Today we’d like to introduce you to Satori Shakoor.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been attracted to the arts. That attraction led me to advance myself in music, theatre, comedy and storytelling. It became a passion for me as a child. I pursued my passion and it led to developing myself as a professional singer, actor, writer and comedienne. As time went on, I began to notice there were limitations in my environment as I grew and developed artistically. I became an entrepreneur; produced a television show in Honolulu, organized artists in Los Angeles so as to support each others work, a founding member of a theatre company in Toronto and the founder of a live storytelling event in community in Detroit. And, now I’m making a film of my live solo, standup, storytelling concert, “Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale.” Women between the ages of 44-65 are the largest demographic in the United States. The majority of us are in some stage of menopause. We are hungry for information, stories and knowledge around this life changing and life affirming transition. I wanted to create something that would encourage and inspire women to bust the taboo, eliminate the stigma and get us talking and sharing about this powerful rite of passage rather than it be a sweaty, mood-swinging walk of shame. The script has been in development for 5 years. It uses storytelling, comedy and music to tell the story of a 12 year journey through the change of life. It’s hilarious, heartbreaking and triumphant. And, will get women talking.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
As an artist there are things that I see that don’t exist yet. To bring them into existence, I’ve had to prove to myself first I could do it. Then I did the work of getting it done. I like that line in the movie, “Build it and they will come.” However, building takes money one doesn’t have yet, support one has to find and discovering infinite ways of inspiring and energizing yourself to keep going when it looks the bleakest. If I’m not challenged by a creative idea, it’s not big enough. If it doesn’t scare me, it’s not worth it for me to engage in. Often bringing an idea into existence is a long haul. One needs to have a possibility, a vision that is bigger than themselves, so that it calls you to grow and become a producer who makes it happen. The possibility, the vision has to be something I wake up in the morning and it calls me to be about it. I’m excited to tell this story of my journey in Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale. It is a success story. I’m excited to write a script that uses all of my talent, instincts, experience and development to perform. I’m overwhelmed with joy by it. If I can contribute in any way with this film to the social and cultural landscape of powerful women who are navigating through this stage of life, I will have been successful in this endeavor.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I’m a writer, a storyteller and a social entrepreneur. The work I do as a social entrepreneur is to provide vehicles/platforms that not only facilitate my self-expression, but also the self-expression of others. I specialize in leadership, integrity and a “see it through to the end,” attitude. I love what I do as a teacher, facilitator and designer of storytelling workshops. I love being a performer who can uplift a production with my experience and talent. I love telling stories and being part of panels that challenge my commitment to my craft and art form. Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale is in a way is my dissertation. The culmination of my lived experience as an artist, writer, and human being. I want everyone to see it, enjoy it, talk about it and be inspired to tell their own stories; that I hold as little packages of wisdom when shared with others. I don’t think of myself as being in competition with others to get work. What I do, how I listen and work with people is intuitive, organic, unique and effective. People refer me to others when they have had great results. Right now, I’m all about this film, Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale, directed by filmmaker, Jonathan Jewell-Chatten, produced by Rola Nashef, written and performed by me. It uses storytelling, comedy, music and song to tell a true and personal story of my journey through menopause and the courage it took to face my life.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
I don’t think success is something one finds. I believe success is something that one achieves out of the effort they put into what they envision for themselves and others. My advice is to be your word (integrity). Follow up. Follow through. Love “Yes” and Love “No.” I believe that in the end, everything is a “Yes” even when it occurs as “No.” My advice is to find inspiration and encouragement from the tiniest of things to keep going when you want to give up (and you will want to). Stoke your passion on-goingly. Love people. Acknowledge others for their contributions to you and others. And my best advice is be grateful for it all. Say thank you in advance. If all of the advice I offer is acted upon, it will bring forth your vision.Thank you in advance is an acknowledgment of the trust one has in themselves and others to bring your idea and vision into existence.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Success is to create something and produce a result that will others as well as myself. It’s a great surprise and the reward I receive when someone shares that some aspect of their life changed or they discovered something new about themselves or they were reaffirmed or made a difference through something I created. Success means growth and transformation.
What’s next for you?
I’m making a film, Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale. It’s a solo, standup storytelling concert that I will perform live at Detroit Public Theatre July 21, 22, 23. The live performance will be filmed and distributed to streaming audiences. The goal is to entertain and to open up the conversation around menopause. To eliminate the stigma, bust the myth and taboo and have menopause be a celebration of the powerful rite of passage it is. A passage women are proud of because of the wisdom, experience and ageless beauty we’ve gained over time. It’s reaching out and back to younger women to connect, prepare and provide them with a continuum and legacy of self-knowing and knowledge. Every day, six thousand women enter menopause and they don’t know a damn thing about this stage of life. As a attend small gatherings of women who want to learn about menopause, I’m learning that it is a hot topic of interest. I hear stories of women being mis-diagnosed, overlooked, ignored and misguided. There are very few stories and/or entertainment products on the market that represent, uplift and shed light on menopause for this dominating demographic. Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale is my small/big contribution to that gaping vacuum. I’m coming out!
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
Please visit my website: www.satorishakoor.com/confessions to learn about me, the live show and the filming of it. We will be working on a crowd funding campaign in the near future to raise more funds for post-production, marketing and promotion, entry fees and travel to film festivals. Stay posted for the film debut sometime next year.
