Monica Louise Bryant

Introducing My New Blog - Cinema In Color

2015-08-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow friends and readers. Today is a glorious day because I have found something that truly inspires me and I want you to join me on this journey. My blog has moved and evolved into something quite different from what I have started here. Please visit Cinema In Color and see what the fuss is all about. Thank you!

A Beautiful Day at the Park ft. Monica Bryant

2015-06-10T10:00:00.001-07:00

Before graduation last month, I sent out a plea to all my Facebook friends asking them if we could please collaborate on YouTube videos. There's such a wealth of talent in the art department at CSUN and I've been consistently amazed at how skilled people are. They're so quiet and humble about their talent that you don't even realize it's there until you stumble upon it like a little nugget of gold.

In my effort to find a job, I've been slacking off in the video-making department, but I definitely want to start again. I have plenty of songs and skits and Beth and Delilah shows inside me that desperately need to come out.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this video! There is more to come!

Reasons to be Happy

2015-05-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

I'd be totally lying if I said I haven't been feeling any form of post-grad depression. Yes, I know I made a video talking about how college was ruining my life and how I wished it was over. But now, things are different. I feel as if I spent the last two years crouched on a flotation device in the middle of the ocean, and now it's suddenly popped. I don't know how to swim, so there I am, slowly sinking and unsure if I can take care of myself.

But, in the midst of my ranting and crying and complaining, I've had to stop and remind myself that I should be happy that I have these fears and problems. So, here is an incomplete yet honest list of reasons I have to be happy.

1.) I'm happy I woke up this morning.

2.) I'm happy that I had food to eat and grape soda to drink.

3.) I'm happy I got to spend the entire day online, watching videos and blogging.

4.) I'm happy that I can apply for jobs online, in the comfort of my home, and not have to drive or walk around town to do it.

5.) I'm happy that I have loving parents and a boyfriend that care about me deeply.

6.) I'm happy that I have sight, vision and hearing.

7.) I'm happy that most of fears have never actually come true.

8.) I'm happy that I can list reasons to be happy.

These 8 things are not everything. Not even close. But I seriously get into these dark depressive moods that are hard to shake. I don't like letting it get this bad because it stops me from doing the important things that I should be doing, like LIVING.

What are you happy about?

Just One Thing

2015-05-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

Words.

I need them to form to make something valuable. Something concrete. The words don't come. Even when I call them, they don't come. I sit here, wondering, when will I make something that I can be proud of? Will I continue to add to the dreck in this world or can I create something wondrous?

I'm trying. Or, at least I think I'm trying. I think that I'm making huge strides because my laptop is powered on and I have a guide book. I think I'm making progress because my fingers are hitting keys and sentences are forming.

That doesn't even make sense. What does that even mean? And how am I supposed to make anything at all when I cringe at the sight of my own work. I read something I wrote and I hate it. I look at something I made and despise its existence. What do I do with that?

I'm hoarding little pieces of genius everywhere. Scraps of pages with half a verse of song and notebooks with half written stories. I don't finish anything. Afraid to complete the work because I think all my effort will be in vain.

The alternative then is to never finish anything. Instead of working hard, I'm hardly working. Instead of completing an imperfect piece of art, I'm collecting half-finished nothings.

I just want to finish one thing. I just want to get one thing done -- that's all. If I finish one thing, maybe that will inspire something inside me to get it all done. I just want to complete one thing before I perish. I don't need permission or a grade or credit. I just need the time and the space to finish.

I Love Coffee - Original Song [Free Download on SoundCloud]

2014-08-14T13:46:00.001-07:00

LYRICS: I LOVE COFFEE

Witten by: Monica Louise Bryant

Free Download HERE!

You can drink the wine

You can drink the beer

You can drink the soda, just don't bring it over here

Drink your V8, though you know its too saucy

I could drink one too, but I'd rather have coffee

I love coffee, and by the way

I drink it all night and I drink it all day

I got superhuman powers, I can stay awake

Give it to me boiling hot or make it cold like rain

I met a guy, he's a Barista

and he drinks a macchiato with his medium pizza

He works all day making drinks for strangers

but I get mine free because, "I'm the danger!"

I love coffee, hear me say

I make it myself and I have it my way

I don't consider consequences when I drink my brew

because I need all that caffeine to keep me up at school

So whether you're in college or a teacher or a mom

A doctor or a lawyer or a techie or a slob

A hipster, poet, waitress or you're homeless in the street

We all enjoy our coffee and we drink before we eat

Come on!

I love coffee, yes indeed

I need at least one before you talk to me

I have to drink a whole pot before I do my thang

Call me crazy if you want, but I drink to stay sane

I love coffee (4x)

I love coffee, more than life

I fell in love with it and I made it my wife

It doesn't matter if its instant or ground from beans

When I take that first sip I can achieve my dreams

So whether you're a pilot or a bookie or a dad

A military person or a high school grad

American, Armenian, Canadian or Jew

We all love coffee and it loves us too

Come on!

Courtesy of Google image search :)

Yes, I love coffee so much that I wrote a song about it. The lyrics are all mine but I got the audio track from YouTube. You can check out royalty free audio tracks and sound effects here.

The track I used is called "Mob Battle" by Silent Partner. They have some really awesome tracks you can download and use for free!

I hope you guys like my song! Stay tuned! In the coming weeks I'm going to upload a music video for "I Love Coffee." I'm working really hard to brainstorm some really cool and fun ideas. Subscribe to my channel (here) for more awesome content today! I make new videos every week!

I Hate College

2014-08-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

Lately, nothing stresses me out more than thinking about life after college. Lots of big questions have found a place to dwell inside my head and drive me crazy.

Where am I going to work?

Where am I going to live?

How am I going to pay back my student loans?

Will I be happy?

And of course, being as proactive as I am, I took steps to remedy this now before it becomes a problem.

I'm a theatre major. I want to act and write. I went auditions and was told I can't act because I'm too busy with college...as if they knew my life!

If I took the hours I spent watching Netflix last year alone and combined them, it was probably enough hours to have a part-time job.

I may be many things...BUSY is NOT one of them.

I realized the issue is not me, its everyone else. Nobody likes you when you're in college.

YouTube Tip - Make A Green Screen Out Of A Bed Sheet

2014-08-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

Its nice, but not required!

Every time I watched videos on YouTube, I'd see amazing green screen and then immediately become discouraged. How was I supposed to make videos like that? I can't afford a green screen kit and I don't have a spare wall in my small apartment to paint green.

Through numerous trials and errors, John and I were able to come up with a cheap and effective way to construct a green screen using a king size bed sheet we bought at Walmart.

Things You'll Need:

1.) A green bed sheet. You can get yours anywhere or use one you already own, (This will work, even if the sheet is faded from washing or a duller green) I used the king size flat sheet sold at Walmart for $14.99. [Don't use a silk or shiny sheet, use cotton!]

2.) Screw Mounts. I only have four because I lost the rest and was too cheap to get more. You can get a pack of six at Walmart for $9.22. They might be cheaper at Home Depot. Spend the least amount possible. You will need five for this project!

3.) Small binder clips. Most people have these lying around but if you don't, they're pretty cheap. You'll need a binder clip for each hook; a total of five. I find that the smaller ones give a tighter hold than the larger ones.

4.) A piece of yarn or rope cut a little shorter than the length of your sheet.

5.) Thumb-tacks.

6.) Tape.

7.) Most importantly, you'll need a friend (or parent) to help you!

STEPS:

1.) Find a place where your sheet can hang with enough space around it to film. I hang mine against the closet.

2.) Fold the string in half two times and stick a piece of tape around every bend and also both ends. This will help you space the hooks equally along the line.

3.) Tack the yarn onto the ceiling in the three spaces where the tape is and both ends. It will serve as a guide to keep your hooks straight. You may have to stand on a stool so be careful and ask for help!

4.) Place a screw hook facing outward in front of each piece of tape on the string plus both ends.

5.) Hang a binder clip from each hook. You're almost done!

6.) Now, clip the sheet evenly into the binder clips from the thickest side.

See how mine sags in the center? I need a fifth clip!

You're done! You have a cheap green screen that is easy to assemble and put away when you're done!

TIPS:

*If you're looking to get full body shots, you get a smaller sheet to use on the floor. Just place one end under the hanging sheet and roll it out.

*Lighting and distance in key! Try to film with as much space between the sheet and your subject as possible. Also, light the sheet evenly and back-light your subject to keep them from having a green halo in post.

*If you're finding that your sheet just isn't green enough, you can always make it greener in post using the color settings in your editing software. Dress your subject in red to make this process easier.

Here is my latest video shot using this green screen set-up.

I really hope this technique helps. I realize that it might not work for everyone; if you have really high ceilings or ceilings made from an impenetrable material it might be impossible. Let me know if you've discovered ways to get around this.

If you have any suggestions, questions or tips, just leave a comment below.

Thank you, and happy green screening!

Why Don't You Vlog About Your Life?

2014-07-28T16:26:00.001-07:00

The other day someone asked me, "Why don't you vlog about your life?"

I paused because...my life is personal. And besides, who wants to hear me talk about my life?

In addition to that, should I put my personal life on display for all to see? We know all too well that once something reaches the infinite corners of the Internet, it cannot be erased, denied or forgotten.

Putting those thoughts aside, I will say that my life off camera can be tumultuous one, just like anyone else. I suffer from stints of depression ( like most people do) that don't just go away by faking a smile. I have to actively (and tirelessly) pull myself out of it (over and over again) and that's hard. Do people want to hear about that?

Do they want to watch a 3 to 5 minute video of me talking about how I make myself happy when I feel sad or how much I hate college? Do they want to hear me talk about what it's like to pursue your BA degree in your thirties???

Those are the things I would talk about. Now that I've typed them out, they don't seem so bad. Perhaps it would be nice to get a glimpse inside the real me. Perhaps I should offer something more on my channel than characters and parodies. I'm real and I appreciate others who are real. (And I actually DO watch other people's vlogs, provided they talk about REAL subjects and not just superficial things.)

Ok. I guess this is me saying, I'll give it a chance. Maybe this week, or next, look for an Honest Vlog on my channel ------> HERE.

The Beth & Delilah Show

2014-07-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

I've ventured into something new. Well, it's not exactly new. It's something I've been doing for a long time now but I recently decided to give it a real chance.

What is this thing I've decided to do? The Beth & Delilah Show.

I started making Delilah Shows way back in 2005. YouTube was a very new thing back then; so new that it would be another two years before I even heard of it.

I would record these little shows of my dolls walking and talking and insulting each other on Hi8 video tapes in my Sony camcorder.

I showed the videos to everyone and people pretty much thought I was a weirdo (big shocker). I had fun and I didn't really want to stop.

When I got my first YouTube account in 2007, I uploaded Delilah Shows regularly. They didn't catch on because, who wants to watch talking dolls insult each other?

Eventually I had to take the videos down anyway because I was using music that I wasn't supposed to for the intros and outros. Back then, YouTube's archaic copyright system left me with a bunch of muted videos.

I got a new channel, made live action videos and moved on, but there was still a place in my heart that wanted to make Delilah Shows. I made a few videos and they were never really popular with people.

Last month I decided, I don't care if no one ever watches them. They make me happy. I've been told I should stop and that they're terrible, but I don't care. I'd rather make something that makes me happy. If you want to give The Beth & Delilah Show a chance. Go ahead!

Episode 1: Delilah gets therapy.

Episode 2: Beth & Delilah celebrate gay pride month.

Episode 3: Beth & Delilah have opposing viewpoints on doll equality.

Episode 4: Beth disappeared in a fit of anger but the show must go on...sort of.

Episode 5: Beth sets Delilah straight.

Episode 6 will be out July 24, 2014 at 6am PDT and you can click here to make sure you don't miss it. Beth & Delilah interview Optimus Prime!

KFC RAP SONG

2014-07-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

I worked at KFC for ten years and all I have to show for it is this rap song I made up one day.

Please like, subscribe and share!

I'm Wasting the Best Years of My Life in College

2014-07-05T14:02:00.002-07:00

This summer has given me a lot of time to think about my life goals and where I'm headed. I've had a lot of time to self-reflect and sort of check in to see if I'm still on track to my original goals.

I would say that I am, but the present is starting to look quite a bit different than what I thought it would look like. I had a lot of preconceived notions about college life before I ever set foot on campus. I assumed college would be a place filled with endless opportunities and supportive administration, however I'm finding the opposite to be true.

College has turned into that full time job that I dread going to. I dream of the day when I'll be finished for good so I can get started on my real dreams. Instead of launching me forward, I feel like college has just held me back.

Whether my degree is useless or not, college was something I felt strongly about. I can't deny the fact that I'm definitely better off now than I was ten years ago, but I refuse to be satisfied. There's always room for improvement.

I guess what the point I'm trying to make is that I'm eager to get on to the next thing. I'm an impatient person and I work fast so I expect immediate results. The best way I can explain it is when I finish an assignment for a class that is due at a certain time (with no exceptions) I expect the assignment to be graded and promptly returned to me with the same haste. This almost never happens but I still can't get over the frustration.

I had high expectations for this "Institution of Higher Learning." There was a time that University is all I talked about. I worked so hard to get here only to find out that it's not really living up to what I imagined.

Being a transfer student has its perks and disadvantages. The biggest perk is that I won't be in quite as much debt as the people who started as freshmen. The downside of this is getting credits to match up and getting professors and administration to care about my fate.

I don't know what it's like to be an adopted teenager, but I feel like being a transfer student in a room full of freshmen might feel like trying to get adopted at 14 when all the couples want infants.

I haven't learned anything significant in my classes. The education I'm receiving doesn't match half the things I learned at my community college. I guess I just thought there would be more. It's like I waited in line all night for a live show only to realize the artist is lip syncing.

Maybe our college degrees don't help us get jobs because we don't actually learn anything. I was lucky enough to delay college until my mid twenties. Doing this allowed me to get "real world" experiences that college simply can't teach you.

Professors of the world: Just because you assign reading doesn't mean you've taught anything!

If I can educate myself just reading, what do I need school for? Why am I in thousands of dollars worth of debt? It's a fucked system and now I'm beginning to understand all those people who protested college. Had they given concrete reasons instead of the tired, "You don't need a degree to be successful" spiel, then perhaps I would have listened.

Why I Stopped Self-Submitting to LA Casting and Backstage

2014-06-29T19:04:00.002-07:00

Today is a day of liberation. I cancelled my subscriptions to Backstage and LA Casting.

But why? Don't you want to be an actress? Don't you want to find those opportunities that other people miss out on? Aren't you serious about your career?

Yes, I am serious. All the more reason to cancel those subscriptions that leave me at the mercy of whoever it is sitting on the other end of the line. My acting career will be not be destroyed or defined by how many auditions for low budget SAG projects I can procure. Nor will I subject myself to endless hours of sitting in front of the computer clicking away until I find something that "fits" me.

How do these sites benefit me? I have to pay $20 a month for a service that gives me access to acting gigs that pay nothing. My money doesn't guarantee me a job. It doesn't even guarantee me an audition. (Speaking of which, WHY AM I PAYING TO AUDITION? This is worse than gambling!)

I'm tired of scrolling through casting calls asking for real people. If you want "real people," get off LA Casting! It's a site for ACTORS. It's a site for people who want to play CHARACTERS. If you're looking for REAL PEOPLE, stand outside a Walmart!

I'm tired of of reading the same stagnant descriptions over and over again. It's always music videos, sexy girls, bikini models, nudity, reality TV and game shows. Do you want to be an audience member? You can sit in our audience but you have to be upscale with a hot body, 18 to look younger.

These are not acting jobs. These are people taking advantage of actors who are desperate for exposure; because we grow up in an industry that tells us we're worth nothing so we better say yes yes yes, no matter how demeaning the job!

Don't post a casting notice asking for people with special skills and abilities and you're paying nothing. Stop asking people to work long hours and have "good acting chops" when no one has ever heard of you or your company. Who do you think you are?

We, as actors, need to ban together and tell these sites and these people to go fuck themselves.

Just because you're a new actor or a young actor doesn't mean you don't deserve respect and the chance to do real work. Sitting in an audience for ten hours or dancing next to some rapper wearing a bikini by the pool is not acting.

I'm going to finish college and continue to do my own thing. That's the only thing that has ever really worked for me anyway.

3 Ideas on How to Brainstorm YouTube Video Ideas

2014-01-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

So, you want to make YouTube videos?

Awesome! So...what kind should you make?

I don't know.

I've seriously had that conversation with myself before. I wanted to grasp this whole "YouTube" thing and had no friggin idea where to get and idea.

So I did the only thing I could possible do...I made fun of making videos. Back when I made my first "Out of Ideas" video, there wasn't a lot going on in YouTube Land, so it was a struggle. I never thought I'd make a video like that again because, who would repeat an old idea? Lucky for me, YouTube is full of stuff to poke fun at. This is the second video I made.

So what do YOU do if you want to make a video but the creative juices just aren't flowing?

1.) Take an old idea and make it new again:
Remember those "Dear Body" videos that got popular years back? Or, most recently, the "Draw My Life" videos. Why not do that but add your own spin. Take something that's been done to death and flip it on its head.

2.) Make fun of something idiotic:
Of course not everyone will see eye-to-eye with you, but that's not the point. Cover something that you think is stupid and explain WHY it's stupid.

3.) Personify inanimate objects:
What would your laptap say if it could talk? What about your dirty laundry or the stove? Go nuts!

That's enough to get started. Just remember, there's no new idea under the sun. Don't worry about originality - that will come when you add your own voice. In the meantime, enjoy my new video!

5 Ways to Boost Your YouTube Success

2014-01-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Starting from the bottom is hard. However, staying on the bottom is surprisingly easy if you don't treat your channel or viewers with the respect they deserve. I've seen people make the stupidest mistakes when they first started and I hope you'll be smarter than they were. Here's a few things to help you out.

1.) Thank Your Subscribers Individually:
Do you know how happy I was when I subscribed to someone's channel only to have them thank me in a comment on my page? I was VERY happy. You can change your settings on YouTube to get email notifications when people subscribe to you. Get those notifications and thank the people who subscribe! Also, if they make videos, watch a few and leave some comments. YouTube is about community so pitch in and keep it thriving.

2.) Respond to Comments and Questions:
You can thank people for compliments and answer their questions directly in the comments. Don't be lazy, do it! That's the whole point!

3.) Like and Share Other People's Videos Outside YouTube:
Do you have Twitter and Facebook or some other social sharing site? I hope so! If you do, share other people's videos! In addition to making new friends, you'll continue to make your channel look "lived in." I love going to a channel and seeing that the person watches other people's videos and shares them and so will your viewers.

4.) Share Your Videos With Like-Minded People:
Did you make a cover or a parody of a popular song? Did you vlog about a recent event in national news? Share it with other people who have made similar videos. Leave a comment on their video or tweet them. You'll be glad you did.

5.) Don't Be Afraid to Shamelessly Self-Promote:
You are your best representative. Don't be ashamed to tweet and post your video on your other social-networking sites. There is such a thing as over posting which can get annoying, but a friendly daily reminder or two about your video is ok. Even some of the most famous people on Twitter self-promote. If you're shy about it, get un-shy. It's something you're going to have to do throughout your career.

I hope these tips help! I do realize that the bigger your channel is, responding to comments might become harder. Just do the best you can with what you have and remember to stay thankful!

5 Tips on How to Make Time for YouTube

2014-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

"I want to make videos, but I don't have time."

"I used to make videos, but they're so time-consuming."

"I haven't made a video in a long time because I don't have time."

I've heard all the aforementioned excuses and have even used them myself. Most of us have full-time jobs or attend college or both and it's hard to make videos. But if making videos is truly your passion, you need to make time!

If you're feeling pressured to make videos because you promised you'd upload once a week, leaving it for the last minute could prove detrimental. Assuming that you're not completely lazy and you actually take pride in the videos you make, you want to upload something of quality. Here's 5 tips that will help you do just that!

1.) Grab a Blank Calendar:
Seriously, get one. This calendar will be dedicated to your videos. You aren't allowed to write anything in it that's not dedicated to YouTube.

2.) Circle the Day(s) You Plan to Upload:
If you're uploading every Friday, circle all the Fridays. Write the word "UPLOAD" in these boxes as a way to remind yourself that you have a responsibility to this deadline.

3.) Plan for the Week:
You might already have an idea for what kind of video you want to upload. Assuming that it takes more than a day, break up your project into smaller pieces. For example, if you're uploading on Friday, spend Monday through Thursday scripting, shooting and editing. Write down a task each day that will help get the video done and spend as much time doing it as you can. Two hours a day over the course four days is better than one long eight-hour day (unless you have that kind of time).

4.) Plan Ahead:
On the day you upload, start brainstorming your next video idea. Already have it? Break it up into pieces and work on it through the week.

5.) Don't Feel Bad About Taking a Break:
Seriously, you're not a robot and even machines break down. Sometimes you just don't feel like uploading. We get it. The people who love your videos will stick around even if you don't upload when you said you would. I guess what I'm trying to say is, DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. If you're busy or you truly just aren't inspired, don't worry, the viewers will be there when you get back. In the meantime, use Twitter to stay connected.

Here's a sample schedule you can modify to your needs:

MONDAY - Work on "Valley Girl" script (1 hour)
TUESDAY - Finish "Valley Girl" script (30 minutes)
WEDNESDAY - Shoot 1st half (2 hours)
THURSDAY - Shoot second half (2 hours)
FRIDAY - Edit/Upload (4 hours)
SATURDAY - Brainstorm New Video Idea (1 hour)
SUNDAY - Take a much deserved break!

TOTAL TIME: 10.5 hours

The moral of the story is: Spread your project out to make it more manageable. Videos are fun but they are work. Treat them like work and schedule them.

I hope this helps!

5 Ways to Make Your Vlogs More Interesting

2014-01-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

So I started making YouTube videos on my goodmonica channel back in 2007 on a whim. I was fed up with my job at KFC but wasn't in a position to quit. YouTube became a way for me to relieve my work stress. I had seen a view videos from some of my favorite channels at the time like TheWineKone and CommunityChannel and I thought, hey I can do that too! I mostly made videos with my Cabbage Patch dolls. I called it, The Delilah Show, and it wasn't really catching on, at least not like I wanted it to. A year later I made a new channel, called myself "m0brya" and uploaded my first skit that featured me. My actual self. It was different.

Skits are great. YouTube is full of skits and pranks and stunts but there's another kind of video that I don't have a lot of experience with. It's video blogging, or vlogging. I've seen these videos where people sit down and talk about their lives and it's fascinating sometimes. There are other times when people are so boring you'd rather slit your wrist than keep watching. But then there's the other people. Those special few who just get it. I don't have a lot of experience making vlogs (which I hope to change) but I do watch them. Here's 5 ways you can make your vlogs more interesting.

5.) Be Relate-able:
Some of the best vlogs I've ever seen were ones I could relate to. We all have awkward moments. We all get embarrassed. We all have weird experiences at school or on the bus. Talk about those things. Chances are, the people watching you have had similar experiences. Please don't sit there and talk about how bored you are or how you're making a video because you haven't made a video in a long time and blah blah blah. Nobody wants to see that.

4.) Limit Jump-Cuts:
Sloppy editing is definitely frowned upon in the YouTube community but similarly, don't edit yourself into visual suicide. You don't need to be in a different place on the screen for every word you utter. Of course there are exceptions to this rule like if you're adding dramatic effect or you want to drive a point but you don't have to completely mutilate your sentences. If you have to resort to cheap tricks to keep people interested then maybe it's your topic that needs a change.

3.) Show Don't Tell:
One of my major pet peeves are vloggers who insist on telling me about an event instead of just showing the event! If you're going to scout locations for a short film or go shopping for supplies, take your camera with you! At the least take pictures. I don't want to hear about how cool something looked - I want to see it for myself! I understand there are times when you can't record, but try to capture as much as you can when possible. We're living in selfie culture. Embrace it!

2.) If You Can't Actually Show Us, Act It Out:
There's also the vlog-skit-vlog approach that never gets old if done correctly. Sometimes, you just don't have your camera handy. Other times a camera may not be allowed. That's ok! Just put in a little extra effort to film a short skit of the situation. Skits give vlogs variety and it also draws the viewer in, making them feel as if they were with you when it happened. Try it!

1.) No Topic Is Off Limits:
I think this is one of the most important things you can remember. The cool thing about vlogs is that you can talk about whatever you want as long as you care about it. Nothing cool happened today? That's perfectly fine! Talk about an event from the past, anything. It could be a movie or something that happened at school or the time you broke your leg. And don't limit yourself to that either. Talk about the future and where you hope to be in five years. The sky is the limit!! Don't be afraid to let people get to know who you really are. I mean, isn't that the point?

I hope these tips help. Of course they aren't the "be all, end all" and I certainly don't know everything. These are just things that interest me when I choose vlogs to watch.

Versace - Migos ft Drake

2014-01-10T05:20:00.000-08:00

I pretty much made up the chords to this cover. Scroll down for my cover video and the original song. I only did a portion of it because it's a looooooong song! Enjoy!!

G Em C Am

Versace, Versace, Medusa head on me like I'm 'luminati

This is a gated community; please get the fuck off the property

Rap must be changing cause I'm at the top and ain't no one on top of me

Niggas be wanting a verse for a verse, but man that's not a swap to me

C Am C D

Drowning in compliments, pool in the backyard that look like Metropolis

G Em C Am

I think I'm sellin' a million first week, man I guess I'm a optimist

Born in Toronto but sometimes I feel like Atlanta adopted us

C Am C D

What the fuck is you talkin' 'bout? Saw this shit comin' like I had binoculars

G Em C Am

Boy, Versace, Versace, we stay at the mansion when we in Miami

The pillows' Versace, the sheets are Versace, I just won a Grammy

I've been so quiet, I got the world like "What the fuck is he planning?"

Just make sure that you got a back up plan cause that shit might come in handy

C Am C D

Started a label, the album is comin' September, just wait on it

G Em C Am

Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace

Chronicles of the Dead: Season 2, Episode 3, "The Turncoats"

2013-09-13T13:47:00.001-07:00

This is EPISODE 3. Be sure to check out 1 & 2!

http://www.youtube.com/chroniclesofthedead

Chronicles of the Dead: Season 2, Episode 1 "Betrayal"

2013-08-30T19:04:00.001-07:00

Why is Harriet Tubman A Trending Topic in 2013?

2013-08-16T03:42:00.001-07:00

"This is our only chance for freedoms."

I don't usually jump on the bandwagon when it comes to Twitter fights, but as a black woman and a YouTuber, I feel the need to voice the opinions swirling in my head.

The drama began when Russell Simmons uploaded a video titled "Harriet Tubman Sextape" to his Def Comedy Jam channel. The video, starring Shanna Malcolm (as Tubman) and DeStorm Power (as a fellow slave), swept over the black community like a tidal wave.

When asked to remove the video and apologize, he did. But many people feel his apology wasn't sincere. The fact that Simmons also removed the video hasn't stopped it from popping up on other YouTube channels.

Is the black community being too sensitive or was the reaction just as it should have been? Does anyone remember this video uploaded by TheSecondCityNetwork in 2010? "Harriet Tubman: The Sexiest Abolitionist."

It certainly didn't receive the backlash that Russell Simmons got. And this is my point. Lots of people on YouTube joke about sensitive subjects. They're jokes. I have joked about slavery myself in this video and I wear whiteface in this one. Is it okay because we're not popular? If I had a million subscribers, would I be forced to apologize and take videos down if people didn't share my humor?

There's a deeper part of me that also feels like people use "just kidding" as a blanket. You can do or say whatever you want to another person as long as you tag 'just kidding' at the end. It's wrong, but we all do it, don't we? Can we really point fingers at each other and say who is wrong? Is there a right and wrong way to make a parody? I'll be the first to admit the video wasn't funny, but I can respond by not watching again and not subscribing. Who am I to tell someone who doesn't know me to apologize? Why should I even be offended in the first place? I would be a hypocrite to do so.

I think maybe we need to just pipe the fuck down and stop being so sensitive. Forcing someone, even a celebrity, to make adjustments for you (when you probably don't give two fucks about them anyway) is just stupid.

When You Don't Have A "Plan B"

2013-08-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

A leap of faith

I did it. After all this time. All the waiting and hoping and praying. All the times I failed math and re-took it. All the times I cried and envied other people. I finally moved out of my parent's house to pursue my bachelor's degree in theatre. Finally.

But why do I feel so weird? It's not culture shock because LA has the same shit that Banning and Beaumont had...but there's some other nagging feeling. I walked to the 99 cent store with John looking for hot chocolate when I realized what's been bothering me the last 14 days:

I don't have a "Plan B."

But that's okay, right? Having a backup plan is for pussies, right? If you're going to do something, do it! Like Dr. Frank-N-Furter says, "Don't dream it. Be it."

But those things are easier said than done. I'm a 100 miles away from home, tens of thousands of dollars in debt and I'm hanging by a thread. Or at least, that's how it feels.

I'm here to learn and create. I'm here to start a REAL career as a writer and actress. I want to do internships and meet as many people as I can so we can help each other achieve our goals.

I know I'll make it if I just keep believing and working hard like I've been doing. That's how I got to where I am now. I kept working and I didn't give up no matter how bleak everything seemed.

I think another reason I feel weird about it is because it didn't come at a time where I was desperate for it. It came when the time was right. I was watching How to Lose Friends and Alienate People with John last night and a conversation Simon Pegg's character has with Megan Fox's struck me:

Sydney Young: What's it like to be famous?

Sophie Maes: Weird. It's happening so fast. It's like it has nothing to do with me. It's like I'm not even here.

It just struck me. As if...I was always going to transfer and move away from home whether I wanted to or not. Because I wanted it to happen, it did.

I don't know, that's probably just my weirdo brain being weirdo. Whatever.

The point is, I'm here now. And in the famous words of RuPaul, "Don't fuck it up!"

10 Things Movies Can Teach You

2013-07-19T08:22:00.001-07:00

Here's a list of shit that you should probably already know but in case no one ever taught you, these movies will.

1.) If you're going to venture into the wilderness alone...TELL SOMEONE!

2.) If someone calls you on the phone, says he's a cop, then proceeds to ask you do HIS job...HANG UP!

3.) Don't let your small children walk to/from school alone!

4.) Don't go to ATM machines at night. OR, if you do go to an ATM at night, don't be a pussy about it!

5.) Don't ever babysit. Get a job at McDonald's if you need money that bad.

6.) Don't write other people's suicide notes.

7.) Take the blue pill.

8.) Don't kill someone's mom.

9.) If you don't love her, DON'T MARRY HER!

10.) Never EVER give up your humanity.

10 Things Every Only Child Will Understand

2013-07-18T04:06:00.001-07:00

Consider having a second child...please!

While being an only child can have its perks, it also has its setbacks!!

10.) Taking the Blame Every Time: Anytime something goes missing or breaks and you did it, YOU did it. No little brother or sister to place the blame on.

9.) You’re Lonely: As an only child you better get good at making friends. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time alone. A LOT of time. Imaginary friends anyone?

8.) People Think You're Weird: Because you ARE! You've spent a lot of time by yourself and being around other people is awkward. You're probably either really shy, extremely introverted, or extroverted to the point where it scares people. Maybe you're all three!

7.) People Assume You’re Spoiled: Just because you’re an only child doesn’t mean you get everything you want. People love to assume you get showered with toys and money and attention but it just isn’t true.

6.) You Could Lose Your Family Name: This mostly applies to girls who will marry and take their spouses last name. Even if you keep your maiden name, your kids will have different last names than you.

5.) More Pressure to Have Kids: If you're an only child and you don't procreate, your immediate family ends with you! It's a sad thought.

4.) If You Die Before Your Parents: Unless your parents are young enough to have another kid or they adopt, that's the end of your immediate family anyway! Isn't that fucking sad?

3.) You Secretly or Publicly Wish You Had Siblings Only to Have People Tell You That You're Lucky You Don't: Sure...maybe I'm lucky at Christmas when all the presents under the tree are for me, but I'd rather have brothers and sisters!

2.) You’ll never be an Aunt/Uncle: Thanks, mom and dad, for ruining my chances of having a niece or nephew. Oh no, I enjoy being all alone. Thanks a lot!

1.) You have to Care for Aging Parents All By Yourself: In the old days, couples would have lots of children so that they had a better chance of being taken care of when got old. Unless they already died or you or your spouse is rich, as an only child you’ve inherited the SOLE responsibility of taking care of your parents in their old age. Good luck doing that if you're poor or have tons of debt. Thanks mom and dad! Thanks a LOT!

Bitter you say? I'm not bitter at all!

I Think I'm In Serious Trouble

2013-06-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

I have a big problem on my hands and I think Emilie Wapnick might be partially to blame. Don't get me wrong, she's a great person, but she's got me thinking I can do everything and that it's okay. The truth is that I've been feeling a little scared for a while and I've figured out why. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE.

There it is. I said it.

I don't know what I want to do with my life.

It's almost a relief that I can admit that. I've been struggling with it for a long time, but it's the truth. It's been coming for a while but it finally hit me just now while I was trying to apply for a job at NBCUniversal. They have a multitude of internships that are open to people like me. The only problem is that my resume is a real piece of shit. I only have three things listed and that's Ann Taylor, KFC and the publicist job I did for the Masqueraders club when I was in office in 2010.

The next step would be to write a new resume, but what do I put on it? Penelope Trunk says that you should write your resume for the job that you want. Problem is, I don't know what job I want. This is the thing I hate about being a grown-up. When you're a kid, everyone tells you that you can do anything you want. It's only when you grow up that you find out it's all bullshit and you can't do anything you want. What we really should be telling kids is that you can do some things that you want some of the time.

For a long time, I wanted to be a novelist like Stephen King or Chuck Palahniuk. I would spend hours in my room typing out what I thought was the next great American novel. I still have my rejection letters somewhere.

After that, I wanted to be an actress. I would come home from working at KFC and stay up all night shooting and editing videos. I uploaded them to YouTube and people got a real kick out of them sometimes. I thought I'd get famous and have lots of money. Eventually, I went back to college and got too busy to make videos. Besides that, technology was changing fast and I got intimidated by the quality of video everyone else had and I gave up for a while. I still upload videos sometimes.

While I was at MSJC, I studied theatre but somehow got sucked into dance. Dancing was fun and a lot of hard work and it's kind of the little sister to theatre. I ended up double majoring and doing a bunch of plays and concerts and things. I had a great time doing it for fun, but I know how competitive it is in the real world and I don't love it enough to pursue hardcore.

This is getting painful to write. I don't want to give up on my dreams...however outlandish they may seem. I want to write and produce an amazing web series...but where do you get a REAL job doing that? Should I change my major from theatre to communications so that people can know I'm serious? I don't know what to do and I don't know who to ask. I really feel alone and scared.

It's almost silly because I thought that I would have everything figured out by now. When you're a kid, grown-ups seem in control. They have all answers even if they don't want to give them to you because you're too young to hear it. But then you grow up and you find out the truth. Everyone is lost and nobody knows what they're doing. And somewhere far away, deep in a forest, there's a place called Happiness and everyone is trying to get to it.

This shouldn't be this hard. It can't be this hard. Someone please tell me I'm making a big deal out of nothing and that the answer is simple. I wrote a resume for John about a month ago. It was a writer/director resume. I listed everything he had done and all the awards and recognition he'd gotten. I tried to make him look like he knew what he was doing when it came to writing and directing. It was easy. So why can't I do that for myself? Maybe I should ask him what I'm good at. He'd probably say, "Everything, except cooking."

I think I wrote this blog to put off writing my resume because I don't know what to say in it. I really really don't.

:(

I'm About to Be 30 Years Old and I Go To College!

2013-06-01T00:28:00.001-07:00

I'm watching this on my b-day!

Okay, just so you know, I'm not here to bitch about turning 30. I'm happy to be turning 30 and I hope I get many many more birthdays.

What I'm here to bitch about is people trying to tell me how to live my life. I graduated from community college last year and this fall I'm transferring to CSUN as a theatre major.

Everyone has a fucking opinion.

"What are you going to do with a theatre degree?"

"College is expensive."

Oh really, asshole?

Let me address the first one. Do you think you're going to get anywhere in life if you just do the bare minimum? A degrees isn't going to do the work for you. A degree gets you in the door but it doesn't beat the competition for you. If all you're in college for is a degree then you're wasting your time. You have to do other things while you're in school to make you stand out. You have to go out and get the opportunities because they aren't going to land at your feet. I fully intend to get involved, look for internships and network as MUCH as I can just like I did at the community college.

And the second rebuttal I get. College is expensive. Fuck yeah it is. If you want something of value, you gotta pay for it. Who wants to cheap their way through life and get everything handed to them? You have to spend money to make money. Besides, what's the alternative? Keep living at home with my parents in this small town and work at the mall? I don't think so. I'm trying to make things happen for myself and it isn't going to get done while I'm stuck here.

I'm comfortable with the choices I've made. I'm not getting any younger and I promised myself that I would go to school. You don't need college? Fine. Don't go. I'm sick of everyone using Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as examples (more like excuses) to skip college. Bill and Steve were motivated self-starters. The people who say that haven't done shit with their lives but they fucking LOVE to try and tell me something. I work really hard to make things happen for myself and if somehow I create a career out of Chronicles of the Dead, I won't hesitate to leave CSUN and be among those special people who didn't need a degree.

If it's a mistake, then it's my mistake to make.

That's all for now, goodnight.