Renee Vivien was a well-known lesbian poet who lived in Paris, France from late 1800's to 1909 when she died of pleurosy complicated by alcholism and anorexia. She wrote beautiful, intimate poems about the women she loved and the heartache and heartbreak she endured.
In 1904 she received a letter from an admirer, Kerime, a Muslim and wife of a Turkish diplomat. They carried on a torrid letter-writing affair over a 4 year period, only meeting in person on a few occasions. In 1908, Kerime finally moved with her husband to St Petersburg and ended the affair. "The Touch" is a short film, imagining their last moments together and complemented by Renee's poem, "The Touch" (see below) which acts as an almost musical embellishment .
HERE TV has taken Domestic TV rights for "The Touch! Look for the film to begin screening on the HERE Network in the winter of 2008.
Yay! Awards! We won Best Dramatic Short at the Ft. Worth International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival!
Thanks Ft. Worth!
UPCOMING SCREENINGS!
TAMPA INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
Festival Dates: October 2 - 12
Screening October 4th @ 4pm; part of Girl's Shorts
REEL AFFIRMATIONS
Festival dates: October 16 - 25
Screening dates to follow
BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
Festival Dates: October 16th - 25th
Screening Dates to Follow
THE PARIS INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN AND FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL"
Festival Dates: October 30 - November 3
Screening dates to follow
SPOKANE'S GLBT FILM FESTIVAL Screening Friday, November 7th @ 7pm
LONG ISLAND GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL Festival Dates: November 14th - 20th
Screening: November 14th @ 7:30pm in front of opening night film
@ the Cinema Arts Centre
THE TOUCH
by Renee Vivien
The trees have kept some lingering
sun in their branches,
Veiled like a woman, evoking another time,
The twilight passes, weeping.My fingers climb,
Trembling,provocative, the line of your haunches.
My ingenious fingers wait when they have found
The petal flesh beneath the robe they part.
How curious, complex, the touch, this subtle art--
As the dream of fragrance, the miracle of sound.
I follow slowly the graceful contours of your hips,
The curves of your shoulders, your neck, your
upappeased breasts.
In your white voluptuousness my desire rests,
Swooning, refusing itself the kisses of your lips.
MA CHERIES , A LITTLE ON THE DIRECTOR/PRODUCER:
Production Company website: FILMMCQUEEN
JANE CLARK (writer, director, producer)
Jane has spoken on film production, fundraising, marketing and distribution at a number of festivals and is finishing a book on how to make a good short film – from idea through distribution, which will be self-published spring 08. She is also a programmer for, and on the board of, the Woods Hole Film Festival.
She began as an actor, including a 2-1/2 year recurring role on “Chicago Hope.†In 2002, she attended the Sundance Producer’s Conference, after gaining producing experience with several showcase productions, followed by a sold-out run of “Burn This†at the Court Theater, in which she also starred.
FILMOGRAPHY
"The Touch," is Jane's fourth short film, which she wrote, produced, directed and edited. It is Executive produced by Bob Tourtellotte, her partner in the production company, FilmMcQueen. The film is fiscally sponsored by Women Make Movies, was given the Panasonic Digital Filmmaker's Award and a grant from the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation of Palm Springs, California. It has just begun it's festival run with an advanced screening at the Northampton Independent Film Festival.
“Carrie’s Choice†(2005) written and directed by Jane. "Carrie's Choice," is about a girl who becomes pregnant and must make a difficult decision. The film is fiscally sponsored by Women Making Movies, was awarded the Panasonic Digital Filmmaker's Grand Prize, and supported by Planned Parenthood - LA. The film played 4 festivals in three months, garnering an award for Best Women's Issue Film, a nomination for best short film, and was a finalist at the prestigious USA Film Festival, before beginning distribution with Intermedia.
“A Host of Daffodils†was based on Jane’s experiences with her family after her father had a debilitating stroke. Written and directed by Jane, the film played 15 festivals, won two awards award, was nominated four times for Best Short Film, and is distributed by Big Film Shorts.
Her first short film, “Dog Gone†(2002) was written by Jane's partner in FilmMcQueen, Bob Tourtellotte, and directed by Jane. The film was named Director’s Pick, and played four festivals. The story was based on their experience when their little dog is stolen from their house. The film was distributed by Petstyle for one year, and will be available through filmmcqueen.com beginning January 2008.
CATHY DEBUONO (Associate Producer)
"The Touch" marks Cathy's first endeavor in the role of co-producer, involved in everything from casting to pre-production through post. Her creative talents also translated into all of the beautiful still photos on the set of "The Touch". Cathy is also an actress most recently seen in a lead role in the awarded film "Out at the Wedding" and on LOGO's new series "Exe's & Oh's". She finished a lead role in "And Then Came Lola" this January and is slated to star in "Tremble & Spark," being made by Kelly Burkhardt. Cathy can also be seen in the upcoming season of "3-Way" in a recurring role as a therapist. If you want to catch Cathy as a real therapist (and she is) you can check out her blog "Ask Cathy," on AFTERELLEN.COM
Cathy can be reached at
"CATHY DEBUONO"
OR"CATHY DEBUONO ON MYSPACE "
Cathy and Jane are currently raising financing for a new project entitled "Slate&Kelly," (to film as a feature film or a short film and webisodes) about a couple of Police Academy rejects who are given one more chance to redeem themselves when the police can't solve a string of murders in the drag world. Cathy co-created the story with friend John McLaughlin. Cathy and John will be starring, Jane directing and it is expected to go into production early 2008, either as a short film/webisode or a feature film.
Details at "SLATE & KELLY"
Other FilmMcQueen Projects:
CARRIE'S CHOICE
A 23 minute short film about a young girl who ignores her best friend's advice to use a condom, becomes unexpectedly pregnant and has to decide what to do. This is a completed film currently being sold on the educational market through INTERMEDIA
CYNARA A feature project in development and seeking financing was written by Nicole Conn. It is a period lesbian romance set in the early 1930's about a young girl who runs away from her home on Cape Cod and goes to Paris where she becomes a pulp fiction novelist living a life of bohemian decadence. But she must return home when her father becomes ill. It is there that she falls for the beautiful Cynara who helps her heal a dark past and rediscover the artist within.
Information on all FilmMcQueen projects will be coming to a FILMMCQUEEN MYSPACE PAGE as soon as Myspace fixes their profile problems in the Film Myspace community! Meanwhile, you can check out everything at FILMMCQUEEN
MARY COLARUSSO – “O Mio Bambino Caroâ€
"MARY'S WEBSITE"
Mary Colarusso, a coloratura soprano, is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Since graduation she has been the lead soprano for both the Lowell Opera and Boston Bel Canto Opera companies where she performed her title roles of Violetta in La Traviata and Gilda in Rigoletto. She has also performed with the Boston Classical Orchestra for Harry Ellis Dickson’s Birthday Extravaganza hosted by Mike Wallace and with the Boston Civic Symphony as well as on Channel 5 WCVB Arts and Entertainment. Mary currently appears nationally with her husband Sgt. Daniel Clark, including a performance for former President and First Lady George and Barbara Bush as part of their efforts during the Bush-Clinton Katrina Relief. In addition to her concert performances she takes great pride in singing the National Anthem, which she has performed for the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Marathon, and aboard the USS Constitution.
Favorite Writers: Natalie Barney, E. Nesbit, Sappho, Edith Wharton, Colette, Me
I've been lucky to have known (and in some cases loved) some amazing people. My confidant was the French journalist and Classical scholar Jean Charles-Brun and my neighbor was the erotic writer, Colette. But my intimate relationships were the most significant.
My lovers included the immensely wealthy Baroness Hélène de Zuylen, one of the Paris Rothschilds; my mysterious admirer in Constantinople, Kérimé Turkhan Pasha, the wife of a Turkish diplomat; and very significantly the American heiress and writer Natalie Clifford Barney. The heartache my lovers caused drove me to attempt suicide by taking an overdose of laudanum. It didn't work. But a year later I was dead anyway.
Tuesday's Poetry Corner
GLOBALIZATION: IT'S GOOD FOR THE WORLD
By BRIGITTE LEWIS
© Brigitte Lewis
If you like the poem you can purchase the book at RUBBING MIRRORS.COM
Demand and supply
that’s what they say
from their high rise
offices
sipping on their
skinny strong
decaf lattes
as another body
is fucked
as another child
is filmed
as another virgin
is ceremoniously
defiled
and captured
mid torment
between the vicious gaze
of the voyeurs lens
and the sick
screen of network
society
inches beyond the boundary
of the laws
self-reflexive
lens
prostitution
the oldest profession
in the world
that’s what they say
from their tax deductible
penthouse apartments
washing off
the semen
of another extended
business day
bathed in the stench
of forced labour
masquerading
as a pleasing smile
as a willing hole
to be used
abused
and filled
and when the hour is over
she goes back to the waiting room
only to be ordered
off the menu again
so she re-applies
the face of economic
surrender
for the family she left
to save
but now
she drowns
in a relentless
pool of patriarchal
cum
choice
that’s what they say
when they have him
face down
anus exposed
to the rolling film
of the pink dollar
driven in
by Charlie
and Eckie
that’s if he’s lucky
and now he’s a big star
protruding from every
adult shop shelf
like he did it for the fame
like he did it
for self expression
but there’s no
love
or care
in the economic
imperatives
of bodies hijacked
like spiralling
American
planes.