Twitter was the
first social media platform I tried, you can scroll and read my very first blog
about it if you like. I was sceptical but stayed for years and I cringe when I
get a twitter birthday. Today I’m active on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube,
Reddit, Discord (I know) and also here I suppose, but it’s the platform I use
least. When active, I wade through a hell of a lot, it can keep me fully
occupied and when life sucks, I like to be fully occupied.
David Baddiel
(@Baddiel) has a great analogy, he says that likes and retweets are the
equivalent of getting a laugh. The bigger the numbers are, the louder the laugh.
I can’t raise a snigger on Twitter these days, but then I’m not a comedian, and
I’ve barely been on there recently anyway. Time was you could have a giggle or
ask a random question and get a response. I once asked for the name of an
obscure Australian dystopian film I’d seen as a kid, (the name eludes me yet
again damn it). I gave the sketchiest of descriptions and a complete stranger
come back with the answer. Amazing. I recently experimented with a tweet “Why
does adversity breed creativity?”. Two responses came back. A genuine answer
from a bestie irl (@_wordfairy_) and a lovely Einstein quote from another Foo
Fighter fan I have befriended on that platform (@Whitefeet2). Other than that,
tumbleweed. Maybe I didn’t phrase the tweet properly and it came across as
rhetorical, or maybe I didn’t use the right hashtags. I’m genuinely interested
in the answer too, oh well. Times change. My theory for why Twitter is so
acerbic and harsh is that it started not with likes but with favourite stars,
remember? You only favourited things you wanted to keep, so a star had to be
fought for very hard. There were always those who never, ever liked, even after
the hearts were introduced. Not much love there. Today other platforms are much
more generous - love you TikTok and YouTube!
One thing I’ve taken away from
Twitter due to years of friendly banter is the art of the comeback, which now
proves very useful on the occasional troll - remember, IF you just can’t help
yourself and you’re going to answer back, do it with humour folks, and always
expect ping-ponging. Twitter now seems to be a seething den of vipers that just
want to venomously rant and bitch. I’m dipping a very tentative toe in again, as
I like the written word and anyway, I’ve been forced to return by Eoin Macken,
actor/novelist/screenwriter/director/cinematographer/cook… (GM @eoincmacken
fren, I can’t resist the name drop ;-) ). He has done this mainly due to the
amazing @ZombyWorld he and @RyanPotesta have dreamt up, and which their amazing
team are developing.
Run on Discord ZombyWorld uses Twitter Spaces to host AMAs
for members, with invited famous guests from the world of film and music etc.
and other knowledgeable bods. Where else could I possibly have gone to spend a
fascinating hour with director Lee Cronin or a Lunch and Learn with the
wonderful One Tree Planted (@onetreeplanted). It’s been fantastic - utter bliss,
I can’t wait for more.
You can find out about ZW and the amazing projects
they’re making on their website and in the Discord, reach them via Twitter. It’s
not just about minting NTFs, not by any means at all. It’s an innovative
long-term project to create actual real stuff - publishing comic books,
producing merchandise, even making a TV Show (omg!). At its core lies desire
to discuss ecology and the environment, sharing solutions in a decentralised way
among members around the world and also incorporating a collaboration with One
Tree Planted’s reforestation projects. All of this covers interests that are
near to my heart. I’ve chatted on ZW about film, a life-long passion and, I know
it sounds unlikely, but I’ve picked up excellent gardening tips! Soon there will
be rooms for writing, music and art/design - spaces to come together and create.
Moderators keep things safe and there is a no tolerance policy to any form of
harassment. I’m loving the warmth and friendliness in the chat rooms, everyone
says Good Morning when they join in, regardless of the time wherever they are in
the world, and call each other fren and fam. There is an onus on building each
other up - it may even be a rule I think, and this is a beautiful thing, it
truly is. I’m new to all of this and quite honestly my mind is totally blown.
Yes, I’m still hanging on to Eoin’s coat tails. I’m not letting go. The longer I
know him the more his talents, imagination, and creativity surprise me. He’s
given me a lot over the years.
Speaking of creativity…..
So yeah, this is not an
excuse, but if life and the news didn’t suck at the moment I wouldn’t be staring
at screens so much. I find solace in viewing, be it telly, cinema or phone, all
are my escape. Scrolling is a form of self-soothing, and this is how I chanced
on Nicky and Pierre on YouTube at first, and thank goodness for it, what a power
house of innovative, quality content!
Blond Guy:
“Hey Pierre. Why are French
people so mean?”
Dark Haired Guy:
“We’re not mean, we’re honest. No, but it’s
true, you don’t have to sugar coat everything.
Like there’s too much sugar in
America already, and it’s not even real sugar, it’s fake sugar.
And just to tell
you - sugar is only for macarons, ugh!”
This was my introduction to “NiPi. Reading the above I can hear Pierre’s speak, lol. Macarons - hahaha.
I’m a
Francophile and spend a lot of time there, and this astute French boy
(@itspierreboo) with a glorious accent and sweet, handsome face made me laugh
like a drain. His explanation is so funny and sharp, encapsulating the
French/American take on each other cleverly, and correctly in my opinion.
Who
was this Pierre and his friend? I investigated further and came across a thirst
trap, a freshly showered, shirtless and wet-haired @nickychampa (TT) from the
point of view of his bathroom mirror, singing and shaking his head to the song
‘A Thousand Miles’ by Vanessa Miles. I guess you may not believe me if I tell
you that I’m not particularly one for shirtless thirst traps, however gorgeous
the drink may be. Okay, not on the whole lol, as I am but flesh and blood. But
to me they are usually a ploy, clickbait, a cheap trick, and I’m put off by
them. What does it for me is inventiveness and humour. So, I, er,… suffered,
what,10 seconds? And then Nicky pulled out a hairdryer and used it like a
microphone/wind machine. Hahaha not your ordinary thirst trap - one with added
comedy. Who hasn’t done that hairdryer thing? Anyway, I thought it was a
glorious punchline, watched it “several” times and poked the screen, how can I
heart this more?
Could their content be consistently good? Well God bless my
anxiety - I sometimes can’t sleep and due to insomnia I discovered two
individuals who are my type of people, part of that tribe who are performers,
are sensitive, wear their hearts on their sleeves and who’s emotions run close
to the surface: actors and all types of artists basically. They check all my
boxes, namely being genuine, candid, funny, intuitive, vulnerable, naughty,
fierce, brave, loyal and above all, creative. They are beautiful and also
spectacularly in love with each other. They spread the love. Love is the thing.
Their stories are totally relatable to me. They remind me so much of me and my
husband, back when our relationship was a tender sapling, but they also remind
me of how we are today, nothing much has changed, only that the sapling has
turned into a giant oak over the years. I have a huge affinity with Pierre, I
think we are very alike, we love dance, can fly off the handle dramatically, but
can also be the steady rock our other half needs. We big our loved ones up at
all times, have an infinite capacity to love, and if I’m not wrong, underneath
that cute, angelic, naive facade lies a man of steel who, if necessary, could
slap you down a peg or two with a curt word or just a look. Nicky is more like
my husband, slightly cooler in temperament, also cool by definition - don’t
cross this charmer though, he bites… but at the same time, he’s sensitive,
talking sense when Pierre worries, he’s enormously loving and a proper softy.
Both seem terribly kind. Nicky is more enigmatic to me, and I’m curious,
consequently I’m attracted to him like a freaking magnet.
Of course they are
hugely talented, and successful with over 24 million TikTok followers between
them. Its mad and frustrating that even in this day and age there are people,
young and old, struggling to come out, being afraid to be unsupported by family
and friends. ‘Coming out’ should no longer be a thing, but for so very many it
is, and Nicky and Pierre’s wonderful relationship is a thing for all to aspire
to, they are role models, not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for all. They
are also actors, and I suspect film-makers to be. So if TV and film aren’t on
the cards, like very soon, and they don’t sky rocket in that field too, I’ll eat
my hat. I had exactly the same feeling with Eoin years ago - my hat is intact,
and you can’t see Eoin for dust.
The NiPi Fam is international and supportive
and I’m so happy to be part of it. We meet live on YouTube on Sundays for chat
and the premiere of the next Nicky and Pierre video who also join in with us.
It’s a fest of ‘hello’s’ and ‘love yous’ and a blanket of joy. I won’t mention
the members by name, cos it’ll only turn into Sunday lol, but I’m waving and
saying ‘Love yoooooou!!!”. You know who you are.
I will however mention two
other outrageously talented creatives I’ve met through this global family, and
they are Perry Picasshoe (@art_p3rry) and Yiwol (IG: @nipifanart.yiwol/ T:
virgo091213) Both are ridiculously talented and prolific artists. Perry takes
the time to acknowledge every single comment I send - I can’t get over it. If
you don’t know him, please, please check him out. His talent and ambition will
carry him far, he’s another polymath of art. Invest in him now.
I say absolutely
the same for Yiwol in whom I think I’ve found a friend for life. Her NiPi art
gives me just as much joy as the actual thing! Not a day goes by where we don’t
tell each other how much we love and appreciate each other. She is my soulmate
in Seoul, and I can feel the love in London, and well, she makes my day,
everyday. Because she gets it.
Whatever the medium you use, there’s an element
of the creator in every single character you draw. In ZombyWorld I see Eoin in
Jason, Nichole, Gina and Ian (and all the characters in the novels and
screenplays he has ever written - prolific so-and-so). He has created a
warm-hearted universe, as safe as can be made, with love at the centre. And
Zombys. (Can I have an antidote please….?)
I don’t know Nicky and Pierre
personally at all, but I feel that I do. I’m sensing a shift in their output.
It’s subtly edgier, slicker, with several TikToks heavy with subtext. I love
this. I’m all about the subtext. The clues are there if you look. As is the
abundant love.
Nicky and Pierre have been my inspiration for creating TikToks
which fulfils my desire to create and perform. I could never have started
without them, and I’m so grateful to them because I’m having a total blast. I’m
a goner for everyone I’ve mentioned, I’m unashamedly in love with them all. If
you win me over, my love is bottomless and endless, I’m here to stay. Apologies
for the gushing outpouring of feelings here, specifically to the stiff upper
lipped anglo folk haha. Its just how this Spanish-blooded girl functions. Eoin’s
used to this I’m afraid - besides he’s a romantic Irishman, so it’s in his
nature too. And Nicky and Pierre, well they ARE love and hand it out all the
time, so I’m giving some back.
Love, of course, is the connecting tread that
runs through ZW and N+P, and we all need love, specially in these dark times. We
need to share it more now than ever. Not just because of what’s happening with a
pandemic kicking its heels for too long before leaving, not just because of the horror happening in the Ukraine, but because of the atrocities happening in
so many countries all over the world, and the assault the human race is firing
upo_n defenceless nature and our beloved planet.
Spread the love, its good karma,
and inevitably, you get some back. And who doesn’t want that?
Hearts, flowers
and lollipops to my Kings and Queens. Keep spreading the love. Never stop.
This
Queen-ager loves you and always will.
Carmen
Twitter: @RonniPudding (ZW - Raven)
IG: @thecloudcuckoo
TikTok: @carmen_thecloudcuckoo
