Does KsSandra Black Exist?

Pix Fix

2009-04-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Back in February, I ask SeanieBlue, "Why go back to Iceland so soon?" "More chasing of the Aurora Borealis- I know I can get a better pix," he says. He then apologizes for neglecting the badTV website, and not posting any vids on les tubes. I tell him it's okay, because I know he is getting ready for a badTV sponsored showing of many of his favorite photographs at the Barnes and Noble.

I will plan a trip to chase the Aurora Borealis next winter. Are you in?
Click the pic to left to Sean's description of the a Aurora Borealis dance, and it should convince you to go. The video, "Night Light" was edited and produced by David Snider's Photography Channel.)

Part-Time Goddess Margie Perez is my Full-Time Pal

2008-08-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

click on pic to see video of Margie speaking at the 2008 DNC

Pride rules for my pal Margie Perez. She moved to New Orleans in 2004 to pursue her dream in music and lost everything but her spirit in Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, some of the songs she wrote were lost, but you can still see some of them on youtube on her channel oohbabylala. I uploaded some songs she sang at her farewell DC party. (I sing back up vox) In the video above, where she appeared on Monday onstage as a speaker at the DNC in Denver, Margie speaks about her experience with Hurricane Katrina. It's amazing to look at the mainstream mediums and see your friends taking over the world, but that's what is happening. Friends on bestseller lists, friends pulling the strings in politics, friends buying factories and throwing the robber barons out. And then friends like Margie, kicking ass on the national stage, beyond performance, telling you directly what dickheads politicians can be. Some friends I am afraid I cannot brag about, but when it comes to Margie Perez, I'm gonna blow my horn loud and clear: Chick is my pal, always has been, always will be. Yay, Margie!

The Importance of Being Existentially Earnest

2008-07-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Why perform? Where does the urge come from- especially when Myers Briggs says you are an Introverted Extrovert- or was that an Extroverted Introvert. Is it all about being an existential exhibitionist? Who cares. I think, therefore I act.

foto by Matt Neufeld

One Wedding from a Funeral

2008-07-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, my pal Sherry and Scott met at a mutual friend's funeral. Don't worry, the first date wasn't at the wake. I filmed their beautiful wedding this weekend in Eerie, Pennsylvania.

Rip Paul Gabriel Schuncke, Jr.

If ever caught in a rip tide, this is what you do.
If caught in a rip tide of love, remember to go with the current, never fight it. okay, I know that was sappy. But maybe you learned something about rip currents?

The difference between going with a rip tide, and going with the rip tide of love is, if you manage to survive the riptide and make it to land safely, you still have a 50/ 50 chance of drowning in a rip tide of love. just kidding!

Cool Slacking

2008-07-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

foto by Jim "kimo" West

So... I've been slacking on my bloggy blog, and on my utoob vids, but I've been having a great time with friends. I got to hang out with my pal Jim "Kimo" West when he came to town to play with Weird Al at the Warner Theatre. (Jim has been playing guitar with Weird Al since 1985.) Jim is an original composer of slack key guitar, and he has his own unique style, so he is in a class all to himself. So he is a good slacker. Check out Jim's website and Jim's youtube channel. Click on the image to see my fav video of Jim's.

Smells like Weird Al's Best Cheerleaders

2008-07-12T23:55:00.000-07:00

foto by David Snider

A few years back RavenMustang and I performed as Goth Cheerleaders for the Weird Al Show. Although I've been a cheerleader for their "Smells like Nirvana" number on two occasions, I never got to see the show. I finally had the chance on July 12th and I was blown away not only by the parodies, but by the band, and the original homage songs they do. (Click on the pic for the tour schedule this summer.) On July 12th, Weird Al and the band, did a show/interview at XM Satellite radio. He played a great original called, "Close But no Cigar" During the question and answer period, I went up to the mic and asked if the song was inspired by Monica Lewinsky. Ba dumb pump! Then I asked my real question; How do they avoid being sued when they do a parody song? Apparently he always asks the Artist for permission. It probably doesn't hurt that Weird Al has been on the same label with a lot of the Artists he parodies. I suppose I should have asked some of the artists before I did my parodies... Nah! I'd love to be sued by Britney or the Pussycat Dolls. ;-)

The BadTV Interviews Begin

2008-05-01T05:22:00.000-07:00

This is Roland Verity, who plays candidate Obama in my videos on Youtube (and CNN), and he is a poet, in whose poetry the Moon is always smiling. He's the subject of our first BadTV Intervyou, talking about race and riot in the world around us.

Appropriate post for May 1, no? A day of revolt!

Can't stop thinking about..

2008-04-28T23:12:00.000-07:00

.. my friend and first subscriber, Peter. He was the first youtuber to suggest collaboration. We exchanged many emails and spoke on the phone several times about ideas. He was busy working as a body guard, and last I spoke to him, he said sorry for disappearing, but he wouldn't be around youtube much because of work. One of my last comments to his page was, U alive? His sister wrote me to let me know he died suddenly in November. She said, "don't worry about the comment, he'd probably think it was funny and he'd be smiling as he always was." Rest in peace my young and very funny friend, GothMovieMan. Check out bitch slap, my favorite video of Peter's.

Nicaragua Baby & Charlie Chaplin in Nicaragua

2008-04-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

From Blue's trip to Nicaragua with the publisher Moses Hawk:

Did you ever kill any Contras? The question is problematic. I have seen a picture of Luis, young, looking like a handsome Guevara, in the campo with guns propped behind him, and hand to hand battle and explosives and landmines have been a reality for him for most of his lifetime, but here is what Luis answers:

"One night we were showing Chaplin to some villagers when word came that the Contras were coming into the valley, and I had to pack up the projector and the Chaplin and get out toward the riverbed to escape, and it was very close call, but me and Chaplin made it out."

What would the Contras have done with the Charlie Chaplin movies?

"Destroyed them!"

I shake my head. Why wasn't Reagan, that fabulous actor, on TV talking about how important it was to stop the villagers from watching Charlie Chaplin on a Saturday night? Could he have fooled his people with this mission, too?

Click on Seanie Blue's pic above, for a great story.

SandieBlack does CNN

2008-04-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

I had seen a few parodies on YouTube of the milkshake bowling scene by Daniel Day Lewis, where he won an Oscar for overacting and a limp in the film, "There Will Be Blood." I admit, I wanted to do my own version, but thought, I can't do it unless I can have my own take on it. On April Fool's day, when Hillary challenged Obama to "get out of the gutter" and "bowl for delegates" even quipping that she would spot him two frames, the light went off in my brain. I would be dressed like Hillary, do the but Daniel Day Lewis bowling scene with Obama, played by my pal Roland Verity. I'd call it,
"There Will Be Hillary - Bowling for Delegates." YouTube featured the video on their news and politics page on April 3rd, and on April 7th and 8th, CNN aired part of my clip in a piece by Jeanne Moos called, "Hillary bowls - badly."

Renaissance Gurl in the World

2008-04-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

Angela Gegg, from Belize, is an Artist, Poet, Author, and Force of Nature. I am always inspired by a strong woman who does not recoil when giving voice to a passionate engaging spirit. Known as Proshka on YouTube, Angela is quickly developing an ardent and loyal fan base. You know that anyone who owns 7 dogs is awesome!

SandieBlack does Jay Leno

2008-03-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

I got a call from a Tonight Show Producer in September of 2007 about using part of my Strange Faces clip in a bit they regularly do called, Pump Cast. I of course agreed to it and signed my dignity away to the Jay Leno's team. She called later to inform me it was shot and that the writers loved it. Just when they were going to air it, I got preempted by an angry chihuahua. Who can blame them, an angry bitch is way more interesting than this bitch! But then, the writer's strike happened, there would be no way they would use my clip until it was resolved. The strike finally resolved and luckily, the writers didn't forget about this crazy woman. I got the call on March 13th letting me know my clip would air on Friday, March 14, 2008, right after Leno's monologue.

The Lyin' Tamer

2008-03-11T00:24:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of Janine
I took a unique class with Janine Driver, the lyin' tamer. A class about body language and deception detection. She had each of us go up and tell a story based on lies -- whoever the class believed was telling the truth would win the T shirt, "Liar." Guess who lied best. ;-O

(pic from badtvdotcom channel, "Last Tango" @ 4 min-52 seconds)

Check out her website, and sign up for one of her classes, you'll learn a lot about other people's body language, and about yourself. I have taken three acting classes in my life, and her class was the best. (This is the case even though her class is not billed as an acting class -- per se.)

Just Published

2008-03-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

My badtv partner SeanieBlue is putting up a pre-publication version of his multimedia project, "God Died in Hiroshima," which is about a lot of things, but not about God or Hiroshima. It is, however, about bombs and existence. Steal it if you can, or check out the lo rez preview at blurb.com in the bookstore. The book, I am proud to say, will be a badTV publication.

Chasing Aurora

2008-01-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

Sitting in a trendy restaurant in a trendy neighborhood in Beverly Hills, I am asked What Next in capital letters, and between chews of arugula and avocado I carefully pronounce "Aurora Borealis" and the trendy conversation at the neighboring table stops dead. Ears pricked, our neighbors listen for the next small bomb: "Shooting" or "Filming," and of course one of these is next out of my mouth between chews of the $13 salad. I used to say to people that nothing is sexier than a movie, usually when I was raising somebody else's money to shoot mine. But the Aurora is its own beautiful siren, loaded with adventure and mystery. Shooting the Aurora Borealis is sexy, squared.

Part of its attraction must be that it cannot be completely captured. Its movements will be blurred, its textures smeared, and its colors muted or tinted neon lime, if any camera is involved. Chasing the Aurora is a guaranteed frustration or total loss, as all good love affairs should be. And come to think of it love affairs are almost impossible to catch on film, too. Gaudy, cheap cheesecake is usually Hollywood's offer when it comes to true sensuality, as witnessed by love scene embarrassments from everyone from Kim Basinger to Nicole Kidman. Blooming lust is hard to frame, whether in the sky or in your heart, and the looming sense of failure in trotting with camera into its shadows is a primary motive in my chase of the Borealis. I will not get lucky, no matter how fully I fall.

-- from Seanie Blue's "Chasing the Aurora Borealis: A Trip to the End of the World," with photos by Blue, including the one above.

Patch Adams with his Pants down

2008-01-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

Patch Gesundheit Adams takes a bite outta calves. The picture I took of Patch reciting a poem with his pants down to newlyweds Beto and V. was priceless, but unfortunately it didn't come out. This one will do! I hope I can interview this vigorousman (gentleman) for the memechannel someday...

Did you ever see the film Patch Adams? Robin Williams is good, but as the song says, ain't nothing like the real thing baby.

To a Bella Year

2007-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

One of the most amazing things about 2007 was the re-discovery of AishaBella. (please subscribe on youtube!) She is quintessentially gifted; a writer, photographer, singer, comedienne, dancer, and beauty! And, Time is on her side, she's only 18.. I know that 2008 will be even Bella!

I remind her, being talented and gifted is not enough. Are you hungry? That is the question.
Check out aisha-bella's blog!

Goodbye My PinkFlamenco

2007-12-23T13:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to my pal Miguel Perez website dcflamenco.com. He wrote a bloggy blog about the life and death of my artistic baby and dream the pink flamenco. Some day she will be resurrected. In the pic above, Miguelito plays the guitar while I hammer in the background to provide contra tiempo for dancer Ginette's ferocious footwork. Fyi, they used to call me Ms. Contratiempo -cuz I'll never miss a contra rhythm.

Pushing Buttons in the Studio with Keny G

2007-11-24T02:00:00.000-08:00

I told AishaBella about my concept for a parody of the famous song by the Pussycat Dolls called, "Buttons." She laughs at my concept and the following day calls me on the phone to sing me the song parody she has written overnight. Aisha is in her last year of high school, but two weeks with her has taught me a thing or two. Her rendition is excellent, and it really needs no changes or editing, but we end up making changes together because the music video that is already in my head requires some explanations. A few days later, we are filming the music video, even before going into the studio to sing the song. She has memorized the words, I haven't, so of course she is the lead Pussycat. Click on image for viddy.

On Friday night, we went into Keny's studio. We filmed our singing, we took pix. Aisha even pushed some of the Pro Tool engineering buttons while Keny laid down a few vocal tracks. I can't wait to edit this mo fo.

My BadTV partner is a F'in genius

2007-11-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

Seanie Blue doesn't think his new website is ready to link to Badtv.com, but I do. Hope he won't mind my linky link.

He can do everything and anything he sets his mind to: poetry, fiction, prose, cinema, editorials; writes contracts like a lawyer, reports on anything -- even coal mining regulation. He takes amazing photographs and turn them into works of art; made poetic films with million dollar reviews (sans the million bux budget); can draw like Picasso but design for 21st century technology, can write great songs when he has never studied music, and even sings with feeling. He has motivated and inspired more people to follow their dreams than anyone else I know. My life would not be what it is without him. He is my brother, my best friend, my creative partner . . . in every aspect of what helps me make my life full.

One charismatic motherfucka, too.

But check out this little letter written to a friend about the drag of needing to read and the pain of wanting to write: Butterfly Ballet. This is the sort of essay he throws away without thinking twice about it. It makes me crazy! (crazier than usual ;-)

Family Trouble: I have to do more Britney

2007-11-16T23:30:00.000-08:00

This video is a re-post of the re-tooled parody music video. Britney's record label had the original pulled after over 115,000 views. I take it as a compliment.

Homage to Hot For Words

2007-11-16T05:11:00.000-08:00

I love Marina, the babe behind hotforwords (please subscribe!), and this means I have to imitate, if not blatantly rip her off, which means a new vid exists and I'm pushing it on you. All you have to do is click HERE to get my take on the study of noise.

Grizzly Scene

2007-10-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

We’re driving in the badTV RV, on a dirt road 30 miles away from any city, deep in the burned woods of Montana, when I yell to Seanie, "Look, there’s a Grizzly running right in front of the jeep ahead of us!” The jeep never slowed down, and thankfully misses the intrepid bear. Then, the grizzly stops because we stopped, and he or she looks directly at us for one brief moment, but a moment burned in my mind's eye. By the time I grabbed my cameras he was meandering away like predators normally do, nonchalantly, at a 45 degree angle, never spilling a pheromone of fear, and never showing his whole back -- until the bear is at a safe distance. Sean told me he wanted to get out of the truck "and go a few hundred yards" to get better pix of the bear. I don't think ultimatums should be part of one’s vocabulary, but in this instance I felt one was necessary: I told Sean that if he got out of the badmobile, and if he managed to get back in after chasing a 1,000+ pound Grizzly or visa versa, that I’d have him drive me to the nearest airport to get on the next plane home immediately. Sometimes too much testosterone needs to be smothered by a large dose of good old motherly oxytocin.

I-Rocky Plane Ride (Iraqi Plain Talking)

2007-10-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

On the plane ride over to Missoula, Montana, Clark, a twenty-three-year-old Marine with killer dimples and flirting strategy is returning from his second tour of duty in Iraq and asks if he can sit next to me. Sure, I say. He is one charismatic dude. I am mesmerized by his infectious enthusiasm for life despite witnessing the horror of war. I ask him questions, but he would rather flirt. If anyone knows me, I am stubbornly persistent; my mother used to call me Mosca (translation, the Mosquito). So finally he surrenders and tells me amazing stories of courage and chance, including one in particular of how two bullets missed him because he was thirsty, and how he "blew the brains away" of that sharp shooter that would have killed him had he taken one more step while clearing that mine field. He tells me this story and afterwards has his usual dimpled smile which is balanced by a strong cleft chin. As he drinks his Heineken, I wonder how he can be so positive, and not have PTSD after such an experience. He notices the look in my eyes and reminds me, "I chose to be there." This breaks my shock and awe, and we joke around some more, and I even lose a bet -- I can't remember what it was -- so my "penalty" is to kiss him on the cheek. He then asks if he can kiss me after he asks, “how old are you, 25, 26?" I should have planted one on him right then and there, but I couldn't. (Shhh . . . I'm probably closer to his mom's age than his.) Because of all the turbulence, both literally and figuratively, I let him put his arm around me when he noticed I was pretty concerned about the prospect of landing on earth. I hate planes. Should have gotten a picture of him, but I got his number, so maybe he'll send me one of him in his uniform for my bloggy blog.

Captured by VideoChick at SouthTube

2007-10-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

I got to watch myself. Because somebody may be watching me.

This video is by YouTube Monster VideoChick770 a real hero. Check her out, she's helping change the world. I plan on going to the 888 YouTube meetup she is throwing in Toronto!

In Defense of momma Britney

2007-10-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

Usually, I get death threats and imprecations directed at me when my offbeat parodies go up online, but not this time. Britney's foibles have touched a nerve and it seems everyone is out for her blood. But one exception comes from a poster named richie867, an admirer of Hannah Montana, who writes BadTV to tell us we are simply jealous of Brit and that we should leave her alone and that I am a bitch. Of course BadTV attorney Mr. Orange responds directly to Richie, and leaves this candid message on his youtube channel:

"I'm glad you came to Britney's defense after we posted our video. She's one of the hardest workers in show business, and we admire the way she's used her talents to become such a force in entertainment. Of course we are jealous of her and wish we could have the opportunity to impact society in the same way, and this means we are likely to do small, petty things when we can to take advantage of her skills and connections. But make no mistake: she works harder than anyone in the business and we compare ourselves to her in this sense every day. How can we do more? How do we turn our days into 12 hours of dance and choreography and song-writings and recording? She inspires us to work harder and kick butt exactly the way any artist would inspire us."

Nice to have a lawyer who does what you tell him to do.

Monarch's Last Stand?

2007-09-28T14:55:00.001-07:00

This is a monarch, dying in my hands. Or dead, already.

Sean called me from Mexico: can I fly down in 2 days to film the Monarch butterfly for a show about genetics for the Discovery Channel? Travelocity finds me a cheap last-minute deal and 48 hours later I am in Cuernavaca and then on the road to the monarch winter grounds four hours north of Mexico City, in the freezing dawn. Not a damn butterfly in sight. I'm in the North Face gear, wrapped for the icebox, and thinking maybe there is a wild goose somewhere, when all of a sudden matching the Sun's slow rise there are wings stretching and flitting. Seemed like we couldn't take a step without crushing one of these beautiful creatures. I tip-toed from shot to shot, marveling at the thousands (millions?) of orange, black and white butterflies around me. They are quickly disappearing due to habitat loss, and there is no phenomenon in nature quite like them -- how do they map their routes from North America to Mexico every year? There is no DNA code explaining their knowledge of latitude and longitude. How do they freaking know?

(click Mexico above to see article sent to me by my pal dancegypsy.)

Pix are stolen from BadTV partner Blue's new webbie.

Gettin' Down with TubeGranny

2007-09-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

foto by Camille aka DanceGypsy on Utoob. Check out her channel for cool Flamenco posts, she is my Flamenco soul sister- more on her later!

I went to Marietta, Georgia, where I was born, for the SouthTube gathering (thanks badTV). It was a surreal experience because of all the cameras filming at once. So many eyes, so little time, so many new friends.

In the pik above, I get to shimmy with tubegranny and the shimmy is basically 24 hours with tubegranny, coming right at you from the Cobb County Jail. Granny crazy! I like her video about calling Wal-Mart to see why there is salman-ella in her jar of peanut butter. She is my new fav on Utoob.

No Fear and Loving in Las Vegas

2007-09-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

I get a call from my best friend en route to a casino in the desert, can I show up in 24 hours with an Elvis outfit to be witness at a wedding? I wonder if I should bring a shotgun. Within 24 hours I was on a flight to Vegas. They got married at the Little White Chapel. My Elvis impersonation wasn't the best, but I always try my best!

Can I have a Witness?

2007-09-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

Now you didn't really think I would dress like Elvis during the wedding now did you? Did it after! Congratulations Tony and Karen! I love you guys.

GEOGRAPHY ACCORDING TO BLACK

2007-08-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

I put this video up yesterday on my channel, hoping to profit from the misfortunes of the ditz from Carolina who thinks South Africa and The Iraq are locate somewhere near Alaska. No death threats yet.

With Love from Iraq

2007-08-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

Children often seem like old souls. This small movie from Iraq and Iran directed by Bahman Ghobadi taught me never to grow up in a War Zone;

Turtles Can Fly

This movie blew away the Berlin Film Festival. It will change the way you look at American war movies. Suddenly, "Saving Private Ryan" seems like nothing more than a grotesque study in rampant violence.

Singularity

2007-08-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

I like what Blue told me the other day on an impromptu trip to Lake Eerie, "There is an importance of recording and cataloging a sense of awe and singularity of an experience, isolated from habitual schedule and routine. Experience should be like a rainbow -- you are never quite prepared for its beauty. Always a surprise. " Blue of course, was talking about cataloging experience in your mind's eye, not about videotaping or photographing all of your experiences. This leads me to the question, does shooting an event diminish your personal experience of it? I believe it can and often does. But I do it in order to share and say something.
foto by Blue

Impulse

2007-08-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

On the way to Broomes Island I asks Blue, "Why am I so impulsive?"
Blue tells me, "Boredom and intelligence.. a very bad combination."
I don't know about the intelligence part, but boredom is my navigator.

foto by Blue

If the rain brought me to your door, would you open it?

Quantumly Engaged With Love at a Distance

2007-08-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

My pal Beto gets married today to a babe he conjured up from cyberspace who turns out to be more beautiful in the flesh than onscreen, and they make these gorgeous rings for today's wedding. His ring is on top, but usually hers is ;-) Designed by the couple with Linda Hesh and Eric Margry, the rings were actually engraved by hand by Eric Margry, who is one of the top hand engravers left in America. But here's the really cool part: Alberto gets a mathematical formula called "Quantum entanglement," cut into the inside of the ring, designed by mathematical photographer, Justin Mullins. This is Mr. Mullin's picture of the formula:

. . . and the formula is explained for geniuses at this link to the photographer Justin Mullins.

But what do I think? It's my blog.

Quantum entanglement, like action at a distance in physics, is the process through which two bodies influence each other with no known conduit. It is love at a distance, and Beto's love was more than 3,000 miles away. How can two people be so intimately connected in spirit without being able to touch or see the object of their affections? The formula itself cannot explain one of the deepest mysteries of the universe, love.

Is it possible to love at a distance- even before the first meeting? I know so. ..

---------------------------------------------------
ring designed by the betrothed duo, Eric Margry and Linda Hesh
engraving performed by Eric Margry
formula created by Justin Mullins

Meeting Edward C. Smith

2007-07-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

The gentleman knows the world before him. In an hour, you see American life differently. Edward C. Smith is a treasure, one of those rare human beings who alter your orbit and destiny in only a few minutes of an encounter. I filmed him with history teacher Mike Corey, with whom i am creating a show called "The Future of History" for the MemeChannel.

Exer- I mean- Exorcising Addictions

2007-07-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

Addiction- everyone has them. The question is, should they be exercised, or exorcized. We are always running toward or away from addictions when not immersed in them. My pilot crashes.

I never met heroin, but the video on addiction I am working on will be dedicated to Peter who overcame it, K1tten who is fighting it, and Jenne who died from it.

What the fuck does this duck want?

2007-07-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

Imprinting is a way of being defined by nature, or is it nurture? Mother, Nature, brands us all -- Anew. But in this bird's case, nature could be simply a really hungry belly . . .

My Life in somebody else's Universe

2007-06-30T05:45:00.000-07:00

If I ever get a million dollars, I will give part of it to Chris Doyle, who shot the mesmerizing "Last Life in the Universe." Director Pen-ek Ratanaruang says in the accompanying interview, that a location is every bit as important as the players and the script, and Doyle's camera brings you into the place, which then stays inside you for days after. I will be thinking about being in this hiding place of Pen-ek's and Doyle's for a long time, at least until next Wednesday, by which time my routine and route will have made me numb enough to consider watching something like Tom Cruise.

Last Life in the Universe