Four years in and going strong!

I can’t believe it’s been four years since we started SistaPAC. I was on my way to Japan with the Mama Foundation when Ella invited me to be a part of this writing/production team when I returned from my trip. We spent a good portion of the summer and fall brewing ideas in the living room of Jessica’s apartment. When we kicked off our baby project, we were not only on this massive high, but we had this surge to create other “fresh out the oven sweet and spicy” projects. All of which resulted in a collection of works that we’re finally taking out the lab for the world to laugh, cry, love and grow with. Our most precious prize is top priority. It was the reason Ella and I purchased tickets to a Stony Brook Alumni event, where the featured alum guest speaker was EVP and CFO of HBO, Robert Roth. We made a point to latch on to his every word so that when we approached him (guerilla style) about our script, we’d start the conversation off right. After conversing with his lovely wife about their kids and laughing about organic chemistry nightmares, he confessed to appreciating our tactic. Our alum connection and chutzpah got us a pass, but on one condition of course. For legal purposes and sheer professionalism, we had to be represented by an agent before submitting our script. Coincidentally (or not) Jessica and Ella happened to be working with Regina Brooks of Serendipity Lit, and during a dinner outing, my SPac ladies hooked the woman we now call our agent. We were excited and focused.

Several months later, we used our guerilla tactics to approach one of the stars we cast on our wish list. I won’t tell you who just yet, but get this… we not only spoke to the WOMAN on our desired list BUT another star on our list happen to be at the same event! Coincidence… I think not! It’s called God putting everything into motion for us. I know Ella mentioned this, but it’s truly amazing how one picture from one contest (WB Look Alike Contest, 2004) sparked the SistaPAC takeover!

Fast forward four years and here we are today, January 2008, and we’re more ready then we’ve ever been. Life got in the way the year before, and although we’ve accomplished much collectively and individually, we knew this year would determine how we continued as a whole. Our baby project (which we will eventually reveal to you… keep reading our blog) is coming to life, and you have no idea how eager we are to share it with you. In Tyler Perry fashion (and everyone else who decided to introduce their art to the world unconventionally), we’re shooting our project within the coming months to bring you one of our best works in August 2008. Stay tuned, we’ll start letting you in on who’s who and what’s what very soon.

Until then, if you have a dream now is the time to motivate. Work beyond what you think your potential is, at all times. I recently read an excerpt from Joel Osteen’s latest book that spoke about a man speeding down the Autobahn (the superhighway across Germany that has no speed limits). The man was traveling at approximately 110mph and he thought to himself “Man I’m going fast!” Until he saw another car, the same model, zoom pass him at approximately 170mph. The first driver wasn’t even operating at his full potential. So when you think you’re doing what you think you can, push a little harder, believe a little harder, fight for what you want a lot more and you will surprise yourself! Just my little tidbit for this blog.

Great in ’08 1/3^rd of the SistaPAC Movement,

Maureen

P.S. Check out some exclusive shots from the photo shoot that sparked the idea… and don’t be strangers, we’d love to hear from you!

The Journey Begins...

Welcome to our SistaPAC webspace!  Here you'll be able to ride with us on our journey of realizing our many projects. 

Sistapac began in 2004...we still can't believe what we've been able to accomplish in that short amount of time.  Maureen and I knew each other from Stony Brook (go Brook!!) and Jessica and I knew each other from the Harlem Theatre Company.  We were all doing our separate projects, often grunting and moaning about the industry and how difficult it was to break into it.  Then one day it hit us.  Why don't we work together?  Create projects that will allow us to write and produce and act in our productions?  A simple photo for a contest sparked a movement.

So here we are, 2008, and now we are ready to meet our great fate!  We hope you'll keep in touch and send us your comments and thoughts about what we're up to.

I was listening to the Steve Harvey morning show this morning (I listen every morning....it's my favorite) and he was interviewing Forrest Whitaker.  Mr. Whitaker said that Denzel made a comment, something he says to his children that he incorporated into the film: "Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do."  I thought that was so profound.  Simple, yet so true.  Sometimes the simplest pieces of advice are the ones that resonate the most.  For me, doing what I have to do involves working (which I must say, I actually really love my job), going to school (media studies at the New School) and working on SistaPAC projects.  These are my priorities for '08!   It's really true that if you want something you have to go get it.  I think of success in two parts: one part destiny (the part you can't control), one part action (the part you can control).  Lots of people get opportunities handed to them.  The difference between someone like Diddy and any other intern is that he was ready when opportunity came and he acted on it aggressively.  Therefore, he succeeded.  Walter Mosley said the same thing when I went to see him speak last year.  He said so many people have ideas for books and come to him asking how he managed to get anything published.  He said he's no different from anyone else with great story ideas.  The difference is he sat down and WROTE IT.  So many of us hold ourselves back.  We are afriad of our own sucess.  Be fearless!!!  What do you have to lose?  We've worked with this philosophy and seized opportunities when they came....created some of our own and definitely never took no for an answer. 

Anyway, that's my soapbox for today.  More from me and the sista's later.

Peace,

Ella