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| photo by Arcita Das |
WMV: First of all, let's talk about your names. You identify yourself as "Gopi Gita Devi Dasi" on Facebook. I obtained an IMDb page for that name, and credit for your role in "Metropolitan Detective," but you asked to have the credit placed on an IMDb page with your "real name, Gunita Jansone-Black." As it turned out, there was already a page for you, under the name of "Gunita Jansone Black," with no hyphen. You also have a Facebook as "Gunita Jansone-Black," with the hyphen. What was the entire name on your original birth certificate?
Gopi: Huh? I don't think hyphen is so important... My full name is Gunita Jansone-Black.
WMV: Your Facebook indicates that you are married to Major Black. Whose mistake was it that your name on IMDb is not hyphenated?
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| art project by Taso Papadakis |
Gopi: I would not call it mistake; I think it's not a big deal.
WMV: Why did you choose to identify yourself as "Gopi Gita Devi Dasi" on Facebook?
Gopi: My Spiritual name is Gopi Gita Devi Dasi. Since I have on Facebook more people who are spiritually initiated, I keep my Spiritual name. We all are spiritual beings, so we should have our spiritual 'side' always leading us. ...[M]y friends on Facebook are mostly devotees of Krishna. For my acting or fan page, I have separate page called Gunita Jansone-Black, where all postings are about my acting and dance career.
WMV: Isn't Devi a Hindu goddess?
Gopi: "Devi Dasi" means "server."
WMV: Your Gopi Facebook indicates that your hometown is Riga, Latvia, and that your date of birth is January 4, 1980. Where were you born?
Gopi: I'm born in beautiful city of Riga, country Latvia.
WMV: Are you not afraid of being treated with prejudice in the entertainment industry, or that your identity will be stolen, based on your date of birth?
Gopi: Identity stolen - that's sounds absurd to me! Why would I be treated [with] prejudice in the entertainment industry? Isn't it people nature anywhere anyways? LOL
WMV: Besides age-ism, what other prejudices have you encountered in Hollywood?
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| photo by Arcita Das |
Gopi: None! It all depends on your talents and will of working hard; I believe ANYTHING is achievable. It's like if you have some "STOP" signs in your brain, it will naturally gonna be stopping you because you think negative about yourself or others. You should remove judgment out of yourself (the bad one which harms your life) and go do "unpossible" things which I will assure will be possible one day! You have to live it, believe it, and already be there!
WMV: What city and State do you currently reside in?
Gopi: Los Angeles, beautiful, always sunny California - City of Angels!
WMV: What, if anything, would you like to tell the world about your parents, siblings, children, Major Black, and/or other friends and relatives?
Gopi: I think any person should speak about themselves, so you can ask them personally. I will tell a little about my husband. He is amazing man; he is great example to many men out there; he is awesome musician - guitar player. He also has his own website:
www.mightygovinda.com
There is his newest CD called "3 Words"; I hope you like it and buy it; it's available also in iTunes.
WMV: Your Facebook indicates that you graduated from, and were a Dance Collective Director at the Latvian Culture College. Was that in Latvia?
Gopi: Yes.
WMV: What degrees and certificates have you earned?
Gopi: I got Diploma of Modern Dance Teacher - certificate that I can teach my own dance collective, which I did back in Latvia.
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| wedding portrait, May 3, 2012 |
WMV: What exactly is collective directing?
Gopi: It means to advertise your dance classes, preparing choreographies, shows, figure out costumes, prepare dancers for dance competitions, et cetera.
WMV: Your Facebook indicates that you speak Russian, as well as Latvian, Spanish, and English, and you were apparently raised in a Russian satellite. Are you a communist, or at least a socialist, or do you prefer capitalism?
Gopi: I never been communist. Latvia was against the pressure of Russia and wanted their own independence, so it happened in 1991; Latvia since then is no more part of Russia! I don't count myself to any of these political groups; I am into God consciousness, which means everybody is equal. There are people fighting even with their own siblings, killing them, but actually there is no reason. PROBLEM is people think it's their land and then they fight for the land, but once you understand that land is actually God's, you stop any fighting! No matter you are rich, beautiful, famous, poor, lonely - death will come ANYWAY, so people should be not proud of any of their situation!
WMV: Your Facebook indicates that you worked for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Have you started studying the Hindi language?
Gopi: I am in Krishna Consciousness four years; this is my fifth year. Work is then, when somebody pays you, there is nobody paying me. I am one of the preachers in Krishna Consciousness; nobody pays me, but all my things work out naturally and very easy since I am in the temple.
WMV: What other languages have you studied?
Gopi: I speak English, Latvian, Russian... I have studied also German (almost forgot everything); I know very little Spanish.
WMV: Your Facebook indicates that you've been to India, as well as Utah and Florida. What other cities, States, Provinces, and countries have you visited?
Gopi: I have never been in India. I been in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada - at least seventeen States just in U.S.
WMV: What contrasts did you discover between Florida, Utah, and California?
Gopi: Hm... I haven't been long enough in Utah or Florida to see a lot of contrasts from California. Can we skip this question?
WMV: Of course!
What are your favorite travel destinations?
Gopi: Los Angeles, California...
WMV: Where haven't you been, that you'd like to visit?
Gopi: India.
WMV: You often post messages on Facebook about Hinduism and Krishna, but, at least once, you have complained that some Buddhists slaughtered some Moslems in Myanmar or Burma. Don't Hindus often slaughter Moslems also?
Gopi: I don't have information about that; all I know, you are getting heavy Karma if you kill anyone - does not matter who - person, animal, bird. Karma will come back to you, and you will have to be killed. I am sorry for hurtful truth, but nobody can escape law of Karma! People do not realize they are also involved in murder if they eat meat, fish, or eggs. How? Very simple! Somebody had to slaughter the animal in order to get it on your plate; somebody had to bring it to the store; you eating it - support the animal killing for your belly hunger. Do you think you [are] not gonna be punished for it? You will. Only way how to escape this Karma, is to stop eating meat; start protecting animals. God will see your beautiful actions and your Karma might be escaped this way.
WMV: What exactly are your religious beliefs?
Gopi: I don't call it religion; I call it the highest love, Bhakti yoga - love to God and love to every living entity like to your dearest sister and brother. It's the highest science. We are against the slaughter of people or animals; we are vegetarians, many devotees are vegan, also raw... We believe the highest source of happiness is to serve God, chant Maha Mantra daily: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare, Rama Hare, Rama, Rama, Rama Hare, Hare! And after serving God, just go back to Godhead after this lifetime - no need to waste time. No more suffering, no more old age, sicknesses, material body...
WMV: What inspires you?
Gopi: Krishna inspires me very much daily; people who know the meaning of life, people who don't have mind limitations; beautiful and life changing performance by any artist...
WMV: Have you or any member of your family ever served in the military of any nation?
Gopi: No. I serve Lord Chaitanya's army.
WMV: Facebook indicates you liked the movie Captain Phillips. What did you like about that movie?
Gopi: I think it does not indicate I liked many movies; I think what it really indicates the movies which I have watched. If you are an actor you should know movies which are Oscar nominees. Anyway, I always liked Tom Hanks' work; also was curious how people who never acted, will act (I'm talking about [a] few pirates).
WMV: Who or what is "The Dangle"?
Gopi: "The Dangle" is the video [on] which I [was] working with singer Adnan Safadi. I made choreography for some part of the video. There was also crump dance team which is very known because of leader, Tommy the Clown. You can search on Youtube; it's viewed many times and got also L.A. Times' attention.
WMV: According to your IMDb page, you played a dancer in Jazz in the Diamond District. Where exactly is the Diamond District?
Gopi: Washington D.C. - District of Columbia.
WMV: Your personal resumé on Pro.IMDb.com indicates that you played the White Queen in a theatrical version of Alice in Wonderland. Did you enjoy Johnny Depp's film version of this classic?
Gopi: Shame on me! Haven't seen it; I'm running to see it now!
WMV: Your personal resumé on Pro.IMDb.com indicates that you won an award for being The Best Dancer from Latvia in a "Dance 2 LA" contest. How many dancers from Latvia did you compete against?
Gopi: I don't remember; it was video contest. I sent a one-minute long video and people were voting on daily basis. I knew I have to be in final five in order to be viewed by judges from L.A., so [I] encouraged to vote my friends, my dancers, and [it] happened to be I was fourth from Latvia, and my ex-classmate was first, but L.A. judges for some reason picked me; it was big surprise to me!
WMV: What do you enjoy the most about your work?
Gopi: I enjoy to express my emotions; I have a lot of fire inside of me, so it's good to use it in healthy way - acting and dance!
WMV: Besides acting and dancing, what are your other talents and hobbies?
Gopi: I really dedicate a lot of time to Krishna Consciousness, and, when I don't work, I spend as [much time] as possible with my love, my husband.
WMV: Are you watching the Winter Olympics?
Gopi: Saw the opening... Saw yesterday [February 17, 2014] for ten minutes... I guess not really...
WMV: How much of a problem with terrorism did you observe in Europe?
Gopi: None.
WMV: How did Marc Chicoine discover you?
Gopi: Through my actor friend, Vinicios Silva...
WMV: You apparently played Ms. Banks in "The Girl She Knew." What girl, who knew?
Gopi: LOL
WMV: You also played the lip-syncing role of the Scarecrow in a theatrical version of The Wizard of Oz. Would you have liked to play Michelle Williams' roles in Oz the Great and Powerful?
Gopi: Honestly, no. Everyone can play pretty girl, pretty woman, but how many women you see in Hollywood doing a lot of funny, crazy, ugly, weird stuff, or real acting. I rather have "juicy," crazy role than play regular boring "normal" woman.
WMV: How did you land the role of a dancer in a music video entitled "Let's Get Down"?
Gopi: I'm not sure I know what are you talking about.
WMV: It's at the end of the "Gunita Jansone-Black Acting Reel" at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpy-ZSpg2sU
What current or upcoming projects are you working on?
Gopi: Upcoming documentary - it's surprise and it's gonna be inspiration for those who have any drug or alcohol problems; I tend not to talk about projects too much which are on the way. More auditions, more meeting with casting directors...
WMV: What are your career goals?
Gopi: It always turn out MUCH better than I'm planing it, so let this stay with me.
WMV: What web links would you like to share?
Gopi:
https://www.facebook.com/jansone1
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gunita-Jansone-Black/206928379376442
http://www.youtube.com/user/gunitaj
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5808715
Interview by William Mortensen Vaughan
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