Make something from nothing

Beautiful Losers was such an amazing film...it really reminded me what I love to do, and why I went to art school, and why I was up in studio til 4am, designing, creating, making, learning, loving, dying, living, losing, failing, gaining, EVERYTHING. At times I would feel selfish, losing myself to me, and never had time for loved ones. But this film made me remember that I was there to be inspired, and inspired others, not matter how modest or insignificant the hardships of art school made me feel, especially being around tons of other talented people. It just reminded me about the labor of love I endured so much, and re-evaluate where it's all going in these tough times.

Beautiful Losers is a documentary about the 1990's DIY contemporary art movement, including street art, skateboarding, illustrations, punk, underground music, etc. It features Ed Templeton, Harmony Korine, Geoff McFetridge, Steven Powers,and Margaret Kilgallen just to name a few.

My only question is Where was David Choe?

COLAB. type + film aka Best Thing I Have Ever Written. Durrr

oh big fat DUH.

One of my favorite artists did the lettering for the Where The Wild Things Are promo posters.

Geoff McFetridge and Spike Jonze probably get together on the weekends at Intelligensia, and discuss vintage frame glasses, crewneck sweaters, and their hairlines, in their same pitch voice. If one of them called me on the phone, because they do that from time to time, I'd have to be like "IS THIS SPIKE OR GEOFF, CUZ YOU BOTH HAVE THE SAME VOICE."

And then they'd be like "Borrah, get over yourself and the other hipsters talking shit about this film, and go watch the movie we worked on cuz we know you kinda have a boner for us both." Cuz I have totally not done that yet..watch the movie, not the boner. Possible Where The Wild Things Are Movie Review post, since my friend Frank gave me his Netflix account. Hmmmm....

But yes, I kinda do thing Geoff is pretty dreamy. I think it's the nerdyness plus CalArt vibes he's totally throwing at me. lOLZ. I went to a gallery opening once, and saw him there! Can you say SWOON? I was all "OMG Vanessa, that's one of my favorite artists...right there. So close, I can smell the Tide from his cords." But you know, I felt so intimidated I couldn't talk to him. I was also really distracted by this super awesome Ed Templeton (Total Skater Tag in the works) photo of Fugazi, with Ian Curtis, so my inner Hardcore Kid was screaming. 

Here's the photo I was eyeballfucking.

I don't know who these fools are, but they were all up on this shiz, hUH. YEAH. RIGHT. THATS RIGHT. IM RIGHT.hUHHH.

Also, WTF is Geoffy's race? Being a halfie asian, 1/2 n 1/2, or the Hapa, as some Hawaiians like to call 'em, I'm getting a little half breeding in the EYES. It's always in the eyes. Or maybe his rotund frames, and combination of farsighted-ness make those peepers look a lot more asian. Is it just me?! 

Geoff McFetridge from Iconoclast Editions on Vimeo.

SEEE! WTF, THEY EVEN HAVE SKATE DECKS. Another tag! The circle is complete!!!

Barbarella 1968 REVIEW

Barbaareeeellllllllaaaaaaaaaaaa!! ! !
Oh man... I had SUCH high expectations for this film. However, I was disappointed to see how helpless and sex-crazed Barbarella was at times. *SIGH* Sure, Babs is hot and all, and has a smoking body that any female would be jealous of, but I am soooo over blondes. Especially when they support the "dumb blonde" stereotypes, `ala Babs. 

F*ck Barbarella! It's all about the Black Queen! For those of you that know me, I love black! Half of my wardrobe is black, and the other garments that are in color, rarely see the light of day. THE Anita Pallenberg plays the Black Queen, too, and if you don't love British Rock and Roll circa 1960-1970 then let me tell ya, Anita was an actress for Warhol, and equally importantly, class A badass certified Rockstar girlfriend to none other than the Rollings Stones guitarist (Captain Jack Sparrow's Dad) KEITH RICHARDS. They dated from 1967 to 1979 and have two children together.
But rockstar fame, comes with territory such as sharing drug charges, and being into black magic. That's my girl! She's so cool, she can be an honorary member of my BLBG club. That's Black Leather Bad Girls Club.

Anyways, back to Barbarella...the film was art directed in such a superb "this is what we think the future will look like from our 1968 understanding that the world will be all silver, and metallic in 30 years" which I can always appreciate. And the costumes?!?! Totally amazing. I loved each one of them! 


I also believe that they're working on remaking this film...not sure how that's going to happen. Robert Rodriguez is trying to cast his ex-mistress/current girlfriend as the lead, but he's getting in trubs with the studio. He wants her, they don't! Last I read, he got dropped from the film due to his insistence on using her.  Nepotism at it's best. 

My Guilty Pleasure

I think everyone that knows me REALLY well, knows that I loooove skaters. They make it look so easy! And trust me, doing those tricks on those boards is not so simple. Who would have thought that a piece of wood with 4 wheels attached to it would be such a pain in the a$$. I think it started when I was a kid, and I'd run around with my older brother, Sam, who skated with his friends in our neighborhood. Then Sam, broke his ankle from doing unsuccessfully doing a trick, and then the board was kinda, sorta, banned from the house. My parents freaked out about the whole ordeal.
After this event, I have also successfully never broken a bone. In fact, I feel like my bones must be made out of steel, because when you run around with an older brother, accidents are bound to happen, and I have had my share of fights, falls, and non-graceful moments and nothing serious in the accident department has ever happened to me. I'm telling ya, BONES OF STEEL.

HAYYY YOU GUYSS!!!

I think I got the webby site up in full effect now =)
It makes me so excited!
Check it out!

This reminds me of you.

Another blog shout out! I think in every blog post, I have another blog shout out! but N E W A Y Z, my former classmate Aimee Suen started this blog called "this reminds me of you" and I AM SO FLATTERED by the designed things she posts up that reminds me of her ;) go check her out!

Black Handed Compliments

So when I was facebook today (what I've been doing with 99% of my post-graduate life JAY KAY), one of my old friends from highschool hit me up on that chat thingy (which I hate btw) and said something to me like "Things you post on facebook make your life seem really interesting." THATS BECAUSE I AM INTERESTING. I HAVE A BLOG, FOOL. I POST INTERESTING SHIT ALL THE TIME. DUH.
Then, he went on to tell me that he was surprised that "I could converse." What the fuck is that, dude? A back-handed compliment. Am I supposed to say the expected "Thanks?" Thanks, Question Mark. Then he tried to make some joke about being it being a "black-handed compliment," cuz that fool is half-black. Even full black guys I know don't say dumb shit like that. Then I was going to have another segway, into this bit of info down below, but I really don't. I just wanted to say that "black handed" joke, since it made for a funny title.
Anyways, I proceeded to read that my former classmate/colleague at Sony, when we used to intern there together and have our lunch dates at the same time, applied to be a barista and receptionist. *sigh* The woes of post-grad life. She says she searching high and low for jobs, but you know what, times are tough, baby. So here's a little shout out to Gianna Quinci  who has a super sweet website. I should know, I watched her develop it for our Web Presence class last spring. So if you decide not to give "interesting" Borrah a job, then give it to her, because I will vouch for her non-cheesy, commericial taste with I have totally respected this past year or so.
Another note, I don't frown upon working a Starbucks or clothing store or whatever it takes to pay your bills. I mean sure, they are not the most desirable situations, but please do come to peace with your pride and integrity before your phone or hot water get cut off.

partying with a purpose

So once, a few years ago, one of my best friends Melissa aka Skippy, wanted to go FIDM's open house to check out their campus/curriculum. "Pshh...Fidm? That school is like sooooo expensive for just an AA!" Being and Otis Alum, I have to represent, and of course downgrade FIDM. But I know a few really hard working FIDM grads who are doing well, too, I must say. Anyways, I was walking around the campus, doing the tour thang, checking out everything, and they didn't seem professional at all...it was just kinda like "Hey, we're in downtown, we're popular with the A-Lister Hollywood types, like, whoever wears Ed Hardy, and watches the Hills." Sarcasm, aside, I didn't feel as if I was in a very polished environment as Otis has whipped me into shape for. Later, during the tour, we sat in some auditorium to listen to an Alumni's speech. This alumni was some girl who was a stylist (cool job) but had a speech about how she would go out to Hollywood, and hit up all the cool clubs to basically annoy the shit out of people to give her a job, and complained about her "5 inch heeled, 5 minute" shoes. That's the moral of the story.

Jusssst kidding! She said she'd "party with a purpose," which I thought was really funny, since maybe being a professional crossed over into her nightlife, which doesn't always go well. 

But yes, last night I was "partying" (checked out a free show, and then went to the Cha Cha lounge (located in beautiful hipsterville, Silverlake) with my friend and his uncle from out of town) and my friend, Nick, was squealing like a japanese school girl about how he saw this photographer whose apparently "like THE MOST FAMOUS/DOPEST SKATE PHOTOGRAPHER OF ALL TIME." and if you know me, then you know I have a lot of skater buddies. So he pretty much pooped his pants after we ate a taco truck burrito, and then went over to him to talk to him. Go check out this guys awesome website, so you can poop your pants, too.

P.S. If you can get Chris Nieratko to write your Bio, then you are most definitely fucking IN.

happy memorial day y'all!

So for the last 2 nights I've been going to Hollywood Forever Cemetery...Good times, all the time. Except on Saturday night with was a bummer when I got my car towed =/ It sucked balls. ... Then last night I saw Purple Rain. Who DOESN'T have a good time with Prince? However, I highly suggest you all go out there and try to make it. It's such a good time, hanging out with dead bodies, 6ft under, you can bring your own beer and food, picnic style, watch a movie projected on the side of a mausoleum, and occasionally join everyone while they yell at the screen in joy. I suggest going there early too!

Here's a link to it Cinespia

Acutally, you know what, it was so packed last night. Don't go.

NYC BAYBEE

I feel the need to post about new yawwwk. Shit, that city is so awesome. Kinda wanna move there now. Everyone I met wants me to move there. Why do you ask? because thats what all the cool kids do. duh. Get together and talk about moving to new york. How I do at 38,000 feet. Check out my blue nails, too.

Lara picking me up from JFK

My 25 dollar meal, at the most WASP-y restaurant!
Thanks, Karen!

awwww yeeeah.

my futon :)

happy hour at tandem bar, stumbling distance from Lara's apartment

We got free Pearl Jam tickets!!! yay! Thanks Karen!

Tay Trong shout out!

So If you know me, then you know that I just got back from a trip to NYC. Which was totally awesome/amazing/fun/educational/ and something that made a grow thismuch. I stayed with my friend Michael Lara, who will always be known to me as "Lara." He also dated another friend of mine, Candace who i <3, too. Anywho, sleeping on his futon, also meant being an automatic guest at his housewarming shindig that he had with his roomies, which were also totally awesome/nice people. I met this guy named Tay Trong, who I thought was well styled (kind of  touches my heart when I see a well dressed asian man) and he said that he got some free stuff at a store, because the girl who worked at his store 'liked his blog' awwwwwwwww yeeeeeeah.
Check him out Here.
I thought that was pretty dope. Most people either love blogs or hate 'em. I think I will start loving them now if that gets me free cool clothes. My friend Frank hates them, and I understand why. In this day and age, people are famous for nothing and blogging adds to it. Famous for what? A blog? Oh yeah, something that ANYONE CAN DO. But hey, if you can get noticed for something that "anyone can do," then it better be really fucking good. Gimme free shit now. Can i get an Amen?

every day im hustlin'

Okay! so last night I went to Scotland Yard, one of my favorite and most visited bars since I've turned 21.If you had me in Maja Blazejewska's Identity and System class then you'd understand (since that's the store I decided to rebrand for the class assignment). And I was talking to some random drunk guy (story of my life) and he said something like 'IF I WAS A GIRL, I WOULDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING. FOOD, DRINKS, MONEY, GAS..." (yeah he wouldn't pay for money either) But I'm pretty sure if you're a girl who has guys pay for EVERYTHING then that makes you a whore. I mean I'm all for chivalry, and if a guy I like or am dating wants to buy me a drink or dinner, our of the kindness of his ulterior motive heart, then I would totally let him after offering to go dutch or whatevs. But then there are those girls that like to take advantage of every curve on their body, and every eye lash they flutter.They are the girls that we make fun of and say 'YOUS A HOE'. 

Another thing, if a guy can admit that "if he was girl" stuff, about getting guys to pay for everything, does that mean I hold the power?! APPARENTLY so. according to all my guy friends I talk to about this kinda stuff, say yes. HA! like "yeah guys are really easy" wtf man, you're not supposed to tell me this stuff, and no i dont really take advantage of it. My guy friends also sometimes ask me the rules for dating too, like who pays for what when you ask someone out? I feel like its only fair to share the opinion ;)

Another thing, did you know that women blink twice as much as men? and "lesbians will blink less severely than heterosexual women, and gay men will blink more severely than heterosexual men. "

I had a friend tell me that in his class, some girl was bragging about how she gets her "man" to pay her rent and bills, etc. Yeah...I would not be bragging about that. That is some scandalocious shit, girl. that means YOUS A HOE. This kind of sets back our gender, thanks hoe. Besides I'm pretty sure, if you are using a guy that much, for money that means you can't do it on your own, honey. and I'm also pretty sure that he's using you too for a little somethin'somethin' on the side. That kinda shady gender/money stuff makes me feel reallllly weird. My dad always raised me to be all independent woman diva a la` Beyonce.

A FULL BLEED PRODUCTION

I STARTED A ZINE, YOUS GUYS!

For my senior project, i started a zine, dedicated to exploring various stereotypes. If I had a nickel for everytime I had to plug my zine, I'd have like...a whole dollar. Anyways, I illustrated a majority of the images (which I had tons o' fun doing).
Anyways, check out the site, I built it with wordpress, but editing the css n everythang. If you'd like to purchase a zine feel free to email me at borrah.jackson@gmail.com for $5 a zine, and $40 for posters.

J*FLEISH shout out!

I'd like to thank Jessica Fleishmann, for taking notice of my writing style and suggestion to start a blog. "J-Fleish" (as some of us Otis students like to call her) was a graphic design instructor of mine, at my last semester at Otis College of art and design. Every week, we'd have to do a current event style writing prompt (like how you had to do in highschool, to show you kept up with the times) but it was like the design edition of current events!

So come the night of senior show, I find J.Fleish, and tell her that I revised my final posters for her Ways of Thinking Class, and she's all "Did you get your weekly references folder back?! YOU SHOULD START A BLOG!!!"

oh snap! a blog? well aiiiight.

Then I flip through my folder of my weekly references, and notice her notes in it, like the blog idea, and read that she'll give me a recommendation if I need it, and that she doesnt do it for everyone. *EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE* thanks a lot of the support J. Fleish. btw, i respect her a lot, hence the excitement over the recommendation, and my general self-kicking in the ass for not doing better work for her in class. Monday classes, man....whats a girl to do.

You can check her out HERE!

or you can check out Liz Arnolds awesome post HERE with awesome photos, and an article definitely worth checking out