BENNY's WORLD (BnA) | |cirque du soleil||'s Interests
General
"If we only knew what we could do."
-Last Poets
Anything creative. Be it art, spoken word, music, film, theatre. I have done it all and continuing to find other manners of creatively expressing myself and the different world that I am living in. I am not the LAST ARTIST, but I do challenge people to think creatively and not so ritualistically. Do not be afraid to step outside the circle.
Music
I have too many to list here - but these are always in rotation on my sidekick with media player right now.
I must say JOHN LEGEND AND YANN TIERSEN are the two musicians that write my daily soundtrack.
John Legend, Ludacris, the LAST POETS, Alicia Keys, Anointed, Black Eyed Peas, Collage, Common, Dashboard Confessional, Divine Comedy, Eagle Eye Cherry, Enya, Faith Evans, Flogging Molly, Floetry, Frankie J, Frou Frou, Gwen Stefani, jaime Foxx, India.Arie, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, Kevin Lyttle, La Ley, LL Cool J, Lyfe Jennings, Mary Mary, Ma$e, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Miri Ben-Ari, Missy Elliott, Moby, Nelly Furtado, Nique Ta Mere (NTM), One Ring Zero, Jon Brion, OutKast, Petey Pablo, Prince, R. Kelly, Ronan Keating, Shins, Tamyra Gray, Teena Marie, Toni Braxton, Temptations, Will Smith (old school w Jazzy), Yann Tiersen, Yolanda Adams. have too many to list here - I listen to Turkish music to French rap to Japanese music. I used to say I never liked country music - but I even listen to that combined with classical - just think of Cirque du Soliel. Music is a great portion of my life and I even incorporate it into my teaching. So yeah. You got a new band or something I havent heard - let me know and i will give it a listen.
there comes a time when you gotta go and chase your destiny;
change your pace;
change your place;
be who you're supposed to be.
Movies
You know you love movies when you have studied film and written a screenplay. I like all types of movies from romantic comedies to ..aries on penguins and stupid funny slapstick movies to dramatic movies dealing with racism in our society. I even watch animated films and a foreign film buff. lol.
I believe my favorite movie of all time is AMELIE....My life is a mix of Amelie and Get Real - but my aspirations are as colorful and animated as Tim Burton and social commentaries like Spike Lee and full of youthful spirit like the Goonies.
My favorite directors are: Tim Burton and Spike Lee.
Favorite movies of all time:
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
Do The Right Thing (Spike Lee)
Goonies (Richard Donner)
Big Fish (Tim Burton)
Contact (Robert Zemenkis)
Être et avoir (..ary France)
Television
I dont watch much tv outside of a few shows. My nieces got me addicted to America's Next Top Model - but I catch it whenever it reruns - because i can not stand such female drama.
I grew up watching classic television: Cosby, Different World, Amen, 227, Golden Girls, Wonder Years, Life Goes On, Degrassi High and Degrassi Jr. High. Shows like that don't exist anymore.
If you can remember shows called Ghostwriter, 3-2-1 Contact and Square One television, then you betta holla at me - cuz thats the type of television programming I am working on resurrecting for our young brothers and sisters.
Books
My favorite authors are:
Madeline L'Engle
C.S. Lewis
Jacques Prevert
Nick Hornby
William Cosby, Ed.D.
Nikki Giovanni
Roald Dahl
Brothers Grimm
Langston Hughes
Maya Angelou
Toni Morrison
Alice Walker - when i mention her i must always give props to Tyler Perry another New Orleanian with Madea and her inspirational theatre.
Heroes
I look to those trailblazers of the past - who stood up to injustices amid harsh punishments. I meet them everyday and I look up to them. These trailblazers pass the torch to us to keep the flame alive.
My thoughts and prayers are always for those in the struggle. We fight on amidst the good and the bad and we keep our heads up high with the end of injustice in mind.
University Of New Orleans
New Orleans,Louisiana
Graduated: 2007
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Master's Degree
Major: Education (Curriculum & Instruction)
Minor: Educational Media
Clubs: Amnesty International; New Orleans People's Heathcare Initiative; Foodline;
Current Courses:
Tulane University Of Louisiana
New Orleans,Louisiana
Graduated: 2002
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Theatre
Minor: Media (TV/Film)
Clubs: Amnesty International; Students Organized Against Racism; Community Labor United;
Current Courses:
Archbishop Rummel Sr Hi Sch Bo
Metairie,Louisiana
Graduated: 1997
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Major: High Honors Graduate
Clubs: National Honor Society; Campus Ministry; Genesian Players
1992 to 1997
BENNY's WORLD (BnA) | |cirque du soleil||'s Networking
UNO Television Production
Directed:
SJB-35 -
Directed/Produced: Benjamin Legrand - 2005 ---
Produced:
Inside the Crescent City -
2005 ---
Photography:
Being Foreign - director/producer - Mikheil Urushadze
BENNY's WORLD (BnA) | |cirque du soleil||'s Blurbs
About me:
Benjamin-David
Making a Difference...
An appeal to teachers from around the country to consider coming to New Orleans to teach reminding them of why they became teachers in the first place: to help children in need.
dedicated to the person beside me
Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am...(from the heart of a clown)
..
..
a multiracial guy from New Orleans - army brat - both parents in the military (black dead-beat pops and white momsi). Born in New Orleans, raised in the burbs (land of monotony and ubiquity) and travelled the world, most would think i am latino, from mexico, or from the middle east - i aint gotta prob with that - it just not who i am.
completely into the def poetry scene, interested in radical art (theatre, poetry, music, tv/film, etc.) and those who like helping out in youth programs in the community. Finishing up my masters in education with an emphasis in television/film production at the University of New Orleans. Soon to be back teaching and doing community building/organizing with media.
Drop me a line if you interesting and want to change the world...
Fight on!!!
My Art
My Pink Elephant Art Series
my film project: TOUTE EST CALME
....
Who I'd like to meet:
BENNY's WORLD (BnA) | |cirque du soleil||'s Friend Space (Top 39)
BENNY's WORLD (BnA) | |cirque du soleil|| has 1217 friends.
oh lord--i have enough trouble keeping up with my myspace folk. i can't do both! having you around would be a bit more incentive, but dang. i dunno man.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY BEN!!! I am so happy that you're in my life and I look forward to sharing more Valentine's with you!!!! XOXO...BNA TOGETHER FOREVER!!!!
CD Release show Tue Jan 29th at One-Eyed Jack's. Show at 10pm. New songs, new band, special guests.
Also tune in WWOZ that same day at 330pm for songs and an interview; and KTUL around 2pm.
Hey B, I just wanted to come through and let you know how special you are to me!!! I am so happy and it's all because of you :) Love, A **2008..the year of BNA**
