A Family Affair
Creatives often create Creatives. Welcome to my family. We’re an odd bunch, thank GOODNESS, because I couldn’t live in a house full of Normals.
MEET THE GANG
Derek, the patriarch. He’s a finance manager with a rough sense of humor. He attempts to run this house with an iron fist. (Howling laughter.) May the odds ever be in his favor. Derek’s only artistic love is Death Metal music. He destroys the cartoon-esq joy in our home regularly when it blares.
Me, Melissa, the mama. I’m a NUT! I can be found scuddling about in a hoodie and mismatched leggings, often with only one sock on, and always with a computer in hand. I keep strange hours, my schedule is an abomination, and I’m generally lost in my own world. Stage manager, choreographer, writer, and terrible cook, I do it all. . . strangely.
Maddie Dawn is the oldest of the kids. A grounded Earth sign, she’s often the voice of calm reason. Maddie is an actress, musician, theater prop manager (the Prop Tart as I lovingly refer to her when she works my shows,) model, and photography assistant. Maddie’s schedule is bonkers, and she rarely sleeps. She’s always on set.
Lillian is the middle child and has done justice to the title. Quirky, with a unique sense of humor, Lillian is a regular source of mirth. Dancer, model, and exceptional student, Lillian gets it done with gusto. Being the middle child, she must be contrary, though. That child can sleep like no one you’ve ever seen. If napping was an Olympic sport, Lillian would take gold!
Ethan is the baby of the family. Karate, basketball, and all things sports, Ethan is his father’s son. That boy loves a good sports stat, and would live off Taki’s if I’d let him. Lucky for him, I’m always so distracted that he’s regularly in the Taki clear.
With that breakdown, I’m often asked by close friends how Maddie, Lillian, and I work on set together. You see, there’s a great deal of love in our home, but the arguments are epic.
The girls have very different modeling styles.
Maddie is cast as Melanie Slate for our book covers. Maddie hits hard with her poses, while maintaining stoic professionalism. She works fast, and generally silently. She listens, processes, and gets the job done efficiently, because she often has another gig to get to.
Lillian is cast as Jayla. Lillian boings onto set with a big smile. Dance training gives her a finite understanding of the slightest shoulder shift. Her big-eyed sweetness shines through. My favorite thing about Lillian on set are the blooper pics.
The child inherited my “faces.” I hide nothing in my expressions. Lillian can claim the same, and laughter roars when we review footage.
