Written by:
Sheela Lambert
» Order
this Issue of Curve:
18#2
Andrea Meyerson is the filmmaker behind all three Laughing Matters films, memorable for their top-shelf LGB comedians and hilarious performances. Her new "docucomedy" of Kate Clinton's 25th anniversary tour made us laugh so hard we had to sit down for a chat.
When did you first meet Kate Clinton?
I had been producing comedy shows in L.A. in smaller venues and wanted to start doing bigger shows. I had really wanted to produce Kate's one-woman show so I called her agent and asked what it would take to book her. The result was I produced the kickoff show of her 20th Anniversary tour in 2001.
Why did you feel it was important to capture this particular tour on film?
Kate is an out lesbian performer who had been doing this work for 25 years and nobody else could say that. I wanted to honor her life's work and her contribution to the LGBT community.
Does Kate have any quirks or odd habits? Anything we don't know about her?
She is one of the lowest maintenance artists I've ever worked with. She's gracious and humble and low-maintenance—a producer's dream.
Kate is brilliant, the way her mind works...to take such important issues and make people laugh about it. She has truly mastered the art of comedy.
What's your favorite "bit"¯ from her tour? Could you name one?
I think it's when she compares herself to George Bush and then imitates him talking about freedom. When I was in editing bay with my editor and watching it over and over again, we just kept laughing! When I watch it at festival screenings or even think about it now it makes me laugh [laughs].
You started out as an event organizer in Los Angeles, how did you make the jump to filmmaking with no experience or training?
Iā€™d been very involved with Outfest, publicizing them to the women's community; so I was always watching the women's films in the festival. When Ellen and Rosie came out we all honored them. They got the world to fall in love with them as people first and came out after they were already famous. That was wonderful and an important path, but what about the comedians that were out from day one? Kate Clinton, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Margi Gomez and Karen Williams had all been doing comedy as out lesbians for an average of 20 years each. They never lied, never hid in the closet and as a result, never rose to that kind of celebrity status...that their talent deserved.
I wanted to pay tribute to the women I considered to be the pioneers of lesbian comedy. So I decided to do the film, Laughing Matters.
I knew the comedians because I had been producing comedy shows in LA. But I didn't know the first thing about filmmaking; I just had passion and vision. Laughing Matters was like filmmaking 101 for me—I was learning on the job. What I had going for me, was great content, thanks to the talent of these women.
Well I think what you said about the content is key: when we saw it, we were too busy laughing to notice imperfections. You made two films this year, Kate's tour and Laughing Mattersā€¦The Men [retitled Laughing Matters...Gay Comedy in America by Logo.] How did you do that on top of producing shows?
And running Women On A Roll [her popular lesbian social organization in California.] I honestly don't know! I love what I do. The good news is that Logo has been acquiring my films and I have been working with a great DVD distributor, Alluvial Films.
Kate Clinton: 25th Anniversary Tour airs on Logo starting June 12. Laughing Matters...Gay Comedy in America will be airing as of Aug 14. Laughing Matters and Laughing Matters More are already in rotation.
Logo air dates can be found on their website at www.logoonline.com.
Women On A Roll can be found at http://www.womenonaroll.com.
All Out Films can be found at http://www.alloutfilms.com.
|
