Fresno Famous

There's DIY, and then there's Marcel.

He's also not bad with the trivia.

Name/age/occupation/location/how'd you end up in the area?

Marcel Anaclato Nunis. Er... 48... and a half! (I think). Playwright (52 — all produced — and counting) of some international renown (see www.frogwaymusical.com), producer, director, web arts marketing developer, CEO of Junglele Webs, recent experimenter in video production, provoker and facilitator of the possible. Fresno... Tower District (more accurately Fresno High) area ... used to be called Normal Heights. Aren't you impressed this "damned foreigner" knows this kind of stuff? I live on the street of dreams ... on the street where Jefferey Dahmer's Mom used to live, where the Peckinpahs once owned a ! home (yeah, add that to the Fresno cool factor...Sam Peckinpahwas born and raised in Fresno) and where the mythical "WeedWacker Theater" once ruled. I came to attend college back in 1980 and ended up making this my home. So glad there wasn't any talk of a 700 mile wall along the border back then ... even if it wasn't my point of entry.

How long have you been a Famous user?

Three weeks after it first began. An artist friend, Robert Weibel turned me on to it and I've been following it ever since. Apart from the hep and savvy aspect ... I was really into the "citizen contributer" aspect of it. So, when that change came about ... I (among the very few) was excited by the direction. Now this other change also opens up exciting possibilities. It's only gonna be as good as the participation that goes into it.

You meet someone who's never seen Famous. Explain it to them in a sentence.

The pulse of what is happening and all that is possible in this berg.

You're a theater dude. Best place to see Theater in town. No fair to just answer Rogue.

The Turtle Dove Theater (my garage). Actually this question warrants more action than discussion. In a city this size there really are not nearly enough (affordable) performance spaces. Now, we're talking about the mid-sized to intimate type spaces ... 200 seats or less. The GCP spaces are great but they are locked in to their season ... that goes with the colleges as well. Once the Severance space opens it will provide more opportunities ... but really ... there needs to be more ... a lot more! The Rogue is just an indicator of what talent exists in this area ... even if a third of the performers want to gig regularly, they really can't. So, performers and audience members need to be activists and put on more shows and pack them in. Perhaps, then somebusiness types will take notice that the arts are good for business. And you can begin by supporting RogueYear Round July 26 at Ashtree Studios and July 28 at Starline.

Trivia: We know you're special and unique. Tell us why.

For a foreigner who is a victim of polio, color blind and dyslexic ... I do Ok. I think the self description of "provoker and facilitator of the possible," is what I am best at. I used to be one of those "talkers"... who talked, and talked and talked. That ended 15 years ago. But until you get off your butt and make it happen ... it's not going to get done. When we complain and whine and "discuss" ... all we are doing is waiting for someone else to do it (or a handout) ... just so we can complain about "how it wasn't done right." So, I guess if there is something unique about me it's my attitude and that I have become one of a handful who make what we want happen without the assurance of a "sure thing." Mind you, this is not to toot my own horn because there are the many who have bought into my insanity and have helped build these schemes. And without them it (whatever "it" might have been at the time) would not have taken shape ... so, I proudly share the blame. Sure, some may take issue with what I do and how I do it ... but I can always walk away with a smirk knowing that I tried. And really, the ONLY failure is not trying.

Final thoughts?

Shuttup and do it!