And the rhythm is And the rhythm is And the rhythm is
Is
In the beginnings Was a bang
Created Ungated
Original sin Traditional slang Dated N’plated
This Female Is Not Yet Rated
And the rhythm Is Genesis Another valley gives
Mother Africa lives
Clackin’ Clappin’ Street lamp Slappin’
Leans low Another sip o’ tribal gumbo Know what I know what I know
Eve’s tired She’s through with you Goin’ to the chapel I’ll be Adam’s wife
Demand a wife for every wife She deserve one too
Hell no You didn’t throw her outta Eden
She walked out With her own mothafuckin’ freedom
These boots were made for These roots Were made for These Lips N’ Liberties
Walkin’ Talkin’ Hips’ deliveries Sappin’ up the Tree of Life
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
Water on the Tree of Life You claim Knowledge is strife Another wife For a wife
She’s uppin’ the stakes Up with the snakes Poor princess from queens on a string
It’s a keychain thing Castle the king Feel up a trend She’s her own provider Love multiplies even when when it’s divided
Unpasteurized Homogenized Femme is a five letter word my friend Femme is a five letter word my friend
And the rhythm is (Rhythm is)
And the rhythm is (Rhythm Is)
And the rhythm is And the rhythm is And the rhythm is
Is
We the miss fits danger and desire Sinnin’ on a streetcar No regrets Never forget
Done,
Demoting destiny To a dream
Of a dream Of a dream
Say what I mean My slate is clean All she wrote
AND SHE VOTES
Label my food Never my people Global frat party is : OVER
This clean up’s a bitch Revolutionary witch Kurts’ Cobain Blames Courtney on a pyre
Brother can you spare a
Eve’s tired She’s through with you Goin’ to the chapel I’ll be Adam’s wife
Demand a wife for every wife She deserve one too
Hell no You didn’t throw HER outta Eden
She walked out With her own mothafuckin’ freedom
These boots were made for These roots Were made for These Lips N’ Liberties
Walkin’ Talkin’ Hips’ deliveries Sappin’ up the Tree of Life
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
I and the boys Unleash the toys The planet deploys And he games
Namin’ names Suckin’ sap from the ‘Tree of Life’
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
Gritty my city Drainin’ my kitty Upstreamin’ eyes while the ozone cries
Another green is screamin’ and the blues is just a sigh
California’s gold ‘Nawlins to Queens New York to Compton my tiara leans
Simultaneously
Titties know what I mean I’m writing the wrongs Carvin’ a song My tribe Gonna live long after you gone
(That’s right
That’s right) Rather eat off the floor
(That’s right
That’s right) Rather eat off the floor Don’t ask for more You’re the one I paid for
Chain chain chain Chain of humankind Stronger than our weakest links Chain chain chain Chain of humankind Stronger than the Chain chain chain Chain of human crime
Just inside my AKA
‘kay Just in time for the seventh day Hey Latest thing in lingerie boy say hello to the forty-seven AK
Safest place in underwear I’m hidin’ it way down there Aw Right this way Ring Heaven’s bell Wave bye bye this way to hell
And just in case You wonder why When Gettin’ stoned means Gettin’ high That’s when you and I see eye to eye
For an eye For an eye For an eye
Eve’s tired She’s through with you Goin’ to the chapel I’ll be Adam’s wife
Demand a wife for every wife She deserve one too
Hell no You didn’t throw her outta Eden
She walked out With her own mothafuckin’ freedom
These boots were made for These roots Were made for These Lips N’ Liberties
Walkin’ Talkin’ Hips’ deliveries Sappin’ up the Tree of Life
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
And the rhythm is (Rhythm is)
And the rhythm is (Rhythm Is)
And the rhythm is And the rhythm is And the rhythm is
And the rhythm is And the rhythm is And the rhythm is
Is
In the beginnings Was a bang
Created Ungated
Original sin Traditional slang Dated N’plated
This Female Is Not Yet Rated
And the rhythm Is Genesis Another valley gives
Mother Africa lives
Clackin’ Clappin’ Street lamp Slappin’
Leans low Another sip o’ tribal gumbo Know what I know what I know
Eve’s tired She’s through with you Goin’ to the chapel I’ll be Adam’s wife
Demand a wife for every wife She deserve one too
Hell no You didn’t throw her outta Eden
She walked out With her own mothafuckin’ freedom
These boots were made for These roots Were made for These Lips N’ Liberties
Walkin’ Talkin’ Hips’ deliveries Sappin’ up the Tree of Life
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
Water on the Tree of Life You claim Knowledge is strife Another wife For a wife
She’s uppin’ the stakes Up with the snakes Poor princess from queens on a string
It’s a keychain thing Castle the king Feel up a trend She’s her own provider Love multiplies even when when it’s divided
Unpasteurized Homogenized Femme is a five letter word my friend Femme is a five letter word my friend
And the rhythm is (Rhythm is)
And the rhythm is (Rhythm Is)
And the rhythm is And the rhythm is And the rhythm is
Is
We the miss fits danger and desire Sinnin’ on a streetcar No regrets Never forget
Done,
Demoting destiny To a dream
Of a dream Of a dream
Say what I mean My slate is clean All she wrote
AND SHE VOTES
Label my food Never my people Global frat party is : OVER
This clean up’s a bitch Revolutionary witch Kurts’ Cobain Blames Courtney on a pyre
Brother can you spare a
Eve’s tired She’s through with you Goin’ to the chapel I’ll be Adam’s wife
Demand a wife for every wife She deserve one too
Hell no You didn’t throw HER outta Eden
She walked out With her own mothafuckin’ freedom
These boots were made for These roots Were made for These Lips N’ Liberties
Walkin’ Talkin’ Hips’ deliveries Sappin’ up the Tree of Life
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
I and the boys Unleash the toys The planet deploys And he games
Namin’ names Suckin’ sap from the ‘Tree of Life’
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
Gritty my city Drainin’ my kitty Upstreamin’ eyes while the ozone cries
Another green is screamin’ and the blues is just a sigh
California’s gold ‘Nawlins to Queens New York to Compton my tiara leans
Simultaneously
Titties know what I mean I’m writing the wrongs Carvin’ a song My tribe Gonna live long after you gone
(That’s right
That’s right) Rather eat off the floor
(That’s right
That’s right) Rather eat off the floor Don’t ask for more You’re the one I paid for
Chain chain chain Chain of humankind Stronger than our weakest links Chain chain chain Chain of humankind Stronger than the Chain chain chain Chain of human crime
Just inside my AKA
‘kay Just in time for the seventh day Hey Latest thing in lingerie boy say hello to the forty-seven AK
Safest place in underwear I’m hidin’ it way down there Aw Right this way Ring Heaven’s bell Wave bye bye this way to hell
And just in case You wonder why When Gettin’ stoned means Gettin’ high That’s when you and I see eye to eye
For an eye For an eye For an eye
Eve’s tired She’s through with you Goin’ to the chapel I’ll be Adam’s wife
Demand a wife for every wife She deserve one too
Hell no You didn’t throw her outta Eden
She walked out With her own mothafuckin’ freedom
These boots were made for These roots Were made for These Lips N’ Liberties
Walkin’ Talkin’ Hips’ deliveries Sappin’ up the Tree of Life
And Lila gonna be my wife That’s right Lila gonna be my wife
And the rhythm is (Rhythm is)
And the rhythm is (Rhythm Is)
And the rhythm is And the rhythm is And the rhythm is
I raised my hand a lot in grade school. Didn’t always know the answer but so pumped engaging on the questions. One day, I found myself in the hallway with the teacher explaining that my class-mates were bullying me because they were jealous. Jealous? Of me? “WHY would ANYONE be jealous of me?”
Raising my hand was a symptom of raising myself, surviving an abusive home, so my self esteem wasn’t always strong. I guess my hand raised in class was a plea to the multiverse, a signal for some lifeguard somewhere that I wanted to learn. To swim, not drown.
“Never stop raising your hand” my teacher said in a fervent, personal way. Even at that young age I understood someone must have laughed at her, tried to thwart her. She was warning me never to give in to the bullies as I would only betray myself. Her kindness and humanity, her warning about never limiting my own “possibility,” her willingness to be vulnerable yet strong were the underlying lessons.
CUT TO :
A few years later, I’ve been skipped grades and I’m the youngest kid in high school. Now I’m summoned to the principals’ office. Never been in any principals’ office, like, EVER. He’s yelling at me. My offense? I got accepted into early enrollment for University. I’m skipping the last years of high school, the diploma and the prom because University is offering me full scholarship. This principal guy is yelling at me because his school is “losing money” due to my leaving early. WTF.
CUT TO :
A few years later, I’m still raising my hand.
Dear 117th Congress ,
Beloved President Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris
And
Everyone who cares about Art, Democracy, Civilization and Beef.
SUBJECT :
Earth Day
Rescuing Independent Artists,
An Endangered Species,
(like Democracy)
from the
Gentrification Of Culture
President Biden described America in one word : POSSIBILITY. I’m addressing you because I believe we have succumbed to a dominance/superiority based bully culture thwarting our possibility.
DISTRIBUTION of Movies is Like BEEF
It may seem odd, but I’m referencing Senator Jon Testers’ Montana bill, protecting small meat producers from the monopoly of mega-distributors here. Obstruction & lack of fairness in distribution opportunities for independent artists is oddly similar to that of beef/food. This also reeks from our nations’ dependence on oil and victimization at the hands of conservative obstructionism including the supremacist misogyny, racism & homophobia on display in the current state of the so-called Supreme Court.
Like Ben Franklin, influenced by the “Enlightenment,” we can push back the Dark Ages by unlocking that forbidden door embracing the heart of our resistance, choosing disobedience over dogma, lest we become willing victims of so many contemporary “blue-beards.”
The parallels to distribution of film, music, arts, humanities & other cultural “products” (among our greatest “exports” like Democracy) could not be more pressing as we approach upcoming elections. Of course, the big-money-media dominance problem likely stems from an antitrust problem that maintains artificial hierarchies of false superiority, so deeply entrenched, for so long, in the highly influential cultural “media products” we all consume daily (and export too) which has infected our global cultural psyche, railroaded political discourse into a reality show circus and left us, the planet, where we are today.
I am trying to share what you may not know about the day to day details affecting the soul of an independent artists’ life, the vocation, the “calling” of culture-making. I’m trying to build a case for some possible solutions that might help us all.
I’m an independent artist who founded my own SustainableStudiO™️ where we make movies, music & publishing about social & climate justice themes with diverse crews. When a small independent filmmaker, like myself, used her meager savings along with some angel investments to make a tiny highly innovative movie & album with a diverse all female crew and then went “begging” to several film distributors, their response-echo was invariably :
“we (the distributors) do not accept unsolicited submissions
from producers we have not worked with in the past.”
So, these distributors are admitting, in writing, the insanity : that if a filmmaker like me, has not distributed a movie with them before, there is NO WAY to distribute my independently made, non-corporate film in any of the major American cinema or global marketplaces and get paid fairly in order to continue to do my own life’s work. The entertainment industry is arguably among our most lucrative ( for the few ) & exported sources of “American made product.” Or, is it ?
We Need a Thriving Artist Community Of Non-Billionaires
Distributor responses like these, were most devastating from so called (imposters) “indie” distributors who held out promise to those of us creating fresh projects unaware that status quo is already busy buying up all the possibilities while portraying themselves to the public as though they themselves are “indies,” thieving from actual independent artists like myself, as we scrape together pennies in spite of the “gentrification of culture.”
“Gentrification of Culture”
“ Independent Artists are ‘First Responders’ to the Soul of Culture
Early on I recognized that my culture valued me as a “baby-maker” far more than it valued what I consider my “babies” : my works of art. Authentic independent artists need breathing room and respect, in the same way parents with young kids, senior citizens or students, are understood and valued in this culture. Yes this may seem a radical idea but guys, people have paid millions for the progeny of Van Gogh, Picasso, et. al … How about affording some grace for living artists? How about a similar tax structure for artists, like the great director John Huston initiated in Ireland?
Why are Corporate Entities allowed to appropriate / impersonate the important role of artists in culture? We have quietly slipped into an Entertainment Oligarchy where manufactured superiority rules. This “Dominance / Supremacist Fiscal Model” also reflects our dependence on the oil industry and victimhood to Conservative Obstructionism. This is us, in the fun-house fascist mirror we seem to find so fascinating. Lordy I hope we don’t find out for real. Popular culture tends to deride the “starving artist.” I’m asking us to consider, who is getting the last laugh and at what expense to democracy, freedom, civilization, the planet ?
Recently 60 minutes did a story about Wall Street taking over housing and making it almost impossible for people to own homes or pay rent in the 21st Century. The story aired on March 20, 2022. I’ve personally experienced the horrors of gentrification, when my own tiny sustainable, hand-built studio located in a sleepy little beach neighborhood was targeted by developers. We fought back. I’m asking us all to do the same.
Corporate talking heads blithely spout false equivalencies and casually endorse products like books, movies and other entertainment products on the so-called “news.” Our culture has long been indoctrinated into worshiping money and dominance, so we no longer show respect for authentic artists not “so-called-curated” by corporate gate-keepers. To me, that means we have lost respect for ourselves, doomed to be groomed in the worship of the corporation.
A compromised culture incubated, birthed, indoctrinated into gentrification
and “worshiping at the altar of wealth” will logically elevate notions like “superiority” and “dominance” at the expense of the necessary humanities that celebrate non-transactional human behaviors and values necessary to healthy culture and democracy. I am advocating for non-corporate, authentic independent artists but also for the simple concept of “truth.”
Who writes the A-List?
We need to support “artists for artist’s sake” which is to say “liberty” “freedom” and the “pursuit of happiness” for their own sake too. We need to secure “UNCURATED” yet remunerative spaces, for the artist in society. Europe and Canada maintain a healthy respect for artists, why can’t we?
Please help us all stay independent from the Cultural Industrial Complex, let’s create a “farmers’ market” for indie films & music. Let’s have an online space where seasoned directors & producers can directly communicate with newcomers like me. Let’s not limit our own possibilities, betray ourselves. Let us “raise our hands” in the global classroom, ask questions, not settle for the candidate, or the movie or album with the biggest budget, the loudest voice, the most cruel derisionor worse, the indifference of apathy.
Big money media is so dominant over every screen, from big screens to cell-phones, that they are literally “authoring” – “dictating” not just our thoughts, but the very process of thinking. We need new common sense thinking and action addressing culture-making by independent artists – and also – the mechanics of why we need to vote for ourselves.
The independent artist, unowned, like a public servant who does not answer to big money, is never beholden to big money corporate conglomerates
and therefore represents the deep “infrastructure” of the soul of our nation,
without which, we collapse deeper into the transactional, corporate, oligarchical reality show culture that got us where we are today.
So Let’s make the possibility of a better tomorrow possible. “
Oscars 2020 Contender
All Female Crew LGBTQ Interracial Love , Climate Action Lesbian Visibility Love Story
Cali Lili Oscars 2020 Contender “Eve N’God This Female is Not Yet Rated”
A letter that reflected my meditations – regarding my work and how the industry has affected my life as a female, lgbtq, culturally mixed artist who has been very concerned about climate change and who’s work is extra challenging due to the status quo of our industryandwhat I call the ”gentrification of culture” reflecting our supremacy based cultures.
Today I’d add many concepts to my original impulse for a micro-budget movie category. I’d add that we need a category for every category.
Moving Forward 2022
and beyond
ADeclaration Of IndiePenDance™️Continued by Cali Lili
As I see the real-world effects of cultures bereft of their humanity, stolen from 99 percent of living beings, afforded only to the 1% who misuse it or are ignorant of it’s true meaning, I have arrived at the conclusion that only those rare cultures who cherish the arts and humanities AND SUPPORT THE AUTHENTIC LIVING ARTIST are equipped to thrive on our spinning interplanetary swimming pool, our big blue, Mother Earth, SisterOcean™️.
I now consider it important for arts lovers to look beyond the museums of corporate art & seek out your own Van Goghs. Even in a museum, I never follow the map, its SO much more fun to discover. But right outside the halls of the so-called curated, is the living breathing artist who’s oxygen nourishes the culture as a whole. She too needs nourishment and I now make this plea to arts lovers and lovers of humanity, along with my fellow artists, let us build the New “Belle Epoque,” lets embrace the ”Age Of Aquarius” and ”let the sun shine in“ on the musty galleries, let us find each other beyond all the middle-men who keep us apart and let us SupportTheARTSustainTheARTiST™️
In fact, please let us remove any middle-men-women who don’t support the artist and her art! Let’s ALL embrace 21st Century MomAndPopUpCultureZ™️ that allow us all to be MakinALivinNotAKillin™️ EVEN the middle-men-women that CARE! let us have the equivalent of farmers markets and cafe society conference rooms so we can find each other and ourselves, so we can nourish the planet, rather than plunder her till nothing’s left except the ravenous crooked egos of the narcissistic gate-keepers hoarding in vain. The power of Humanity must not be left in the greedy hands of the realtor, agent or broker lest it continue to be twisted into the ultimate weapon of mass destruction.
Enclosing the letter below, maybe some day, it might make a difference…. Along with my movie and album…
AND …
As I review my own letter, writing this now in 2022, from my upcycled, hand-built, SurfShackLoFt™️ which is where I work, my 21st Century Girl-Owned SustainableStudi0™️ I am remembering my initial wariness of all forms of ”supremacy/dominance” in arts.
The sacred mystery weaving the life of every authentic artist, deserves far more respect than our gentrified corporate arts cultures allow.
I continue my work and it is once again, to the movie lovers, music lovers and lovers of all the arts, to whom my attention gladly returns.
I ask you all to support my art and my teams where-ever you can, however you can as ”every penny of support from you, is priceless for us.”’
I know that you have many things to do in preps for the upcoming awards season … and I appreciate you taking a moment to consider the below.
I must begin with a bit of background, so I will try to deliver that succinctly :
I am an actress / filmmaker and singer-songwriter who has built my unique tiny film / music studio in Venice Beach – in order to create projects that address social justice issues in a particular style and in accordance with a methodology I began formulating in graduate school.
Having been skipped several grades and then earned an early admission scholarship to NYU, and having been blessed with some amazing educators along the way (all of whom made up for the abusive childhood I survived) I decided that I would do good works in honor of the trust, faith, and love – shown to me by my teachers and by the mysteries of talent and passion.
My teachers believed in me, so I pledged – that no matter what – I would dedicate myself to exceptional work, in honor of the exceptional care I was shown.
When I first experienced the Hollywood world as a teenager traveling back and forth between NYC and LA – I was surprised by the pervasive and aggressive lack of opportunity for someone like me, with my education, background and drive.
As time went on, I realized, that this was the “culture” I would inherit, as a multi-cultural female artist, a member of the lgbtq community and a filmmaker with passion. Hollywood was reflecting American culture and some of our cultural socio-economic “difficulties” with diversity, inclusion, justice, merit.
I remember the exact moment I decided to refuse to be angry and to choose to “be the change i wished to see.”
I am proud to say that my first completely indie feature length motion picture “eVe N’god this female is not yet rated ™” is now complete – made with an all female production crew before that became a popular “thing” to “tout.” I promoted the concept of an all female crew, way back in 2012 because I felt it would be an empowering goal – and we did it. Not only did we do it, we got imitated LOL.
My mixed gender / mixed orientation music crew and I made the soundtrack to the film, which is also my debut album. I was able to employ fellow craftspersons in the making of these projects – and this is extremely moving for me, as it allowed me to provide opportunities for others, without losing momentum on moving forward with my own purpose, in spite of my difficult childhood and in spite of roadblocks in the status quo.
As technology provided for the means to make my projects – I soon found out that blocked avenues of distribution lay in wait for us.
Distribution companies (including those posing as indies ) – proudly, boldly – post on their company website pages – that if they haven’t ever worked with you before – there was no point in approaching them for distribution. This was depressingly similar to how agents function.
Other companies “invited” us to send them all our ideas … – and just like in the “system” – we would be supplying our marketing ideas, our movie, all of my original content and intellectual property – to a company for which there was no oversight. We soon realized that some of those very same companies, to whom we turned for distribution, were behaving more like competitors, than as champions of the artists / art of the motion picture.
Now that we had the means to make a movie – we were shut out of releasing.
Business is business … but at some point … just as “Willy Loman” says … ” Attention Must Be Paid. ”
Willy might get trolled on social media these days … perhaps people might consider him too “touchy feely” … too “naive” ? But I posit that good ole Willy might find some supporters, including me. I don’t want to see Willy shut out anymore. I don’t want to see any more shelving / grounding for young or old Billy Wilders, and Orson Welles – and the countless indie / female / lgbtq / multicultural artists, like me – who may never have even dared to dream. As the partner of someone in the industry who is already accomplished – I am doing what Ginger Rogers described as ” backwards and in high heels.” I know there were many girls before me – who wished for a chance to simply do the work they were born to do.
Now – to my idea.
I am annoying you with all of this – because I was hoping to discuss my idea with somebody who stands for standards and merit in Hollywood.
One of my ideas is to create an Academy category for the purely indie – the truly indie … the DIY filmmakers such as myself. This would of-course – not only be excellent for “movies” and “movie culture” – but … it would be great for the Academy.
I’d like to submit the movie I made for that category – and I’d also like to help pave a road for others. I’d like to help the “movie culture” because i love movies. I believe in the power of movies to improve the world. It’s a personal quest for me – but meant to be be paid forward.
I know exactly how to put together such a category for films like mine … as I have spent several years now, not only making the movie and album – but also communicating with our growing audience on social media etc … !
After reaping the benefits of advancement in technologies – the one door which has been shut squarely in the face of so many filmmakers like myself is : distribution.
Additionally, with the advances of the technology, the standards have dropped on DIY / Indie films – but not for all those films. I have made a film within my modest budget, that looks like a far more expensive film. My team and I worked to make the very best film we could make … – not just a viral sample to be shared on social media.
The “film festival circuit” – is widely known by young filmmakers – to hold very little promise for most.
I’d like to make a difference – not only for my special project and team – but also to pave the way forward for others … and pave the way backwards to honor those who came before me without a voice !
I wonder if we might correspond about this idea ?
I think we can do something outrageously healthy for our culture and our community !
I’ve enclosed links about my project – below the signature line …
Enclosing an interview I was asked to do with an Australian film journalist :
‘Twas The Night of The State Of The Union , When all thru the house
on behalf of well meaning Americans…
We apologize …
For those of us, so discontented by their own lack of accomplishment that they must scapegoat others, like you, representatives of democratic ideals, and “others” chosen by that unfortunate practice of “OTHERING” which targets persons of “color” including Jewish persons, LGBTQ persons, women with CHOICE , wildlife, nature, sea-life – and any OTHER form of OTHER, in order to feel a semblance of the resemblance of a faux feeling of “power” for once in their lives …
When did America surrender… ?
When …
Did America , The Beautiful … surrender- such a large megaphone – to such small-minded hateful voices?
Surely the answer lies in big money media outlets bilking hearts and minds of similarly discontented viewers, sitting at home resenting their own lost opportunities …
Big Money Media offering such cynical views of culture like “survivor” – teaching only lessons of betrayal and “survival of the so called fittest”
Big money reality shows, bullying away the story-driven dramas in order to line the pockets of culture vultures at the expense of the very soul of culture herself …
Many of us, know and love relatives who belong to that group of Americans who subscribed to the cynical side of big money media … Americans getting used year after year – in service of this conservative anti-American agenda …
These relatives may have even once fought against fascism abroad, only to fall victim to fascism at home.
A thornby anothername disguised as rose.
We apologize to you and to ourselves, to each other, for the neglect, apathy and cynicism of our fellow Americans…
And we all know… apologies aside … these are the times for the kind of victory meant by those powerful words :
“ We Shall Overcome “
That “Some-day” – is TODAY … RIGHT NOW
It’s now or never and never is not an option.
People – get together now – this is that “someday” or forever hold our peace .
Our “Union” is a MARRIAGE VOW and it’s up to us to heal the family , send our dysfunctional family members into recovery and protect our women and kids from the toxic abusers who have threatened the safety of our collective hearth and home :
The United States Of America.
We have NO ROOM on this beautiful big blue planet for any kind of hate. Now let’s get to work .
‘Twas The Night of The State Of The Union , When all thru the house
on behalf of well meaning Americans…
We apologize …
For those of us, so discontented by their own lack of accomplishment that they must scapegoat others, like you, representatives of democratic ideals, and “others” chosen by that unfortunate practice of “OTHERING” which targets persons of “color” including Jewish persons, LGBTQ persons, women with CHOICE , wildlife, nature, sea-life – and any OTHER form of OTHER, in order to feel a semblance of the resemblance of a faux feeling of “power” for once in their lives …
When did America surrender… ?
When …
Did America , The Beautiful … surrender- such a large megaphone – to such small-minded hateful voices?
Surely the answer lies in big money media outlets bilking hearts and minds of similarly discontented viewers, sitting at home resenting their own lost opportunities …
Big Money Media offering such cynical views of culture like “survivor” – teaching only lessons of betrayal and “survival of the so called fittest”
Big money reality shows, bullying away the story-driven dramas in order to line the pockets of culture vultures at the expense of the very soul of culture herself …
Many of us, know and love relatives who belong to that group of Americans who subscribed to the cynical side of big money media … Americans getting used year after year – in service of this conservative anti-American agenda …
These relatives may have even once fought against fascism abroad, only to fall victim to fascism at home.
A thornby anothername disguised as rose.
We apologize to you and to ourselves, to each other, for the neglect, apathy and cynicism of our fellow Americans…
And we all know… apologies aside … these are the times for the kind of victory meant by those powerful words :
“ We Shall Overcome “
That “Some-day” – is TODAY … RIGHT NOW
It’s now or never and never is not an option.
People – get together now – this is that “someday” or forever hold our peace .
Our “Union” is a MARRIAGE VOW and it’s up to us to heal the family , send our dysfunctional family members into recovery and protect our women and kids from the toxic abusers who have threatened the safety of our collective hearth and home :
The United States Of America.
We have NO ROOM on this beautiful big blue planet for any kind of hate. Now let’s get to work .
‘Twas The Night of The State Of The Union , When all thru the house
on behalf of well meaning Americans…
We apologize …
For those of us, so discontented by their own lack of accomplishment that they must scapegoat others, like you, representatives of democratic ideals, and “others” chosen by that unfortunate practice of “OTHERING” which targets persons of “color” including Jewish persons, LGBTQ persons, women with CHOICE , wildlife, nature, sea-life – and any OTHER form of OTHER, in order to feel a semblance of the resemblance of a faux feeling of “power” for once in their lives …
When did America surrender… ?
When …
Did America , The Beautiful … surrender- such a large megaphone – to such small-minded hateful voices?
Surely the answer lies in big money media outlets bilking hearts and minds of similarly discontented viewers, sitting at home resenting their own lost opportunities …
Big Money Media offering such cynical views of culture like “survivor” – teaching only lessons of betrayal and “survival of the so called fittest”
Big money reality shows, bullying away the story-driven dramas in order to line the pockets of culture vultures at the expense of the very soul of culture herself …
Many of us, know and love relatives who belong to that group of Americans who subscribed to the cynical side of big money media … Americans getting used year after year – in service of this conservative anti-American agenda …
These relatives may have even once fought against fascism abroad, only to fall victim to fascism at home.
A thornby anothername disguised as rose.
We apologize to you and to ourselves, to each other, for the neglect, apathy and cynicism of our fellow Americans…
And we all know… apologies aside … these are the times for the kind of victory meant by those powerful words :
“ We Shall Overcome “
That “Some-day” – is TODAY … RIGHT NOW
It’s now or never and never is not an option.
People – get together now – this is that “someday” or forever hold our peace .
Our “Union” is a MARRIAGE VOW and it’s up to us to heal the family , send our dysfunctional family members into recovery and protect our women and kids from the toxic abusers who have threatened the safety of our collective hearth and home :
The United States Of America.
We have NO ROOM on this beautiful big blue planet for any kind of hate. Now let’s get to work .
I raised my hand a lot in grade school. Didn’t always know the answer but so pumped engaging on the questions. One day, I found myself in the hallway with the teacher explaining that my class-mates were bullying me because they were jealous. Jealous? Of me? “WHY would ANYONE be jealous of me?”
Raising my hand was a symptom of raising myself, surviving an abusive home, so my self esteem wasn’t always strong. I guess my hand raised in class was a plea to the multiverse, a signal for some lifeguard somewhere that I wanted to learn. To swim, not drown.
“Never stop raising your hand” my teacher said in a fervent, personal way. Even at that young age I understood someone must have laughed at her, tried to thwart her. She was warning me never to give in to the bullies as I would only betray myself. Her kindness and humanity, her warning about never limiting my own “possibility,” her willingness to be vulnerable yet strong were the underlying lessons.
CUT TO :
A few years later, I’ve been skipped grades and I’m the youngest kid in high school. Now I’m summoned to the principals’ office. Never been in any principals’ office, like, EVER. He’s yelling at me. My offense? I got accepted into early enrollment for University. I’m skipping the last years of high school, the diploma and the prom because University is offering me full scholarship. This principal guy is yelling at me because his school is “losing money” due to my leaving early. WTF.
CUT TO :
A few years later, I’m still raising my hand.
Dear Honorable Members of Congress,
Dear Honorable Executive Branch,
And
Everyone who cares about Art, Democracy, Civilization and Food,
SUBJECT :
Earth Day
Rescuing Independent Artists,
An Endangered Species,
(like Democracy)
from the
Gentrification Of Culture
President Biden described America in one word : POSSIBILITY. I’m addressing you because I believe we have succumbed to a dominance/superiority based bully culture thwarting our possibility.
DISTRIBUTION of Movies is Like BEEF … or Generally, FOOD
It may seem odd, but I’m referencing Senator Jon Testers’ Montana bill, protecting small meat producers from the monopoly of mega-distributors here. Obstruction & lack of fairness in distribution opportunities for independent artists is oddly similar to that of beef/food. This also reeks from our nations’ dependence on oil and victimization at the hands of conservative obstructionism including the supremacist misogyny, racism & homophobia on display in the current state of the so-called Supreme Court.
Like Ben Franklin, influenced by the “Enlightenment,” we can push back the Dark Ages by unlocking that forbidden door embracing the heart of our resistance, choosing disobedience over dogma, lest we become willing victims of so many contemporary “blue-beards.”
The parallels to distribution of film, music, arts, humanities & other cultural “products” (among our greatest “exports” like Democracy) could not be more pressing as we approach upcoming elections. Of course, the big-money-media dominance problem likely stems from an antitrust problem that maintains artificial hierarchies of false superiority, so deeply entrenched, for so long, in the highly influential cultural “media products” we all consume daily (and export too) which has infected our global cultural psyche, railroaded political discourse into a reality show circus and left us, the planet, where we are today.
I am trying to share what you may not know about the day to day details affecting the soul of an independent artists’ life, the vocation, the “calling” of culture-making. I’m trying to build a case for some possible solutions that might help us all.
I’m an independent artist who founded my own SustainableStudiO™️ where we make movies, music & publishing about social & climate justice themes with diverse crews. When a small independent filmmaker, like myself, used her meager savings along with some angel investments to make a tiny highly innovative movie & album with a diverse all female crew and then went “begging” to several film distributors, their response-echo was invariably :
“we (the distributors) do not accept unsolicited submissions
from producers we have not worked with in the past.”
So, these distributors are admitting, in writing, the insanity : that if a filmmaker like me, has not distributed a movie with them before, there is NO WAY to distribute my independently made, non-corporate film in any of the major American cinema or global marketplaces and get paid fairly in order to continue to do my own life’s work. The entertainment industry is arguably among our most lucrative ( for the few ) & exported sources of “American made product.” Or, is it ?
We Need a Thriving Artist Community Of Non-Billionaires
Distributor responses like these, were most devastating from so called (imposters) “indie” distributors who held out promise to those of us creating fresh projects unaware that status quo is already busy buying up all the possibilities while portraying themselves to the public as though they themselves are “indies,” thieving from actual independent artists like myself, as we scrape together pennies in spite of the “gentrification of culture.”
“Gentrification of Culture”
“ Independent Artists are ‘First Responders’ to the Soul of Culture
Early on I recognized that my culture valued me as a “baby-maker” far more than it valued what I consider my “babies” : my works of art. Authentic independent artists need breathing room and respect, in the same way parents with young kids, senior citizens or students, are understood and valued in this culture. Yes this may seem a radical idea but guys, people have paid millions for the progeny of Van Gogh, Picasso, et. al … How about affording some grace for living artists? How about a similar tax structure for artists, like the great director John Huston initiated in Ireland?
Why are Corporate Entities allowed to appropriate / impersonate the important role of artists in culture? We have quietly slipped into an Entertainment Oligarchy where manufactured superiority rules. This “Dominance / Supremacist Fiscal Model” also reflects our dependence on the oil industry and victimhood to Conservative Obstructionism. This is us, in the fun-house fascist mirror we seem to find so fascinating. Lordy I hope we don’t find out for real. Popular culture tends to deride the “starving artist.” I’m asking us to consider, who is getting the last laugh and at what expense to democracy, freedom, civilization, the planet ?
Recently 60 minutes did a story about Wall Street taking over housing and making it almost impossible for people to own homes or pay rent in the 21st Century. The story aired on March 20, 2022. I’ve personally experienced the horrors of gentrification, when my own tiny sustainable, hand-built studio located in a sleepy little beach neighborhood was targeted by developers. We fought back. I’m asking us all to do the same.
Corporate talking heads blithely spout false equivalencies and casually endorse products like books, movies and other entertainment products on the so-called “news.” Our culture has long been indoctrinated into worshiping money and dominance, so we no longer show respect for authentic artists not “so-called-curated” by corporate gate-keepers. To me, that means we have lost respect for ourselves, doomed to be groomed in the worship of the corporation.
A compromised culture incubated, birthed, indoctrinated into gentrification
and “worshiping at the altar of wealth” will logically elevate notions like “superiority” and “dominance” at the expense of the necessary humanities that celebrate non-transactional human behaviors and values necessary to healthy culture and democracy. I am advocating for non-corporate, authentic independent artists but also for the simple concept of “truth.”
Who writes the A-List?
We need to support “artists for artist’s sake” which is to say “liberty” “freedom” and the “pursuit of happiness” for their own sake too. We need to secure “UNCURATED” yet remunerative spaces, for the artist in society. Europe and Canada maintain a healthy respect for artists, why can’t we?
Please help us all stay independent from the Cultural Industrial Complex, let’s create a “farmers’ market” for indie films & music. Let’s have an online space where seasoned directors & producers can directly communicate with newcomers like me. Let’s not limit our own possibilities, betray ourselves. Let us “raise our hands” in the global classroom, ask questions, not settle for the candidate, or the movie or album with the biggest budget, the loudest voice, the most cruel derisionor worse, the indifference of apathy.
Big money media is so dominant over every screen, from big screens to cell-phones, that they are literally “authoring” – “dictating” not just our thoughts, but the very process of thinking. We need new common sense thinking and action addressing culture-making by independent artists – and also – the mechanics of why we need to vote for ourselves.
The independent artist, unowned, like a public servant who does not answer to big money, is never beholden to big money corporate conglomerates
and therefore represents the deep “infrastructure” of the soul of our nation,
without which, we collapse deeper into the transactional, corporate, oligarchical reality show culture that got us where we are today.
So Let’s make the possibility of a better tomorrow possible. “
“It takes astonishing courage to step out of the confines of linear expectations, walk alone into the woods with just a True North compass; to launch a small, single – woman sailboat into the Pacific, living out of the sea. Or – to make a film, in LA, with a beggars budget and, yet, have it all become so intellectually gratifying and allowing us to think on it long after.”
Times Square Chronicles Movie Review of Cali Lili ‘s Oscars 2020 Contender “Eve N’ God This Female Is Not Yet Rated “
Cali Lili Indies™🏝 PicturesWordsMusicInMotion™🎬🎧 femt0™studi0🏄🏽♀️🏄🏼♀️🏄🏿♀️ CuttingEdgeOfThePacific™🦀 ©CaliLili™AllRightsReserved 
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