This is the entry number 3000 of Planeta Inquietante, quite the figure. I wanted to do something special for this special occation and I couldn't think of anything better than to publish this unreleased interview with the late Masuimi Max, an artist who had a big impact on this blog, a blog she is still part of as her character lives on, to honor her memory. Masuimi Max wrote her answers back in 27 february 2018, in what feels like a lifetime ago. I saw it as a work in progress as there are plenty of questions without answer. Once she died, I knew that was it, the interview was locked at that unfinished state. The only thing left was to find the best way to share it. And this entry seemed the best place. So join with me in the celebration of the great Masuimi Max. A creative force that made the most of her life. I just wish she could be still with us.
Hello, Masuimi, it’s an incredible honor to make you an interview. I have followed your work since the days when MySpace was a big social network and I’ve found it inspiring, to the point of introducing a character after your persona in my fiction universe, Planeta Inquietante.
Hi Adolfo, thank you so much for this opportunity, it is my pleasure to do this interview with you!
1.) You are a very polifacetic and prolific person: model, performer, designer, actress,... How would you introduce yourself to someone who may be only familiar with part of your work or has just heard about you?
I've done so much the last 2 decades, I wish I could find someone who knows the ins and outs of my entire career to write this out for me because I'm bound to leave out a bunch of stuff!
Normally I just go with "Hi, my name is Masuimi, nice to meet you", ha ha! People that assume everyone knows who they are or say stuff like "don't you know who I am" are appalling to me. I've seen and heard this first hand, it's so presumptuous, and a clear indication that persons ego lives in the clouds!
If I were to describe what I do in one sentence, I'd say I was an artist or creative type with a nerd brain. It can also depend on the question, who's asking, and where I am - for instance, I never say I'm a model if I'm in a cab or uber, if I'm in a cab or uber I just want to go to my destination without a lot of questions or dating offers, lol!
I'm also in some movies (according to IMDB 13+ appearances in film and tv!). Also, I really enjoy making websites and performing on stage.
I feel like at this point in my life I need constant stimulation, the left and right brain need to be active in something or I'm incredibly bored and think life sucks. Seriously, lol!
2.) Masuimi Max is your real name, which seems to surprise some people (too cool to not be an artistic nickname?) It’s also apparently hard to get right, which I’ve heard is the reason your main website was Iamtrouble.com instead of MasuimiMax.com, which is the story behind the Iamtrouble domain? You changed it recently to BadMax.com, what motivated you to switch to this domain?
Yes, that's right, Masuimi Max is my real birth name. My father is caucasian/German and Max comes from his side of the family, and my mother is Korean, born and raise in Seoul, Korea.
The very first domain name I bought was Masuimi.com. It was a makeshift paysite, a contract deal with a shady lady that tried to lock me out and steal my name. If I have no control I will make control.. I'm very hands on. I decided to start new site, and figured a catchy phrase might be better and easier to remember than the spelling of my name so I bought IAmTrouble.com and turned that into my membership site. I still use MasuimiMax.com as a web portal and portfolio, it's good to have a portfolio site to direct work related traffic.
I recently renamed my membership site from IAmTrouble.com to BadMax.com, because the Mad Max movies are some of my favorite films! I really enjoy sci-fi and post apocalyptic stories.
There is also IAmSin.com which is my cruelty-free and vegan makeup line. As always, it's diy!!! At the moment I handle everything from production, to fulfillment/packaging, to web maintenance, to accounting, to marketing.. omg, several fulltime jobs here, can't wait to hire people and delegate so I can focus more on the creative side.
3.) You have played from main roles to cameos in movies like Inland Empire or XXX 2. In our first issue we did an interview with Lloyd Kauffman, so we would like to know about your experience working for Troma. Your cameo in Inland Empire is as weird and iconic as one can expect from a David Lynch movie, how was shooting that scene with the monkey? What are the roles you feel more proud of?
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4.) You moved a while ago from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, how do you think this change has affected your work? How do you think those cities influence and inspire your photographic sessions, routines…?
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5.) Among other things, Morat is your main photographer and your husband for ten years ( Congratulations!), how is your creative relationship? What other photographs have your worked with? On your main website, there is a section devoted to your collaborations with other models? Which are the ones you have had the best experiences with? What places would you like to go back to? What do you think about the storytelling potential of photoshoots? I find that yours can tell stories and create powerful atmospheres. An example for example would be the Mad Max themed, that one left me wishing for a movie.
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6.) You are a true DIY kind of person, designing and managing your websites and controlling directly your presence in social networks. How many websites/business do you have going right now? I know BadMax.com, Iamsin.com, MasuimiMax.com ( although this one work more as a directory)… How is it being your own boss?
If you can't get what you want (because it doesn't exist), if you can't get people to do what you want (production-wise), if you have a vision and want to make things happen.. sometimes you have to do it yourself. Sometimes you have to do it ALL yourself, at the start. If you're really passionate about something you'll make it happen. Like YOU, I admire your motivation and passion to make your projects come to life, you're a badass Adolfo!
I learned web design, code, and maintenance because late 90's there weren't premade sites like wix or shopify, and I had no idea where to find a webmaster, and social media did not exist. I wanted a website. So I made one! My wonderful friend Nicole showed me some basics, she actually did most of the startup as I had no idea where to start. I'm thankful for being around when it all started because it's hard to get good domain names now with all the cyber squatting and third party domain sales (like ticket scalpers they buy all the good names then sell it for more)
Being your own boss is great for my personality type! I like wearing a onesie when I code, I like making my own hours when I shoot.. but I do see the value and convenience in working for someone else too, it just depends on if you are more comfortable being told what to do or figuring out what to do on your own. Being your own boss is not for everyone, your work doesn't stop when 9-5 is over. Either way, being your own boss or working for a boss has it's pros and cons and it's going to depend on the person.
7.) As a performer, you have several routines that mix fire shows, burlesque… Which are your influences when designing them? Which are the ones you think that have been better received? Is there a way to get them on DVD or watch them online?
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8.) You have been on more than 100 magazine covers, that’s quite an achievement. What are your favorite magazines? Do you think Internet has changed their business model for better or worse? Have you thought of putting together a book collecting those covers?
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9.) You have created an account on Patreon to support your projects, being one of them a magazine/comic book about your bio. I think it’s a fantastic idea. What can you tell us about it? As far as I know, being the daughter of a militar, you traveled a lot during your childhood and it wasn’t an easy one, what can the readers expect?
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10.) Speaking about comic books, in the second issue your character from Planeta Inquietante stars in a short story drawn by Conrado Martin, set in Las Vegas. Your character also appeared drawn by Ángel Bernuy in a short story for the magazine Área 51. Given the format for your upcoming bio, have you thought of offering comic book pages mixed with your pictures/videos on your websites?
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11.) What are your biggest influences when designing and choosing your styles? What artists do you admire?
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12.) What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow your steps (as in being a DIY artist)? Do you think social networks have made it easier to reach an audience?
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You can remember and celebrate Masuimi Max in the following links:
