MUSIC, tenderness, the art of story-telling, soft kisses, babycakes, intelligent conversation, my lovely and amazing friends, people-watching, shits and giggles, drinks on the lower east side, rampant humanity, beautiful smiles, LOVE...
Music
Lately listening to a lot of Janelle Monae, Countre Black, James Morrison, Jazmine Sullivan, SugaRush Beat Company, Fink, Raphael Saadiq, Ra-Re Valverde, Radiohead, Lupe Fiasco, Joss Stone, Daedelus., Lykke Li, Kenna, Gnarls Barkley, Estelle, P!nk, Sam Sparro, Robyn and John Legend ... but I like all kinds of music.
Movies
Some recent faves: MILK, Let The Right One In, Towelhead, Lars and The Real Girl, Slumdog Millionaire, Starrbooty, Superbad, The Diving Bell and The Butterfly... Some all-time favorites: Clue, Under the Cherry Moon, Wild Reeds, Billy Elliot, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy... but there are more movies that I love than you would feel like reading.
Television
30 Rock, The Office, The Comeback, Chappelle's Show, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, Greek, Will and Grace, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, Arrested Development, Damages, Weeds, Ab Fab, The L Word, Project Runway, So You Think Can Dance...
Books
The War of Art, The Fortress of Solitude, The Color Of Water, The Secret History, The Rules of Attraction, Running with Scissors, Dry, The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, Sarah, Wicked, The Lazarus Rumba, Tomato Red, Geek Love, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Holidays on Ice, Barrel Fever, You Shall Know Our Velocity!, Confederacy of Dunces... and on and on...
About me: i'm much cooler than someone who would post his bio--or talk about myself in third person--in his "about me" section. but people keep asking me the same shit, and i'm supposed to be acting like a professional... so deal with it. (smile.)
"Darryl Stephens started acting while attending UC Berkeley. After studying and performing for three semesters, he joined cult camp theater troupe SASSYMOUTH and performed in shows like "Medea the Musical," "Joy," "Napoleon, the Camp Drag Disco Musical Extravaganza" and "Combat!: An American Melodrama" in San Francisco's theater district. After taking "Medea" to HBO's Aspen Comedy Festival, he moved to LA to get into film and television.
His first television role was on MTV's "Undressed," where he played a horny high school student trying to seduce girls with scary movies. Soon after, he played opposite Shannon Elizabeth and Steven Segal's son, Kintaro, in what he calls 'one sucky ass movie,' "Seamless." Within the year he also booked the role of Julian, the DJ predisposed to love-triangles, in the film "Circuit." After supporting roles on CBS' "That's Life" and a short- lived VH1 show called "Red Eye" with comedian Katt Williams, he decided to get back to the stage.
He did a few small plays ("Joy," "Bent," "Medea") and soon realized that he would never be satisfied with the lackluster theater scene in LA. He studied with Tony Greco in LA and with Gary Imhoff at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, booked a few commercials and then decided to try and get serious about his film career.
Anxious to get more work under his belt, he played a "slacker with a dark side" in the very indie-film "Not Quite Right."
Then he read for a role in a project tentatively titled "Hot Chocolate." He was familiar with an earlier film by the writer/director, Patrik Ian Polk, and when he booked a day player role as one of the main character's store clerks, he was just happy to be working. When Polk called him and told him he was changing the name of the project to "Noah's Arc" and offered him the role of Noah, Darryl was thrilled... and confused. He had no idea what was to be expected of the Noah character or what the plan was for launching the project. After filming a number of promotional short films and one and a half pilot episodes, the show was picked up by the new LOGO network. The television series ran for two seasons and became a cult hit. LOGO then decided to broaden Noah's audience by producing a feature film called "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom." Many in the industry were shocked when the show's legions of loyal fans made the low-budget romantic comedy a huge hit. The network then decided to entertain bringing the show back to the network. (Stay tuned...)
The year he filmed the first season of "Noah," he also played a main character in Q. Allan Brocka's "Boy Culture" and a supporting role in Todd Stephens' "Another Gay Movie."
Recently, he played a waiter on "Ugly Betty," wrapped principal photography on the jazz biopic "Bolden," starring Anthony Mackie, Jackie Earle Haley and Wendell Pierce, voiced one episode of "Rick and Steve" with RuPaul and played a pimp in the "Tranny McGuyver" short film starring Willam Belli and Coco Peru, among many talented others.
He is also collaborating with two of his best friends on feature screenplays that he is very proud of and hopes to get produced within the year. Darryl is excited about continuing to expand his body of work and challenging people's preconceived notions about what black men can do."
Word.
Who I'd like to meet: "The Announced Intellectual Renaissance"
"I believe that at the essence of high-minded civilization lies the heart of the independent thinker. At no time has society needed so honest an offering as a free man's art and craft-as right now. I have committed myself to a way of life that is uncompromising-and includes nothing malicious, derogatory, frivolous or culturally digressive in the work that I present.
But, In the past I have passively/ aggressively attempted to sell my music with the brand of 'ghetto music'...music born out of (and for) the underbelly of Negro society. While the story I painted of my experiences is certainly true, this attempt to paralell my talents with street life was one of desperation. It was a short-sighted and impulsive calculation.....to get my music heard. It was, simply, an insult to myself. the reality is that the origin of my talent remains a gift that comes from a place much older, deeper, richer and more alive than anything that an unfortunate byproduct of our times could ever hope to create. Proper credit to the development of my talent goes to my enablers, my mentors and my own self- determination...not to anything that belies intellect, is demeaning to what culture should aspire to or is lacking in integrity. I shall never again bow down-in any measure-to insecurity, corporate or peer pressure-to do anything other than my very best and most honest.
I sincerely regret ever having associated myself with the ignorance people have perpetrated upon themselves in the name of survival. I will be the one to qualify what is survival and what is success for me. And, If I am to be one or both, it will be based on the merit of my work alone.
--Van Hunt"
Van Hunt posted the above in his myspace blog.
I want to meet artists--no, fuck that... HUMANS with this kind of integrity. There is a lot of bullshit being glorified in our culture right now. I want to meet people who strive to stand above mediocrity; people who DO NOT glorify cruelty, thoughtlessness, vapidity and greed. I want to be surrounded by people who value life and love.
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
If I could have just one wish, I would wish to wake up everyday to the sound of your breath on my neck, the warmth of your lips on my lips, the touch of your fingers on my skin, and the feel of your heart beating with mine... Knowing that I could never find that feeling with anyone other than you.
Dear Darryl, Hey Baby! Have a Wonderful Wednesday and whatever your plans for Thanksgiving may your day be Blessed and filled with the LOVE of family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving to YOU and YOURS. Love YOU!! 365 & 24/7 ETERNALLY YOURS, Barbara p.s. You know i'll always be thankful for the day that you came into my life and we became friends.
More than i can say....
I've fallen for you, and i fall deeper everyday.
My feelings for you have been hidden for far to long,
I want to open up, but I'm afraid that if I do....
It won't end in a happy song.
Because, I dont think you care,
I dont think you even realize that I exist
Here waiting for you with an open heart,
Ready to love you forever within the safety of your arms.
Hey Doll Face!!! I hope that you have a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope that you have a very special holiday with your family. I Love You Sweetie, xoxo T.
Thank you for accepting my friend request. I know you get this all the time, but you were absolutely wonderful in Noah's Arc. I fell in love. It was so refreshing to see something different on tv. The movie was great too. I hope to see you in another film or show in the future. You're great at what you do :)) --a lifelong fan--Taiesha
Haven't been on Myspace a lot. Anyway...hi and I hope you are doing well in all respects. I know you don't allow html so I'll reroute you to this really cool song this ay: type in "sing your song, kwame" on YouTube to enjoy a really refreshing artiste. Let me know if you liked or if I totally wasted your time. (_:
Dear Darryl, Hey Baby! I hope your weekend was nice. Have a Mellow Monday and a Great start to your week. I'm only working two days this week.I love my babies but i also LOVE short work weeks.:-) XO 365 & 24/7 ETERNALLY YOURS, Barbara
Good morning Darryl, i presume that you had a busy but wonderful week end. you know, since im interrested in your career because im a huge fan of you ;-). i bought this movie (Boy culture) i watched it twice (saturnday and sundday). i was amazed about how good you can play your caracthers. there was a BIG difference between Noah and Andrew. i was like Wow! He really do can act. Its was funny to see the body langage of both caracthers (Noah and Andrew). It was like you have multiple personnalities....lol..i know you understand what i mean ;-) for Andrew, you change your voice, even the way you walk it was more masculine. more butch. You are right when you said that it would of been better playing this caracther with short hair. anyhow, you were so good playing Andrew. Darryl, i want to let you know that im a big fan of you not because you are hot, sexy, handsome, sensual, (and the list can be very long lol) but my point is i just like the way you behave with your fans. and also, you are true, you are not fake. Darryl, you are sincere to your people and i appreciate that from you. thank you
You know silence can be an answer. So you obviously think I need therapy or you would have said noooo girl you don't need therapy. **rolling my eyes at you** lol. Happy Friday
Smooches :)
Dear Darryl, Hey Baby! Here's wishing YOU a Blessed Friday and a Love Filled weekend.XO XO 365 & 24/7 ETERNALLY YOURS,Barbara p.s. I think I'll make it a Noah's Arc weekend. Pull out the d.v.d's. ;-)
Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't yours own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. Who wants to go thru that, we all do, I love Love...
