Vivrant Magazine - Promo Sp12 by Vivrant Magazine

267

SPRING HOLLYWOOD BEAUTY ISSUE

March-May 2012

Spring 2012 Looks

Beauty

Get your skin Ready for Spring!

The Oscarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Controversy, Fashion, Hair Styles and more

Tyler Perry:

Man about Hollywood

Spring Movies Vivrant Movie List

The

Hollywood

Fashion Issue

Beautiful 2

Sexy www.vivrantmagazine.com

Powerful VIVRANT MAGAZINE

d e s i o P 3

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Contents 36

42 114

144 106

Contents

12•On The Cover; 13•Editor’s Letter; 14•Oscar Dress Coverage; 18• Viola Davis: Red Carpet Style; 20• Timothy Johnson: Oscar Hair Review; 28•Actresses to watch out for; 32•Tyler Perry & Hollywood; 34• Superwoman Syndrome 7 Tips; 36•Spring Cleaning inside out; 38•Consumer Spending Habits; 42• Mario Emanya: Interview; 44•Alaric Campbell: Interview; 48•Keith Major: Interview; 52• Timothy Johnson od Red Carpet Hair: Interview; 54• Top 10 Spring Hair Products; 57• At the salon: Ricky Pennisi Interview; 60•Spring Skin Tips; 63•Sun UV Protection Tips; 65•5 Beauty Picks for Every Woman; 66•Nail

20/52 Salon 2012; 69• Spring 2012 looks- Shiseido; 77•Get the look Spring 2012; 78•Get the Look Spring 2012; 79• Make-up Bag-what’s in; 80• Get the look Fall 2012; 82• Fashion Spread RED; 90•Springs TOP Models; 92•Which city used the most black models; 94• Fall 12: Top Trends; 96•Counterfit Fashion Exposed; 98•Herstory of Style: Jada Pinkett-Smith; 100• Accessories for Spring 2012; 108• Spring 2012 - Runway Review; 116•Spring 2012 - Trend Report; 124•Fashion Spread - HOLLYWOOD; 134• Fashion SpreadColor Block; 140• Fashion Spread - TOP Shop; 146•Fashion Spread- Sun Hee; 152•Arika Kane-- Substance; 155• Horoscopes

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Style & Fashion

TOP SHOP UK Spring 2012 VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

masthead Editor and Chief: Dorelle McPherson

GUEST Contributors

Fashion Director:

Princessa Washington

Managing Editors: Dorelle McPherson Princessa Washington

Photography: Marco Esquivel Al Rodriguez Fernando Cortes

Writers:

Timothy Johnson

Dar Dowling Sonya Holly Emely Valez Erin Konrad Hyde Walker Kevin Lamiman Jennifer Ross Renee Willis Dorelle McPherson Jenicka Hourng

Jennifer Ross

Horoscopes by: Judi Vitale Vivrant Magazine is a subsidiary of F.O.T.H Media LLC. Vivrant Magazine (C) is available online for download on a per issue basis and print copies can be ordered through MagCloud.com. Annual Subscriptions are currently available (MArch-May 2012) through IPhone/IPad app under Vivrant Magazine. A condensed version of Vivrant Magazine is available through Issuu. com. F.O.T.H Media LLC. is the sole publisher of Vivrant Magazine. For customer service inquiries please write: Vivrant Magazine: 244 Fifth Avenue Suite 2461 New York NY 10003. All customer service calls should go directly to our customer service line at 1 646-820-6370

Hyde Walker

Dar Dowling

www.vivrantmagazine.com

AD Photography: Al Rodriguez

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Photography: Al Rodriguez

www.vivrantmagazine.com

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Fashionable Personalities 3 2

1. Kirstey Ally shows up at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week skinny again! The designers must be going crazy. Who’s line is big enough or quick enough to follow her through these YoYo years. 2. Viola Davis shows up on the red carpet not only in that georgous green Vera Wang gown but sporting her natural hair. Yes just like we saw on Oprah days before. This is a new Viola with out the security of “the wig”. 3. The gown that had twitter going crazy. Jessica Chastain- Alexander McQueen was just stunning. she looked like old world royalty. 4. Lia Sophia is always getting celebs to show up wearing that brand. this time Maria Menounos (Today, Access Hollywood, Extra,) was wearing a stunning chocker at the Lia Sopia Social Fashion Suite Fall Fashion Week NYC. 5. She drop dead georgous her first time presenting and showing up on Oscars Red Carpet: Milla Jovovich in Ellie Saab. 6. Yes Christian Seriano has shoe designs at Payless for Spring- no surprise. 7. I’d kiss him too Juciy; Coture gives away Valentine Treats in NYC during Fashion Week.

7 VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Sun Hee - Page 144

www.vivrantmagazine.com Fernando Cortes

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Fashionable Personalities 3 1

6 5

1. Kristen Chenoweth can not get

7 VIVRANT MAGAZINE

enough at the Lia Sophia Suite during Fashion Week. She is excercising her bling skills. 2. It’s not red carpet but this is the new Red Carpet Boudika collection ad from Lia Sophia. 3. Katherine Higel is just lounging in her star quality flip flops from Aruna Seth. 4 & 7 Moet Chandon hosted an after party for the lovely Academy Award celebs. Michelle Williams and Octavia Spencer were there to shine for their Academy Award recognition. 5. Tommy Hillfiger always does it big but this time ‘it was The Hilfigers’ and Cobra Starship. This was an exciting, music meets fashion consumer show (all of the looks are currently at retail) that closed out Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. 6.Target is partnering with Jason Wu, celebrated NewYork-based designer, to introduce an affordable, limited-edition collection of women’s apparel, handbags and scarves. RECYCLE ME

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

ON THE COVER

Hair - Jachelle Whiting Jovan Clowers Makeup - MJ Forte and Maria Ortega Stylist - Daisy Perez Photo Assistant - Katherine Morgan Photographer - Al Rodriguez

Making the cover and the editorial shoot was such a great success for all the talented people at Vivrant Magazine and the professionals they work with. This time around Vivrant Magazine was surrounded by beautiful models and by make-up artists and hair stylist that made working not only fun but inspirational as well. The models mostly from Fenton Moon were the most professional and the most beautiful people we worked with inside and out. The styling by Daisy Perez was so professional and so complete we had no trouble creating the looks for spring. The spring issue is great at keeping with the flavor and vibe of Vivrant. Color, color and more color as we enter Spring. The Hollywood glamour shots we done by photographer Al Rodriguez.

a s s e c n i Pr

www.vivrantmagazine.com

ivrant Magazine was a real collaboration this time around. I had no idea at the beginning of this issue that the issue would bring together so many different writers and talented people. It is apparent that the concept of Vivrant Magazine is growing fast and this is only the beginning. We were faced with many decisions during the production of the magazine. After launching the IPad App. the playing field got a little more serious. Now the point of having a real deadline and having to produce viable readable and enjoyable content became a twofold challenge. It was not really about not having enough content but having too much. What do we put into this issue? Daily questions like that were easy to answer but not easy to turn into a cohesive document.

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S LETTER

We went through the challenge of changing the format slightly to feature more cultural diversity. We got a few criticisms about not being “Black” enough to represent our African American community or there was a comment about putting more lifestyle articles in the magazine for our reader to “read”. Well we got through all that expectation and finally remained true to the magazine as its original format. It’s all about the Fashion. Either its Hollywood fashion, Avant-garde fashion, Eco friendly fashion, or even Couture fashion, Vivrant is a fashion magazine. We sprinkle it with a love of music, a little on self care via beauty articles and how to manage aspects of life, but mainly it’s the fashion our readers enjoy. That gives us the slight edge over our competition. Competition, speaking of that, we learned that we identify the largely growing number of magazines being launched via the digital world. We know that the IPad Newsstand App and the IBook store are definitely bringing more publications to the forefront of electronic media. This is strange for us because we want to go both ways and offer our magazine as a print magazine as well as digital. This means facing the struggle of finding a publisher and staying on the abandoned road to bring the content to you in a touchable tangable way. We have not yet decided to offer print at this time so the digital will have to do. We will keep you posted as to when and where you can purchase the “printed” Vivrant Magazine. Until then we strive to stand out in a sea of digital flipping pages and thousands of Apps.

Dorelle Mcpherson VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Culture: Face to Face

OSCAR DRESS COVERAGE By Erin Konrad

Rooney Mara - Givenchy

Michelle Williams - Louis Vutton

Meryl Streep - Lavin

V! March--May 2012

Tina Fey - Carolina Herrera

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Culture: Face to Face

Jennifer Lopez - Zuhair Murad

Viola Davis - Vera Wang

Jessica Chastain- Alexander McQueen The film that swept the Oscars was Best Picture winner The Artist. But there were some even bigger winners on the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. Many women took some bold choices and some missed the mark altogether. However, as with all red carpets, some got it absolutely perfect. A woman who triumphed in her category and with her gown was Meryl Streep. She won Best Actress for playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, but she should also be honored for showing up to the show in a stunning gold lame Lanvin dress with Fred Leighton earrings. Sometimes dressing in gold makes a woman look like sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trying to be an actual Oscar statue (see Stacy Keibler in Marchesa), but Streep showed

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Stacy Keibler in Marchesa

she can still work the red carpet. Fellow nominee (and expected winner for The Help) Viola Davis shone in an emerald Vera Wang gown and Lorraine Schwartz jewels. Davis also stayed true to herself by featuring her natural hair, sans wig. Another Best Actress nominee, Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs, also chose to go green, selecting a teal Zac Posen gown for the night. The women not only looked glam, they also looked age-appropriate. Of course, young women can fall into the opposite trapâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;wearing dresses that make them look matronly. The two incredible young actresses from The Descendants, Amara Miller and Shailene Woodley, walked the red carpet in white gowns that made them appear far older than 11 and 20 years old. Both girls wore Valentino Couture. A few actresses rocked vintage dresses, but the best

RECYCLE ME

Culture: Face to Face

OSCAR DRESS COVERAGE

Milla Jovovich - Ellie Saab Cameron Diaz- Gucci

Emma Stone - Giambattista Valli

by far was Natalie Portman’s striking red polka dot vintage Christian Dior Haute Couture gown. Kate Hudson attended the Vanity Fair after party in a stunning red vintage Versace dress. Although she didn’t wear vintage, Kelly Osbourne’s Badgley Mishcka dress was a brilliant 30s inspired piece.With every red carpet, you are guaranteed to get some fashion fails. This year’s Oscar red carpet was no different. Melissa McCarthy (nominated for Bridesmaids) usually looks terrific dolled up at event shows. But she made a major misstep with her illfitting, pink Marina Rinaldi gown. Rooney Mara, up for Best Actress for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, wore a white Givenchy dress that gave her a body an unflattering shape. While some argued that Angelina Jolie’s black Atelier Versace looked great, the thigh-high slit (and her subsequent odd

V! March--May 2012

Gwyneth Paltrow - Tom Ford

posing) made her look like she was simply trying too hard. This was a sentiment that was repeated with Cameron Diaz’s Gucci gown—the dress might have worked with different styling. Several actresses proved that people can rely on them for flawless trips down the red carpet. Michelle Williams, Best Actress nominee for My Week with Marilyn, wore a gorgeous coral Louis Vuitton gown that showcased her amazing use of color. Vampire Diaries actress Nina Dobrev wowed with her sexy, black cut-out J. Mendel gown. Jessica Chastain (The Help) wore a black and gold Alexander McQueen gown that pretty much erased any red carpet slipups she’s had in the past. Overall, the actresses with throwback glamour were the most successful, and shades of color really popped on the red carpet.

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Style & Fashion

Where to Download Vivrant Magazine: MagCloud.com Issuu.com Joomag.com Apple.com -Apps Facebook Groups Vivrant Magazaine

TOP SHOP UK Spring 2012 VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Style & Fashion

Viola Davis

iola Davis is always the picture of beauty and poise on the Red Carpet. Over the past years as her career developed we start to see her verstility in her works as well as her in person appearences. Viola is mostly know for not haveing the body of a child but she is a healthy curvacious woman of film. Her features are only accented by her choice of hairstyles. Maily created through wigs and hair pieces she was able to elect a stellar look each time. She is also no stranger to posing and wearing jewels that cost as much as some homes in America, she never gives up her personal style or sold out to trends.

V! March--May 2012

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Style & Fashion

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Osacr Hair

Hair – “Roots and Waves

Spectacular Red Carpet Hair at the Oscars 2012

scar hair 2012 had an eclectic mix of hairstyles. The rules have changed for what’s acceptable at an award show. Gone are the days when everyone would show up looking the same. The hair had an effortless feel to it, although you know it took effort.

Viola Davis might not have won the Os-

car for best actress for her role in The Help this year but she received accolades for ditching her wig and going with her natural hair. Her short, texturized, golden brown hair looked refreshing and made her look ten years younger. To achieve Viola’s look you would first need the courage to chop it off. Then, you would need to cut your hair about once a month to maintain this look. A texturizer is optional and would need to be done along with the cut.

Michelle Williams, who was nominated best actress for her role in My Week with Marilyn, looked enchanting with her blond pixie hair cut. In a sea of long hair she really stood out. For Michelle’s look you would need to trim your hair every four to six weeks to maintain the style. Make sure you have color touched up a few days before any major event. Esperanza Spalding rocked a huge afro and

looked otherworldly while she sang her heart out saluting all the actors who are no longer with us. Whitney Houston was among many projected on the screen while she sang. When Spalding won best new artist at the Grammy’s in 2011, it sent shockwaves because a jazz singer had never won that award before. If you’d like to go natural it’s so

By Timothy Johnson

much easier to maintain natural hair these days with all the great products on the market. A great leave in conditioner and a light oil is an afro’s best friend. Braiding it nightly helps maintain the look.

Maya Rudolf ’s long, loosely curled, cascad-

ing to one side hair looked spectacular. She is an alumni from Saturday Night live and was part of the ensemble cast of Bridesmaids, which was nominated for best original screenplay. To help hold your curls for an extended length of time, use hairspray on each piece of hair before curling it.

Emma Stone’s classic chignon with a side

part was perfection. Emma was in The Help and a presenter at the show. You can never go wrong with this hairstyle. I recommend getting a human hairpiece the same color of your hair to fill out your chignon.

Octavia Spencer was the Queen of the night winning her first Oscar, best supporting actress in The Help. Her side Chignon was a great twist on a classic hairstyle. The best thing about this hairstyle is you see hair from the front so the look is softened. When wearing your hair up, always take a few extra bobby pins just in case some hair strays. Oprah Winfrey’s shiny, loose waves looked amazing. In a previous ceremony She received an honorary Oscar, the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award. Have your hair relaxed and deep conditioned a week before your special occasion. When you have your hair done on the day of the event it will have more body and bounce. These looks were some of my favorites at the Oscars. The Ladies looked fabulous. It was a great mix.

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Hair – “Roots and Waves

Esperanza Spalding

Emma Stone Michelle Williams

Viola Davis

Maya Rudolf

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Octavia Spencer

RECYCLE ME

Culture: Face to Face

Oscar Recepies Coutesy of Moet Chandon

Moet Red Carpet Glamour Stir 1 ounce of Fresh Squeezed Sour Mix • • •

1 ounce of Hum Botanical Spirit Moet & Chandon Imperial Rose Petals to Garnish

Stir 1 ounce of Fresh Squeezed Sour Mix and 1 ounce of Hum Botanical Spirit with fresh ice. Strain into the Flute to fill 1/2 way and top with Moet & Chandon Imperial. Garnish with a Single Rose Petal. Continually refresh as you wish with Moet & Chandon Imperial as the Champagne will float on top of the HUM Sour, but its effervescence will deliver HUM’s heady cardamom & Kaffir lime notes.

Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraîche, and Fennel Rillettes

ground black pepper. Cook until the shallots are translucent and soft; set aside to cool slightly. Stir the shallots together with the fennel, lemon juice, herbs, Pernod (if using), lemon zest, and crème fraîche. Season with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Break salmon into bite-sized pieces and fold until just combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Transfer rillettes to an airtight container, cover, and refrigerate until chilled through, at least 2 hours. Let the rillettes sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving so they’re spreadable. To serve, spread on crackers or toast and sprinkle with herbs. (The rillettes are best when eaten within 4 days.) Note: If you can’t find crème fraîche, use sour cream or Greek yogurt instead.

Makes: 2 cups (15 to 20 servings as an hors d’oeuvres) Total Time: 15 minutes plus 2 hours chilling time Hands-On Time: 15 minutes 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup minced shallots Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2/3 cup small dice fennel 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves or chives, plus more for serving 1 tablespoon Pernod or other anise-flavored liqueur (optional) 1/2 teaspoon loosely packed lemon zest 1/3 cup crème fraîche 1 pound hot-smoked and/or cold-smoked salmon Crackers or toasts, for serving

Melt the butter in a medium frying pan over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add the shallots, season with a pinch of salt and a few cranks of freshly

V! March--May 2012

Pancetta, Thyme, and Fontina Gougères Makes: 32 cheese puffs Total Time: 50 minutes Hands-On Time: 15 minutes 4 ounces pancetta, cut into small dice 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk or water 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 5 large eggs plus 1 yolk, at room temperature 3 ounces shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano 3 ounces shredded Fontina cheese 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, finely chopped (optional)

with paper towels and set aside. Place pancetta in a medium nonstick frying pan and cook until crisp. Remove pancetta to paper towel-lined plate and set aside to drain. Meanwhile, combine 1 cup of the milk or water with the butter and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, dump in all the flour, and stir vigorously until flour is incorporated. Cook, stirring constantly, until dough comes together in a ball and feels dry to the touch, about 2 minutes. Transfer dough to a food processor fitted with a blade or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Pulse or beat in five of the eggs, one by one, letting each egg completely incorporate before adding the next. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese then add pancetta, remaining cheese, and thyme; pulse or mix on low until thoroughly incorporated. Drop tablespoon-size portions of dough on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 1/2 inch apart. Whisk remaining egg yolk with the remaining 1 tablespoon milk and brush tops of cheese puffs then evenly sprinkle reserved Parmesan cheese over top. Place in oven and bake, rotating halfway through, until puffed and golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. (Can be made up to 4 days ahead. Store, covered, at room temperature.) Notes: Freeze the pancetta for 5 to 10 minutes to facilitate dicing. If you can’t find pancetta, use Canadian bacon or cooked ham instead (don’t crisp in the pan though).

Heat oven to 375°F and arrange racks in the upper and lower third. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside. Line a plate

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Culture: Face to Face

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Culture: Face to Face

Crisp Tempura Vegetables with Miso-Mustard Sauce Makes: 8 to 12 servings as an hors d’oeuvres (1/2 cup dipping sauce) Total Time: 40 minutes Hands-On Time: 30 minutes For the sauce:

1/3 cup water 1/4 cup white or yellow (aka mellow) miso 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce 1 teaspoons unrefined cane sugar

For the batter: Canola, grapeseed, or peanut oil, for frying 1 cup all-purpose flour, chilled 1 cup rice flour, chilled 2 1/3 cups ice cold seltzer water or pale ale beer 1 red or sweet onion, cut into 1-inch slices and separated into rings 1 large sweet potato or yam (about 8 ounces), sliced into 1/4-inch rounds 8 ounces green beans, ends trimmed 8 ounces broccolini, ends trimmed 1 head fennel, quartered and cored 15 sprigs fresh Italian parsley Kosher salt, to taste Lemon wedges, for serving

be a few lumps left – if you over whisk it will get gummy.) Place a handful of the prepared vegetables in the batter and toss to coat. Remove vegetables one by one and let excess batter drip off. Place carefully into heated oil and cook, stirring a few times, until just beginning to color, about 1 minute for the thinner vegetables and 3 minutes for the thicker vegetables. Remove to paper towels, season with salt, and repeat to cook all vegetables. Serve hot or warm with dipping sauce, lemon wedges, and extra salt. Notes: If you can’t find rice flour, use a mixture of equal parts all-purpose flour and cornstarch. The key to a good tempura is to have all the ingredients as cold as possible and to keep the oil at as consistent a temperature as possible. To do so, chill all the ingredients (vegetables, flours, and seltzer before using) and use a deep frying (aka candy) thermometer to make sure the oil is properly heated.

For the sauce:

Meyer Lemon Icebox Pie Bites

Whisk everything together, taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Chill in refrigerator until ready to use. (Sauce can be made up to 4 days ahead.)

Makes: 48 mini pie bites Total Time: 20 minutes, plus 3 hours baking and setting time Hands-On Time: 20 minutes

For the tempura:

For the crust:

Line a baking sheet with paper towels then fill a large saucepan with at least 2 inches of oil (about 6 to 8 cups oil). Insert a deep frying thermometer and heat the oil to 350°F over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, prepare the batter. Combine flours in a medium bowl then nest it in a second bowl of ice water (to help keep the batter as cold as possible). Add the cold seltzer or beer to the flour and whisk until just combined. (There should

V! March--May 2012

8 ounces vanilla wafers or graham crackers 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the custard: 1 cup Meyer lemon juice 1/2 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup unrefined cane sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 (14 ounce) container sweetened condensed milk 1 (8 ounce) mascarpone cheese or cream cheese, softened

Pinch salt Whipped cream, for garnish Candied citrus or ginger, for garnish (optional) Thinly sliced mango or kiwi, for garnish (optional)

Heat oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. For the crust: Place wafers or graham crackers in a food processor and process until broken up (you want 2 cups total). Add butter and pulse until moist. Divide mixture among two (24-well) mini muffin pan and press mixture evenly in the bottom and up the sides of the muffin wells. Bake until crust is golden brown, about 5 minutes, then remove from oven. For the custard: Whisk or blend remaining ingredients together until smooth then divide among prepared crusts. Place in 350°F oven and bake until edges are set but center is still a bit loose, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely, at least 1 hour. Cover and freeze until chilled and set, at least 2 hours or overnight. When frozen, run a small butter knife dipped in hot water around the perimeter of each tart and remove. Cover and return to freezer until ready to serve. (Can be done up to 2 weeks in advance.) Serve frozen or chilled, topped with a dollop of whipped cream and, as desired, a piece of candied ginger or citrus or a slice of fresh kiwi, and serve. (Tarts are best eaten when still frozen or chilled.) Notes: Tarts should be eaten within 30 minutes of removing from freezer for best texture. If you can’t find Meyer lemons, substitute it with equal parts orange and lemon juice.

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Culture: Face to Face

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Culture: Face to Face

Black Actors & OSCARS to be or not ot be - Is that the question? “It’s obvious there’s not ONE Black male actor in Hollywood that’s able to read a teleprompter, or that’s ‘hip enuf,’ for the new academy demographic!” Samuel wrote in an email to a Los Angeles Times reporting. “In the Hollywood I saw tonite, I don’t exist nor does Denzel, Eddie, Will, Jamie, or even a young comer like Anthony Mackie!” By Erin Konrad Lack of Diversity Leads to Oscar Shut-Out of African Americans

I 2011 Octavia Spencer The Help Minny Jackson WonThird film to feature black nominees for both Best Actress and Supporting Actress. Fifth Black actress to win in this category.

5,765 members who vote on the awards, 94 percent are Caucasian and 77 percent are male.

t’s no surprise that Hollywood is mostly run by rich, white men— since that’s pretty much who runs the whole country. But in an industry that prides itself on pushing the limits, the Academy Awards still show a shocking lack of diversity. In a recent study conducted by The Los Angeles Times, it was revealed that out of 5,765 members who vote on the awards, 94 percent are Caucasian and 77 percent are male. A dismal 2 percent are African Americans. It’s no wonder it’s nearly impossible for an African American to win an acting award. The issue has been brought up before— in 1996, Jesse Jackson made a public statement saying that the Academy was severely lacking in diversity. Even just last year, actor Samuel L. Jackson noted that the 2011 show featured no African American presenters. Although a few have tried to raise awareness for the shortage of minorities, the issue has been a long-running problem for the Oscars. The first black nominee was not until 1940, despite the fact that the Oscars had been around since 1929. Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone With the Wind. She was the first black person to be nominated, male or female. It wasn’t until 1959 that a black male was nominated. Sidney Poitier earned recognition in 1958 for The Defiant Ones, but he didn’t actually win until 1964 for Lilies of the Field. It took a deplorable

V! March--May 2012

number of years for an African American woman to win a Best Actress award—not until 2002, when Halle Berry won for Monster’s Ball. In her acceptance speech, Berry acknowledged the importance of the event. She said, “This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me—Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, and it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.” Apparently not enough, since another black woman hasn’t won the prize since Berry. There have only been four African American men who have won Best Actor, including Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Forest Whitaker. Additionally, four African American men have won Best Supporting Actor, including the first black actor to do so, Rupert Crosse, who took the prize in 1970. He was joined in the winner’s circle by Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Morgan Freeman. It took 50 years before McDaniel’s success could be duplicated in the Best Supporting Actress category. Whoopi Goldberg won in 1991 for her role in Ghost. Later she was joined by winners Jennifer Hudson, Mo’Nique, and this year’s Octavia Spencer. It seems the only way more African American actors will be able to be recognized for their talent is for the Academy to diversify and open up to more minority voters. Until then, sadly, the world will not often get the chance to honor the black men and women who have such great talent.

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Culture: Face to Face

1963 Sidney Poitier Lilies of the Field Homer SmithFirst black actor to win Best Actor; First black actor to receive two acting nominations (Best Actor); Youngest black actor to win Best Actor (age 37).

2001 Denzel WashingtonTraining Day Alonzo Harris Won First black actor to receive five acting nominations overall; First black actor to receive three Best Actor nominations; Second black actor to win Best Actor; First time that multiple black actors received Best Actor nominations; Oldest black actor to win Best Actor (age 47); First black actor to win two acting awards.

2004 Jamie Foxx Ray Ray Charles Won First black actor to receive two acting nominations in the same year;

2001Halle Berry Monsterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ball Leticia Musgrove Won First black actress to win Best Actress.

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Style & Fashion

Actresses to Watch Out For By Dar Dowling

One of the perks of living in NYC is that from time to time you get to see some amazing actors, like Glenn Close, Claire Danes and Dana Delaney, roaming around doing their day, just like everyone else – hanging out, drinking coffee, or walking their dog. But then again you can also see some of the up and coming actresses of the decade on the streets too – the ones you may want to keep an eye on because they could be walking the Oscar red carpet one day, including Jennifer Carpenter and Morena Baccarin. If you don’t know who these actresses are, you probably haven’t seen ShowTime’s blockbuster hits Dexter or Homeland, or you have and you didn’t know that these actresses should be on your watch list – until now. You may also want to include Laura Vandervoort, who along with Morena Baccarin, got her start in sci-fi. In fact they starred together in ABC’s now defunct remake of the 80’s science fiction Classic “V”. While Baccarin became a Comic Con legend by starring in the FireFly and Stargate, Laura Vandervoort earned her chops in SyFy channel movies, like Damage and Riverworld, and then the CW smash series, Smallville playing Kara, AKA Super girl. But these days Baccarin and Vandervoort are both breaking out of the sci-fi mold – for now. The Brazilian born, and NYC raised Morena was a late addition to the Homeland cast, after V was cancelled, which caused a huge brouhaha on Twitter and facebook, but her late entrance did not affect her performance by both critics’ and fans’ reactions. While in V Baccarin, played the super sexy alien leader, who until the end of the series when she began to fracture, was virtually emotion free, in Homeland she plays Jessica Brody, the conflicted wife of a once thought dead POW, who returns home, and who may or may not be

V! March--May 2012

a terrorist – the plot thickens and captivates. But lets just say in this role Morena is bursting with emotion, reminiscent of her performance in FireFly which remains a cult classic. She has also scored guest roles in the Mentalist and the Good Wife this season. If you’re wondering who Laura Vandervoort is, you may already know her, if you’ve seen PETA’s smoking hot “Whose Skin are you in” campaign – strikingly body painted to emulate a lizard, she urged viewers to take wildlife, especially lizard made gear, out of their closets. By all accounts the campaign was a huge success. Vandervoort, as you may have guessed, is all about the environment. According to her twitter feed (which is actually well worth checking out due to her innate freshness factor), she is active in pet rescue, giving shout outs to some of her favorite animal rescue organizations including the Gentle Barn. Born and bread in Canada, where she was a self proclaimed “tomboy”, who excelled in sports – starting karate lessons at seven, she earned her second degree black belt by the time she was 16, which is no small feat. A discipline and “stick to itiveness” needed to be an actor, and perhaps follow in the footsteps of her idols, Meryl Streep and Grace Kelly. This summer you can look for her in upcoming films, including This Means War with Reese Witherspoon and Seth MacFarlane’s Ted. Then there’s Megalyn Echikunwoke, whose name in Nigerian means – “Leader of Men” so its not all that surprising that’s she’s made our Actresses to watch out for list. While her name definitely has a royal ring to it, she actually is African royalty being the granddaughter of a tribal leader of the Nigerian Igbo tribe. All that aside Echikunwoke is one busy actress on TV these days. In the past she’s scored roles in “24’s” first season and the 70’s show, but right now she’s also appearing on ShowTime’s new series House of Lies, as April, the sizzling paramour of Marty Kaan, played by the handsome and talented Don Cheadle. But that’s not all, she has several other projects coming up - with roles in the TV remake of 90210 and a comedy aptly titled Damsels in Distress. Echikunwoke

www.vivrantmagazine.com

is also dipping her toe into the SciFi pool in NBC’s new futuristic pilot Beautiful People.

Culture: Face to Face

Last but not least is Jennifer Carpenter, a Kentucky girl, who stayed local until going off to Juillard in NYC. As a predictor of things to come, including several walks down the red carpet at the Golden Globes, just before graduation day she scored a much coveted role in a Broadway revival of The Crucible, starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. However, these days Carpenter is best known for her role as Debra Morgan in the Showtime mega hit series Dexter for which she has won both viewer and critic acclaim, due to her spot on portrayal of one very conflicted sister of a serial murder, winning a Saturn award for best supporting actress. This season’s Controversial finale certainly set the stage for Carpenters character taking on even more of a role in the Dexter story line. A budding romance between the adoptive brother and sister is in the works - just when you thought the show couldn’t get any juicier. Jennifer Carpenter has also been spreading her wings, starring in Gruesome Playground Injuries a Off-Broadway play at Second Stage Theatre and scoring a guest role the CBS hit The Good Wife. All in all it will be interesting to see what these actresses have in store for us this season.

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Culture: Face to Face

Spring Movie Round Up

By Dar Dowling

Has anyone not heard of the Hunger Games, the first in a trio of fantasy and action driven books authored by Suzanne Collins, aimed at the teen set, which went viral with adults last year? If you haven’t read the series, and even if you have, you may want to head out to the theaters to catch the movie starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, as well as Woody Harrelson. But it’s Jennifer Lawrence you will want to keep your eye on. She plays sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant bow and arrow wielding champion in this futuristic show down - girls, and women, can be heroes too. There are several other sci-fi and fantasy based offerings being released too this season, including Mirror, Mirror; John Carter; and Wrath of the Titans. The casts in each feature some of the hottest actors in Hollywood. John Carter is a film adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs epic Barsoom series. Sexy Taylor Kitsch takes the lead as the former Confederate Captain John Carter thrust into a brawl on Mars, but he’s not alone, Willem Dafoe, and Lynn Collins also have meaty roles in this film too. Wrath of the Titans, a sequel to the 2010 block buster hit Clash of the Titans stars sexy Aussie Sam Worthington, along with Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike. This is a not so common tale of fratricide and patricide, in which Worthington(Perseus) sets out to rescue Zeus (Liam Neeson) from the clutches of his son and brother in the underworld. Fables are also making a comeback this spring too with Mirror Mirror, which as you may have guessed is based on ‘’Snow White’’, but it does have a few new “wrinkles” including a big dose of comedy. Julia Roberts takes the lead playing the beautiful but very wicked evil queen, with Lilly Collins taking on the role of Snow White, and the boyishly handsome Armie Hammer as prince charming. If you’re not into sci-fi or fantasy flicks, no worries, you still have lots to choose from, including Think Like a Man, a comedy written by Steve Harvey, starring Chris

V! March--May 2012

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Culture: Face to Face Brown, Gabrielle Union and Kevin Hart. If you’ve read Harvey’s best selling relationship book “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man” you may have a good idea of what this movie is about. Four friends have their love lives turned upside down when their ladies go out and buy Harvey’s book – but they turn the tables, by using Harvey’s advice against them, setting the stage for lots of mayhem, laughs and good times. Back in the 80’s 21 Jump Street was a TV series, about two young, albeit under achieving cops head back to high school to fight crime. This series was a jumping off point for Johnny Depp and the then up and coming Fox Network. This Spring Sony Films is bringing 21 Jump Street to the big screen starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, and Ice Cube, with some cameos by the original cast, including Depp. Speaking of remakes, the now classic Titanic is being re-released later this spring in 3D. Several comedies are also headed to theaters this season, including Wanderlust, starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd playing a couple uprooted by the recession and unemployment, who eventually end up in a commune experiencing free love first hand. If you’ve been hankering for Will Ferrell then you may want to check out Casa de Mi Padre directed by Matt Piedmont. Ferrell, along with his co-star Diego Luna play the Alvarez brothers, who through a series of twisted events end up taking on a leader of a local Drug Cartel in this western themed Novela. Looking for a little drama, without the “funny” you may want to check out Detachment, directed by Tony Kaye, starring Adrien Brody, as Henry Barthes, a substitute high school teacher, who is in emotional hiding. But fate has other plans for him and three women enter his life to shake things up. Detachment features quite a cast list, which includes Lucy Liu, James Caan, Blythe Danner and Marcia Gay Harden. There’s certainly a lot going on at the movies this spring. VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

TOP SHOP UK Spring 2012

Culture: Face to Face

THE FILM EXPERIENCE By Dorelle NcPherson

as a character how ever real or however exaggerated can be taken as sheer comedy or as a bashing of our motherhood image. This has caused Tyler Perry to come under fire within the community and no matter how much he tries the image of Medea or her market worthiness will not die. We will always remember Tyler Perry for making us laugh at what we see of ourselves and others thru Medea’s story.

Tyler Perry has been in a love hate re-

lationship with Hollywood for years. Fans of Tyler Perry’s Medea will tell you that Tyler Perry is a veteran of stage and screen for years and only now is Hollywood starting to recognize him and stand behind his movie making endeavors. Fan will also tell you that his reputation in the community is also one of Love and Hate (hate as in “hater” hate) Tyler Perry’s character Medea is known for being the ghetto grand mother that is all to familiar in the African American community. Medea represents a side of the African American culture that few are ready to embrace. Although it is more then just a little funny to see this pistol packing Mama lay down the law and tell it like it TI’is, she has bruised some egos along the way. African Americans struggle with the portrayal and dehumanizing of its culture causing a barrage of negative reflections and Medea’s story does not protect that image. Medea

V! March--May 2012

As a film maker taking the leap from funny to serious is not easy task. The past few years in his film career, Tyler Perry has been working hard to bring about the true issues that face African Americans as a culture onto the big screen. His most acclaimed and recent series of Why did I get Married? addressed the marital stresses of today’s culture all with an African American cast. The first movie was excellently done and had a notable cast like Janet Jackson and Jill Scott. These two gave the movie the Hollywood creditability and market push to be successful at the box office besides being well written the movie gave viewers the change to relate and experience a wide range of emotions. The follow up Why Did I get Married too? did not do as well but was still credible. Diary of a Mad Black Woman was also a stage to screen hit for Tyler Perry but non was as memorable and impact full as his writing the screenplay and direction the adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf.” The original play which featured only 7 women known by colors the movie has given each of the 20 characters names. The movie deals with intense issues that particularly impact women in a thought-provoking commentary on what it means to be a female of color in the world. Again because of the cast the movie soared to the charts and was totaled over 37 Million at the box office. Kimberly Elise who played Crystal aka Brown, Janet Jackson appears in her 3rd Tyler Perry film as Jo aka Red and to complete the color list came Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, www.vivrantmagazine.com

Culture: Face to Face

Suntotas sendissumque nume conseru ptatio quis et remquidus, sapiet, nis con nitiis aspieni enturioreris eum harum fugia ipid endandi tatempersped qui optat aut faccatatur? Hil int, vende mil endi dita doluptatur? Ugit prae perrovitas arumquam, as invenim aut endusant laborem porero in porat. Ecture consequos sita doluptas dolectu Phylicia Rashad and

Whoopi Goldberg as Alice aka White. A special appearance by Macy Gray gave the movie a gritty feel. The men cast also made the colors come alive on screen. Michael Ealy, Omari Hardwick, Richard Lawson, Khalil Kain and Hill Harper made sure the audience was mostly female. This was a big push for Terry but it did not come without a price. Tyler’s portrayal of the men in the movie was strongly criticized by movie goers, especially male movie goers. The negative consensus was that it made black men look unsavory. His latest movie Good Deeds, goes a little bit over to the other side of African American culture. Showing the “good life” vs. the “lesser life” was a challenging topic to bring forth on film. It was a vast mix of rationales and seemingly difficult situations all with the goal of building a bridge between two worlds. Casting himself as the lead again is drawing some flack from movie goers but the sense of revelations and reality checks are all to poignant in this film. Maybe one of her less convincing roles the great acting talent Thandie Newton joins Tyler Perry again to portray the strong defiant and poor maid. While Tyler plays the Ivy League grad who sees her struggle and wants to help simple because it feels VIVRANT MAGAZINE

good and he can. The life changes for both are well written and he is surrounded by talent again Phylicia Rashad and Gabrielle Union to name a few. It is a hard sell but it is another box office hit already at 32 million. Making the transition from stage to TV to movies was just the Tyler Perry way. Many of his original works started on the stage and his comedic television work Meet the Browns and House of Payne all started from character from his stage shows. Tyler Perry is definitely a success story but his story is a good one that pay its dues. Tyler has mastered the art of making African Americana’s people of all nationalities take a good look at themselves while laughing and while crying all making the story of life have some kind of a moral and sensible positive appeal at the end. His character take the spotlight as he often does, playing opposite them. Some would say it is just his way of boosting his ego and career and others would say that it lends a ere of support to his cast, knowing that he is in the acting trenches with them. Well if his goal is to boost his career he has come along way and now has a solid career as an actor, director and producer. If his goal was to bring more about the African American lifestyle then he has come along way with that also. Since his movies give an inside look into the daily struggle of today’s lives in the African American community. With Tyler Perry’s movies it’s save to laugh at yourself, to cry and to cheer about things that matter to you. As a professional it is clear that he pours his heart into his work. I am sure there is more to see from Tyler Perry as he has already left a memorable legacy. Be sure to look for his upcoming Medea’s Whiteness Protection(comedy) and the Marriage Counselor (drama) that are next to hit the big screen. .

RECYCLE ME

Vivrant Life

SUPERWOMAN SYNDROME By Emely Velez

CREATE AS MANY ROUTINES AS POSSIBLE: Whether it’s setting an intention to wash the dishes every night before bed or to clean the tub every Thursday, create routines which structure your “to-dos” to ensure things get done without becoming overwhelming.

ALONE TIME: Everyone needs a bit of quiet time. This is time dedicated solely to you to do the things you want to do. For example, some women get their hair done every month while others might get weekly manicures. Figure out what that self-care looks like for you, schedule time, and treat yourself regularly.

Woman of the House: 7 Tips to balance being everything to everybody including yourself

In today’s day and age the demands on women to fulfill multiple roles is growing rapidly. We are expected to be homemakers, career women, partners, caregivers—the list goes on and on. As society places greater demands on women, it has become increasingly important for balance to become a priority in our lives. Here are 7 tips on how you can continue to be everything to everybody without forgetting to prioritize yourself in the process!

BOUNDARIES: It is important to have clear boundaries in life and relationships. Boundaries help us navigate relationships by making clear what we will and will not tolerate. Know where you end and others begin. Don’t take on other people’s problems and set clear limits for yourself and with others.

PRIORITIZE: Everything doesn’t have to get done today. Look at what is on your agenda and figure out what can wait and what the immediate needs are. You’ll feel effective at managing your agenda this way and significantly less stressed out!

MIX AND MINGLE: We’ve all heard that no man is an island. In the same way that it’s important for children to interact with their peers and become socialized it is important for adults to stay connected to others also. Make time to have fun with others. Go out for happy hour or take a night to go dancing with friends. You’ll thank yourself for it.

SAVE A LITTLE: Make sure for every dollar you spend you put one away! It’s important to have something set aside even if it’s only for emergencies or days when you want to treat yourself to something nice or take that much needed vacation.

CHERISH THE LITTLE THINGS: For me it’s soaps and perfumes – I love smelling great. For some of you, it might be going to lunch at your favorite restaurant or buying those red bottoms you’ve been saving for all month. Life is filled with little things that make it more delightful- enjoy those things! www.vivrantmagazine.com

Style & Fashion

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME TOP SHOP UK Spring 2012

Vivrant Life

OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW ME CLEANING: SPRING CLEAN YOUR HOME, YOUR LIFE, AND YOURSELF

By Emely Velez

MAKE TIME FOR REFLECTION: For some

people reflection means going to church or regular meditation. For others, reflection happens while writing in a journal or listening to a favorite CD. Figure out what that introspective time looks like for you and dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to that mindfulness Spring is here. and just as it’s important to de-clutter and beau- practice. You will find a renewed sense of inner peace that tify our homes for the new Spring season, it’s also important to you will be thankful for. take a self-inventory of ourselves, our closets, and our personal and professional goals to ensure we are putting our best selves forward everyday. Here are 4 tips on how to take care of your home, life, and yourself:

FIND YOUR PERSONAL STYLE: Spring is not just

a perfect time to re-organize your home and your life but it’s also a great time to redefine yourself. Personal style is all about finding the things that make you feel good. It’s all about being true to yourself. If you’re hair is big and curly, learn to embrace your curls and find the right products to give you the look you want. If you have a curvy body shape, learn to extenuate your curves and buy clothing that compliments you. If you see another curvy woman who you think looks beautiful, ask her where she shops. Take your look into your own hands: own it and love it. Be you.

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE: As they say, attitude determines your altitude and this is very true. In life, we all have ups and downs but it’s more about what we make out of any given situation. You can choose to let the unpredictability of life define you and or you can choose to define your life. Take life in your hands and mold it how you want it to look. Turn negative attitudes into positives and make the best out of every situation. Getting over a bad break-up? Think of it as a chance to start over and all the new things you can gain versus what you’ve lost.

SET GOALS: What do you want out of your life? What

is important to you and what do you want to look back on when reflecting on the days of your life and how it was spent? This will determine the goals you set for yourself moving forward. Maybe it’s buying a new home in 5 years. Maybe it’s a career change you’ve been afraid to take the leap for.

Whatever your passion is, pursue it. Life is too short not to and goals will help structure your journey and map out your steps. Take that new homeowners class. Start surfing the Internet to see what job opportunities are out there. Don’t wait another minute.

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Vivrant Life

TOP SHOP UK Spring 2012

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Finance

True Buying Power CONSUMER SPENDING:

By Kevin Lamiman

As the Great Recession settled in four years ago, American consumers adjusted the best they could. They tightened their belts, postponing discretionary purchases or limiting themselves to bargain buys. Lately the economic news has been better, although growth is still anemic. The country is seeing some employment improvement, with more than 200,000 nonfarm jobs being added in each of the past three months, reports the U.S. Labor Department. The nation’s official unemployment rate stood at 8.3 percent for February. As conditions continue to improve, the big question for fashion retailers is when consumers will return to their former free-spending habits. Or will they remain frugal indefinitely despite improvement in their personal finances? Despite consumer caution, overall retailing should see improvement this year, suggests the National Retail Federation. The trade group has projected national sales growth of 3.4 percent for 2012, with revenues reaching just over $2.5 trillion. That would be slightly below the pace for 2011, when the federation reported growth of 4.7 percent. One thing that consumers have not been doing is pull out their credit cards more often. The Federal Reserve Bank reports that monthly revolving-credit volumes have hovered around $800 billion for more than a year. Volume was $803.8 billion at the end of 2011, up just 0.4 percent from $800.2 billion at year-end 2010. The latest available figures suggest shoppers are spending relatively more on beauty products, reports NPD Group. In early March the market research source released inflation-adjusted 2010 sales figures showing total fragrance, skincare and makeup revenue of $9.5 billion, up 11 percent from the year before. Skincare spending was strongest, climbing 14 percent to $3.1 billion. Sales of women’s apparel rose 2.9 percent to $107.6 billion in 2010, NPD reports. In the first half of 2011, however, sales of women’s apparel fell 0.8 percent from the year-earlier period. (NPD hasn’t yet released results from a comparable survey for all of 2011.)

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Finance For those consumers who are buying fashion, one big change is the inexorable shift toward more online transactions. Total expenditures for men’s and women’s apparel were up roughly 3 percent in 2010, NPD reports. But online purchases of adult clothing rose almost 10 percent that year. The overall trend continues to build, especially among owners of mobile devices. The Consumer Electronics Association reports a recent survey suggests about a third of the nation’s 216 million owners of tablet computers, smartphones and cell phones plan to make purchases with their mobile devices this year. The survey participants estimated they would each spend about $575 on mobile purchases over the ensuing 12 months.

reports that on average it makes designer merchandise available short-term for 10 percent of the cost of outright purchase. The company has had success partnering with design houses because Rent the Runway provides access to new customers. The business reports about 90 percent of clients end up buying something from the brands they try. The business was launched in November 2009. It reportedly generated $6 million in 2010 sales and was projecting $20 million in sales for 2011.

Some apparel retailers say mobile devices are surprisingly helpful in driving traffic to their stores. They report that a high percentage of visits to the “store locator” sections of their websites come via mobile devices, as consumers seek out the nearest brick-and-mortar outlets. The social media phenomenon represents an increasingly important part of the retail environment. Like other retailers, fashion businesses continue to make so-called social commerce a growth driver in their marketing. Facebook, with a user base approaching 1 billion, is an important tool. Heavy users of Facebook and other social media supply businesses with significant amounts of personal information that’s useful for marketing purposes. And by sharing their positive impressions about products and telling friends about special offers, social media users can give retailers a big marketing boost. Consumers who want to wear designer apparel only for rare special occasions can find it difficult to justify fashion purchases. Shoppers who don’t want to buy fashion merchandise new are increasingly choosing an alternative to high-end consignment shops — rentals. The New York City-based business Rent the Runway (www.renttherunway.com) offers access to apparel and accessories from 150 designers. It recently was offering about 25,000 dresses plus accessories from designers such as Calvin Klein, Versace, Proenza Schouler, Herve Leger, Milly, Catherine Malandrino, Badgley Mischka and Dannijo. Customers select designer dresses and accessories from the website, rent them for periods of four or eight days and return the items in a prepaid mailer. The business

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Beauty: Skin Deep

BEAUTY

V! March--May 2012

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Photography: Al Rodriguez

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

Beauty: Skin Deep

RECYCLE ME

Vivrant Feature

MAKING BLACK BEAUTY

Mario Empanya

DM: What sparked your interest in photography?

Well after spending 15 years in the fashion industry ,i decided 5 years ago to become a beauty photographer ,It was a challenge

DM:How did you develop your skills as a photographer? By reading photography books and lot of imagination .

DM:What advice do you have for individuals interested in pursuing a career in photography?

To have something to say trough your photography,,itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only about techniques and All theses stuffs ,itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Also about The message or emotion behind the image

DM:What do you love the most about your job?

The freedom and the capacity to use my camera as a weapon to say something

DM: What is your signature style of photography? Black beauty and creativity

DM:To date, which shoot has been your favorite and why?

Well ,i will definitly say my Vogue Africa covers in 2009 it was an avant- garde idea ,this was a huge debate on social network and

www.vivrantmagazine.com

Vivrant Feature

brought the light to my work worlwide ,till today got some people still refering to that and happy to see that Franca sozzani decided to do an African issue of Vogue .if that helps to make this happen ,kinda of proud .

DM: Do you have a mentor or another photographer you admire?

got many ,Greg kadel,Giampaolo sgura,eric traoré .. What are the qualities about this person that help you learn and grow in your craft? The lighting and love of fashion and beauty

DM:What are the most difficult aspects of photography today? personnaly ,it’s all good ,i’m very patient and let’s things comes naturally to me ,Life is beautiful

DM:How would you describe beauty through your lenses? Beauty is all about Self-confidence and Emotion

DM: What do you look for to capture?

Emotion

DM: What is it about your specialty that you would like to develop or take to the next level? Black beauty and fashion trought the world ,Africa ,Brasil and others countries when you have all this newcomers with a new vision of fashion of beauty

DM: When choosing a subject or a personal project what do you look for in a subject or team? Creativy ,culture and innovation

DM: In the current economy and in the image industry where do you focus your energy on art or money? Both works together you know ;-) ,i personnaly found a way to associate both by creating and new commercial approach .mixing creativity art +money ,with the new market and new target ,what people got to understand ,after the recession ,the rules changes .and you got to be aware of that ...

DM: Where do you get you inspiration or what inspires you? Africa+Fashion.

•DM: What is in the future for you? The Future is NOW

VIVRANT MAGAZINE

RECYCLE ME

Vivrant Feature

MAKING BLACK BEAUTY

Alaric Campbell

DM: What sparked your interest in photography? AC: It’s really hard to say because I was really young when I started to develop an interest in photographic work and even wanting to take pictures myself. I was about 7 year old when I got my first Kodak instamatic. DM: How did you develop your skills as a photographer? AC: All throughout junior high school and High school I was always the guy who always had a camera. At that time it was more about taking pictures to document want was happening more than creating art or taking cool looking photos. It was more like ‘Hey there’s my friend let me take a picture of him’. I started taking in seriously after meeting this woman that used to take event photos for source and vibe. She invited me out to a couple of events and i began to see the this is something I could also do. It was great to go out and party and then a few days later collect a check. Hofstra had a continuing Ed program for photography. This was a good fit for me since i was working during the day at that time. Once I got into the darkroom and started to develop my own images, I began to realize that i wanted to create something kool and artistic with this medium.

DM: What advice do you have for individuals interested in pursuing a career in photography? AC: Don’t do it I don’t need any more competition out here! (laughing) I would encourage them to shoot what they love. Hopefully people will gravitate towards you. Don’t try to mimic what the “happening thing” is in photography. The photographic images that we just regard as being classic not just because it was following the times but it was creating and image that was not following the norm, that was motivated by something other than what the happening thing in photography was at that time. DM: What do you love the most about your job? AC: The whole creative process. Working with the team working with the subject and that final image when you actually create the idea, that you first had and you see it printed or digital. Especially when you are working with a team of professionals to create that image. That is the most rewarding and exciting part of photography. DM: What is your signature style of photography? AC: I always refer to myself as an observer. Like I really want to capture, cliché, the essence of the person. I want to the