I am an idealist.

By choice.

Because sometimes in an idealist's world, the ideal thing happens.

I mean; surely the ideal thing rarely happens in the pessimist's world. But the most dangerous perspective to think one possesses is realism. As if all perspectives weren't mutable and chosen. The realist thinks hers is fixed and actually more valid than the others. At least the pessimist knows perspective is subjective and theirs tilts towards impending doom. The most dangerous human beings in the world think there is an objective reality and they have a monopoly on it.

Well, I know my ideals aren't real and I choose to continue their dreaming.

My ideals are strong, and are one of two things that define the depths of my character.

And if you haven't figured it out by now, performance is the other. To search the self and the human condition so thoroughly that with one breath, my lungs breath the air of the collective unconscious - that is the connection this performer aspires to. To go straight where I am uncomfortable and root around until it hurts, while others are watching, seeing, sharing, relating to, forming opinions of - that is the epitome of vulnerability, bravery and belligerence only a performer's soul can glimpse. To purge my demons through sweat and motion, to work my magick through obsession to detail, to become an archetype, representing whatever the receiving psyche will have me as, is an important, adventurous, and noble pursuit the way I see it. And performnace, combined with ideals, wholly define my core.

And yet, I have been vehemently challenged by fans that I am not living up to their ideals when I dance in a commercial for a product I personally wouldn't use. Or act in a film in which's message is not aligned towards social transformation. To which I jest, with sincerity, that "my career and my life will be complete when the avocado company has enough money to hire me for their next billboard campaign."

Well, last week they did.

Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection hired me to perform in their upcoming public service announcement - which is a fancy way to say "commercial". However, while a commercial sells a product, a public service announcement sells an idea. An ideal. In this case, I'll be selling climate protection with the message, "it matters," "you make a difference," "now is the time," "we are powerful."

The entire process was a positive one. For the audition, I actually got interviewed about some of my life, which gave me the platform on camera to speak about a jillion environmental implementations I use on a personal daily basis. On the set, the craft service company, rather than providing "disposable" (next to realism, the second most dangerous concept in human history) plastic water bottles, provided just one intended for reuse with markers for labeling it and a large water dispenser to fill it from (I of course had my usual glass water bottle in tote and still didn't need the plastic one). In holding, conversations about Burning Man, alternative fuels and raw vegan diets were plentiful. And in the final edit, this production will hopefully reflect what an amazing experience it all was for me; in particular, to get to be a part of mass media that's breaking the rules.

It's moments like this that I know the world is catching up with my ideals. And it won't be long before I'm performing the roles and delivering the messages that an entertainment medium of this global magnitude has the responsibility to deliver.

We are doing it now. Watch and remember what you see. Note who is pushing the limits. Support those, big or small, that are generating health and environmental media. Now is the time for responsible film and television propaganda. It's happening now.

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