writer – The Double Scoop

What’s Up Elly J!

Author: Amy Nicole

As a blogger it is always nice to meet fellow writers who are on the same path as myself. Most new bloggers face the challenges of creating a brand, building a following, and trying to earn a few coins on the side. At times blogging can become frustrating and even challenging when you aren’t seeing a financial gain or when your followers don’t seem to be growing.

Blogger Elly J started her blog to create a platform for young aspiring entrepreneurs to share their dreams and success stories. After blogging for a few years, her readers expanded and she made numerous connections with writers, directors and other successful entrepreneurs. Because of her perseverance she even got an opportunity to work on a film set.

Elly J is gearing up for the relaunch of her blog. We caught up with her for a brief interview to discuss her love for writing, the Elly J brand and future goals.

Check out the interview below:

Amy Nicole: What inspired you to start your blog?

Elly J: I always loved to write. When I created my blog “What’s Up Elly J?” in 2011, I guess I wanted to find a way to keep myself creatively active with my writing and at the time blogs were becoming popular. I actually saw a friend of mine’s blog she created and I loved it so I thought why not?

Amy Nicole: Tell us more about your brand and what sets you apart from other bloggers.

Elly J: It’s funny because as I was working on my biography for my website, I didn’t truly understand what my brand was. In the beginning, my brand was geared towards creating a platform for young adults where they could discuss their careers, their brands, their dreams etc. I would say that this is still true, but through my experience of blogging I met many older, career-driven people that were starting their own businesses. I also gained a larger audience and I didn’t want to make it where they couldn’t relate to the stories that were shared on my site.

Now I would say that my brand is about creating a platform for all upcoming entrepreneurs and those that would like inspire anyone in the process of starting their own careers. I think that’s what sets me apart from other bloggers. My blog was created to inspire not just young adults, but everyone.

Amy Nicole: What are the most rewarding aspects about blogging?

Elly J: I would say the most rewarding aspects for me has been able to meet the different people that have inspired me and supported my brand. “What’s Up Elly J?” has definitely grown over the past five years and I’m so proud of the community that has grown with it.

Amy Nicole: What has been your most memorable experience since starting your blog?

Elly J: About a year ago, I interviewed director, producer, and actor Jahmar Hill. He was looking for bloggers to promote his first movie, “Last Love Lost” and I reached out to him after a close friend of mine told me about it. I think that was my most memorable experience because when I met him, I told him I wanted to work in film and I would love to assist him in anyway I can and he actually took me seriously lol. Since I met him I was able to work on set for his second film, “Fourth Quarter”, which will be out soon and I got a chance to learn about the film industry. I would say this is my most memorable experience because I was able to work with someone who believes in my talent wholeheartedly and trusts me to do write ups about his movie and his brand. It taught me a lot about myself and made me want to take my career to next level.

Amy Nicole: What are the most challenging aspects about blogging?

Elly J: It is very time consuming. I believe that if there is anything you want to do you have to be willing to sacrifice and be consistent. I do wish that I had been a little more on top of prioritizing my time because writing is an art and has to be perfected. So you have to stay on top of perfecting your craft and making sure you are putting your all into it. That’s definitely something I find is difficult and frustrating at times.

Amy Nicole: You conduct a lot of interviews for your blog. What story has inspired you the most?

Elly J: Oh wow, it’s been so many different people who’s stories have touched me and really motivated me. I would have to the interview I did with college professor and motivational speaker Lenny Williams probably touched me the most. His back story about being robbed at gunpoint, almost losing his life but the gun backfired and his life was spared was the most inspiring story I’ve heard. After that experience, he did a complete 360 and changed his for the better and now his traveling and speaking to different young adults. I’ll always go back to interview and read it over and over again because to me it’s a true testament of how God can work and use people in the most unexpected way.

Amy Nicole: What are your long term goals for your writing career?

Elly J: In addition to relaunching my site, I will be releasing my first novel. I have been working on three different novels since 2012 and I never got around to finishing them. I’m really excited because when I write is when I feel I am able to really express myself. I would like to keep releasing books that will be adapted into television shows and movies!

Amy Nicole: You are in the process of relaunching your site. What are some of the new changes that readers can expect?

Elly J: With this new website, I didn’t want to stop conducting interviews. Readers can definitely look forward to more articles about different people as well as more personal articles written by me. I really wanted to make this new site a reflection of who I am and what I like. Basically it will be an online magazine where you can get a little bit of everything, from fashion, to lifestyle tips, and more! My site will be up on October 17th and I’m very excited!

Amy Nicole: How can people reach you for business inquiries?

Elly J: I can be reached by email: bookwhatsupellyj@gmail.com for all business inquiries!

It was great getting to know more about Elly J and her brand! If you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a blogger just starting out, we hope her story has inspired you to continue your journey to success! Visit her blog here.

Miss PhaShunta

Author: Amy Nicole

I think most celebrity media contributors will tell you that their dream is to make it big; they want the opportunity to be able to walk red carpets and interview the top celebs in the entertainment industry. Well in only three short years PhaShunta Hubert has done just that. She created her blog MissPhaShunta.com in 2013 and started off interviewing radio personalities, rising music artists, and local businesses in her city. After studying how to brand and market herself she later transitioned into interviewing celebrities such as Keke Palmer, Justine Skye, and even legends like Pattie LaBelle. She has also been seen on TVOne, RevoltLive, MTV, and VH1.

As a blogger with a growing media company I wanted to get success tips on how to excel in the media industry so I reached out to PhaShunta for an interview.

Amy Nicole: How did you get your start in the media/entertainment industry and was working in the industry a passion of yours?

Miss PhaShunta: I created MissPhaShunta.com in October 2013 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to broadcast my many talents to the world. I always had an eye for communications, media, and theatre and wanted to share my love of the entertainment industry with the world. MissPhaShunta.com is committed to creating great interviews for its viewers. I started off interviewing some of the most popular radio personalities in my city, rising music artist, businesses etc. After studying how to brand and market myself daily I then over time transitioned to interviewing some of the most popular celebrities such as Mona Scott Young, Keke Palmer and Justine Skye. I have also interviewed legends such as Rev. Al Sharpton, Pattie LaBelle and so many more.

Amy Nicole: It’s often times difficult to be successful in the entertainment field because the industry is so overpopulated. What advice would you give to aspiring writers and journalist trying to excel in the field?

Miss PhaShunta: I would say just stay true to yourself because you are your own identity and that alone will make you stand out. Also, when times get tough persevere through it and focus on the main important goal.

Amy Nicole: You started your blog just three years ago and have already landed interviews with big name celebrities like Patti Labelle; what would you say has contributed to your success?

Miss PhaShunta: Being consistent has definitely contributed to my success so far. Also, reading different material daily to better myself and brand has helped as well. I always tell people reading is very fundamental.

Amy Nicole: Your blog mostly focuses on celebrity news; what about celebrity news interests you the most?

Miss PhaShunta: I just want to be able to make a difference when it comes to reporting and getting the latest information from celebrities in a positive light. I feel that correspondents can still get the latest news without bashing celebrities. They have feelings like everyone else and deserve respect when it comes to their personal life.

Amy Nicole: You recently interviewed at the 2016 Bet Awards and you were also a featured blogger on Revolt TV. How were those experience?

Miss PhaShunta: Both experiences were amazing, I am glad that I was able to be part of them. I am always grateful for every opportunity. I hope to interview P. Diddy one day he is such a phenomenal person and excellent business man.

Amy Nicole: What is the most exciting part of your job?

Miss PhaShunta: The most exciting part of being a correspondent is being able to communicate with different people. I learn so much and get more inspired even more from the people who I am interviewing.

Amy Nicole: Are there any media correspondents that you look up to?

Miss PhaShunta: Yes, I really love Wendy Williams and Robin Roberts they are super amazing!

Amy Nicole: What direction do you see your career going in the next 5 years?

Miss PhaShunta: In the next 5 years I see myself working for a network such as E News and making great music. I sing as well and I am also a rising actress. With that being said I see myself being in more films and eventually winning awards for my craft.

Amy Nicole: How can people reach you?

Miss PhaShunta: People can reach me on social media Instagram/Twitter @missphashunta and I can also be reached through email on my website www.missphashunta.com

It was great getting to know PhaShunta. Her success story is a testament that if you work hard and stay consistent, you can be successful!

TINDER 101

Author: Amy Nicole

I recently moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where I don’t know anyone so I decided to join Tinder. Tinder is known as a hook up site so I definitely wasn’t looking to fall in love; I joined more so to meet new people that could help me get acclimated to the city and to have a little fun.

Well if you’re not familiar with Tinder it’s a dating app mostly used by young professionals in their 20s and early 30s. To use the app you set up a profile and tailor your dating search criteria by selecting your age range and location preference. After you set your preferences you can start seeing dating potentials. If you’re interested in a person you swipe to the right and if you’re not interested you swipe left. If you show an interest in someone who is also interested in you then you would become a match and can start messaging each other. Seems pretty easy right? You would think so but now Tinder has an option where you can link your Instagram account to your dating profile. I had a couple of instances where guys who I didn’t match with tried to slide up in my DMs! LOL you ain’t slick!

After you get matched up with potentials that is when you can start the weaning out process of who is actually looking for a relationship and who is just looking to hook up. I noticed that the guys who actually wrote a bio about themselves were more sincere about wanting to find a relationship. What I also noticed is that if a person messages you first they are genuinely interested in you but if you have to message them first they most likely have plenty of other options to choose from. I avoided guys who had too much to say on their bios, especially the ones who complained about being a good guy always being overlooked. That was an indicator that the issue of them being single was most likely because of them. In all I matched with about 14 guys. Of the 14 guys I went on two dates.

Now the fun part….Date night!

So to keep the guys anonymous I’m going to give them nicknames.

My first date was with “Sergeant of Arms” because he was a military man. Well prior to going on our date we didn’t talk on the phone, we only communicated through texts and Tinder messaging. The night of the date he offered to pick me up from my place. I was skeptical because I didn’t know him but I was new to the city and we both felt it would be more convenient if we rode together. I let him pick me up in front of my building but didn’t tell him my apartment number. I also made sure to send my friends and siblings screen shots of him in case I came up missing. When I saw him in person he wasn’t bad looking but he definitely looked better in his pictures. He was also very cocky and arrogant which is a huge turn off in my book. As soon as I got in the car with him he looked me up and down and said he needed to make sure that I looked the way I did in my pictures. I was annoyed but I brushed it off.

For the first part of our date we went to a chill bar type of restaurant. Our initial conversation felt more like an interview because he pretty much went down his whole list of requirements of what he wanted in a woman. He also explained to me that he was still single because he was very picky. I just sipped my drink and listened. By this point I definitely knew I would not be going on a second date with him. After I had a couple of drinks I started to loosen up and the date started to get better. He was actually a cool guy but not really my type. Later that night we went to play pool. I didn’t really know how to play but he taught me the basics so I had a pretty good time. Overall the date was cool but I didn’t really feel like we were compatible.

My second date was with “The Tattooed Musician”. I had actually talked to him on the phone a few times before we went out so I had a better feel of his personality. The night of our date we met up in the music/art district of town called NADO. He told me that I should some-what dress up so the night of the date I wore a cute and simple day party dress. When I showed up he was dressed very casual so I was a bit annoyed because I didn’t feel like we complimented each other. He also looked very different in person to the point where I would not have recognized him if I would have saw him prior to us actually meeting. The date was cool; we had some drinks and we ate at one of the nearby restaurants. After we finished eating he bought a bottle of Moscato and we went back to his place to watch tv.

I thought we would have watched a movie but instead we watched episodes of Family Guy….. (I will leave it at that). While we were drinking and watching tv I heard someone moving around upstairs. I asked him if he had a roommate and he said he was living with his mom temporarily to save up money for a new tattoo studio. In an effort to not scare me off he explained to me that he and his mom had an agreement that when he had guest over she would stay upstairs or leave the house. (Ummmm that didn’t really help).

But hey I’m not judging, I’ve had to move back in with my parents before too. That information just would have been nice to know prior to me coming over to his place. Overall the date was cool but again just like with the first date the chemistry wasn’t there for me.

Overall Tinder was a decent experience but I realize that online dating just isn’t for me. I don’t think you can get a good feel of a person’s personality through the internet. I would rather stick to meeting someone in person where I can actually talk to them before deciding if I want to exchange numbers or go out on a date.

Qulanda Moore

The chances of making a good living as a filmmaker or director are very slim since the entertainment industry is already over saturated with so many. This can be very discouraging for aspiring screenwriters or directors struggling to make it in the industry. My sister and I would eventually like to expand our writing careers to include film but we often times question whether or not we would be successful being that the industry is already overpopulated and because we don’t have any prior film experience. I recently came across a web documentary series called “The Indie Girls Project” which follows six female indie filmmakers in Atlanta, Georgia. After watching some of the documentary I discovered the profile of Qulanda Moore, a young writer, director and producer.

At only 28 years old Qulanda has quite an impressive resume. She has directed a feature film, started her own media production company, produced a web series, and served as a technical director for a Broadway play in New York. This year she and two business partners launched the YouTube channel MOQtv, which is an online distribution network that features original content from independent Film/TV/Web producers.

Because of my interest in film I decided to reach out to Qulanda to get some advice about entering the film industry. Check out her interview below.

Amy Nicole: What inspired you to pursue a career in film?

Qulanda: My love for reading started it all. Growing up, I ALWAYS had my nose in a book. I also always loved watching movies. So at some point I combined the two, and began writing poetry and short stories which soon grew into scriptwriting. There’s something on the inside of me that genuinely loves being able to see words on paper come to life on the screen.

Amy Nicole: You mentioned in your bio that after finishing school you had difficulty finding employment in the media/entertainment industry due to the competitiveness of the field. What advice would you give to aspiring film makers/writers who are facing similar challenges?

Qulanda: I would say find a way to surround yourself around people who are doing what you want to be doing. If you are an aspiring filmmaker, connect with other filmmakers who are working on projects. Volunteer to do PA (production assistant) work. You have to start somewhere, and a lot of times in this industry, that means starting from the bottom. I would also say use any downtime you may have to do what you love. If you are a writer, then write! Nobody can stop you from doing that. Eventually, opportunities will come, which are typically based on linking up with the right person/people at the right time. You just have to make sure that you have already been busy and not just sitting around waiting for someone to give you a job.

Amy Nicole: You recently rebranded your production company ChelleStar Production to QRMedia Productions LLC which focuses more on creative media. What are some of the benefits to having your own production company and what are some of the challenges if any.

Qulanda: Benefits would be having creative control of what you put out. There is a lot of content out there, and when you have your own production company, you ultimately have the say-so in what your brand produces. So if I want to tell certain stories, or inspire people, I can do that in my own way (which is always right! LOL) One of the main challenges is finance. When you do video SERVICE work, it’s easier to get a steady paycheck in for your work. However, when creating original content for entertainment, it can sometimes be challenging to actually profit from that.

Amy Nicole: Your web series “The Single Life” which is the first project under the new brand is very popular among fans. I recently watched the first season and I love the show! What inspired you to write the series?

Qulanda: Actually living the single life! One of the things that bothered me about a lot of shows and movies that claimed to “represent” what it was like to be a single woman, was that I couldn’t really relate to them. As most women do, I often get together with girlfriends and we share dating (or lack of) stories among each other, and it’s very entertaining! Our stories never really had the fairy tell ending, things didn’t always work out, and the truth is dating is not always cut and dry. So I wanted to create a show that told the ugly truth that a lot of single women face in their mid to late 20s, in 2015. I also wanted to be very careful to make sure that it wasn’t a man-bashing show. As women, we are often at fault for a lot of the negative things we experience in dating as well.

Amy Nicole: Do you have any upcoming projects?

Qulanda: We’ve actually just wrapped Season 2 of “The Single Life” this past summer. Our editor is finishing up the post production work, so the new season is slated to be released early 2016. In addition to that, I am also featured on a pretty cool web series called “The Indie Girls Project” which is a reality/vlog style show that follows 6 of us female filmmakers as we go through our day to day, some of the obstacles we face, how we uplift each other, etc. Our youtube channel, MOQtv will also have some new shows that I’ve worked as a producer on coming out 2016 in addition to the 2nd season of The Single Life.

Amy Nicole: How can people contact you?

Qulanda: I’m on Facebook under my name Qulanda Moore and on Instagram as @qstar7. They can also email me atqrmedia@icloud.com.

It was great getting to know more about Qulanda and I hope her success as a writer and filmmaker inspires others to keep pursuing their dreams!

TUPAC BIOPIC “ALL EYEZ ON ME” CURRENTLY FILMING IN ATLANTA GEORGIA

The rumors that have been circulating for years regarding a Tupac movie can finally be put to rest. It has officially been confirmed that production for a Tupac biopic entitled “All Eyez on Me” is currently being filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the films’ producers, L.T. Hutton confirmed the film by recently posting several behind the scenes photos from the set on his Instagram page.

The film is being directed by Benny Boom and it will supposedly cover the rappers entire life including his death in 1996. Unknown actor Demetrius Shipp Jr. has been cast to portray Tupac and from looking at his pictures he is definitely a good choice as he bears a striking resemblance to the late rapper.

tupac-shakur-demetrius-shipp-jr — Left (Demetrius Shipp Jr.) Right (Tupac Shakur)

Initially the film was to be directed by John Singelton(Boys In The Hood) but he stepped down from the project in April stating that the late rappers legacy wasn’t being respected and that there were attempts to sue Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur.

L.T. Hutton refuted those claims and stated that Singleton was actually fired from the project. Singleton is reportedly working on a separate Tupac movie which he says will be much better than the film currently in production.

Let’s hope that these claims aren’t true and that the movie will pay homage to the late rapper’s legacy.

What are your thoughts about the forthcoming biopic? Do you plan on watching?

Source: Hip Hop DX

Photo Credit: Black Time Travel; Top.de

Mr. Black-Ice Bell…..

Author: Ashley E.

In life most of us repeat the same cycle; we go to sleep on Sunday night dreading Monday morning, then we wait anxiously for Wednesday to come because we know it means there are only 2 days left until the weekend. The weekend flies by and we’re back to another Monday. It’s a never ending cycle. The majority of us work 40 hours or more a week at a job that overworks and underpays us and we have absolutely no passion for what we do. Most of us get so comfortable in our jobs that we become stuck. When you become stuck you will look around and realize that 2 years have turned into 20 years and you’re still in the exact same spot.

One of my biggest inspirations for not settling in life and for going after my dreams and aspirations came from a friend who I met a couple of years ago at a modeling audition in Jackson, MS. With only a high school diploma, my friend has become a poet, an author, and an accomplished professional photographer. He has worked with many talented people such as Janelle Monae, Russell Simmons, and Lloyd Banks. Some people call him “Mr. Bell” and others call him “Christopher” or “Chris,” but now he also goes by “Black-Ice Bell.” It was actually a name given to him as a joke because people could recognize his work before they recognized him. There are hardly any pictures of him online so many people don’t know the face behind his work. Black ice is a substance that is transparent; it’s practically invisible, but you can feel its presence and know it’s there. You may not see Mr. Bell, but you will definitely feel his presence by his work. Since he tends to be a very low key guy who lets his work speak for him, I wanted people to get to know the artist behind the work.

Check out the interview I did with him below.

Ashley G: The first time I met you was back in 2007; I think at that time you were just starting off in photography. You were doing photo shoots out of your bedroom in Jackson, MS, LOL… Do you remember those days?

BlackIce: LOL. I can never forget! I was shooting in a townhouse in Pebble Creek Apts. I had three other roommates. Due to lack of space, the studio was in the living room, and I slept in that room also. Crazy times. lol.

Ashley G: You’re originally from Decatur, Georgia. What brought you to Mississippi?

BlackIce: Well, I have Mississippi roots. I was born in Greenville, MS, but raised in Decatur, GA. In 2006 my soul became restless. I knew a change was coming but wasn’t sure what it was. A couple of old friends from Jackson were driving down I-55 and saw a huge billboard that said Christopher Bell (I think he was an insurance agent), so they thought of me and gave me a call. Less than two months later, I was their roommate and started the photography company.

Ashley G: You also have a military background. How long were you in the service, and how did you get into photography?

BlackIce: Whew… dark times. I was active duty Air Force briefly for two years from 2000-2002. Even then I knew I wanted to do something creative with my life and work for myself. At the time, I was just a poet working on my first book. Photography was strictly a casual hobby that I didn’t take more seriously until after military service. I met my mentor, Michael Alvins, and he pretty much put me in the photography game. He taught me everything from the basics in studio photography to working with clients. He was unselfish in sharing his knowledge with me, and I appreciate him for that. I always say that he’s your favorite photographer’s favorite photographer. He has helped and worked with a lot of photographers in the industry over the years. He’s more than a mentor; he’s a big brother to me. Thanks to him, I’m the beast I am now.

Ashley G: You’ve published several books and you also have a free online magazine called INSPIRE Magazine. I read INSPIRE faithfully. I love the photos, artwork, poetry and short stories. When was the first magazine published, and what made you decide to start a magazine?

BlackIce: I published the first INSPIRE Magazine in July 2010, right before I moved back to Atlanta. In Jackson, I spent a LOT of time in the bookstore. Every time I went to the African-American section, all I saw were books of erotica and thug-life stories. I’m not knocking them because I believe we all got a little freak in us and it is real in the streets, but at the same time, we are more than that as well. Same thing with black publications, it was mostly either gossip magazines or the video-vixen type material on the shelves. Black Enterprise has great content, but aesthetically I think it is boring to read. So I created INSPIRE Magazine to blend beautiful images with the great content to create a unique reading experience. There are many people involved in each issue, and I am grateful for that.

Ashley G: You talk a lot about faith and spirituality; do these 2 components play a role in your work?

BlackIce: Absolutely. Everyone, including me, is far from perfect, but I do read and study the Word daily. I accomplished a lot in the past ten years with little to no resources, and no one can take credit for that. That’s all God. My whole career has been done from either my living room or my bedroom with little to no money. I only have a high school diploma, and I still get it done and make it happen. It is definitely God-given. At the same time, God is a God of Freewill. We have to make decisions and take certain actions to achieve what He wants for us. And a lot of times, it is not easy. Faith without action leads to nothing.

Ashley G: Do you have any advice for any aspiring photographers?

BlackIce: Yes, study your craft. I also worked closely with fellow photographer, Mic Fontaine, for a while in Mississippi. I remember when he said, “There’s a big difference between a great photographer and a great photography business.” I think that’s real. You can be the best photographer in the world, but you can only go so far if you don’t know how to monetize your business or know how to work with people. There’s so much advice I could give, but I think that’s a great start.

Ashley G: You talk a lot about following your dreams; how important do you think it is for people to chase their dreams?

BlackIce: I personally feel like if you’re not following your dreams, why are you living? God wakes us up every morning for a reason, not to just take up space. Everyone has a purpose that could benefit this world in some way, whether it’s huge or small.

Black Ice’s career has really taken off. The 25^th issue of Inspire Magazine was released last month and he has many new projects in the works. You can catch a few features from The Double Scoop in upcoming issues of the magazine. If you want to know more about Black Ice and his work you can connect with him at the sites below
http://instagram.com/inspiremagatl

http://www.inspiremagatl.com/about-inspire/

https://www.youtube.com/user/atlinspired