“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Just became eligible to join the union! Building my foundation. #workingactor

returnthegayze:

thank you for your honesty
the way it spilled out of your lips more potent than the stench of vodka in your breath
it has been years since someone has had the bravery to look at me in the face
and tell me what they are actually thinking

you see
i just came from a dance party
what i mean…

On set for @dashsolo03’s Renaissance Rap Battle spoof. so.much.fun #actor #actors #costumes #comedy #blackpeople

Did you know I have a book of poems? “Love Without Limits: The Bi-Laws of Love” You should check it out! Thanks for the support fam :) http://www.amazon.com/Yazmin-Monet-Watkins/e/B009SEB3UU #lovewithoutlimits #love #poetry #bisexual #literature #lgbt #poetography #firsttimeauthor

Shout out to the San Francisco airport for their sustainable efforts! Refillable water stations, air hand dryers, recycling AND compost (w/ biodegradable products to boot!) I’m clearly way too in to it. A woman was about to put her leftover food and packaging in the trash and i was like ‘actually thats compostable…’ Lol. This is my standing O. Well done #sfo well done. #sustainability #earth #green

My @NOH8Campaign photo is here! Thanks again @bouska & @JeffParshley #noh8 #bisexual #actress #poet #yazminmonetwatkins #LoveWithoutLimits

On the set of ‘How Men Become Dogs,’ episode 3, with writer/producer Yvette Foy! Coming to an Issa Rae Productions YouTube channel near you ;) 03.12.13 #workingactor

Cello,

Its been a long while since I posted that pic and quote from June Jordan and said I would be blogging more frequently (ha!). At any rate. Here I am again, attempting to share a portion of my journey. I have discovered this past year that supporting myself on art alone is HARD. While obviously life would be much better if I were to book more college shows for my poetry and even better yet book a role on a sitcom, the reality is that the past few months have not been replete with bountifully paying gigs. And don’t get me wrong, I’m really proud of the several things I have been able to accomplish this year including substantial acting parts in a feature film, a couple short films (w/ Mario Van Peebles and Janene Garofolo), a few webseries, some really awesome photo shoots (one of which was with NOH8!), and even creating some of my own comedic content for the web.

To be honest life is really really good. How can’t it be with love on your side? 

As a bisexual queer woman of color my journey to love alone has been a very difficult and interesting path (more on that in another post). I would not change a thing but I am so happy to have a partner by my side that understands who I am and accepts me for who I am. Love is REAL y’all. It really is. I didn’t believe for a long time. Or rather I lost my faith in love for a minute there. But as Sade has said, ‘love is found’ and it’s such a beautiful thing. Here’s a couple lines from a poem I wrote the other morning. (I find it so interesting that I generally only tend to write when I’m going through the most struggle). I suppose I have this starving artist’s life to thank for that. But either way; a bit of poetry!

“You move ocean against my hips/ Together we be sea/ Powerful/ Beautiful/ Dangerous/ Everything on the line/ Our bodies were made to fit like this/ Our hearts were meant to meet like this/ Open./ We are./ And for that/ I am grateful.”

Anywho, I digress. All that to say, the love life is good. And life is good when you’re in love. However. Reality makes sure you know that the real world is waiting the second you wake up from the fairy tale. Student loans are knocking down my door asking for the 22 grand it cost to put me through a liberal arts education (and that’s WITH a full tuition leadership scholarship). Rent is a relentless reminder EVERY month that I owe. Car insurance coupled with the dental work from a few months ago is a reminder that I owe. And don’t even get me started on the cost of acting classes, maintaining my website, attending casting director workshops, printing headshots and resumes… oh dear Jesus I need to stop listing things. I started this post to talk about the places desperation will lead you. I am a 25 year old actress and poet (ie the epitome of starving artist lol). So to change that I am now in the process of considering either donating my eggs for fertility clinics, going back to the soul sucking work in the corporate sector as an executive assistant/ production assistant, selling infomercial products on a commission basis,  or working for my dad’s company. Never thought I’d see the day where I’d willing work for my dad but we shall see. I have a meeting with him tomorrow… Les sigh. 

I just wish I could just go back to Paris and disappear from the real world again. This pic is from this past winter at Sacre Coeur (had to throw my sis in for good measure. what a wreck I’d be w/ out her). . 

In any event. I am in Los Angeles and on my grind. I have an OUT Magazine LA Fashion Week event tomorrow night, a webseries on Saturday afternoon, some background work on a pilot Friday, Monday & Tuesday and God-willing many more gigs to come in the near future. As a mentor of mine always says, “Onward & Upward.”

Here’s to the journey…

I really like this video and song 

XXYYXX - About You [directed by VASH]

What do you think of my new headshot? Photo courtesy of @chia ferguson #actor #castme #photoshoot

Just had my photoshoot with the @NOH8campaign! Shout out to @bouska and @jeffparshley. In solidarity.