Sunday 31 October 2010

A COMMENT on the BEEFTA's


A lot of comments are flying back and forth about last night's events. And I had thought to stay out of the fray (in very much the same way i stayed away from the festivities - I attended the show, did photography at a customers request BACKSTAGE, took some shots on the red carpet and promptly left even before the what was an almost 2hour late start).

But with sooo many people asking my opinion on it this morning I think I WILL comment here.


Many things went WRONG!! Seating, refreshment, running order. And we are quick to judge because we expect 'standards'. And rightly so. And while we are quick to take note of those things that DID go wrong, because they were so 'glaring', let us not forget the many people that were hard at work on the things that did go right. The lightening and sound techs, the make up and hair people that worked ceaselessly backstage from 9am till show start AND BEYOND. I was there with them, I saw the effort they put in to make the night come off a success.


And yes things went hopelessly wrong, but while we primped and preened at home at turned up immaculate and flawless, many people behind the scenes worked tirelessly to ensure that there WAS INDEED A NIGHT TO ATTEND. They are the unsung heroes of an event that is catering to support and make mention of people within an industry that perhaps sometimes get passed over.


If I question anything about the awards, (and i do not in any way take away from those who won in specific catergories) I question judging criteria that awards winners based on popularity and not necessarily quality of work. I question the nomination process where someone can be nominated for an award and have to be informed by another NOMINEE rather than the governing body/committee. I question striving for excellence yet catering to nepotism.


This said, it is early stages. Rome was NOT built in a day and the old adage goes, and if we are not open to fact that so much has be done by these awards to boost the confidence of so many within their fields; to recognize their efforts in the continued strides for excellence and creativity and to bolster their faith in the products and services they develop and provide, then we have truly missed out on the beauty and achievement of the BEEFTA's.


If only to be stood in the company of so many talented and beautiful black brothers and sisters, gathered in one place to celebrate OURSELVES.., if only for that... then the night was a success.


RASCONRAD - model, photographer, poet

Thursday 28 October 2010

DOIN' IT WET starring BRUNO BANTON

WOO HOO!!! the whole family's talented to the max, from neices that are models (BIG UP YANDA!!) sisters that are published poets (big sista GILLENA that gave me the monika RASCONRAD), artist extradinaire Khama Cox but the recent family member to step up to the plate in a BIG WAY is lil cousin DARREN or as he is now known BRUNO BANTON.


check him out performing alongside artist Vetta in his latest video "DOING IT WET"


RC...




Tuesday 26 October 2010

RCP2010-13 LEGACY FALLS BTS




Legacy Falls, a new musical about a fictional American daytime soap opera, is to premiere at London's New Players Theatre. It will begin performances Oct. 27, prior to an official opening Oct.29, for a run through Nov. 20.


The new musical that dishes the dirt on daytime soap.

The bitchiness and back-stabbing…

The romances and the hair-pulling cat-fights...

The hirings and firings…

The bikinis and sex scandals…

The tantrums, the deaths...

and a slightly unrealistic earthquake...

Just another week on-screen and off, on America's favourite daytime soap opera, 'LEGACY FALLS'.


Who’s gonna survive the budget cuts?

Will old age and cunning triumph over youth and enthusiasm?

Can love survive a tabloid sting?

And why has somebody's mother suddenly shown up in the middle of the live broadcast?

All will be revealed in the hot new musical comedy,

‘LEGACY FALLS’.Soap is a dirty business!


RasConrad went behind the scenes to the new musical that opens Wed 27th October, 2010 at NEW PLAYERS THEATRE LONDON | LEGACY FALLS









FOR ALL IMAGES

http://gallery.me.com/rasicon#102450&bgcolor=black&view=grid


© RasCONRAD PHOTOGRAPHY



Written and composed by James Burn, a former assistant musical director on Disney's The Lion King at the Mogador Theatre in Paris, and directed and choreographed by former performer turned film director Ian Poitier, the show was previously staged in Bermuda in 2003.

According to press materials, the show exposes the bitchiness and back-stabbing behind the scenes and in front of the camera on a fictional American daytime soap opera, from (in Poitier's words) "the romances and the hair-pulling cat-fights...the hirings and firings…the bikinis and sex scandals…the tantrums, the deaths...and a slightly unrealistic earthquake…"

The cast includes Amy Anzel, Aimie Atkinson, Ezra Axelrod, Rosalind Blessed, Davis Brooks, Joanne Heywood, Tara Hugo, Mark Inscoe, Tim Oxbrow, Stephen von Screiber, Bart Williams and Pippa Winslow. Sets and costume design is by Georgia Lowe, with lighting by Mike Robertson, sound by Andrew Johnson and musical direction by Michael Bradley.

It is produced by Danielle Tarento and Choughed Productions Ltd, established by Warren Cabral.

Burn and Cabral previously co-wrote the musical Joan of Arc in 1994.



Thursday 21 October 2010

BLACK 'IS' the new BLACK

RasConrad presents..., a special fashion tribute for

UK BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2010.


With designs by reknowned african designer KIRRETTE COUTURE; the amazing jewelry of french based african couture jeweller NGONE, direct from her showing at the AFRICAN FASHION WEEK 2010,


and a host of models that includes AJI - the face to watch for UK fashion 2010, KARINE amazing natural hair model, newcomers ZEB and MERITZA, MEL our bald headed 'goddess' as well as one of the top black french male models here in the UK, ZOLA


pastedGraphic.pdf pastedGraphic_1.pdf pastedGraphic_2.pdf pastedGraphic_3.pdf pastedGraphic_4.pdf pastedGraphic_5.pdf pastedGraphic_6.pdf





And Finally, RASCONRAD would like to thank, Michael Scott and Gerrard Martin for the use of their AMAZING song "COLOUR ME BLACK" on my website
to go along with the images for BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK.

"COLOUR ME BLACK" original song from the musical 'PATTIES SHOP DIARIES'
sung here by Gary Bardouille.

Go have a listen


http://web.mac.com/rasicon/RASCONRAD_PRE
SENTS/FASHION_SPREAD.html




FOR ALL IMAGES http://gallery.me.com/rasicon#102386


© RasCONRAD PHOTOGRAPHY

Friday 15 October 2010

OCTOBER IS UP!!!

RASCONRAD CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH is this issue of RASCONRADpresents.


"BLACK IS the new black" the fashion feature.


"KAI" is the MAN O' DA MONTH - OCTOBER


"PHOOLAN" - from the elephant parade (with images by CHRIS WILCOX)


"BLOODDANCE" - behind the scenes of the new film by LAITH SAMI (photos by RYAN BLACK)


"LEGACY FALLS" - the new musical directed and choreographed by Ian Poitier

"COLOUR ME BLACK" - the heart wrenching song from the new musical PATTIESHOPDIARIES

the RCP GALLERY with images by BERNARD MILLER and a hosts of artists...,

all this and more when RASCONRADpresents goes FULLY LIVE on monday.

visit the site currently to see some of the images and posts already up and keep coming back to share and for more.

RC...

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Bernard Miller photographs RASCONRAD


We're in OCTOBER, and just about to release in the next few days my OCTOBER issue. I've had loads of talent on the shoot for this issue. And not only in front of the lens but BTS (behind the scenes also).
Check out some of the work by the lighting director for the
"BLACK is the NEW BLACK" shoot, BERNARD MILLER.
These were taken by him when we first met when I was photographed by him for my TURNING 40 series.

to see all of the images

or click on this link below



CAUTION: SOME IMAGES CONTAINED IN THIS EXHIBITION ARE OF AN EXPLICIT NATURE.

Search This Blog for