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Mel Robertson and Nicole Pacent talk “Queens of the World”

Nicole Pacent and Mel Robertson were hard to miss at Club Skirts The Dinah. Robertson, the writer and director of FEED, and Pacent, the star of Anyone But Me, are hard at work on Queens of the World – a feature film with an all-star cast of celesbians.

The soccer-themed story that Robertson describes as The Notebook meets Love & Basketball revolves around Maggie Connor (Pacent), who goes head-to-head with teammate Niko Taylor (Cherry Bomb‘s Nikki Caster) on and off the pitch.

AfterEllen.com caught up with Queens writer-director Robertson and Pacent between their stops at the Dance Magic contest, Battle of the Web Series and walking the red carpet to talk Queens, casting and to grill Pacent on which celebrity she’d most like to make out with and what it takes to land a date with the out actress.

AfterEllen.com: What’s the latest with Queens of the World?

Mel Robertson: We are looking to start shooting in July. We’ll shoot for two or three months and then post for about six months and will try to release around the World Cup, which is next year.

AE: How’s the casting process going?

MR: Elizabeth Keener and Nicole Pacent have joined the cast. We also are in talks with (Queer as Folk‘s) Michelle Clunie.

AE: Who will Clunie play?

MR: It’s my favorite role in the movie – besides Nicole’s; she’ll play her mom.

Nicole Pacent: It’s crazy talk! I came of age watching her on Queer as Folk. The first gay pride I ever went to in New York, I almost jumped into the street onto the float screaming her name. So the fact that we might be in this together is really incredible. She’s been really supportive and she loves the part.

MR: Clunie is playing one of those parts that as a gay kid, you always want your parents to be that person. She’s excited about that. Elizabeth Keener is also playing the coach, the trainer-type person who pushes (Nicole) through. Keener also wants to adapt Queens into a series for Showtime, so we’re working on that. It’s going to be a Friday Night Lights kind of thing.

AE: So Queens is like a lesbian Bend It Like Beckham?

MR: Not really – Keira Knightley can’t play soccer and she’s running around wearing a crappy sports bra the whole movie.

NP: That was a really hot movie though! (Laughs)

MR: She can’t play soccer, I’m not attracted to that. I did appreciate Bend It Like Beckham for what it did – it made tons of money – but ours is a love story. It’s like The Notebook meets Love & Basketball. We’re trying to bring what was the Women’s United Soccer Association into it – it’s now the Women’s Professional League. Some of their gay players are in talks to do cameos.

As far as Friday Night Lights is concerned, the cinematographer, Todd McMullen, contacted me and wants to shoot the movie.

Out of all the money and everything that’s going on, that’s the biggest thing for me because he’s one of my favorite cinematographers and he just emailed me out of the blue and said he’d love to shoot the movie.

AE: Nicole, how much soccer have you played?

NP: I actually played for several years when I was younger. My dad was actually always my coach. I played until I quit for field hockey, which I loved. I love anything athletic and for so long I’ve wanted to do a film where I could combine the physical with the acting. A large part of my acting training was physically based, so it’s second nature to work this way.

AE: Thanks to Anyone But Me, you’re such a big sex symbol in the lesbian community –

NP: (Laughs.) Thanks. It’s really cool and then I get here and think there are so many beautiful women. I definitely don’t feel like I stand out when I’m anywhere like this. The response to me and to Anyone But Me has been amazing.

AE: Is Queens of the World going to be racier than Anyone But Me?

MR: Yes it is. The characters in the script start off in high school and there’s a sex scene, but it’s going to be tasteful in the fact that they’re 17 years old and we don’t want to go that far with it. Then there might be one later on that’s an adult sex scene.

NP: Whether they’re 17 or not, in reading the script, I got incredibly into the intimate scenes with them because it doesn’t matter what we show. The way that Mel has written it, it’s all that you need to really get the picture of what’s going on in a realistic way. You understand exactly what they’re doing. It’s no-holes-barred but you don’t have to see all of it, which I really appreciate about any film.

MR: Even though there are a couple of sex scenes in it, the way I feel about it is there are a couple of other scenes outside of those that are sexier and more intimate.

NP: I got butterflies just reading it.

AE: So, have you ever made out with a celebrity?

NP: Hmmm, no, not made out with! Talked to, hugged, yes! (Laughs)

AE: And if you had your pick?

NP: I’d say Kate Moennig, but that’s so obvious!

AE: She’d have to come out for that to happen first!

NP: You can’t see an eye roll in print, can you? (Laughs.) It’s hard to say. I love Mila Kunis. I’m not usually into femme girls, but I love her!

AE: What’s a girl at Dinah have to do to get a date with you?

NP: (Laughs.) Challenge me! In terms of dating, I need someone who’s going to challenge me mentally. I’m very into that. Anyone who’s going to be passive and agree with me all the time, I’m not into it.

AE: I think you’re wrong.

NP: (Laughs.)

Keep up with Queens of the World on the Facebook page and via Twitter.

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