3 Things I Learned From Paula Vogel
Updated: Oct 20, 2024
David "Messiah" Stamps is a LGBTQ+ icon, Black, Veteran Artist w/PTSD and a 2024 Office Hours Resident for Social Impact at The Kennedy Center for his ground-breaking choreo poem," The Black Bullet Dichotomy." It dramatically decreases the number of unarmed Black men shot and killed in the streets.
Paula Vogel has won 3 Obies, a Pulitzer (and too many other awards to name! She’s incredible!) As a Finalist in the (AITAF) Arts in the Armed Forces Bridge Award in 2022, I was afforded a 3-day writing retreat on Cape Cod with Paula Vogel. It was a magical once-in-a-lifetime experience. Paula was the celebrity judge.
Shout out to AITAF! Anna O’Donaghue, an Arts Administrator at AITAF, submitted the BBD to Karina Galiano, at The Kennedy Center. It led to me being named a 2024 Office Hours Resident for Social Impact at The Kennedy Center.
Paula’s my mentor and is assisting with my award-winning choreopoem/ screenplay entitled, “The Black Bullet Dichotomy Aka The BBD.”
The BBD is a Choreopoem (Think “For Colored Girlz by Ntozake Shange) though this epic poetic love odyssey dramatically decreases the number of unarmed Black men shot and killed in the streets.
It’s quite literally where Hip Hop meets The Twilight Zone.
The BBD is the pilot project from my Anthology Series – the other side – where Conscious Hip Hop meets The Twilight Zone. I’ve created, from inception to completion, many high concept screenplays, plays, teleplays and webisodes based on this Intellectual Property. A new sub-genre I created, hip hop horror.
Well-crafted and deeply ironic morality plays infused with my award-winning original poetry and song.
While workshopping the play with Paula these are three things I learned from her vast knowledge of the art and craft of writing.
Be authentic
Paula’s advice “Your voice is very important”
My takeaway – The most important tool in a writer’s arsenal is their voice. The way you dance with Source must be to the beat of your own drum. Savor the dance. Your voice best serves you when you speak your truth!
Listen
Paula’s advice “David, you’re a language driven writer”
My takeaway – Some old, black, wise person once told me, “You’ve got two ears and one mouth, that’s so you can listen twice as much as you speak! I’ve engaged a writing professional for honest and sometimes humbling feedback. It’s made all the difference in my approach to the work.
Trust unconditional love
Paula’s advice “You’re as good of a writer as you are a person”
Paula’s seminal work how I learned to drive required forgiveness to approach this edifying material with clarity and to treat these flawed and fully dimensional characters with the compassion that this story deserved. Well, it worked. Because this brilliant work earned her the pulitzer prize!
My takeaway – As a Writer, I’m bring the invisible to the visible. This is a privilege I don’t take lightly. I meditate, maintain a high vibration, and stay open for the “download.” I’m always looking for what the play wants to be.
Live well and be blessed! Believe you me, vibrationally, it can be finessed!
Read more from David "Messiah" Stamps
David "Messiah" Stamps, Spiritual Master, Master Storyteller and Producer
David Stamps is a Spiritual Master, Master Storyteller and the Writer/ Producer of the award-winning choreo poem entitled," The Black Bullet Dichotomy."
David has co-produced a 2hr Virtual Table Read (Actors/Poets performing the stage version of the BBD) with the (FSWW) Frank Silvera Writers Workshop in association with The Billie Holiday Theater’s Virtual New Play Reading Series. It’s followed by a 55-minute talk moderated by the Executive Artistic Director of the FSWW, Garland Lee Thompson Jr. See here.
It's the pilot project from his Anthology Series-The Other Side- where Conscious Hip Hop meets The Twilight Zone. He's created, from inception to completion, many high concept screenplays, plays, teleplays and webisodes based on this Cash Cow Franchise. A new sub-genre he created, Hip Hop Horror.
