Inspirational Women Of the Speaking Circuit: Angelena Bonet of Crystal Heart Productions On Five Things You Need To Be An Effective Speaker

…Know your audience — My last advice would be to know who you are speaking to. I know this sounds obvious but you would be surprised how many times I have seen keynote speakers get it wrong. If you’re a politician then cracking jokes during your inaugural speech probably wouldn’t go down well so knowing your environment and how much personality you can show is a key component of what makes a memorable speech. Once you have your topic settled on then you need to understand who will be there. I have given keynote speeches at non-profit events with children present so obviously that will influence how I phrase certain points and my delivery.

As a part of our series about Inspirational Women of the Speaking Circuit, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Angelena Bonet.

Angelena Bonet is an Australian multi-award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, singer-songwriter and inspirational speaker based in Toronto. She is a former international model and actress who has hosted the FIFA World Cup Show in Canada and then created Crystal Heart Productions eight years ago. She has created five documentary films, their original soundtracks/music videos, and two web series Heart Of The Matter and The Angelena Bonet Show. She writes, directs, edits and produces her work in their entirety, including co-writing and singing the soundtracks and describes it “purely as a labor of love”! Her documentary short film Change The World recently screened in Hollywood, Europe, South America and Japan and is now available on YouTube. Angelena is the recipient of over 300 film festival awards worldwide, including the ‘Humanitarian Award’ at the Jane Austen International Film Festival in the U.K. and the ‘Human Spirit Award’ at the DOCS Without Borders Film Festival in The Bahamas. Her online talk show Heart Of The Matter has also won the Social Awareness Award (Award of Excellence) at the Vegas Movie Awards and it was her interviews that inspired the VMAs to create that specific category. She interviews inspiring women all around the world and from all walks of life and is dedicated to having women’s voices heard. She also reports on the red carpet of film premieres and award shows.

Angelena has been a Jury member of The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA) for the past four years. Angelena is a regular keynote inspirational speaker and her films feature many of her public speeches. A natural and confident communicator, Angelena speaks from personal experience and the heart, whilst shedding light on human rights issues that generally get swept under the carpet. From Australian international model to a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, documentary filmmaker and humanitarian she is devoted to shining a light on violence against women and her message is one of peace, love and unity. Angelena is a regular keynote speaker and her films feature many of her public speeches. A natural and confident communicator, Angelena speaks from the heart, whilst shedding light on human rights issues that generally get swept under the carpet.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in Sydney, Australia and first appeared on national television at the age of four on a preschool show called Romper Room with my twin brother. It was filmed at Channel 7 Television Studios near where I lived and I can still remember having the best time. It no doubt had an impact on me. I began ballet lessons that same year and piano lessons at six. Dancing was my passion and I studied jazz and tap from the age of ten. I then continued my dance studies as well as singing and drama at The Australian College of Entertainment during high school. When I was eighteen I was discovered at a hair salon that year and asked to model for a shoot that appeared in Vogue Australia. I then modelled part-time while studying and got my first job as a secretary the following year. I was scouted by a top Sydney modelling agency at twenty and things just took off from there. The very next day I was booked on a television soap opera “Breakers” where they wrote me into the script and I was on that show, which aired in 50 countries, for the next two years. I was then on the cover with a ten-page spread of the three biggest-selling issues of Inside Sport magazine (Australian version of Sports Illustrated) and was named ‘The New Australian Supermodel’ on national news when I returned to Sydney after modeling in Milan.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I grew up in Sydney, Australia first appeared on national television at the age of four on a preschool show called Romper Room with my twin brother. It was filmed at Channel 7 Television Studios near where I lived and I remember having such a magical day. It no doubt had an impact on me. I began ballet lessons that same year and piano lessons at six. Dancing was my passion and I studied jazz and tap from the age of ten. I then continued my dance studies as well as singing and drama at The Australian College of Entertainment during high school. I loved school, particularly music and English classes and was a social butterfly! I then went to Business College at eighteen to study a Secretarial and Travel & Tourism course and was discovered at a hair salon that year and asked to model for a shoot that appeared in Vogue Australia. I then modeled part-time while studying and got my first office job as a secretary the following year. I signed with a top Sydney modelling agency at twenty and things just took off from there. The very next day I was booked on a television soap opera “Breakers” where they wrote me into the script and I was on that show, which aired in 50 countries, for the next two years. I was then on the cover with a ten-page spread of the three biggest-selling issues of ‘Inside Sport’ magazine and was named ‘The New Australian Supermodel’ on national news when I returned to Sydney after modeling in Milan.

In early 2010 I then signed with a talent agent in New York and moved to Toronto, Canada. I fell in love with the city, the people and loved working in their TV and Film industry. I hosted the FIFA World Cup Show that year and was on an episode of the TV Series ‘Ghostly Encounters’. I came home in 2012 for a visit and six days later I was a victim of a horrific violent crime in Melbourne. Once again my life was turned upside down and I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the crime and had to also deal with the police investigation. This experience changed my life and today I can say for the better. It completely opened my eyes to the pain of this world and the cruelty that some human beings are capable of inflicting and also opened my heart with a feeling of immense compassion for all of us women who have suffered. To say I was disgusted with my perpetrators is an understatement and I’d never felt such rage. Once again I was suicidal and this time I really didn’t think I could go on. I also lost loved ones afterward because of their denial as they too had been manipulated by the main perpetrator and that was when I decided enough was enough and I was going to go public with this injustice. I was told by one of my case workers at the time that sexual violence against women is a silent global epidemic and that 1 in 3 women and girls will experience some kind of abuse in their lifetime. I couldn’t bear to think of another woman going through the suffering I was experiencing and I felt a very strong desire in my heart to help other people. This was before the #MeToo movement began and no-one was talking about rape but I found my courage and made the commitment that I would not be silenced, nor would I own any shame for their behaviour. I then began my humanitarian work in 2013 by aligning myself with ethical non-profit organizations that support women and girls. I believe that when we come together, with united voices, we can change the world. I started my production company Crystal Heart Productions when I returned to Toronto in September 2014 and I put all my energy into this. I was tired of the vacuous shows I kept seeing on television and wanted to channel my skills in front and behind the cameras into a show for women that had purpose and meaning. And that is how my vision for my talk show Heart Of The Matter was born. It was created from my heart to allow women to not just be seen but heard and in turn inspire each other. When I won the Social Awareness Award, the category that Vegas Movie Awards created after watching my show, I was truly touched because this project means so much to me. To contribute positively to society is what is really important to me. My journey has been very challenging and painful but also really beautiful and magical. I have gone with the flow and always followed my heart and woven my life into my art and I am very proud of what I’ve been able to overcome.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I was in Los Angeles and decided to go to a live taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno by myself. Jay came out before the show to warm up the audience and he asked if anyone wanted to come up on stage and say hello. I immediately put my hand up and he picked me to come up! I was so excited to meet him and we had an amazing rapport and I felt right in my element. He asked me what I did for a living and I told him I was a model and working on an album. He noted that I had an Australian accent and made reference to the late Steve Irwin, whom he had had on his show as a guest many times over the years. He then asked me to sing something so I sang one of my songs Downtown a cappella. I was then invited back to the show a few weeks later on my birthday and got to meet Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian U.K. star Ben Barnes. Feeling completely at ease with Jay on his set was another television appearance that had an impact on me.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I first started my modelling career and shooting with different photographers, I was doing a lot of beauty campaigns and fashion editorial. To fit those sample sizes you have been so thin and I tried to diet to reach that unhealthy weight and I realised that I wasn’t prepared to starve myself or jeopardise my health to fit some warped idea of beauty. I stayed my naturally slim shape and my modeling agent discovered that the swimsuit and lingerie clients loved my look and they are the markets I really excelled at. It was wonderful for me because I could do what I love but still eat hamburgers and pasta and live without constantly eating lettuce leaves and counting calories. I was not prepared to give up carbs because the body needs them. I do not advocate for size 0 and encourage women of all ages to embrace their natural body type and be the healthiest you can be while enjoying foods they love in moderation. There is no way I could have made four feature films, one documentary short film, seven music videos, two web series and everything else I have achieved without nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Food is medicine and fuel and restricting calories can negatively impact our healthy and beauty. There are too many dangerous messages in advertising and social media for women. I aim for health and balance rather than deprivation and starvation.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I have been blessed to have had many great people in my life and teachers over the years but the one person that I am most grateful for helping me get to where I am today is Erick. He changed my life and enriched it in such positive ways. To have unconditional love is a rare thing on this planet and I don’t take that for granted. He knew my potential, he believed in me and I love the tunes he wrote for me. When he passed away I got to see how strong I really was and had to finish our project on my own. I was pushed so far out of my comfort zone and have since grown and learned so much about myself. Once again I got to put in practice all that I had learned from him in the studio and producing my album on my own at Trackdown, Fox Studios was definitely an experience I will never forget. I wanted to make him proud and complete our project and keep my promise. And I have!

You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging and intimidating. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?

My advice for others wanting to embark on this career path is be very clear that you’re in this business for the right reasons. If you are in love with the arts and very creative then you will be able to persevere and deal with the setbacks and long hours. Getting clear on what genre you resonate with and honing your skills is also imperative. I produce all my work in their entirety and even though it is a ridiculous amount of work, I love the whole creative process and how it unfolds organically. Filmmaking is definitely not a nine-to-five job so being passionate about what you’re wanting to create is the number one ingredient so you have the drive to persist with your project. Don’t be afraid to take risks either because being in your comfort zone as an artist is never a good thing. Being uncomfortable is where the magic happens so believe in yourself. Trying to find some balance is a tricky thing but taking time out to recharge the batteries and take care of yourself will ensure you don’t burn out and have the energy to keep creating. If you are passionate then you will have the inner strength to take the knockbacks and have the energy to persevere.

What drives you to get up everyday and give your talks? What is the main empowering message that you aim to share with the world?

What drives me is social justice and wanting to make a positive difference in the world. After experiencing such injustice I reached that point of enough is enough and I cannot be quiet. After seeing firsthand the ugly side of humanity and how much healing many people are in need of I knew I had to speak out. This is now my purpose and I love when people come up to me after a talk and hug me or tell me that they too have experienced violence and thank me for my courage and helping us all have a voice. Being a model and celebrated for artistic endeavours is really incredible and I am so grateful for that but touching hearts and helping others is what gives me the biggest joy of all!

Can you share with our readers a few of your most important tips about how to be an effective and empowering speaker? Can you please share some examples or stories?

My five things you need to be a highly effective public speaker are:-

1. Confidence — I can’t stress this enough! When you give a presentation at work or in front of a large audience in an auditorium you need to walk out like you belong there and are greeting a room full of friends. If you are nervous, do not announce this to your audience and never apologize. Instead, take a deep breath and smile as you begin your talk. It is natural to have butterflies but I remind myself that this is because something awesome is happening and it is great to be alive!

2. Preparation — this step is key to giving an incredible talk and your audience potentially giving you a standing ovation. I personally do not write out my script and learn it word for word because I find that very distracting and I would be more nervous that I’m going to forget my lines. I leave line learning for my acting or hosting other network’s programs. When I give a talk, whether it’s a live audience or to camera I never know what I am going to say until I start talking. I love that feeling of being in the moment and the fact it gives me permission to speak from my heart and think on my feet. That being said, I do prepare my talk in that I know the topic and speak from lived experience. When you speak your truth and know you have wisdom to impart then you can speak to anyone, anywhere because it’s authentic. Public speaking is another form of communication and just like a book or song you must have a beginning, middle and an end.

3. Style — this point is vital to knowing who you are and how you convey your message. Being polished, confident and knowing your subject is imperative and then having your style is what is going to define you. I would advise bringing your personality to your audience makes for an enjoyable experience as an audience member. People want to see you and if you can convey what makes you an individual then you will feel more comfortable and more relatable to your audience. It’s about knowing what situation you’re in and speaking appropriately for that event.

4. Attire — how you dress for your public speaking engagement is vital. Always keep in mind the venue, time of day, audience members and what the actual event is. This will be your guide to ensuring you are dressed appropriately and professionally. Some events are more formal than others and you still want to make sure you are comfortable and can breathe. For women who aren’t used to wearing high heels, I would suggest wearing a pair of ballet flats instead so you don’t have to be worried about sore feet or tripping up stairs to get on stage. That also applies to tight clothing as that can restrict your breathing and make you more nervous. Keeping hair back off your face is also a wise idea as hair that falls in your face that you have to keep putting behind your ear is not only distracting for you, but for your audience also. If you lose them early with lots of fidgeting then the whole speech is ruined.

5. Know your audience — My last advice would be to know who you are speaking to. I know this sounds obvious but you would be surprised how many times I have seen keynote speakers get it wrong. If you’re a politician then cracking jokes during your inaugural speech probably wouldn’t go down well so knowing your environment and how much personality you can show is a key component of what makes a memorable speech. Once you have your topic settled on then you need to understand who will be there. I have given keynote speeches at non-profit events with children present so obviously that will influence how I phrase certain points and my delivery.

As you know, many people are terrified of speaking in public. Can you give some of your advice about how to overcome this fear?

They say that many people fear public speaking more than death. The advice I would give others about overcoming this fear is to keep in mind that the audience is on your side and wants you to do great. I greet my audience like a room full of friends and I find that really helps with nerves. Preparation and knowing your subject matter is key also. If you have a structure in mind and key points you want to cover that will also give you the confidence to shine. If you’re passionate about your talk that will definitely come across to your audience. People often say to picture the audience naked but I just find that one a little off-putting and distracting from what you’re there to do. Your goal is to be informative and hopefully motivational so focus on your talk is the key to staying on track. Lastly, practice makes perfect and the more you do it the more comfortable you become. It’s like anything, once you do it the first time you learn what works and what doesn’t and you will refine your talk and the next time will be better.

You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?

I am almost ready to launch a public awareness project to support women and girls survivors of violence. Bringing awareness and support to ethical non-profit organizations is something I am very passionate about. I am also writing my first book to share the wisdom I have gained from my life so far and help others with their healing journey.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1. I think the most important thing is to surround yourself with positive and supportive people, including family members. Many women become very jealous of beauty, talent and someone in the limelight and can become very toxic and vindictive. I wish someone had really instilled this message in me as a young woman because I have a tendency to see the best in people and make excuses for their bad behavior.

2. Choose your boyfriends carefully! Many men want a model on their arm but they don’t have the confidence to cope with the attention she gets everywhere she goes. I have dated some men that were very threatened by my career on the rise and tried to pull me down and become controlling. I wish someone had told me that not everyone has a big heart and are quite superficial, egotistical and all about their image.

3. Keep practising your instrument daily. I learned classical piano as a child and had a piano in my bedroom. When I got older and busier I wasn’t as diligent with my practice as I once was. I wish someone had told me that no matter what, make time each day to practice and keep your dexterity.

4. Learn the business. I think this is a hard one for many artists because we would rather put our energy out being creative, not dealing with the business side of things. I wish someone had told me the ugly side to the beautiful business. I lost many a modelling job because I wouldn’t sleep with the client but that is what I am most proud of. I never sold my soul and can look myself in the eye and got my jobs on merit alone.

5. Become self-sufficient. I wish I had someone tell me years ago to hone skills behind the scenes as well as in front of the cameras. I found this out later in my career and it has been a magical experience to grow as an artist and teach myself to edit a film. I just didn’t know in the beginning of my career how important it was to be in control of your art and destiny and not rely on anyone else.

Can you share with our readers any self care routines, practices or treatments that you do to help your body, mind or heart to thrive? Please share a story for each one if you can.

Taking care of myself holistically is very important. I practice yoga and meditation and drink green tea daily. Slowing down and connecting with my inner self is key to living a balanced life and keeps my creative energies flowing. Drinking plenty of water and eating nutritious food is also vital to feeling your best and thriving. We live in such a fast-paced world and spend so much time online. I make space for myself to just “be” each day so I’m not always on and “doing”. For me, it’s all about nurturing both yin and yang by daily rituals which enhance quality of life and performance. If you take care of yourself on every level then that equates to giving your best in every area of your life.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favorite life lesson quote is one I came up with a few years ago — “Turn Tragic Into Magic”! I live by this mantra and I highly recommend it to anyone who is living through a tragedy. Life is wonderful and it’s also difficult at times but we always have a choice as to where we put our focus. The tragic and magic co-exist so do not be afraid of your emotions as they are your teachers and a natural response to loss, trauma and pain. We are human and life does not travel on an even, straight path. It’s about finding your balance and harmony with fear and love. We are here to evolve and that usually happens through our trials. We have the power to turn our deepest suffering into our greatest gift. When you embrace all your experiences your life becomes magical!

You are a person of huge influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I am part of the women empowerment movement and we have the suffragettes who fought for our right to vote to thank for getting the ball rolling. Women’s rights have come along way in the past century but we still have a fair way to go, particularly when it comes to equal pay and abortion rights in the U.S. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade ended the constitutionally protected right to abortion after nearly 50 years and this is a huge step backwards for women’s rights. Progress isn’t always linear and it can seem like we are taking ten steps forward and twenty back but I have faith we are heading in the right direction. When you look at prominent Hollywood men now in jail for their sexual crimes, or the billionaire paedophile and his female accomplice who were convicted it shows that the darkness is being exposed and victims are being heard. We have many warrior women around the world fighting for our rights and I am doing my part to shine the spotlight on sexual violence and how to recover from PTSD. The more women stand together and drop their competitiveness the better. It’s about strength in numbers and uniting as one so we can create a more healthy world, not just for our generation but for our daughters and their daughters and so on.

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!

I would love to have lunch with Malala Yousafzai. She is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, born in Pakistan in 1997 and at a young age started speaking out about young girls’ rights to an education. She was shot by the Taliban in 2012 because of her efforts but survived, and she has since created the Malala Fund to help girls find educational opportunities. I love her courage and conviction in fighting for justice and giving girls all around the world a voice. I would love to congratulate her on her humanitarian efforts and discuss the possibility of collaborating on human rights events and public awareness campaigns.

Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?

Readers can connect with me on the following socials:-

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/angelenabonetofficial/

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/angelenabonet/

Twitter — https://twitter.com/angelena_bonet1

Linkedin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelena-bonet-692a397a/

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAngelenaBonetShow

Website — https://www.angelenabonet.com

This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

About The Interviewer: Growing up in Canada, Edward Sylvan was an unlikely candidate to make a mark on the high-powered film industry based in Hollywood. But as CEO of Sycamore Entertainment Group Inc, (SEGI) Sylvan is among a select group of less than ten Black executives who have founded, own and control a publicly traded company. Now, deeply involved in the movie business, he is providing opportunities for people of color.

In 2020, he was appointed president of the Monaco International Film Festival, and was encouraged to take the festival in a new digital direction.

Raised in Toronto, he attended York University where he studied Economics and Political Science, then went to work in finance on Bay Street, (the city’s equivalent of Wall Street). After years of handling equities trading, film tax credits, options trading and mergers and acquisitions for the film, mining and technology industries, in 2008 he decided to reorient his career fully towards the entertainment business.  Â

With the aim of helping Los Angeles filmmakers of color who were struggling to understand how to raise capital, Sylvan wanted to provide them with ways to finance their creative endeavors.

At Sycamore Entertainment he specializes in print and advertising financing, marketing, acquisition and worldwide distribution of quality feature-length motion pictures, and is concerned with acquiring, producing and promoting films about equality, diversity and other thought provoking subject matter which will also include nonviolent storytelling.

Sylvan has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and has been seen on Fox Business News, CBS and NBC. Sycamore Entertainment Group Inc is headquartered in Seattle, with offices in Los Angeles and Vancouver.