Recapping 2022
Hello hello! Like everyone, I have been hibernating over the holiday season with my loved ones. I had an exciting time in 2022 and am looking forward to seeing what 2023 will bring. In the meantime I’d like to share some of my 2022 highlights with you:
BUT I MET YOU ON TV at TheaterLab NYC, production stills by Jules Miranda, December 2022
Launching my theater company Two Bimbos with longtime friend and collaborator Lita Lofton. We produced two plays throughout the year and hosted several events, one even included a flash tattoo artist (I am now the proud owner of a butterfly inked on the back of my leg). Our first play, TISMO (The Internet Stresses Me Out), opened in August at Casa Powers Loft in East Williamsburg to a fully sold out audience. Our second play, BUT I MET YOU ON TV, helped us exit the year with a fun bang at TheaterLab NYC in December. I have loved the process of diving back into live performance after the pandemic and working fully in the film/commercial world these last few years. In TISMO I played an Airbnb host who stalks her guests and writes about them in a popular dark web blog, and in BUT I MET YOU ON TV I had the fun challenge of playing not just one but three podcast guests all looking for love from a reality tv dating show. TISMO received a shoutout in Brooklyn Magazine as one of the “fun runs that make Brooklyn the greatest borough in New York”, and both plays were featured in BroadwayWorld!
My feature film, Poets Are The Destroyers, finished its festival circuit and I am very excited to be announcing its new home on streaming platforms soon! Stay tuned and enjoy our lovely trailer in the meantime.
I began developing four exciting new feature films with some cherished collaborators; I’m looking forward to pitching these this year and getting them off their feet.
The Molok’s New York premiere at Chelsea Film Festival, October 2022
Plant Moms at Austin Film Festival, I played a kooky plant therapist
Several of the shorts from my 1221 Film Challenge where I made one short film every month in 2021 continued their festival circuit, screening across the world at various festivals including Austin Film Festival (Plant Moms), Chelsea Film Festival (The Molok), Soho International Film Festival (Sunscreen), Dances With Films (Sunscreen), Lighthouse Film Festival (New Boo, The Molok, and Sunscreen) to name a few.
Mark Irwin at Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland, November 2022
Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland Film Festival graciously screened five of my films this year, including feature film Poets Are The Destroyers and several of my shorts (“New Boo”, “Buffalo & Wolfy”, “Yes, Mother!”, “The Molok”, and “Sunscreen”). I had the time of my life at Filmland and can’t recommend it enough to filmmakers. From a Q&A with Neil LaBute on his latest feature film “House of Darkness” to a candid discussion with Mark Irwin on his acclaimed cinematography career and also learning about Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program, it was an inspiring experience to say the least. I even braved my first Arkansas tornado, despite having lived in Bentonville for seven years!
on set for “Give It To Me” music video, October 2022
I met and have been working with producer Daniel Marracino on a very exciting documentary project. Here’s a hint.
I traveled the world: Mexico, Greece, Berlin, Prague, Bucharest, and Italy! I went with friends without any agenda in mind except for soaking up new experiences and cultures. I started 2022 in Tbilisi (Georgia) and felt so rejuvenated from the experience that I have made it a priority to travel as often as I can. I wonder where I will go in 2023…
I took a cross country train ride from Los Angeles to New York following the premiere of “Yes, Mother!” at the Les Femmes Underground Film Festival in Santa Monica. This train ride lasted three days and I can’t recommend this enough to anyone looking for solitude and restitution. My tip would be to load up on edibles prior to boarding and drink plenty of wine. If you’re lucky like me, you’ll encounter a group of about 30 Amish travelers and wake up from an edible/wine-induced nap in the dining cart thinking you’re experiencing an inception fever dream. If you’re smart (unlike me), you’ll bring the wine onboard with you instead of splurging on the shitty overpriced malbec blend offered at concessions.
I won a national cooking show! I put my culinary skills to the test for Good Dish TV hosted by Daphne Oz, Gail Simmons, and Chef Jamika for my impeccable take on a double decker grilled cheese sandwich. My secret? Heavy garlic in the homemade focaccia bread. Ms. Oz described my sandwich as a “Thanksgiving feast”.
I produced my first music video, “Give It To Me” by Mareeka with DP/Director Marek Vesely. We shot this assassin-style video in the pouring rain throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Stay tuned for its anticipated release February 2023!
I teamed up with Chip Parham, Director of Shorts Programming at Lighthouse International Film Festival, to help co-host the monthly film screening series Artists & Beers. Artists & Beers has been running in NYC for the past 8 years (now going on 9!) and I felt so honored he asked me to help him co-host this community centric events where we showcase works by local filmmakers. Our next event is Saturday, January 14th at Easy Lover in BK - come out and say hi!
I continued co-hosting the monthly poetry reading series SPLASH at Spoonbill & Sugartown Booksellers in Williamsburg with longtime collaborators and friends, JC Hopkins and Jonas Kyle. This poetry reading series began in 2021 and I am proud to continue helping elevate all the outstanding poets that hear read their works read to the public. I even read some of my own work one month - thrilling. The next series will be on Sunday, January 22nd at Spoonbill on Bedford Ave - also come and say hi!
I also had the opportunity to produce and production coordinate several commercial projects with a variety of global brands across the fashion, beauty, streaming, and tech industries!