Issue 670
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WTF!?!? Columns
Do You Want to Be the Next
Real Housewife of Atlanta? 5 Easy Steps to Follow! by Lucas Witherspoon
1. Wine is acceptable anytime and anywhere. If you’re going to be an Atlanta Housewife, expect to drink. A lot. At any given time. The rule of thumb is generally that a glass of wine anytime after Noon is fine, but since most of the Housewives don’t even roll out of bed before 2 PM, having a drink first thing is acceptable.
2. The more public the place, the more dramatic the altercation. If you’ve got
a beef with someone, invite them to hash it out in a place where you’re surrounded by a lot of strangers. The bigger the venue, the louder you should speak. Also, don’t be afraid to take it to the streets. Look to Shereé, NeNe, and Kim’s confrontation at--and subsequent wig pull outside of--French American Brasserie, or Shereé and NeNe’s verbal throwdown on at Grape wine bar at Atlantic Station as references.
3. Start a charity. When I say “start a charity,” I of course mean pick a generic cause (domestic violence, teen girls with low self-esteem, etc.) to serve as the façade for your “charity,” which is less of a charity and more so a time-filler and defense mechanism. That way, when someone says to you, “I work for a living! What do you do?!” you have a response: “I have my charity!” Though
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you constantly brag about what a charitable person you are and sporadically throw “charity events,” never actually let anyone see the money you raised “for charity” used proactively in any way.
4. Even if you have no job or talents… an assistant, publicist, housekeeper, nanny, hairstylist, makeup artist, stylist, and personal chef are all necessary. Spending your days sleeping, drinking, luxuriating, socializing, shopping, and creating unnecessary drama is hard work, which is why you need an entire staff of people to help alleviate the stress in your life. You can’t be bothered with picking your children up from school when you have an appointment with your manicurist and masseuse in preparation for the “exclusive” shoe boutique opening you have to attend tonight. Not to mention the four hours you’ll spend having your hair and makeup done. That’s what nannies are for! Like your charity, your children are only to be mentioned when it’s personally beneficial.
5. Publish a book/record a song. Because everyone clearly wants to be you and trusts your judgment, it’s your obligation to publish a book. Forget jury duty or being, you know, a decent human being, this is your civic duty. Be sure to explain how you and your husband met at a strip club, he fell in love with your cooch, you fell in love with his money, the two of you were married and eventually divorced, but not before you tried to suck his assets dry. It’s truly a modern-day fairytale. If literacy isn’t your thing, there’s always music to fall back on. After all, if Ke$ha can talk-sing with the help of Auto-Tune, make millions, and be an international superstar, you can do it too.
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photos by Victor de Mello
The Teachings of Tori Gay icon on Christian phonies, being OK with a lesbian daughter and why ‘It Gets Better’ isn’t enough
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By Chris Azzopardi
ori Amos doesn’t do anything straight. Regarded as one of the premier singersongwriters of our time, the gay icon’s veered off every which way – into babepounding-piano rock and baroque-influenced orchestrations; not to mention seasonal songs, straight-up pop, adult contemporary and gender-bending covers. Night of Hunters, her 12th album over several decades, taps into 400 years of classical music for the backdrop to the musician’s conceptual damsel-in-distress narrative. It’s some of Amos’ finest work in years. On album release day, Amos called in to chat about the if-you-were-lesbian talk she had with her daughter, her message to anti-gay Christians and how “It Gets Better” might not be the best way to prevent suicide among gay youth.
How do you celebrate a new release? With alcohol, naturally. Well, champagne. You know, a toast is a toast. It’s more about the camaraderie.
Do you still travel with a wine cellar when you tour? You know it.
You’ve said, “I knew more about shoes than classical music.” What was your crash course in 400 years of classical music like? I don’t know if it was a crash course. I was at the conservatory for five, six years studying only
classical music. I wanted to be a composer. I knew that I was not going to be a concert pianist for all kinds of reasons, but you have to really be dedicated and devote your whole life to playing, for the most part, someone else’s ideas and thoughts and feelings. I felt much more that I had the soul of a composer than the soul of an interpreter. I felt closer to the sonic architects than I did to the Horowitzs of the world.
It sounds a lot like an extension of your last album, Midwinter Graces. Did working on that project inspire this one? I think it did inspire me, because working with carols and doing variations on them was kind of me cutting my teeth on how to approach the idea of variations on a theme and to expand upon an original theme from another time. I did gain some experience by doing that, but I must tell you – hand on my heart – I did not think about going up to (classical record label) Deutsche Grammophon and saying, “Uh, excuse me, I’m gonna mess with the masters. Will you all pay for this?” It’s not something you do. It’s like calling up black op and saying, “Hi, can I blow some shit up? I’m available!” It doesn’t really work like that. But they approached me with the idea and I thought it was pretty bold, and I found them to not be reticent about it but saying, “We’ve studied your work and we think you’re ready to do this. We know you’ve been working on the musical (The Light Princess) so you should understand narrative to a degree.” And then they said, “You know what, how about a 21st davidatlanta | 21
century song cycle based on classical themes?” And I said, “How about a drink?”
Does having your 11-year-old daughter, Natashya Hawley, on four tracks mean you’re trying to turn her into a gay icon, too? (Laughs) Well, I don’t know if I’m trying to turn her into anything! She’s turning herself. She helped me develop “Annabelle” (a character on Night of Hunters). I designed it, but she helped develop the character. She’s been pushing me about the musical and she realized she was too young to play any of the girls and she said, “Look, I could stuff my bra!” And I said, “Stop stuffing your bra!” So Tash is very proactive. She’s grown up with gay people in our life. We have people from all walks of life on our crew – gay women and gay men that we work with. She’s been brought up in it.
She had no choice – look at her mother. Yeah, I know! (Laughs) But she knows very well what I think. I had a chat with her once that if she ever came home and said she was a lesbian then that’s her choice. And she said to me: “Mom, I’m not a lesbian. Black guys are hot.”
You’re from North Carolina, which has previously banned gay marriage and is now seeking to amend that to the state constitution to define marriage as being between a 22 | davidatlanta
man and a woman. How do you feel about this legislation, as it affects such a huge part of your fan base? What I think is so strange. It is. (Laughs) If anybody calls themselves a Christian, I don’t see how you can ban consenting adults. I just don’t understand how you can see yourself as Christian and have no compassion for another person’s path. It goes against the Christ-like energy and light that I was brought up with. My mother and father, they’re both Southern, have opened up, especially my dad. He had to really stretch as a Methodist minister, but he’s embraced the idea that gay people deserve rights. I’m really proud of him that, as a Methodist minister, he was able to make that shift and see that he did need to see it differently. He took me to a gay bar when I was 13. He’s come a long way, let’s put it that way. So I think there’s hope for people who are judgmental, but what they have to say to themselves is, how can they call themselves a Christian and then insist that gay people don’t have the right to be married? Then gay people shouldn’t have to pay taxes in the state of Carolina!
Is there hope for Michele Bachmann or people like her? I don’t understand people. Again, I’m a minister’s daughter, I was brought up in the church;
I do know the political side and how it works. If I could sit down with these people you’re mentioning, I’d say, “I thought Jesus was about love and not about judgment and damnation. I thought Christ came to question the judgment of a very harsh God.” I just find it completely against Christ’s message. I don’t know what they’re representing, but they’re as far away from Christ as my Bible teaching taught me and, you know what, I was brought up in the church! I’ve gone to church enough for almost every woman in America! (Laughs)
With all the bullying and suicides among LGBT teens in the news, have you considered writing a song about that? Could you send me some information about that? I’m not aware of all that you speak about.
There’s been a series of suicides among gay youth in the last year due to bullying, with 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer reported most recently. The “It Gets Better” project was launched to give kids hope and remind them that it’s not the end of the world. But it is the end of the world to them. When you are being bullied because of who you are, the shame of that is so great that it does seem like the end of the world and like they’re not accepted in this world – and they’re not being accepted by part of this world. And yet, the
Tori Amos plays at the
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on November 29th people that are not accepting them and bullying them call themselves Christian, and that is a lie. You are not a Christian if you treat people like that. I don’t care what office you’re running for. You just are not. That is not the definition of walking the Christ-like path.
When artists say it’s not the end of the world, I don’t know if that’s the approach. I think the approach is acknowledging what they’re feeling and hopefully creating a space where people feeling bullied can go to. This next election, it’s so important the gay community become very aware of what’s going on and be very proactive about your rights as human beings. The fact that gay people are not treated as if they’re human beings by some of these people who are running for office, it’s barbaric. Whatever you think I am, I would like to be in a society where we’re enlightened, and I just find it all very primitive and that we’re regressing mentally. davidatlanta | 23
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LifeStyles
Comics Miguel Jose Barragan joins DC Comic’s Teen Titans as Bunker, an openly gay superhero. Bunker’s special power will be the ability to create brick-like force fields. His debut this month in Teen Titans #3 marks a departure from other gay superheroes such as Batwoman whose homosexuality was a little more subdued. Creators say to expect a slightly more flamboyant character. Damn, and here I was holding out for Batwoman to talk Batman into bending over the boy wonder. A geek can dream, right?
Video Games With more drama behind the closed doors of production and creation than a Real Housewives episode, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 made its way to the marketplace for gamers all over the world last week. Development executives were fired and even after the second in the Modern series surpassed $1 billion in sales, fans were left wondering if the third installment would ever see the light of day. As it hit shelves, I have to wonder if they worked any DADT into the game. Seems to me after shooting things up, players may want to relax and do some other shooting.
Education As Gay Georgians shudder at the announcement from Shorter University in Rome Georgia that its employees must sign a “Personal Lifestyle Statement” that prohibits them from certain sexual conduct, including adultery and homosexuality, they can rejoice that another private university in Georgia is making strides in the right direction. Earlier this month, Mercer University announced it would begin extending benefits to same-sex domestic partnerships. Not really sure what Shorter was thinking having a School of Fine Arts and Performance yet banning gays from teaching there. That would be like a theater without Shakespeare. 28 | davidatlanta
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Famous Women I Wish Were My Fag Hags by Lucas Witherspoon
Sandra Lee. In case you’re unaware of who Sandra Lee is, she hosts her own show on the Food Network called Semi-Homemade that basically follows this “semi-homemade” philosophy she’s created, which really just means she just kind of makes half-assed food or arts and crafts, and passes them off as being akin to the work of Martha Stewart. She’s made millions off of it, but what I admire most about her is her boozing. Like me, she’s developed a reputation as a lush, and totally owns it. While Ina Garten is delicately measuring the amount of shots going into her martini shaker, Sandra is pouring a handle of vodka into a hunch punch bowl. In Sandra’s mind, if you don’t feel your liver begging for mercy, you’re not doing it right. Plus, she’s friends with Oprah. That’s always a bonus. Trina. I’m of the opinion that you always need a friend who you can go to after turning a trick and ask, “Does that make me a complete slut?” who will respond with, “No, girl!” or, “Yes, but I love you for it!” I feel like Trina would be that girl. As someone who, as her music would suggest, has a healthy sexual prowess, Trina would be the kind of girl who’s been there, done that, and seen it all, so your getting drunkenly gangbanged by a group of fraternity brothers does not even phase her. Not to mention she’s all kinds of fabulous. Julianne Moore. A ginger always makes for a wellrounded group of friends, and is there a more fabulous ginger than Julianne Moore? Aside from the fact that she’s one of the best actresses of the last 20 years, she’s breathtakingly gorgeous, completely humorous and charming, loves her gays, and is a high-fashion designer’s dream. She would be the kind of hag I could sit around with discussing topics ranging from Derek Lam’s Spring ’12 ready-to-wear collection to the Kyoto Protocol, all over a very large bottle of wine. Wendy Williams. It’s self-explanatory. She’s like a real-life drag queen, but doesn’t feel the need to be “on” all the time. I love my drag
queens, but damn, you all can be exhausting. And doesn’t everyone need a friend who they can mindlessly gossip with? She’s a gossip blog in human form.
Iris Apfel. I don’t expect that many people outside of the New York social scene would know who Iris is; she’s a 90-year-old socialite, interior designer, and worldwide fashion icon. I honestly have kind of a soft spot for old people, even if they’re grumpy and unruly because it makes me anxious to get to the age they’re at where you just don’t give a fuck anymore. Iris’ style has caught my eye over the years because of her enormous dark-rimmed glasses and near-obsession with wearing as much (very expensive) costume jewelry as possible, but in a recent interview with The Telegraph, I knew we were kindred souls when she said, “When I walk down Fifth Avenue in the summertime I just want to throw up. It seems that the fatter and uglier people are, the fewer clothes they wear. I always say they should put people in jail for wearing clothes like that. Especially stretch jeans over size 10 - they should be outlawed.” Not only do I imagine Iris’ commentary would keep me thoroughly entertained, but I know that if I started developing noticeable love handles, she’d keep a bitch in check. davidatlanta | 31
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The Bottom Line
Sunday Liquor Sales! by Joseph Brownell Last Tuesday morning I woke up swelling with an excitement I hadn’t felt in a long time. I double checked everything in the weeks leading up to Election Day. I made sure I knew where my polling place was and that I had my voter registration card. I also made sure I had the morning off so that I could have a hearty breakfast in case I had to wait in line like I did in 2008. This could’ve possibly been one of the biggest decisions I would ever make- if not the biggest.
If you don’t want to buy it on Sunday that’s fine . . . don’t, but don’t tell me I can’t. We’re one of three states left in the nation that continue to ban Sunday retail sales- that says something about us. Okay before you run to the website and comment on how ignorant I seem, read between the lines. I’m quite familiar with the special purpose local options sales tax on the ballots. Sometimes I overdramatize something in an effort to be funny. What’s not a laughing matter is the stronghold the religious right seems to have over our state. It bears repeating that we are one of only three states left with Sunday retail sales bans. I’m not saying it will be a huge victory, but Sunday sales will mark a move in the right direction of lessening that grip.
I made my way past the SPLOST referendums not even sure what the acronym meant. Was this a measure for fans still in mourning across Atlanta for a special Lost reunion on TV next year? I could’ve cared less. Skip. School Board? City Council? I counted all the signs in my neighborhood; I already knew who’s going to win. My eyes eagerly searched for that paramount question. Shall the governing authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of both malt beverages and wine on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 P.M. and 11:30 P.M.? What were you expecting? I’m fed up with running out of champagne during Sunday brunch. I’m sick of thinking about grilling a steak on Sunday evening and not having a bottle of Cabernet on hand to enjoy it with.
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The author is pleased to announce that we will soon be able to purchase alcohol on Sundays. One small step for this (gay) man, one giant leap for (gay) mankind.
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1. Amsterdam 502 Amsterdam Ave. www.amsterdamatlanta.com
34. Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Rd. www.boynextdoor.biz
2. Bellissima 560-B Amsterdam Ave. www.myspace.com/bellissima_lounge
35. Outwrite Bookstore & Café 991 Piedmont Ave. www.outwritebooks.com
3. Blakes on the Park 227 10th St. www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com
36. Poster Hut 2175 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.myspace.com/posterhut
4. Bliss Atlanta 2284 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.blissofatlanta.com
37. Southern Nights Videos 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.southernnights.com
5. BJ Roosters 2345 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.myspace.com/bjroostersat 6. Bulldogs 893 Peachtree St. 7. Burkhart’s 1492 Piedmont Ave. www.burkharts.com 8. Chaparral 2715 Buford Hwy. www.chaparralalternative.com 9. Eagle 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. www.atlantaeagle.com 10. Felix’s 1510 Piedmont Ave 11. Friends on Ponce 736 Ponce de Leon Ave. www.friendsonponce-atl.com 12. Gilberts 219 10th St. www.gilbertscafe.com 13. Heretic 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.hereticatlanta.com 14. Joe’s on Juniper 1049 Juniper St www.joesonjuniper.com 15. Jungle 2115 Faulkner Rd. www.jungleclubatlanta.com 16. LeBuzz 585 Franklin Rd SE # A-10 www.thenewlebuzz.com 17. Las Margaritas 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd. ww www.lasmargaritasmidtown.com
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Riot police move in at Occupy Atlanta in October
A Brief History
of Crackdowns
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by Randall Carpenter
early a hundred years ago, the Bolsheviks put the 400-year rule of the tsars literally in the grave, while around the world in America the police were working long 10-hour shifts and often slept over in stations without baths, beds, or toilets. Inflation following WWI eroded their salaries and they weren’t paid for court appearances, while working between 75 and 90 hours per week. In 1919, by the end of the year, a series of strikes took place as unions attempted to gain higher wages, and the American Federation of Labor began granting charters for police unions in 37 US cities, including Boston. The new police chief there, Edwin Curtis, issued a General Order forbidding police officers from joining. His reasoning? 42 | davidatlanta
“If troubles and disturbances arise where the interests of this organization and the interests of other elements and classes in the community conflict, the situation immediately arises which always arises when a man attempts to serve two masters, he must fail either in his duty as a policeman, or in his obligation to the organization that controls him.” A darling of business interests, the New Hampshire Association of Manufacturers called him “the Ole Hanson of the East.” A month later a thousand police officers went on strike. Governor Calvin Coolidge summoned the Massachusetts Guard to disperse them. After all, he had to maintain his image as a firm believer in law and order. Those officers were denied their jobs back, which is a distant echo of Reagan and his ban on the striking air traffic controllers ever working for the Federal government in 1981, which
was rescinded by Clinton in 1993. Replacing the striking officers were WWI veterans, the new celebrities in a bustling new era, the Roaring 20’s. Congress even passed a bonus in pay for the returning heroes, to be paid out in 1945. Patience flush with cash gave way to the desperation of the Depression.
Tent Cities Occupy Capitol
Destitute, no work in sight, and families to care for, the veterans marched on Washington, 15,000 strong, in 1932, demanding Congress pay their bonuses early. They called themselves, the “Bonus Expeditionary Force”. Using flotsam and jetsam from an economic wasteland, like scrap wood and iron, the Bonus Army set up camps throughout the city, with one at an estimated 10,000 full. June 17th, the Senate votes down the House-passed bill that would have given immediate payment and then adjourned for the summer. About a month later, under the orders of President Hoover, General Douglas MacArthur in command, and Patton on cavalry, the US Army struck the tent cities and burned them down. Fast forward to the 60’s with the hoses and dogs nipping at a movement on the side of moral and righteous justice. The deaths at Kent State, and continued protests over the Vietnam War. Periodically, throughout our history, powers that be have been resistant to change, in fact, they are willing to do anything to keep the status quo, even violence. In our own time, we face a waning and expensive ‘war on terror’, budget deficits at all levels of government leading to slashing of budgets
and programs, an economy where the only thing stable is the unemployment rate, foreclosures, auctions, and repossessions at a 7 month high. Around the country, Occupy movements are setting up camp, bringing attention to the diminishing diverse stratification of class and wealth, corporate welfare and pay-to-play politics as usual, homelessness, and the corrupt MSM (that’s ‘mainstream media’ for those who don’t know Occupy speak).
Modern Police State
Occupy Chicago had 1,000 seniors from the Jane Addams Senior Caucus join them in the streets to protest cuts to Medicare and Social Security, 43 of them were issued citations punishable by fines. Occupy Atlanta, like Tucson, Oakland, and others has been accompanied by excessive police force in full riot regalia. A paramilitary force that has to attend workshops on how to conduct a lawful arrest and not violate citizens rights. Apparently they didn’t watch TJ Hooker like the rest of us. Mayor Reed, when asked, was unaware of any previous charges or citations issued to any of the Occupy Atlanta movement members, prior to the raid resulting in the 52 arrests. APD Chief Turner added that it was already against the law for them to be there to begin with and similarly their marches were pedestrian violations. Permit violations and jaywalking? Excessive force was used against members of the LGBT community for city permit violations with the Red Dog Unit raid on the Eagle bar. I
[above] Artist Banksy’s installation at Occupy London [left] a lone protestor at Occupy Atlanta davidatlanta | 43
know Mayor Reed wasn’t in office at the time of the raid, however, similar excessive shows of police force, including horseback officers and military style helicopters, is eerily similar. This isn’t just a problem of abuses of power against the people in Atlanta, it permeates American history as I outlined previously.
Occupy An Open Mind
Forget what you think you know about the Occupy Movement and take away a few truths. You can be a participant in the movement and have a job. General Assemblies of the occupation are held across the nation at 7pm, so that those after work can join in the democratic style of hashing out the issues. A person who is peacefully assembling to have their grievances addressed by their government isn’t a degenerate law breaker but a citizen invoking their 1st Amendment rights. Martin Luther King Jr., arrested for ‘parading without a permit’ wrote in a letter from the Birmingham jail:
It is a widely held belief that both Republicans and Democrats are merely machines for grabbing power and distributing favors. Their lust for office makes them willing to make deals with anyone who can deliver a sizable block of votes, including special interest groups that have nothing in common except an outlandish craving for the public trough Well-meaning people who have not had much first-hand experience in politics will have a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about our political system. Discussion in a public forum and void of partisan rhetoric will bring clarity and an interest in our political system, hopefully. As a member of the LGBT community, I am reminded of the very equality movement of our forerunners, who marched with pride and risked arrest, public scorn, and their very lives. The continuing struggle of the LGBT community will require protests, and marches, and possible sit ins like the days when the government didn’t want to address the threat posed by AIDS to gay men. Don’t forget the many instances of civil disobedience that got us where we are today. “Hey hey, we’re gay. Get used to it.”
“There is nothing wrong with an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade, but when the ordinance is used to preserve segregation and deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of In parting, I leave you with the plea for change in the eloquent words peaceful assembly, and of Langston Hughes: peaceful protest, then it becomes unjust.” The Occupy Movement is not a leftist version of the Tea Party, backing Democratic candidates.
… O, let America be America again-The land that never has been yet-And yet must be--the land where every man is free. The land that’s mine--the poor man’s, Indian’s, Negro’s, ME-Who made America, Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain, Must bring back our mighty dream again. … We, the people, must redeem The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers. The mountains and the endless plain-All, all the stretch of these great green states-And make America again! – excerpts from “Let America be America again” by Langston Hughes, 1938
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Spotlight on…
Michael Corey The man, his camera, and the art behind it all So Michael, you have really started to build a name for yourself in the photography scene here in Atlanta. How did you first get started in the art? The performing arts is what really ignited my spark to the world of photography. Although I am very fond of theater and dance, I am incapable of performing at such magnitude levels. Instead, I found that the medium of photography allows me to create original compositions at a fast speed. Essentially, the art of photography is perfect for my charismatic personality. And it fits… I mean it absolutely fits.
Did you go to school to become a photographer, or was it something you just naturally picked up? Photography came naturally to me at a very early age. When I was 19 I enrolled into Clayton State University to learn proper techniques and to grasp the elements/ fundamentals behind the camera.
What kind of shoots do you like to work on the most? Fashion is always ever changing and allows me to utilize my creativity to the fullest extent! Fashion is an extension of my art. When planning a photo shoot with a model, I hand-pick each and every piece of the featured wardrobe.
Some of your work has a very dark, whimsical, almost fairy tale feel towards it. What has drawn you to create such an interesting aesthetic? I love being creative with every shoot I do, sometimes I think its fun to let me views escape into this other world I sometimes see in my head.
When you are doing a shoot, what are some of the biggest faux pas that a model can make on the set? Any certain modeling poses you would advise wanna be models to stay away from? Its always interesting and somewhat startling when shooting models. Every model I work with displays two entirely different personalities; one behind the camera and one in front of the camera. Some advice for models: don’t stress during a photo shoot, there is always photoshop!
Do you think anybody can be a photographer, or is there a certain element that you need naturally to succeed at it? 46 | davidatlanta
I really like photography’s versatility and what it has to offer. It can be enjoyed at so many levels, from a simple snapshot of a loved one,
to document a wedding for a family event or record a war as social history.
What has been your favorite shoot to date? I did a shoot where I photographed a small group of diverse men who represented a “fantasy” Disney character from the early 1990s. Instead of dressing my models in “Halloween” costumes, I used a variation of high-end fashion designers. Doing so, allowed me to recreate the Disney character and present a more raw and provocative image .
Who are some of the icons in the photography world you look up to or take inspiration from? Anybody current that has really helped you figure a direction to move towards? During my premature years, watching countless seasons of America’s Next Top Model was mainly what my week nights consisted of. Unlike my peers, I was not watching the show because of Tyra. Instead, my interest for Nigel Barker was what held my loyalty to the show. Watching Nigel perform and produce such quality and vibrant shoots was what I lived for. However, once I enrolled in college, I became obsessed with fashion photographer, Patrick Demarchelier.
What kind of camera do you shoot with? Photographers always have a dedication to a certain brand! They do! I work with the “Sony Ax.” Sony is a great brand and one of the first professional camera’s I worked with.
Any future plans for Michael Corey Studios? Are you trying to brand yourself into the big leagues soon? I am definitely trying to brand myself in many different outlets. I would eventually love to shoot album artwork for musicians because music also happens to be a major influence in my work. When shooting at a remote location, I always bring my iPod and portable speakers.
What has been the most difficult shoot you have worked on? I once shot on a helicopter (in-flight) and took various photos of the view from up top. I must say, working with machinery can be difficult and dangerous; but working with machinery in motion is one big adrenaline rush.
If you had no budget, and could have any model … what is your dream shoot right now? If the Gods from above should choose to bless me, I would love to conduct a photo shoot featuring the LEGENDARY Pop Icon: Ms. Britney Spears. More specifically, shooting the cover art for next anticipated single, “Trip to your heart” would be ideal. From an artist perspective, I was not impressed with the overall quality of her recent photo shoots. If it were up to me, I would shoot Britney stripped from all of her makeup, glamour and false pretenses; just Britney… BITCH!
678-665-1839 | Michaelcoreystudios@gmail.com www.michaelcoreystudios.com davidatlanta | 47
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David’s Night Out at Sh
The Rocky Horror show O’Brien’s Richard O’Brien’
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RICHARD O'BRIEN'S
THE ROCKY HORROW SHOW
Book, Music, and Lyrics by RICHARD O'BRIEN
Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horrow Show is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
Your ticket to the theatre!
999 Brady Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30318 404.876.9468 | www.fabrefaction.org
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