L-Word.com News Stories

By B&TF

On November 1 I attended 9th Annual POWER UP Annual Premiere Awards honoring gay women and men in showbiz. The event was held at Social Hollywood Club in Los Angeles.

As POWER UP Founder and Executive Director Stacy Codikow said, “Each year, the Annual Power Premier and Gala recognizes companies and individuals who, through their artistic endeavor, have helped to shape public opinion and social growth … POWER UP also recognizes 10 gay women annually for their successes in showbiz.”

This year POWER UP recognized Megan Cavanagh, who you might know as Marla Hooch from League of Their Own, Exes & Oh’s, and several other TV shows; Angela Courtin, SVP of Marketing, Entertainment and Content for MySpace; Liz Feldman, a four-time Emmy award winning writer/producer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, comedian and the host of This Just Out on AfterEllen; Sharon Isbin, Grammy award winner and classical guitarist; Carol Leifer, writer and producer for several TV shows, including Seinfeld; Harriet Newman Leve, a Toni award winning Broadway producer; Rachel Maddow, the host of critically acclaimed The Rachel Maddow Show; Kelly McGillis who needs no introduction; Susan Miller, the writer/executive producer of the web series Anyone But Me; and Patricia Resnick, the writer for such films as 9 to 5, A Wedding and Straight Talk.

This year awards were also extended to 10 gay men who are working, creating and changing lives with their work. This year list of nominees was amazing, and though, not all of them were able to make it to the Gala, I was able to meet most of the honorees.

I came in a little earlier to find a spot on the Red Carpet and I noticed Sharon Isbin playing her guitar. After Sharon appeared on The L Word, I found all of her CD’s because I love guitar classical music and Sharon is very famous classical musician. She was practicing because the Power Up organizers asked her to play a few pieces. Sharon also told me that she was expected to perform at the White House on Wednesday but she was glad she could make it to Power Up event.

The first guests began to arrive and the Red Carpet frenzy had begun. The nominees and guests were slowly coming through, posing for us, and I chatted a little with those I knew, securing a few promises of later interviews.

There was a short break on the Red Carpet between the guests’ arrivals and I decided to use that opportunity to interview someone. Kate French was available and she became my first interviewee.

B&TF: So I’m here at Power Up with Kate French who played Niki Stevens on The L Word. Are you here for support?

KF: Yeah, I’m here for support and there’s a good chance I might be involved in Girltrash, as well.

B&TF: I loved the Girltrash webisodes and I know they begin filming the movie in December. What can you tell me about your involvement?

KF: That’s a good chance I will have a part in it but I don’t know anything yet. I actually haven’t even read the script. We are still working on it.

B&TF: Well, you know Angela Robinson. You just say, “Hey, you know me. Give me the job.”

KF: (laughing) Exactly, that’s one hundred percent true.

B&TF: I also saw a video of you in Atlantic City with some of the cast recently. How was it?

KF: It was great. We were there for sort of an L Word convention and the fans were amazing. I love doing things with the fans because they really are the most loyal people I’ve ever met. It was really great and I’ve never been to Atlantic City and that was an experience (laughing). Definitely an interesting place.

B&TF: I heard that it’s really hard to get there.

KF: Yes, it was but I was already in New York so it wasn’t too bad for me but it’s really interesting place. It’s bizarre. You’re driving along and there’s nothing around and all of a sudden it looks like Vegas but in a weird ocean setting.

B&TF: Apart from the convention did you go anywhere to see any sights?

KF: I didn’t actually. The weather was bad when I was there so I stayed indoors and did most of the convention staff. I didn’t even gamble. I got kicked off the gambling floor because they didn’t believe I was over 21. I’m 25 and I was like, “Really, guys?” But I didn’t have my ID with me, so no gambling for me.

B&TF: It was a complement, though.

KF: It is, it is. And I saved my money (laughing).

B&TF: At the Atlantic City event you were there with Rose Rollins, Pam Grier and Mia Kirshner who just went to the L Convention in England. Did they tell you about it?

KF: Yes, they said it was fantastic. I didn’t get to go because I was working but they said they had the best time ever. That one is always the really fun one because you get people from all over the world that go there.

B&TF: Yes, I’ve been there and they are really good. Do you think you might go to one sometime?

KF: Yes, I would love too. I’ve never been to London. I’ve been to Europe but not London.

B&TF: Yes, the conventions are great because, like you said, there are fans from all over the world and it’s a really friendly atmosphere.

KF: Yes, that’s what I look forward too.

B&TF: Do you miss The L Word since it’s been over?

KF: I miss it terribly. This is still my favorite job that I’ve ever had. It was unbelievable. The biggest part is that I’m still really close with a lot of the girls so it’s like a family.

B&TF: Are you hanging out with some of them then?

KF: Yes, I see Angela (Robinson) and Alex (Kondracke) all the time and their new little baby. Yeah, I see them in L.A. weekly. I see all the girls now and then, so yeah, it’s been good.

B&TF: What other projects are you working on?

KF: At the moment I just finished doing One Tree Hill. I did that this past season and then I will be hopefully involved with Girltrash. That’s the next thing.

B&TF: Well, thank you so much.

My little break was over because of the new arrivals on the Red Carpet and I returned to my photography duty. Some of the Girltrash cast returned to the Red Carpet to pose together for us and after they finished, Rose Rollins approached me and I asked her a few questions.

B&TF: Hey, what’s up?

RR: Chilling.

B&TF: Cool. What’s new happening with you since the last convention, any new projects?

RR: I’m enjoying life and now we are getting ready to shoot Girltrash.

B&TF: I was going to ask you about it.

RR: Yeah, I’m excited. That’s what this whole photo shoot that you were just shooting was about. All the girls from Girltrash.

B&TF: I watched the episodes on line and I heard that you begin shooting in December. Do you know Monique’s storyline and what’s happening?

RR: I can’t tell, I’d have to kill you (laughing).

B&TF: You made me swallow my gum [more laughing from Rose and because her laughter is so contagious, soon we were both laughing.] Now that you’ve been to L6 what can you tell me about your first convention experience?

RR: It was great but I don’t like how some of my Q&A’s were transcribed on line though, because a lot of my statements were taken out of context. And then I have people like my mom or people who read it and who weren’t there, so they don’t know the humor behind it because I always go for the joke.

B&TF: Which statements are you taking about because I did some of the reports from L6?

RR: Like men are useless and unprotected sex is the only thing that considered cheating (laughing).

B&TF: I know I didn’t write about unprotected sex but it was actually funny when you said it.

RR: I know, it was funny but you have to be there, you have to be there. I don’t ever want to generalize and if I could’ve taken a couple of comments back I definitely would.

B&TF: Every time you speak just warn people in advance: it’s a joke, here’s another joke.

RR: Maybe I just have to announce that it’s a joke because my mom follows up on everything and I kind of disappointed her but she wasn’t there.

B&TF: Did you tell her it was a joke?

RR: Yes but she was like, “Rose, you gotta learn. Whatever you do say or put out there it’s always going to be taken out of context. That’s why you have to sensor yourself.”

B&TF: You can blame me for everything.

RR: Yeah, okay.

B&TF: So after L6 you guys went to Atlantic City and I watched one video of it on line. There was a small part when you got kind of mad at some fan asking a stupid question about sex scenes.

RR: Yeah, I don’t like when people ask that. We represent so much more at this point and the show is over. Don’t get drunk and ask stupid questions. That’s my point.

B&TF: I did notice that almost everywhere someone always asks that question.

RR: I feel like they exceeded. You know, there is a line and they crossed it far more that it’s ever been crossed. It’s just kind of annoying and I definitely want to voice my opinion. If something’s not right it’s not right. And I was personally offended when they asked me how would I know how to portray a gay woman if I’m straight. And I think that that’s the most ignorant question that anyone can ask. We’re all actors and we all know what love feels like and what heartbreak feels like. So at the end of the day we’re all human. She thinks that she’s actually sticking up for her fellow lesbian women but actually she’s putting them more in the box. I had a hard time holding my tongue.

B&TF: Totally understandable. Last question, how excited are you about Australian Convention?

RR: If it happens, I’ll be really excited.

B&TF: What do you mean, if it happens?

RR: You never know. It’s far away and it sounds amazing and when I’m there I’ll be ecstatic.

Rose had to go and I returned to the Red Carpet area for more photos, thinking about what I’ve learned while talking to Rose. Don’t ask her stupid questions and remember that Rose jokes a lot so don’t take anything she says out of context.

Finally, the place quieted down and all the guests and celebrities began moving to the presentation room. I packed my camera and went in search of the nominees and other guests who had agreed to talk to me before the presentations. I walked around, mingled with people, took some photos with the guests and looked for familiar faces.

I noticed Sharon Isbin getting ready to go into the presentation room and approached her with a few questions. If you remember, Sharon appeared in the second season as a musician who played at the Planet when Bette was being ‘meat-tagged’ and then asked Kit to introduce her to Bette in six months. I was really interested to know about her experience as a guest star.

When I introduced myself, Sharon was the first to ask me a question.

SI: Are you Russian?

B&TF: Yes.

SI: Oh, this is where my grandparents were from.

B&TF: Oh really? Where are they from exactly?

SI: They’re near Gomel and it was town called Choiniki and I found it. And I was able to find from Ellisisland.org all of the Izbinsky, that was the name then, that came over. They were all from the port of Choiniki. And then you know what I found?

B&TF: What?

SI: Really strange. I found ten minutes away from Choiniki a town called Izbin, which would mean, I would suppose, that Izbinsky were those people from Izbin and that town looked like it was just two barns.

B&TF: Actually a lot of Russian surnames came from the place they were living in; and sometimes the place would get a name from the first settlers, even if there was only one house.

SI: I’m glad you confirm that because it’s so tiny that I figured that they had to name the town after the person, rather than vice versa. Is the name Izbin common for Russia?

B&TF: Not really.

SI: No, it’s very unusual, right? Have you heard it before?

B&TF: I haven’t heard it.

SI: Izbinsky was their family name.

B&TF: Yeah, Izbinsky sounds more Russian.

SI: And it means ‘from Izbin’, right?

B&TF: Yes. Well, it’s great. Now I have a question and it’s about The L Word. I know it’s been awhile because you were in the second season.

SI: Right.

B&TF: How did you get invited as a guest star and tell me a little about your experience?

SI: Well, Ilene Chaiken heard about me and she decided to write me into the script.

B&TF: Cool.

SI: At that time I had a new album release with the New York Philharmonic. First time they’d ever recorded with the guitar so she actually wrote into the script the character’s passing around the CD, and then I played on it, too. This is when they had Kit start at the Planet these performances, so it worked out to be the right coming so I could play at the Planet.

B&TF: And you also had this little storyline when you noticed Bette Porter who was single and asked Kit to introduce you to her sister in six months.

SI: Right, right. You have a good memory, my God.

B&TF: I watched it a lot and I work for l-word.com. I have to know these things (laughing). How was your working experience with Pam Grier and Jennifer Beals?

SI: It was a terrific experience. They were both lovely. Pam just kept me laughing the whole time. It was the first time that I’ve ever acted so she just made me feel so comfortable and very, very relaxed. And Jennifer and I discovered that we were both from the Yale so we shared stories about that. It was a wonderful experience and what I learned is that it takes so long to film just a couple of minutes because they have to reset the stage, redo the lighting, so we had a lot of down time. I just sat there and played for everybody for a couple of hours. And I think everybody had a good time with it.

B&TF: Sounds like Jennifer Beals who was taking pictures of everybody on set during the breaks and now she’s making a book out of it.

SI: Really?

B&TF: Yeah, book for fans with all the proceeds going to several charities that she likes.

SI: This is a great, wonderful idea.

B&TF: As far as your music, are you still travelling around the world or performing locally mostly?

SI: I travel all over the world and if you get on my website www.sharonisbin.com, you can check my itinerary page, if you want. I’ll be coming back to L.A. actually in December to play with Pacific Symphony in Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Hall. This summer I went to Italy again. I go to Europe several times a year.

B&TF: Have you been to Russia?

SI: I have not been to Russia yet and that’s one more discovery to make. I have a new album out and it’s called ‘Journey to the New World’ and Joan Baez is a guest on it. It’s from the Sony label. It’s sort of the history of Folk music in America, starting with the 16th century in the British Isles. I do lute duets with myself by Dowland, who is considered the pop music composer of his time. Then it moves forward to the 17th and 18th century Wild Mountain Thyme, and then the Joan Baez Suite, which is the centerpiece. The solo guitar that she heard and offered to sing in the album. And then the whole thing ends when she sings two beautiful songs, “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Go Way from My Window”. And then it ends with the country fiddle player, Mark O’Connor, with Premiere Suite that he wrote for the two of us.

B&TF: I love your music. I have a few of your CD’s and I have some of it on my iTunes in my classical playlist. Do you still remember what piece you played on The L Word?

SI: I think it was Zapateado by Sainz de la Maza, which is a Spanish composer.

B&TF: It was beautiful. You know, I always wanted to meet you and I’m glad I had. Congratulations on your award.

After I finished interview with Sharon and stopped my tape recorder, she asked me a few more questions, mostly about the l-word.com website because she was interested to know how it came to existence and why it was created. She was really amazed at how much the fans are still involved with the show, even after it’s over. She also asked me about Ilene’s new projects and was really excited about the L Word the movie that Ilene is supposedly writing.

Part 2 is next, stay tuned.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 1:01 pm and is filed under Lesbians, Movies, Television, The L Word. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.