Independent Streak Magazine -- May/ June 2016 by Rachel Galvin

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BI-MONTHLY

Cy n d i Lau p er t ak es a " Det o u r " Drift Spa is a hidden gem SNAPS at PBI FF

Dir. Dan Jenski talks " ADDicted" Tal e nt e d t e e n: Vi c t o r i a Vi da

Jacqueline Journey makes next move St u de nt s j u mp i nt o f i l m w o r l d

Behind the scenes: " Boyfriend Killer" Fi l m Car pe t 7 .0 i s c o mi ng www.independentstreakmagazine.com

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Jacquel ine Journey Becomes COO of Carol co Pict ures Jacqueline Journey is known for films like "Hidden Assets", which she wrote, directed and starred in. That film went on to Palm Beach International Film Festival, the Super Geek Film Festival (where it won Best Film) and others, including the Cannes Film Festival. She played Karen Stark on NBC's "Friday Night Lights" and was in many other films as well as an actress. As a producer, she has created award-winning live concerts, documentaries, series and high profile interviews with multiple celebrities reaching a global audience. She worked with three 24 hour music and entertainment networks: Hit Video USA (bought out by Viacom International), TMZ, The Music Zone (a partnership 1 with TCI/ Liberty) and most recently ME Television (a

partnership with Time Warner) where she was recruited as Vice President and Executive Producer. Her latest venture is working as COO of Carolco Pictures, an American independent film production company producing such blockbuster successes as "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Basic Instinct," "Total Recall," "LA Story"' "Chaplin," the first three films of the "Rambo" series and many more. They also have a production company subsidiary, High Five Entertainment, which has won four Emmy Awards. Congrats on your newest venture, Jacqueline! For more info. on Jacqueline, visit www.jacqueline-journey.com. For more on Carolco, visit www.carolcofilms.com.

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Let t er f rom t he Publ isher Did you ever play "Mother, May I?" Do you remember being a child and having to ask permission for everything? How often do you feel like you are still doing just that? It may not be a parental unit that you are literally asking. Perhaps, you are asking yourself or asking the universe. Why do you feel you still need to get permission 1 to live your life? Now may be the time to break that habit and give yourself permission to live your best life. I wish you the best! Ph ot o by Talin a Adam o

St ay i n -t h e-k n o w : SEE ARCHIVES ... - www.independent st reakmagazine.com

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--Rachel Gal vin

I am currently seeking writers and advertisers. If you are interested, email me at writerrachel@yahoo.com.

Cont act us at writ errachel @yahoo.com

Any times mentioned in the magazine are Eastern Standard Time (EST) unless noted otherwise. The publisher does not necessarily endorse any advertisements in the mag.

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Lights, Camera, Action! An Inside Look Filmmakers: In Our Backyard By Nil e Fort ner

As film director, editor and producer, Robert Wise (director of West Side Story), once said, ?the three P?s of filmmaking are: passion, patience and perseverance. You have to do this if you got to be a filmmaker.? I always wondered what a majority of general individuals think when they hear the term filmmaker? To most people, a filmmaker is perhaps

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someone who simply just makes a movie. On the other hand, film production students at Broward College, including myself, consider ourselves more than just some individuals who want to make a movie. We consider ourselves artists, writers, storytellers and students with goals. I always believe that there is always more than just ?seeing a movie." Sure, movies are defined as moving images telling a story. Nevertheless, have you ever asked, ?Why do I like movies? What goes on behind them? Who are all those people during the closing credits, and why do they matter?? Well, we learn all that and more at Broward College's new film program. Before we get to write "Take one" on the slate and yell marker, we learn the aspects of lighting, mise en scene (placement of props, the arrangement of scenery and stage properties, the setting or surroundings of an event or action), cinematography, storyboarding, screenwriting, camera techniques, editing, just to name a few. When most people hear filmmaking and movies, they get all excited and believe it?s all fun and games, and they would like to play movie making too. But, trust me, as a student in this field, I?m telling you a lot of energy and time go into this special art form. As Spike Lee (Director of "Do the Right Thing" and his most recent film "Chiraq") put it, ?Making films has got to be one of the hardest endeavors known to human kind.? It includes everything from 12 or more hour shoots, rewriting, reworking, hours editing and constant changes

happen. We put up with it simply because we get to not only make a movie, but show our talents, dedications,... We get to bond, feel a part of history and know the value of hard work, and have some playful fun. Maybe Robert Wise should add another P in his three P?s of filmmaking for "playful," just saying. No movie is created without the right supplies. We have a variety of supplies we use for creating our films, such as lighting and grip kits, a green screen, sound kits, c ? stands, lens kit, filter and frames. Sound may not look important or all that fun, but it?s part of a very important process. For example, can you imagine a Michael Bay (Director of the "Transformers" series) movie without sound? It?s pretty much cake without the frosting. Our professor makes sure everyone learns what he or she needs to, and how to apply it in the working world.

He encourages students to find film sets in South Florida/ our local area, go to film festivals [and events] (such as FilmGate and FLIFF) and simply get out there. Pam Grier (the lead actress in "Foxy Brown") said, ?Each time you do a film, you gain a lot of experience and you build a visual resume.? Our professor highly encourages us to build a visual resume. Camera lenses determine the overall look. For instance, a wide lens equals a wide/ establishing shot. There is a ton of useful knowledge, filmmakers and students have to learn, before they say lights, camera, action! These students, these future filmmakers, are right here in our backyard.

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Drif t Beaut y & Wel l ness Spa A little piece of heaven in our own backyard By Rachel Gal vin

South Florida residents will want to know about this gem I found! Nestled in the Harbor Shops in Ft. Lauderdale, FL is a little piece of heaven called Drift Beauty & Wellness Spa. Located upstairs from Coco's, this full service salon and spa is a great getaway from the day to day grind, a place to unwind, relax and pamper yourself. It's also a place to rejuvenate yourself as their treatments are clinical based, yet with all the ?feel good touches? you need to leave refreshed and renewed. Sophie Allemand, Richard Director of Yenchesky & Cindy Kosor Operations and licensed esthetician Cindy Kosor aims to understand her 5 clients needs hands-on and by using

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state-of-the-art technology. In order to get a better look at the client's skin, she can utilize the Pear 3D Skin Analysis to get a non-invasive view beneath the surface. This simple technique gives a microscopic 3-D look to show wrinkles, UV radiation damage, oil, bacteria, pigment and skin tone, and clogged pores that are invisible to the naked eye, all conditions that could create a more visible problem in the future. This thorough machine allows Cindy to create a customized treatment plan for each patient. Those wanting to improve the look, feel and health of their face can get one of many different types of facials which

Pear 3D Skin Analysis

Before

After

can do anything from lightening, brightening and lifting the skin to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They can speed up cellular turnover, treat pigmentation and produce collagen growth in a variety of ways. Each facial is geared toward different concerns and each process is customized for the client. Try the Anti-Aging Peel with Pumpkin and feel imbued with a feeling of comfort that only fall can bring as the peel does its tingling magic. Inside this potion is Bilberry, a super anti-oxident that strengthens the skin, as well as providing the exfoliating qualities of sugar cane, and moisturizing and anti-aging properties of sugar maple. A zing of orange and lemon stimulates collagen while Bisabolol calms the skin down with anti-inflammatory properties. Meanwhile, Willow Bark, an antimicrobial, reduces breakouts and Beta-Carotene improves tone and elasticity. What really makes them unique is that they have a system no one else in South Florida has. It is called Oxygeneo Co2 Infusion Treatment. This three in one facial exfoliates, oxygenates and infuses without harmful suction, leaving a healthy glow and improved texture. The best part about

their facials is the instant results. Of course, the results improve over time. But facials are not the only service available. They also have waxing and hair services. Try a blow out, trim, cut, style, color and more with master colorist and stylist Richard Yenchesky. In addition, Sophie Allemand has her costume and fine jewelry from her Sophil company on display. These are just a few of the amazing staff members on hand to pamper you! They have additional serices as well! Don't forget to take home some extraordinary products. Drif t Beaut y & Wel l ness Spa is l ocat ed 1845 Cordova Rd, Ft . Lauderdal e, FL. For more inf ormat ion, visit www.mydrif t spa.com.

(Products and services available subject to change).

Above: Fin ish ed pr odu ct -f ollow in g f acial t r eat m en t s, blow ou t an d t r im . IS f ou n der Rach el Galvin w it h Richard Yenchesky

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SNAPS at PBIFFPictures from Palm Beach Intl. Film Fest, which was held April 6-14 in the Palm Beach County area in Florida. See last month's issue for more pictures and stories. Are you in these snaps?

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Dan Jenski Talks "ADDict ed" By Rachel Gal vin Dan Jenski's "ADDicted" shines a spotlight on the problem of addiction to Adderall which is prevalent on campuses around the country., as well as the issue of ADD and how it is over-diagnosed. It stars a fantastic cast, including Kathleen Quinlan and Gil Bellows. IS had the chance to speak to this talented writer/ director. Q. What inspired you t o writ e t his? A. As the adage for writers goes: "Write what you know" and that's what I did on "ADDicted. " Back in July of 2010, I needed an idea for my next project. I was doing post-production for my first short film when the basis for "ADDicted"came to me in a dream. I woke up and said, "That's it!" If anyone knows a little something about Adderall, addiction and the questionable diagnosing of ADD/ ADHD, it's me. First, I come from a family of addicts. My dad was an abusive alcoholic who drank himself to death; his dad was an alcoholic too. I knew from the jump that that's what I DIDN'T want to be like when I grew up. I saw how addiction paralyzes a person and turns them into something unrecognizable. My parents divorced when I was in 3rd grade and that was the last I saw of him. Then, in elementary/ middle school, I was placing into gifted classes but constantly ended up in detention, even getting

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kicked out of the gifted programs because of my behavior. It was suggested I be put on Ritalin; but, thankfully, I didn't have to go that route. I knew a few kids put on Ritalin and placed in "special classes" and, honestly, they were never the same once they started down that route. With me, not once do I recall any teachers or principals asking me, "Dan, what REALLY is causing you to behave like this?" Maybe if they would've prodded a bit they would've realized that perhaps the divorce was a factor. My mom worked two jobs so I wasn't getting any attention at home; therefore, I'd seek it out in other ways. Also, I was an angry child, I feel mostly because of my dad and what he did to us. And, finally, let's be honest: Our diets, especially the children, are nothing but sugars and processed foods. How do you expect a child to be at their best for learning or even

sitting still with that in his or her system? Furthermore, I was in college in the 2000s when Adderall burst onto the scene. I had friends faking ADD/ ADHD symptoms to get a prescription; I knew people who sold it; I saw people take it for weight loss and I saw students using it to stay up for four straight days to cram for finals. There's the recreational abuse, as well as all the athletes who get suspended for taking Adderall as a performance-enhancing drug (PED). Look around, it's everywhere, especially among the Millenials and younger. As you can see, I had a stable full of fodder to start writing and creating this project. Q. Did you do a l ot of research about it as wel l ? A. Piggy-backing off the first question, I had a lot of personal ties to the Adderall epidemic but I did have to do some research. For instance, if one lost a prescription bottle, what are the restrictions on getting a new one? I also wanted to get a better understanding of the medical community's stance on it. I asked a few different psychologists/ doctors, all with varying viewpoints. Some were pro-medicine, others only use it as a last resort while even a couple don't prescribe it all. And also, a lot of what I researched is common knowledge, like knowing Adderall is an FDA "Schedule II" drug. You just need to know where to find it. And, as I said in the first question, this problem is everywhere. It's even worse on college campuses now then it was when I was there. And now that my generation of college grads have moved on in their careers, the Adderall lifestyle has moved with them to corporate America. If you have a job promotion on the line and your competition is taking Adderall to get more hours in the day and go non-stop 'round-the-clock, you're at a disadvantage, are you not? Most feel you have to do the same just to keep up with the Jones's. As a society, we need to learn how to work SMARTER, not harder. When you have companies catering all their food so 9 employees won't leave and you're encouraging longer

work days/ weeks, how do you say no to your bosses? If you won't step up to meet those demands, someone else will, and you're out of a promotion and/ or a job. Q. Where did you shoot t he f il m (was it al l on l ocat ion)? How dif f icul t was it obt aining l ocat ions? A. We filmed the movie entirely in Columbia, Missouri, both within the town and the University of Missouri campus. Mizzou is my alma mater so it was a dream to film there. It was extremely easy: AlI I had to do was ask. We still had to pay for permits but, as far as allowing us to film, the entire city and university welcomed us with open arms. You have to remember: Towns like Columbia don't get a lot of film production there so when something like this comes along, they LOVE it and want to help in any way. Besides, the university, the businesses and the town all get some publicity too by being on the big-screen. The more of a success the film is, the more attention it brings to Missourians. That's why a lot of states offer tax rebates for film production: They want their locales to be seen to the world. Q. How did you f ind your cast ? A. When we were ready to start casting, we first hired a casting director. There are two avenues to go with casting: 1) Send the project out to cities like NY, LA, Atlanta, etc. and hold auditions for the roles, and/ or 2) If you have a specific actor in mind, reach out to his or her agent and pitch them on it. If the actor is a fan of the script and project, then you work out the specifics of the contracts and sign them on. A lot of the supporting actors, as well as Luke Guldan, our lead, came from sending the project to NYC and them finding their way to us. Also, for the smaller roles, we brought on Columbia-based actors, a lot of them coming from the theater department and school. Gil was suggested to us by the manager of another actress we used, Lauren Sweetser. When an agent/ manager has a client involved with a project and there are other roles to fill, it's

common (and common sense) to want more of your clients involved, and that's how we met Gil. I met him for coffee shortly after we struck a deal and he was fully on board. Every actor WANTS to act. As long as you have a great script, they'll want to work on it. He said he loved how the script "didn't shove an agenda down his throat but still had a lot of heart." Q. What do you hope peopl e come away wit h af t er seeing t his f il m? A. My biggest hope for this is for people to be made aware of what we're doing to each other and ourselves. Open your eyes people: You really think human beings were created to work 80 hours a week, starve ourselves of nutrition and just pop pills to make ends meet, whether in school or in our careers? Do you really think it's normal to put a kid on pills because he or she can't sit still in class or looks out the window when they're bored? Good God. The education system is so outdated and underfunded, doctors get slaps on the wrist for their aggressive tactics and most people think pills are helpful medicine. Clearly it's a fractured system that needs a lot of repairing but it all starts with the individual being made aware. And, of course, I want people to be entertained along the way. Q. What was t he most chal l enging part of shoot ing t his? A. I always thought that the most difficult part of making a film was writing the best script possible. In an empirical sense, that is true. The script and story are the blueprint and DNA of a movie and, without it, you have nothing. Without a great script, the best you can hope for is a mediocre project. So

many movies lack a story/ script that's worth paying money to see, let alone watching. However, I saw Ben Affleck doing an interview and he said something that completely changed my mind on filmmaking. He said the most difficult part of the process is getting people to believe in you, and man, oh man, he was he 100 percent spot-on. Every step of the way, from the short film version of "ADDicted" and discussing the plans to turn this into a feature, to thewriting, to the filming, to the post-production, the amount of people that turned their backs, ignored emails, closed doors, even disrespected me, was appalling. Some were people I considered friends (it was like pulling teeth asking friends and acquaintances to "Like" the "ADDicted" Facebook page). Even more annoying than your colleagues not supporting you are the "industry professionals" who try to tell you how to do your job when they have never done what you've done. An agent or publicist or a lot of producers -- the most ambiguous and over-glorified word in the entertainment industry -- have zero clue on what it takes to write a great script or how to direct a cast and crew or the intangibles like knowing how to treat people with respect. You have to shake it off and keep believing in yourself. Also, having an amazing support staff of people who do believe in you always helps you in times of despair. I'm blessed to have the people I do have in my life and couldn't have done this without them.

Q. Tel l me a bit about your background. A. I grew up outside of Chicago. When college started, I was heading down the law school path until I took a theatre class at Mizzou. It changed my life forever. Acting was what I wanted to do, not law. I kept my desire a secret from my family and friends, and kept taking more theatre classes. After I was done with college, I moved to LA in 2005 to pursue my dream of being an actor. After three years of minimal success (student films, short films, etc.), I decided I couldn't wait around for other people's projects anymore so I took a writing course at Santa Monica College in 2009. I started writing a short film script and, upon completion, realized no one would buy it; but, since I believed in it, I went out and filmed it. It's called "Triggered" and I joke that it was my Craigslist film as everyone involved, from the DP and lighting, to sound design and composing, were people I found on Craigslist. I never went to film school, but the one thing they don't teach you in film school is: How are you going to film a movie once you're gone from here and all the free equipment / facilities are gone? I learned on the fly (and through asking questions) how to put a movie together. "Triggered" then led to the short film version of "ADDicted" and here we are a few years later. Q. Besides PBIFF, where has t he f il m gone, where is it going? A. After it premiered at PBIFF, it went to the Kansas City FilmFest where it won the Audience Choice Award. After that, it was the runner-up for Best Feature Film at the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. Right now, we submitted to more film festivals for the late summer/ fall so, as we wait to hear on them, we're exploring every single avenue, connection and string of thread to see how we can get a wide-release distribution. Every day is unchartered territory and, every day, we keep making progress. There is no one way to make this happen. We have some very unique opportunities in front of us that we're going to explore. Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, will be playing in a theatre near you and 11 "ADDicted" everyone!

W I TA seek s sp on sor s www.womenintheartsmiami.com to find out more.

Miami Media and Fil m Market June 6-9

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CONGRATS!

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48 Hour Film Pr oj ect June 24- 26 The chal l enge? To make a film in only 48 hours! Filmmakers from all over the Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale, FL area will compete to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go up against films from around the world at Filmapalooza 2017 for a chance at the grand prize and an opportunity to screen at the Cannes Film Festival 2017, Court MĂŠtrage.

www.48hourfilm.com/ miami-fl

Congratulations to "Road To Hope " cast and crew for winning The Audience Award & Honorable Mention Award for Documentary, at the International Christian Film Festival!

Congr at s, Alex Martinez for getting a Best Actor award at the Canes Fest for the movie "The Last Supper," directed by Jonathan Villegas.

Red Car pet Ready: Being the superstar she is, Mireya Kilmon (on right) was all over the red carpet at the Canes Film Fest. Here she is pictured wth with Lourdes Roche. The pair are involved in the film called "Rankling."

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"Boyf riend Kil l er" Barbie Castro has done it again, filmed yet another movie in South Florida. Her last two films , "Assumed Killer" and "Patient Killer" were shown on Lifetime. Castro wrote, produced and starred in the film, which took 18 days to shoot. It was directed by Alyn Darnay, who is a screenwriter and actor as well with an extensive background. The film also stars Patrick Muldoon, Yancy Butler and Kate Mansi. The set was teeming with South Florida based talent. Even IS founder Rachel Galvin makes an appearance in the film as a court reporter. Pict ured: Top and bot t om f ar right : cast and crew on set ; right : Al yn Darnay wit h Barbie Cast ro and Kat e Mansi.

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Fi l m Car p et 7.0 June 9, 6-8:30 p.m. Tamarac 5 Cinemas 10036 W McNab Rd. Tamarac, FL 33321

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Sponsors this time include Peaceful Body Ivy & Lace, Wax Divas, Hair by Rosalie, Imbue and Frank Ruffolo. Other sponsors include Mia?s Spa, First Class Pressure Cleaning, The Last Picture Show Movie Theater (Tamarac 5) and, of course, Alexandra Bello Productions.

Hosted by Alexandra Bello, Film Carpet is a talent showcase for Besides IS, look for the filmmakers and performers while following media outlets to also being a networking hub and have representation: Evidencia opportunity for publicity. Her They were at t he l ast Fil m Carpet . Were you? Magazine, VIP Television, Get events always bring out sizable TV Live, Set Life VLOG, BC TV, crowds and plenty of paparazzi. The WEI Network Radio, People often are interviewed AMP2TV Radio, Hispanic in more than once. It also presents a Look for the following filmmakers/ America Radio, and photographer chance to get dressed up and hit the producers to showcase their films: César Ricardo Núñez, among others. red carpet. But it is also about Elizabeth Coldren, Diana S. Rice, supporting new filmmakers. Agatino Zurria, Stacey Long and Andre (Everything is subject to change). Heizer. This latest installment has a new location. It is no longer at Cinema And that's not all ... There will be Find Fil m Carpet 7.0 on Facebook. Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. This trailers/ sizzle reels from the time, it has moved to an actual following: Ram Hernández, Don Find t icket s at : www.eventbrite.com/ mainstream theater, Tamarac5 Mizell, Vivian Orozco, Jonathan e/ film-carpet-70-anniversary-edition Cinemas in Tamarac, FL. In this Vargas and Bryan Thompson. -tickets-25300898669?aff=efbevent edition, the guest speaker is Grammy Another great aspect of the night is Award winner Don Mizell. In addition, the amazing raffle prizes. Bello goes 14 singer Kahra Kayes will perform. all out to have some amazing prizes.

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Vict oria Vida: Inspiring t al ent t al ks about her career By Rachel Gal vin

On May 7, a little powerhouse actress and singer, Victoria Vida, came in from Los Angeles to go to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts to be given a Brazilian International Press Award USA for Best Actress for her role in ?Project MC2,? which is on Netflix. Already nominated in the 2016 Daytime Emmys for ?Best Children's Series? for her work, at only 17 years old, this girl is a shining star. She was born in Miami Beach and then moved to Brazil before moving at age 8 to L.A. To expand her career in the entertainment field. ?I always love to be on stage,? she said. ?When I was 3 years old in my ballet recital, the energy was amazing, I knew the stage was my home. I said, 'Mom, I want to be the next Madonna.' She held me back; she wanted me to experience childhood. [Eventually], I said, 'Mom, you can't hold me back anymore. She finally gave in. I am lucky to have someone [like my mom]. It is 15 important to have someone who anchors you.?

She got her debut in singing at a sold-out Stevie Wonder concert doing a solo at age 8. ?[During the audition,] my mom was nervous. She did not want my heart to be broken. I was the only kid auditioning. I told my mom I knew I could do it.? Her success on stage led to her working more in the industry and she began being home-schooled, something that requires a lot of discipline. ?We only have one due date a semester. Our teachers are online in case we have a question, but you have to be very disciplined,? she explained. In her show ?Project MC2,? she plays Adrienne Attoms, a culinary chemist. When asked if she really likes Science, she said, ?Yes... chemistry and biology. It is interesting how science is all around us. I love to cook. It gave me a new appreciation for

science.? Regarding the show, she said, ?We are super smart girls who save the world. It shows that the possibilities for girls are endless. They are not just limited to being [on stage or film] but can be engineers, astronauts, CEOs, while keeping a feminine touch. The other thing I love is how we embrace diversity in our world. We [finished] the second season and are working on the third season. The crew is amazing. It takes a village to make movie magic happen.? Besides acting, she continues singing as well. Her music video for her song ?Shining Star? Is on YouTube. It deals with the issue of overcoming bulllying. When asked if she had ever been bullied and how she dealt with it, she said. ?Yes. I talked to my mom. She is my compass. I wrote the song for people who don't have someone, a hand

to hold. The message is that the single detail that makes you different is what makes you amazing. Don't erase yourself, embrace yourself.? She added, ?If you listen too much to what people say, it can cloud the star inside of us. You can't give up [on a dream]. The climb up the mountain might be rough, but the view is worth it.? Asked what challenges she has had to overcome in the industry, she pointed out her Brazilian accent. ?I have had a problem with my accent. I was told many times to try to remove it. I did classes [to try] but in my heart, it never felt right. Nobody is ever going to be you. There is only one Tom Hanks, one Angelina Jolie. [The thing that makes you] special makes you stand out.? Asked what advice she would give someone new to the business, she said, ?Work very hard. Nothing comes easily. Keep believing.'

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Cyndi Lauper t akes ?Det our ? t o Boca Rat on By Rachel Gal vin When you think of Cyndi Lauper, you may picture the edgy bohemian with big, bright red hair, flamboyant styling and adorable New Yawk accent. But Lauper has transformed through the years, since being Phot o by Chapman Baehl er thrown on the mainstream scene in 1983 with She?s So Unusual, changing her style in fashion and music. Once known for her pop music hits like ?Girls Just Want To Have Fun? and ?Time After Time,? she has moved on to embrace other styles, including Blues, in 17 her last album Memphis Blues. Now, in her newest

album, Detour, she firmly embraces Country. The album is a collaboration with the likes of Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and Jewel. This 11 th studio album was recorded in Nashville and includes all covers of classics like Patsy Cline?s ?Walkin?After Midnight? and ?I Fall To Pieces; ?I Want To Be A Cowboy?s Sweetheart? by Patsy Montana and Dolly Parton?s ?Hard Candy Christmas,? and many others. The Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning singer likes to employ a wide variety of genres within all her original songs. ?I think it was an eclectic sound to begin with. It's all a mixture,? said Lauper of her early music during an interview with Independent Streak, ?It?s Jamaican, it's street and Motown-ish, all mixed together but in a pop format. [If it makes you happy], then that is the kinda music it is.? Creating happiness is key to her musical choices. In this latest album, she is returning back to her roots, to music she listened to as a child. "I cut my teeth listening to all the Rockabilly Rock & Rollers ? Wanda Jackson and Patsy Cline,? she said. ?[For this album], I picked songs with stories I could relate to.? Lauper added, ?I thought country would be hard, but once I found myself in it, I was ok. I think that all of it is the roots of the music that I play. It's a singer's record. I really love music and feel blessed. My favorite right now is this but I did love the Blues, and they are very close. This is same time period as [songs within] Memphis Blues.? Cyndi, who has been a songwriter, singer, actress and well-known LGBT activist, also recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with Harvey Fierstein, who

worked with her on ?Kinky Boots.? ?Right next to Gary Cooper!? she enthused. ?It doesn?t get better than that.? Her advice for people trying to get into the business? ?Keep going and do what you were put on this earth to do. If it's singing and writing, don't stop ." She added, "There's plenty of gate keepers; look beyond their shoulders and see where you are going. Make a map, make a plan and stick to it and sometimes you might take some detours, detours that are good. Don't do the bad ones,? she said,. Cyndi has had struggles in her life, within her childhood and through navigating stardom. When asked how she handles challenges that have arisen, she said, ?Sometimes, I just write down on a piece of paper what I would like to happen. Every time I put a ?but?in there, I turn that paper over and start again until there are no ?buts?or ?ifs.?I think the written word is very powerful and I've actually done it and been able to turn things around for myself. It's a mindset. I always believe in life there's a lot of people that want to do things but they always say ?but? and they always think ?but.?They can't send mixed messages. They got to just keep their aim true. I think that the people who succeed in life are the people who don't quit. It doesn't matter how long it takes to get there, you don't quit.? She added, ?There are trappings that come with music. If you are lucky enough to become successful, fame comes along with it. There is no handbook for that. Nobody writes, like ?Rule No. 1? when you're famous ? ?They don't do that. Your path is your own so try and accept yourself for who you are and you'll accept others, too, and try and find happiness in everything you do because life is short.? Lauper didn?t always start out on this particular path. In fact,

she didn?t set out to be a lead singer at all. ?I actually learned to sing in the clubs and learned to be a front person because I wanted to be a background singer. I had my heart set on being like Merry Clayton. [When I was singing in a band], the platform shoes I was wearing kept falling. The only manager who would manage us said he would only manage us if the girl in the back who keeps falling, but sings pretty good, would come up front and be the lead singer. So that's what happened,? she explained.

Her son, ?Dex? (Declyn), is now getting involved in Hip Hop. She has seen how the industry has changed since she started. She isn?t sure if she started in the industry today if she would make it the way she did in the ?80s. ?I don?t think I could be on all those [reality] shows. You get tortured.? said Lauper (who has had her own reality show called ?She?s Still Unusual?) ?It?s a different ballgame because of social media.?

without feeling like a freak because there was somebody there who [dresses that way too]. I hope that I told her ?Don't listen. Be who you are.?She is a performance artist. Bowie was the first performance artist. [Now,] I'm back. To come back now and do this album and have a little performance art I can do, I am so grateful.? As for Lauper?s future following the tour? ?I am going to tackle another musical ... I am already involved and might become involved with another,? she said.

She wonders if singers in the past had to undergo the same type of industry, if many of them would have become famous.

Cyndi has a Boca Rat on, FL spot on her t our. See her perf orm, wit h The Peach Kings, at Mizner Park Amphit heat re on June 11. For more inf ormat ion on her il l ust rious career, visit www.cyndil auper.com.

?Would [Bob] Dylan do it? Would he make it through?? she wondered. She added, ?When I started in 1983, I was more of a performance artist. [I would get questions like] ?Why can't you wear jeans and a T-shirt like Katrina and the Waves? After awhile, it wore me down until I did Diva Glam thing with Lady Gaga. It [woke me up], 19 saying wait a minute, I could dress the way I dress

Phot o by Chapman Baehl er

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE VOL 3, #5/ #6

M ay/ Ju n e 2016

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