New Animated Series Addresses LGBT History

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with filmmaker David Scheve about his new animated TV series “Hard Knock Rock”. “Sufferin' Till You're Straight” is the third in a series of ten segments that is currently playing the LGBT film festival circuit. This hilarious animated music video delivers a brilliant history lesson about our LGBT community’s long struggle for equality including Stonewall, gay marriage and more. The lead vocalist Essra Mohawk is a former member of Frank Zappa’s The Mothers of Invention and features background vocals by Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene both of Motown’s The Supremes. Conceived by Scheve the music was composed by Todd Schroeder and the lyrics were written by Scheve and Neal LaVine. This three minute short was designed by legendary Warner Bros. / Disney animator Willie Ito. We talked to Scheve about “Hard Knock Rock” and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what he would like to accomplish with “Hard Knock Rock” Scheve stated, “These films, I find can address a lot of subjects that are either taboo or difficult to talk about or things that make people uncomfortable, if you use a bit of humor and these films do that. So it brings up subjects that are good to have discussions about, subjects about gay rights and we’re doing a spot on transgender and transsexual people and drag queens and just talking about things that are real life things that sometimes make people uncomfortable and with the humor level and the aspect of animation it lowers peoples defenses and it starts discussions that are really important.”

 David Scheve is the founder of TDA Animation a film company that combines talents and styles from the 50s, 60s & 70s with modern world sensibility. His animated film series features some of Broadway's best including, Lillias White, Loretta Devine, Eileen Brennan and Elaine Stritch, as well as the iconic animated voice talent from his childhood including, June Foray, Lucille Bliss, Stan Freeburg and Jack Sheldon. David is currently at work on his next animated short film for the Hard Knock Rock series that features pop diva Martha Wash.
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Comedian Paula Poundstone Plays Provincetown

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with comedian Paula Poundstone who’s currently on tour and will be appearing at The Crown & Anchor in Provincetown, Massachusetts for two shows on Sunday, August 25th at 7:30P & 9:30P. Since Paula is a regular panelist on the hit NPR news quiz show, “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” we talked to Paula about our LGBT issues including the US Supreme Court gay marriage decisions, Russia’s anti gay laws and how this may impact the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and more.

When asked about her grueling year-round performance schedule Poundstone stated, “To go into a room of people who come out to laugh for the night is already magical to begin with. In our society it’s almost unique at this point because people are so electronically hooked-up and enjoy that kind of entertainment so much. So to be in a room of live human beings where you can shake hands, make eye contact, talk about what happened to you on the way there, have some real genuine exchanges is a fantastic thing in itself. And then to get to stand on the stage and say what you think is funny and often times by the way I’ve shared things that were very personal on stage. I’ve had lots of struggles along the way and I’ve shared those struggles whether they were the most dramatic struggles or just the lesser frustrating ones and people laugh because the truth is, as much as we may think we’re terribly unique, in all of our difficulties we have a lot more in common than we have differences no matter who you are. So to be in a room of people laughing about those difficulties is the most amazing wonderful thing in the world. I’m really lucky that I sort of just stumbled in that direction and it’s helped me out in the last 34 years.”

In March 2013 Paula joined Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers and several other prominent women in comedy for a feature-length documentary produced by Lions Gate for Showtime TV entitled, “Why We Laugh Too: Women of Comedy”. Her newest comedy cd, “I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Boston” was recorded during a performance at the Wilbur Theatre in the heart of the city and was released on April Fool’s Day 2013. Poundstone lives in Santa Monica, California with her three children, Toshia, Allison and Thomas E. To catch her at The Crown & Anchor in Provincetown, Massachusetts on August 25th Showtime is at 7:30P & 9:30P Tickets are $40.
For More Info & Tour Schedule: paulapoundstone.com 

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Gay Sports Activist David McFarland Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with David McFarland, Founder and CEO of United for Equality in Sports & Entertainment (UESE), the nation’s first and only organization dedicated solely to advancing and achieving equality in sports and entertainment for our LGBT community. With the controversy over the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia we thought we’d get his perspective on the situation. We talked to David about Russia’s anti gay laws, how this contentious situation will impact the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and his spin on our LGBT issues in this country.

When asked what his position is on Russia’s anti gay laws especially with the Sochi Winter Olympics coming up in 2014 McFarland stated, “What we’re seeing in Russia is one of the key reasons I developed and launched United for Equality in Sports & Entertainment. Little did I know we would see this happen in a nation that decriminalized LGBT people in the early 1990’s. My global perspective on this issue is most closely related to the LGBT human rights work that I do with the United Nations and in African nations like Uganda. What’s happening in Russia right now after passing one of the most cornucopian anti gay laws in the world is a major human rights issue that the world needs to pay attention to and stand-up, speak-out about; it’s horrifying and unacceptable. Unfortunately what we are seeing are attacks and violence against LGBT people, you know torture etc. Frankly it’s officially sanctioned violence against LGBT people and it’s no secret that Putin has turned a blind eye towards this violence. Young gay youth as we know are being tortured and beaten in the streets, bullied and even murdered and kidnapped to go to who knows where by Russian authorities. The International Olympic Committee, the United Nations and leaders of all nations and governments across the world need to speak out, stand up and help bring an end to these human rights violations and put pressure on the Russian government and President Putin. And this pressure needs to happen on all levels to end this horrific event.”

David McFarland is the former Executive Director & CEO and Chair, Board of Directors of The Trevor Project the leading national mental health organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBT youth in the U.S. McFarland has spent the last year developing and building the infrastructure and mission for UESE. UESE is based in Los Angeles and will steer the conversation around promoting equality for all in sports and entertainment. UESE will collaborate with its partners to raise awareness about the importance of equality as a powerful tool in the advancement of social change and the creation of a safe and educated environment for openly LGBT athletes and artists. Recently UESE and its partners have requested that the International Olympic Committee should require the presence of a community-based Pride House at all Olympic Games to encourage dialogue and exchange on issues of discrimination and visibility for LGBT athletes and the LGBT sport movement.
For More Info: UESE.org 

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Gay Activist Actor Kit Williamson Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with actor producer Kit Williamson about his web series “EastSiders” now airing online on VIACOM/LOGO. “EastSiders” is a dark comedy that explores the aftermath of a gay couple’s infidelity in Silver Lake, California. Williamson plays Cal who discovers that Thom (Van Hansis) has been cheating on him with Jeremy (Matthew McKelligon), which turns their relationship upside down. Cal’s best friend Kathy (Constance Wu) is always there for him to fuel the situation with a bottle of whiskey. We talked to Williamson about “Eastsiders” and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Kit stated, “I’m personally very committed to LGBT civil rights. As a gay person I think that we’re in an amazing time of history where our actions have the possibility to affect change and I didn’t feel that way when I was a kid. I was very pessimistic as a kid growing up in Jackson Mississippi but I’ve seen the world around me change and I’m seeing minds and hearts change, even in Mississippi. I think that things have changed drastically since I was growing up there. I think it starts with being out and open about who you are and vocal about your experiences. You know having faced a lot of intense discrimination in my life I refuse to let fear determine my actions and I think more and more people are living their life that way.” When we then asked for his spin on actors coming out in Hollywood Kit added, “You know I think it’s a personal decision and I am strongly against the witch-hunts that goes on sometimes about people who are in the closet. I think we wouldn’t do that to teenagers so why on earth would we do it to a 20 year-old actor in Hollywood? That said I personally feel a sense of responsibility to be out and open in my career and my life because I know it would have been significant to me as a kid to see more examples of people living their lives that way because I didn’t really know it was a possibility for me.”

In addition to writing, directing and starring in “EastSiders” Williamson is the newest cast member of AMC’s “Mad Men” appearing as copywriter Ed Gifford. He can also be seen in the leading role on the hit comedy web series "Hipsterhood," returning for a second season this summer on Blip.Tv as well as viral videos for Funny or Die and Daywalt Fear Factory. Kit's indie film work includes a supporting role in the Slamdance favorite apocalyptic road trip comedy "Best Friends Forever" from director Brea Grant, slated for distribution by Gravitas.
For More Info: eastsiderstheseries.com 

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