And The Words Were Made Fresh

Games, Guns, Girls

by Victoria Herrera (Published May 2012 in STATUS Magazine)

At an age where most kids are still playing imaginary games, Tara Lynne Barr was already acting on stage. Seven years later, she finally considered moving this hobby to a real career.

Tara Lynne Barr has played everything from Annie to an alien, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. “When I was much younger, an episode of Crossing Jordan, a TV show in NBC. I had to play a dead person. And the audition for that was really weird. They basically had me lay on the floor and the casting director stood over me while I play dead to see how convincingly I could play dead. I guess I could do it pretty convincingly coz I got the part.”

From dead to lead roles in stage productions of Little Women and The Diary of Anne Frank, to several TV roles on The Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, Tara most recently made a big splash on the movie screens as Roxy in the dark comedy God Bless America. She plays a teenage accomplice to Frank (Joel Murray) who decides to get rid of all of society’s most annoying and rude people- starting with reality TV stars. “When you’re my age, you’re auditioning for roles like hot cheerleaders or bitchy, popular girls. They’re all kind of stereotypes. I think Roxy’s very real. She’s very layered and complex,” Tara begins. “I honestly didn’t really do much preparation, simply because I kind of already felt what Roxy was feeling. [laughs] Well, I’m not gonna go out and kill a bunch of people and shoot em, but she does have this anger about the pop culture,” she concludes.

What’s the best part about your job? What’s the most difficult?

I just like the ability to kind of—I hope this doesn’t sound cliche or pretentious but—I love the ability to kind of inhabit another person and be another person. I think it’s really special that actors get to do that and get paid for it. Because it can be really fun, it can be really rewarding and enriching. That being said, the most difficult part is probably the same thing. [laughs]

Speaking of acting, have you ever been tempted to cut the acting line and jump to reality TV fame?

Oh no. I’m good. I like being an actor. As an actor, reality TV is taking jobs away from actors so I would hate to be in that. They’re getting paid for what they do, and more power to them that they’re basically being paid to just live and exist and have people videotape it. If they can get away with that, fine, but that is certainly not something I would enjoy doing for my life.

The Stage vs. The Screen: if you had to pick one place to live out your acting life, which would it be?

I think, stage. Filmmaking is an incredible art form, but stage, as an actor, I find it’s more rewarding. When you’re onstage there’s this connection. It’s kind of something that can’t be described. There’s this connection that you feel with the audience and with the other actors onstage.

What was the best acting advice you ever got?

There’s a really great acting guru who’s no longer with us. Her name’s Uta Hagen. She quoted this in a book: “Don’t show your point of view. Have one.” So as an actor you’re constantly making choices based on evidence from the text about what your character would do or how they would feel but you don’t show it…You are it. I have a tendency to think [about what my objectives are] while I’m acting, but really, you just have to be that person for the time that you’re onstage and onscreen, and that will create a really, really powerful, real performance.

taralynnebarronline.com

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tara lynne barr status magazine victoria herrera vicky herrera writing

Jun 02

Bamboo Bicycle Club

By Victoria Herrera (Published in Status Magazine June 2012)

Photographed by Patrick Diokno

Lucky are those can do what they love for a living and make a difference just like Bryan McClelland, founder of Bambike, a socio-ecological enterprise that build bicycles out of bamboo. It’s a far cry from the bikes often seen transversing the city, and it provides jobs for the country’s rural communities.

Growing up, Filipino-American Bryan McClelland always loved outdoor adventures, whether it be riding his bike or going on camping trips with his parents. “I actually thought I was gonna be a sports doctor when I was younger. But I decided I’d be having more fun by going into the environment and perhaps be able to have a larger impact.”

Bryan returned to the Philippines and contacted the community development organization Gawad Kalinga to help him set up Bambike. “I work in the workshop which is in the middle of the rice paddy, in the town of Victoria, Tarlac,” he says. Together with a group of trained bamboo bike builders, aka bambuilders, they tie abaca fiber and bamboo parts to provide skeletal support.

Inspiring other environmental projects such as the bamboo nursery, Bryan says, “We’re working with the government…to plant and grow seedlings. So we want to be growing more bamboo than we harvest.” He’s also developing new bamboo products like Bambowties, Bamboo shirts, Bamboo Sunglasses and briefcases. Bryan laughs, “We’re gonna go into baby strollers… we’ll call it the Bambaby.”

Real or not, Bryan’s biggest focus isn’t to spur a Bamboo product takeover, but on making sure he’s still providing as many sustainable jobs as he can. He shares, “I measure the success of Bambike based on the amount of jobs we can give. It might not be the most efficient way to run a business, but every time I could hire someone, we move in the right direction.”

bambike.com

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Jun 12

Maroon 5

OVEREXPOSED…………………

My Maroon 5 story is finally out.

Thanks to the folks at Status for this assignment!

Will post the article once it’s out online.

XO,

V

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Jul 01

Here’s more to the WEF article…

Hello to everyone reading this blog!

The best thing about the internet is that you can never really run out of space to post things. Unlike my articles, I’m always given a word count, or sometimes it’s either cut down (by someone else) or pushed aside completely to make way for another story.

Here is my last post regarding the Global Shaper’s at the World Economic Forum.

Now I know what was featured was my interview with the Philippine representatives, but what you didn’t know was that I actually interviewed more representatives from around the world.

I think this would have been pretty interesting to read in the paper considering its a point of view from another country….

So I decided to keep that spirit alive and post it up here.

For more amazing insights, I highly recommend you read the following text!

xx

DJ Hedspin: Spin City

by Victoria H

DJ Hedley Tuscano, aka DJ Hedspin is a hard guy track down. Recently wrapping up his Asia tour, he’s been busy showcasing his skills in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. It’s a busy time for this 2011 Redbull Thre3style Champion, but that’s what happens when you win a global DJ battle—the world needs you to get the party started.

“My first club gig was at a venue called Madisons…My friend was DJing…and said he had to use the washroom in the middle of his set and asked me to takeover. He came back from the washroom 2 hours later and I managed to still have people on the dance floor.”

A DJ name is one’s on-stage identity. Yours happens to be Hedspin. What’s the story behind choosing that alias?
My real name is Hedley, and I spin records for a living. Nuff said.

When did you start DJing? Tell us about your first gig.
I started buying records in 1989. My first club gig was at a venue called Madisons in my hometown of Vancouver, BC, Canada. My friend was DJing at his weekly club night at the time and said he had to use the washroom in the middle of his set and asked me to takeover. He came back from the washroom 2 hours later and I managed to still have people on the dance floor.

What are the some of the cool things you are discovering as a DJ?
I learned that a good DJ is a good DJ no matter where in the world you may be. I discovered that I actually have morals! When DJing a few spring break parties in Cuba, The Dominican Republic, and Mexico, I actually felt weird about playing songs about sex, drugs, and drinking, and even played the clean radio versions of certain songs by choice. These parties also made me scared to have a daughter. [Laughs]

Instagram: Send me your top 3 photos that sum up your life.
Planes. Hotels. Shows—repeat.

LA-born designer builds a brand that helps barangays all over

By Victoria Herrera

Friday, September 7th, 2012

Designer and businesswoman “without the business suit” Renee Patron has a clear vision—and the self-confidence to see that through.

She is the creator of Banago, a woven bag line made out of local banig. Whoever thought this mundane everyday sleeping mat would become a global trend, giving jobs to Filipinos in rural communities all around the country?

“I left New York and just returned to LA in February after four months in the Philippines setting up the business and training our workers. In the last two months of the trip, my team and I were able to train about 50 barangays in the art and craft of our products,” says Patron.

Best of both worlds

Patron was born in Los Angeles, but moved to Cebu at a young age. “My parents decided it would be a good idea to send us to school in the Philippines to live with my relatives while they worked to support us,” she recalls.

Patron and her sisters attended Cebu International School. “I realized kids going there came from well-off families and different cultural backgrounds, while we were middle class. I grew up in a very creative and open-minded family and we did not have the lavish lifestyles of most of my schoolmates.

“I would travel back and forth to Samar quite often, which is more provincial. My family is from the town of Guiuan. With all the traveling around the world that I have done, this is probably my most favorite place in the world. So at a young age, I was exposed to lavish lifestyles and a very simple life with my relatives in Guiuan.”

It was there that Patron was able to see the different lifestyles and culture of her relatives.

Observing the contrasting lifestyles, Patron, at a young age, was exposed to the social, cultural and economic differences. This stretched her mind and understanding in ways that helped her later in life.

Growing up in fashion

After graduating from high school, Patron returned to LA and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).

Growing up, Patron was exposed to fashion. “I was very young, probably five; my mother would have to stay home to take care of us while my father went to work. So to earn, she would take sewing jobs. She would sew the patches that went to the factories and onto men’s suit sleeves or shirt collars.”

Patron would play with the leftover scraps that her mom left beside her sewing machine. “I would get in trouble for trying to sew on her machine, I definitely remember that!”

The birth of Banago

In early 2011, after a little over a year of working with Pret A Porter in Paris, Renee learned that her grandmother had had a stroke. She returned to the Philippines for a month to see her grandmother. “I started to reevaluate my life, what was important and just everything in general. I felt like I was able to do almost anything in my career with the knowledge and experience I have gained after 15 years in New York, LA, Japan and Paris. I started searching for the next thing that actually meant something to me, and I wanted to use all that I have gained to help others.”

That was how Banago began. It remains her current and most fulfilling business venture. “I found amazing products that were made in the neighboring islands and towns in the Philippines. I did research on different crafts that local artisans already made that I could incorporate in my designs.”

Patron soon realized that this business could help more people than she envisioned. “I quickly learned that every stage of the bag making—from harvesting the wild grass to weaving the mats, then embroidering with palm leaves—created income and livelihood for an entire community.”

But even if she was flexible in the business, Patron faced challenges. “You can imagine what a difference it would be doing business in New York, then training the locals in the provinces. That was a challenge. But once they started to see how the business was growing, things just came together. I think they started to understand how this really is helping a lot of people around them.”

The future of Banago

What makes Banago an exciting brand to watch is that Patron has all the resources and passion to make her vision become a reality. “I see Banago as a lifestyle brand because that is where it seems to be going naturally. I am working toward expanding categories in fashion, home decor, swim and resort wear, accessories, footwear.”

Patron grows her brand carefully, consistently working with people who share her ethics and outlook. “I also want to stay true to everything we have worked for so far.”

Banago has already achieved success as an international brand in Japan on its first season. “Now we have been focusing on the US market and launched our resort collection at Mercedes Benz Miami Swim Week last July. I would say the next plan would be to get it to Europe.”

It seems that after all these years in fashion, Patron has found the passion where her experiences and ideas come together. She says: “I am finding myself everyday in developing this brand, so I will work to expanding the brand from here on out. It’s my baby, after all.”

Check out http://www.ilovebanago.com.

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renee patron banago i love banago victoria herrera vicky herrera writing

Sep 08

Double Jeopardy

Published in the September 2012 Issue of Status Magazine

Eyewear designers and twins COCO AND BREEZY spill why it’s great being each other’s design doppelgängers.

by Victoria Herrera

Photographed by Zeko Eon

Surging on the fashion radar are eyewear designers Corianna and Brianna Dotson aka Coco & Breezy. It’s a mix of hustle and heart that have blown these Minnesota natives into New York City, quickly gaining an underground following among the city’s trendsetters. “Imagine twins with a unique style living in the surburbs of Minnesota. People used to stare, laugh, and make fun of our style,” says Breezy. “We put our love for sunglasses, creativity, and our want to block people from starring at us together, and that is how we were inspired to creative eyewear.” After a trip to NYC for their 19th birthday, onlookers were quick to notice their personally designed frames. “So the last few days of our visit, we mentally decided we wanted to go home, quit our jobs and sell our car to move to NYC to start a business of the eyewear designs,” says Coco.

Known for their edgy and detailed designs, their sunglasses have already graced the faces of Kelly Osbourne, Serena Williams and Nicki Minaj. Adidas also tapped the design duo for a collaboration for their “Originals White Space Project” this year. But it’s not just fashion these girls have an eye for- they have also explored video directing, with their short fashion film for Selita Ebanks’ swimwear line Sass. With such drive and ambition, these girls are set to make sure their creativity stands the test of time.

You started your own eyewear and accessories line, how did this love first come about?

BREEZY: As kids, my sister and I were always creative. We would re-design all of our outfits, designer our own accessories and even sew our own outfits.

COCO: The love for designing and fashion has always been there. The significance of eyewear started from our love for wearing sunglasses.

What is currently inspiring you right now?

B: Right now we are inspired by Egyptian Art and Gods. Gold to represent Royalty. Music. Mixing fabrics and materials. X-ray technology. Grunge and the mixing of decades.

Who has been the most inspiring person you’ve met because of your job?

C & B: Freddy Leiba

Moving to New York from Minnesota at 19, how did you guys prepare for such a jump?

C: I think we started preparing ourselves when we were kids. We would set a list of goals on a piece of paper with a Sharpie and we would always accomplish the goals we set.

B: I’d have to say that was what prepared us to have good work ethic and know how to hustle. The way we got the ball rolling was never giving up and thinking big. Also, we were always true to ourselves. I think that is important when starting a brand- to remain authentic.

Between the two of you, who is the creative person and who is the business person?

B: Im more of the business person. I’m more aggressive and I like numbers, so that is why I have the final say between Coco and I. Coco is more creative. She is a perfectionist, so she has the final say in all of our designs. But when we are in our creative process, we design together. I usually start a project and she finishes it, since she has the final say in the creative side. It’s actually really amazing, and I know since we are twins, our minds are on the same wave path, so we are always on the same page creatively and business wise most of the time.

Some people do not mix business with family, but for you it’s intertwined. Is it ever hard working with your sister 24/7?

C: I think we are in a unique situation. We aren’t just sisters, we are twins. I’m not sure how the other twins are, but although Breezy and I are extremely close, we know how to separate business and being sisters. I would have to say it’s amazing to be doing our business together since our minds are on the same page.

Are there other creative itches you’re dying to scratch?

C: Well we recently just showed our paintings. It was super exciting b/c It was our first time showing another side of us that we haven’t shared.

cocoandbreezy.com

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coco & breezy status magazine victoria herrera writing

Sep 16

Coco and Breezy: Double Jeopardy

(Online Feature at Statusmagonline.com)

Hey, girls! So tell me what you’ve been up to lately. How has life been for you?
Breezy: Life has been great and exciting.
Coco: Yes, we have been up to a lot, which is always exciting. We have been designing and working on some new projects that we are looking forward to sharing with everyone.

I read somewhere you made shades to protect yourself from “taunting peers.” How true or false is this story? How did you decide to truly turn this into a real business?
B: The is very true. Imagine: twins with a unique style, living in the surburbs of Minnesota. Yeah, people used to stare, laugh, and make fun of our style.
C: We started wearing and designing our eyewear before we thought of it as a business. Our dream as kids was to be designers and entreprenurs living in NYC. It always sounded unreal, but we knew we could do it. We took a visit to NYC for our 19th birthday, and of course, we were wearing our sunglasses that we designed because we felt like it was a shield of protection. So, when we came to NYC, people were asking where they could purchase the eyewear, and we didn’t have an answer. So, the last few days of our visit, we mentally decided we wanted to go home, quit our jobs and sell our car to move to NYC to start a business of the eyewear designs we were just creating for ourselves.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from your journey so far?
B: You have your ups and downs. The down times are the best times to reinvest in yourself and business to figure out what is it you can do next.
C: The business side. In the beginning of our journey, the only thing we knew was being creative. After a few months, we met our business manager, Duane Baker, and he whipped us into businesswomen. You can’t just have a beautiful product; you need a beautifully structured business in order to have a successful product.

We can see the obvious similarities between you two, but tell us what are the differences no one else knows?
B: I have a mole on my right side of my neck [laughs]. That’s how everyone has been telling us apart as kids.

And now, the most important question: who styles your hair?
C: You know what’s so funny? Just a few days ago, we received some awesome extensions from @MyExtensionz and we are so proud of ourselves. We did our hair ourselves for the first time. We colored them. We had to bleach it blonde first, then we added a turquoise blue-ish green to the ends. We also made our own clip-ins ,and it turned out awesome. And Breezy’s boyfriend shaved the sides of our hair for us.

Coco answers about Breezy:
My sister will randomly call me to talk about nothing. We call each other when we are separated. If we are in a uncomfortable place, we call each other.
She always takes photos of us together.
Last week, I caught her stealing a cookie we baked together. We split everything even, and she tried to get an extra one.
You can tell it’s her if she wears a beanie hat or fitted cap.
I once pretended to be her when we went through customs at the airport on the way to Cayman Islands. It was for fun, we switched IDs.
I love her most when she comforts me.

Breezy answers about Coco:
My sister will randomly call me to talk about nothing! [Laughs] It’s annoying, but gotta love her.
She always takes photos of cool art on the street.
Last week, I caught her trying to wear my favorite boots, ugh [Laughs].
You can tell it’s her if she wears these red boots. [Laughs] She loves em’.
I once pretended to be her when a guy called, and she wasn’t around. So I answered the phone and pretended that I was Coco [Laughs].
I love her most when she knows an inside joke, and we laugh together randomly.

cocoandbreezy.com
Interview by Victoria Herrera
Photographed by Zeko Eon

For the full story, grab a copy of STATUS September 2012 issue

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Sep 17

You can’t just have a beautiful product; you need a beautifully structured business in order to have a successful product.

Coco Dotson (Coco&Breezy)

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quotes quotable victoria herrera status magazine

Sep 17

And The Words Were Made Fresh

Posts tagged "victoria herrera"

by Victoria H

“My first club gig was at a venue called Madisons…My friend was DJing…and said he had to use the washroom in the middle of his set and asked me to takeover. He came back from the washroom 2 hours later and I managed to still have people on the dance floor.”