626 CAPRICORN ROAD ENTER SCALE THEORY APRIL 2018
A 92ARTIST Productions Publication
CONTENTS pg 3 Letter from the Editor/Credits
FEATURED
pg 52
pg 5 This Month’s Theme pg 6 Roadside Scenery Taking in the beauty of nature pg 18 Parking Lot Rebellion Misunderstood with no direction pg 28 Ghosted Aimlessly floating through life pg 38 Heightened Surroundings Where do you fit in? pg 66 The Aftermath When the crowds have all gone home pg 72 Unraveled Melting under dazzling spotlights pg 82 Violet Illumination Standing out amongst the shadows pg 98 Smoky Monochrome Reflecting on past mistakes with foggy lenses pg 108 Absent of Color What do I do now?
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Featuring Lady Mogul Between running her own company and striving to become a star on the rise, Ceirra Burton is the epitome of a mogul in the making. pg 55 Interview with Ceirra Burton
WRITING pg 20 Fill in the Blanks pg 40 Alone in a Clearing pg 66 Coming Alive in My Work pg 76 Glamourized pg 88 Purple Tinted Spotlight pg 104 Inhale, Exhale, Repeat pg 112 April Issue Playlist
Letter from the Editor Hey everyone! My name is Ceirra Burton, and I am the creator and editor-in-chief of 626 Capricorn Road. I wanted to take the time to write out a brief history of the magazine and why I wanted to start it. I come from an acting/filmmaking background, but I always had a love for capturing moments on camera. I started getting serious about photography while I was on hiatus from filming projects for my production company, 92ARTIST Productions (which also produces this magazine). I created 626 Capricorn Road as an Instagram and Tumblr account so that I could post the pictures I was taking for a side photography project. After 4-5 photo shoots, I realized that I wanted to do more than just post photos on social media. That’s when I got the idea to start my own magazine. At the beginning of this year, I began putting my outline for the first issue together and decided to add in my own writing to compliment the photos I was taking. And so, the full magazine was created, and it is now going into its fourth issue. I hope that you guys enjoy the journey you are about to go on as you explore the artsy world of 626 Capricorn Road. Happy reading!
Instagram: @626capricornroad Tumblr: 626capricornroad.tumblr.com Twitter: @626CapRoad Facebook: 626 Capricorn Road Pinterest: 626capricornroad Website: www.626capricornroad.com Self-Portraits by: Ceirra Burton Written Work by: Ceirra Burton 3
THIS MONTH’S THEME Enter Scale Theory means playing with scale and size to tell a story. Creating a balance between proportion and perspective as well as color and monochrome to emphasis what is happening in a photograph. It also plays into the writing that compliments those photos. Being able to share a truth has either shaped your life in a crucial way or helps others tap into their own emotions to understand the weight of their experiences. This issue takes on the challenge of exploring those ideals both visually and through the written word. So, without further ado, you may now enter scale theory.
ROADSIDE SCENERY
Taking in the beauty of nature
“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which it’s loveliness arises.” – Pedro Calderon de la Barca
PARKING LOT REBELLION
ir d o
on i t ec
d o o rst
Mi
e d n su
n h t wi
Fill in the Blanks I started a story about myself, but I can’t quite finish it. Can you help me? I began with words of passion, Driven by the wonders of life, But something happened in the middle of my story. Something tragic. I fell for someone who wasn’t right for me. I knew she was poisonous, But I didn’t care. I liked the feeling of her toxins running through my veins And the shortness of my breath. The stutter in my step Mixed with the fatigue in my bones. They were the result of a lethal crush on someone who didn’t want me. Didn’t want me for who I was nor what I could be. Only the instability of my past fueled her attraction Making my insecurities boil heatedly at the surface. She saw right through me and held onto my soul with magnetic claws. They were razor sharp and bursting with negative energy Every time I get to this part of my story, My brain short circuits. Why is that? What did she do to me? Why did she leave me to confront a stranger about my problems? 20
GHOSTED Aimlessly floating through life
“Dreams come a size too big, so we can grow into them.”
Heightened S
Where do you fit in?
Surroundings
Alone in a Clearing
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I walked until my feet were tired from my journey. I stopped searching for my destination hours ago, Choosing not to be found. Wandering down a random trail with no end in sight, Until I came to a clearing under a bridge. It was an extraordinary view. The vastness of it all. I walked past the concrete columns and into the middle, Spinning around in a circle Taking in the wildlife thriving adjacent to the city. I began to wonder how it was possible To grow in a climate that was deemed unsafe for you. To sprout evergreen under dusty circumstances. I started to think about my own growth. Whether or not I had become the person I envisioned a long time ago, And if I surpassed my expectations. I pondered on this thought for a brief moment before shaking my head in disappointment. I knew what my answer was and hoped it wasn’t right. But it was, unfortunately. I’m not who I thought I was going to be Nor did I stay the opposite. I was stuck in the middle. Ashamed of my past And indifferent to my future. I stood in the clearing for as long as my mind could bear, Then I slowly began to walk away. Hoping this new path would lead me away From the dissatisfaction of my old one.
g n i r u t a Fe l u g o M y d a L
Betwee n runn ing her compan own y and s triving become to a s t a r Ceirra o Burton n the rise, is the e of a mo pitome gul in t he mak ing.
ALL DRESSED UP OUR FEATURED APRIL INTERVIEW
In the fall of 2014, our creator/editor-in-chief, Ceirra Burton, started her own production company, 92ARTIST Productions. Since then, she has gone onto to write, produce, direct, as well as star in several short films, web and miniseries, and various internet content. Now, she is focusing her attention on commenting about life in your 20’s on her YouTube Channel, The Hardly Famous Vlog. 55
What got you into acting? When I was little, my mom got me Shirley Temple VHS tapes, and I would sit in the living room and watch those movies non-stop. I thought her performances were infectious and from then on, I knew I wanted to tell stories that made people smile like those movies did for me. Was acting something that you always wanted to do? Not at first. I wanted to be behind-the-scenes and create my own content. I dreamt of having my own production company, but I didn’t know what the proper label for it was as a kid. I wanted to be able to write, direct, and produce my own stuff, but I didn’t know where to begin. I just knew that I wanted to do it. I got into acting when I was in middle school. I took drama, and my teacher kept telling me I had a natural talent. Of course, I didn’t believe him. (laughs) Once I got to high school, I pushed acting to the side and focused on school and sports. What changed your mind? I had a terrible experience with my basketball coach during my freshman year and decided that I wasn’t going to play basketball anymore. I finished the season and played in the summer, but called my new coach right before school started and told him that I wasn’t coming back. Of course, everyone took offense to me leaving, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t serious about basketball and wanted to explore acting, but nobody wanted to accept it. I still played softball because I enjoyed it. I found a children’s theatre in Pasadena and began taking classes and doing productions there. I stopped playing softball right before my senior year because I wanted to take acting seriously as a career choice. If you couldn’t act anymore, what would you want to do? I would still want to be behind the scenes and continue to write, direct, and produce my own projects. Or I would want to do something with photography. Maybe photojournalism or regular travel photography. Something where I can still tell stories. There was a brief period where I wanted to be a stockbroker, but I’m terrible at math, so I gave up on that dream. (laughs) How did 92ARTIST Productions begin? I was working on a web series that my best friend and I created called “Actors Untitled.” We were in pre-production for our second season, and we were putting together an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for the new season. We needed a business account of some kind to direct the donations towards, and nobody on our team had to access to one, so I decided this was the perfect opportunity to start my own production company. I always thought I would begin 92ARTIST when I was in my 30’s or when I started a family. Once I finished setting everything up, we were able to move forward with funding, and I became an official small business owner.
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Why the name 92ARTIST? “92” is for the year I was born. I was born in 1992, and I’m a proud 90’s baby. “ARTIST” is my chosen career path. I create for a living, and I want to use my experiences to tell stories that are relatable and I could see myself in. Is that something you carry into all your projects? Absolutely. It’s an artist-driven company. For the artist. By the artist. That is the 92ARTIST motto. Why is the name capitalized? Because I wanted to be different and standout. It’s definitely a conversation-starter. (laughs) What is it like having to wear so many hats on set? It’s like juggling a bunch of responsibilities while walking across an old, creaky bridge. You have to be patient and really good at organizing and multi-tasking, but you also have to be able to adapt to any situation that tries to fuck up your well-thought-out plan. Is it hard balancing so many roles? It can be if you don’t have the right people around you. It’s easy to fall victim to people who seem like they can handle responsibility, but as soon as you give them a task, they give you excuses as to why it can’t be done.
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Is that something that’s hard to handle? It’s fucking annoying, but it’s a norm in this business. There’s always going to be people that are like that, who trick you into thinking they can do something or want to do something, but they don’t want to put in the work. You just have to keep your eyes open and trust your instincts. Do you prefer being in front of the camera or behind it? I’ve grown to love both. I’ve spent a lot of time behind the camera for my projects, but I’ve also got to have some fun and be the star. I love performing, but I also like crafting stories and challenging myself as a filmmaker and a photographer. At this point, I wouldn’t be able to choose. What is your favorite project you’ve done so far? My favorite film project I’ve done was a short film called “A Shot of Apathy.” It’s about a lesbian couple on the verge of a break-up who have one last fight that could potentially break them up for good. It won an award at the Fame’Us International Film Festival, which was amazing. The award is sitting on my desk, and it’s a constant reminder to keep pushing myself to tell stories that people want to see. That film was one of the first short films I wrote after “Actors Untitled,” and it was a chance for me to tap into my dramatic side which I think I did reasonably well. Outside of film, I would say this magazine is my favorite project. It gives me the opportunity to create in a way that I haven’t been able to in the past year. To be able to have something consistent to work on without having so many cooks in the kitchen.
What do you mean by that? With filmmaking, there are so many components that you need to have to create a great film. You need to have a great story that is backed by a talented cast and crew. You have to rely on people and hold people accountable when your vision isn’t being realized. You have to be willing to compromise when everyone has something to say. I’m all for collaboration, but sometimes it can feel like everyone wants to have an opinion, which can screw up the project you’re all passionate about creating. What makes these projects so personal for you? “A Shot of Apathy” allowed me to write about things I was going through personally at the time. I wanted to tell a story about two people who went from being “head over heels” in love with each other to apathetic towards one another. I love writing about relationships. I think there’s something so fascinating about people going from strangers to lovers and creating a bond that ultimately takes over their lives and what happens when that bond is broken. For 626 Capricorn Road, it gives me the chance to make an all-in-one platform. I get to challenge myself as a photographer with each new theme. I also get to flex my acting skills as the model for the issues that I’m in. Not to mention I get to showcase my writing in a new way. Is it hard running a business by yourself? It can be, especially if when I want to do more projects, but don’t always have the means to bring other people on. I have to think of things that I can get away with myself for the time being. However, marketing is a big thing I wish I didn’t have to do by myself. Marketing somehow becomes second to the creative side of the company and it shouldn’t, so I’m working on changing my approach to that and having
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a balance between the two. On the other hand, it’s fun to be able to come up with new ideas for projects or the business itself. Is it tiring being a one-woman production? I’m not going to lie and say that it’s easy. I have a lot of hard days and a lot of long hours. It’s a lot of making sure I have a handle on everything I’m working on. It’s a never-ending race to keep up with my responsibilities, but when things come together in the way I envisioned, that’s the most rewarding feeling in the world. What would you say is your biggest strength? I would say my ambition. I have so many goals for myself both personally and professionally. I find joy and excitement in growing as an artist and as a woman, and I want to be able to educate myself in as much as I can within my profession. What would be your biggest weakness? I think my patience gets me into trouble a lot. I’m a very patient person, and I like helping people. Sometimes I support them too much, and I get stuck waiting for things get to get done for me in return. It’s a hard balance, but it’s something I’m working on. What does a typical day like look for you? It usually depends on what I have to do. Most of the day is spent staring at a computer screen either writing or editing. I’ll either be in my studio, or I’ll go to a coffee shop and spend hours there. I recently signed up for a shared workspace membership at Cross Campus, which is one of those rented workspace places that are becoming really popular right now. Then there are days where I have meetings, or I’m doing shoots. I stay pretty busy, but I do a lot of sitting in the process.
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What do you do on your days off? What days off? (laughs) Is it hard taking days off? Absolutely. Because I do a lot of work by myself, I hold myself accountable for getting things done by my deadlines. It’s very rare I have days off where I’m not doing something work-related. I have a hard time sitting still with nothing to do. I’m always thinking about what needs to be done or what I could be doing. I can’t get my brain to shut off, but I rather stay motivated than not be motivated to do anything at all. What is your most significant accomplishment? I would say 92ARTIST Productions. In the beginning, I had started it out of necessity for something else, but I’m proud of myself for following through and wanting to grow it into the company I know it can be. I’ve worked really hard over the last few years, and I think I’ve learned a lot about myself and the people around me when it comes to my business. I’m very protective of it and my ideas, so I’m glad that I stuck with it. What is your biggest regret? I try not to have regrets, but one thing I wished I would’ve done when I started my company was to not overestimate my abilities and what I could realistically do with the things I had. It’s taking me a long time to recognize that, and now I think I’m starting to look at the things a lot more from a business perspective than I did when I first started. What would you say to someone trying to start their own production company or create their own content? Do your research first. Don’t think that you have to do things right away. Take your time and educate yourself in the business that you’re trying to be in. There’s so much information out there, so by taking the time to look at what works best for you will help you in the long run when you want to expand your business. Also, surround yourself with people who wholeheartedly support your vision and are as equally passionate about your projects. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Be your own person. You have to be comfortable in your own skin and not rely on someone else to validate who you are. At the end of the day, who are you trying to satisfy? Yourself? Or someone else? If you can’t handle being by yourself, then you won’t like who you are when you’re around other people. Do you follow it? I try to. (laughs) I have my bad days. But for every bad day, there are ten more good days to make up for it. The Hardly Famous Vlog returns on YouTube on May 16th.
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THE AFTERMATH
When the crowds have all gone home
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“I want to reach the heights of stardom beyond my imagination.” – Ranbir Kapoor
Coming Alive in My Work Acting is a way for me to get out of my head. I’ve always loved the idea of being able to create a character or play a role that was entirely different from myself. I’m the type of person that has a tendency to keep to myself if I feel uncomfortable. It’s hard when you want to serve the story, but you as a person aren’t fully invested in the work. It’s something that makes acting for a lot of people a tough job to do. You have to let go of your insecurities and embrace the world your character lives in. Good, bad, and indifferent.
I try to have that mindset whenever I’m in front of a camera. I try to think of what I would do if the circumstances I’m bringing to life were to happen to me. Imagining how I would react to certain situations and what I would say in response to them. It’s not easy, but asking myself these type of questions helps me become grounded in my character. This isn’t just for acting. I also take this into consideration for my writing. You have to be omniscient when you set up the world of your story. Each character you introduce has to have a different voice and something unique about them that serves the story. 69
I try to think about different situations I’ve been in or different experiences I’ve had that I could draw from for my writing. I can’t be afraid to talk about things that are necessary for the story. That’s the thing I think a lot of artists if not all artists have in common when it comes to creativity. It’s living in the feeling of being uncomfortable and utilizing that emotion to create something unexpected. There have been plenty times where I’ve felt uncomfortable with my performance or something I’ve written, but I’d take a step back and try to examine that feeling. Why am I nervous?
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What is making me feel like that? It’s diving into that moment and understanding what it is that is taking me out of the scene or the story and finding solid ground for me to plant myself. I think the moments where I let go of my inhibitions are the moments where I really shine. When I act like I’m the only one in the room or my scene partner and I are the only two people in our environment. When I tell myself that nothing else matters except telling the story through my character’s eyes. Once I can tap into that mindset, that’s when I feel like I allow myself to grow as a storyteller.
U N R A V E L E D
Melting under dazzling spotlights
Glamourized It wasn’t enough for her to look her best in front of the camera. They demanded eternal beauty behind the scenes. She was reprimanded for her “Plain Jane” routine. She was to be the epitome of old Hollywood. Glamour and poise at its finest. Not the result of fixed filters to hide her insecurities. She couldn’t keep up with the demands of her job. She threatened to quit, But she was locked into a soul-sucking contract. She was trapped in her smile. A false advertisement that tricked people into thinking she was happy with her life. She wasn’t. Not by any means. There was no one she could lean on once the lights went down. The crowds were only there for the feature presentation, And left once the credits began. It was a hard life she involuntarily led, And she wished she was replaceable. Her dream was to become another face in the crowd, Away from the limelight. She longed to walk the streets in total darkness. To not see her dreaded shadow because of the spotlight that followed her, But she would never be able to escape. Her entire livelihood was at the expense of someone else’s words. A public persona masking an isolated private life. It was in times like these where her story is told that she feels hopeful, That one day she’ll be able to break from the chains of her fame, And fall into the black hole of normality for good. 76
O I V
T LE
t u o g n i Stand t s g n o m a s w o d the sha
I L L U M I N A T I O N
Purple Tinted Spotlight She takes her seat and closes her eyes. Deep, pregnant breaths enter and exit her body. Her nerves settle as she slowly opens her eyes. Looks of wonder stare back at her as she gets ready to perform. She’s never felt so alive in her skin before. Years of shame and solitude kept her from reaching her real potential. She gets up and walks to the center of her stage. The lights are focused on her with shades of purple illuminating her skin. Her innocence transformed into a grown woman glow. She opens her mouth to speak and out spills a dialogue of naivety, But her audience doesn’t want to hear that. They want her to talk from a level of maturity. To tell her experiences with a splash of vulnerability, And a touch of mystique to leave them wanting to more. That’s what her team told her backstage. “Keep them on the edge of their seats, And they follow you around for the rest of your life.” Is that what she wanted? Life-long fans? Did she want to be in the spotlight for that long? Or was she willing to give it up when her time was up? 88
SMOKY
MONO
Reflecting on past mistakes with foggy lenses
OCHROME
Inhale, Exhale, Repeat. A puff of tobacco and a ring of smoke, Followed by a heavy sigh. Things never seem to change in her mind. She’s been stuck in neutral for what seemed like an eternity. There’s no spontaneity in her life anymore. Her life had become one long inhalation, Followed by a dreaded exhalation. Where was the excitement? Where was all the color? What happened to the color in her eyes? She used to see the world with eyes of wonder. Saw the vastness of life and savored all its beauty. Gave everything she had into all she possessed. Breathed passion into the artwork of her life. Painted her days with strokes of amber and blushing pinks, And her nights soaking up the oils of imperial purples and icy grays. Now she’s stuck in a millennial twilight zone. The Truman Show 2.0 as she would call it. Nowhere to go but everyone is tuned in to the mundaneness of this week’s episode. It’s hard to picture her life as something other than sad reality TV. She takes another drag of the fag bruising her fingers. Charcoal stains on her fingerprints, As the smoke fills her lungs like a tattered balloon. In comes the sorrow, Out goes the pain. Take a second to digest the routine, Then repeat. She should have it down by now, But every so often she slips up, And she has to re-learn the rhythm of her broken mind. 104
ABSENT OF COLOR
What do I do now?
APRIL ISSUE PLAYLIST Pleasure & Pain (Jensen Interceptor Remix) – Djedjotronic, Miss Kittin, Jensen Interceptor Control Me (Christian Siriano Fall 2008, Project Runway Season) – Brad Walsh Let the Beat Control Your Body (feat. Louisahhh!) – Brodinski Gimme Back the Night (feat. Theophilus London) - Brodinski Sex Education (Originial Mix) – Light Year Poison Lips – Vitalic Your Disco Song – Vitalic Revolution – Danger Twins Dangerous – Danger Twins I Created Disco – Calvin Harris The Girls – Calvin Harris Trust Me (feat. Robyn) – Mr. Tophat Break Bass – Dandi & Ugo Groovy Filth (Original Mix) – Maksim Dark Is You (Original) – D.I.M.
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“My shadow gets taller everytime my secrets get darker. I become more fearful of its height whenever the light of my virtue shines upon my face.�
Next Issue Release Date: May 21st, 2018 Theme: “(Sub)Urban”
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