Monday, May 28, 2012

Directing Shirtlessness

As many of you know, I have recently been appointed Director of Shirtlessness of Leviathan Lab, a theater company in New York City dedicated to making work for a membership of Asian-American actors.  I think this job was given to me after my rants about shirtlessness inspired one member of the company to run shirtless in the fundraising 5K and make his torso a sponsorship opportunity. In any case, my first official job as DOS was to direct a trailer to entice people to our 24 hour short play festival, "One Night Stand," and I hope that the IMS membership will approve of the above trailer.  I don't think I've ever had so much fun directing something in my life!  I literally got to order our sweet actor, Chris Doi, to take off his shirt and lay on the ground so that we could write all over him.  Then I instructed the DP to "caress his body with the camera" and "pan slowly over his chest."  I was clearly made for this job!

The trailer turned out so well, that we will be making another one for another event soon.  I'm beginning to think that Director of Shirtlessness could turn into a full-time job!  Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Happy Summer Shirtlessness!

In anticipation of the summer this Memorial Day weekend, I was searching the internet for the precursor to J Lo's "I'm Into You" video, Janet Jackson's "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" video in which Janet cavorts on the beach with Antonio Sabato Jr while a shirtless man dances, presumably somewhere else on that same beach.  Research revealed that the dancing man was Djimon Hounsou who is often shirtless in his screen appearances.  He seemed like the right person to welcome summer.  May we all find him dancing on a beach this summer!

My duties as Director of Shirtlessness for Leviathan continue with the painstaking process of reviewing edits of our shirtless trailer.  I shall post our work soon, but let me say that storytelling in the shirtless medium certainly presents its own challenges.  Good thing I am a shirtlessness expert.  Others may have floundered with the mere sight of a shirtless man in one's bed with writing all over his chest, but not me.  I stayed steady in my conviction to produce a trailer that enticed, intrigued, and informed.  My work is never done...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Good Advice!

This appeared on my Facebook page recently, and I thought it appropriate to pass along.  I have noticed a recent explosion of "Keep Calm and Carry On" messages of late, and I thought this was a good twist on the saying.  As long as shirts are hidden, I will remain calm for sure!

In spite of this, I will share my recent excitement of being appointed "Director of Shirtlessness" for Leviathan Lab, an Asian American theater company based here in New York, and all that it entails.  Since my appointment, I have found that male members want to take their shirts off for me.  I don't even have to ask.  Yesterday, I had volunteered along with another Leviathan Labbie to help deliver sandwiches to the cast of another Labbie's reading.  My fellow volunteer told me he thought it would be fun if we walked in the door with me carrying the sandwiches and him carrying me shirtless.  He asked me to write the name of the reading across his chest.  What could I do other than comply with his wishes?

The day before I had been asked to direct a shirtless trailer for our upcoming 24 hour play festival titled "One Night Stand."  I spent all afternoon directing another male Labbie to take off his shirt, to drop and give me 20, and to hold while the camera caressed his torso.  I think the Dream is coming true.  I wonder who will volunteer to remove his shirt for me today?  Hmmm...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, May 18, 2012

It's Good to Be President!


The other day a friend posted this video on my Facebook wall, reminding me of the joys of being president of IMS.  It is not always an easy job.  There are many disappointments, like when you go to a perfectly adequate Broadway show and realize how much better it would have been if someone had simply taken off his shirt.  Or when you are walking in the park and realize that those who should take their shirts off are shirted, and those who should not are shirtless.  But then some days you wake up and find this delightful video on your Facebook wall.  And all is well.

On Monday, I had an unexpected chance to see another president, the POTUS, when he drove through my neighborhood.  Police barricades were up on the streets, and on my way home from a brisk walk in the park with a friend and fellow IMS member, I decided to stand outside and wait for him.  Small groups of people gathered all along the route.  One man stood outside his store and swept the same patch of sidewalk for 15 minutes.  Either he wanted it to be VERY clean for the President or was trying to act nonchalant.  In either case, eventually the motorcade zoomed past, and I waved with glee at the outline of a man with prominent ears who was waving back.  His job is incredibly difficult (Leader of the Free World, Babysitter of Congress, etc...), but I wonder if on days like Monday, when people are waving and cheering at him in the streets, he thinks it's good to be President too.

As I contemplate this, I continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, May 14, 2012

Work it, J Lo!





I have made no secret of my admiration for J Lo.  I personally feel that she is single-handedly responsible for William Levy on DWTS.  I love her videos and think she looks hotter than ever at 40-something.  Recently she performed her latest hit song on "American Idol," and an IMS member alerted me to some excellent male shirtlessness in the number.  The opening image is enough to make this IMS President clap and cheer.  Although it is almost a direct rip-off of "The Tudors" Season 3 poster, I love the fact that J Lo put herself on a throne of shirtless men.  Way to kick it up a notch, Jenny from the Block!  So while I can't get too excited about her 25 year old lover, I can get behind her making all of her male back-up dancers take their shirts off while shimmying all around her.  If I ever become a pop star, this is essentially what every single one of my videos will look like.  Just sayin...

In other news,  I am hard at work on a new play that is getting a reading this Friday.  The play has no shirtlessness whatsoever which may be a disappointment to my constituency, but I am working hard to expand the scope of my art.  I don't want good male shirtlessness to define me; rather I should define it! Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, May 11, 2012

Broadway Shirtlessness

I have been known to post Blair Underwood before, but dear IMS members, you currently have a chance to see Mr. Underwood shirtless live on Broadway in this year's revival of "Streetcar Named Desire."  Apparently, Mr. Underwood's entrance into the final scene in his pajamas causes an uproar in every performance.  I ran into him with his shirt on recently, and I can say that it was all I could do to keep myself from screaming.  He is sexy and upholding the 2 Point Standard!

A Tony-voter friend of mine has been updating me on the good shirtlessness in this year's Broadway season.  Aside from Mr. Underwood, there are apparently brief moments of shirtlessness in "Peter and the Starcatcher" and in "Ghost."  I haven't yet seen "Porgy & Bess," but I'm hoping for some in that as well.

So get out there, support live theater and live shirtlessness!  Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, May 4, 2012

Nameless but Shirtless

A few days ago, a friend sent me this image of shirtlessness that he came across while searching for an outfit for his wedding.  I have no idea what this male model's name is, but I think he upholds the Two Point Standard of Good Shirtlessness quite well.  He also got me thinking about what the dress code at my wedding could be.  Granted since I haven't met the groom yet, I don't want to say that this is definitely what he will be wearing down the aisle, but it is a strong possibility.  It seems only right that the President of IMS should have a shirtless husband.

I'm back on track with my schedule of shirtlessness, thankfully.  Also, recently the Secretary has been reactivated as well, and so I'm looking forward to at least a month of excellent shirtlessness before I take two weeks off for vacation in Italy with the Vice President.  I do hope that there will be some live Italian shirtlessness to report on in July, but until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Plan is Working!

Dear IMS members, again, I realize that I am posting one day late, but I figure better late than never.  I'm not sure how the last two weeks have gotten so out of hand schedule-wise; all I can say is that the pursuit of good shirtlessness takes time.  Lucky for me, I was successful in adding a lot of shirtlessness into the New York theater scene this week.

As I told you, I was working on Second Generation's celebratory short play series, "Fifteen," which featured 15 short pieces by teams of Asian-American theater artists ranging from reading excerpts of new novels to dance pieces reenacting a quinceanera to original songs about bi-coastal relationships.  At the first performance, three of the 15 pieces (the three on which I worked, obviously) involved male shirtlessness.  By Saturday evening's show, I managed to convince one of the other directors that shirtlessness would be appropriate in his piece as well.  I think four out of fifteen is not bad.  Now I am trying to convince the artistic director that next year's theme should be "Sixteen and Shirtless."  An IMS president's work is never done.

And as for Jeremy Renner being posted here today, one of my fellow artists of the weekend will be featured in Mr. Renner's upcoming Bourne movie, and I thought I should post him in anticipation both of his upcoming shirtlessness and of my friend's amazing turn in another feature film.  I cannot wait!  This friend has been featured on the blog before and continues to sport that wonderful accessory to shirtlessness, kindness.  I can't hope for enough good things to happen for him.

So my gentle readers, know that while I may be posting late, I am always working for the cause.  Until the next time (hopefully on Friday), I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS