Interview with Kathleen Benner

Our Interview with Kathleen Benner

We are very proud and happy to finally announce the interview is ONLINE!
Yes, it's amazing and we're so pleased, as you can see she's just naturally beautiful and we thank her for all the love and support. Please please go check her out every now and then - www.kathleenbenner.com

The-GayLife Magazine, had a chance to talk to the amazing Kathleen Benner, who played Sydney in ‘Running on Empty Dreams’.

And finally, here's the interview:

The-GayLife Magazine: Hey Kathleen, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule for us. How’re you feeling today?

Kathleen Benner: I am feeling pretty good thanks.


The-GayLife Magazine: You’ve played Sydney in ‘Running on Empty Dreams’, how much do you think has your fan base extended (especially gay people)?

Kathleen Benner: I honestly have no idea. I was completely taken by shock with the emails that I have received in reference to this film. I have gotten some pretty amazing emails from some amazing woman from all over stating that they were grateful to see a film like this. As much as I would love to take the credit, I cant. This film and the power behind Sydney’s character were due to Nitaras bravery in putting her life story on display.

The-GayLife Magazine: The director, Nitara Osbourne, was basically turning her life into a movie. How did you get approached for this role and what exactly made you play the part? Also, was it just obvious that you’d be Sydney or did anyone want you to be Jane?

Kathleen Benner: I was approached through my agent in Arizona. She called to ask if I would be willing or wanted to audition for Running On Empty. She explained to me the story line and wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the content. The original audition notice was for an African American woman to play Sydney, but Nitara had not found the right person so she opened it up to anyone. What made me play this part was the passion behind the film. To find out that this was Nitaras story and she had put the last five years into this, it was hard not to want to be a part. As far as Jane, lol, No. No one ever really saw me playing the Jane character.


The-GayLife Magazine: I don’t want to give anything away or spoil it too much, so if anyone has not seen the movie yet then please skip this and the next question.
– Spoiler Alert! -
I’ve watched the movie twice, and made others watch it. The end is very tragic and sad as well as mysterious. A lot of people have been wondering about that Butch lesbian, her obsession with Jesus and Sydney’s sudden death.
I’ve got one theory in my head that I want to share with you:

The Butch lesbian said that if you take something away from someone, then your life basically won’t be even anymore and it’s like karma. So since Sydney had finally found her true love, it’d be too easy to have both, so her son got taken away – which rips a part out of her heart. On the one hand she’s got happiness for herself but then misses a part again (her son). And if she had picked her son (and marriage) then she couldn’t be with her one true love.

How can you explain the ending? Does she ‘just’ die or does she commit suicide like she’s written in her book? How do you complete the story in your head, what does really happen to Sydney?


Kathleen Benner: How can I explain the ending, well I guess it is partially left up to the viewer to decide what happens. I asked Niter to explain it to me and she just says its up to the viewer to make the decision. Creativity of the viewer is going to have to come into play on this one J. In my opinion as Kathleen the viewer…Sydney is too strong a woman and gave up too much to just end her own life. Suicide was not ever in her plan…she is an athlete and athletes never give up.


The-GayLife Magazine: You’re a full-time mother, a model, a stunt double and an actress – and the day only has 24 hours, how do you do that?

Kathleen Benner: I have amazing friends and family that are always there for me no matter what. I don’t go anywhere without my daughter. Most people know if you cast me, she will be coming with me.


The-GayLife Magazine: You’re writing an action movie right now, can you tell me a bit more about it?

Kathleen Benner: Well don’t want to spoil it, but I am writing and producing a feature action film called “Addiction“. We will be in production spring of 2010 with an October release date. The best way to describe it is, ‘Sons of Anarchy’ meets ‘Sopranos‘. The rest you will have to stay tuned for.


The-GayLife Magazine: ‘I kissed a girl…and I ….’ You know the rest. Did you like it? And a question that is of everyone’s interest (since lots of them don’t have you on their face book), are you gay/bisexual/straight?

Kathleen Benner: To clear up any confusion, I am straight. As far as the “kiss”, it was a kiss, not really sure if a man or a woman matters on the other end as far as physical person. What matters is how you felt, and for Sydney’s character is was great. On a personal note it was just a kiss because Rachel Owens and I are not attracted to each other J.


The-GayLife Magazine: Did you get a chance to check out our magazine? Will we be able to keep you as a regular reader?

Kathleen Benner: I did get a chance to look at your magazine. I was surprised at how much you keep up with. I will be a regular reader. It has a lot of great stuff! You don’t have to be gay to enjoy your magazine.


The-GayLife Magazine: Hands down, you’re incredibly attractive and the movies you are in such as Running on Empty Dreams, Flesh, TX, Thorns from a Rose and a few more (By the way, watched the trailer for Thorns from a Rose, WE LIKE IT A LOT) aren’t like the big Hollywood block busters that everyone’s talking about, are independent productions something you like and want or want to make your way to Hollywood?

Kathleen Benner: Thank you so much for the nice compliment. I think Hollywood is everyone’s dream at some point in there career, but the independent productions (if done well) are great projects to be a part of. Hollywood is about the fame (which is great), but independent projects are more like family. Its usually smaller and you almost always know someone on set.


The-GayLife Magazine: If you had the chance to turn back time and play in one movie of your choice, what would it be and why?

Kathleen Benner: Wow that is an interesting question. I would have loved to been a part of the film ‘The last Samurai”. That was one of my favorite films…lots of action and stunts, great storyline, and a little bit of romance. Perfect combination and so well acted. It would have been a pleasure to be a part of that film.


The-GayLife Magazine: We noticed that you’re in a few movies with Jose Rosete, are you friends in real life and know that the chemistry is just right or did that just happen?

Kathleen Benner: Jose and I are great friends. We have worked together so many times that it was a perfect fit. We have done so many things together that is was really easy to play off each other…and I trust him, that is so important when your doing such a dramatic film. I knew he would be awesome!


The-GayLife Magazine: If we were to write a movie now and would want you to be our lead character, what would be reasons for you to decline/accept the role?

Kathleen Benner: I try and choose roles that will show my range of acting, and still remain tasteful and classy. I would absolutely say yes to a film you were doing. I think your magazine and the staff J are wonderful.


The-GayLife Magazine: Do you and Nitara, director of ‘Running Empty Dreams’, plan on another movie together?

Kathleen Benner: Absolutely. I have asked Nitara to help me write a story of a very special event in my life. We are in the beginning stages, but her heart and sole goes into what she does and it shows in her writing.


The-GayLife Magazine: What do you think about Proposition 8?

Kathleen Benner: Honestly I think love is love. No matter what sex you are I believe people should have the freedom to get married to whomever they want.
No where does it say that you have to be opposite sex in order to wed, hat is a tradition that society made.

The-GayLife Magazine: You seemed very comfortable showing yourself partially nude in the movie, as well as very attracted to Jane. Did that come naturally or did you get some advice/watch some gay movies?

Kathleen Benner: Actually I was very nervous about being partially nude on screen, but I felt it would have taken away from the passion of telling the story if we were always worried about what was “showing” during filming. It would have been hard to do the love scenes if you were trying to always cover up J.
As far as naturally, no not really I did a lot of studying. “The L Word” became my bible for about a year.


The-GayLife Magazine: Who do you think is the most overrated person in the public eye right now?

Kathleen Benner: Wow I have to come up with just one J. Well to keep myself from getting too political, I will go with Paris Hilton. Perfect example of someone who got famous for having absolutely no talent.


The-GayLife Magazine: What is the worst that has happened on a set ever? Any injuries since you’re a stunt double as well?

Kathleen Benner: I have been fortunate and have not had a lot of bad things happen while on was on set. During the filming of ‘When Shadows Die’, but my stunt teacher and the lead actor were severely hurt both in the same night. My stunt teacher broke his leg during his air ram stunt and the lead actor got third degree burns while doing his fire stunt. Pretty rough night, but everyone came out ok. I myself have not had any really bad injuries. I have had many bruises and a few scrapes, but that is the extent.


The-GayLife Magazine: Thanks a lot for taking your time for me and our magazine. I wish you all the best for the future and upcoming projects.


Kathleen Benner: Thank you so much for your interest in Running on Empty Dreams, and your interest in me as a person. It has been a pleasure!

Quick Questions
1. What is your favorite word? Love a small word but one of the most powerful in all languages.
2. Do you have any pets? Yup two cats.
3. How tall are you actually? 5’11” and worth the climb.
4. What’s the worst pick up line anyone has ever used on you? Lol this is a good one. “How would you like your eggs in the morning? Scrambled or Fertilized. He got hit.
5. What is your favorite TV show? I have a bunch hard to pick one…but Boston Legal is up there.
6. Do you have a middle name? Patricia after my dads only sister.
7. Do you have a special talent? I think that is left up to interpretation J.
8. Your last vacation was? Good question.
9. When will you come to London, UK, so we can take you out for dinner? Anytime!
10. Your favorite song to listen to when driving? Wow again I have so many hard to pick one. I am a country music and rock fan!

---> WE CAN'T WAIT TO TAKE HER OUT FOR DINNER!!!

The Vicious Lesbian Circle

The last couple of days I've been pretty busy with life so thinking about women is the last thing on my mind, however, something I have always come across and will never stop is...

'The Vicious Lesbian Circle'

I swear you're probably like, what the heck IS SHE talking about?

Basically it's like this, you see/know a girl you like and think oh yeah she's pretty, why not ask her out?

You walk over to her, ask her out, everything seems to be working out perfectly for you......

Let's picture this situation (names are all either made up or replaced, whatever you prefer!)

First date:

You meet at a bar and start chatting a little bit about career, previous relationships and maybe mutual friends.

She: I once dated that girl, Keisha, who was totally my type; tall, brunette, blue eyes, tanned skin and super slim. We were seeing each other for about two months when she met that other girl, Rhonda, and now they've been going out for 6 months.

You: Oh yeah, I know that. My ex-girlfriend, Natalie, cheated on me with that 'new girl in town', Mya, who is like that super skinny top model and likes to break hearts.

She: Oh no, I know how that feels. My ex-girlfriend, Laura, is now dating a total sk@nk, Sarah, I can't believe it. And we were dating for about a year (which is like six years in a straight relationship!)

You: Sarah Foster? The tall, green eyed Canadian girl with the beautiful and perfect white teeth?

She: Yeah, you know her? She is such a %*X£$!

You: She is my ex-girlfriend, We dated for about a year and then she moved back home. Seems like she's back in the country huh?

She: Oh.......I'm sure we can be friends (what was your name again?)! But now I've got to go...

You: Yes, me too. Bye.

---------------------> So basically in the lesbian community, it's safe to say that somehow everybody knows everybody.

If you ever want to meet a girl you've seen on the scene, at least one of your friends knows her or at least has hooked up with her already. Unless she's an angel, celibate, a virgin, a newbie or confused.

My words of wisdom for Friday: Let's rock 'n' roll, go out and meet some beautiful girl/guy (for the boys!)

MissLunatic

Nitara Osbourne Interview

The-GayLife Magazine, had a chance to talk to the incredible Nitara Osbourne, director of the movie ‘Running on Empty Dreams’

The-GayLife Magazine: Hi Nitara, it means a lot to me that you could take time off to be interviewed. How’re you today?

Nitara Osbourne: I’m doing awesome. And I’m happy to do the interview.

The-GayLife Magazine: The movie ‘Running on Empty Dreams’ has gotten a lot of different comments (negative and positive) but eventually this IS YOUR story.
When did you decide to actually make a movie out of this? Were you Sydney or Jane? (We assume Sydney but then you’d have to explain a lot to us!)

Nitara Osbourne: First of all, the character Sydney Harris was based on me. I know that answers your second question, but may raise others in your mind. Hopefully, I’ll answer all of those for you.
I just knew that I wanted to tell this story since August of 2002, which is when I began to write the script. I had fallen in love with a single mom while I was still married in early 2001. She lived across the street from me and we just connected.

However, in June of 2002, I had broken my relationship off with her so that I can honor my commitment to my husband. At the time, I would never admit to being gay. That affair was simply an “isolated event,” and I felt in my heart that I needed to do “the right thing,” and return to the life that I was “supposed” to live with a man and my son. So, I was determined to get this script written about having to choose between this single mom whom I was in love with, and honoring a commitment to the man whom I had married. At the time, I had no idea why there was this huge tug on the inside of me to tell this story. It wasn’t until years later when I understood just why I needed to get this story out of my heart.
As I began to push this script to agents, producers, and directors in Hollywood, I found myself getting no where really quickly. During the time, I was also working on other people’s projects, and still pushing my script on the side. What I learned through this process was what it took to actually make an independent film. So, after several rejections later, I still had this pull on the inside of me to tell this story, and decided that I had enough knowledge working on film sets to both produce and direct this project. I made this decision in January of 2006. My ex-husband and I were still married at the time, and we decided to produce the script together. He had a great business mind and I had the creative drive to see the project through.

The-GayLife Magazine: Your Running on Empty Dreams Production shows you and your husband and we’ve been wondering, are you gay or straight? How come he is involved in the movie even though this was you deciding against him?

Nitara Osbourne: Excellent question. I am definitely gay. I’m NOT bi-curious, bi-sexual, straight, or confused. It took many years to be able to admit that to myself, let alone, to my family, friends, and to others.
Mauryo, my now ex-husband, wanted to do this film because he felt that it would serve as a means for us both to move past this affair, so that we can then focus on our marriage and our relationship. Like it was something for me to get “out of my system” in order to move on with my life, so to speak. We have always been the best business partners. So, after mending our marriage in 2002, I embarked on a long journey of pushing this film project. He helped with contacting and networking. Then Mauryo jumped right on board in 2006 to create the business plan once I announced my desire to produce and direct Running On Empty Dreams myself.
Mauryo wanted to help me fulfill this dream of mine, and in doing so, he fulfilled his because he loves business, as well as the producing aspect of film production. Our marriage lasted seven years after the affair. We are still currently co-owners of the independent film production company Running On Empty Productions, LLC.

The-GayLife Magazine: I don’t want to give anything away or spoil it too much, so if anyone has not seen the movie yet then please skip this and the next question.
– Spoiler Alert! -
I’ve watched the movie twice, and made others watch it. The end is very tragic and sad as well as mysterious. A lot of people have been wondering about that Butch lesbian, her obsession with Jesus and Sydney’s sudden death.
I’ve got one theory in my head that I want to share with you:
The Butch lesbian said that if you take something away from someone, then your life basically won’t be even anymore and it’s like karma. So since Sydney had finally found her true love, it’d be too easy to have both, so her son got taken away – which rips a part out of her heart. On the one hand she’s got happiness for herself but then misses a part again (her son). And if she had picked her son (and marriage) then she couldn’t be with her one true love.
How can you explain the ending? Does she ‘just’ die or does she commit suicide like she’s written in her script? (I changed this from the word “book” to “script.”) How do you complete the story in your head, what does really happen to Sydney?

Nitara Osbourne: People ask me about the ending all of the time. I specifically wrote it that way because I wanted the audience to arrive at their own conclusion. IF Sydney committed suicide, that says that she was still not happy and could not handle life and her situation. However, IF she died due to her illness, there is that huge possibility that she really did find happiness, but that life took it away from her at no fault of her own. The way that she dies reveals a lot about her character, and so the audience’s perception of that ending is based on how they perceive Sydney. I didn’t want the ending to be conclusive. I wanted the audience to believe in their own ending. Of course, as the writer, I do know what actually happened in the end, but I wrote it in such a way that keeps the audience guessing and thinking. I suppose that doesn’t answer your question, and isn’t what you really wanted to hear. LOL.

The-GayLife Magazine: Who is the most critical person that will always tell you what’s good and bad?

Nitara Osbourne: Actually, I have more than one person in mind. My parents and Mauryo. I can trust them to be straight forward and honest with me at all times.

The-GayLife Magazine: We obviously hope that you check out our website on a regular basis, do you have a favorite part of it just yet? (We just assume you’re a fan now)

Nitara Osbourne: I am a fan of GayLife Magazine. My favorite section is the Gossip page. I especially like what you have currently featured on the Gossip page, which is Prop 8 – The Musical. I watched the video. It was hilarious. I also noticed that under Your Daily Hottie for today, you guys have a photograph of Kathleen Benner. It was pretty cool to see an awesome photograph of the lead actress of my film on your site. Your Daily Hottie is a beautiful feature and I hope that you keep doing it.

The-GayLife Magazine: Any future projects in mind and are they going to appeal to the gay community again or are you planning to dive into the straight world?

Nitara Osbourne: Actually, the next 2 projects in development are going to be controversial. I love controversy, entertaining, and story telling. The project that is an action-drama will be a mini-series, and will appeal to the gay/lesbian community. The other film project is going to be a feature-film thriller, which will appeal to more of a mass audience. I’ve already written the first episode of the mini-series. I’m just in the middle of revising it now. And I’m currently doing research for the thriller, so that I can write that script effectively.

The-GayLife Magazine: The Butch lesbian in the movie ‘Running on Empty Dreams’ might seem very pointless to a lot of people, but what role did she actually play in your real life?

Nitara Osbourne: That’s funny that you mention that the Butch lesbian “might seem very pointless to a lot of people.” People either hate that character or love her. There hasn’t been a middle ground regarding “Geri” [the butch lesbian] as of yet.
“Geri” was a real person in my life who lived a gay lifestyle for years prior to meeting me. She was out and proud. However, she “found” Jesus Christ through an Evangelical Christian church, and then came to believe that she was living in sin as a lesbian. I met her at the Evangelical Christian church that she was attending, right after ending my affair, and when I was trying to mend my heterosexual marriage back together with Mauryo. She would offer me words of encouragement to work on my marriage, and tell me how “living a gay lifestyle” was like living in “darkness.” And darkness in the Biblical sense is like being metaphorically “blind” to the truth [of living as Jesus wants one to live].

She would always encourage my need to be with my husband, always implying that we were meant to be together. She would encourage me to “cast down my homosexual feelings.” In other words, she suggested that I push my feelings down like I had done all of my life, except that this time, Jesus would take my “homosexual feelings” away from me eventually. I used to believe her, but I don’t believe in any of that anymore, and I no longer go to church due to the judgmental rhetoric that the pastors attempt to shove down the congregation’s throats. I know that there are many gay-friendly churches. And I may go back to church one day. But for now, I simply see church as a place to be judged, and so I would rather not attend church at all.

The-GayLife Magazine: Why did you decide for Sydney to die at the end and not pick the usual happy ending? Did your life end like that or are you just trying to prove a point that it inertly killed you to not be able to decide for/against something?

Nitara Osbourne: When I originally had written the script, I had Sydney return to her husband at the end, just as I had done in real life. I had other producers/directors read that earlier version and they said it wasn’t believable for Sydney to fight for happiness throughout the entire script, only to return to a life of familiarity and convenience. In hindsight, I supposed it didn’t make sense in real life or in the script.
So, I brainstormed for a long time on what would actually be an ending that is unexpected, yet leaves the audience guessing and thinking. Also, I was writing earlier versions of the script as a Christian who believed that being gay was not right [at that time]. It was really difficult to balance my personal beliefs and telling a story effectively. So, I believe that I gave the audience an ending that was realistic, unexpected, and not conclusive, which in my opinion, made the ending unique. And this is what I wanted… a unique ending.
My life is different from Sydney’s as far as the ending is concerned. Of course, I’m still alive, I’m healthy, and I’m very capable of finding “the one” [woman] to spend the rest of my life with. I’m a romantic, and I believe in love and “the one.” I feel that I’m more evolved now than Sydney was at the end of the film because of everything that I’ve gone through over the past year with coming out and getting a divorce, and NOT having anyone’s arms to fall into. It’s not easy knowing that I may be alone for a while. But this was the choice that I made in order to live my truth. I believe because I came out [for me] and not because I had somebody conveniently to be with, that I will be a better partner to the woman whom I will fall in love with and end up spending the rest of my life with. I’ll be grounded because I had time to be me and to become a better me so that I can become a better partner.

The-GayLife Magazine: You studied in Egypt, how did that change your point of view on things such as war, racism and homosexuality?

Nitara Osbourne: Yes, I was in Egypt between the ages of 13-18 (8th-12th grade.) I was over there attending an American school because my parents were diplomats working at the American Embassy.

Living in Egypt expanded my horizons. Because I ran track & field and played basketball, I made the traveling teams, and was given the opportunity to travel to Austria, Greece, England, and the United Arab Emirates in order to compete. I believe that those experiences only changed me in regards to appreciating other people and their cultures. At the time, I was young and took it all for granted. However, in hindsight, I know that I developed an appreciation for those experiences as time has passed. It gave me a better understanding about the world and people, in general, and how different cultures perceive the world in which we live. Although it wasn’t because I was on an athletic team, I also had the opportunity to go to Italy, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Spain, Mexico, and Israel.

As far as homosexuality is concerned with other cultures, it has been drilled into my head that it is wrong no matter where you go. There were always gay jokes that were uttered by some student at the [international school, as with any school] that I was attending. I remember being 16 years old in the tenth grade, and I found myself very attracted to another female one day. I hated myself for that attraction. I went home after school that day, laid on my back on the floor in a dark room, and cried my eyes out for God to take that feeling away from me. (I was raised Catholic). I didn’t want the burden. And that’s what being gay felt like… a burden. And now, I completely understand what “gay pride” actually means as a 33 year old woman. For me, it means to no longer be ashamed of myself or to hate the “gay” part of myself. I can actually love every aspect of who I am.
Living in Egypt didn’t effect my views on war either way.

The-GayLife Magazine: Would you say that directing or film making in general has always been something you wanted to do?

Nitara Osbourne: Not initially. I always knew since 12th grade that I wanted to write because I was writing for the school newspaper. I would make up entertaining stories, and I thought that was journalism. When I went off to college, I realized that journalism was something totally different, and that it wasn’t the type of writing that I wanted to do. Then I went to see the film Scream 2 in 1997, and I was extremely impressed with the originality of this horror genre. I had seen Scream months earlier, and just thought how original and entertaining the Scream films are. I wasn’t a big horror film fan, but something about the Scream movies mesmerized me.

That’s when I knew I wanted to write scripts for a living. I knew that I loved to entertain and tell controversial stories in my own way. I felt film would be a great medium to accomplish this.
Nevertheless, I wanted to [only] remain a screenwriter. I had no desire to produce or direct because I knew that it would be time-consuming and costly. I spent years seeking producers and directors to produce and direct my work. However, once I started producing and directing stage plays, and worked on other people’s film sets, I caught the producing and directing bug. And this is what led to producing Running On Empty Dreams.

The-GayLife Magazine: What was the biggest worry on your mind when you were making the movie?

Nitara Osbourne: Honestly, I was worried about many things. I didn’t want anyone to get physically hurt on the film set. We were dealing with fire when we were filming the war scene flashback, and we were dealing with electricity and water the night we filmed the rain scene. Safety was a concern. I wanted to make sure we finished within our 21-day schedule and within budget so that we can have a completed film. I’ve heard horror stories about films that get started, but never finish. Investors and film makers lose when this happens. I was thinking about how challenging it must be for Mauryo to executive produce this film, having to relive through the pain of my affair. He’s a great man, a courageous man, for having done the work that he had done on this film. I was worried about so many things that it all seems to be a blur right now.

The-GayLife Magazine: What were some of the obstacles while making the movie and how did you deal with them?

Nitara Osbourne: As you know, the character “Jane” in the film is inflicted with a burned arm from her childhood. The first set of “burned arms” that were created for Rachel Owens, the actress playing “Jane,” became an issue. About 2 or 3 days before we needed the first arm in order to film with our actress, was the day I first saw the “burned arm.” They were sleeves that were to be worn on Rachel’s arm. It wasn’t going to work. It was well done, but it just wasn’t going to work for what we needed. We had Rachel Owens ready to shoot several scenes, as well as an entire crew waiting to get the next day’s shooting schedule. We had to cancel a day, which meant prolonging the shoot, which meant spending more money.

The “burned arm” wasn’t believable enough for what we needed, and it looked like something more suited for a horror film. Because I’m such a perfectionist, I had no choice but to cancel a day of shooting in order to have time to come up with a solution for a believable “burned arm” to be used throughout the film. This was important for “Jane’s” character and the story. My awesome special effects make up artist came through for me in a really big way, and came up with both a cost-effective, but realistic method for a burned look, and it was used throughout the film.
Then, the day that we were scheduled to shoot the entire mountain scenes, it was drizzling and overcast. We had to reschedule all of our mountain scenes for the end of the shoot because I wanted blue skies in my mountain scenes, not a dreary look. More money and added days. That stressed me out, but I kept my cool with the cast and crew as much as possible because if the director falls apart, the entire shoot will fall apart. I admit to being frustrated and irritated at times, but I’m human. When I would vent, I would only vent to certain department heads, people I knew well, or producers because they were closes to me, and knew what I needed.

The-GayLife Magazine: How did you find Kathleen Benner, Jose Rosete and Rachel Owens for this production and why did you pick Kath to be Sydney and Rach to be Jane?

Nitara Osbourne: I found Kathleen, Jose, and Rachel through a huge casting notice that was put out by my California casting director. My goal was to review headshots and resumes, and then choose from the most qualified individuals to set up appointments for the auditions. I didn’t want to do an open casting call where anyone could show up. I ran my first set of auditions, and didn’t have any good fortune with finding “Sydney.” Because “Sydney” is the main character, I knew that I had to choose “Sydney” first before I could make a decision about all the other characters. I was looking for someone who was athletic, pretty, could act, be believable as a lesbian, and an actress comfortable with kissing a woman on film. It was the second round of auditions… Kathleen comes in and blows me away. Right when she auditioned for me I knew she was “Sydney.”
For the character of “Corey,” Jose was the best choice because he can be explosive and tender on screen when he needs to be. He received a call back, along with two other guys, and it was clear to me that he was “Corey.” I love his acting range.

It was very difficult to look for a “Jane” character because I knew that this actress would have to have on-screen chemistry with Kathleen, she would have to be open to kissing a woman on film, she would have to be a good actress, pretty, and she would just have to look physically good with Kathleen. I searched all over for my “Jane,” and I ended up finding her in California. Rachel Owens (“Jane”) was supposed to come out and audition for me in Arizona, but ended up getting caste in a major studio film at the time, which caused her to have a scheduling conflict with the auditions. So, I sent her the sides to the script and she created a DVD audition for me. I got the DVD in the mail, and she absolutely blew me away. Rachel was so perfect for the role. But still, I wanted to see how she and Kathleen would gel. So, I called Rachel in for call backs so that she can read through some lines of the script and do improvisations with Kathleen. They were absolutely awesome together.

The-GayLife Magazine: What do ‘Sydney’ and ‘Jane’ do now? Are they still in touch? Are they friends or completely lost all contact?

Nitara Osbourne: Kathleen (“Sydney”) is a new mom and was teaching acting classes earlier this year. And I believe Rachel (“Jane”) is working as a graphic designer in California. I’m not sure if the two of them remain in contact with each other. However, I remain in contact with Rachel, Kathleen, and Jose from time to time. We don’t talk to each other everyday, but there is definitely a connection with not only my main actors, but with some of my crew members as well. We became a family. I’m not going to lie. There were times on set when people didn’t get along, but in the end, everyone came together to make something great happen. And I think that’s with any family. You have disagreements and you get angry, but at the end of the day, you’ll be there for one another.

The-GayLife Magazine: Thanks so much for taking your time and all the best. I hope we can have more of those, we really appreciate it.

Nitara Osbourne: No problem. It was my pleasure.

Quick Questions

1.Favourite director? Ron Howard
2. A movie you would have loved to direct. I don’t have one in mind.
3. Worst actor in your opinion? I would rather not say. LOL.
4. Boys Don’t Cry or Monster? I absolutely love both films, but Boys Don’t Cry has been one of my favorites for a long time. “Sydney” even mentions Boys Don’t Cry as one of her favorite films in a scene in Running On Empty Dreams.
5. Favourite music to kick back to? Nora Jones and Dido
6. The most recent bad movie you saw? I would rather not say. LOL.
7. Happy or realistic endings? I like endings that best serve each particular film that I watch.
8. Favourite L Word Character and a quick why? Bette Porter because she is sexy, ambitious, accomplished, and sure of herself.
9. Favourite movie genre? Drama
10. The last political issue that made you angry. The opposition on gay marriage in the recent elections in the United States. Proposition 102 in Arizona, Proposition 8 in California, and Proposition 2 in Florida, all of which “protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman” excludes gay people from being able to get married. Absolutely ridiculous.

Miss Universe supports gay marriage

Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza was asked the question that got the most recent Miss USA pageant second-runner up in trouble when she went on The Howard Stern Show Tuesday morning. Instead of Stern's usual "take your top off" requests of beautiful women on his show, he asked Miss Universe about gay marriage.

Seeming to take pointers from blogger Perez Hilton, Stern asked the reigning Miss Universe whether she would support the legalization of gay marriage. After running around the topic a bit initially, saying that Carrie Prejean has rights to her own opinion, even asking "why should i care" what the Miss USA second-runner up thinks.

After she was pressed a little further on the issue, Mendoza noted she has numerous friends in her life that are gay, and that she would like to see them being allowed to spend the remainder of their lives with the people they love.
Stern even got a solid answer out of her to the pageant question that has recently become overwhelmingly compelling: "Should gay marriage be legal?"
Mendoza's response: “Why not?”

She continued with a joke, saying if there was conflict with her stance on gay marriage and her Miss Universe title, she has only about four weeks in her reign anyhow.
George Takei, The Howard Stern Show openly gay guest announcer, exclaimed "Bravo!" Takei, aka Star Trek's original Sulu, and his husband were among the 18,000 California couples to marry their partner during the brief time period where same-sex marriages were legal in the state last summer.

Source: Shewired.com

Dear Mr President

This is Bette Midler's letter to (back then) President, George W. Bush.

And what she had to express, her anger, her disappointment and feelings towards them banning gay marriage, can be read in this expressive letter.

Letter to the "president", from Bette Midler...

Dear President Bush,

Today you called upon Congress to move quickly to amend the US Constitution, and set in Federal stone a legal definition of marriage. I would like to know why.
In your speech, you stated that this Amendment would serve to protect marriage in America, which I must confess confuses me. Like you, I believe in the importance of marriage and I feel that we as a society take the institution far too lightly.

In my circle of family, friends and acquaintances, the vast majority have married and divorced - some more than once. Still, I believe in marriage.

I believe that there is something fundamental about finding another person on this planet with whom you want to build a life and family, and make a positive contribution to society. I believe that we need more positive role models for successful marriage in this country - something to counteract the images we get bombarded with in popular culture.

When we are assaulted with images of celebrities of varying genres, be it actors, sports figures, socialites, or even politicians who shrug marriage on and off like the latest fashion, it is vitally important to the face of our nation, for our children and our future, that we have a balance of commitment and fidelity with which to stave off the negativity.

I search for these examples to show my own daughter, so that she can see that marriage is more than a disposable whim, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

As a father, I'm sure you have faced these same concerns and difficulties in raising your own daughters. Therefore I can also imagine that you must understand how thrilled I have been over the past few weeks to come home and turn on the news with my family.

To finally have concrete examples of true commitment, honest love, and steadfast fidelity was such a relief and a joy. Instead of speaking in the hypothetical, I was finally able to point to these men and women, standing together for hours in the pouring rain, and tell my child that this is what its all about. Forget Britney. Forget Kobe. Forget Strom. Forget about all the people that we know who have taken so frivolously the pure and simple beauty of love and tarnished it so consistently.

Look instead at the joy in the beautiful faces of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon - 51 years together!

I mean, honestly Mr. President - how many couples do you know who are together for 51 years? I'm sure you agree that this love story provides a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about the true meaning and value of marriage. On the steps of San Francisco City Hall, rose petals and champagne, suits and veils, horns honking and elation in the streets; a celebration of love the likes of which this society has never seen.

This morning, however, my joy turned to sadness, my relief transformed into outrage, and my peace became anger. This morning, I watched you stand before this nation and belittle these women, the thousands who stood with them, and the countless millions who wish to follow them.

How could you do that, Mr. President?

How could you take something so beautiful - a clear and defining example of the true nature of commitment - and declare it to be anything less?

What is it that validates your marriage which somehow doesn't apply to Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon?

By what power, what authority are you so divinely imbued that you can stand before me and this nation and hold their love to a higher standard?

Don't speak to me about homosexuality, Mr. President. Don't tell me that the difference lies in the bedroom. I would never presume to ask you or your wife how it is you choose to physically express your love for one another, and I defy you to stand before Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon and ask them to do the same. It is none of my business, as it is none of yours, and it has nothing to do with the "sanctity of marriage". I'm sure you would agree that marriage is far more than sexual expression, and its high time we all started focusing on all the other aspects of a relationship which hold it together over the course of a lifetime. Therefore, with the mechanics of sex set aside, I ask you again - what makes a marriage? I firmly believe that whatever definition you derive, there are thousands upon thousands of shining examples for you to embrace.

You want to protect marriage. I admire and support that, Mr. President. Together, as a nation, let us find and celebrate examples of what a marriage should be. Together, let us take couples who embody the principles of commitment, fidelity, sacrifice and love, and hold them up before our children as role models for their own futures. Together, let us reinforce the concept that love is about far more than sex, despite what popular culture would like them to believe.
Please, for the sake of our children, for the sake of our society, for the sake of our future, do not take us down this road. Under the guise of protection, do not support divisiveness. Under the guise of unity, do not endorse discrimination. Under the guise of sanctity, do not devalue commitment. Under the guise of democracy, do not encourage this amendment.

Bette Midler

Thoughts? I think it's an amazing letter!!!

Top 100 Women

You gay peeps have voted for the sexiest women out there and the list might be a little irritating to some of you, but I'd say the TOP 10 could be worse.

Let us know what you think about the taste of our 'Lesbians'. Do you agree/disagree?

Here's the list:

1. Portia De Rossi
2. Jennifer Beals
3. Lena Headey
4. Leisha Hailey
5. Sarah Shahi
6. Rachel Maddow
7. Tina Fey
8. Sara Ramirez
9. Angelina Jolie
10. Gro Hammerseng
11. Kate Moennig
12. Rachel Shelley
13. Kate Winslet
14. Eliza Dushku
15. Ellen DeGeneres
16. Kristen Stewart
17. Jordana Brewster
18. Clementine Ford
19. Olivia Wilde
20. Tegan Quin
21. Ellen Page
22. Rose Rollins
23. Anna Torv
24. Lisa Ray
25. Pink
26. Kathryn Prescott
27. Lucy lawless
28. Bridget McManus
29. Lily Loveless
30. Sara Quin
31. Laurel Holloman
32. Megan Fox
33. Mandy Musgrave
34. Emily Blunt
35. Jill Bennett
36. Mariska Hargitay
37. Erin Daniels
38. Kate Walsh
39. Jodie Foster
40. Lindsay Lohan
41. Natalie Portman
42. Missy Higgins
43. Piper Perabo
44. Renee O'Connor
45. Gabrielle Christian
46. Michelle Rodriguez
47. Mia Kirshner
48. Keira Knightley
49. Kate Beckinsale
50. Crystal Chappell
51. Blake Lively
52. Charlize Theron
53. Emily Deschanel
54. Laura Sanchez
55. Leighton Meester
56. Penelope Cruz
57. Mary-Louise Parker
58. Lucy Lui
59. Stephanie March
60. Jessica Leccia
61. Esther Anderson
62. Elizabeth Mitchell
63. Patricia Vico
64. Sophia Bush
65. Evangeline Lilly
66. Cate Blanchett
67. Alex Hadison
68. Sandra Oh
69. Alyson Hannigan
70. Katee Sackoff
71. Padma Lakshmi
72. Amber Benson
73. Lauren Graham
74. Sheetal Sheth
75. Jessica Alba
76. Lauren Lee Smith
77. Summer Glau
78. Scarlett Johansson
79. Camila Grey
80. Jorja Fox
81. Kristen Bell
82. Freida Pinto
83. Anne Hathaway
84. Rachel Weisz
85. Salma Hayek
86. Idina Menzel
87. Meryl Streep
88. Yvonne Strahovski
89. Gillian Anderson
90. Nikki Reed
91. Emma Watson
92. Kelly Clarkson
93. Alicia Keys
94. Dichen Lachman
95. Christina Cox
96. Ruby Rose
97. Michelle Obama
98. Halle Berry
99. Shelley Conn
100. Amanda Palmer

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Mississippi Damned

Mississippi Damned is a rare, exceptional film, one that covers enormous amounts of emotional territory and manages to impart sadness and hope in equal measures.

The film kicks off in 1986, and centers on the lives of two African American families and their closest friends, barely scraping by in a rural Mississippi town.

Our protagonist, Kari (played as a young girl by Kylee Russell and later by Tessa Thompson), who acts as our eyes and ears throughout the film.

She has a lesbian sister, Leigh (Chasity Kershal Hammitte), and a cousin Sammy (Malcolm David Kelley), who is a young basketball star.

Their parents and close friends are all struggling — with money, with addictions, with violent histories and difficult pasts.
Charlie (Jossie Thacker) is an alcoholic living with a man who sleeps around on her. Anna (Simbi Kali Williams) is pregnant and near saintly, keeping watch over Kari and feeding her when there’s no food in the house. She’s married to an abusive guy who doesn’t work, forcing her to take care of business.

Kari and Leigh’s folks scream at Leigh about her sexuality and constantly argue about money — their father Junior (Adam Clark) is a gambling addict.
Finally, Sammy is a promising young athlete looking at the possibility of a major scholarship and a pro career, but he’s forced to perform sex acts for money just to go on team trips.

With that much weight — combined with the additional heaviness that comes with any examination of poverty — one would think that the film would crash under it’s own gravitas. But carried by strong performances and assured direction, Mississippi Damned flows very well.
The acting is excellent across the board, with exceptional turns from Thompson, Thacker, Williams and Kelley.

Go see it?