Check out Blood into Wine!

An old friend of mine, Ryan Page, co-directed this amazing film coming out soon. It's called "Blood into Wine: The Arizona Stronghold" and its red carpet premiere is February 19th at the W Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The movie is the widely anticipated documentary that shares the story of Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer front man Maynard James Keenan and his mentor Eric Glomski as they pioneer winemaking in the hostile deserts of Arizona.

Check here for other screenings around the country. I wish it were coming to Vancouver!

DETAILS
Friday, February 19th
6pm
W Scottsdale, Arizona
Wine + hors d'oeuvres included
To get tickets, go HERE.



You can see an interview from Rolling Stone here.



Way to go Ryan!

Something to Get the Juices Flowing

Just recently watched Zeitgeist, an online film that was thought-provoking. I'm not saying I buy this or support these ideas, but this activist film really poses some interesting questions and I thought I'd throw it out here because minds are meant to be challenged...

It challenges our cultural and religious structure, politics, 911 and cha-ching--money.

If the mood strikes you, you can watch it here : Zeitgeistmovie.com

Lethal Lesbians

I don't anything about any of the films showing this weekend at the Clinton Street Theater, but the title of the festival is enough to make me want to go:

Lethal Lesbian 3, a collection of Israeli lesbian short films, will be held on Sunday, November 30 at 1:30 pm at the Clinton St. Theatre, located at 2522 SE Clinton St.  Reception and after party will follow the screening at Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St.
 
The program includes 7 shorts and one 50 minute drama, The Other War, by Tamar Glezerman.  Before the screening, QueerVideos, a 5 minute video-art piece by Shiri Blumenthal, will be screened.

Check it out if you can!

Itty Bitty Titty Committe

Itty Bitty Titty Committee is one of all time favorite lesbian movies. Looking for something good to rent this evening? (Dipstick hopes your not really staying in on a Saturday night!) This movie is it. Cute girls, direct action, domestic terrorism. What more could you want in a film?

Kathleen Bryson's Big Debut

Portlanders: Come Out to Support the Women's Film Festival and Portland's Own Kathleen Bryson! She rocks!

Here is the press release for the big premiere:

POW Fest and Siren Nation present the World Premiere of "The Viva Voce Virus"!

Please join us Wednesday, November 5th at 7:00pm for an evening of surreal cinema, featuring the World Premiere of "The Viva Voce Virus," presented by The Portland Women's Film Festival (POW Fest) as part of the Siren Nation Festival.

"The Viva Voce Virus" is co-directed by Kimmo Moykky and Portland's own Kathleen Bryson. London actress Ronnie investigates a mysterious disease from Hollywood's yesteryear: a disease that makes actors keep mum about their same-sex love affairs, a sickness seemingly spread by frothy blue drinks and perfume atomizers. It's a "wild, vivid, surreal sci film... a Kenneth Angerish adventure through the history of the closet," says Friction Magazine.

We will also present a preview of the upcoming documentary, "Five Star
Museum: Exotic World and the Burlesque Revival", produced by Portland's own Courtney Herman.

Doors open at 6:30 pm at The Hollywood Theatre, located at 4122 N.E.
Sandy Blvd. in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are $5 for the screening or
$25 for a festival pass. More information is available at www.sirennation.org, www.powfest.com and www.vivavocevirus.blogspot.com.

***

The mission of the Portland Women's Film Festival is to celebrate the art and cinematic contribution of women filmmakers from around the world, in any format, with any content and in any genre. The 2009 festival will take place March 19-21 at The Hollywood Theatre.

Britney Spears to Play a Killer Lesbian Stripper

This is not a joke. Rumor has it Quentin Tarantino has cast Britney Spears to play a lunatic stripper in his new film, the remake of "Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill!" The name alone makes me want to go see it! To read more on MTV News, go here.

Top 5 Signs You Might Be a Butch

The other night I went to see a great movie at the Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. It was called Butch Jamie. If you have the chance, go see it. It got me thinking. Recently there has been a dearth of butches in Hollywood. I had to go back all the way to 1995 and The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love to find a butch in a movie. You remember, cute Randy Dean, played by Laurel Holloman.

And look what they did to her! They femmed her all out and made her Tina Kinnard on The L Word. What kind of message is that sending to baby butches out there?

So, it occurred to me that without any real representation, there just might be some butches out there, who are butch and just don’t know it.
So here are Dipstick’s Top Five Signs you may be butch:

1. Your favorite number is 501.
2. You believe a black leather jacket goes with any outfit. (It does)
3. You’ve never paid more than $20 for a hair cut.
4. When you say you’re packing, you’re not necessarily going on a trip.
5. Your gift registry is at Home Depot.

_{Dipstick with Butch Jamie director/writer/star Michelle Ehlen}

Portland's Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

It's my favorite time of year. Time for Portland's Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. My friends make fun of me all the time because I don't really like movies. I know, I know, who doesn't "like" movies? It's just that there's so many other things I would rather do on a Sunday afternoon or Saturday night than sit in a dark movie theater for two hours.

But there is one major exception. I LOVE gay and lesbian movies. Doesn't matter how bad, how tragic or how poorly acted, I will go see any gay and lesbian movie that comes out. Maybe it's because I feel like I finally see a bit of my life reflected on the screen.

My favorite place to see gay and lesbian movies is at the Lesbian & Gay Film festival. I love walking up Northwest 21st Avenue toward Cinema 21 and seeing the hot lesbians and gay guys lined up to see the films. I see old friends, catch up on gossip and then get to see a great queer film. Or a mediocre film. It doesn't really matter to me. I just LOVE it. The smell of the popcorn. The creaky seats. The filmmakers who fly in to introduce their films. There is usually such a variety of films, sometimes it can be hard to decide which to go to.

Well, let me make it easy on you this year. Lipstick and I have been invited to introduce two of the films. The first is this Sunday October 14th, 6pm at Cinema 21. Kate Clinton: 25th Anniversary Tour. It's playing with the new Logo lesbian sit-com Exes and Ohs. Michelle Paradise, writer and star of Exes and Ohs will be in attendance.

Then come out again on Tuesday October 16th 7pm to see Butch Jamie. Dipstick will be on hand to introduce that film. Lipstick was invited, but I think she was intimidated to be in a room with that many butches.

And best of all, at each of the filmings, you'll have a chance to be one of the first to buy our new book--hot off the presses. Come on out and show your support for LGBT filmmakers and queer arts.

Go See this Movie!

Do you love lesbian movies? If so, you NEED to go see Itty Bitty Titty Committee. I don't live in LA, but if YOU do, make sure you head down to Laemmle's Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood and see this movie in the theater, now through Oct 11th.

See, here's the thing about lesbian movies. If you want film makers to keep making them, you must see them in the theaters. Renting the DVD when it comes out doesn't cut it. The film industry needs to know that us dykes (and those who love our movies) will get our asses off the couch, truck it out to the theater and plop down several bucks to see the thing on the big screen. THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE SEEN.

And trust me, if you see only one movie in the theaters this year, Itty Bitty Titty Committee should be it! I've already seen it three times and you know I'm going again later month when it comes to the Portland Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Itty Bitty Titty Committee is my new favorite lesbian movie and let me tell you why.

First of all Jamie Babbit is one of the funnest, funniest, smartest and sexiest directors alive. With a true dyke sensibility, she draws in a diverse crowd with universal message, that is yet, completely lesbian. Second, the sound track completely rocks, and you'll have a hard time staying in your seat when the likes of Le Tigre, Bikini Kill and Team Dresh pound through the sound system.

Third, it's POWER UP's first feature length film. POWER UP is a kick-ass organization whose mission is to promote the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment, the arts, and all forms of media. And they used an all female crew to film this thing.

And finally, the cast is to die for. Those of you who complain that The L Word doesn't have real live lesbians, will drool over this cast, many of who are queer, like Daniela Sea, Guinevere Turner and Jenny Shimizu.

But don't just take my word for it. Here's what the critics have been saying:
"Itty Bitty is a crazy, funny, foul-mouthed, crowd-pleasing winner -one of the most enjoyable films to come out of the festival circuit in some time." AfterEllen.com

"Jamie Babbit's follow-up to But I'm a Cheerleader is smarter, funnier and more accomplished than its predecessor." L.A. Weekly

"Itty Bitty will make you want to grab some friends with cool hairstyles, rock out and speak up in protest of, well something." Curve Magazine