VEGAS 2010!

I went to Vegas last month with my gal pals and it was totally fun! I don't really have much to report other than we stayed in a two-story suite for free! The decor was very opulent and the suite had televisions in the bathroom.  It did snow on the way up there so we were stuck in traffic forever. People were getting out of their cars to smoke and play in the snow.  I loove my blonde hair. I have to write my blog on the wonders of weave soon...

Chamillionaire's "Good Morning Hater" video 2009

I did Chamillionaire's "Good Morning Hater" video towards the end of 2009. I was called at the last minute and quite surprised that I was cast since the casting director never uses me for anything. The shoot was really quick and Chamillionaire was nice. Most artists that I've worked with are well behaved.  I have to admit I got frustrated with the whole video girl scene since it was difficult for me to get cast and then when I did all my parts would be cut! But you can see me clearly in Cham's video. I have shorter hair in the video and the words "Video Honey $1500" as the caption above my head. It was a quick day of work and the other girls were really nice.  Two girls were acting like major groupies and they wanted to go off and smoke weed with Chamillionaire.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he didn't smoke weed.

Welcome 2010...more blogs to come!

So it MAY appear that I created a blog and then sorta abandoned it. This is not true! Towards the end of the year I was traveling to visit my family and didn't have extended access to a computer. I have a new niece now and it was great spending time with her over the holidays. Oddly, spending time with my niece confirmed that I don't want children. I thought it might make me change my mind, but it just made me realize how much I value my sleep and freedom to come and go as I please. I love children, I just don't want my own.

I must admit I think my video days are coming to an end. (Not that I ever did that many videos in the first place.) As I mentioned in my previous post, I'd really like to get in a few men's magazine so I'm focusing my energy on that. I'm lining up photoshoots and submitting my images to all the magazines ad nauseam. I think 2010 is going to be a GREAT year since it began on a high note for me. I will devote more time to my blog and the topics will start to evolve into different subjects. I have opinions about EVERYTHING. So I definitely plan to use my blog more often.

So Jakki, is there a PURPOSE for those sexy pics?

So no one has actually asked me this question but I figured it was looming in the minds of people who know me. No, I'm not a narcissist, those sexy backshots do serve a specific purpose.

It all began several years ago when a guy friend of mine showed me King Magazine around the time it first came out (it has since gone out of print). I was mesmerized by these "brickhouse" women and the fact that there was an entire publication devoted to celebrating their sexiness. Up until that point I'd only see the Maxim/Stuff type models and while filled with beautiful women, they were void of [pre-Dreamgirls] Beyonce type figures.

Once I saw the magazine I wanted to be in it. There is some speculation that my slight obsession with getting into a men's magazine is due to the fact that I was overweight most of my life. I tend to concur. It is quite an experience to go from being "cute" to being "sexy." I don't think of myself as sexy on a daily basis, but when I do a photoshoot or music video I definitely attempt to channel an inner vixen. But as any photographer who has worked with me knows, I still struggle with body image issues, as most women do, especially living in Hollywood. So while it is not necessary, I felt I should have professional images to submit to the numerous men's magazines that have emerged since the demise of King because as an actor I have professional headshots to submit for acting roles.

I should be completely honest about my frustration with these publications as word on the street is you have to lie on the casting couch to make it in these sexy periodicals.  I'm certain there is validity to these claims as the casting couch exists everywhere, even in corporate America. However, I do know that every video role I received was based on my audition or my photos. THIS might be why my parts always get cut...hmmmm. I also believe networking is a  key factor so (cough, cough) if you know someone who knows someone, send them a link to my blog. :) As I mentioned in my previous post, it was my sexy pictures that landed me the Olde English job and I was hired for numerous other projects, so I do get work from the images.

So no, I'm not just taking photos of myself to stroke my ego or make old boyfriends jealous, they are tools to get me in a sexy magazine so I can bask in my own fabulosity!  Just Kidding.

--Thanks to Rick Dones & Nadriah B Photography for the great images!

Olde English!

So I booked the Olde English job off craigslist! I never knew people offered legitimate work on the site. I debated about submitting, they wanted "King Magazine" type models so I figured I'd give it a shot. They booked me off my pics on modelmayhem and it was a particular shot by Mr. Rick Dones that got me the job! They picked me over a girl who was on the Flavor of Love so I was amped since she was more well-known. The photographer was Hassan Kinley and the shoot was a little nerve-wracking. The client would look at each image on a large screen mac and give me directions on what they wanted. My actual outfit was all black and they made it red in post and gave me the back tattoo.  I'll post another blog with details on my trip to Las Vegas to promote the poster. AND I'll talk about the social implications of appearing in advertising that contributes to the demise of the black community. I got a good amount of flack for doing the ad!

Other Videos: Madonna, Tyra, T.I. & Donnie McClurklin

So most people wouldn't know that I've been an extra in a slew of random videos. This is of course because my parts were cut out. I did Madonna's "Hung Up," T.I. "What you know," Tyra's "Hood Boy," and Donnie McClurklin's "Ooh Child." Not anything really notable about most of these. I do remember that the T.I. video was right after I did lead work on the Pharrell video and I was really annoyed that I decided to do the video as a favor to a casting director. It was a huge call and in my opinion the other extras were quite homely. One girl had on a dang prom dress!  Kirk Franklin was at the Donnie McClurkin video and he was really cool. That shoot was really fast. I remember Donnie McClurkin was annoying me because he was making us rehearse clapping. It took several takes for the people to clap on beat! Oh it might also interest some that Lance Gross (from House of Payne) worked as an extra on several of these videos as well. Of course this was before he was "famous." He was a really nice guy and I know he worked hard, he did like a million music videos and didn't mind being an extra.

Ice Cube "Go to Church"

This was my second lead role and I was hoping to get enough camera time to parlay into a spread in a men's magazine. Once again my parts were cut! You can see me in the background if you watch the video closely which is whack for being a lead. Of course I got the lead RATE which is what really matters but for some odd reason I really want(ed) to be in a magazine. Lil Jon was really rude and he pushed me into a chair. I saw him without his glasses and he is completely cross-eyed! Snoop was hiiiigh as a kite and everyone had "crunk cups" filled with some Jesus juice. Ice Cube was very nice and professional. I really wanted to ask if I could send him my headshot or something since I knew he did film work but I was too scared people would think I was being unscrupulous so I didn't. :( I could've been in First Sunday! lol

I don't remember the names of the other girls in the video.