Tag Archive for 'lesbian'

Hollywood Feminist of the Day: Meredith Baxter

Published
by
Melissa Silverstein
on December 3, 2009
in Actresses and Politics
. 2 Comments

MeredithB_SGran_13109664_600.previewI watched every single episode of Family Ties when I was growing up.  It was such a great and smart show.  I knew I was a liberal because I believed everything Elyse Keaton said and even though I loved Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton, I hated his politics so much.  That show, created by Gary David Goldberg, was one of those shows that helped shape my generation.

We all watched it because in the 80s you really didn’t have a lot of other options, and that was when NBC and their Thursday lineup rocked.  We even watched the commercials in those days.  It was one of those shows that kids and parents both watched -- together.  Does that even happen anymore?

So yesterday, on the day when New York, one of the most liberal states in our nation — the state that made abortion legal before Roe v Wade — shot down gay marriage, Mama Keaton came out on national TV in a very honest and moving interview with Matt Lauer on the Today show.

She also gave a great interview to The Advocate.  I know she’s made some crazy Lifetime women scorned flicks but she was so great as Lily Rush’s mom a couple of years ago on Cold Case.  I’d love to see her on TV more.

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Tags: Cold Case, Family Ties, lesbian

Outfest Highlights Women

Published
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Melissa Silverstein
on July 9, 2009
in Festivals
. 0 Comments

Outfest kicks off tonight in LA and it features 182 films and videos from 25 countries in 7 different venues over 11 days.

This year there are a ton of lesbians and women filmmakers on the agenda.  There are usually way more pics by and about guys but this year the festival is highlighting the women. Kim Yutani, Director of Programming for the Festiva says that this year it seems that there are more stronger films by women.

“It’s a balancing act,” Yutani says. “We want the highest quality films possible and also ones that will appeal to our very diverse audience. And it’s not easy to do. I think there were a good number of lesbian films that were just stronger this year, especially the storytelling.”

If you are in the LA area here are some of the films that looks interesting to check out and the guide (all descriptions are from the guide)

And Then Came Lola: Directed and written by Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler

In this fast-paced, femme-filled romantic comedy inspired by RUN LOLA RUN, Lola is a talented photographer but completely unreliable. When her beautiful girlfriend needs her to deliver some crucial photos, can Lola do it? On time? Lola has three chances to make good, but obstacles lurks…namely in the form of gorgeous women, nutty dog owners and stalwart meter maids. Put on your running shoes and tank top and get ready for this mad dash through the streets of San Francisco

The Baby Formula: Directed by Alison Reid

Athena and Lilith want to have a baby…and they’re looking to do it without a man! The ladies employ an experimental procedure that turns stem cells into sperm, allowing them to have a biological child. But when their relatives and a documentary crew find out, the couple’s domestic bliss is put to the test. Pregnant with humor and warmth, THE BABY FORMULA is a fresh take on what makes a family.

Drool written and directed by Nancy Kissam

Part THELMA & LOUISE and part LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, DROOL is an irreverent dark comedy with delightful performances from bombshells Laura Harring (MULHOLLAND DR.) and Jill Marie Jones (“Girlfriends”). With an abusive husband, ungrateful kids and nothing else going for her, Anora’s life is rough. Things start looking up when she gets very friendly with her new neighbor, Imogene…until Anora’s husband walks in on them and ends up dead in a freak, yet karmically just, accident. The ladies hit the open road with two kids, one body and no plan.

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Tags: lesbian

Interview with Wendy Jo Carlton – Director of Hannah Free

Published
by
Melissa Silverstein
on June 25, 2009
in Ageism and Festivals
. 2 Comments

Sharon glessHannah Free, the new film starring Sharon Gless, written by Claudia Allen (adapted from her play) and directed by Wendy Jo Carlton will premiere on Sunday, June 28 as the closing night film for the Frameline LGBT Film Festival in San Francisco.

The film tells the story of a life-long love affair between two women, Hannah and Rachel.  Hannah played by Gless is a free spirit who refuses to abide by the rules and has constant wanderlust even though she is incredibly in love with and happy with Rachel.  It takes Rachel a lot longer to fully be with Hannah even though she does love her.  Their struggle to love each other and be accepted is symbolic of the evolution of the struggle for gay civil rights.

Sharon Gless is a forceful presence as Hannah.  While the story might seem cutting edge because it is about two women it really isn’t, it’s just a plain old love story.  It just happens to be about two women.  I loved that we saw the women age through the film which moves it beyond the “cool” factor.  This is a story that is happening in communities all across the country and I like that it was brought out from behind the shadows into the forefront.

Women & Hollywood posed some question to the film’s director Wendy Jo Carlton:

Women & Hollywood: How did you become involved with this film?

Wendy Jo Carlton: I’ve been an independent filmmaker for about 20 years, and had many successful shorts and a few screenplays under my belt before I moved to Chicago from Seattle. I worked with Tracy Baim, the executive producer, on a couple other projects, the Chicago Gay Games DVD and recently the living library that is the Chicago Gay History Project.  In the course of interviewing hundreds of LGBT folks in the area, I met the playwright Claudia Allen and then the three of us decided to make a lesbian feature film in Chicago, adapting Hannah Free, one of Claudia’s popular plays.

Wendy Jo Carlton

Wendy Jo Carlton

W&H: There are not many films that show lesbians in this way.  do you think this is a breakthrough in how lesbians will be seen on film?

WJC: It was important to me to portray Hannah and Rachel not just as young lovers but as older lovers as well, two women who share a deep emotional connection but also a passionate physical and sexual connection. And not to just imply that, but to show their attraction visually, cinematically. Most mainstream feature films don’t show older couples sharing physical affection and sexual attraction for one another. Whether they are straight or queer, we just don’t see many older characters in bed together or see older people kissing and being sensual together onscreen. I think it’s sexy and fun and life affirming.

Most long-term romantic relationships, regardless of orientation, wax and wane in the lust department. What’s great about Hannah and Rachel is that theirs is the kind of great love affair that has sustained its passion and lust over decades, the kind of fantastic, enduring attraction and love that is celebrated and pined for in straight films all the time.

W&H: How did Sharon Gless get involved?

WJC: Sharon Gless and Claudia Allen are old pals because Sharon years ago came to Chicago to star in one of Claudia’s plays called Cahoots. They maintained a friendship and when Claudia sent Sharon the script she decided to come back to Chicago and take on the complex and demanding role of Hannah. She did an incredible job and brings so much complexity, nuance, humor and gravitas to the role.

Continue reading ‘Interview with Wendy Jo Carlton – Director of Hannah Free’

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Tags: Hannah Free, lesbian, Sharon Gless, Wendy Jo Carlton