M.L.T.S.
Dress to Impress - Live and Love Together - The First Mentor Letter
JESSI TEICH
Her Career, Her Terms
Megan McCafferty Talks Bumped
Summer 2011
Etsy Makeup Vendors Talk Shop
June of 2011 marks the 3rd anniversary of this Philadelphia based indie film production company. We’re a team of dreamers committed to creating quality cinema. Mirrorwall Films presents both short and feature films, documentary style and narrative, and is always looking to broaden horizons. Find us on Facebook and become one of the more than 200 fans who supports our efforts to create thought provoking and entertaining independent films. www.facebook.com/mirrorwall
Mirrorwall Films
http://www.wix.com/mirrorwallfilms/home
THE HALLIE EVANS FILE
Stay Tuned for
A New Horror Film From the Minds at Mirrorwall Coming Fall 2011
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hallie-Evans-File/209433319078732
Congrats to the cast and crew of Calendar Girl, which won the Jury Award for Best Festival of Independents Film at the Philly Cinefest!
www.facebook.com/CalendarGirlMovie
M.L.T.S. Magazine Editor’s Letter... 8
Editor in Chief Rosella Eleanor LaFevre shares her excitement over the new magazine.
Inside the Cover Shoot... 9
Get the scoop on the day spent shooting Jessi Teich’s cover.
MLTSMag.com... 10
Find out what’s going on over at M.L.T.S. Magazine’s website.
Most Stylish The New Rules... 11
Rosella Eleanor LaFevre tells you how to dress if you want to impress on the job or at your internship... Also, a review of Edith Head’s book How to Dress for Success.
Street Style Decoded... 13
Style bloggers are captivated with the way regular women dress themselves. Kirsten Stamn explains the fascination.
Most Beautiful Natural Magic... 15
Three mineral makeup vendors talk business. Hillary Biggs reports.
Beauty Essentials... 17
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Most Loved
Most Entertaining
The Love Doctor... 18
Calendar Girl Interviews... 26
Christopher Doctor, the love doc, answers your questions.
Success Secrets of Cute Couples... 19
Janerra Ward and Will Potter, Julia Held and Steve Rivera.
Live Together & Love It... 20 Megan Barbee reports on how you can make the best of living with a roommate or two.
Love Lesson... 21
Brittaney Rementer recounts her first love and loss.
Most Valuable Work Q&A... 22
Talking With Dion Roy... 29 Kristen Gillette talks to the singer.
Future Plans... 30
Author Megan McCafferty talks to Kristen Gillette about Bumped.
Features Jessi Teich: “Smile”... 32 The singer wrote an essay for M.L.T.S. about her success.
We answer your questions about networking, informational interviews and using LinkedIn.
Dressed for the Climb... 42
Wise Business Practices... 23
M.L.T.S. staffers share their dream boards.
Advice from books, movies and TV to help you in the work world.
The First Mentor Letter... 24 Jessi Teich wrote a letter to our young contributor Ashley Heavner.
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Entertainment Editor Michele Elaine Hannon interviews the cast and writer of the new independent film Calendar Girl, and she reviews the film.
I Have A Bright Future... 46
Who Says Women Can’t Ball?... 54
Nichole Fray wants to know why Maya Moore is the first female basketball player to be awarded a Nike endorsement deal.
M.L.T.S. Magazine
“Like” us today, we’ll love you forever. facebook.com/mltsmag
M.L.T.S. Magazine Editor in Chief: Rosella Eleanor LaFevre rosellaeleanor@gmail.com Fashion & Beauty Editor: Kirsten Stamn kirstenmlts@gmail.com Photo & Entertainment Editor: Michele Elaine Hannon Writers: Megan Barbee Hillary Biggs Christopher Doctor Nichole Fray Kristen Gillette Brittaney Rementer Photographers: Nema Etebar Ashley Heavner
Want to see your name on the masthead? Interested in editing, writing or shooting for our magazine? Want to style a photo shoot or review beauty products? Wanna read books or listen to music and write your opinions of them? If you want to join our team -- in any capacity -- shoot us an email at mlts.magazine@gmail.com and include your resume and some samples of your work. We want to hear from you! 6
M.L.T.S. Magazine
• • • • “Ever notice Rosella’s a gogetter?” said Rosella Eleanor LaFevre’s sociology professor to the classroom after Rosella announced that she’d taken the first steps toward creating her own magazine. This is quite possibly the most succinct way to describe this rising junior who is majoring in magazine journalism at Temple University. She dreams a dream and the next morning, writes a plan of action. Decisions are made swiftly but she’ll work like a dog to see them through. This is how she became the founder of her own magazine for women who are just as proactive as she is. • • • Michele Elaine Hannon is kind of smitten with photography... Although it feels a lot like cheating on her main man, film. That, after all, is what she’s studying at Temple University. As M.L.T.S. Magazine’s photo editor, she’s doing a lot of photography and is quite enjoying it (or so her boss -- and friend -- Rosella hopes). When not doing photography or studying for class, Michele is creating films under the umbrella of her film production company Mirrorwall Films. • • • Megan Barbee is a freshly minted graduate of the University of North Carolina, majoring in English. She plans to take the year off to pursue the many passions that she has been putting off for so long,
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• including but not limited to: singing, teaching herself how to play the guitar, traveling the world, and finding new passions to put off. She relies on her up-for-anything attitude and goofy charm to get her through any challenge, and believes that nothing is more contagious than a positive attitude! • • • Nichole Fray is a magazine journalist and political science student at Temple University. She likes to think her opinion actually matters and wants the world to know her side of a story. She’s a girl from a small town in Connecticut with big dreams of living the city lifestyle. For people who’ve never been to Connecticut and think she’s a stuck up snob who grew up privileged; it’s just not true. She is, however, an overachiever. I mean she is a Capricorn; that should explain it. She currently freelances for the online publication HerCampus.com.
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• • • Kristen Gillette is a sophomore magazine major at Temple, interested in pursuing a career as a music or movie writer. One day she hopes to write for Entertainment Weekly or Rolling Stone. Her favorite thing to do is curl up with a good book, television show (especially Gilmore Girls) or a movie and a cup of tea. Previously she has written for moodmag.org, sarahscoop.com, and philly2night.com as well as several music and entertainment blogs.
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Editor’s Letter
Share Your Thoughts
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
Photo by Michele Elaine Hannon.
Submissions should include the writer’s name, college affiliation, and year. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length and clarity, and to publish them in any medium. All submissions become property of M.L.T.S. Magazine and will not be returned. Send to: mlts.magazine@gmail.com or M.L.T.S. Magazine, Philadelphia, PA 19124.
Dear, dear reader, This magazine you’re flipping through has been a long time coming, and I can’t put into words how gratifying it is to have completed the first issue of M.L.T.S. Magazine. I’ve been in love with magazines since I hit double digits and when I was in sixth grade, I made my own. That was called RoZgIrl and a small blurb in the zine’s fashion section caused quite the scandal among my classmates. Now, I’m back with M.L.T.S. Magazine, which is for the grown-up version of the sassy RoZgIrl reader. This is a magazine for young women who want to start their careers while in college. We’re here to offer fashion, beauty, relationship, college and career advice, as well as show you some of the best of the latest entertainment. The magazine started with a promotional photo shoot completed in July 2010, but production on this first issue didn’t begin until March of this year. Since then, it has taken a lot of hump-busting, begging, and prayer to get it together. I couldn’t be prouder, and I hope you love it. Now, just a few words of thanks: First of all, thank you to my loving boyfriend Christopher Doctor (check out his column, “The Love Doctor” on p. TK), for his support, and to my father, Michael LaFevre, who helped with returning the clothes we borrowed. A big thank you goes out to Jessi Teich and Nema Etebar, for agreeing to be our first cover girl and to shoot that cover, respectively. Thank you to my Photo Editor and friend, Michele Elaine Hannon, as well as to my gorgeous, stylish Fashion and Beauty Editor Kirsten Stamn. Thank you, also, to the writers. Sincerely,
Inside the Cover Shoot
WE LOVE OUR INAUGURAL COVER GIRL JESSI TEICH. NOT only can this Philadelphia, PA-based songstress really freaking sing (she gives us shivers, seriously), but she’s also extremely photogenic, is given to wearing very little make-up, and is, quite possibly, the sweetest person. Ever. And we’re not the only ones who love her; the guy who shot her M.L.T.S. Magazine cover, NEMA ETEBAR, would likely say he is her biggest fan. He is, after all, Teich’s fiance and her official photographer. Editor-in-Chief ROSELLA ELEANOR LaFEVRE showed up to Teich and Etebar’s house 20 minutes early for the 11 a.m. photo shoot and while waiting for Etebar to get ready, she and Teich looked through the clothes borrowed from URBAN OUTFITTERS, SMAK PARLOUR (2nd and Market, Philadelphia, PA 19106) and BUFFALO EXCHANGE (1713 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103). Then all three ate a bowl of Kashi GOLEAN Original and Trader Joe’s Organic Mango Passion Granola cereal with almond milk and blueberries (yum, yum!) before heading upstairs to see Teich try on outfits. The game plan? Pack a suitcase full of goodies and hit the streets, wandering wherever whimsy and good fortune took them -although they figured they should probably, most definitely, check out the ITALIAN MARKET FESTIVAL (May 14-15, 2011) first. After picking the clothes and packing them up with shoes and accessories (both Teich’s and LaFevre’s own), they set out on their adventure. They wandered through the Italian Market Festival and Teich, turning many a head in her thrifted long blue Cinderella gown (pictured at top right), posed with dogs and people alike and showed off her truly impressive changing-in-public skills. After munching on a fish sandwich complete with horseradish for lunch, the three set off again in search of kitschy backdrops. All the while, M.L.T.S. Magazine’s Photo Editor MICHELE ELAINE HANNON was preparing to join the crew to shoot a behindthe-scenes video. Hannon brought along her niece ASHLEY HEAVNER (whose behind-the-scenes shots of Teich and Etebar lie at right), who wanted to soak up some knowledge from the talented Etebar. The rest of the afternoon was spent meandering South Philly alleyways and popping into antique and used book stores, Teich posing for Etebar’s camera (which Hannon would kill to use again), shooting interviews, B-roll, and shivering when Teich sang “I’m Missing You,” off her first album, Barely There (FUZZTONE RECORDS). Walking between locations, Etebar asked LaFevre what she thought of the shoot so far. She said she was so excited and thankful for the chance to shoot with the lovebirds. Etebar responded saying he never shoots with anyone other than Teich, so LaFevre tagging along was a rare thing. All humbled and honored, LaFevre thanked him again, saying she really appreciated the opportunity. Looking at the great shots taken that day, it appears M.L.T.S Magazine’s staff didn’t cramp Etebar and Teich’s style too much. Thank goodness! •
MLTSMag.com
Photos by Ashley Heavner
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Item of the Day: Every day we feature a fashion item we’re lusting after. These can be items of clothing, jewelry, handbags, shoes or other accessories. We’ll always give you the low-down on how much it costs and tell you where you can buy it.
Talking to mark. Representatives Series: Did you miss it the first time around? In this series, we interviewed five mark. cosmetics representatives about their duties. Looking for a side job? Reach the interviews and sign up at meetmark.com. http://mltsmag.com/2011/05/13/ashleigh-angelette/ http://mltsmag.com/2011/05/06/haley-garrett/ http://mltsmag.com/2011/04/29/sadie-howes/ http://mltsmag.com/2011/04/22/kelsey-riley/ http://mltsmag.com/2011/04/15/beth-heitker/ Other web stuff: Behind the scenes peeks at the creation of the magazine. Beauty reviews. Tori Marchiony blogs about health and the benefits of giner and marigold. 10
M.L.T.S. Magazine
Most Stylish The New Rules
All photos by Michele Elaine Hannon.
Rosella Eleanor LaFevre tells you how to dress if you want to impress on the job or at your internship.
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Over the course of our young lives, fashion has changed quite a bit. Designer wares are now available at affordable prices and street style bloggers have placed an emphasis on the everyday style of regular women. It’s also made dressing for the work place a little freer -- if not also a little more confusing. So how do you dress for success these days? The short answer is by mixing classic business wear with pieces that have more personality. Most of us will be entering companies that are more creative in nature, meaning our dress can also be more creative. Try jodphor pants or other unexpected cuts. One of my coworkers recently wore green khaki pants with black stripes down the sides. She said they were old pants from the Gap, but, boy, did she look cool, especially when pairing those pants with a black cardigan. Another great way to inspire confidence in your abilities, try mixing in suitwear pieces with your more unusual or basic sportswear pieces. While you’re in college especially, it’s more age-appropriate to mix up suitwear like jackets, skirts and pants than to wear an entire suit. Pair the jacket with a dress and tights, wear the skirt or pants with a tank top and cardigan. Wear a dress tucked into the skirt, like our cover girl does on page 31 (although perhaps you should save the strapless numbers for after work). Remember, too, that dresses are your best friend. They are simple and quick to throw on and usually look great. Just keep the hemline near your knees, the cleavage to a covered-up minimum, and you’re golden. We like dresses with simple, classic lines, like a shift dress or the pink dress at left. You can still also get away with wearing leggings under your skirts and dresses, which you should definitely do if they’re closer to mid-thigh than your
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knees. Play with proportions and wear a full skirt with a well-fitted t-shirt. Wear a dolman sleeve top with a pair of skinny leg pants. Remember to keep even your casual looks somewhat dressy, as I did with the outfit Julie wears on page 43. Here, I paired a chambray button-down shirt with black dress pants and pair of strappy heels, which easily dress up the denim shirt. Play with accessories, too, as I did by wrapping a floral print H&M scarf with touches of blue around our model’s waist. Wear ballet flats on days when you’ll have to run around a lot, and heels when you can, if you are a fan of elevating footwear. •
A Review of Edith Head’s How To Dress For Success
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Photo courtesy of Abrams.
Edith Head, legendary costume designer and winner of eight Academy Awards, wrote the original guide to dressing for success back in 1967. It has recently been re-released by Abrams in a stunning hard-bound edition with the original artwork by Joe Hyams. This 181-page volume is full of Head’s wit and wisdom (“A good cookbook may be able to give a cut-and-dried recipe for salad dressing, but there is no set of measured ingredients for success dressing.”), and while some of it may not be entirely timely, as Head regularly refers to girdles, gloves and matching handbag-and-shoe sets, Head’s advice does still hold some truth. The belief that you must follow convention while climbing the ladder and can dress however you choose when you’re top dog certainly still rings true. Head’s book outlines rules for dressing for success in many areas of life: business, catching a man, looking younger and more. While she may not be able to outline a specific recipe for your date-night outfit, her advice is worth checking out. Her method of researching the role before deciding on the costume not only works in Hollywood by in real life, too. •
M.L.T.S. Magazine
Street Style Blogs
Kirsten Stamn shares the best of the street style blogs online.
There is no doubt that street style has taken over the fashion world. What started with Bill Cunningham shooting for his On the Street column with The New York Times has turned into a full-fledged phenomenon, with street style blogs and websites gaining just as much credibility as print magazines. Industry insiders who were previously behind the scenes are now thrust into the spotlight themselves, with editors like Anna Dello Russo and Giovanna Battaglia becoming celebrities in their own right for their amazing fashion week outfits. Bloggers have become influential and important in the fashion industry as well, with the notable power couple Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist and Garance Doré leading the way. But what makes a look on the street look so special? What compels bloggers and photographers to shoot the look and publish it? Garance gave her readers a slew of hilarious tips, which include everything from wearing a shoe as a hat to getting your friends to take photos of you so others will follow suit. All joking aside, the post reveals that what street photographers are looking for is individuality, originality, and something that is not so run-of-the-mill. It doesn’t matter if you wear all black or all the colors of the rainbow, whether you wear a dress that was bought off the rack at Nieman’s or a dress you stole out of your grandma’s closet. You just have to wear it in your own way. So mix prints, textures, and shapes and do it with flair. Here are some of the best street style sites out there, ranging from personal blogs to international fashion sites: The Sartorialist: Scott Schuman’s acclaimed blog is filled with simplistic, utterly elegant people from around the world. With a penchant for shooting not just skinny models, Schuman displays everyone from old women to children, showing that everyone is beautiful. thesartorialist.blogspot.com
always has the most inspiring photos. www.garancedore.fr/en Jak & Jil: Tommy Ton is an industry giant and while is very in demand (he works for Style.com as well), he still has time for his wonderful blog, chock full of wonderful detail shots of everything from jewelry to collars to cuffs. Expect explosions of color, contrasting textures, and lots of stilettos. www.jakandjil.com/blog Hanneli: This model-turned-blogger is known not only for finding the coolest girls on the street, but also for posting equally lovely pictures of her own. A style icon, she mixes vintage with modern effortlessly. www.hanneli.com STREETFSN: Filled with incredible photographs, this blog screams happiness in the most fashionable sense of the word. Look for industry insiders like Anna Dello Russo along with hordes of models, crazy hats, and enviable handbags. www.streetfsn.blogspot.com Street Peeper: The experts for worldwide street style, Street Peeper covers the typical cities like New York, Paris, London, and Tokyo along with places like Buenos Aires, Oslo, and Jakarta. It’s an extremely comprehensive way at looking at how people dress from all walks of life. www.streetpeeper.com •
Garance Doré: With her infectious voice and charming illustrations, Garance takes gorgeous photos of the most to-die-for fashion. Covering everything from Coachella to the trials of managing hair, her blog
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
Most Beautiful More than just a passing beauty fad, mineral makeup is a movement toward healthier skin and a more natural complexion. There are a million products available, and some of the best sources of natural mineral makeup for health-conscious consumers are private sellers who dedicate their life’s work to developing the highest quality products. M.L.T.S. spoke to three of these vendors who sell their products on Etsy. The All Natural Face offers foundation, eye shadows, hydration mists, wrinkle serums and more. Simplicity Cosmetics provides just what its name suggests, a range of mineral makeup made with simple and natural ingredients, including eyeshadows, blush, foundation and primer. Bellissima Minerals is also a makeup shop, which has expanded to include handmade soaps, and bath and body products. Each shop has its own unique products and designs, with three inspired owners who share the common goal of supplying naturally healthy products with consumers. All three of these sellers said that an interest in finding healthier makeup for their own skin drove them to pursue mineral makeup. These interests expanded into three thriving businesses aimed at providing for consumers the same quality, natural makeup they themselves wish to wear. Two of the sellers, Crystal Clark from The All Natural Face and Judy Hogan of Bellissima Minerals, actually left positions in the corporate world to pursue the craft of creating homemade beauty products from raw ingredients. Hogan was inspired to start work when she discovered that she not only had access to the materials used to create mineral makeup, but also the motivation to develop truly skin-healthy cosmetics, she said. “I had the drive to be successful. I had the ability to create. I could actually build a better mineral makeup,” Hogan exclaimed. Similarly, after switching to mineral makeup for her wedding eight years ago, Sarah Mones of Simplicity Cosmetics realized she could improve on the products that name brand makeup companies offered. “Once I develop my formula, there’s plenty of experimentation, trial and error, and tweaking until I’m completely satisfied,” Hogan said. Clark works in a similar fashion. “All of my for-mulas are unique and my own. I have spent years developing all of them,” she said. Even with all the time they spend on formula creation,
Natural Magic
Photos courtesy of Crystal Clark, Judy Hogan and Sarah Mones.
Three mineral makeup vendors talk business. By Hillary Biggs
From top to bottom: The All Natural Face Vegan Lipstick in Cherries Jubilee ($7), Bellissima Minerals Mineral Eye Shadow in Amazon Lily ($6), The All Natural Face Vegan Liquid Eyeliner in Antique Gold ($5)
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Clockwise from above: Bellissima Minerals Mineral Makeup Foundation in Tan ($16.99), Simplicity Cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow in Cilantro ($4.99), Simplicity Cosmetics Mineral Sheer Primer in Light ($8.99), The All Natural Face Argan Oil ($17).
Beauty Must-Haves:
Judy Hogan (Bellissima Minerals): A great foundation and a rich and healthy tinted lip balm. “Even if I have no intention of leaving the house all day, I will still put on my foundation and Mineral Tinted Lip Butter!” Sarah Mones (Simplicity Cosmetics): Her mineral primer, especially in the summer. “I have oily skin and since I created the mineral primer it has helped me maintain a shine-free face,” she noted. Crystal Clark (The All Natural Face): Her new sunless tanner product, a roll-on bottle of argan oil, and flavored lip balms. “I don’t leave home without [my lip balms].” -Hillary Biggs
Where to Buy: The All Natural Face: http://www.etsy.com/shop/theallnaturalface Simplicity Cosmetics: http://www.etsy.com/shop/simplicitycosmetics Bellissima Minerals: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BellissimaMinerals
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
Photos courtesy of Crystal Clark, Judy Hogan and Sarah Mones.
these women are able to create large amounts of product. Clark ships between 50 and 100 packages per day. Mones said that throughout the month of May, she made at least 700 eyeshadows alone. “That’s a lot for a one-woman business like mine!” Mones said. Hogan broke her production down by season and guessed during the busy season she may produce several small batches of makeup product a day, whereas during the summer months she may only be required to make one batch per day. “On average, I’d say I produce three to five pounds of mineral cosmetics per week,” Hogan said. With summer right around the corner, Simplicity Cosmetics’ Mones produces different products than she does during the winter. “Natural-looking foundation and blush are a big trend this spring and summer season, with fun eyeshadows taking center stage,” she said. “I have been working on some new, fun, brighter shades that will be perfect for summer.” Clark of The All Natural Face is most excited about the orange trend and the frosted lip gloss look, which is represented in her shop with two colors. At Bellissima Minerals, Hogan tries to keep a standard product line that is consistently available and season-less. “I tried to develop a line that would encompass any trend in any season, but still look natural,” she said. All the shop-owners agreed that their chemical-free products are for everyone, particularly those individuals who are conscientious about what they wear on their skin, and thus seek natural alternatives to the chemical-laden products on the shelves. •
Beauty Essentials Clockwise from top left: Christina Marie Mineral Cosmetics Electric Blue Eye Shadow. $5.50. (www.etsy.com/ people/CMarieMinerals). Essie Nail Color in A List and Aruba Blue. $8. (CVS.com). Ella Rose Minerals Zit Zapper Kit. $22. (www.etsy.com/shop/EllaRoseMinerals). L’Oreal True Match Blush in Baby Blossom. $10.99. (CVS.com). Natural Logic Dead Sea Organic Mud Mask. $4. (www.etsy.com/people/Naturallogic). Angel Face Botanicals Lavendar Mist Facial Toner. $16. (www.etsy.com/people/SpaGoddess). VS PRO Smooth FX Lip Scrub & Balm. $14. (VictoriasSecret.com). Almay One Coat Mascara Thickening Black. $7.99. (CVS.com).
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The Love Doc Is In! Got a question pertaining to your love life? Christopher Doctor is here to give you the male perspective.
Dear Love Doctor, A couple of months ago, my boyfriend and I decided to take a break. His family is going through some things and he says he wants to deal with them alone, but every time we see each other it’s like we’re still together. Should I cut off all contact with him so that he’ll realize we should be together in name and everything? I hate being apart and I want Dear Hyped, to help him deal with his family. First, you’re not crazy. There is always someSincerely, Driving Without The Title thing good to be said about living in the moment. If celebrating every month with your boyfriend makes Dear Driving, the both of you happy, there is no reason to stop, nor Every man is an island. With that said, someshould you feel patronized by your friends. Take a times islands are only for vacations and not extended lesson from the guy in Kung Fu Panda. “Yesterday is stays. The fact that he is struggling with his personal history, tomorrow a mystery, today is a gift. That’s why life, and his solution is to eliminate you from the equait’s called the present.” tion is not a testimony of his strength. It is, however, a Sincerely, The Love Doctor clear indication that he doesn’t know what he wants. This in itself is not a bad thing, it simply makes things Dear Love Doctor, much more complicated. Drama is not fuel for a rela The longest, most in-depth conversations tionship, it is a fire that rapidly burns whatever remains I have with my boyfriend occur on the phone. We on the wick. The resolution is simple, yet far from easy. don’t seem to be able to talk as easily in person. One of the most repeated sayings in the entire world What’s wrong with us? What can I do to fix it? is “If you love something, let it fly free.” Keep your Sincerely, Phoning It In options open; I’d wager that he is doing the same. As for the last part of that saying, there is usually a good Dear Phoning, reason that something wasn’t meant to be. Truthfully, social awkwardness has always exSincerely, The Love Doctor isted, yet today’s world allows loopholes in the form of the internet, text messaging, or even phone calls, that Dear Love Doctor, didn’t exist before. This is actually a good thing be My boyfriend and I just celebrated our sixth cause as time progresses, you and your boyfriend will “monthiversary,” and we totally made a big deal naturally develop a way around the awkwardness that out of it. But a girlfriend of mine told me recently surrounds your relationship. Take comfort in the fact that they think monthiversaries are overrated and that you are even communicating at all, because most that every day should feel just as special. Is there relationships fall because of a lack of it. I wouldn’t something to this? Am I crazy for making a big deal push the issue too far, some things have a way of workout of something like six months together, especially ing themselves out. Introverts don’t become extraverts when I was with someone for years before my curover night. rent boyfriend? Sincerely, The Love Doctor Sincerely, Hyped For 7 Months
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
Photo of Christopher Doctor and Rosella Eleanor LaFevre by Michele Elaine Hannon.
Most Loved
Janerra Ward, 21, and boyfriend Will Potter, TK. Together for two and a half years. Their story: “Will and my cousin are best friends, and since I was headed for Temple in the Fall of 2008 and Will went to Temple, my cousin thought it would be a good idea to introduce us. My cousin was also the one who initiated me and Will talking because I was to shy to say something. My cousin said that he needed to use my phone to text his girlfriend, but texted Will asking if he liked me. And that was pretty much the beginning.” Why they work: “I believe what makes us work is the fact that we are opposites. It’s crazy to say but we compliment each other, I believe, very well. He’s not afraid to tell me how he really feels about something. I believe that the fact that we have our differences is what makes us a strong couple. He is more than my boyfriend. He is my best friend and i love him for that.”
Success Secrets of Cute Couples
Photos Courtesty of Janerra Ward and Julia Held.
Julia Held, 20, and her fiancé Steve Rivera, 23. Together for nine months. Their story: “We met in the little deli where I work, where he would come in on his morning and lunch breaks from his construction job. After an entire summer of seeing him, I finally got a little bit of courage and wrote him a note with my number included. He texted me the day he got it, and we hung out for the first time two days later. That was not only the best night of my life, but also the night he asked me to be his girlfriend. Six months later we were engaged. We’ve been together a short amount of time in reality, but an eternity when you’re truly in love.” in the world; he understands me like no one I’ve ever met before; he loves me unconditionally, and I know he would do Why they work: “We have gone through a lot of anything for me. To me, that is love.” struggles together, ones that have made us stronger as individuals, but especially as a couple. In About the picture: “This is my favorite picture of us, not only all honesty, I don’t know what makes Steve and because we’re both so happy, but also because he’s wearing I work; I think that is part of the mystery of ‘soul a superman cape. Steve is a little kid in a 23-year-old man’s mates,’ as corny as that sounds. What I do know, body. He’s so silly and funny and full of life, and I think that however, is that Steve makes me laugh; he makes really shows in this picture. Also, this photo was taken on the me feel like the most important and loved person night we got engaged.” •
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Live Together & Love It! Megan Barbee reports on how you can make the best of living with a roommate or two.
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majority! When discussing what made their communities successful, participants said that they were able to make their living situations work because they had “similar interests and views on life,” they gave each other space and “everyone had room to grow.” Most participants who defined their living community as successful attributed that success to sharing responsibilities, making a conscious effort to make the relationship(s) work and being respectful. As a whole, participants in this category felt that they either got what they put in to the community or that they didn’t really feel like they had to sacrifice much at all. Among the responses of the 20 percent of participants who defined their living communities as unsuccessful, there were several trends. All of the participants in this category were female and all of these unsuccessful communities were made up of people who essentially expressed the opposite of how successful roommates felt. They felt like they put more into the house than they got back and named a lack of communication as a root of almost all conflicts. Some participants mentioned that roommates had “different ideas of what was okay to do and what was not okay to do.” There were issues with disrespect – with not listening to each other when a concern is being addressed. Overall, there was a trend with “personalities not meshing well.” When asked to describe the main method of communication they use to address their roommate(s) when conflict arises, all participants admitted that they would either ignore the issue or do nothing about it. All of the participants in the successful roommate category engaged in face-to-face conversations when conflict came up. When Jennie Ofstein, Olde Campus Upper Quad Community Director at UNC, and her two Resident Advisors, Jamie Gray and Jeremy Sanders, deal with roommate conflicts in on-campus housing, they first determine how the roommate stepping forward has dealt with the situation. “We definitely want to know whether or not they’ve addressed the problem with their roommate,” Ofstein said. “Communication is the first key – that
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Dorm floorplan courtesy of Southern Polytechnic State University
It’s Friday night and I’ve just driven over to Howell Street where six of my college girlfriends live together under one roof. All of us are sitting in a circle around the living room. It’s winter vacation and we’re eventually going out to the bars, but the Howell Street girls are exchanging their gifts first. We’re talking, joking, laughing, arguing, and loving the moment we’re in. The living room at Howell Street was alive with positive energy and I couldn’t help but notice it. These are the kind of moments that build up and maintain successful living communities. They are characterized by gestures of generosity, thoughtfulness, love, and respect. Howell Street is not always like this, however, and neither are most living communities, for that matter. In a house full of six girls, there is often conflict and emotions may run high. Most of us, as young women, have had the experience of living with one or more roommates at some point in our lives, whether we’ve attended boarding school, gone to month-long summer camp, lived in a college dormitory/sorority house, or studied abroad. Chances are you’ve made great memories from living in a community with friends. Just as likely are the chances that these living arrangements haven’t always proven to be the most enjoyable, or easiest to manage. In a setting where each member of a community is bringing something of her own to the table, there is bound to be conflict. So why are some small living communities able to thrive while others fall prey to self-destruction? In March of 2011, I distributed an online survey to be completed anonymously by students currently attending college. After asking participants to give personal information, I asked them to break down their living situation for me by explaining how well they got along with each of their roommates, what resources were shared, how much time they spent together during the week, and what methods they used to manage conflict when it happened to arise. At the end of the survey, I asked the participants to rate the success of their living situation on a scale running from 1 (very unsuccessful) to 5 (very successful). Of those who participated, 80 percent defined their living community as successful – a comforting
absolutely has to happen before we will even consider moving someone out of a room. Both roommates have to be receptive, ready to articulate their feelings and willing to have an actual conversation.” Communication plays a major role in the roommate compatibility equation, whether you’re living on-campus or off. The thing about communication is “there’s going to be less sacrifice is you’re communicating,” Sanders said. You “shouldn’t have to sacrifice,” Ofstein said, adding, “There should be a vested interest in wanting to make it work for both to live amicably.” If you’re feeling like things aren’t playing out equally – that perhaps you’re sacrificing more than you should be – it is absolutely imperative to communicate your frustrations with your roommate(s) so you can fix the problem collectively. Those female survey respondents who categorized their living arrangement as unsuccessful expressed a tendency to ignore problems
or do nothing about them. Although it can be emotionally taxing to approach a good friend when they have hurt your feelings, those genuine confrontations where you show your true colors can strengthen your friendship and help you to become a better communicator. During the Howell Street gift exchange, the girls may not have realized it, but there was sacrifice going on. Through an exchange of gifts, everyone in the house felt loved and appreciated, and thus, a happy memory was created. This is not to say that roommates need to constantly shower each other with exquisite gifts to make things work, but it is important to see how tiny gestures really do make a difference. Whether it’s taking out the trash, sharing a fresh batch of cookies, or giving a roommate a ride to campus if she’s slept through her alarm, those little things add up and if everyone is contributing, everyone is more likely to be happy. •
Decoding Mr. Nice Guy Rosella Eleanor LaFevre long pondered how to tell when a guy likes you, like, really likes you. In this piece, reprinted from her blog Vered’s The Penny Jar, she was still wondering... All signs point to yes. He’s nice to you. You text all the time. You hang out and watch Glee together. But he hasn’t tried to kiss you since the first night you met when both of you were really... let’s just say: out of it. He backed off when he found out his roommate liked you. And despite the fact that his roommate claims he told this guy that he no longer likes you, that it’s cool, Mr. Nice Guy won’t do a damn thing. If any of this sounds familiar, you and my friend Jamie would get along well. You’d certainly have a lot to talk about. What about he talks to you fervently in English class? Smiles real big when he sees ya? Gives the best hugs you’ve ever gotten in your life? And yet he ignores your handful of attempts to contact him about hanging out before summer break? You’re nervous and confused because he’s got a lot of female friends. Or at least that seems to be the case. And you really think you might just be another friend. But your mom thought she saw something in the five minutes she stood in his presence. Yeah, that’s what’s on my plate. I fully understand that not every guy will be
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into me or my friends, no matter how fabulous we are. That’s the way the world turns -- some people strike your fancy, others do not. And while you might be the fire that lights one guy’s match, you’re not burning down the city. Yup, I get all that. But how can it be that no one is ever struck by you? Jamie and I have about the worst luck when it comes to guys. And we feel like idiots for being unable to read them better. After 18 (or 19) years of dealing with boys, you would imagine we would have picked up at least a trick or two. Yet we constantly pose some version of one question: “Does he like me or not?” It seems we’re finally finding ourselves drawn to nice guys as opposed to the garden-variety loser. That seems to be a step in the right direction. But still, we want to know. How do you tell Mr. Nice Guy from Mr. Totally Feeling You Guy? It’s as if our lives were plucked straight from He’s Just Not That Into You. Only we don’t know if we’ll ever be the exception. • Read the original & more like it at: http://veredthepennyjar.blogspot.com
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Most Valuable M.L.T.S. Answers Your Career Questions How can I use LinkedIn to effectively promote myself and make connections? We love this question. First of all, LinkedIn is an incredible resource, and one that more an more people are relying on for these express purposes. 28 percent of college students polled in a recent survey said they would turn to LinkedIn during their job search. So you’d like to promote yourself? We advise first that you treat LinkedIn as your own personal publicist. Every new project you work on should get its own press release -- or, on LinkedIn, it’s own status update. Link to publications or blogs of yours. Also, share articles you’ve read about the industry you’re breaking into. It will show others that you’re interested in staying abreast of the issues -- something that’s crucial in certain fields, and certainly a benefit in all. Keep it updated. With every new position you take on (and while in college, we recommend you take on just 10 percent more than you think you can handle), update your profile. Frequent position updates (even if only adding a new responsibility to the description of a position you already hold) look really good to others. Now, connecting with people is pretty darn easy. First, be mindful of the suggestions LinkedIn provides on the righthand side of your home screen. These are usually people who know people you know or know people who know the people you know. Anyway, these are close enough that it shouldn’t feel too awkward approaching a relative stranger. We suggest that you approach these people with humility and graciously request an informational interview...
have a networking website where you can reach out? You can also find these people on LinkedIn, or maybe via an on-campus alumni office. Those who are in positions at your dream company are also great resources, although they may not say yes right away because they’re busy and don’t know you. And never forget the “little” people — the interns at your dream company and the students at your school who are doing cool things. These are the ones who, although they may not have as much to tell you as a CEO or other executive, will be the most happy to help you. So how do you approach them? Send an email. Introduce yourself, being sure to include any details that would make the reader feel a connection to you, and be flattering. Say why you’re emailing — that you’d like the opportunity to pick his or her brain — and be sure that you say it will be brief. Offer to meet them on their turf — at their office or a coffee shop nearby. It’s a nice gesture to buy them coffee. If you don’t hear back, send a follow-up email in a week or two. Hopefully, you’ll get a response. So how should you prepare? If you get a “yes,” you should do your homework before the meeting. Read their resume or find whatever you can about them, and their company. Prepare some questions so you’ll feel at ease at the interview. Also, make sure to have a paper copy of your resume ready. So what do you do when you’re there? Ask if you can take notes, and take good ones. When you’ve A friend of mine recently had what she called an asked all of your questions, ask them if they know of “informational interview.” What is this and how did others in the business or company who would be good she get one? resources. Show him or her a copy of your resume and Your friend’s on the ball! An informational ask them to give you notes on its appearance. Is there interview is a one-on-one conversation with someone anything that would make you a more attractive candiwhose advice you could benefit from. One of the keys date? to networking is to approach the people in your busi Most importantly, keep in touch afterward! ness whose career trajectories you admire. Most people Every two or three months, email to check in. Ask how are happy to “pay it forward,” and are willing to share they’re doing, see if perhaps they’ve got internships their experiences with younger people. opening up. Informational interviews do not always, but So who should you approach? People who can, end in your getting a job. graduated from your college are usually really happy Now you’ve got the 411 informational interto share their knowledge of the field. Does your college view.
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WISE BUSINESS PRACTICES: Tips and Tricks from Pop Culture 5 Important Lessons From “Working Girl”:
Compiled by Rosella Eleanor LaFevre
This 1988 film directed by Mike Nichols and starring Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford, is our newest favorite movie. This tale of a regular girl who steps up to the plate while her boss is effectively on the disabled list (sorry, someone’s boyfriend is playing MLB 11 while we write this) is fun and smart at the same time. Here are the things we learned about the working world from watching the flick (currently available for instant viewing on Netflix): 1. Look the part. Take notes on how the higher-ups dress, as well as their grooming habits, and follow suit. People will take you more seriously almost instantly. 2. Be well informed. Your ideas and your work will shine if you are able to convey knowledge of your company and its clients. 3. Keep files that show your work and how your ideas came to you. These will also help you to build a more detailed resume and might come in handy should you seek employment elsewhere. 4. Figure out who you can trust. Like Griffith’s character realized, sometimes the people pretending to be on your team are playing for themselves only. 5. Beware romantic entanglements. Although Griffith’s character’s relationship with Ford’s character worked out, it could just as easily have turned sour and really ruined everything. “It’s not what you make, it’s what you believe in. That is what people respond to. That is where your enterprise lives or dies.” - Hugh MacLeod’s Evil Plans
Like the ladies of “Lipstick Jungle” and “Cashmere Mafia,” never be ashamed of your success. Because you’re a woman, others may try to break you down. Be unabashedly proud of yourself, no matter what. MLTSMag.com
Remember people’s birthdays. They’ll appreciate the extra attention and this will put you at the top of their minds when looking to work with someone.
- Jessica Kleiman & Meryl Weinsaft Cooper’s Be Your Own Best Publicist
Take a page from Jenna Rink’s book: Trust your gut, and when you don’t know how to run a magazine, read a book from the Dummy series.
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The Mentor Letters Letter #1: Jessi Teich to Ashley Heavner
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Jessi Teich Give her a listen at JessiTeich.com, and buy her album, “Barely There,� available on her website and iTunes. MLTSMag.com
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Most Entertaining Keeping the Faith Michele Elaine Hannon interviews Faith Brody, the writer of Calendar Girl, an independent film taking film festivals by storm. Every film starts with something simple. Maybe a title comes to mind, or perhaps a scene unfolds in a writers mind, or in the case of Calendar Girl, it all started with two young women. One of them, a character; a young waitress who comes to life as the film’s heroine, Ari. The other girl, was a young writer, looking to tell a story. A story of quirky characters based in both a little bit of fact and a little bit of fiction. A story that took almost nine years to get from its initial idea to it’s opening night premier. The girl who sought to tell that story, was writer Faith Brody, a 27-year-old University of the Arts graduate who with passion and determination made a writer’s dream come true. M.L.T.S.: So, Faith, how is it that Calendar Girl came to be?
“Just keep trying and don’t give up.” 26
Faith: It actually started a long time ago when I was a college student and we had this assignment to come up with different character types. One of those types was called the “needs attention” type character and from that I came up with the beginning of the Ari character who was always exaggerating stuff and people bothering her on the street. It kind of veered off of it from a school project to something I was working on on my own. And then I had the opportunity a couple years later in college to be part of a drama festival where I wrote this short scene that involved the characters of Ari, Bob and Phil. That was just one scene and then we adapted that scene into a short film and after that it stayed dormant for a while. Then some of the other people I knew from college began working on their own feature films and I put the idea of Calendar Girl as a feature to my friend and producer, John. We decided it would be a good time to pursue it and it all moved pretty fast from there.
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M.L.T.S.: Sounds like a very long process for you to get it from start to finish. Faith: It really was, I mean I came up with it when I was just a freshmen in college and I recently turned 27. M.L.T.S.: What did you find was going through your mind on the night of the film’s premier? Faith: You know its really exciting and it was a very happy night for me. A lot of my family members and friends were present, which was awesome. I feel like it was most exciting for me because the screening was at the Cinefest. Going to that has been a tradition with my family since we’re from Philadelphia. Every year we’d go to see a film in the festival and go out to dinner. So I always loved this festival. When I found out that Calendar Girl was screening there, I almost couldn’t handle the excitement. M.L.T.S.: Were there ever any major road blocks that came about during the writing process or when the film entered production? Faith: Well I worked very closely with Derek, who was not only our director and actor, but he helped with revisions of the script. He’s a very experienced writer himself, so there were times I guess where he and I were sometimes conflicted about which things should happen and where to take it. It was an interesting process because when you’re starting out as a writer you think it’s all on you and you’re supposed to do it on your own, but you’re not. It may be your ideas, concepts and characters, but there are a lot of other people involved, people with knowledge and expertise, so you have to learn how to be flexible and pick your battles and know that it’s what’s for the better of the film.
do full time. Either way, they all put the same equal amount of passion and hard work into what they’re doing. M.L.T.S.: Do you ever find yourself taking characters and instances from your own life and incorporating them into your creations? Faith: Oh definitely. I really embrace the numbers of strange people I’ve met in my life. As minor as they may have been in my life one time, if someone comes up to me and says something strange, that’ll stick with me. I think that’s really what makes life interesting, meeting all those people. I do think with Calendar Girl I tried to throw all those odd characters into the diner and turn them into people that Ari would run into. Philadelphia is full of intriguing individuals. M.L.T.S.: I know what you mean, I had a friend visiting recently and he noted how amusing and different some of the people of this city were, but it’s just that kind of city. It’s a great place to be an artist. Faith: It really is. It’s very inspiring and there’s just so much going on, so many people to meet. It’s a truly great place to be a college student. There aren’t many cities like it. M.L.T.S.: Does drawing from life make it easier to create believable characters, or is it harder for you to write characters based on real people? Faith: I don’t think I’ve ever really had a hard time making them believable. I guess just because so much of the time they’re based on real people, I guess it makes it easier because I have the example right in front of me. Most of my characters usually have some kind of basis on truth so, I like to write what I know.
M.L.T.S.: Did you find you got along well with all the people on the project?
M.L.T.S.: Do you have any writers or others who influenced you down the path of the written word?
Faith: Most of the people I worked with were my friends, so that was a plus. But I liked working with everyone. People were putting in really long days, they weren’t taking breaks or getting much sleep in between shoots. They were just really giving up a lot to be there. Its a big mix of people that we worked with, some have regular jobs and had to use up their vacation time to be there. Other people, this is what they
Faith: There’s a lot of different writers I admire both in books and film. When I was younger there was a movie I really liked called Rushmore. I just loved all the odd characters in that film and I remember wanting to write scripts with quirky characters and dialogue like that. That was something that was really important to me. But at the same time I also love all the old classic films too.
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M.L.T.S.: What would say got you into the classics? Faith: I started off with the classics at a really young age because of my father. There was this one summer where I had my tonsils removed and my dad had heart surgery, so that whole summer, we just watched old noir films and it was almost like a film class. I learned a lot that summer, and wrote a lot of short stories and scripts, practicing taking different ideas. M.L.T.S.: Did you always know that writing was your calling? Faith: Absolutely. A lot of it has to do with the family I grew up in. My uncle is a professor at Drexel and he writes novels, and I have a couple other uncles who are artists. My mom’s an English teacher and she’d had poems published. That whole side of the family just really enjoys the arts and I was very attracted to that. I started writing short stories in third grade, poems in sixth and then really got into scripts in high school. I even had this old word processor and I would sit up till midnight writing these little scripts with it. It was very fun and experimentive. M.L.T.S.: Did you ever use any of those ideas later in high school or college? What did you do with the projects that you didn’t like? Faith: The bad scripts were mostly about the learning process, and sometimes you just have to push on even if you don’t like what you have. I know a lot of people who have great ideas but they’re just too scared to
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get started because they’re afraid it’s a bad idea. But I always want to tell them to keep going. It’s not like someone is going to die if your script isn’t brilliant on the first try. M.L.T.S.: Have you ever found yourself feeling discouraged like that? Faith: Well I think failure is just really scary to everyone, even on that very basic level. M.L.T.S.: In keeping with that, our magazine really is about encouraging younger women trying to be successful in their own lives. Seeing as the film has done so well and it’s really only just getting started, what would you advise to other young women and writers out there? Faith: I’d say the first thing is just to really surround yourself with as many positive people as possible; friends, family and people you may want to work with. You want to be around those who contribute their love and hard work. The second thing I’d say is to keep trying and not give up. I said earlier, don’t let a bad draft discourage you, cause without that bad draft you couldn’t get to the good one. And one of the biggest things is collaboration, don’t be afraid to work with people or take other opinions and value all feedback even if it’s negative. You basically need an open mind when you’re writing, and try not to let things bring you down. I went through a lot of phases trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do and who I wanted to do it with. But I kept at it, didn’t quit and now I have found all those things and more.
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Calendar Girl: A Local Indie Triumph A serial killer with a sick love of posing his victims as bloody pinups is loose on the streets of Philly. Every month, another young woman is murdered, photographed and added to his calendar. With only one month left before the end of the year, he must find and kill his last girl, and his search for the perfect Miss December leads him to Ari, a “bitter yet somehow sweet” young writer. The best part? It’s a laugh-out-loud comedy. The leading lady Ari, played by Jensen Bucher, is an attention-seeking waitress at the Aramingo diner who lacks the sunny personality of fellow waitresses. Dressed in fishnets and leather and with an adorable cat named Xanex, she’s the opposite of what manager and diner owner Bob, hilariously played by local actor Brian Gallagher, would like for her to be with the customers. But when a letter gets sent to the newspaper that seems to perfectly fit Ari’s description, he decides
to put her on third shift till December ends, and so begins Ari’s of a month of graveyard shifts during which she is surrounded by men of questionable character. Directed by Derek Lineman and penned by Faith Brody, this indie film has something for everyone. The quirky, yet believable, characters, the funny lines and stark contrast of the suspense element all worked to make the film highly enjoyable. Despite the small budget, it is very high caliber in many ways: an ensemble cast that totally clicks, Joseph Hennigan dark cinematography, which exudes a sense of foreboding, and a committed director-writer team. Also starring funny man Gilbert Godfried and Clerks star Brian O’Halloran, the film achieves a caliber difficult for most dark comedies to reach. Entertaining and well worth it, Calendar Girl is a triumph for local cinema and a true example of the great work that collaboration can produce. -Michele Elaine Hannon
Talking with Dion Roy Dion Roy is an up and coming rock singer/songwriter who recently toured with singer Tyler Hilton. His new EP, Welcome Home, was released April 1, 2011 and is available on both iTunes and Amazon.com.
M.L.T.S.: How would you describe your style of music? Dion Roy: It’s somewhere between pop/rock to singer/ songwriter. It’s got a few other influences. Being a bass player definitely influences how I write. M.L.T.S.: What musicians have influenced your own music the most? D.R.: I’d say people like Jeff Buckley, Tom Petty, Pete Yorn, [and] Ryan Adams. Those are all guys that I look up to and they influence a lot of music I write. M.L.T.S.: How did you get your start as a singer/songwriter? D.R.: Well, I played bass for a bunch of bands and [did] a lot of writing for those bands, and a couple of years ago I decided I could sing and write for them. It was a lot of experience from other musicians that kind of brought me to this. M.L.T.S.: What is your favorite song to perform and why? D.R.: Lately it’s been “Hear Me Out.” I kinda forget where I am and just get in the moment with that. M.L.T.S.: What was it like to tour with Tyler Hilton? D.R.: We spent about seven weeks on the road, we started out in LA, [and] basically circled the country. It was a lot of
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fun. Everybody on the bus got along really well and we had the time of our lives on the bus. The shows were good; all the audiences were a lot of fun. M.L.T.S.: Do you have any plans to record new music? D.R.: I have a new song I’m going to announce at a secret show, it’s a smashing Pumpkins cover, and I’ll have one [song] more coming out a month later. • - Kirsten Gillette
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Future Plans Megan McCafferty, author of The New York Times Bestselling Jessica Darling series, talks to Kristen Gillette about her new book Bumped and the future she has yet to write: that of her career.
Bumped details a futuristic world that paints a picture of what would happen in our world if a virus made everyone over the age 18 infertile. It follows 16-yearold Melody as she deals with the pressure in this world to “bump” for money and sell her baby to parents who want a child. Megan McCafferty, the author of the Jessica Darling series, dishes on what her inspired her to write the book as well as what she hopes young adults draw from the book.
M.M.: Well, I want readers to consider what happens when extreme thinking takes over cultural conversation…it’s also a cautionary tale about what can happen to a society that promotes loveless, mindless sex. It’s also about freewill and thinking about the forces that contribute to the decisions that you make and how and when to be sexually active. M.L.T.S: Do you think the book actually shows what would happen if a virus like this spread? M.M.: I do, I think I under the right parable circumstancM.L.T.S: What was your inspiration for the plot behind es that this book could be a reality. Bumped? Megan McCafferty: Well, the idea was sparked three M.L.T.S: Do you have any books coming out in the near years ago with the Gloucester High School Pregnancy future? M.M.: I’m revising the sequel to Bumpled, I’m hoping Pact. That was when the world was appalled by girls would synchronized their pregnancies…. All of the sud- that will be out about a year from now. I just told my agent about a seed of an idea for a book to come den there was the debate of the sex lives of teenage girls in the media…It just made me ask my self what if after that. By the time the second book comes out in paperback, teenagers were encouraged to have sex. it’ll be like a five-year process. M.L.T.S: Whom did you primarily write the book for? M.M.: The older teenagers as well really anyone at any M.L.T.S: Anything else? M.M.: It [Bumped] was a huge risk for me, and I’m reage that’s interested in feminist issues. I’d consider the book a feminist book. I hope that this would be a con- ally grateful for the readers for that get it. It’s been a versation starter for people who are willing to critically really interesting experience. I’ve never wanted to do the same thing; it would be much easier in my career think about controversial subjects. if I did do the same thing over and over again in my M.L.T.S: What did you want the moral/message of career. • Bumped to be?
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
Features
Dress, Smak Parlour. Skirt, Urban Outfitter’s.
Turn the page to learn from Jessi Teich the power of a smile and how she’s gotten to where she is in the music industry. After that, we’ve got a spread of office-ready looks and a feature on dream boards, which we consider to be very important tools on your path to success. Enjoy.
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Hat, bracelet, ring, Teich’s own.
Jessi Teich: “Smile” When I was younger, my dad always told me that if I wanted something, all I had to do was smile. I laughed at him and thought to myself that he was just saying that because I was his daughter. Yet, the truth of the matter is, it works. It lightens up the mood, tears down walls, and is also highly contagious. I am sure that I was not the only young lady hearing this from her father. As I grew older, I realized this technique worked not because I have the prettiest smile – although I am sure my dad would beg to differ -- but because my smile directly translates into confidence. For me, music was never a choice. I always felt when I wrote songs that someone or something was speaking through me; that I was merely a vessel for a greater purpose. What I am learning now is that this purpose is to fill people with joy, excite them and delight them artistically in a most human and primitive way. The essence of this experience is very childlike and I still am able to capture it when I get up on stage and sing from my core. When I first started looking into a career in music, I was frequently presented with various “boxes,” which contained images of what other people thought I should look like and how I should act, mostly along the lines of exuding sex. There are a plethora of beautiful, respectable, talented, and highly successful women out there that have ripped those boxes up and are able to be creative and fresh in their own way without selling sex, but trying to get noticed and established in your own right is not an easy task. The truth is that you can no longer be just a musician, you are an entertainer and in turn, you are a product. Whether you are natural, synthetic, or somewhere in between, you are being sold and marketed just like soap, food or clothing. I knew right from the start that I did not have the ability to fit into any box; boxes are square and my shape is undulating. In any line of work there is a price tag and you get exactly what you pay for. If you don’t pay your dues and work hard, you won’t get what you set out to achieve. The music business is very cut and dry. There are tested and approved methods for success that you are not supposed to mess with. Yet, in today’s current age of speeding technology, instant communication, and do-it-yourself video/audio, anyone can get noticed, as long as you have something that intrigues and excites the population. Because of artists like Adele, Duffy, and Amy Winehouse, there is a growing appreciation for soulful pop music. Although the eras of Motown and jazz are well >
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This page: Dress, Buffalo Exchange. Hat, tigts and shoes, Teich’s own. Opposite page: Dress, Smak Parlour. Headband, bracelet and ring, Teich’s own.
past their prime, contemporary artists are intertwining these influences and creating many hit songs. Combining this sound with my passion for thrift stores and vintage clothing seems to have created an image I feel comfortable with. Even more exciting, my grandmother has a generous hand when it comes to her priceless clothing from the 40’s and 50’s and she enjoys watching me wear her old jackets, skirts and dresses on stage. It’s too bad we don’t share the same shoe size! In this day and age, you can’t seem to go wrong with classic styles, which is what I strive to embody in my music and my clothes. Creating an image I am comfortable with was a defining moment in my career. Once you know what you are selling, then you can market it properly. As it turns out, the man that I have fallen in love with, Nema Etebar, happens to be an extremely talented and unique photographer. He is very passionate about taking portraits of people, while traveling the world and working with various nonprofits. His talented eye is comparable to the charismatic style of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Together, we’ve created a mountain of media that has become the best way for people to keep up with my music, style, and personality. Every week we post new photos and videos for people to check out and comment on. I have gained a lot of new fans from this constant production of media, which to us is merely having fun through creating.
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A lot of what Nema and I already do is something that a major record label would provide, except it is what I believe to be at a lesser cost. Getting signed is no longer considered a huge success; YouTube “hits,” Facebook “likes,” and selling tickets to your shows is. Record labels are scrounging for one-hit wonders and quick fixes. They can’t compete with the YouTube sensations and the selfmade musicians. Although there are some companies that will modify the idea of a major label deal, most are not what artists are looking for. My voice is only one voice and my thoughts come only from one mouth. If you want to succeed in a career that you are passionate about my advice is only as good as my experience: master your craft, work tirelessly, utilize social media, and most importantly, like my daddy always said, “Remember to smile.” It will take you farther than you think it will. •
M.L.T.S. Magazine
This page: Dress, Teich’s own. Opposite page: Dress, Teich’s own.
This page: Dress and headband, Teich’s own. Opposite page: Dress, bracelet and ring, Teich’s own. Necklace, stylist’s own.
This page: Dress, Smak Parlour. Skirt, Urban Outfitter’s. Shoes and ring, Teich’s own. Opposite page: Dress, Teich’s own.
Stylist: Rosella Eleanor LaFevre.
This page: (On Brittney) Jacket, LYS. Shirt, model’s own. Pencil skirt, Torrid. Clutch, stylist’s own from American Apparel. Opposite page: (On Julie) Shirt, Stylist’s own from Kmart. Pants, model’s own. Scarf (tied as belt), stylist’s own from H&M.
Dressed For The Climb
Sportswear separates mixed with classic pieces add a youthful flair to standard business dress. Photos by Michele Elaine Hannon.
Shirt, model’s own. Necklace, Claire’s.
Shirt, model’s own from Kohl’s. Earrings, Claire’s. Skirt, Torrid. Models: Brittaney Jones and Julie Furdella. Stylist: Rosella Eleanor LaFevre.
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
Editor in Chief Rosella Eleanor LaFevre and Photo Editor Michele Elaine Hannon share their “Dream Boards,� collections of images and words that represent the things they hope to get out of life. Photos by Michele Elaine Hannon. MLTSMag.com
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Tear from magazines the images that speak to you. Print out a list of words that mean something to you, that represent the overarching themes or minute details you envision for your life.
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
Create, using Picnik.com or Photoshop, images that represent the things you hope to achieve -- for Rosella, it was a novel to reach #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. (The landscape picture in the fake book cover was taken by Rosella, by the way.)
Be sure to include role models, found both in real life and in fiction or in movies and on TV. Rosella included the character Nico Reilly, editor in chief of Bonfire magazine as played by Kim Raver in the TV show “Lipstick Jungle” (shown at left) and Marie Claire magazine’s editor in chief Joanna Coles. MLTSMag.com
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
This is Michele’s dream board. Michele is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in film and media arts at Temple University and so the portions of her board that aren’t dedicated to love are dedicated to the film industry and her hopes for her career. Included in the bottom right corner is a picture of Catherine Bigelow, the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director, one of Michele’s inspirations.
MLTSMag.com
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Michele created her dream board using only black and white images and words she printed out on her leftover print allowance at school. She focused on places she wanted to visit or live in, images that represent the romance
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M.L.T.S. Magazine
and family she hopes fill her heart and her days, as well as movie posters for projects she’s already completed or hopes to complete soon. We’re quite smitten with that pretty little girl in the bottom left corner. Aren’t you?
MLTSMag.com
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Last Word Who Says Women Can’t Ball?
It’s no secret that there is a gender inequality that exists in the world of sports, especially obvious with professional basketball. Professional women basketball players are constantly being placed under this glass ceiling as their male counterparts stand on top of them. The limited exposure the Women’s National Basketball Association receives from the media in comparison to the NBA makes the WNBA look like a joke. In addition, the discrepancies that exist between salaries and endorsement opportunities are unreal. Inside Hoops reports that the salary cap for the National Basketball Association for 2010-2011 was set at $58,044 million dollars. In 2009 the WNBA set its salary cap at $95,000. The salary cap for 2010 for the WNBA is “rumored” to be $101,000, according to Inside Hoops. The disparity that exists merely between salary caps is more than $57,000. These numbers are evidence of the gender inequality that exists between men and women who play the same sport on the professional level. Female basketball players are lucky to even get an endorsement offer. While male players are regularly offered endorsement deals for sneakers, women are usually asked to promote products unrelated to their sport and the focus is on their sex appeal. Only recently did a woman professional basketball player receive an endorsement from Nike’s Jordan division. On May 18, 2011, Maya Moore, former basketball star from the University of Connecticut, signed an endorsement deal with Nike, becoming the first woman to be endorsed by the brand. For some, this deal may symbolize a change of times and the opening the door for more endorsement opportunities for professional women basketball players but I find it upsetting. There is no legitimate reason why it took until 2011 for a professional woman basketball player to receive such an endorsement. Sneakers and basketball go hand in hand, so why have only NBA players gotten all the sneaker deals until now? It’s possible that this is the beginning of change and I am happy to see Moore get the well-deserved endorsement, but there have many great ones before her who deserved the same opportunity. The bottom line WNBA players need to be given the same relevance, respect and exposure as the NBA players.
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Nichole Fray wants to know why Maya Moore is the first female basketball player to be awarded a coveted Nike endorsement deal.
M.L.T.S. Magazine
nema` etebar Photographer
nemaetebar.com