MUSICAL TREAT OF THE WEEK

Another round of the fabulous Holly Cole, for the best cover of this song...EVER!

Cruising into the week ahead, I'm feeling this in my soul...

MICHAEL PATRICK'S REALLY BIG ADVENTURE

TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE

Cutting this 1min 40sec sequence from Cassandra's press kit video "Designer Life" was an almost painful choice, but necessary  in order to keep the finished piece under 10 minutes. Industry standard for a press kit is only 3 minutes- HOW DO THEY DO IT?! No seriously.

The way I had it "story boarded", I needed approximately 14 minutes, and the narrative would have been more like a mini documentary. The Cassandra McShepard Story, if you will. I think when I get back from California I'm going to make that little film I envisioned, and share it with you. I now thoroughly understand the term Director's Cut, and what film makers must go through. Wow.

Cherrie Hanson, you were on my shoulder the entire time..."Edit, edit, edit." Thank you for your inspiration.

It's A Wrap: DESIGNER LIFE!

Joseph Suarez...without your tech savvy brain and heartfelt perseverance, this would not have become a reality. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Check it out y'all.....

Cindy Malin is responsible for creating Cassandra's kick-ass new website. Woohoo Gram, it ROCKS! Beautiful and vibrant just like it's subject matter, we included a jukebox for her fabulous NEW RECORDINGS,  and a there's a  wonderful page dedicated to her motivational work on both the radio and Internet video...visit www.cassandramcshepard.com TODAY!

Stacey's Hot Dish Presents: The EPK!

Just as he shines in the kitchen, Stacey shines in his first Electronic Press Kit. His gifts for the culinary arts fuse with his own brand of humor and a desire to share his passion for food.

Working on this project with him, is what I know to be the start of an exciting new chapter in the story of a friendship that's already 25 years in the writing. So proud of you Stacey, so proud.

By the way. While putting pieces like this together is allot of work, it isn't all work and no play. The mini-blooper reel at the end of the interview could have easily gone on for 5 minutes....

11 TO 40: There's No Place Like Home

I remember very clearly stating, on more than one occasion, that once my Mother passed away, I would never  have to go to that place again.

That place, is Santa Maria, California. It is where I was born and raised, and since she passed away 4 years ago, I have been true to my word. But what's my beef with Santa Maria?

I grew up aching to flee from the place where few understood me. Seriously, I couldn't get out of there fast enough, and I made my first escape to Los Angeles when I was just 16 years old, and would move back twice before finally moving onto the Midwest via a 2 year stint in West Hollywood. That's before there was WeHo. Way before.

The truth is that the unpleasant connotation that Santa Maria conjures is based in pain and hurts that most of which, have mended. So it's time to let go of them, and stop projecting on poor Santa Maria. There's also very little reality in the notion that no one understood me. Not only did "WE" all find each other, but some 25 odd-years later we're all getting together for a reunion. A FAMILY reunion. IN Santa Maria.

Eventually,  most of us flew the coupe, but we're once again converging back in the place where it all started, and are coming in from all over the country I might add.  A reunion of friends of this magnitude I'm thinking, has to be a rare occurrence. Outsiders looking in is what brought most of us together, and in a way we can all blame Santa Maria for that. Or be thankful.

I'm looking forward to seeing people I was so close to over 20 years ago, but have rarely seen or spoken with since. People who found me, when I was finding myself. People who embraced me for the flag-flying freak that I was, or at least thought I was. The ones who loved and encouraged me to move on and do everything I would ever dare to dream. Because that's what families do.

So 11 to 40 is about making peace with home. Between my very important meeting and this reunion , it's definitely going to be an interesting trip! One thing I know for sure; from the moment I arrive I will be surrounded by people who hold very special places in my heart...and they do say that home is where the heart is. If that is indeed the case, then there's no place, like home.

MUSICAL TREAT OF THE WEEK

CLOSE KNIT

Celebrate diversity. What does that really mean?

I don't recall how I stumbled onto the image above. I just know that I really dug it, and saved it to my computer. It feels like "The Tree Of Life" to me. The knit stocking that clings to its branches representing humankind. In ALL of our different colors, how beautiful are we?

June happens to be Gay Pride month. I happen to be gay. But I probably didn't have to tell you that, did I? The slogan often associated with Gay Pride is "Celebrate Diversity" and it's a term that seems to be crossing over and gaining popularity. Is it possible that after millenniums we are finally ready to stop living in fear of our differences, and embrace people who are different than ourselves?

Think about fear for just a moment. What do we tend to fear most? What we don't understand. And of course, what we're told to fear. True, there are many people and cultures in the world that would rather not "celebrate diversity". But in all corners of the world, there's a global awakening, and a new commitment to figure this thing out. What's the alternative? Continue to obliterate each other? Only when we are able to shed our fear, and have love and respect for ALL of our bothers and sisters will we ever truly be able to celebrate diversity.

Like those colorful blocks of closely knit fibers, WE possess the power to climb the tree, climbing higher and higher, covering it's far-reaching limbs to show the universe and beyond just how beautiful we are, when we too, are closely knit.
" God created us different, to know our need for one another."

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Re-posted from June 2009