boston progress radio

I have never interviewed a spoken word artist online before. I have to say I was a little nervous. I did not know what to expect, it is hard when I cannot see someone’s reactions or mannerisms. However, Omar Telan made it a very easy task to accomplish. Omar is a performer, writer, and theater guru presently living in Philadelphia. I have never met him before, but he is definitely a guy I would want to talk to if I needed a good laugh. As Omar grows wiser and tries to understand the world, he opts to not take it so seriously.

Jess Man: If someone asked you to describe yourself in 3 different words, what would they be?

F. Omar Telan: hmm… thinking…sarcastically brilliant ‘nahmean?

JM: Who were you 10 years ago and who are you now, is there much difference?

Omar: Hmm… that’s a tricky question as well…. 10 years ago I was just getting settled into NYC. Now I’m just getting settled into Philadelphia. So in many ways I’m kind of the same. I’m exploring a city I’ve always known, but more as a resident that I ever was before. 10 years ago I had a lot of dreams about being a successful publishing mogul. I’m more grounded now and the goals have changed. I’d say that 10 years ago I was deep in the post undergraduate limbo. Basically, I had a lot of dreams without any realistic goals. Now I feel like I have a lot of realistic goals and no big dreams. So maybe I am massively different.

JM: What are some of your realistic goals?

Omar: To start at least one theater troupe in Philadelphia. I’m working with the Asian arts initiative with that goal. Get a job that doesn’t make me miserable. One thing I learned in New York was that I’m never going to find a job that makes me happy.

JM: What job is currently making you miserable?

Omar: So I take jobs that pay the bills so I can do the things that make me happy. I’m currently in career #4 which is IT (information technology) which does not make me miserable. It’s fun without being so fun that I lose sight of poetry and theatre.

JM: What makes you happy?

Omar: Writing a good poem or play, performing a good play.

JM: Were you always into writing, do you remember the first piece of writing you did and was like “damn I am talented?”

Omar: I’ve been into writing since middle school. I’m reasonably sure I was 13. I thought I was really good. The older I get the less I like my writing. I’ve become snobby and snub my own stuff. I’ll like something for about a week, then I pull a “that was *so* last week.” I think it has improved my writing. Not so much humble… more realistic.

JM: Where do you get your inspiration from? Was that poem you read @ the APIA summit actually true?

Omar: I get inspiration by thinking too much about too many things. Truth be told, what I read @ the summit wasn’t a poem. It was very technically creative non-fiction. I didn’t use any poetic devices at all. It was me retelling what happened to me in July. What happened to me… and what I did as a reaction.

JM: On your website under suspect zero, the pretender, it says something about you being an introvert, is that actually true?

Omar: I would classify myself as an introvert…. I’m googling it right now to find out the actual meaning of the word.

JM: Didn’t they teach you that word at Emerson?

Omar: Hehe… not really. http://giftedkids.about.com/od/glossary/g/introvert.htm

JM: I looked it up on Wikipedia.

Omar: Ooo I’ll look it up in Wiki… yup, that’s me.

JM: Would you say a lot of writers and performers are introverts too, I never thought this until recently?

Omar: I would guess that most writers probably are. I think performers can be, but that it’s tricky because they could just be putting on a game face when they socialize.

JM: What is the latest piece of work you’ve written?

Omar: Well, I’m trying to restart the old habit of writing 500 words a day. Somedays are harder than others. Most of it is crap. It’s like a runner who runs everyday so s/he is ready for a marathon.

JM: How do you being an Asian American or Filipino affect your work?

Omar: Honestly, I’m not sure. I haven’t tried to create as a non-Asian American / Filipino. So, I wouldn’t even know the difference. Ultimately my work is affected by the way I not only see the world, but as the world sees me. I don’t know that I’m able to distance myself from myself to see the patterns that arise from my heritage.

JM: How do you think the world sees you and your background?

Omar: As an unknown most people don’t know what a Filipino is so they don’t know what to do with me. Add to that my name and add to that what I do. I’m pretty unexpected on most levels. I like it. If they don’t know how to classify me, it makes it easier. For example, if your average audience member sees an East Asian guy named something really traditional. They’re going to have certain expectations that they will heap upon him. If he’s going along with those expectations, great for him. It makes his job easier. But maybe not necessarily memorable. If he’s going against those expectations, he’s got an awful uphill battle. But me, I get to come to them with a blank slate. So I get to be memorable because I’m the one shaping their stereotypes and expectations of other people like me.

JM: Where can I read some more of your work, I tried googling it, but nothing really came up?

Omar: Yeah, I suck at getting myself published. And I don’t believe in chapbooks because it’s too easy. If it was harder to publish your own chapbook I might be into it and honestly most chapbooks kinda suck. Well, I’m going to be gearing up and sending out submissions to poetry magazines. Hopefully someone will bite.

JM: Alright… so I am gonna ask you 10 questions, either pick whichever appeals to you the most, or pops into your head first. Allen Iverson as a Sixers or a Nugget?

Omar: It’s only the last 10 minutes of a basketball game that matter. Oh wait did I have to pick one or type what was the first thought I had or the first one that pops into my head?

JM: That works.

Omar: Oh, um, Sixers I guess, cause that’s Philadelphia. But I don’t follow basketball so I have no idea if he’s any good. I did give my brother an Allen Iverson bobble head once. I think I got it from McDonalds.

JM: Vacation in Alaska or Hawaii?

Omar: Alaska

JM: One thing you could not live without?

Omar: Air

JM: Hot or cold?

Omar: Cold

JM: Are you a prankster?

Omar: No way! Never. Ever. Never Ever.

JM: Cheese steak with whiz or the melted kind?

Omar: Whiz

JM: Best present received?

Omar: aw… I can’t believe I’m gonna be this cheesy… love.

JM: Best Present Given?

Omar: I once gave someone like two dozen socks. That was hilarious. But probably love too. Yeah, I went all out with the socks. No, I think the best I’ve ever given is a poem. Yes, a poem or a play. The play was better. I say play, final answer.

JM: What do you tell someone who tells you they are bored?

Omar: Why are you bored?

JM: Giles Li or Bao Phi?

Omar: I say my answer should be “that depends… they both have special talents. I can’t talk about it until you get your membership card.”

[Editor's Note: Check out Omar tell us about his summer vacation when he featured at November 2007's East Meets Words Open Mic. If anyone knows who took that picture of Omar with that evil look on his face, pray tell.]

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Tags: Interview, spoken word.