Name: Jeffrey E. McCants

Years: 20

Location: Detroit, Michigan (home) or Columbus, Ohio (school)

School: The Ohio State University

Major: Journalism/Theatre

Favorite Color: Black

Jeff da Beat (AOL Instant Messenger): This is the way that I feel the rhythm of life. Jeff da Beat was a name given to me when I was a child by my Aunt Stephanie. At first, I hated the name with a passion, but accepted it as my own as I grew older. Everyone has a beat that they walk to, but me, I am my own Beat.

Infiniti_EI (Yahoo! Messenger): Infiniti_EI is a name that has developed in meaning over the past few years. In whole, it is Infiniti: The Everlasting Identity, but on Yahoo! it is Infiniti_EI for short. It came about after a long session of brainstorming by my friend Andre and I. My old penname when I wrote was "Nightmare." That name had been used when I was going through a lot of emotional problems in my life. When I finally walked out of it, I needed a new name because my life was no longer a nightmare. Andre and I came up with the name Infiniti because there is no limit to Infiniti. Infiniti is not a measurement of time like Eternity, but rather something that has no limits. And there is no limit to what I can do.

...through my writing. You name it and I write it. I've writing long stories, short stories, plays, poems, lyrics, and articles. I use my writing to express who I am and what I am feeling. I keep a journal so that I can look back on the years and see how things have affected me and helped me to grow. I keep a journal to see how I've changed and how I've remained stagnant. I write because when I die, my writings will remain.

All I can hear is...

My music, which is something that is very important to me. So important that I spend a lot of money just so that I can have my music close to me at all times and always at the best quality. My entire collection is stored within two computers and Frequency II, my iPod. I buy my albums instead of downloading them so that I can tell my artists to continue to make music. For the ones that I don't buy, I go see them in concert to let them know that I want them to continue touring.

My Five Favorite Artists are...

Jewel (Pieces of You, Spirit, This Way, and 0304): My favorite artist for eight years and counting. Her first album when unnoticed by me because at the time, I was not ready for her music. It wasn't until 1998 when I saw the music video for "Hands", which was a song from her second album, Spirit, that I began tuning my ears to her sound. Her music and lyrics are beautiful to me and make me think. Even when the only thing that can be heard is her voice and her guitar, she can keep me entranced. As long as she continues to make music, I will support her.

Kina (Kina): An artist who has only given her voice to one CD, Kina made a huge impact on me. Her self titled Album was a change for many reasons. For one, she was a black female singing rock with an R&B voice. In addition to that, her music always evoked different emotions. Where some albums will have five or six songs with the same message, every song on Kina's album is different and has a different meaning. Only one song talks about the love for another person. Another song talks about trying to work at a relationship. And still another demands an explanation from a lover who has strayed away from the relationship. Kina was not afraid to show herself and I love that about her.

Joan Osborne (Relish, How Sweet It Is, and Righteous Love): It's sad that Joan Osborn is known for a song that didn't utilize her vocals skills to their maximum. People know her from the song, what if God was "One of Us" but to me Joan is more than just a one hit wonder. Her music demands attention and strays from the norm. She incorporates old blues sounds and grass root music to bring a unique and daring sound. Too daring maybe, but I appreciate her work and enjoy her a lot to this day.

Talib Kweli (Blackstar, Reflection Eternal, Quality, and The Beautiful Struggle: Ask any of my friends and they will be the first to tell you that I hate most rap because I find the lyrics to be so shallow and hollow. I understand some rap is supposed to be fun but I have definitely been saturated. But Talib Kweli is different. Ever since I first heard his song, "Get By" I have been moving my head to his beats. Every time I listen to his album, I find something new and inspiring. This guy has a way of saying something that makes you listen. He is definitely a Quality artist.

Natalie Imbruglia (Left of the Middle, and White Lillies Island): All of the music I listen to isn't a deep poetic journey. I enjoy artists who write for radio, but still have something to say. Natalie Imbruglia is a musician that I generally listen to during the summer when I am driving in my truck on the freeway. I like Natalie because of her sounds in rock and pop. Her songs are not difficult to listen to or require much thought

My Top Five Favorite Bands:

MAE (Destination: Beautiful, and The Everglow): No band has ever moved me like MAE has. Comprised of five very talented young men, MAE brings intelligent and EMOtional music to anyone who will listen to them. Their music is truly an epic and it is easy to listen to the entire album all the way through. I first saw MAE at a Something Corporate concert and I needed to have their CD. Since then, I have been an avid follower of their music.

Copeland (Under Medicine Tree, and In Motion): Copeland is a strange group in that a person can never predict or match their sound. Their music is diverse, but is still good indie rock. In one song the group may incorporate a piano and in another, an accordion. Beyond music, Copeland prides themselves on creating intelligent lyrics for the masses and I agree that their music is very intelligent and insightful. No matter what new band comes out, Copeland never seems to stray far from my ears.

Something Corporate (Ready...Break, Audioboxer, Leaving Through the Window, and North): This is the group that started it all for me when it comes to punk rock, EMO, and indie rock music. Introduced to me by a good friend, Something Corporate is a band that incorporates piano into their music. I would have never thought that a beautiful instrument like a piano could be incorporated into something as fast passed as punk-rock music, but I was in for a surprise. Their music can vary very easily from fast passed and hard to something soft and gentle. Aside from the actual CD's, they put on one hell of a concert. They are so good that I've seen them in concert four times.

Waking Ashland (I Am For You, and Composure): I discovered this band from my friends and I when I wanted to see where MAE was touring. I figured that any band that would tour with them is worth listening to and I was right. Another band fronted by a pianist, Waking Ashland has the deep kind of music that you would listen to while cruising on the freeway while the sun is setting. Their music makes you want to be in motion, even if it isn't a fast motion. This band has a lot of energy and a lot of heart that is not going to die out too soon. Their EMOtional lyrics are truly moving.

The Working Title (Everyone Here is Wrong): Another band that was introduced to me by someone else, The Working Title is different in every way. The lead singer is not your average punk rock singer. His voice is different in the way that he has a more southern sound. Soulful maybe? What makes this band amazing is that they impressed me with their 6 song (technically 7 with a instrumental intro) EP. The band takes simple things, issues that we all go through and make them into a work of art and force us to really think about the things that go on around us. These guys are not your average punk rockers who are 24 and still talking about how their parents don't understand them. Instead they talk about death and the loss of love. Beautiful

...movies entirely too much. They have become a part of my life because I am an actor myself, only in a different medium. I love movies that are driven on emotion and not just star power. At the same time, I can enjoy great action movies and movies that have special effects. The real point is to take me out of that theatre and into a new work. A good storyline can do that. Great actors do that too. New ideas do it best.

My Top Five Favorite Movies:

Lord of the Rings (trilogy): Everyone has seen these films or have at least heard of them. Never have I ever been so completely taken away from reality and thrust into a world not like my own with such force as with this movie. The films were dead on with acting, story, and special effects. After sitting and watching three hours, I didn't want to leave because I needed more. For so long before, we were forced to watch bad fantasy films, but now we had something great. The best part about these films is that they only got better as time went on.

The Color Purple: No film has ever moved me like this one. When I first purchased the film on DVD, I watched it from 11 p.m. until about 2 a.m. and at the end I found myself crying uncontrollably. I had to catch myself in my tears and force myself to stop, but I've found that the same thing happens whenever I the movie. This film is driven on emotion and acting. There is so much struggle within the length of this film that when the breath of fresh air comes, tears come with it. Black people have a habit of making light of this film, but that is only because it was one of the first films about Black people that we could all connect with. This film is no comedy though.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: This movie caught me by surprise. I knew that it got really good rating, but I had no idea how much of an effect it would have on me. I went to see it with my friend Sarah and I was blown away. To see Jim Carry and Kate Winslet portray their very opposite characters and play them so well was amazing. The actual storyline came close to making me cry because of it's beauty and poetry. This story could never happen and yet they make it seem as though it is possible. Emotion.

Garden State: I don't exactly know what it is about this movie that I love about it. It's storyline isn't revolutionary and although the acting is fantastic, there are films that have even better acting. But there is something pure and honest about this film that makes me enjoy it so much. Everyone in the movie is flawed in such a beautiful way that audience members want to connect with them. The direction and imagery is also an amazing site to behold.

The Shawshank Redemption: My mother bought this movie for me on DVD and I watched it right after she gave it to me. I have heard so much about this film and how excellent it was and I have to say, it was all true. I loved ever aspect of this movie. It's strange because this was another one that was really long but I loved every moment of it. I didn't cry on this one, but it was equally as emotional.

Theatre is something that I've done since the time I was in high school. I love to act because my life is never as interesting as other people's. On stage, I can be someone else instead of nice Infiniti. I can be evil or afraid. It also helps to get out pent up emotion that wants to be let free. I love to watch theatre because just like film, it takes you somewhere. But theatre is a little more honest than film. Actors cannot have more than one shot at getting to a single audience. Once the first take is taken, it is then gone until the next night with a new audience.

What I've Watched...

The Phantom of the Opera: This was the very first musical I had ever seen and I pretty much grew up on it since the 1st grade. It has been my favorite musical since 1991 and helped me learn to sing. POTO is one of the most beautiful stories ever told. There is so much emotion and love in the melodies and lyrics that even the most stony of hearts is soften. Although I loved the musical when I was a kid, the Phantom actually scared me since he did kill people. I did get over this fear when I learned the real reason that he killed and the things that he went through. It made him less of a villain and more of a human. POTO will always be one of the best musicals ever in my heart.

RENT: When I first heard of RENT, I thought it was a musical about sex but boy was I wrong. When I finally listened to the cast recording, I realized that RENT was not a superficial musical. There is love, conflict, death and life. I am such a RENT head that I have quite a collection of RENT material (only some folks know what I am talking about). RENT came to Detroit recently and I have to admit, I did cry. By now, you are probably thinking I am an emotional SOB, but I'm not. It is very difficult to make me cry but that is how powerful this musical is.

Les Miserables: This is one musical that has the best storyline ever. You may not like Phantom, you may not like RENT but everyone loves Les Miserables. I think I like it because there is so much tragedy in it. Now before you think I am going through depression or something like that, understand that I am just a person that is tired of seeing everything so happy when life just isn't like that sometimes. Les Miserables shows that and shows it well. It was the longest running musical on Broadway until it closed in the summer of 2003. Great music, great acting, great show.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: What a musical. Introduced to me by my good friend Araz, Sweeney Todd bring death, revenge, and pies all in the same show. Music done by the great Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd has got to be one of the best musicals out there. This isn't your average feel good musical and that is probably the reason why it only lasted only one year on broadway. In this musical, a barber murders his customers and has his neighbor make them into pies which she sales to the people of London. The score is eerie enough. If you can, buy the DVD of the 1979 version. It will haunt you for days.

Wicked: Wicked was introduced to me by my friend Kristin. It's a great musical with some great music. It follows the two witches of Oz before Dorothy made her appearance. I am going to try and see it before the year is over, but from what I've seen and heard, it is beautiful to see on stage. You may see me quote this show and if I do, it will appear in green. No one mourns the Wicked.

Rocky Horror Show: How can you like theatre and not like this show? This show isn't serious or sad, but it is fucking hilarious (sorry mom). I would go see this show just to have fun. There is so much crowd partici...pation that there is never a boring moment. Gotta love Rocky.