TWEETS OF THE WEEK
Lesbian bed death, the Olympics and baby carrots – all of these topics and more were Tweeted about by queer women in entertainment this week.
Here are some of the highlights:
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].
– by Karman Kregloe
THIS JUST IN: FERNANDA CARDOSO IS IN THE BUSINESS OF PUTTING LESBIANS ON SCREEN
Meet lesbian director Fernanda Cardoso. She came to the U.S. from Sao Paulo, Brazil when she was 20-years-old. She entered into the University of Miami film program, where she got the college experience that ended up inspiring her first feature film Bloomington.
Later, she transferred to USC’s School of Cinema Television, and ended up working on shows such as America’s Next Top Mop Model (10 cycles), Blind Date and The Law Firm and work on music videos, commercials and films such as The Suburbans and Human Nature.
Fernanda feels all of her experience in editing and production has given her an edge as a director, saying, “It is a ‘day job’ where I get to hone my skills as a story teller every single day and in that sense it has made me a much better and more efficient director. I really don’t think I would have been able to shoot a 102 page script in 20 days if I didn’t have as much editing experience as I do.”
Which must be why the trailer of Bloomington looks so good.
“One fine Sunday afternoon, I was reading the first sex scene from Tipping the Velvet and thought to myself that it would be fun try to write one as well,” Fernanda said of developing the idea behind Bloomington.” At first they had no names. The only things I was certain of were that they were both female and had a significant age difference. I ended up spending the entire year of 2005 basically filling in the blanks: thinking about who they were, where they lived, whether they would stay together or not, and why.”
The story follows a former child actress turned college student, Jackie (Sarah Stoufer) who falls for her professor, Catherine. “The character of Jackie is someone caught between being seen as a prodigy among kids but almost too immature among adults,” Fernanda said. “I imagine this is the result of the disconnect between having an accelerated growth process as far as the practical aspects of her life are concerned (jobs, money, responsibilities) but a truncated one as far as her emotional growth (since you don’t go through the same milestones as a regular kid). She is basically someone who doesn’t fit in anywhere. Catherine, the professor, suffers from the same problem albeit for different reasons, and their relationship takes root in that.”
Both actresses are straight, but Fernanda said they had no issues in capturing a lesbian relationship.
“I think Allison McAtee (Catherine) had never seen a lesbian movie prior to working on Bloomington,” Fernanda said. “So I immediately put all of my small collection of lesbian movies in a little DVD book and lent it to her. It had about 20 titles in it, good stuff like High Art, If These Walls Could Talk Part 2, Mulholland Drive, The Children’s Hour and even Bound – not to mention the entire first season of The L Word.”
Bloomington is currently in post-production, and Fernanda hopes to begin submitting it to film festivals soon, “with an eye on a premiere this summer of 2010.”
Until then, Fernanda’s new “day job” is something a little bit closer to her passion project: She’s working as an editor on The Real L Word.
“Like everyone else I had read about it in the press, and being a reality TV editor had become very interested in being a part of the crew,” Fernanda said. “I hate to sound like a drooling fan but I have seen every single episode of The L Word since it first aired. Late last year I had done a great amount of seasons on America’s Next Top Model and was feeling like it was time to expand my horizons a little. It’s just crazy to me that I get to help shape the stories on the very show I used to be so excited about watching. It’s a dream come true.”
While production had only just begun, Fernanda could not share too much (and also is bound to a confidentiality contract,) but she did say she had high hopes for the project.
“I know that that company has a reputation of producing respectful, accurate and at the same time entertaining shows such as Top Chef and Project Runway and I have no reason to think that The Real L Word will be any less than that,” Fernanda said. “In other words: those people know what they’re doing! I have no doubt that even for someone like me who has seen about every single episode and every segment available of The L Word, The Real L Word will be a show worth watching. Different or no different, I for one am happy that there is once again a lesbian-themed show on television and think that’s something worth celebrating.”
– by Trish BendixWORKING THE POLL: NAOMI’S GRAND GESTURE
If you’re following the fourth series of Skins you know that things are looking pretty bleak for Bristol’s best lesbian couple. Emily has discovered that Naomi cheated on her, and while they’re both still completely smitten, Naomi is having a hard time winning back Emily’s trust.
We think make she should try one of the grand romantic gestures that have worked for other characters.
<a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2720933/">What grand gesture should Naomi make to win back Emily’s affection?</a><span style="font-size:9px;">(<a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com">opinion</a>)</span>In our poll last week, we asked you which women’s Olympic sport appeals most to lesbians and bisexual women. You decided that, despite the plaid uniforms of the U.S. team, snowboarding came in second to ice hockey.
– by Heather Hogan
LESBIANISH VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK
Comedian Kathy Griffin is making the rounds to promote her upcoming appearance (March 3) as a lesbian on Law & Order: SVU.
On The Wendy Williams Show Griffin explained how she looked so genuinely weepy for her much-hyped romantic scene with Mariska Hargitay. We’re not sure what’s more disturbing: her explanation for the tears or the words uttered by Det. Olivia Benson (Hargitay) in the clip below.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
A new promo for 90210 gives a first glimpse of Adrianna and Gia getting closer. (Thanks for the tip, Xisca!)
Tool Academy includes a lesbian couple in its new season.
Released this week on DVD is The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, starring Robin Weigert and Julianne Moore as lesbian aunts Trish and Kit to the young Pippa Lee (Blake Lively).
The new season of The Amazing Race premiered this week, and it included a lesbian/bisexual couple. Check out Heather Hogan‘s pictorial reccap here.
Check out our spotlight article on out filmmaker Angela Robinson and out actress Jasika Nicole in honor of Black History Month.
A new preview of Glee offers a glimpse of Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) singing and Brittany and Santana giving one another meaningful glances.
Rachel Maddow will be speaking at the Smith College commencement this spring.
The new season of America’s Next Top Model (premiering March 10) includes lesbian contestant Tatianna, a 21-year old from Hawaii. You can watch an interview with her here.
Jenny Shimizu modeled in the John Barlett fashion show this week.
The (allegedly) comedic Japanese thriller Love Exposure tells the tale of a man dressing as a woman and starting a “lesbian affair” with his man-hating boss.
Former SNL star Cheri Oteri has a new web series about being a life coach, and it features out lesbian performer Kate McKinnon (The Big Gay Sketch Show).
Great LezBritain talks to three of the top out women in British comedy, Zoe Lyons, Susan Calman, and Jen Brister.
New Zealand’s soap Shortland Street is developing a relationship between out lesbian character Maia and the new nurse Nicole.
A lesbian couple kisses on a hammock.in Leona Lewis‘s new video for I Got You.
You can now pre-order the 218 page The L Word Book full of photos, scripts, callsheets and more from behind-the-scenes of the show.
GLAAD has announced they will honor Drew Barrymore and Wanda Sykes with special awards this year.
The 2007 film The Headless Woman opens in the UK today. It follows a middle-aged woman in Argentina who has a “lesbian niece that is obsessed with her.”
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.
