After much success and disappointment from hosting live talk shows in his hometown Tampa, FL, this seeker relocated to Los Angeles, CA on September 19, 2010 to begin an epic journey that does not consist of a plan B. Virtually unknown in the entertainment industry, this brave man is in pursuit of one goal & purpose; to become a nationally syndicated late night talk show host. This is the quest of Motown Maurice. Remember his name, for he is The Future of Late Night Television.
I can't have any visitors but that's cool because there isn't any room for visitors.
Needs a little TLC. Just a little.
You think I"m excited.
Video # 4
Final Thoughts
After 1 year and over 4 months I finally got my own place in LA. My new home is beyond a blessing. I will never be homeless again. I'm proclaiming it right now and forever. Be homeless wasn't comfortable but I got through it as I knew I would. I didn't know how but I got through it. I'm graciously thankful that I never had to sleep on the streets. I've seen hundreds of homeless people in LA sleeping on the streets and its rough. My heart feels for them. My creativity and resourceful mind never allowed me to endure a street sleeping trail and I am humbled by my experiences.
For the record, I slept on the floor above the 4th floor near the emergency exit of that building (The Vue) off of Berendo & 7th for approximately 12 days. January 18, 2012 - February 6, 2012. There were two days I managed to sleep on the floor at someone else's home. After my first week, I reunited with my previous roommate for about a week and return back near the exit again.
A special thanks to Tom n Toms Cafe on Berendo/6th, Subway on Wilshire/Catalina and The Pico Branch Library on Oxford/7th for my extended long stays in their establishment. Many times I've even took naps there.
I'm moving on up from here on. Mark my word. Like the Jefferson's, I"m Moving On Up.
Subways is a typical morning ritual for me. EBT baby.
Steak, Egg & Cheese flat bread Foot long.
* From to Subway to the Pico Library to upload files and brush my teeth.
The Library is a decent spot to wash up.
* From the Library to my storage room.
Video # 2
* I went to Universal Studios with the intentions of using my year pass purchased for me last March but it expired on December 31, 2011. I ended up chilling out at on the City Walk near the AMC Theatre. While I there I realized that Dysfunctional Friends was still in theatres. Which makes sense. Yesterday I thought it was only for one day. It appeared to screening throughout the weekend. From a distance I even noticed Corey Grant & Wesley Jonathon through the crowd. Later on I saw Wayne Brand and I'm assuming his family. I know he noticed me but I could only wonder if he remembered me from Lets Make a Deal.
Video # 3
* I'm normally not easily bribed but after seeing these old school Dwayne Wayne glasses I had to add them to my repertoire.
Motown Maurice at the sunshades vendor at Universal City walk in Hollywood.
Dwayne Wayne got nothing on Motown Maurice
* I left City walk around 7pm to ride the bus and join my friend Tehana for her birthday dinner.
Tehana Weeks and friends celebrating her birthday dinner at BJ's in Burbank, CA.
Motown Maurice (Far Left), Anthony M. Bertram (Back Center)
I wish I had my pajamas with me. Its back to sleeping in regular clothes again.
I'm tired. So tired.
Folding in clothes from the Chris Brown Shoot.
No blanket here. Just floor.
How much more of this?
* Hours later after an audition for a CarFax commercial, I turned the key.
The Key Has Been Returned.
Video # 2
Most times I walk to my storage but this time I got on the 206 metro bus. I had
way too many things to carry.
Extra Space Storage your king is here.
Video # 3
The library is the place to be, especially when you have no where else to go.
I've been working hard. I deserve a treat at Cafe Novel.
Video # 4 (Watch me brush my teeth)
Final Thoughts
I haven't listened to the videos since I recorded them but I'm sure some the reason for leaving my seem vague. I do remember being very tired. In a few words, the person I was staying with notified me through a voice message that she will be having a guest over. She offered to cover the cost for my night at a hotel but I never returned the call. It was very late when I was released from the shoot and I didn't want to initiate any inconvenience. The next day I figured it was best to return the key and move on with the next chapter of my quest. That's the basics of the situation. Further details aren't necessary and my gratefulness hasn't changed.
The lady in the back working for extra space storage asked me if I was taking pictures of the building.
She knew very well I wasn't. She just to get in the photo.
Today I spent some time editing a reel for my previous roommate Raewyn. During some downtime I was able sneak away and take shower for the first time in 4 days. Before now, the last time I took a shower was when I was still in South Florida. That's the same day I returned to L.A. from the break (South Florida its Been Fun but I Get Back to L.A.).
Video
Final Thoughts
After hours of editing. We went for a hike in the dark near Griffin Park. Shortly, before the hike Raewyn's brother told us he heard a story in the news about body parts found in the same area we were going. After knowing all of that we still went. That was all lead by Raewyn's courage. I enjoyed the hike but I don't plan to go hiking in the dark anymore. I wasn't scared but I'm not found of dark hiking either. All I could think about was The Blair Witch Project.
Moreover, we got back safely and Raewyn allowed me to spend the night. Her brother got Money Ball through Redbox and I enjoyed watching it. I also started watching Borune Identity starring Matt Damon. I had to sleep on the floor because it was full house. Besides I'm well acquainted with the floor by now. I knew to take a shower in the morning also because there's no telling when I'll shower again.
The Korea Town Pico library. Its like my second home.
* One of my supporters and friends from Tampa was in town with his wife and we caught up for a few hours at Cafe Novel. After dinner we when to Kevin's house, chatted and watched some videos on YouTube.
Motown Maurice, Kevin Jahi Johnson, Chasma & Clausell Mathis
The only time I've ever purchased a new cell phone was by force. I've had it up to my neck with ineffective chargers and key pad problems. I had no other choice but to get a new phone today. Thank God this phone was on sale for 39 dollars (plus taxes). Thank God even more for my financial emergency system (Mamma Knows...)
Motown finally gets a touch Metro PCS Android phone. (Metro PC S off of 7th ave near Downtown/Jewelry City)
Outside of Coffee Bean on Wilshire and Vermont thinking about where to go next.
Video # 1
Motown Maurice is charging his phone and enjoying a meal at El Pollo Loco near Olympic and Vermont.
Video # 2
Video # 3
Before you take a peek at Tom N Toms check out the source of the song I was singing. Watch the full episode of South Park Here: Night of the Living Homeless
South Park: Night of the Living Homeless Episode
Video # 4
Motown Maurice visits Tom n Toms because it stays until 2am.
Video # 5
Video # 6
Doing my best to get comfortable at this new sleeping spot.
Video Note: The moment I arrived back to my parents house, I realized why I never used that small video camera my uncle in New York gave me. It has a foreign power plug. I could replaced the plug with one laying around in my storage room long time ago but I never made the effort. In the end, I didn't even take the video camera with me. I left it at my parents house. I do have my lovely 30D canon with me as planned. I'm looking forward to taking some photos with it.
I was previously notified about the pending swift shift during Week 65. I was already prepared to sleep in my friend S.A.M's car. The past couple days I sleep at her place while her roommate was out of town. I was mainly there because I was helping her back in to good health from her sickness. Late this evening, I showed up at the place I called home for the past 3 months and realized the pending swift shift was really in motion. I new I wouldn't be able to be there for a week or more but I wasn't expecting an rearrangement of my belongings. In plan sight, I concluded that it was best to remove my belongings and pack it back up in storage the next day.
Video # 1
Mr. Chill & Motown Maurice gets ready to move again.
Video # 2
Thank God I had access to a car. This made this move so much easier
In the wake of inevitable upcoming adversities, I now have a mobile home as shelter. Before thanksgiving I shared some of my deep thoughts with my friend S.A.M and she immediately offered her car as an option. My senses started to anticipate a soon to be shift in my life. The embrace of a quest transition and new chapter. I went through most of today not knowing about a challenge that would later be presented. Then when it was presented I had a Honda Element to call home for the night.
With the path uncertainty definitely near by, I see this car currently as an only option. Although, I woke up with a small cold blister on my bottom lip the next morning, I feel blessed. Having met S.A.M who as been a great blessing multiple ways and for her to allow me access to a car for a night is indescribable. She didn't even have to join me. She has a place to call home but she joined throughout the uncomfortable night.
Her generosity has even provided me driving access to her car at will. I'll share more about that in my next post. My life/quest is truly amazing.
I got kicked out of my motel 24hrs before I was suppose to check out. The same person who told me about the the program (Food Stamp & Motel Rich) needed a little help himself for a few days and of course I did what I could to return the support. He brought with him a friend (Thursday, August 25th) which made our cover a lot more difficult but oh well.
The rules don't allow any guests without paying for their stay. On the way out the owner caught us. We tried to deny that they spent the night but soon after the irate Indian man asked for his key back for for me to leave. See the video for more details.
* The best part about having this motel is that I have been able to keep Mr. Chill with me and not in the storage. I hate keeping him in there. Now I have to put him back there because its the safest place. I'm too worried otherwise. I'm sorry Mr. Chill. I love you son.
Motown Maurice & Mr. Chill shares their last moment together in the motel.
Finishing up last minute stuff
Motown Maurice - I got my bags packed up and I'm on the road again.
Motown Maurice - The bus needs to hurry up.
King Palace Motel
King Palace Motel
I'm in room 19 but they are too cheap to replace the 9
The best thing about that motel was WiFi from the Mark Twain Library Branch across the street
Motown Maurice & Mr. Chill on bus 81 heading towards 5th & Hill
This is a very sad moment as Motown Maurice puts Mr. Chill in the story for his safety .
Motown Maurice is back to setting up shop at Cafe Novel.
I like to recognize my purpose for every aspect of my life. In my final Thoughts of Living Life Golden...Homeless and all I wondered what was my new purpose for living in that area. None of my thoughts were rectified but I did observed a lot of people and their life struggles.
Despite of the rough location, the motel was a teaser gift for me which allowed me to get work done such as this video (The New Hero of Late Night is Emerging). There is a great chance I would of never came up with that idea if I wasn't at that motel.
Or perhaps, it was to inspire and encourage Danny and his friend Famous that was staying with me the last few days. I shared some deep words with Danny in which I really hope stuck with. Yesterday, his two cell phones got stolen. This hit him hard. Overall, Danny is overtly positive but the morning after I asked him how he was doing and he spoke in the tongue of a negative person. I'm normally a listener but at the moment I had to step in and put him back in sync. Afterwards he agreed and from then on he started to look ahead again.
The motel was great while it lasted but I might be better off without it. It took me at times 1-2 hours waiting on the bus and to get back there. Every audition was an extended amount of time to arrive and get back. That's a lot of time wasted on travel. Now that I'm without the motel I'm finding newer and better WiFi spots to getting work done expeditiously.
The only things I will miss are watching my late night shows and the luxury of taking fresh hot baths every morning.
Motown Maurice never fears because there is something much much better waiting ahead. A sky rise condo...hmmmmmm
