Diversity, content & web series - a match made in heaven?

At the Raindance Web Series Festival (#RDWF) Diversity Panel last weekend, a matter close to our hearts was discussed. Christin Baker from Tello films provided a fantastic Lesbian perspective and unashamedly defended the right of content creators to produce for their niche audience.

Easy Abby Season 1

With the absence of visibility for minority groups across mainstream network TV, many creators are turning to online opportunities instead to give a platform for issues that may otherwise be ignored. And they are taking their audiences with them.

Over the last 2 years we have seen a plethora of quality LBQ themed web series from the US and Australia, made by LBQ women for an LBQ audience (not that anyone else can't watch them, but with the specific aim to please and include the LBQ community).

On the set of 'Kiss Her I'm Famous'

This has also been the case across BME and disability themed content, with new communities of interest building around diverse content creation.

There are a number of big advantages to the independent, online production model that can suit diverse audiences. The creatives can own the development of the content, making no compromises for network dictation. It can be fully reflective of what the community it represents, with no need to dilute - it can fully serve its intented audience. 

There are no limits to what can be covered, and the quality is rising and rising.

Not only that, with online platforms, we can watch the content when we want, how we want - there are too many options, with Smart TVs, Tablet and smart mobile devices. We don't have to commit to 6-9 months' regular viewing, episodes can be watched on an immediate basis. Often from only a few ££ a month.

For some of the best LBQ themed web series, take look at our comprehensive overview of what's out there to view right now.


By Katie Bennett-Hall

Here it is! 'Grrls Guide to Film making' with Rolla Selbak

Award-winning out filmmaker Rolla Selbak is releasing the new online “interview” series, in which she shares her personal Hollywood vlogs as she visits some of the most prominent lesbian filmmakers making it happen today.   
Grrl's Guide To Filmmaking offers an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes, showing the magic, behind the magic.

Selbak sneaks us into the Paramount writers room with Faith Soloway, writer on the breakthrough Amazon series Transparent; stumbles into Cathy DeBuono's backyard; gets the juicy details from Guinevere Turner and how she came up with the title "The L Word", and much....much more.  

Says Selbak about advice she would give to young lesbian film makers starting out today:

"Watch my show, lol

"No, but in all seriousness, I would say study and watch as much content as possible. Things you love, things you hate, guilty pleasure, things you would never ever consider watching.

"Watch them once for entertainment, then watch them again and really analyze why you connected or didn’t connect for you. Understand yourself as a viewer first, deeply understand your taste, then set out to create something you yourself would be love to see on-screen, with no fear.

"Keep on creating. That’s the only way you’ll evolve and learn about yourself creatively. Classes can teach you technique, but no one can teach you taste. That comes from you, and you alone."

Selbak explains what she would have done differently as a young film maker, had she had the lessons of hindsight:

"I would have stopped giving a crap much earlier in my life about what people thought of me, namely society. I think my work starting really evolving when I came out. I was 25 at the time. I would’ve come out much earlier in life.

"When I analyze my work before I came out, I could tell it was stifled somehow, even if the subject had nothing to do with sexuality. It just was. Coming out really gave me the freedom to launch forward and express myself fully, and to never look back."

And her favourite non-LGBT directors to interview for Grrls Guide to Filmmaking would be
"Jane Campion. I’m in love with her work. Also the big B! (Kathryn Bigelow) ".
Season One kicked off on 10th August with episode one featuring an up close and personal interview with Faith Soloway, which streams on Tello at
http://www.onemorelesbian.com/tello/webseries/grrls-guide-filmmaking/

To get a taste of the series before it comes out tomorrow, view the trailer

  
Selbak is an award winning filmmaker who is part of the San Francisco Women's Film Institute Leadership council, and is responsible for creating and producing the S.F International Women's On-line Film Festival. She's queer, an Arab-American and a woman. 

But that hasn’t stopped the self-taught auteur from writing, directing and producing films that matter to her. Selbak is also known as the mastermind behind the web series sensation Kiss Her I’m Famous starring Tracy Ryerson and Ilea Matthews which satirizes the booming business of the sex tape madness, and how celebrity wannabes utilizes their home movies as a ticket to greater stardom and a major payday.

Selbak has scored some major names in LBQ film making for this series, which promises to be an insightful and inspiring source for all aspiring LBQ film makers. Episode Guide: EP1 - Faith Soloway -10th August EP2 - Cathy DeBuono -17th August EP3 - Cathryn Hayes -24th August EP4 - Heather de Michele & Gretchen Michelfeld -31st August EP5 - Guinevere Turner - 7th September.

By Katie

The Dinah 2014 Film Festival incl. Liz Vassey & #Hashtag interviews

With an even bigger line up than the 2013 event, making this second Dinah Film Festival a now solid fixture on the programme, the limited ticket audience were in for an exclusive treat.

Programmers had arranged a huge line up of the cast and film makers of the 7 strong programme, making this a very special event for guests. Cast and filmmakers took to the stage in possibly the strongest ever LBQ line up on one small stage after the screenings to do a Q&A session and may stayed around after the event to chat to fans.


Including an international element with an exclusive long trailer for Sonia Sebastian's Girl Gets Girl - an indie feature that follows up from the Miami based Spanish Girl Seeks Girl web series, the programme ran for 90 minutes with selections from some of this year's hottest web series and and short film Secrets and Toys.



Rolla Selbak's Kiss Her I'm Famous (tello films) translated well to the larger screen and drew laughs in it's quirky look at celebdom wannabes and the lengths people will go to try and get famous to change their lives. Fortunately it's a happy ending in this case.

 



Dyke Central from gives us a humorous bay area take on modern urban queer life and the nuances within the community and what we stand for - and our right to define ourselves.  The series is currently fundraising to develop a whole series, so check out their website!

The highly popular fan favourite Nikki and Nora from Nancy Lee Myatt and tello brought us a very special treat of Liz Vassey, Christina Cox and Aasha Davis all the way to The Dinah (check out our exclusive chat with Liz Vassey below!). Airing the second episode, with a mix of comedy, crime capers, drama and a strong reference to living in a post-Katrina New Orleans, we can only hope for a season 2 in this polished labour of love.





Hear our *exclusive* interview with Liz Vassey (Nikki of Nikki and Nora, CSI):






Little Horribles from New Yorker Amy York Zubin brought the biggest laughs on the night as the exploits of Amy through love disasters and awkward social situations in a humble and darkly disturbingly recognisable way. Definitely one to watch out for. 

Rounding off the web series segment was new release from tello #Hashtag written by and starring Caitlin Bergh and Laura Zak, which takes a cynical and funny look at how social media impacts on all our relationships old and new. Happily season 2 has just been shot so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Our interview with Laura Zak and Caitlin Bergh live from The Dinah red carpet...




And short film Secrets and Toys had a delightful twist as a daughter gets to grips with coming out to her mother and learns something about her mother in the process. Featuring Jill Bennett in a corset.

By Katie

Webseries: #Hashtag review & Marnie Alton interview

Laura Zak & Marnie Alton

Friend Me. Follow Me. Like Me. Fall for Me.

#Hashtag follows the love lives of two technology-obsessed best friends in Chicago. From Instagram seduction to inappropriate selfies, Twitter over-sharing to OK Cupid...

It's the newest webseries from Tello and it premiers on Sunday 16th March at
www.onemorelesbian.com/tello/webseries/hashtag. Episodes will be released weekly.

#Hashtag follows two best friends, played by co-writers Caitlin Bergh (Roomies) and Laura Zak, who rely too heavily on technology in their love exploits and friendships. 

From Instagram seduction to inappropriate selfies, twitter oversharing to OKCupid dating, the girls are about to learn the real-life consequences of over-indulgence in a virtual world. Also featuring tello favorites Marnie Alton (CowGirl Up) and Kate Black-Spence (The Throwaways), #Hashtag explores modern intimacy, and the ensuing hilarity, in the stand-up comedy and queer dating scenes of Chicago’s Girls’ Town.

Liv and Skylar are about to learn the real-life consequences of over-indulgence in the virtual world.

#Hashtag stars/writers Caitlin Bergh and Laura Zak, both formerly of Chicago and presently of the West Coast, agree that having their first series produced by tello is "a dream come true":

"We can't believe that Liv and Skylar, who've been living in our heads for so long, will be alive and kicking on tello!" said Bergh, a stand-up comedian who also appeared in the tello series "Roomies" with Julie Goldman & Brandy Howard. Zak adds: "To have a production company support us through script development, production, and release is a dream for a beginning writer, and we're proud to have our show up on tello along with their fun, funny, and poignant lesbian stories."

We caught up with recurring guest star Marnie Alton about the upcoming series. She told us she's looking forward the premiere on Sunday and getting glammed up for a cast reunion to celebrate the launch. 

Alton is a big fan of the webseries format. She says it's the next "freedom" to inspire creativity without the restrictions of the networks and advertisers, and the TV of our times. 

Independent cable channels such as Showtime led the way 10-15 years ago, and there will always be  demand to produce "small artistic shows without pressures". The format is very compatible with Alton's interest in focusing on work that "inspires artistically". 

Previous positive experiences and a genuine trust with tello, a good, funny script that is "quirky and real" are some of the reasons behind Alton's choice to get involved with the #Hashtag project. She describes the series as a "look into all our lives, the modern woman's peek beyond social media", with a likeness to The Wizard of Oz. 

The clear on screen chemistry we see in the series comes from a strong bonding process off-screen - developed through shooting on location, banding together in a short amount of time, getting straight in, and making out with cast members (on screen of course!) as part of the introduction process. 

There certainly is a good amount of "steaminess" in the series. A whole episode with the cast in sexy lingerie, for example, might not have been as fun to shoot as the episode implies. After rushing to pick up a last minute costume for the shoot, Alton describes the storm-like conditions "crazy winds and tornadoes" that were the back drop to the action. Apparently it's difficult to whisper on mic over a thunderstorm...

Alton fesses up to not being as social media savvy as the characters in the series. She does, however, relate to Instagram with its artistic and storytelling aspects, and enjoys the opportunity to "interact with fans" and friends. However, Alton is quick to respond when asked what #hashtag would best sum her up... it's a long one but sound:
"#i'dratherbesomeone’sshotofwhiskeythaneverybody’scupoftea". Not one for Twitter, really!

tello series Cow Girl Up also features Alton, who came back from England to shoot this ranch based, horse riding lez fest and hang out with dearest friends, generally laughing all day on set.

     By Katie

"Nikki & Nora" - more than Lady Cops

Available: www.onemorelesbian.com/tello/webseries/nikki-nora
Monthly subscription $3.99
Starring: Christina Cox, Liz Vassey, Armin Shimerman and Wallace Langham
Dir. NancyLee Myatt
Release: Season 1; 7 episodes; 1-6 available now; finale released Sunday 9 February






The very hotly anticipated web series Nikki & Nora, that began life as  TV pilot way back in 2004 as the first lesbian-themed drama series in serious consideration for a network TV slot, finally hit screens much to fans delight in at the end of 2013. Although the “ahead of its time” series did not get an order, the pilot was leaked on the Internet to an under-served TV audience, a loyal fan base was created… And they never stopped loving their favorite Big Easy couple. 

Nikki & Nora follows New Orleans locals Nikki Beaumont (Liz Vassey; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) and Nora Delaney (Christina Cox; Better Than Chocolate), former NOPD cops turned private investigators.  They navigate the channels of their personal life together alongside their dedication to uncovering the truth in the one city that really likes to keep its secrets, New Orleans.  

As well as being an attractive and comfortable lesbian couple, there pair are dealing with life in New Orleans post Katrina - the impact this (and their relationship) had on their families. All within the context of solving an unsolved murder pro bono for a client who really needed their help.

Created originally by current web series Director, NancyLee Myatt, and retaining the original cast, it's easy to say we have not been disappointed with what's been delivered and the only downside is that we already want more! The quality and demand for the series is clearly backed by the all-star cast the web series has attracted.

Following a brief self parodying appearance under the guise of LA based Lady Cops in Myatt's 2007 web series 3Way, it seems the appetite for these two characters never died down. When creator, Nancylee Myatt, approached her stars about a reboot of her original idea, they came on board without hesitation to recreate their roles as Nikki and Nora. Nikki & Nora will be the first time an unaired network pilot has been re-imagined and made for distribution exclusively on the web.

Using Indie-gogo funding to the tune of $65,000, 2013 finally saw the web series everyone wanted drive into production. All made possible by fans that would not let go of this concept and this crime fighting couple in America’s oldest party town.  They rallied around the creator, producers and cast supporting the crowd-funding campaign, which is now the largest funded campaign with lesbian lead characters – surpassing their goal by 30%. 

Sardonic, stylish, engaging, appealing...what more can we say about this excellent series that deserves a platform? Fans have been rewarded with 7 webisodes of high quality, well made drama that is true to the origins of the series and the characters.


We spoke to Nikki and Nora Director Nancylee Myatt about the return of the women.  Myatt reflects on the ten year journey the series has been on, which will be familiar to the die hard fans...

"We (myself, Liz Vassey & Christina Cox) had always wanted to resurrect it in some way and work together again.  We even wrote a couple of pilots together teaming up Liz & Christina solving crimes together in various scenarios.  But eventually we all had to move on and keep re-inventing ourselves and pay the bills.

"During the writer's strike and while on hiatus from South of Nowhere, Maeve Quinlan, Paige Bernhardt and myself wrote and produced 3 Way exclusively for an online audience.  With the help of our very generous professional friends in TV, and Clockwork Media, an awesome company in Minneapolis who designed and built the website, and the international voice of AfterEllen.com we were able to pull it off and find a worldwide audience.  In 3 Way we created a couple of spin-off series within the show: Young Doctors Who Cry, and Lady Cops.  In Lady Cops, Liz and Christina played a wildly comedic version of Nikki & Nora.

"Because of the positive audience response from that, our success with 3 Way, and then teaming up with tellofilms with Cowgirl Up, I knew the time was right to do a web reboot of Nikki & Nora.  And more importantly, the rights for the original version of Nikki & Nora came back to me exclusively."

So, how much of a role did the fan love play in making the web series happen?

 
"I didn’t really know about the N&N online fan love affair until years later when I was working on South of Nowhere.   At that time I became aware of all the fan videos being posted on YouTube dedicated to the teen couple on the show Ashley & Spencer aka Spashley.   Sara Warn and Karman Kregloe at AfterEllen.com suggested that I search Nikki & Nora on YouTube and Google and see what’s been going on.  My head almost popped right off when I saw the hundreds of thousands of videos dedicated to a pilot that never even aired!  Clearly it had been bootlegged and shared with the world.  It was a clear message that we had done something right, giving our lesbian audience a view of themselves that was not represented on the television landscape at the time.  That was the ultimate message of support.

"During that time I was also made aware of the tens of thousands of pages of online fanfiction dedicated to Nikki & Nora.  I knew then without a doubt that the fans still wanted to see these girls back on the streets of New Orleans. (Legal disclaimer -- I have not read a single page of the fanfiction, per my legal counsel) 

"Liz, Christina and I started talking about what we all wanted the new show to represent and still honor the original.  As the script was being written, Christin Mell and her team at tellofilms launched the Indiegogo campaign to see if the fans were still interested in seeing Nikki & Nora again... and to help make it happen.  And here we are." 

And what comes next? Has the show been successful enough to encourage a season 2?

"This is a tricky question.  Our big picture plan was always to produce this first web season to test the water and see if in fact the “Field of Dreams” adage is true: If you build it, they will come.  And they did!

"Our plan now is to take the webisodes and cut them together into a new pilot presentation for Nikki & Nora and shop it to bigger outlets that can hopefully afford to produce the series with a roomier budget.   To give you some perspective – the original 2004 Nikki & Nora pilot was produced for 1.2 million dollars by the studio and network.   Our tellofilms version was made for much, much, MUCH less.  And financed entirely by crowdfunding.  The resources are there now to make a show that looks pretty darn close to that original pilot for a fraction of the cost.  I think we did a good job in that respect with our current web version.  A great job, actually.   So, moving forward we’d love to be able to write some bigger crimes for Nikki & Nora to solve.  To see a little more of them in their world.  And a good car chase would be fun!"

How will it happen?

"While we’ve got all of this great support and visibility we’ll be looking for the ways to bring you more Nikki & Nora in the future.   We will definitely keep you all posted.   In the mean time, please thank your readers for their continued support and ask them to keep crankin’ out those positive thoughts for our favorite New Orleans couple.   Because, like you, now that they’re back, we’re not ready to lose them again."

Myatt sends a personal note of thanks to all the viewers. So, get watching and post your feedback and comments of support - we have the power to contribute to more great lesbian themed content made for us!

By Katie

Kiss Her I'm Famous... again? The web series returns for season 2...

SEASON 2 OF HIT WEB SERIES "KISS HER I'M FAMOUS" PREMIERES MONDAY JANUARY 27 WITH FIRST 5 EPISODES AIRING AT THE SAME TIME

 

Season 2 of the web sensation Kiss Her I'm Famous, created by Rolla Selbak, is set to premiere on Monday, January 27, 2014 on www.onemorelesbian.com/tello

Watch Season 1 of Kiss Her I’m Famous free on tello now!

Read our review of Season 1 here. Listen to our interview with Tracey Ryerson and partner Stamie here.

Kiss Her I'm Famous is the new comedy that has made a name for itself on cyberspace during its initial season 1.

The first season of the show premiered last year to great success, with the trailer alone reaching 1 MILLION+ combined views on YouTube in less than a week.

All regular episodes (5 in total) will be airing at the same time so fans can enjoy a binge-watching marathon of "KHIF". 

 
The two-part season finale will then stream online on February 14 (Valentine's day).

Created and directed by San Francisco based award-winning filmmaker Rolla Selbak, the show is based on two hilarious and clueless characters played by The Real L-Word’s Tracy Ryerson (Mandy) and Ilea Matthews (The Violent Kind) (Jen), who aim to create a celebrity sex tape to launch them into fame.  
 

In Season 2, this sex tape is…"leaked". So, what comes next for Jen and Mandy? The hint of sexual tension between the two BFFs lingers, leading to a cliff hanger before the season finale. The reaction of the media to the tape explores exactly what the friends are aiming to exploit, as well as confronting the lack of understanding of lesbians in the population generally. Good humour and character development through their individual responses to the instant fame, and conflict as they bury their emotional response to what's happened to their relationship, keeps season 2 gripping all the way through. The show satirises the booming business of the sex tape madness, and how celebrity wannabes use their home "movies" as a ticket to fame and fortune. 
 

The new season, which comprises a total 7 episodes, will feature many surprises including the addition of actress Noureen DeWulf who is best known for her role as sexy therapy patient Lacey in Charlie Sheen’s hit TV comedy "Anger Management" - she makes an appearance in the finale and is set to meddle in affairs"!    

We spoke to Rolla Selbak about what season 2 has in store. Positive feedback for the first season demonstrated that audiences really valued the high quality production and that the storyline wasn't sensationalising the sensationalism within the series. It covered the story and characters with a sense of realism (which carries right on through season 2).  For Selbak, the "direct-to-audience" nature of web series is a key draw to the platform, there aren't layers of producers controlling content and distribution, which gives a "tremendous amount of freedom" she says with glee. And the "immediate feedback from audiences" is also an advantage Selbak relishes - finding out straight away through the social media channels what viewers think and what their responses are.  The control over content also makes it easier for cross over from other web series characters and we know Fawzia Mirza from Kam Kardashian makes a special appearance. Selbak has chosen the staged release, dropping the first five episodes at launch, leaving a cliffhanger to deal with before releasing the final two part finale on Valentines day (sweet!) - a perfect blend of satisfying the box set fanatics and those who like a bit of suspense - ideal for the short episode format of a web series.  Production is a fun process for all, and the "fantastic" on set experience was a clear draw for the cast from season 1 to return in a flash, and happily schedules aligned for all. Filming took place over 7 days, in September.   Selbak is really sold on the web series format. They are made by people "trying to fill gaps that are not filled in traditional media" - which is why they make a great platform for authentic lesbian content - we get to "represent characters, stories and ideas you don't usually get to see on TV". The ability to access and stream short episodes also means there are more opportunities to watch - viewing isn't confined to a regular TV slot with a 9 month commitment.  Selbak promises some sense of finality in the finale but there's always a sense of more to tell if we get the chance. 

 Rolla Selbak is an award winning filmmaker who is part of the San Francisco Women's Film Institute Leadership council, and is responsible for creating and producing the S.F International Women's On-line Film Festival - slated to launch at the end of the year/early next year.

Selbak's most recent credits include writing and directing the internationally acclaimed feature films "Three Veils” and “Making Maya”, as well as her documentary “Green Blue Sea”, profiling a young, Palestinian scuba diver, and his profound respect for the ocean.

By Katie