by K. Elle Collier

 Interview by Ife Thomas

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Would you ever cheat on your man with his best friend? Wait, before you answer that let’s repose the question with a twist to the heightened stakes and heat up the room:  What if his best friend was a woman? For all of you that secretly answered yes, author K. Elle Collier deftly explores this touchy terrain with honesty, humor and down to earth wit in her debut novel, “My Man’s Best Friend.” A former writer on sitcom’s favorite “Girlfriends,” the south side Chicago native is a graduate of such esteems writing programs as The Bill Cosby Writing Workshop and The Walt Disney Writing Fellowship.  K. Elle spoke with BLACK  GIRLS  RULE!  about Black folks with money, addiction, girl-on-girl action and the twists and turns of the tale set in her hometown.    

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Ife:  Since you’re from Chicago, did that make the book’s setting your first choice?

K. Elle: Well, you know what’s so funny? I was going to make it set in New York only because when I think of novels I think of New York.  But, when I started writing she (main character Kai) was based out of Brooklyn.  Then I thought I didn’t know the city well enough and I wanted to give the authenticity of people knowing the city, the streets, and the restaurants and I didn’t know enough. So I switched halfway through the writing to Chicago because that’s what I know and it made it so much easier.

I: One thing that you and main character in the book Kai Edwards have in common is, that you both are twins!  Is there anything else about her that’s like you?

K: I think that Kai is definitely separate from me, but our similarities are our independence, drive and creativity.  I pull from all areas of my life, but I do pull from myself a little bit…it helps.

I:  Can you talk a little about the class and family choices or rather, issues with the characters?  For example, Todd, Kai’s boyfriend is a lawyer who’s doing well and Kai’s sister and mother are very well to do.  Was it a conscious choice to make them B.A.P.S? Everyone’s a B.A.P.! (laughs)

K: I don’t because I think that I grew up on the south side of Chicago which is middle-class. I didn’t grow up on the west side.  My Dad was an architectural engineer, so we kind of grew up in an area where all of my friends and their parents were successful—that’s what I know.  It wasn’t a conscious thing, it was unconscious and it just led me there.  I wanted to add the drug addiction to kind of give a contrast and ask, how would a high society family deal with a son on drugs?  Because everything in their life is supposed to seem perfect, then that’s when it hit me that I’m going to make Kai’s family a little uppity just to mix it up a bit.

I:  So the juicy topic at hand here is the cheating, more so the twist on the best friend– hence the title.  Were you hesitant about making the best friend be a woman?

K:  Not at all.  I think that’s what makes the book different.  When I started doing the research on novels, I went to the bookstore and I just kept picking up novels and they were all the same: boy meets girl, girl and boy fall in love, girl and boy have problems and then they break up. So what better way to add a twist them to have the girl have an affair with her man’s best friend?

I:  How have gay readers reacted so far?

K: I’ve actually gotten a lot of positive feedback and they like it. But let me back up and say that at first I was concerned about how lesbians were going to read and perceive it because of Kai being in a bisexual relationship.  But as one lesbian reader told me, they just like books with good relationships and they looked at both of the (heterosexual and bisexual) relationships in the book as just loving relationships. 

I: What has been the reaction from male readers of the stuff that could be perceived as male bashing?

K:  Well, the men that have read it so far love the girl-on-girl action.  They think it’s hot, and that is an actual quote from a friend! (laughs)  But, I find that they like it because it doesn’t feel like there’s any male bashing and that it feels very universal…not a chick book.  Plus it’s a fast read and that they want to see it as a movie.

I:  So was it also a choice to have the whole cast be African-American? Was that what you had in mind?

K: Yeah, I wanted to first write what I know.  I’ve written screenplays where I’ve gone outside of race, but with this I wanted to write characters that are people that I know.  I draw from everybody, so I just wanted to keep it simple.  Maybe next time I’ll venture out…

I: There’s also a running thread of addiction throughout the novel that connects almost all of the characters.  Why explore that topic?

K:  First, I needed something to tie the whole story together.  I was reading a lot of Eric Jerome Dickey books and he always has some type of common theme that pulls the whole story together.  Whenever I read a book and it has that, it makes it a little more fulfilling, and pulls it all together from all these directions into one, and while writing it the one thing that came to me was addiction.  So I pretty much used that to direct my story.

I:  Ok…so what can we expect from the sequel?  Any juicy tidbits we get to know beforehand?  I know how I would like it go, but…(laughter).

K:  Hmmm, what can I say that won’t give anything away? I’m going to introduce a couple new characters.  I will say that Kai does move to Brooklyn.  I don’t know if that’s a bad thing or a good thing, but it works.  I don’t want to give anything away, but I hope to have lots of twists and turns…that’s what I love to put in my books.  I don’t want them to be predictable.

More on My Man’s Best Friend at: www.kellecollier.com

BGR: Would you say that you are a fly poet?

SG: Yeah, as well as a singer, poet and vocalist.

BGR: For those of us who may not know who you are where are you from in Brooklyn?

SG: I’m from East Flatbush, Brooklyn born and raised. I’m of Trinidadian descent but Brooklyn is my home.

BGR: When did you get involved with the art form and who inspired you?SG: A friend of mine name James whose pen name is “Rip” he started an open mike scene in Brooklyn and that’s when I got exposed to spoken word as an art form. Then I started going to the Newyorican Poetry Café. It was really wonderful to see all of these people do poetry and it made me feel that I could do it to. After a while, I started doing it more and more and then I began to take it seriously.

BGR: Do you write all of your own material?

SG: I write all of my own stuff and I have songs that I have written as far back as when I was six years old. Actually it’s a lot easier to write a poem than a song because you don’t have to think about melodies.

BGR: In some of your material you dove deeply into relationships, love as well as, things that have happened in high school. Would you say that your life has been deep and that many people can relate to your journey?

SG: I think it’s what made it easier for me to reach people because of the life led. I think that a lot of people have a story they want to tell and I’m telling mine. I think its beautiful thing to be able to share with people what you’ve been through and have them relate.

BGR: When you perform live who is your audience?

SG: It’s been mostly women. A lot of my messages reach women, but I have men who check it out also and they think it’s pretty cool as well.

BGR: When you’re out performing, how different is your audience when you perform in a city like Brooklyn versus a place like Oakland or even Washington State? Do you have to get your mind right as you prepare for any given city?

SG: I try my best to have the same energy no matter where I am. Basically, I just tell my story whether it’s for three minutes or for fifteen minutes and you’re either going to feel me or you won’t. I do know that when I leave NY I have to slow down because people will say that I speak very fast. That’s about the only thing I can think of that changes. I’ve performed at all black colleges as well as all white colleges and the thing that connects everyone is experience, because so many people go through it. So what I write about people can relate no matter where they’re from.

BGR: You have a CD titled “Start Something”, what do you hope audiences will come away with when they check you out?

SG: I just want people to come away with the thought that if you have a dream you can achieve it no matter what anyone tells you. I knew I wanted to make a CD and I made one even though I had so many obstacles. This CD was the beginning of me pursuing my dreams and testifying to other people that whatever you dream is possible, as long as you believe that you can do it. That is basically what “Start Something” is about, making a big change in my life.

BGR: Are you working on any other projects at this time?

SG: I’ve actually started another album that hasn’t been titled as of yet, but it will be a continuation of “Start Something”. I’m looking into who the producers will be as well as doing a lot more live work. BGR: Are we going to hear more sing because you have a bomb voice.

SG: Thank you. The next album will have more singing on it. I’ve been singing my whole life, but I got really comfortable with the poetry and it was very easy on this album to just focus on that because that’s where I got confident on stage. It was where I got confident as I was writing more poetry. On the next album, I really want to focus on my song writing abilities. I’m also working on a video that will be shot next year for one of the tracks on “Start Something”.

BGR: Are you cool with where your life is right now?

SG: I am beyond blessed. This is a dream for me and it’s just the beginning of everything I am planning to do.

A Director, Producer and an Industry Buff walk in a coffee house…

(A Candid with Shawnette Heard & Melissa Ciampa)

By Samantha Jayne and T. Lynn

On a sunny but cold day in Los Angeles, I sit in a local bakery and coffee shop, sipping
on a latte awaiting the arrival of two of my favorite ladies in the entertainment
business. With great anticipation I watch the door for the lovely and talented,
choreographer turn director, Shawnette “360″ Heard and the witty and exceptional
producer, Melissa Ciampa. With the much publicized (writers) strike being over and

the new publicized (actors) strike in the horizon, I wanted to dive into the thoughts

of these ladies to gain a little insight on their perspectives on the industry and just catch up.

Shawnette Heard:

In comes “360″

My last encounter with Shawnette was at the start of Janet Jackson’s “All for You”
project. She displayed many of her talents on the “All for You” project and wore many
hats including those of co-creator, co-director and choreographer. Following 9/11,
Shawnette and i lost touch but recently caught up with each other and talked about all
she has taken on in her professional life since our last meeting. Shawnette is an
acclaimed and well known choreographer in the entertainment industry and now has
re-emerged as an up and coming director. This talented director has been tremendously
busy and has several direction credits under her belt such as her work directing music
video projects for artists such as Lady O, Iman Jarrett and one of the current internet
favorites, Romeo (formerly Lil’ Romeo). Shawnette’s latest video project for artist
Paco, called “No Le Digan” is one with a beautiful story and the direction is wonderful.
For me, this video shows the beginning of the caliber of visual creativity we can expect
to see more of from Shawnette. You can see the development of a style that’s uniquely
“Shawnette” throughout the video. People will be banging her door down over this one
project!

After her arrival, Shawnette and I sit and begin to chat about what inspired her to begin
he path of directing. Always engaging, Shawnette recalls the first time she seriously
considered becoming a director. “I remember sitting on the tour bus, during the Velvet
Rope Tour, watching the movie “Set It Off” and there was a scene I fell in love with. I
would say to Janet, “Hey Jan, look at this scene” and she would ask me if I wanted to be
a director. I didn’t think anything of it. Janet’s “All For You” Tour came up and I was
still very into cinematography. Janet brought it up to me again [about getting into
directing], so I thought I might just be into this.”

Shawnette decided after 9/11, that she wanted to focus on other things in her life and
one was the sudden itch to become a director. “I decided to take courses at the New York
Film Academy”. “I did that for about the year and decided I wanted to complete the 2 year
program. After my first project, I spoke with an instructor and she advised me against
it. She felt that I was ready; more ready than I believed. She said “Just do it, you’re
ready”.

It’s about style

Although she has broadened her artistic horizons, I wondered if Shawnette would merge her
skills or find new filming opportunities in her travels as a choreographer. I asked her
about her latest dance projects in Japan and if we could expect to see any Japan film
work from her that may have been inspired by her travels to the country. She shares that
although that could be a possiblity, she doesn’t have Japan projects in the works any
time soon. We discussed our favorite film styles and putting my bid in for “Film Noir”
from such directors as John Ford (My Darling Clemetine, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp). I
wanted to know if there have been any cinematic work that she found exceptional;
giving her the “WOW” reaction. Shawnette views her directing style as having an
“indepentent abstract feel to it” and though she’s a “huge fan fo Fim Noir” she doesn’t
see her directing style falling in that category. About her choices for expectional movies/videos she replied,
“Gosh,[there are] so many but to name a few, I would have to say the movie “Across the Universe“, and don’t laugh
you know what Music Video I really like, that just recently came out. Paula Abdul’s
video. I have always been a fan of hers. I loved everything about that video. Visually
and Choreographically.”

In the past few years, there has been a huge surge of “underground”
directors surfacing in the mainstream media. We discussed this growing trend in the
cinematic world and I ask Shawnette if she considers herself an “underground” director
and to tell me what differences she’s discoved in her personal experience between working
on stage shows and working on films/videos. She replies “Yes, I do consider myself and
underground director. Reason being is that, I love the independent world. I am very
attracted to movies that have that gritty feel to it. Recrium for a dream type. Love it!
“Video/Film is very technical. And Stage shows, are bit easier because you get to give
the audience the whole picture on a broader canvas. There are so many aspects that you
have to consider when it comes to film/video. It’s all relevant but, for example. If I
want to do a creative shot, in film not so much music video. But in a film. How does that
help the story, what’s my purpose for that. Just to show I can do a creative angle/shot.
No!! It has to move the story along. Alot more freedom in the Music Video world
definitely.”

Inspiration and the Internet

The entertainment industry has always yielded great artists and creative minds with
credit being given to the cinematic innorvators who continue to push the envelope of the
mainstream to bring extrodinary films to viewing public and finding new and exciting
methods for promoting their work. Shawnette expressed that the directors she has found
most influential in her career have been those who “think outside of the box but still
create a great product.”
On promoting her work, Shawnette feels that the internet is a very useful vehicle for
getting her work exposed to the world. “The internet is a great tool for getting my work
out there. I have received a great response to my work. I want to be very picky on what I
put out there, even though my production company puts everything out. LOL!!! But I am
starting to see my directing style come to life with my latest works. So I am more open
to showing my work. I can be the hardest on myself. Everytime I shoot I learn more and
more, which is an incredible experience.”

At this time Shawnette is taking time to develop her directing and when asked about
“Broadway Remix”, an off Broadway production she worked on, Shawnette shared that

she has no plans to do anymore Broadway productions anytime soon.

Melissa Ciampa:

Enter the Producer -

Melissa Ciampa is the savvy owner of “Spittn Image Productions”. Spittn Image is one of
the leading production companies around. One of the things that people immediately
connect Melissa with is the bad ass and action packed Kid Rock video, “American Bad
Ass”.But make no mistake about it, Melissa has been in the production game way before her
work on “American Bad Ass”. Once Melissa settles in, my focus shifts to her and her
beginning as a producer. Melissa is more than happy to discuss her beginnings in the
industry. “My first project would have been a Kathy Ireland Commercial”. She giggles and
recalls her first two music videos she ever worked on as well as her extensive background
working in the music business.
“I had never had done any production for those videos.” I use to do management for
artists (music)”. Melissa started at the executive assistant to Tracy Edmonds, then moved
to Flav Unit ran by the Queen herself Queen Latifah. “I brought the likes of Naughty by
Nature, to front. It was a really good time for music back then. It’s not like that
anymore.

At Spittn Image we are honored to be surrounded by such a wealth of creatives. It is our
job to nurture and support there visions while being creative—both artistically and
financially for the client. We are talented, creative individuals with valuable resources
and a wealth of knowledge.”

Finding My Shine

Melissa went from executive assistant to Tracy Edmonds to working with Queen Latifah and
now she’s doing her own thing. Many times it is difficult to make the leap from the
music industry to film. With Melissa making that leap as a producer, she explains how
she felt during this major career change for her.

“I felt inspired after executive producing Monifah’s “Mo’Hogany” album. I had been
interested in producing from the sidelines and when that album was over, I decided it was
the perfect opportunity to take that plunge. After attending UCLA and working on my first
video, I was hooked. I have been described throughout the years from clients like Monifah
as being ‘the glue that hold it all together’ and one of my colleges, Kirdis Postell at
Aftermath as being ‘the Deal Maker’ of my talents and gifts. As I mentioned from my first
day on set, I was hooked and inspired. A good friend and colleage, Avery Williams, made
this observation about me and it is the best way to describe it:
“The producer is like the conductor of an orchestra. Maybe I can’t play every instrument,
but I know what every instrument should sound like.”

Melissa’s influences include many of the creative and successful entertainment industry icons but
she singles out Russell Simmons, Christine Vachon and Barbara Streisand as three people who have been exceptional influences for her.

In honor of making love, not tulle, we’ve rounded up 15 everyday rings just for her that run the gamut of inspired promise-making—and won’t break the bank. A fresh switch from the old solitaire, we love Lena Skadegard’s raw-cut Herkimer diamond ring (about $1,300), and the sparkling jumble of crystals and bands by Iosselliani ($275) banishes any obstacles over matching wedding and engagement rings. In fact, simple studded bands by Zoe Chicco (from $110) or Annie Fensterstock ($3,980) keep things simple by pouring the promise all into one ring.

So, whether it’s Yes, Definitely Maybe, or let’s live together for another 12 years, these rings make bonding a beautiful thing.

Above, from left:
Zoe Chicco Mixed Stackable diamond ring, $110 each, available at Zoe Chicco .
Monique Pean Bering ring, $550, available at MoniquePean.
Iosselliani Crystal three-ring set, $275, available at Language.