Working Session Report

For the past two days, Team IMB gathered at Biello Martin Studio in Philadelphia to hold a working session for all the material that we have collectively written over the past year.  We invited four AMAYYYYYY-ZING actors/singers to perform our work.  The extraordinary Jeff McDonnell acted as our Musical Director/Pianist. 

It was quite exhilarating to witness our words come to life and be able to watch the actors learn, interpret then perform their parts while we sat, watched and took notes.  My favorite part was listening to our actors, Megan, Philip, Sarah and Charleigh blend their voices together on some of the (imo) best songs in the show!  I felt utter passion and excitement and was reminded that we are well ON OUR WAY TO SOMETHING BIG!  
Special thanks to Joanna Volpe for all your help!   

Musical Director Jeff McDonnell led the sessions

Kate Cipriano, writer/producer

(L-R) Lis Kalogris, writer/producer Michael Biello writer/lyricist

my friends and I are having an AFFAIR with the same....

BOOK!  You'd have to live under a rock to have not heard of the hottest topic to hit women by storm these past few months.  By now you already know where I am going with this post.  The 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy has us ALL talking.  At work, at home, the gym, at this past Sunday's Mother's Day celebration even!  To all the naysayers, just quit picking this book apart and check your reality at the door!  Isn't this why we read books of fiction in the first place?  To escape from the real world for a little while? I only just heard of this book recently when I was watching SNL and they did one of their faux ads. Click here to see what I mean... SNL Mother's Day Ad.   I was intrigued and didn't quite understand it so the next morning I downloaded the first book 50 Shades of Grey and before I knew it, I had downloaded 50 Shades Darker and over the next few days, 50 Shades Freed.

I could NOT get enough and simply devoured the books in all their glory.  I knew I was addicted when my husband asked me, "Why do you keep turning your iPad away from me when I walk by you?" I had to confess to him that I downloaded what I jokingly refer to as, MY SEX BOOKS.  I realized along with the main character, Anastasia, that it's okay to feel sexual in your body or to feel that it isn't degrading if you are a consulting adult and willingly get turned on by things that aren't necessarily "vanilla sex."

Realistically, I knew if anyone had that much sex they would be walking like they just got off a 5 hour horse ride and suffering from a urinary tract infection BUT I didn't care.  This book is total fantasy so FUCK (pun intended) reality and let the book sweep you away.  Did anyone argue when Captain Kirk had sex with green women or when a certain girl became impregnated by a vampire? (which is actually the origin of 50 Shades in that it was the author's fan fiction.)  If anyone tells you they don't have insane fantasy dreams from time to time, they are lying.  And it isn't just the sex part that had me turned on, it was the suspense and the surprises and I swear I am not lying, THE STORYLINE.  Isn't that the female version of "I get playboy to read the articles?"

In My Body has always wanted people to be more at home and loving in their bodies.  Well, one part of positive body image is having a healthy sex life.  50 Shades dubbed, "mommy porn"(In my case this does not apply) definitely leaves us wanting to explore our bodies and have partners explore our bodies inside and out.  Thanks to E.L. James, In My Body... I feel pleasure, pain and love.

WHY 50 SHADES IS GOOD FOR WOMEN

Feeling beautiful after Breast Cancer Surgery

One of our goals in writing and producing the In My Body Musical Project is to expose and explore characters and stories that audiences and people can identify with.  We have been gathering your personal stories and they have been helping us to mold and create our characters.   Here is one story that has inspired us:

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM  YOU !!!! TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO

PLEASE EMAIL: melissa@flyingbulldogproductions.com

Dark Girls Movie

There is a new documentary that has recently come out called Dark Girls.  I watched the below preview and am already intrigued and disturbed.  Sadly, racism is something everyone is familiar with, races unjustly judging other races based purely on the color of their skin.  What is less known but still prevalent is people of the same race being prejudice towards one another because of the shade of their skin.  This movie explores the attitudes about skin color particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture.
Watch the preview of Dark Girls HERE

FAT is the new UGLY on the Playground or maybe it's not so new...

  I was recently reading an article about how the word "FAT" is the new "UGLY" on the playground and it got me to thinking about my childhood . 

This is a picture of me from 1986.  I was 7 years old. I LOVED that pink polka dotted jazz costume that I wore at my end of the summer dance recital. That summer I played soccer, danced, smiled, giggled and played with my sister and all my friends.  A week later  I started a new school year.  I will never forget it....A week later the school nurse sternly called me OBESE in front of the other kids in my class.  

At 33 years old I look back on this picture and this memory still stings me.   Adults must keep in mind at all times how they speak to children  and what they talk about among themselves when they are around children.  Comments and words from adults are soaked into kids brains as if their brains are like little sponges. One thing is for sure, I will remember it for the rest of my life.  These are the types of experiences that have inspired me when writing some of my characters for our In My Body Musical Theatre piece.

Paralyzed Woman Finishes London Marathon

Don't you just love a feel good story from time to time?  It took Claire Lomas 16 days to finish the 26 mile course of the London Marathon.  Why is that so impressive?  Claire is paralyzed from the waist down and completed the run with the help of a bionic suit.  (Which incidentally retails for about 80 grand.)  Her incredible journey should be celebrated as she embraces her body and shows that you really can do almost anything in this life if you work hard enough for it!   

Claire Lomas finishes London Marathon

We want to know, how do you feel in your body?

For over a year now we have been asking people to submit videos to us that answers two questions:

1.  What is the most profound thing anyone has ever said to you about your body?

AND please complete the following statement:

2.  In my body, I am.....

 

TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO answering one or both questions 

PLEASE EMAIL: melissa@flyingbulldogproductions.com