HEY LOVEY DOVEY,..:

(That's what my cousin Lorraine used to call me!)

I read ALL of your email—thank you.  I have to tell you that I feel very loved in the world, in part thanks to you.  I am so glad that you found me whether it was though The Best Shorts TV show, the podcast or my site.  You make everything worth it. Here are some answers to your frequently asked questions. 

YOUR FAQs from MySpace

How do I submit my films?  When is the podcast coming back? How do I get on TV or make movies? What do you do for fun?  Can I interview you?  Can you come to my event? How do you stay in shape? Will you go out with me? Where are u from? How do you maintain your hair/ skin nails?  Where did you get that shirt?

10. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I was raised between New York City and Guyana (South America).  I currently live in Harlem and feel a connection with the Nigerian community although I am not Nigerian.  I think that because my parents gave me a Nigerian name I gravitated toward that culture.  I visited Nigeria in 06 to present film workshops as a part of the African Academy Awards.

9. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN YOUR HAIR/ NAILS/ SKIN?

I am a complete beauty product whore.  There I said it.  I like to order from drugstore.com when possible since everything is always in stock. OK—the deets:

HAIR—With black women hair is always a drama.  I let this go a few years ago and decided to change my hair as it suits me.  (And only me.) My hair is natural.  I am allergic to relaxers as my skin is super sensitive.  I often just rock my fro, which is shoulder length and pick it out with my fingers and conditioner but I love to play with extensions as well.  Love, love, love to.  I like the clip on kind that you can hide in between your hair.  It's like a weave without the commitment.  Frizz Ease hair products are good.  Cantu shea butter hair care products are good.  Also natural mayonnaise and olive oil are great deep conditioners.  Moisturizing is the name of the game.  When I wear my hair straight, I do my version of an old fashioned press and curl by either blow drying, which is awful for your hair, or flat ironing, or even straightening with a gold barreled super-hot curling iron.  (Air dry hair whenever possible.)   

SKIN- Crème de la Mer is magic I tell you.  But guess what? Eucerin on my skin is the same stuff.  If Eucerin is still too costly for you try the drugstore version.  Eartha Kitt, the original catwoman, recommends Vaseline, which is good for only feet or hands I think or before bed if you can take it- under eyes.  I have naturally puffy skin so I really try to overdose on water whenever possible.  Half of the non water things we drink add no nutritional value anyway, right?  And as a sugar addict, I have to avoid those sweet drinks.  I usually just rock out on water and green tea although I went through an awful but brief Red Bull phase when I started doing the show and we were taping so earlyyyy.  Also ladies (dudes too) exfoliate! Nobody wants to rub up on your chaffed skin.  L'Ocittane hand lotion- divine. Simple dove soap is good as is Oilatum for super sensitive skin.  Basis Face wash removes all makeup—never sleep in makeup.  Black Opal, Pamela Wexler and Dr. Weil for Origins also make some of the stuff on my shelf.  Waxing is a punishment sent straight from hell.  Pluck brows or shave elsewhere (!) with a small electric razor whenever possible.

NAILS- I suck at nail care.  Go ask somebody else.  I am in awe of women who walk around with always done nails.  Yeah, I could just go do it, but for some reason it seems pointless.  I never got into it.  My nailcare (sadly) consists of grabbing one of my many bottles of polish (the colors are addictive) along with clippers and a file.  I do get pedicures in the summer although not nearly as much as I need to. I am a failure to that Cute Girl Toenail Pledge that everyone spam mails in the spring. I like shorter functional nails.  My fingers do things—like type for hours, write, hammer and nail and put on contact lenses.  Even when I am at a salon waiting for my finger nails to dry, I feel like life is passing me by.  At least while my toes are drying I can read!!  Nailcare is not conducive with my latent ADD. 

MAKEUP.  I LOVE makeup.  I feel like a little girl whenever I see little pots of glitter and colors.  I'm like my kitty Anabelle in that way.  I generally wear MAC although I have also worn Iman's great concealer.  Drugstore gloss will work although you'll have to reapply it a million times.  I don't use eyeliner or foundation.  Although I love makeup I am, I've been told, a makeup artist's headache because I am generally reluctant to try any colors but neutrals.  OK—here's my perfect face—concealer, pressed powder, mascara and clear gloss.  That's all you need. Maybe some kinda blush would be good too.  I love golds and I think bronzers work on any skin color.  Recently I started a relationship with FASHION FAIR COSMETICS who found me via the show, and they are surprisingly awesome.  Check out their mascaras and lipsticks.  The powder is also good.  Tip—skip the foundation and take care of your skin so that you don't need it!

FRAGRANCE- I used to be opposed to any fragrance besides Clinique's Happy or muslim or Body Shop (peach) oils because I thought that they would irritate my skin.  Then the Thierry Mugler people tracked me down and sent me test bottles of their sexy and dangerous fragrance ALIEN.  Wow! I was sold.  Now I love fragrance.  My mom buys me a lot of Victoria's Secret stuff but my fave along with her and my cuz Michelle is Lolita Lempika.  Divine.  Also L'Ocittane is my best kept secret.  I won't tell you which ones I use because then I'd have to kill you.

8. HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE?

I don't!!  Just kidding.  The only way unfortunately to be in shape is to eat less and move more.  Sorry.  I am recovering from this week's show where an awful angle and lights combined with my poorly chosen beigey dress that caused me to look 20 lbs heavier than I am.  20 lbs—no exaggeration!! I was totally devastated. Then I was thinking – hmmm…. maybe some weight loss sponsor might contact us and then THE AFTER could be me in my regular clothes!  Whatreyougonnado? 

*****Here's the funny thing about media images and believing what you see.  A friend who was watching the show with me said "Wow. You've lost so much weight since then!"  I said, "No I haven't! That was 1 week and a half ago.  I haven't lost or gained anything, and you've seen me practically every day!"  The power of the media.  She was believing the image of me she was seeing on screen instead of the real me on the sofa beside her!

She's putting together a weight loss regimen for me.  When she does, I'll clue you in on it.  All I can say for now is visualize yourself the way you want to be and feel good about it.  Carry yourself like you're already there.  Thank your body and your layers for functioning for you.  Stop whining about what you don't like. You can't create thinner if you're feeling fat.  If you wanna take a wild side walk you can just love yourself as you are.  Go figure! Be healthy.  (And don't wear beigy dresses without Spanx on camera with cameras tilted up at you!)  

7. WILL YOU BE IN MY MOVIE?

 I consider everything. So maybe!

6. WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?

Probably not.  I do look forward to meeting you at a future event though, cutie pie.  Thanks for thinking of me.  I am very flattered and humbled by all of your well wishes and sweet compliments.  OK, somebody just told me to add never say never.  So never say never!  :- )

5.  HOW DO I INTERVIEW YOU? INVITE YOU TO MY SCHOOL/PLAY/FILM/EVENT?

Contact me.  Sounds like fun.

4. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?

The coolest thing is that I love yacking in front of a camera.  I adore writing.  It is fun for me to create the world of a film or series.  Telling stories in some shape or form is why I am on the planet.  Sooo, the cool thing is that work is fun for me.  I used to feel that creating pseudo hobbies that I really didn't like as much would make me more balanced.  But DUH Abiola, I realized that the point is joy.  If my work brings me joy, what's better?  Besides chillin with my fam and friends of course.  The only thing I would like to do more of besides seeing my peeps more is dancing and checking out new music.  Other people's music, movies and art also bring me supreme joy.

3. HOW DO YOU BECOME A FILMMAKER OR GET ON TV/FILM? 

Well I have degrees so I'd first give all of the traditional answers like go to library or Barnes & Noble and read for free about how to do it.  Go to a trade school or university and take classes.  Study.  Get some craft.  BUT I also would like to add the unorthodox thought of—just do it.  The coolest thing about this minute is that the channels of distribution are wide open.    Create your work and be your own channel.  Learn on the job. Develop your craft and if it's good or interesting, your audience or buyers will find you.  No degree is needed for that! Keep up the good work…

2. WHY DID YOU STOP THE PODCAST? WHEN WILL YOU BEGIN AGAIN? WHAT DO YOU READ FOR INSPIRATION?

Thank you for your many, many requests!!!!  I receive all of your emails daily commanding me back to the podcast.  I miss it too SOOO much!  Because there are only so many hours in the day I am working on a way for someone to co-produce it with me so that I can bring it back in some form.  Meanwhile, please continue to enjoy it here, subscribe on Itunes or find more clips on my site: here .  For inspiration I read Dr. Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Iyanla Vanzant and Esther Hicks mostly.  Also fyi—audiobooks are not cheating!

1. HOW DO I SUBMIT FILMS TO BEST SHORTS?

The executive producers are Ralph Scott and Sean Joell Johnson.  Check out www.myspace.com/thebestshorts.  You could win $20,000.  The only requirement is that it either feature people of color of have a person of color as a key filmmaker. How cool would it be if your film was selected and I was given the opportunity to interview you?  That would be the best!