Okay, everybody. Time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Steve Mallorca.
Who are you?
I'm Steven E. Mallorca. "E" is for Estoesta, which obviously is my middle name and the reason why some people call me Esto. Some people call me Sulu, which has been my stage name for the better part of 20 years. One person calls me Manong. And two people call me Daddy.
What are you?
I'm a Filipino-American New Yorker with Chicago roots; I'm a commercial filmmaker and musician by day, an indie filmmaker and musician by night; I'm a husband as well as a father of two of the coolest boys I know.
Where are you?
New York City - the Chelsea office of my day job and co-conspirators, WOO ART INTERNATIONAL.
Where are you from?
I was born in Chicago, IL. I made a brief but influential stop in Cincinnati, OH. I moved to NYC for college, and I've stayed here ever since. I've reached the age where I've been in New York longer than any other city I've lived.
What do you do?
Between film and music projects and having two young kids, I've got a pretty eventful day.
I'm a film/video director and editor at New York-based production company, WOO ART INTERNATIONAL, where I've worked on a whole lotta stuff from commercial work, to music videos, to television shows, to corporate theater, and more. Recently, I've been doing a lot of museum work - I directed 12 short docs that are part of a permanent exhibit at NYC's Museum of Chinese in America, as well as multiscreen exhibits for the National Museum of American Jewish History, in Philadelphia.
I'm also heavily involved with independent film and music. I directed, wrote, edited and co-produced my first feature film called SLOW JAM KING, and was lucky enough to get theatrical distribution and a DVD release. I also wrote and performed a lot of the music from the SLOW JAM KING soundtrack, from falsetto slow jams to hip-hop to alt-country tunes. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out on Netflix! I direct music videos for independent artists, many of which have been shown on this very website. And, I'm currently working on my next feature screenplay, ALTERNATE SIDE.
On the music side, I'm trumpet player, MC and songwriter in the live hiphopunkfunkmamboska band, P.I.C. We're currently recording our 4th album, which should be out Summer '11. I record and perform with a whole gang of other artists including my labelmates, The Jack Lords Orchestra, Conjen, and Red Datsun. I just finished producing a remix for the single, "Debts of Lovers" by The West Fjords, in which I rhyme and play trumpet & keys. I've also written about a dozen songs for a new recording project called Sulu and Excelsior.
I run and co-founded an indie record label, Riding Mower Records. Because I have to deal with the business side of things, I have a kind of a love-hate relationship with it, but it's cool to be involved with such good music, not only as a musician, but as a fan.
What are you all about?
I try to be a good listener. I try to take chances. I try to get better at what I do. I want my kids to have the courage to find what they love and go after it with every ounce of energy that they have.
What makes you angry?
entitlement, complacency, arrogance, short-sightedness, preaching to the choir, talk without the walk.