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Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (August 13, 2010)

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

IKEA, butt dreams and being a raving dyke – all of these topics and more were Tweeted about by out women in entertainment this week.

If you come across tweets that you think we should feature in “Tweets of the Week” or if you find (verified) Twitter accounts for out lesbian/bi women in entertainment who you think we should follow, please send us that info at [email protected].

THIS JUST IN: WEB SERIES ANYONE BUT ME WANTS YOU!

Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward, co-creators of the award-winning web series Anyone But Me, are on a mission. They are counting on the devotion and generosity of their fans to help them raise $120,000 in order to shoot a third season of the show that follows a group of young New Yorkers as they navigate their often complicated relationships. Of special interest to many AfterEllen.com readers is the storyline revolving around the rocky relationship between Vivian (Rachael Hip-Flores) and Aster (Nicole Pacent).

We talked to Miller and Cesa Ward about their ongoing ABM “web-a-thon,” some of the possibilities a third season could hold (Sarah Paulson!) and what’s in store for Aster and Vivian.

AfterEllen.com: How did the idea for the web-a-thon come about?

Susan Miller:This was a brainstorming session in which our producer, PJ Palmer, tossed out the notion. We really were thinking of going with subscriptions, but we were afraid the subscription model might limit future views and maybe even cut into the fan base we already had. And no other web series had ever done a Web-a-Thon. Our idea wasn’t to raise the money in three days. We just wanted to present three days of brand new video. So, the “HELP” button remains on our site.

As of today, we’ve raised over $18,000. And when we raise $55,000 we guarantee five new episodes! But, if everyone wants a full S3, we need to reach our goal of $120,000.

So far 420 people have contributed anywhere from $5 to $1,000, and they have our hearts, for sure — but that doesn’t begin to make a dent in the number of fans we have. With 5 million views over two seasons, even you broke that down to 20,000 individuals who watch us over and over, wow! I mean, if everyone gave something, we’d be prepping for Season 4!

AE: Were you at all surprised by the response of the LGBT community to ABM?

SM: We knew ABM would fill a void. There are so many people whose stories are rarely told, or told well, who are hungry to see themselves and their lives represented. So, it was no surprise that the show would appeal to them. But we couldn’t have anticipated the groundswell of support and the numbers of LGBT fans who’ve become devoted to the show. It’s beyond measure what that means to us. We have people writing from all over the world identifying with our characters, saying they wish Anyone But Me had been around when they were coming out. Or from parents who are concerned for their children and applaud us just for existing. One of our fans made a coming out video which she allowed us to post. It blew Tina and me away.

AE: Why do you think the Aster/Vivian story has been so compelling for ABM fans of all ages?

SM:It’s a real relationship. It’s got passion, emotional turmoil, and our two actors infuse it with a rare chemistry. These are intelligent, modern young women who, even when they screw up, are people we root for. Vivian and Aster are trying to navigate the world at the same time they’re trying to find their way with one another. I think people are invested in these characters because they’re realistically drawn. They’re fresh. Their love story reflects a time of life which is thrilling but complicated. No one ever forgets that time.

AE: What have you learned from producing the first two seasons that will impact how you do things in the third?

Tina Cesa Ward: I say we’ve learned a lot about how to produce a series such as ours on a small budget. We believe in delivering a high quality show and that presents a huge challenge on our budget. New York City schools don’t come cheap to shoot in, nor do good NYC crews.

In season one, after every production we would evaluate everything in terms of production and examine what we could improve on so that we walked away with the show we wanted and we didn’t have to beat up the crew to get it. We just took what we learned in the first season to the second season. Now, I think we really understand how to produce this show and our crew has certainly thanked us for it. And production ties into the writing and directing of the show. We write very much with our budget in mind. And I direct knowing what we can accomplish in a day and what we can’t. But I think we’ve risen to the challenge and will take that knowledge into an even better Season 3.

AE: Can you give us a hint as to what’s in store for Aster and Vivian in S3?

SM:Well, they will move on to the next grade in school! And I think you’ll have glimpses of time past and time future. We left them with a whole lotta stuff to deal with at the end of S2. So, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

AE: Do you have any special guest appearances planned for S3? Any dream guest stars you’d like to snag?

SM: Sent out an S.O.S to Dr. Glass – I think everyone agrees, the girls need her help. And Liza Weil was so popular playing the pregnant, gay shrink, we want to bring her back. And Liza (who actually did have a baby) assures us she’s on board.

Can’t promise, but we hope Sarah Paulson will show up, as well. Got a good feeling about it.

AE: You’ve previously worked in film, television and theatre. What special storytelling challenges and/or opportunities exist in the web series format?

TCW: Since I’ve come from the independent film world, I’m kind of used to the challenge of the budget so that wasn’t too different for me. But since I’ve never written or directed anything episodic before, I had to learn the tricks of the trade in that regard. I really enjoy having the challenge of eight to nine minute episodes. It trains you as a writer to get to the point of the scene in an instant, don’t waste time on dialogue that’s not telling the audience something important about the scene. The web gives you an incredible opportunity to tell stories that never existed before. It’s like the independent film movement but for TV. Web content creators have huge creative freedom, and as soon as the monetization catches up it’s going to be really interesting.

AE: Is there anything you’d like to tell the ABM fans on AfterEllen.com?

SM: There are so many of you who came to know us and watch us on AfterEllen.com. You gave us our big break. And we want to keep bringing you the stories so rarely seen in the mainstream media. Many more people need to find us and will find us, if we are there to be found. We want to show the world we can continue and thrive especially at a time when the rights and lives of the LGBT population are so vulnerable. We want to give you more ABM! And we need you to help us do that.

TCW: As we’ve said many times, your support is phenomenal. And now the continuation of the show you love is in your hands. How many of us have been heartbroken over the cancellation of our favorite show and wished we could do something to keep it going? Now, everyone is being handed that opportunity. The LGBT community has always been in need of quality programming, hell, any programming. Well, now it’s up to you to support it. The CW, ABC etc. aren’t coming knocking to carry a show that has two teenage lesbian leads. We’re just not there yet. But that doesn’t mean that the LGBT community has to go without. We just have to do for ourselves and the web is giving us that opportunity.

Follow the ABM crew on Twitter (AnyoneButMe, Susan Miller, Tina Cesa Ward, Rachael Hip-Flores, Nicole Pacent) and be sure to visit their official web-a-thon page.

– by Karman Kregloe

WORKING THE POLL: HEY GOOD LOOKIN’, WHAT YOU GOT COOKIN’?

This week, Susan Feniger spoke with us about her time on Top Chef Masters and her new restaurant, Street, a Los Angeles restaurant which features global street food items. Sounds good, right? So do a lot of dishes lesbian chefs tend to make. Other chefs, too, but there’s always something particularly tasty about a gay lady chef.

Thanks to reality television (did we really just say that?), we’ve been introduced to a whole slew of lesbian/bi chefs via programs like Top Chef and Iron Chef. Though we’ve watched them all create delicious concoctions, could you ever pick just one to cook you a meal?

Because there really are so many to choose from, where narrowing your choices down to the following: American-influenced French and Northern Italian from Jamie Lauren; a sustainable French meal with locally-based flavor from Preeti Mistry; a seasonal classic seafood dish by Ashley Merriman; grilled fare with special sauces from Josie Smith-Malave; a classic dinner with a contemporary and healthy spin by Jennifer Biesty; or a big Southern meal from Cat Cora.

Who would you most love to see in your kitchen??

<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/3612896/”>Who is your favorite celezbrity chef?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;”><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/”>survey software</a></span>

Last week, we asked you to weigh in on the controversial sex scene from The Real L Word. Your opinions tended to run to the extremes, with a small majority of you holding it up as a prime example of why you don’t tune in. Following a close second were a whole group of you who are clearly tuning in to see just that sort of thing.

<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/3579923/”>What did you think of the real sex scene on “The Real L Word”?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;”><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/”>customer surveys</a></span> BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Sofia Black D’Elia will play lesbian Tea on MTV’s U.S. adaptation of Skins, and both she and Bryan Elsley tell us why even the most hardcore Naomily fans should give the show a chance.

Have you heard Margaret Cho‘s new song, “Lesbian Escalation“? No, it’s not about war. Well, not really

Jezebel.com provided a comprehensive overview (including some spoilers!) of the new trans character on Degrassi: TNG.

Both Law & Order: Los Angeles and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are going to tackle the subject of gay marriage.

Sara Gilbert‘s new morning show, The Talk, will debut on CBS Monday, Oct. 18.

Portia de Rossi became a DeGeneres this week, and is also rumored to be in talks to replace Steve Carrell on The Office.

Pretty Little Liars landed some Teen Choice Awards this week, including Choice Summer TV Show, Choice Summer TV Star: Female (Lucy Hale), and Choice Summer TV Star: Male (Ian Harding).

Hawthorne‘s Vanessa Lengies told Zap2It.com she had no idea her character, Kelly Epson, was a lesbian.

With impeccable timing, CNN did a lovely story this week about Equally Wed, a wedding magazine for engaged same sex couples.

Legend of the Seeker fans are lobbying hard for a third season of their beloved show.

Out guitarist/music writer Carrie Brownstein will star in a new TV show Portlandia with SNL comedian Fred Armisen, and is also creating the score for the upcoming documentary Women Art Revolution.

Bluewater Productions is creating a comic book based on Glee. Check out the cover art here. Speaking of Jane Lynch, she’ll be hosting Saturday Night Live on Oct. 9. Too soon to set the DVR? We think not!

Did you know that Lady Gaga went to Geek Camp? She’s also rumored to be starring in a film about her life. Bryan Singer is in talks to direct and the movie is said to be similar to “Moonwalker and Dreamgirls.” Wait. Moonwalker AND Dreamgirls? or Moonwalker OR Dreamgirls?

Weekly Geek columnist Danielle Reindeau tells us that Io9 recently published a “fantastic, fascinating article” detailing the science fiction explanation of why gay people must be allowed to marry.

This Sunday marks the season finale of The Real L Word on Showtime. Our own Trish Bendix will be live Tweeting the finale in CDT, and TRLW recapper Dara Nai (aka Bad Machine) will live Tweet the West Coast feed (PDT). Join them, won’t you?

That’s it for this week! Got the inside scoop on a hot new lesbian/bi actor/musician/TV show/film? Tell us at [email protected]. Check back next Friday for another edition of Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever.

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