Wicked Queer The Boston LGBT Film Festival (AUDIO)

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with James Nadeau, Executive Director of Wicked Queer Boston’s LGBT Film Festival which is celebrating its 33rd year and runs from March 30th to April 9th. There are over 120 features and shorts participating in this year’s film festival. Opening night on Thursday March 30th takes place at the Institute of Contemporary Art at 8P with the screening of “Signature Move” fresh off its World Premiere at South by Southwest Film Festival. The film is about thirty-something immigration attorney Zaynab played with wry humor by out Pakistani, Muslim actor Fawzia Mirza who is balancing her work, love life and taking care of her conservative TV-obsessed mother. A drunken night with the bold and assertive Alma played by the fantastically charismatic Sari Sanchez last seen on the Fox Network’s “Empire”, leads Zayneb to question just how to come to terms with her mom, her love life and her new found obsession with Lucha-style wrestling. Sari Sanchez and director Jennifer Reeder will be present for the opening night film to be followed by an after-party with complimentary hors d'oeuvres at Empire Restaurant and Lounge. “Signature Move” is co-presented by The South Asian Arts Council and Queer Muslims of Boston. We talked to James about the importance of the Wicked Queer Film Festival in the current political climate and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked how he sees our LGBTQ community moving forward in a Trump administration Nadeau stated, “What I’m seeing within the filmmaking community is that it’s really sparked an activism that I haven’t seen in a really longtime. For those of us who are of the generation who grew up with friends dying of AIDS I think we’re seeing a resurgence of political activism in the community that is not about to give up the freedoms we fought for which I find very heartening. It’s clearly in reaction to Trump and I think that’s a good thing. I think we need to get fired up and be a more active, politically active community.”

 James Nadeau has been a part of the Wicked Queer Film Festival since 2000. He has also programmed films for the Provincetown International Film Festival, The Rhode Island International Film Festival and at galleries and art spaces in the Boston area. His video work has screened internationally. He is currently a lecturer on film in the Literature Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and part time faculty in the Art History Department of Lesley University's College of Art and Design where he teaches the history of the moving image. Wicked Queer Boston’s LGBT Film Festival will be presenting 11 days of the year's best LGBTQ films. There will be lots of special events and opportunities to meet the filmmakers. This year will provide a chance to attend film premieres and mix and mingle throughout the 33rd annual festival. There are a variety of feel-good romances to hard-hitting documentaries bringing festival attendees another fabulous year of world-class programming. Wicked Queer is proudly presented by Showtime Network.
For Info & Tix: wickedqueer.org

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The Dinah Shore Weekend Palm Springs 27th Year

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Mariah Hanson, founder and producer of the legendary Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend that’s in its 27th year and takes place in Palm Springs, California from March 29th to April 2nd. For over a quarter century Mariah Hanson has not only been delivering epic good times to lesbians but has also continuously been moving the needle forward with her ongoing commitment to amplifying, championing and celebrating women’s voices and talent with The Dinah. The growth and longevity of this worldwide cultural phenomenon event is even more astonishing and remarkable at a time when lesbian bars, spaces, festivals and publications are rampantly vanishing all across the country. This is why now more than ever events like The Dinah are necessary to reconnect our community. The Dinah is entirely produced by women for women and that is a powerful statement in today’s political climate. Kicking off at the close of Women’s History month on March 29th and wrapping up on Sunday, April 2nd the Dinah 2017 will celebrate and honor the trailblazing women in the Arts, Sports and Entertainment industry who have achieved historic firsts. We talked to Mariah about all the festivities planned for this year’s Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.

When asked how she sees our LGBTQ community moving forward in a Trump administration Hanson stated, “We have to move forward in the current administration very strategically. I think that we need to move forward collectively across all platforms. I don’t think anyone currently, any individual group knows how to preserve their civil liberties better than the LGBTQ community because that’s what we have been doing for the past fifteen years of my life so we’ve gotten really good at it and I think that we really should take a leadership role, but I don’t think it should be just about LGBTQ at this point. I think it should be about protecting the civil liberties of all Americans. Funding is being yanked from so many organizations; transgender youth are being attacked; Muslims are being attacked; African Americans are being attacked; Mexican Americans are being attacked; so I think we need to be collective and strategic going forward. I think this movement has become a movement of people, of Americans who want to protect what our democracy is based on.”

The incredibly inspiring women slated to perform at The Dinah in 2017 include world surf champion now turned cutting edge DJ Keala Kennelly who not only made a big splash playing herself in the 90s cult movie “Blue Crush” but also made history for female surfing winning the first women’s big wave contest at the Nelscott Big Wave Classic in 2010. Also performing will be Butterscotch the first female beatbox world champion and a finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, singer-songwriter, rapper Tish Hyman who penned songs for top-notch artists like Alicia Keys, Diddy, Kelly Rowland and Kanye West, rising pop star and Latin hip hop artist Lady Cultura, 90s club Icons Cece Peniston and Black Box, among others. On the comedy front the always politically incorrect stand-up comedian Julie Goldman one of the most hilarious, provocative and familiar faces on Bravo’s “The People’s Couch” and the “Vanderpump Rules” will up the volume on your laughter. She’ll be joined by British comic Gina Yashere who appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and the wildly hilarious Erin Foley who has been taking the comedy scene by storm across the nation. Championing the rise of women DJs behind the decks, The Dinah will also put the spotlight on some of the top female DJ tastemakers including DJ Kittens and more. Collectively these daredevils have considerably changed the game for women achieving power through their remarkable ability to build community around the personal brands they’ve created and the causes they champion.
For More Info & Tix: TheDinah.com

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Boston Gay Men’s Chorus “Let’s Hear It For The Boys”

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Reuben M. Reynolds III, Music Director of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus about their upcoming shows March 18th at 8P and March 19th at 3P entitled “Let’s Hear It For The Boys” at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. “Let’s Hear It For The Boys” is a raucous revue saluting generations of pop music’s pretty boys from the Beatles to Pharrell Williams along with rock radio staples like David Bowie, Journey, Queen and Coldplay. Now in their 35th year with more than 150 members Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is the ultimate boy band paying tribute to the artists and bands that shaped us all. BGMC will put its unique stamp on classics like the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys, David Bowie’s “Life on Mars” and the Jackson 5’s “The Love You Save.” The Chorus will also perform hits by disco-era gay icons The Village People, the late legend George Michael, 1990’s heartthrobs NSYNC and more recent chart-topping boy bands One Direction and A Great Big World in addition to other surprises. We talked to Reuben about the importance of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus in the current political climate and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked how he sees our LGBTQ community moving forward in a Trump administration, Reynolds stated, “Several years ago we went to the Middle East. We took the chorus to Istanbul and to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. We had a wonderful concert lined up in Istanbul and then all of a sudden the government basically told us we weren’t welcomed there. They canceled the concert and it was horrifying to be told you’re not welcomed here but a private university said their gay and lesbian group said please we would like to host you instead. So we wound up performing in a much bigger venue for 5,000 people. Then next morning we were to march in the gay pride parade in Istanbul. When we got there, we were met by police with riot guns who said that we should turn around and leave immediately because the pride parade had been canceled. It’s the kind of thing that somehow in the back of your mind you think this happened 30 years ago in America and here it was happening to us right now. We had young members of the chorus who never experienced anything like this. But it brings to mind that there’s always a fight going on. Sometimes we get too complacent and then bam, here it is again. Well we all know what we have done in the past. We have fought those fights and will fight whatever needs to be fought today. We will stand up. We will not bow down to anyone. Trump is no problem; it’s just another step in our progression forward. We will always stand up for who we are and what we are.”

Reuben M. Reynolds III has been the Music Director of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus for 20 years. The BGMC creates musical experiences that inspire change, build community and celebrate difference. Since its founding in 1982 the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus has infused itself into the LGBTQ community of Boston. It has also reached out beyond that community into the political, social and arts arenas. As a staunch supporter of LGBTQ causes, BGMC has distinguished itself by performing for every major AIDS service organization in the Boston area and has created innovative collaborations with organizations including Greater Boston PFLAG, GLSEN Boston, AIDS Action Committee and more. BGMC was also an active participant in the marriage equality movement becoming a role model for other choruses throughout the world. (Photo by Michael Willer)
For More Info & Tix: bgmc.org

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