then I know they deserve another chance to be seen. The point is, life is a series of steps. Not one. It's walking up to the top of the Statue of Liberty times eternity. No end. Each step prepares you for something else. There is no end in sight. To place a condition on your dream is counter productive. If you say, all I want is one acting job, one writing assignment, one million dollar check, then you will only receive a portion of what you dreamed of. No. There should be no conditions placed on a dream. There should be no end. A real dream takes you far beyond your lifetime.

I had an idea last night, got so excited I couldn't contain myself. This morning I will go forward. With no fear. No doubt. Because if I don't have faith in my own ideas, I don't have faith in GOD.

Promise me you will go after what it is that makes you the most complete, the most happy. You have nothing to lose. Because the way I see it is, that step is another step toward enlightenment. It is a destination point on the map of your journey. If you don't move forward with that idea and finish it, regardless of the outcome, you will never move forward on your journey. You will forever be stuck in the same place waiting for someone to rescue you.

Much inspiration!
Linda

My Fantasy Job

I have a fantasy. I live in a four bedroom home, (not a townhouse like I have now) a home. With a refrigerator that has a custom panel door to match the decor of the kitchen, an island with a marble counter top and a flat screen TV built into the wall. The floors are real wood, not Pergo (like mine) and a backyard with an inground pool and a deck large enough to fit 25 party animals also known as close friends. The alarm clock rings, I get up and walk into my WALK-IN closet. It's Mariah Carey big with colored coordinated racks and an entire wall dedicated to shoes and another entire wall dedicated to handbags. I put on the slammenest outfit and get into my 7 Series BMW ( I drove the three series, not impressed) and drive to work. Here's the real fantasy. I am the owner of a high end shoe boutique. A designer shoe boutiqe! I have one full time employee and one part time employee and they love their jobs! In fact, they dedicate their lives to it. No absences. Impeccable references. In fact, they both have advanced degrees but they love shoes so much, they want to work with me for the rest of the lives.

I have this fantasy a lot. That I am surrounded by a colorful array of shoes and shoeboxes! I am happy. Life is good because I'm living like Willy Wonka in his Chocolate Factory.

How hard can it be to run a designer shoe store? Okay, never mind.

God sent me a Peppermint Patty!

God is listening...really listening. I needed a pat on my back and received so many wonderful emails from good friends and strangers who wanted to share inspiration. Thank you to all of you for taking the time out to write me!

And then...I got this...so I guess this message is...keep doing what I'm doing.

American Gem and Write Brothers Announce QuarterFinalists
American Gem and Write Brothers are pleased to announce the quarterfinalists in the American Gem Short Script Competition. American Gem's 6th Semi-Annual Competition attracted over 1200 entries worldwide.


THE QUARTERFINALSISTS ARE: (in alphabetical order)

2.5 Million Light Years Away...
Alone
Ancestral Passage
Annie and Greg
Anodyne
ARTS WALK
At Large
BAYOU BOOTY
BEST SERVED COLD
BITTERSWEET
BREAD
BROKEN MIND
Building Better Pumpkins
Burger Chef
Burn or Bury the Ones You Love
Burt's Used Cars
COAL FOR CHRISTMAS
COMBAT MEDIC BLUES
DAMNED YANKEE
DANCING SHADOWS
DAY AT THE BEACH
Der Besucher (The Visitor)
DRASTIC MEASURES ON TOP OF THE WORL
ENCAPSULATED
Falling Flash Burtrum
FINE PRINT
Five Strangers
FROM THE POLAR CRATER
Full Circle
God's Nursery
Goggles
Harmonica
HEARD
Hillbilly Bluegrass
HIT OR MISS
Homo Ludens
INNOCENT WHEN YOU DREAM
KILLER INSTINCT
Kursed & Karma
Lancaster
Laughter
LIFE AFTER
Little Bro
Lo Scrittore
LUCKY DAY
MARCH TWENTY-FIRST
MARCHING ANTS
Missing Link
MotherWoman
MY SCARLET LETTER
NIGHT TRAIN
No More Spiders
One Last Breath
OUTRAGE
Parked
PRAYING ON THE RAIN
Precious Moments
Quality Time
RED CARPET
RED RAG TOP
REGRETS
REPENTANCE
RETURNING
Saving Grace of Numbers
Scrambled Eggs and Other Tragedies
Sidewinder
Sin Fronteras
Skeletons
Small Broken Dream
Snake
Snap
Son of a...
Speak Easy
Speak Up
Speechless
STEPSISTER (THE MEETING)
Strange Isn't It?
Suffer Little Children
SUNNIER DAYS
SWEETER THAN SWEET POTATO
TELL NO TALES
THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE
The Black Umbrella
The Boy Who Would Be King
The Break-Up Pool
The Cactus Flower Wedding Chapel
THE CHOSEN
The Climb
The Eagle and the Dove
The Elusive Punch Line
The End
The Goodbye Song
The Great Belief
The Harlot's Philosophy
The Hunted
THE JUROR
The Kindness of Strangers
The Memory Painter
The Moment
The Monster of Delray Beach
THE OBITUARY WRITER
The Old Man and the Garden
The Pool Party
THE RECRUITING OF A KLANSMAN
The R-Word
The Sacrifice
The Sisterhood of Women Helping Women
THE SLING
The Truth About Fish and Dogs
The Well
The Winemaker's Wife
THIS IS NOT A CONSPIRACY THEORY
Through the Lense
Ticket
Ticket to Heaven
To Rest in Peace
TWO OF A KIND
Vise 34
W. INC COUNTY
Waking Dreams
WAR GAMES
WATCHING CLOSELY
Welcome Home Soldier
William's Christening
Wish
Yonderwindow Breaks
Younger Brothers' Union

God is a heavy-set black woman, a Latina and...

In my debut novel Free Style, I created a character who acts as God to my main character Idalis Rivera. This heavy-set fictional black woman is the author of a book called, “Using Your Intwaition”. Yes, Intwaition, purposely spelled incorrectly. Anyway, whenever this colorful character spoke through me, she always made me laugh out loud, cry real tears and think about how far I’ve come in life. She was my friend, my advisor, my spiritual guru. Whenever she wanted to appear, I became excited about her visit. She was the friend I looked forward to seeing. And no matter how busy I was at the moment, I would put everything down to be with her. Out of all the characters in Free Style, this nameless character is my favorite. I wanted to use her throughout the entire book, but chose not to; feeling as though it would be overkill. Plus, I had a feeling that she was just introducing herself to me in Free Style with the intention of spending more time with me in a later creative endeavor.

I guess in my mind, this nameless black woman is a combination of Oprah, my abuela Valentina (without the thick Spanish accent) and other women who have entered my life in order to teach me something about myself. The black woman in my book is a wise and funny woman, who is eccentric and rough around the edges and needs to share her wisdom and relationship experiences with other woman in hopes of empowering them, of making them see truths that they themselves can’t see at the moment. Her purpose: to ENLIGHTEN so that she can better understand her purpose here on earth. She is confident and strong. She is a no bullshit lady, with nothing to hide. She doesn’t have a degree from an Ivy League school and doesn’t get embarrassed when she uses words out of context. It doesn’t matter since she knows she herself is a work in progress. All she wants to do is help people see the truth. She’s not a diva although many perceive her to be. She’s a simple person with a simple mission; to change people’s lives so that her own life makes sense. I want to hear this woman this morning. I want to hear her voice. I want her to make me laugh. I want her to appear again. I need that woman now more than ever because I have temporarily forgotten what she told me.

When I wrote the YO SOY LATINA! monologue in 1997, I had no idea that that monologue would change my life. It was the beginning of my self-discovery. It was the beginning of my transformation. But I didn’t know that’s what I was going through. I just thought I was having some seriously bad luck. I had no money. No career. I was stuck. Feeling lost. I wanted more. I wanted to write. I wanted to become an inspiration. I wanted to use my voice. I was angry. Very angry. I wanted someone to free me from this angry state.

Why was I angry? Why do we become angry?

This morning I remember the time in 1997 when a voice came to me. She was a Latina, young, funny, intelligent with something to say. She wanted to let people know, in her own way, that Latinas come in all shapes and sizes. They are the flavors of Baskin Robbins all rolled up in one! They are not what the media portrays us to be. They are not stupid, welfare poor woman. They are beautiful, savvy, sassy, unique, talented woman that can change the world. That voice came to me out of nowhere. I realized years later that that voice was God using the alias of Lisette Davila Rivera.

After I wrote that piece, I started to hear from women across the country who asked me to define the label Latina for them. Before 1997 that was a difficult task. But now I knew the answer. Simply put, I can’t do that for you! No one can. It’s whatever you want it to be! It’s everything about you that makes you Latina. Only you have the answer to that. No magazine, no book, no TV show can tell you who you are. Only you can. That voice changed my life. Why? I realized that Lisette was God speaking to me. In her way, telling me that Linda, you are on the right track, stop crying, stop doubting yourself and please stop being angry because you are loved. Let go of the anger and instead be love.

I kept hearing Lisette for many years after that. That voice helped me develop plays about love and acceptance. That voice allowed me to help other women empower themselves. But then she went away. She did her job. She served her purpose and left me.

But I need her this morning and I need the nameless black woman this morning to tell me that my present anger and frustration is a symptom of growth. I even said it myself in YO SOY LATINA! when Soledad the Dominican character tells the rest of the girls that WITHOUT PAIN ONE CAN NEVER EXPERIENCE GROWTH. Why can’t I remember this crap? Why is it so hard to live in a state of constant bliss? I am shocked to find out that bliss can go away. I held onto it for a long time. What happens that we forget that God is always with us? Why do we lose faith so easily? Why do we have to be reminded about what is really important in life? Especially when death lurks around the corner every second that time passes by.

HOW CAN I REMAIN SPIRITUAL WHEN I HAVE TO INTERACT DAILY WITH PEOPLE WHO AREN’T?

We walk through life, meeting a variety of different individuals, each with different intentions and beliefs. These same people are responsible for saving our lives, teaching our children, giving us promotions, giving us breaks, leading us, fixing our cars, serving our food, etc. etc. etc. They are us. They are you. They are me. They are human and we look to other humans for guidance. If we’re lucky we will find a human who is close to God at the moment, someone who can help us through our journey when we are depressed, when we fear the unknown, and especially when we are angry.

I am angry. Why? For many reasons, but today I think of the women I work with. Not all. Just a few young woman who dream of being actors, yet a few of them have no idea what that job entails. They have no idea, the gift that has bestowed upon them, can forever change their lives. They have no idea that finding truth is what their real purpose is. In each word, in each gesture finding truth is key. Why? It’s a blessed opportunity for them to be able to meet GOD. If only they knew that ACTING or any art form is a gift that allows them to speak to GOD. A performance can change a person’s life. A great performance can motivate a community into action. A great piece of art can change the world. A great play can make us see things we’ve never seen before. Art is just a communication outlet to GOD. And any artist who thinks otherwise, is not an artist but a person with a selfish intention to be either famous, rich or powerful. These actors have not discovered this truth. Is it my job to show them? Maybe. Since I know better. But how can I show them when they have no respect for authority, for the process or for themselves. I have met many actors who are professional and get it. I meet a lot more who believe that they are in this to be rich and famous. I have the challenge of helping these young women find their way. But when they do not respect the craft, the art or me, I no longer feel I need to help. This angers me. Because the naïve little girl in me doesn’t like the ugliness of this business.; the desperate ugliness of wanting to be famous. There is no such thing. Fame is fleeting. Fame is not real. Fame is hype manufactured by ego. At the end of the day, every famous person must look at himself or herself in the mirror in order to find the real person inside them. Not the person in the magazines. Not the person talked about. Not the persona created by companies in order to continue to make a profit. I want these girls to know that. But I guess, I can’t control that. I can only draw the boundaries, distancing myself from them, in order to get the job done. Because at the end of the day, in the real world, we all have to do a job or we can’t pay the bills, educate the kids or feed ourselves. Besides when someone isn’t ready to meet God, nothing you do can change that.

In the midst of all this chaos and confusion, what I need is to hear a voice to help me remember why I am here; whether fictional or real. I need to hear Lisette, I need to hear that heavy-set beautiful black woman, I need to hear God – in essence, I guess, I need to hear me.

Blood, Sweat and Tears - Vol. 1

MY BLOOD
Woke up at 3am, couldn't sleep. Son is at grandma's house and I'm trying really hard not to call. My in-laws hate when I call to check up on things. I guess it makes them feel like I don't trust them. I always have to hear my mother-in-law say, "Linda I had two sons myself, I know what I'm doing." But what she forgets is that that was over 30 years ago. She's not in parent mode anymore. That anxiety-ridden state of constant worry especially when you think that in-ground pools, pedophiles and rabid pit-bulls are lurking around every corner. For god's sake she lets him stay up until 2am with his cousins, unsupervised. It makes me nuts! She tells me I'm intense. I AM SO NOT INTENSE!

This week was especially stressful because the hubby (professional comedian for 20 years) is being considered for the gig of a lifetime. I can't say much. But it's huge. National huge. Newspaper huge. CNN huge. When the phone call came in (out of left field) we both did a Scooby Doo, HUH? However, I knew immediately that my husband was the man for this job. This is his thing. This is what he does well. He didn't go to Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT and suffer the racism and isolation for nothing. Imagine a Brooklyn black kid leaving his inner city home at 13 years-old and going to a prep school in Wallingford with kids whose parents were presidents of corporations and countries. He got into University of Virginia at 15 and studied Rhetoric Communication. He's a smart dude :) He deserves this more than anyone I know. (Fingers crossed)

MY SWEAT
I have had the hardest season this year. (pause) Yes, I paused for a second because I hear my husband's annoying voice. "DON'T COMPLAIN AND BE HAPPY YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO" But I'm going to complain anyway. Yes, I love my job and I'm doing exactly what I love to do. However, it is not easy trying to supervise and direct 15 Latina actors every season and then finding the energy to continue writing plays and books. Actors need to be nurtured, held, praised, adored, etc. They need me! My blood, sweat and tears. Everything. It takes all I have to give to get them where they need to be. Then once I do that, I have to go home be wife, mother, dogwalker, billpayer, cook, maid, lover (yeah, right) and then writer. Writer is always on the bottom of the list these days. Okay, lover is.

MY TEARS
So while my son is at grandma's I don't know what to do with myself. But then Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert found me in the bookstore. That much needed friend appeared out of no where; that is thanks to Oprah's show. There is only one book I liked that was an Oprah pick and that was "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb. Everything else I find utterly boring, literary and depressing.

Eat, Pray, Love is not an Oprah book selection, however, the author is going to be on the show. But when I heard the hoopla, I figured, I'd give it a try. This book is over-the-top hilarious! I have only read 70 pages so far (picked it up last night) and have laughed out loud at least twenty times. What a memoir! What a book! What a great creative effort! It's part travel guide, spiritual guide, and relationship guide. The title is perfect. The cover is adorable. I love this book! No, I am in love with it! I don't want to finish it because I love spending time with Elizabeth. She is the funny, smart, ridiculous girlfriend that you can never get enough of. I had never heard of it until Oprah mentioned it. It's a shame too because I wonder how many books are out there that are just as good and never get read.

It was a crazy week. But then again, when is life not crazy?

The Truth about Partnerships

My husband is always telling me to watch THE GODFATHER. It's his version of the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". But for me, there's nothing like hands on training.

I love to bring people together with the intent of creating something extraordinary for stage or film. So when I come up with a new idea, I immediately pool together my resources. (e.g., Budget, Talent, Crew, etc.) Sometimes I will even share my ideas with outside producers in the hopes of creating something bigger than I initially imagined. However, in the midst of my excitement, I forget sometimes that people may have very different intentions for working on a project and unfortunately sometimes I won't find this out until it's too late. I've been lucky enough to have had many rewarding partnerships that continue to flourish to this day but there are always those one or two that remind me to proceed with caution.

Partnerships are marriages. Some marriages begin as quick, Las Vegas style type weddings other's grow in time. All take work and compromise. All require trust and respect.

A few years ago I invited two woman to help produce a project I had been developing. They were enthusiastic about it and immediately began working on it with me. PROBLEM: Don't start working until both parties have signed an agreement. I never signed an agreement since this was a one time event. However, I believe you're headed for trouble without one. A contract or agreement lets both parties know where they stand and what is expected of each. But at the same time, sometimes contracts don't mean much to some people. Unless you have the time and energy to fight it if there is a breach, sometimes it doesn't even pay to have an agreement. Because people are going to do what they want to do.

So what do you do if you're interested in inviting someone to collaborate with you on a project? TIP: Be specific. Write down a list of responsibilities. Be clear on roles. Make sure you discuss in length what that person's role is in the collaboration, length of time and expectations. What is the project deadline? A collaboration can be a few months or a few years.

I have noticed in the 12 years I've been running Latino Flavored Productions Inc. that men understand partnerships much better than some women do. I find women let their friendships and emotions interfere with their business decisions. This happens way too many times. Women love to talk. This is what we do. Men don't talk they do. But regardless of whether the partnership transitions into a friendship or not, respect is in order.

For instance, if both parties agreed to commit to a project and for whatever reason one party can no longer commit, it is important for both parties to sit down and discuss face to face how to dissolve the partnership or collaboration amicably. Women are notorious for not ending partnerships the right way. An email or phone call is unacceptable. Not calling or delaying a meeting for months is unacceptable. The end of a partnership or collaboration should be handled with respect, tact and diplomacy. This is key in building great business relationships for the future. I find that you will continually run into the people that you worked with especially if they are in the same industry as you are in.

Another reason it is important to end partnerships amicably is, without doing so, there is a lingering sense of resentment which can further build into something more dangerous. For example, when I was the subject of a recent blog, one person decided to share a comment about me using the fictitious name SUSIE SANCHEZ. Here is the comment:

"First let me say you look nothing like Linda, but not only is she not in your league in regards to looks, have you read the sample chapter she posted on her MY SPACE BLOG for her debut novel.? It's horrible, in fact, she could never be a great American novelist, nor do I want to claim her as a great Latina novelist.

On a more personal note, I have seen her shows and the quality of the writing and directing has NEVER compared to the Latina Theater Troop in Chicago called Teatro Luna. Her writing across the board is half baked. What gets people to Linda's show or any following is that as Latinos we are thirsty to be seen and often will settle for anything, including mediocrity.

Though Linda would like to claim HATERS abound, she herself is the QUEEN HATER. And of course she doesn't want to diss your fans, for more than being an artist Linda is a shrewd business woman who has been known to screw more than one of her actors and exploit many opportunities for her own personal gain. Ironic, right that she can be so so down for the community and behind closed doors never walk her talk. Hypocritcal or not? "

The funny thing is, I know who Susie Sanchez is. She is not Susie Sanchez but someone I had collaborated with on a project in the past. This attempt at bashing me, in a very public way, was very unprofessional and uncalled for. There is obvious resentment and anger. Which is more personal than it is professional. This is the dangerous part that you cannot predict. What is this resentment about? After six months of waiting to hear back from Susie and her people, I decided to move on with my idea without them. After all, it was my initial idea that I invited her to be a part of.

Susie's hatred or anger is coming from a very personal dark place. This feeling she has really has nothing to do with the business relationship, it has to do with something she feels about me.

The lesson in this is: get to know people before you collaborate or invite them on a project. Ask them what their intention is. Tell them your intention. Any project I decide to work on is part of building awareness of the brand Latino Flavored Productions Inc. It is important to know your intention in wanting to work with someone else. What can you offer them and what can they offer you?

I am collaborating with a writer at the moment. This relationship works well because we are not afraid of being frank. We are not afraid of asking for what we want. We respect each other first and foremost.

Partnerships and collaborations can be extremely rewarding. They can teach us a lot about ourselves and people. I will never allow failures in the past to get in the way of future collaborations. In fact, those failures have taught me to be a better communicator and business person.

• Here are some great questions I found here: http://www.businessknowhow.com/startup/partnership.htm:
  
  Do we have the same motivation, values and similar work habits?
  
  Do we have a similar vision, ideas and objectives about how to run the business?
  
  Is each of our strong points and skills complementary to one another?
  
  Are we both able to communicate well with one another in a pleasant, respectful and comfortable manner?
  
  In your gut, do you trust this individual?

Partnerships can be beautiful if they work, ugly if they don't. Always proceed with caution.

My screenplay short HARMONICA makes it to second round!

My screenplay short HARMONICA has made it to the second round. So far Harmonica has placed very high in three major screenplay short contests. I am so happy since this piece means a lot of me.

American Gem and Write Brothers Announce Second Round Qualifiers
American Gem and Write Brothers are pleased to announce the Second Round Qualifiers in the American Gem Short Script Competition. American Gem's 6th Semi-Annual Competition attracted over 1200 entries worldwide.

THE SECOND ROUND QUALIFIERS ARE: (in alphabetical order)

...after these messages
2.5 Million Light Years Away...
A SEXUAL ODYSSEY THROUGH THE EYES OF BUDDY HASKEL
Alone
American Piety
Ancestral Passage
Annie and Greg
Anodyne
ARTS WALK
At Large
Azért is..! (Despite everything..!)
BAYOU BOOTY
Beautiful
BEST SERVED COLD
Billable Patient
BITTERSWEET
Blind Date
Blood Link
BOARDWALK WOLVES, WEASELS, AND ONE OTHER VILLAIN
BREAD
BROKEN MIND
Build a Ship
Building Better Pumpkins
Burger Chef
Burn or Bury the Ones You Love
Burt's Used Cars
CHARLIE MALLOY'S GOLDEN KEY
COAL FOR CHRISTMAS
COMBAT MEDIC BLUES
Come Alive
Converging Lines
DAMNED YANKEE
DANCING SHADOWS
DAY AT THE BEACH
Dead Man's Hill
Der Besucher (The Visitor)
DETOUR
Dog Petals
Dollar Bill
DRASTIC MEASURES ON TOP OF THE WORL
DRESSED IN A BLACK FLAG
DUSTY THE COWBOY MEETS THE LONE RANGER
Easy Pickins'
ENCAPSULATED
EXHAUSTED
Falling Flash Burtrum
FINE PRINT
FIRST CONFESSION
Five Strangers
Fixed
For Her

Franklin's Sweetheart
FROM THE POLAR CRATER
Frustration
Full Circle
GET ALONG LITTLE DOGGIES
Getting In
God Bless Mexico
God's Nursery
Goggles
Harmonica
HEARD
Here, Kitty
Hillbilly Bluegrass
HIT OR MISS
Homo Ludens
How To Pick Up Chicks
In Camera
In Love
INNOCENT WHEN YOU DREAM
Irresistible
Jungle Eyes
KILLER INSTINCT
Knocksville
Kursed & Karma
Lancaster
Laughter
Le Siren
Leonard
LIFE AFTER
Life Thereafter
Little Bro
Lo Scrittore
Lost and Found at the End of the Universe
LOVES ME, LOVES ME NOT
LUCKY DAY
MARCH TWENTY-FIRST
MARCHING ANTS
Missing Link
MotherWoman
Mrs. Severe
My Mother's Legacy
MY SCARLET LETTER
Night of the Lunar Eclipse
NIGHT TRAIN
Nite Lite
No More Spiders
Non Dementi Karma
One Last Breath
ONE WORLD TOUR
Other People's Children
OUTRAGE

Paranoia
Parked
Pillow
PRAYING ON THE RAIN
Precious Moments
Quality Time
RED CARPET
RED RAG TOP
REGRETS
REPENTANCE
Repercussions
RETURNING
Rise of the Rodents
Room for Cream
Saving Grace of Numbers
Scrambled Eggs and Other Tragedies
Shit Happens
Sidewinder
Sin Fronteras
Skeletons
Sleepwalk
Small Broken Dream
Snake
Snap
Something More
Son of a...
Speak Easy
Speak Up
Speechless
STEPSISTER (THE MEETING)
Strange Isn't It?
Suffer Little Children
SUNNIER DAYS
SWEETER THAN SWEET POTATO
Switch
TELL NO TALES
Tennis Balls
Tested
That's Afterlife!
THE 5 STAGES
THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE
The Black Umbrella
The Boy Who Would Be King
The Break-Up Pool
The Cactus Flower Wedding Chapel
THE CHOSEN
The City That Never Stops
The Climb
THE DAY OF
The Devil Goes Down
The Dream Case
The Eagle and the Dove

The Elusive Punch Line
The End
The Goodbye Song
The Great Belief
The Harlot's Philosophy
The Hero Box
The Hunted
THE JUROR
The Kindness of Strangers
The Late Fred Morse
The Long, Dark Way
The Luckiest Unlucky
The Mall Santa
The Memory Painter
The Moment
The Monster of Delray Beach
THE NAKED BARTENDER
THE OBITUARY WRITER
The Old Man and the Garden
The Parcel
The Pool Party
THE RECRUITING OF A KLANSMAN
The Return
The R-Word
The Sacrifice
The Sisterhood of Women Helping Women
THE SLING
The Statement of Randolph Carter
The Temptation Stone
The Three Lindas
The Truth About Fish and Dogs
The Well
The Winemaker's Wife
There's A Man In the Habit of Hitti
THIS IS NOT A CONSPIRACY THEORY
Through the Lense
Ticket
Ticket to Heaven
To Rest in Peace
TWO OF A KIND
Vise 34
W. INC COUNTY
Waking Dreams
WAR GAMES
WATCHING CLOSELY
Welcome Home Soldier
When Barry Met Dolly
WHO WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN
William's Christening
Wish
Yonderwindow Breaks
Younger Brothers' Union

The YO SOY LATINA! cast before a show!

Glenys Javier plays Maria Elena the invisible black Latina from Panama. Glenys is actually Dominican and if you haven't noticed -- loves cupcakes!

Lina Sarello plays Alicia the non-speaking Spanish Colombian actress. Lina is a jack of all trades. Here she's constructing Antonia's belly. Lina is Cuban/Italian and speaks three languages. She also knows how to tile a bathroom.

Melody R Vendrell plays Soledad the Dominican character. Melody has created an incredibly likeable and very funny character! Melody was born and raised in Puerto Rico.

Christina Galston plays Jennifer the Chicana Character. Christina is a riot and keeps us laughing way too much! Christina calls herself a Jewrican. She's also a professional comedian.

Cristina Fernandez plays Louisa the half Cuban/Irish Latina. Cristina is actually Cuban and was born and raised in Puerto Rico.

Antonia Marrero plays Migdalia. She's really not pregnant. Although for some reason, audience members always ask. Antonia is really a Nuyorican, just like her character.

Go to www.myspace.com/freestylechicas to see more photos!

The Truth about Author Blurbs

When I wrote Free Style, I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. From the process of writing the book to the marketing (I actually thought you could hire your own book designer and make the cover yourself). What a maroon! So needless to say, I felt like an idiot, many times. I remember having an anxiety attack one night after the book was sold. Because I sold 50 pages and a synopsis and I thought, what if I can't actually finish it? AAAAHHHH! And by the grace of God, and a mob full of angels, I somehow finished it.

The biggest surprise for me, during this process, was when I found out I had to get my own author blurbs. I thought that the editor or agent does that for you. I figured since they know a lot of writers it would be easy for them to get them . Well, recently I found out that yes, they might help you do that SOMETIMES, but THE WRITER is responsible for contacting authors, pitching the book to them and praying that they'll like it enough to endorse it.

Now what makes this even more fun, is that you are going to have to contact complete strangers; strangers who just happen to be professional writers. You might know of them but they have no idea who the hell you are. Which is why, it's much easier for writers to go to writer friends for blurbs. But then that can get dangerous. What if they hate the book? They can't tell you that or you'll definitely lose a friend. But they also have a reputation they have to protect. Their credibility is on the line. So what's a newbie author to do?

Throw out the ego! Throw it away. Ego will always stop you from making an ass out of yourself. But THAT IS THE KEY! Okay, you know what I mean. Not being afraid of being rejected. As writers we should be used to that crap. The point is, what do you have to lose if they don't like you or your book?

So with the help of my intern, we developed a list of the top 25 writers that we felt would love Free Style. How do you do that and where did we find them?

I had my own wishlist of authors that I had read. Then I searched for the most popular chick-lit authors on Amazon.com and I also visited the bookstore and browsed the books to find authors who were writing books similar in theme to Free Style. There were lots of them. I made my list, bought the books, read them and prepared a sweet and short email pitching my book to the selected few.

Now, this is where the angels come in. They could have all said no. Writers are busy people. And imagine how many times they get blurb requests? But to my surprise, more than I imagined responded with an enthusiatic yes.

I think the theme of the book and the initial email may have had something to do with the response. I remember including the inspiration for the story, which made it that much more personal and interesting for them...I'm guessing of course.

Either way, obtaining author blurbs is a daunting little task. To me, probably the hardest thing I had to do so far. But once I got passed the initial fear of being rejected, the blurbs started rolling in.

Just remember to keep the initial contact short and sweet. People are busy. They don't have time to read long emails that go on and on. Get to the point. Let them know why you wrote the book, this gives the author a glimpse into who you are. And thank them for their time. Oh and if you plan to use an intern, or someone to help you, make sure you check every email for typos, especially names. My intern sent an email to the same writer with two different names. The author uses a surname and married name and my intern inadvertently switched the names around twice. The author got pissed. She sent me an email saying that if I'd like to try a third time she might consider it. Okay, as newbie authors, we sort of have to eat a lot of crow don't we? We're like nerdy high school Freshman, trying to find a way to hang out with the cool Seniors. Listen to me, yes, you do have to sort of chill a bit, because you haven't been able to prove yourself yet, HOWEVER, that doesnt' mean you have to take BS from a big-time author. So I sent that woman an email apologizing for the errors and I didn't bother asking her for the blurb. I kept it moving. I don't need it that bad. BUT I will say this, I received a request for script feedback and the person who sent it didn't even know my full name. Now, I didn't get bitchy but I did tell her that she should know a person's correct name before asking for something. I do want new writers to know that in the professional world, mistakes like that won't be taken well and can cost them. I've played mom a few times. I've always felt that if you've managed to climb up the ladder of success, regardless of the rung you're standing on, you have a responsibility to teach others.

Okay, enough with the preachy crap. Just remember AUTHOR BLURBS are serious business. Some people will say it doesn't matter but quite honestly I think in some ways it does. To bookstores, it most certainly will matter. So look at the blurb as a marketing tool. It's always about business!

Now, watch how many requests I get for author blurbs....just in case you do decide to contact me...I like fun, entertaining reads with uplifting messages. No crime, no mysteries, and no romance novels. I get bored easily so if you can't keep me interested in the first three chapters, it ain't happening. :)

How Can My Writing Improve by Watching Great Actors?

For the past 12 years I have worked with hundreds of actresses, some with substantial stage experience and others with very little experience. My favorite actors are the ones who have natural abilities – raw instincts. The ones that go out on a limb and risk all to achieve the most truthful performances. 9 out of 10 times, those actors are much stronger than the actors who have little experience but hold advanced degrees from NYU Tische or the famed Actor’s Studio.

I guess each director has a favorite type of actor they like to work with. For me, I love the one’s that really rely heavily on instinct and less on technique.

One of my favorite professional actors is Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) who has admitted to never taking an acting class. I have never heard a bad note during a Kate Winslet performance. The same goes for Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Hysterical Blindness) or Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex in the City). There is great scene in Sex in the City where Sarah Jessica Parker has to say YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME at least 8 times. It’s a brilliant little scene. Parker says the line different each time and she builds the moment so well, that those few seconds of screen time becomes its own emotional arc.

(TO SEE THIS SCENE FAST FORWARD TO 3:33)




Merrill Streep is just ridiculous. The woman not only hits the note, but she goes places that I don’t think in real life, most of us have the nerve to explore – even for play. I immediately think of Sophie’s Choice.





Or that moment in “Unfaithful” when Diane Lane is sitting on the train reliving her extramarital tryst and as she remembers the moment, she slowly transitions from joy to agonizing guilt.

What I love about all these actors is they hit Mariah Carey type notes in their performances. Which is why, although I love her for what’s she’s achieved, I think that JLo has never reached those depths in any of her performances – including Selena. I can’t buy anything that she does unless she is playing herself. (Like in Monster-in-Law and her appearances on Will and Grace, which at times were hilarious.)



Rosie Perez and Salma Hayek are much better actresses. I’m not sure I know what Eva Mendez’s thing is. I get the feeling she’s still searching for it. I mean that in a nice way, of course ☺. I do love America Ferrera – she’s pure and authentic, a genuine beautiful spirit. There is a Mexican actress by the name of Elpidia Carillo who (for me) performs in one of the most brilliant scenes ever acted. The movie is BREAD AND ROSES (2000) and the scene is a fight between her and her sister. I dare you to find a false note anywhere in that scene.

I love great actors because they have taught me how to be a better writer. Great actors are great listeners. A well-acted scene can teach a writer about rhythm, pacing and intention. My favorite type of scene, involves two people wanting two entirely different things for two entirely different reasons but what is being acted out instead is two people saying the want the same thing. I absolutely love working with subtext. It not only makes acting stronger but for a writer it makes the scene pop off the page.

Great actors are great storytellers. They have mastered the story ARC. Acting is starting at one end of the rainbow and ending up on the other side, and showing us all the details in the journey. It’s the same in writing. The ARC - being the journey. Your character must never be the same at the end of your story. Then why bother telling a story?

The creative process has taught me a great deal about life. The cycle, the journey, the purpose, and the real reason we are here. I, like Woody Allen, and a lot of other writers, obsess about where we go from here. Is it over? Or is it a new beginning? I’ve always found it funny that we live life, worrying about stupid little things like, keeping up with trends and reading celebrity tabloids, when there is so much to learn and experience.

In the meantime, what keeps me motivated is watching ordinary people create extraordinary things. I love watching craftspeople do their jobs with passion and purpose. As if they’ve found the mystery of life inside the thing they love to do. Acting and writing does that for me. It keeps me interested and motivated to find out more about myself and about all of us and where we could be going next.