LESALA MAMPA: (LOOK BOOK- IMPRINT ZA | HARBORING HOPE)

March 30, 2016 in MODELING

Photographer: Dylan Louw

Female Model: Carine Nguz

STATEMENT FROM THE ARTIST: MZUKISI MBANE

Imprint A/W 2016 - Harboring Hope

Haboring Hope is a collection inspired and dedicated to changing and challenging the concept of menswear and the meaning of being a man in Africa presented in a very beautiful, calm and less dramatic way.

Last season we started on a journey, creating gender bending looks. Also referred to as unisex. Inspired by the woman who gave birth to us all. This season we are still on that same gender bending tip. But this time inspiration is taken from various cultural group as well as religious group. Translating this in a more edgy, futuristic and clean way.

I found myself having this freedom. I got taken to a place where creativity was basically limitless. I became free to challenge the very idea of what menswear is (to the society). How it is suppose to be constructed, the silhouettes and well which lines to cross. In this collection you see me playing around with a lot of geometric shapes. Most shapes taken from a deconstructed a - line skirt. I also found myself challenging and exploring the terms oversized and fitted.

With that being said this collection is rather peaceful and calm. The colors used (white and African print). I wanted to tell the story of believing in your dreams and who you are from a different side. A side where you don't have to fight. Aside of beauty and peace.

"Hope on bravely"

INDUSTRY TALK: Q&A (LESALA MAMPA)

March 16, 2016 in MODELING

I was chatting with my friend Shiraz Reddy- a publicist and host in Cape Town, South Africa about coming to SA to model. I felt as though I also would need to take a break in his gorgeous country while exploring my roots. I had tons of questions about modeling and the entertainment industry there, so he suggested I chat with a model he has worked with, Mr. Lesala Mampa. After Instagram stalking this gorgeous and statuesque model I asked if he would be willing to share his experience as a model in SA as well as his advice to any aspiring models in general.

“... being a model really pushes you out of your comfort zone. From taking a powerful shot with live lions to becoming a completely new character for a TV commercial...”

R|A: First I must thank you Lesala for agreeing to be a guest on my entertainment blog. I have always enjoyed the art of entertainment in all its forms. To start- how old are you and for how long have you been modeling?

L|M: Thank you for featuring me, a true pleasure. I am 29 years old and this will be my 7th year of modeling professionally.

R|A: What are 3 things you love about modeling and 3 things you hate about modeling?

L|M: 3 things I love:

The creative process– coming up with incredible concepts/story boards, the set designs, the amazing locations; the art.
The cast and crew – I have had the pleasure of working with incredibly talented people; photographers/videographers, designers, stylists and makeup artists, all with fierce imaginations and passion for their work.
Growth– being a model really pushes you out of your comfort zone. From taking a powerful shot with live lions to becoming a completely new character for a TV commercial, it always requires more from you. In order to be convincing, for the shot to have depth and dynamism, you really need to embrace each character entirely and by doing so you discover a whole new layer to your personality and skill set.

3 things I dislike (I try not to hate lol):

Fake- The superficiality and pretentiousness of the industry.
Struggling artist- The instability and at times bipolar market.
Mental growth- How the industry can make models feel extremely insecure about themselves. The way you look, walk, talk, carry yourself, from the way your hair curls to how your foot lands on the floor, all of it is judged the instant you walk into any casting. If you’re not comfortable in your own skin, have not made peace with who you are and love your crazy quirky and at times awkward self, it can be very discouraging and damaging to the developing soul.

R|A: It’s important to have a supportive foundation in an industry that can be very disappointing, who would you say supports you most and in what way?

L|M: I would have to say my friends and family. It can be a very emotionally draining and disheartening industry at times and having some encouragement and loving support from time to time really helps. I don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to give up and just follow a stable career in Physiotherapy (what I studied and ended up lecturing at the University of Cape Town) but every time I make that decision, I get a message from a friend praising a new shoot I featured in or a random passer by stops me and compliments my look and suggests I model. Words are powerful in more ways than we can fathom, and if spoken in kindness and love can truly move mountains.

“Words are powerful in more ways than we can fathom, and if spoken in kindness and love can truly move mountains.”

R|A: Who are some of your favorite models in the industry today?

L|M: I really like connecting with people I work with, and I’ve always been inspired by models around me in the industry who have done incredible work locally and internationally but have remained humble and true to themselves. Elodie Venece, Happy Umurerwa, Warwick Denman, Thane Williams and Jimi Ogunlaja, to name a few, have always kept me inspired and pushing harder.

R|A: Do you feel the modeling industry in South Africa is racially biased as it is in say Europe and America?

L|M: For the most part there is a balance as can be seen on TV commercials and print. A lot of the black international models I’ve worked with have said they find they work more in South Africa. But it all comes down to your look. South Africa has a very strong commercial market as such if you have very editorial or high fashion features it will be difficult to break it into the market here. It’s all about networking and marketing yourself well.

R|A: What’s something you just can't live without?

L|M: Music– soothes the soul and centers me. And tea– a liquid hug.

R|A: How do you train to be a model? Did you take any runway classes or study posing?

L|M: I did drama club and music in school which really assisted in gaining confidence when performing to a crowd. When I started out modeling I was lucky enough to be sent to a casting and ramp walking class where I was taught the basics. It’s a learning process. Each shoot, each job is a chance to push boundaries and better your skill. You just need to be open to learning.

R|A: I’ve learned some great techniques from photographers I’ve worked with. What is a good modeling tip you can share?

L|M: Modeling is just not striking a pose, it is acting. You have but a moment to show the exact emotion, mood, dynamic and power the designer and/or photographer has in mind. So keep good open communication with the designer, photographer and/or director in order to be on the same page. Find out what they want and need from you. Get into character and become the James Bond, warrior, rap artist, hero, athlete, boy or girl next door they need you to be.

“Modeling is just not striking a pose, it is acting”

R|A: What agency are you signed with and can you tell readers when you signed, what the feeling was like, and the steps following?

L|M: I’m currently with Fusion Model Management in Cape Town. It’s always exciting when signing up to a new agency as again it’s an opportunity to grow and excel and better your career. Most agencies have an online form you fill where you can submit your pictures and details. I suggest that you apply to three or more agencies you have an interest in and once you’ve met up with all of them, choose the agency you had the best connection with, the one which was most excited for your look and most aligned with your goals.

“Most importantly remember that as soon as you become a model you become a brand, so network and get your face out there as much as you can. ”

R|A: Finally- what advice would you give readers who are aspiring models?

L|M: Do not model for the glitz and glamour, that kind of goal is short lived and not sustainable. Instead become a model for the love of creating art and acting. Allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself into the infinitely fascinating world of creativity and performance. Most importantly remember that as soon as you become a model you become a brand, so network and get your face out there as much as you can. The agency can only do so much; the rest is up to you.

INDUSTRY TALK: Q&A (ANTONIAL BARNES)

March 09, 2016 in MODELING, ACTING, MUSIC

I met Antonial Barnes on Instagram to be quite honest. At least as far as I can remember I've been double tapping his professional pictures as well as his music clips and published work. I wondered where this guy got his start in the industry, his journey, and how he might be able to share his experiences with my readers & viewers? Antonial is a passionate artist and very hard working. He like many smart artist as my grandmother would say has put his eggs in multiple baskets. Therefore he's destined for success. Check out Antonial's latest EP Know My Name on Itunes now.

R|A: Thank you Antonial for being apart of the #IndustryTalk family. I started this entertainment blog as an educational tool for all aspiring artists. Please tell our readers how you got your start in the modeling and music industry?

A|B: I have always been into music. My parents were into music. My mother being a singer and father a bass player, I had always had a passion for music. So I was in band in school and decided to go to college for audio engineering/music so I could be a producer. The modeling I was in college and needed extra money so I made a model mayhem profile and started out that way.

R|A: It’s my understanding that you come from a musical family, so it’s safe to say you are able to practice your craft in a very supportive environment?

A|B: Actually they were not fully supportive until they saw how I was getting scholarships and making moves with my music. Until they actually went to a recital and saw me play and heard my art....they began to support me :).

R|A: What do you wish you could change about the industry?

A|B: That it is necessary that one needs a nice fan base to get signed or seen from record companies and it isn't solely based on talent anymore.

R|A: How effective do you feel social media is in today’s industry- good and bad?

A|B: Now it is actually better than 10 yrs ago. To be honest the use of social media has highlighted the use of independent and unsigned artist! Social media helps us see a perspective that wouldn't be seen in reality and this has forced the industry to listen to artist!

R|A: You’ve been published in several different publications how does that feel and how does one book a cover shoot?

A|B: To be honest keep getting photoshoots and then keep submitting them to magazines. If they like what they see they will use them :) but the key to getting published is networking and researching what they like!

R|A: What is your diet plan and workout routine?

A|B: Key to Discipline: Keep at it. When you feel too tired to work out, take some pre-workout and head to the gym! I do not believe in sets because it makes me feel bad if I don't complete it so just do an exercise until you cant do it no more...take a break....then do it again.
Workout Routine: I work out a certain body part a day like:

Monday: Leg Day
Squats, Lunges Calf raises (with weights) Jump-Rope Running on the treadmill Leg pressLeg extension

Tuesday: Chest Day & Abs, Chest, Bench, Press Incline, Press Decline, Press Butterflies, Push-ups, Cable Crossovers, Abs Ab-wheel, Standing/Kneeling, cable crunches.

Wednesday: Back Day- Lat Pull-downs, Bent over barbell rows, Bent over long bar rows, Renegade, Rows Pull Ups.

Thursday: Arms & Shoulders, Arms Barbell Curls Hammer, Curls Cable, Curls Tricep/Bench, Dips Lying, Tricep Press, Tricep Pulldown (rope) Shoulders Arnold Dumbbell, Press Decline, Shoulder Rise, Front Dumbbell, Rise Shoulder Shrugs.

Friday: All Around/Full Body do a Little bit of everything!

Saturday: If able I redo my chest day workout (since I want a bigger chest).

R|A: Tell readers something about you they couldn’t guess by just looking at your instagram profile?

A|B: I'm actually a quiet person until you get to know me...then I talk alot and I'm also a big family person!

R|A: Pre-vocal warm up routine? Tea, humidifier? Also what teas do you like?

A|B: Actually a super quick working out, staying away from dairy products, and drinking tea will actually keep any mucus away from the vocal chords which increases your range! So that's actually what I do.

R|A: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Goals and aspirations?

A|B: Producing a #1 hit song.

R|A: What advice did your parents give you when you told them you wanted to pursue a career in music and modeling?

A|B: Get my education first and if it doesn't work out somehow.....you have something as a backup.

INDUSTRY TALK: Q&A (XL)

February 12, 2016 in MODELING, ACTING, FILM | PRODUCTION

When we think about the entertainment industry we tend to forget the parts of this industry that navigates from the good Ol' American Family Values. I decided I wanted to interview a pornstar for my blog because just like us main stream actors they have to deal with a lot of bullshit just to step out of the margins. Although there are several reasons why the Adult Entertainment Industry and the Main Stream Industry differ the similarities are astonishing. For instance in both industries will you be discriminated against based on the color of your skin. You will be paid less, and disregarded more. But I wanted to go further. I mean statistically the United States and Germany are the two biggest porn watching markets, so with such high viewership ratings why in 2016 are porn stars not being given their due-respects? Read below as I talk to one of the hottest black gay porn stars in entertainment today. Coveted as the Verse King of porn. Welcome to the #IndustryTalk family... XL

R|A: What college did you study film and have you graduated yet?

X|L: I can't answer this question due to past experiences in which have made my public life turn private in a sense; In other words I can answer personality type question but I tend to keep my location discreet as I have had stalkers and random people looking to add drama to a place I still frequent. This is the second degree program I'm completing and I will graduate this fall.

R|A: What advice would you give someone who says they want to be a porn star? And then what advice do you wish someone would have given you?

X|L: I would honestly tell them to weigh out every extra income (and no porn isn't my main source of income) option before they decided to join the adult industry. Mostly because the appeal of the industry changes for different people. For me, I currently am in a happier state being away from shooting scenes, appearances and being this "thing". Some people usually refer to me as popular or internet famous based on a few sex scenes. I appreciate it and all but really I enjoy being a regular guy. I hate the attention aspect of it. I'm shy and being an entertainer can be hard for me to do. I do porn because I gain relief in expressing myself sexually on camera. I do it for me not for the expectation that people will like me for it. So I would say if a model/future porn star felt that way too then perhaps it could be an enjoyable experience but if not I'd tell them to reconsider. I've honestly had really good advice given to me since the start of my porn life so its hard to say what I wish would've happened. Those few negative experiences gave me boundaries.

“...the appeal of the industry changes for different people. ”

R|A: I saw an interview from 2014 where you said you would like to direct and produce adult films. Are there any videos online with Dawgpound USA or Next Ebony that you've directed or assisted on?

“ I’m shy and being an entertainer can be hard for me to do. I do porn because I gain relief in expressing myself sexually on camera. ”

X|L: Not yet but hopefully soon.

R|A: I actually talked to two friends about asking to interview you. My best friend said to do it and my other friend (who's in the mainstream industry) was a bit judgmental which I felt was crazy because he watches adult films. Do you feel there's a double standard in the adult industry? I mean isn't watching and doing pretty much the same side of the coin?

“People need something to talk negatively about in order to boost their own self-worth.”

X|L: There is a double standard in the sense that people feel comfortable watching something but not actually doing it. Porn is usually searched for and used as a sexual release. We are humans and the need for sexual satisfaction is ever-most present; so when people judge pornography yet still get their nut from it; I realize then that hypocrisy rules their life. I cant take those people seriously. We do the same things, it's just your able to see mine. Sex in general is very policed and censored. The same people that call me a promiscuous hoe can easily be the same people having 10 times as many sexual partners as me. What I do is not that much different from what they do behind closed doors. Some "professionals" feel they cant take me seriously or that Im beneath them since I deal business in a nefarious side of work, but it's really just to "outcast the freak." People need something to talk negatively about in order to boost their own self-worth. Most "professionals" I meet hire me personally and are some of the biggest freaks I've ever met.

R|A: What's your top 5 video games you can't live without?

X|L: ...

1) Super Smash Bros (Wii U)

2) Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (Xbox one)

3) Super Monkey Ball 2 (Nintendo Gamecube)

4) Bioshock 1 (Xbox 360)

5) Pokemon Stadium 2 (Nintendo 64)

And I have every console. I'm a huge game nerd.

R|A: Favorite Food?

X|L: Pan Seared Duck; sauteed wine-reduced creamier baby potatoes with a side of Ratatouille. Paired with Champagne.

R|A: You're from New Orleans- can you cook and what's your fave Creole/Cajun dish?

X|L: Cooking and eating are two of my favorite things to do on earth. I cook organic and fancy elaborate meals any chance I can get.

Favorite cajun dish is Jumbo Crawfish Etouffee with a Zydeco pasta.

R|A: Celebrity Crush?

X|L: Jussie Smollett

R|A: Top 5 music artist?

X|L: ...

1) Kelis

2) Bjork

3) Kyarypamyupamyu

4) Yelle

5) M.I.A

R|A: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

X|L: Married, living on the West Coast working for a really lucrative visual editing company .

R|A: Have you ever thought about directing an adult series and putting it on your personal site or stream it on several platforms?

X|L: I thought about it, planned it, started filming it and realized I didn't want to get into it. The piracy centered around it is too extreme to control. It's harder than it looks and I have other projects I wanted to complete before I totally devoted myself to independent productions.

R|A: Craziest thing a fan has said to you or have done?

X|L: Made a public outcry at a restaurant because I looked so familiar.

R|A: Favorite life quote?

X|L: "The temporary aspects of life seem most important because as a human race we love to plan for the future without appreciating the present. You can actually do both if you aim to make yourself as happy as you possibly can for the rest of your life." - Unknown

“The temporary aspects of life seem most important because as a human race we love to plan for the future without appreciating the present. You can actually do both if you aim to make yourself as happy as you possibly can for the rest of your life. - Unknown
”

R|A: Langston Hughes or James Baldwin and why?

X|L: Langston Hughes; I've read more of his work.

R|A: How do you prepare for a scene as a bottom? Diets, douching, what? (And then) How do you prepare for a scene as a top?

X|L: I visualize myself getting penetrated... make sure I'm as anally clean as possible, and I rarely eat before I bottom. (Topping) I think about the size of the ass I'll see that day; The rest can be seen online. When I top seriously with someone I'm into I try to make sure we have a good vibe.

R|A: Have you done bareback films? If so do you take prep or do they make you guys show up to set with your latest test results?

X|L: I've done two scenes. We both were tested prior to shooting and we have to prove test results before shooting.

R|A: Is there rapid testing on porn sets?

X|L: Some studios have them yes.

R|A: What's craft services look like on an adult film set? (I guess water for bottoms, LOL)

X|L: Water, Food, Lounging area. It depends on the studio.

R|A: French Toast, Waffles, or Pancakes?

“...connecting with your scene partner is the key to a good scene.”

X|L: Pancakes are more nostalgic for me.

R|A: Favorite fruit?

X|L: Mango

R|A: Favorite bible quote? You're from the south so I'm assuming you went to church? I read most people in Louisiana are Catholic?

X|L: I am from the South and I was raised in church but I don't hold any scripture above the other. Individuals have their own interpretation of Gods Word. I have my own and I prefer to keep my faith separate from my porn life.

R|A: I love how you own that you truly enjoy being an adult actor. Does anyone in your family know?

X|L: Thank you, and yes a few people in my family know but they don't view me any differently; at least not anymore.

R|A: What's something no one ever tells you about making an adult film?

X|L: That connecting with your scene partner is the key to a good scene.

R|A: Will you branch off into merchandise- such as sex toys? Or would you do something like Kandi Burress's Bedroom Kandi line? Maybe an XL fragrance?

X|L: I would like my own jock-strap line.

R|A: Many celebrities are into giving back. Whether it's because they feel it in their hearts or for publicity and tax write-offs. Do you currently volunteer anywhere or are you perhaps planning on getting involved in the LGBT community as a mentor?

X|L: I currently mentor a few younger models who are looking to get into the industry. It's mostly me telling them It's not for everybody.

R|A: Why do you think adult entertainment is so stigmatized when adult entertainment sites receive more monthly visitors than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined. Statistics showed that by 2015 the adult entertainment business became a 2.8 billion dollar industry- America leading the exportation followed by Germany?

X|L: Sex can be quite constructive for the soul. As Ace Rockwood said "Humans share energy and release that energy". There's a bad side to everything, I just aim to find the good. Labels, Judgements and Social Norms create the stigma. People assume that your fucking everyone, multiple times a day. When in reality you work a 9 to 5 just like them, attend college, have loving parent(s), have a significant other, have self-respect but the only difference is you take a plane to get sexually liberated for a day (depending on how often you shoot).

R|A: (I know in one interview you mentioned how you were out in high school and that the experience was challenging.) Do you feel more comfortable in life at this point & could you possibly share an experience that you've overcome? (Many young people see the negative in life and do not realize that we are indeed put here for a reason and that life always gets better.)

X|L: I feel pretty comfortable with who I am now but it wasn't always that way. I've had to learn from rough experiences and use them to my advantage to set clear goals of what I wanted for myself.

R|A: (I read an interview where you mention you were very depressed and at one point suicidal because of things happening in the industry.) Can you tell readers and aspiring porn stars what triggered those feelings?

X|L: I became tired of being an object. I was successfully working in this industry where everyone saw me sexualized but not humanized. I made good money and maintained a certain image but I wasn't happy. There was so much ass-kissing, body worship and materialism around me. I was becoming a product and not a human. I noticed I couldn't naturally smile anymore, I grew tired of fake-ness and it made me feel terrible to keep up the act. Some promoters were shady and desperate to market off of this "thing" I barely recognized. I was losing myself inside an empty industry of many faces. Selling myself literally to the idea that I'm "something" based on this one element of my life but I do many things.

Porn is not even 25% of who I am. I had to find meaning in being me and not XL. XL is a job and thats it. The real me, gains weight, goes to art museums, finds comfort in home life and ironically is very shy. I'm not meant to live in the gym, engage in societal norms of comparing/contrasting physical attributes, partying 24/7, or being what someone tells me to be. I am who I am alone; imperfectly blissful. Countless amounts of people trying to use me, a friend's death and a fake image I worked so hard to create (now destroyed) triggered those feelings. There's a darkness behind the scenes that the audience doesn't see and I almost let it consume me. It's still a struggle today but I'm in a much better place mentally to where I feel confident in accepting myself flaws and all.

“There’s a darkness behind the scenes that the audience doesn’t see and I almost let it consume me.”

R|A: (In my experience of acting in film and web-series I remember reading so many opinions. It was like these people who didn't know me either loved me which made me feel great or hated everything about me and wondered why I was alive.) How do you deal with criticism of any kind?

X|L: I learned It's important to care about what you think of yourself over the opinions of others. Most people cannot make valuable statements about your life if they havent lived it or expereienced it. Accept the good criticism with the bad and know that your worth is more valuable than anything anyone could ever say.

R|A: To end I must ask who are you voting for for the presidential elections?

X|L: Possibly Bernie Sanders