Every step you make leads you closer to your destiny or to your demise. Choose wisely or run faster. -DM
~About Me~
I have been interested in filmmaking for longer than I want to think about because I kept getting derailed, distracted and knocked off course each time I pursued it and yet despite even attempting to kill my desire to make movies so I could focus on being a miserable survivor and make a living, it just wouldn't die; It's still there, beating quietly like some lifelong fetus that lives inside of me until the day it's time to be born safely. It won't give up and for that, I am really glad.
First I got into b/w film photography seriously in high school and afterwards even though I had been interested in since childhood. My father, grandfather and mother were all interested in and practiced b/w photography on an amateur level and I inherited their cameras. As for filmmaking, I first started pursuing it in 1990 when I was an extra a few times in the SF Bay Area (including being in an MC Hammer video...hahaha!) and worked on a short film with SFSU student at the time, Daniel Gamburg. I went to College of Marin and studied basic filmmaking courses and made a very short film which I can't remember where it is, 'The Fat in the Fire'...hehe...about acceptable societal violence and war. Something like that. I'll find it one of these days. I was mostly learning the basics and working on other people's films.
1st distraction....then I flitted off into the party scene, studied metalsmithing/jewlery making, worked in construction as a tile finisher, studied ethnic dance, drove across country and almost moved to Europe but irritatingly came back and studied boring things like EKG tech to survive. Happily and soberly I moved on to study Native American history and culture along with ceramics and poetry. After that I went to college like a normal person to get a degree in b/w photography at SFSU in 1996, graduating in 2000....
After I graduated I decided yet again to get back into film and took courses at where else, COM...this time making my short, 'The Nymph & The Spectre' and worked on other people's films. After which, I decided to goto LA...like many people do whether or not I was actually ready. I realize then I should have had a body of work ready then gone....alas live and learn.
I worked in LA for 2+ years during and after the 9/11 tragedy and fiasco, survived the almost-to-be actors and writers strikes of Spring 2001 that shut down much of the work in LA and yet somehow managed to get a few jobs. I worked on 9 gigs during this time, some of which are on my IMDB page: My Imdb Page Link>
While there, I studied filmmaking, film writing and one directing class at UCLA Extension and acting at LACC. UCLA Extension is a great school if you can't afford to goto the larger program schools and have to work full time. They offer great classes, not cheap but still cheaper than film school and usually at night...for @ 6-12 weeks with real industry professionals.
I was making progress, working on scripts, learning, building my resume, volunteering at local live theaters, even acted in a protest against the Iraq war with the Zoo District theater group in one of 3000 worldwide protest performances in the play, 'Lysistrata' at the Wilshire Theater/Wiltern.
Great fun!! Still can't believe I got on stage in front of a 1000 people!#!@#
So not me. Really.
Suddenly I got the chance to come home and buy a condo, even though I wasn't looking to do that. But I was tired and before I knew it, I got sucked into the idea and before I could return to LA and continue my studies/work, I got fiercely chronically ill that set off a 10+ year health crises that entirely effed up my life and finances. As a result also, I put all my creative endeavors and passions on the way back burner because I not only couldn't afford to think of anything but survival I was drained and didn't have the juice. This only led to more misery as I have realized that creating is like breathing to a creative person. If we can't be creative, we don't breathe right. We literally don't function right and suffer.
In 2013 I launched an herbal medicine business making my own products so I could manage my body and energy without being put at risk trying to work for others. I started writing poetry again after many years and this has led me back to my big love of film writing and making. Pant pant....phew!! I'm finally back again.
This time though, I'm not leaving. And like a hungry pitbull my teeth have sunk back into the meat I know and love so deeply that I am not letting go this time.
Just saying...I'm here to stay and I have a LOT of good ideas to write and produce. I know, everyone says that...but I really do. Just watch, you'll see.
If you're interested in being a part of them, let me know. I'm open.
Cheers,
Danya Mosgofian
The other business website: www.thesultrygypsy.com
'Better not more, linger not fast, slower not hard, softer not weak...Love.
In all it's myriad of forms, hold out for it'.
7/4/12©DM.
And that applies to film & art-making of any kind!!
No comments:
Post a Comment