-->

Monday, June 30, 2014

Gay Producer Gary Janetti Creates PBS Sitcom “Vicious”









In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with writer/producer Gary Janetti (WILL & GRACE, FAMILY GUY) about his fabulous new PBS sitcom VICIOUS. Legendary openly gay actors Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ian McKellen play Stuart and Freddie, partners who have lived together in their central London flat for nearly 50 years. Under the facade of hilarious snide remarks aimed at the other’s age, appearance and flaws, a deep love for one another is revealed. This groundbreaking sitcom addresses an older gay couple and their longtime circle of friends struggling to maintain their visibility and significance in our youth oriented world. The ensemble cast also includes their feisty best friend Violet played by Frances de la Tour and Ash played by Iwan Rheon, their young impressionable upstairs neighbor. We talked to Gary about taking on relevant aging issues in this comedic format and his spin on LGBT equality.

When asked what he would like to accomplish with this show Janetti stated, “What I want to accomplish is not only that this is a gay couple, the fact that they were gay was always besides the point, it’s also a couple of a certain age. We don’t see couples in their seventies together not as an archon to the young couple on the show, but as the main focus of the show and their world is also populated by people around the same age as them and they are the people we follow. We’re inside their world and it’s unusual and I don’t think it should be unusual. There was something about that I felt really good about accomplishing, also that they were a gay couple of a certain age and within the gay community. These are men in their seventies and they have been clearly out, certainly to each other and their closest group of friends for fifty years. What does that mean fifty years ago, how difficult was it to be out fifty years ago, to live with another man at that time in the 1960’s and I think these people and those stories we don’t often hear a lot of, they’re heroic. To give center stage to a couple like that might sometimes seem anonymous. These couples that you see at times on the subway or walking down the street or in a little restaurant and you wonder what their life was like. This is an opportunity to kind of go inside and for better or for worse you see what this relationship is.”

Gary Janetti co-created, wrote and executive produced the ITV series VICIOUS which was shot before a live audience in the UK and has already been renewed for a second season. VICIOUS can be seen on PBS Sundays at 10:30P. On a personal note Gary and partner celebrity fashion stylist Brad Goreski have been together for 13 years.
For More Info: pbs.org/vicious 

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Activist Filmmakers & Celebrities Speak OUT











In this exclusive audio montage Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with gay and straight celebrity filmmakers at the 16th annual Provincetown International Film Festival press luncheon. First, Killer Films co-founder and producer Christine Vachon (FAR FROM HEAVEN, BOYS DON’T CRY) along with the filmmakers Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles talked about MALA MALA, Killer Films feature-length documentary about the power of transformation told through the eyes of nine trans-identifying individuals in Puerto Rico. Next we talked with Debra Winger (TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, BLACK WIDOW) who received the Faith Hubley Career Achievement Award. Then we talked with writer and director David Cronenberg (THE FLY, VIDEODROME, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE) who received this year’s The Filmmaker on The Edge Award. We also talked to all the celebrities and filmmakers about their spin on our LGBT issues.
Then director Tom Dolby talked about his film LAST WEEKEND that opened the film festival starring Patricia Clarkson (PIECES OF APRIL, FAR FROM HEAVEN) who received the Excellence in Acting Award. Next, director John Waters talked about his new book CARSICK that’s currently on The New York Times Best Sellers List. Waters also was very generous in giving his advise to new filmmakers. HBO’s new documentary THE CASE AGAINST 8 that is currently premiering on the cable network was screened at PIFF. We caught up with plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier who talked about their experience being filmed for five years leading up to the Supreme Court decision that found Prop 8 unconstitutional. We also chatted about what it was like to work with the legal team of Ted Olson and David Boies and what affect the experience had on their family. Then we talked with filmmakers Fermin Rojas and Bruce Donnelly about their documentary ALUMBRONES that addresses the work and lives of twelve contemporary Cuban artists living in Havana today. Through in-depth interviews the film covers a range of subjects and issues from supply shortages to constant blackouts and how the artists are able to create their canvases overcoming these extreme hardships. Rojas and Donnelly also discuss their next project that chronicles the establishment of the first gay men’s choir in Cuba.
The Provincetown Film Society, Inc. (PFS) is the year-round organization and home of the Provincetown International Film Festival. PFS is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors. An integral part of PFS's mission is to contribute to the economic and creative vitality of America's oldest art colony.
For More Info: ptownfilmfest.org 

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Melissa Etheridge Rocks The Boston Pops









In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Melissa Etheridge, Grammy and Oscar winning recording artist about her current tour. Etheridge made her symphony orchestra debut performing two concerts with the Boston Pops under conductor Keith Lockhart at Symphony Hall on June 12th and 13th. Dennis Alves, Director of Artistic Planning, Boston Pops stated, "We are honored to welcome the great singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge here at Symphony Hall to collaborate with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops. Equally as exciting is the prospect of having perhaps the most diverse audience ever at a Boston Pops concert!" On June 12th Etheridge who is a Berklee College of Music alumni was the featured guest on Berklee Night at the Boston Pops which is a program highlighted by new collaborations between the college and the orchestra. We talked to Etheridge about performing with the Boston Pops, her recent marriage to Linda Wallem and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Melissa stated, “Well first of all because it represents me; I am an LGBT person and I’ve met many LGBT people. There’s a lot of us out there and I’ve only met a small percentage of us and it’s understanding our society from a point of view, ‘Oh no we’re not all the same’ and that’s the beauty of it. There’s nobody on the outside, we are all a big diverse bowl of soup that would be less so without any of the spices in it. I love being an LGBT citizen and living in these times. History will look back on these times as the greatest movement in LGBT civil rights, absolutely!”

Last December Etheridge co-founded an organization called "Uprising of Love" that sought to establish solidarity and generate funds to support LGBT Russians. All funds raised through “Uprising of Love” went to the Russian Freedom Fund. Etheridge will also perform at WorldPride 2014 Toronto’s opening ceremonies in Nathan Philips Square on June 20th. Her new CD entitled “This Is ME” is due out on September 29th and the single “Take My Number” will be released this month.
For More Info & Tix: melissaetheridge.com 



Thursday, June 5, 2014

Provincetown Int’l Film Festival June 18-22









In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Jared Earley, Interim Managing Director of the Provincetown International Film Festival which is celebrating its 16th anniversary and runs June 18th to June 22nd in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This year The Filmmaker on The Edge Award goes to acclaimed writer and director David Cronenberg (THE FLY, VIDEODROME, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE). Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson (PIECES OF APRIL, FAR FROM HEAVEN) will receive the Excellence in Acting Award. Clarkson will accept the award following the opening night screening of LAST WEEKEND in which she stars on Wednesday June 18th. Debra Winger (TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED) will receive the Faith Hubley Career Achievement Award. LGBT film events include the Friday Spotlight which will be Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler’s COMPARED TO WHAT: THE IMPROBABLE JOURNEY OF BARNEY FRANK and the Saturday Spotlight will be LOVE IS STRANGE directed by Ira Sachs. The festival will close with the North American premiere of Jonathan Demme’s A MASTER BUILDER. We talked to Jared about this year’s festival and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Earley stated, “Well you know I really share the festival’s position which is in sharing so many different stories. Diversity and inclusion are part of our mission as well as part of our programming and I think this year really embodies that as much as any in terms of the number of viewpoints both cultural and chronological that we have on screens. There are stories of showing how far we’ve come in different LGBT civil rights struggles as well as how much work is still left to be done. So there’s much to celebrate and much to talk about as well and on Sunday at the festival we are hosting a breakfast with panel discussion about the documentary THE CASE AGAINST 8 which I think is a perfect example of that and really a perfect way for audiences to get together along with filmmakers to discuss current issues and how they are portrayed on film.”

The Provincetown Film Society, Inc. (PFS) is the year-round organization and home of the Provincetown International Film Festival and the Whaler's Wharf Cinema. PFS is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors. An integral part of PFS's mission is to contribute to the economic and creative vitality of America's oldest art colony. This is the eighth year we’ll be covering the film festival for OUTTAKE VOICES™.
For More Info & Tix: ptownfilmfest.org