Planet London 4 "SHE 4 ME"

**UPDATE** 3 May 2014


The SHE4ME video has reached over 265,000 views!

It has been selected to play at the California Women's Conference with a cast Q&A as well! The Creative Expressions Concert series, showcasing performing artists including Mary Lambert, will be streamed live online. The Marriage Equality USA sanctioned “Love Is Love” PSA set to Jen Foster’s SHE will be officially included in the program for Tuesday 20th May.  Also part of the program will be a live Q & A with the multiple award-winning writer/director Nicole Conn, Jane Wishon (Board President of Marriage Equality USA) and some of the cast members from SHE4ME including Mike C Manning (Disney), Gabrielle Christian (South Of Nowhere) and Traci Dinwiddie (Elena Undone).  More names expected to be announced closer to the event. To purchase tickets to the concert series visit: http://goo.gl/ynTR5k


Here are Planet London, we are standing up and supporting our US LGBT family, as well as all of our LGBT brothers and sisters around the world who aren't as lucky as we are now here in the UK, to say NOW is the time for same-sex marriage to be legal EVERYWHERE.

Some very creative folk who you will have heard of in their fields of music and film, collaborated to create SHE 4 ME, a public service announcement (PSA) as a new music video to an updated version of Jen Foster's 'She'. 

Watch & Share the video: (@SHE_4_ME #LoveIsLove)

 
Mary Dawson from the campaign tells us just why it's so important...

The present atmosphere surrounding marriage equality in the United States is thick with anticipation.  Since the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) rulings striking down California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), there are seventeen states (plus Washington, DC) actively and legally marrying their citizens.  In the shadow of SCOTUS on DOMA, federal district judges have declared the state marriage bans of Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas unconstitutional according to the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.  

Mary has written a very detailed and eloquent blog on the current position in the USA:  http://mindschmootz.net/2014/02/usa-4me/

The SHE 4 ME lead cast

The impact on the gay community is significant. It's a very different position to the UK where one national government-driven legal change does the job for everyone. Instead it's a fight one state at a time. As Mary writes...
I can’t begin to speak for the gay community as a whole, but for me, there are a myriad of emotions.  At one moment I am in awe at the pace in which this change is occurring.  At the next moment, I am scared to death of the pace in which this change is occurring. The American Supreme Court is a majority conservative court and often split their rulings 5-4. Avoidance is no longer an option for these justices, so as early as next year, full equality for same-sex couples could be determined by the law of the land and not by the fortune of geography.

On the role of Arts & Music influencing politics & society, Mary surmises...
How can the arts & music community influence politics & society? I don’t have to tell you about the long history of the arts making political statements.  Shakespeare is the first to come to mind in regard to political theater.  In the history of the United States, music has been used as anthems of solidarity for decades.  From the spirituals of the Antebellum South, to the lunch counters of the segregated 1960s, music has been the common chorus of overcoming the inequities imposed by a less than moral majority. 

And marriage equality doesn't mean that everyone will run out and get married straight away. Everyone involved in the SHE 4 ME project is taking part for their own reasons:
There are probably as many different answers to this question as there are people involved.  For me, it’s all about choice.  The legal protections notwithstanding, marriage is not for everyone.  Do I want to get married?  The prospects of wearing that Carolina Herrera gown I saw the other day makes me say, hell yeah.  I don’t know, but it sure is nice to have the choice, now isn’t it?

Why don't you check out our series of interviews with the stars and producers of the SHE 4 ME music video?

• Video review
• Nicole Pacent
• Jen Foster
• Nicole Conn
• Barbara Niven
• Cathy Debuono
• Guinevere Turner (to come)

By Katie 

SHE4ME Love Warriors #LoveIsLove

We've brought you some interviews with the extraordinary women behind the SHE4ME Marriage Equality PSA. 

Now is the chance for you to get involved and show your support that we need Equal Marriage around the globe, not just in lucky countries like the UK. (I say lucky, but obviously the law was passed after many years of campaigning and hard work by individuals, campaigning groups and politicians alike).

The Love Warriors - the thousands of women being active on social media - are a key part of getting the video and the message out there. As the stars of the video put it, 

"thank you for being in support of what is one the most important causes of our time, thank you for not just sitting back. Thank you for all the beautiful messages – life is good and I appreciate on every possible level. You are on the right side of history." (Nicole Pacent)

"...amazed and overwhelmed by the love and support and the collective action the video has inspired. The Love Warriors are sharing the message with 20-30 people a day each. And there's been some great press too, incredible mentions in the likes of Huffington Post, She Wired and Curve. It's not just the sharing the link that has mattered, it's also creating the space for people to share their own personal stories and express their situations, creating a sense of love and validation." (Jen Foster)

"You are"so dedicated and devoted and committed", and your actions are "humbling, lovely and touching". Getting the word out there about the campaign to the mainstream is the key to influencing change, ...your "devotion and dedication so inspiring – truly the icing on the cake."  (Nicole Conn)



All you have to do is spread the word via social media - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest - whatever your platform. 

Why not tweet your friends and celebrities and ask them to watch & share the video as well? So far, Love Warriors have reached Martina Navratilova, Deepak Chopra, Melissa Etheridge, Suzanne Vega, Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty) and a bunch of actors including Erin Daniels (dana from the L word)... who do you think you could get to re-tweet? Maybe Clare Balding, Sue Perkins?

We have some messages ready for you to get out and tweet and facebook, selection taken from Love Warriors out there:

Marriage Equality has come a long way, thanks to the LGBT individuals like Nicole Conn and Jen Foster who have bravely taken a stand. I long to see the day when we can simply be just who we are, love who we want, without so much effort. After all, Love is Love.- Lucy Nico (Love Warrior)

Being able to help promote such a powerful message, feels good. It is empowering to be part of a movement that is changing the world. ~ Melinda Paradis (Love Warrior)

Our fight for marriage equality et al, is not to make precedence for new human rights, we want to be afforded existing human rights, fore we are separate from no one. The world has deemed us separate, the world has made us Love Warriors. ~ Anita McRae (Love Warrior)

Having been a Love Warrior and watching the process of SHE4ME come to life, its message not only touches me but mirrors my soul in a sense. I am so happy being a small part of this amazing project. ~ Susan Blowers (Love Warrior)

True love has a voice, from the tiniest whisper that can form into the greatest symphony that can unite many. I've fought all my life to show that this voice can't be silenced or suppressed it defines us as love warriors for love truly is love. ~ Sue Jackman (Love Warrior)

Love is Love, it doesn't require the condition of perfection, just that you feel it, experience it, give it, take it with all of it's ups and downs, laughs and cries, hurts and healing.....Unique, Unconstrained LOVE!!  ~ Robin Reed (Love Warrior)

 Make sure you include the following #hashtags and @mentions...

@SHE_4_ME

#LoveIsLove

#SHE4ME

SHE4ME and Nicole Conn...

Nicole with Jen Foster Nicole Conn is the visual mastermind behind the video that accompanies Jen Foster's 'She' in the SHE4ME PSA video. Nicole is the heralded and award winning director of classic lesbian films Clare of the Moon, Elena Undone and A Perfect Ending. 

What Marriage Equality would mean for Nicole and indeed "all of us", is "humanity acknowledging we are humans with the same rights as straight people". As Nicole puts it,
"love between any two people is acceptable and society – every soul deserves that right."

This isn't the first time two massive creative minds have worked together, Jen supplied the track Broken, written especially, for Nicole's Elena Undone soundtrack. Jen introduced Sue Melke "the most awesome producer and person on the planet and the heartbeat of the project", and after a long session at West Hollywood's iconic The Abbey, SHE4ME was borne.

What started out as just a nominal music video to the new version of the song became the PSA it is today. During conception, Sue and Nicole came up through storyline using different artistic devices such as dance to represent women's love. 


Nicole with lead Brides Gaby Christian (left) and Nicole Pacent (right)

The aim was to create a story and story telling that makes the message accessible to the mainstream. Using the "incredible gift from Jen Foster" to try and pay forward an "international gift of civil liberty". 

Nicole and Sue pulled out all the stops to make the video happen in the large scale, celebrity endorsed way it has, calling in favours and friendships to get the all rolling.  




As the cast and supporters came on board it became possible for Nicole to conceptualise fully how to hit mainstream audiences and to created a shared understanding of the "purity and innocence of love" and to start the story with a familiar childhood "best friend concept"the Used best friend concept. Once shooting began, the segments of the story line came in to place. Who couldn't champion the basic idea of "soul mates who end up marrying". 

Nicole played with the idea of the traditional wedding to represent what everyone is familiar with. Self-confessed "purveyor of love and romance", for Nicole she wanted to take the story where typically the end goal is that of true love – in a union and celebrated publicly. 

Once it began, Nicole was quick to realise that the project would become a special event. All the creatives took part in great spirits and everyone left their egos at the door for the greater good. Key LGBT actors and community to come together for a shared cause. 

Nicole is quick to give much credit to the crew and actors, she says "Barbara Niven perfect in every way I know". Nicole emphasises Jen [Foster] as "so giving and willing, gracious and generous", allowing Sue and Nicole manifest on the project and go where their creativity took them – whilst being easy to work with and contributing creative ideas ensuring the three women worked well together. With the addition of Kim Rocco Shields, a "very talented and on the up" Director, the creative input was set. Altogether combining to create a "Company of people dedicated to the issue and allowed everything to be what’s best for the project."

It wasn't all smooth sailing, and whilst the rest of the cast and crew have said filming was a pain free process, much of this was down to Nicole and Sue's planning as well as keeping check of things on set to not disturb the actors. 

Nicole worked with a new crew (described by Nicole Pacent and Jen Foster as a "tight" outfit) and unusually mostly "on the fly" which presented in some challenges in the tight time scales available, non consecutive shooting days and the need to capture as much footage as possible on the shooting days - following a pragmatic decision to fit logistics around availability of actors and locations. 

The favourite on set day, unanimously, was the day SHE4ME shot on location at Andaz West Hollywood.  (AC) Agustin Cruz, head of Marketing at Andaz, helped the filmmakers secure free access to the ballroom and multiple hotel rooms along with other benefits.  

It was the day that all the personalities supporting the cause came together and resulted in a "room filled with lots of love, creative and wonderful giving.

The elaborate wedding set up was a deliberate mechanism to "escalate the beauty of the love in the relationship, to show the world who we are" alongside the excellent performances to portray a wonderful reality and wholesomeness that the mainstream will understand.  [Editor's note: it was at this point in the conversation, I recalled my wonderment that it took a fair few viewings for me to realise I had watched a whole short movie with no dialogue whatsoever and yet completely understood the meaning without questions.] Nicole puts this down to the editing process and Sue's contributions to the story building in the edit suite. 

Somewhat unanticipated, the project has become a much larger manifestations it forrays into the mainstream. It's been teen tested and parent tested and received a heartfelt response. Nicole has the utmost thanks to the Love Warriors working hard to spread the word about the video (now at 149,000 views!) They are "so dedicated and devoted and committed", and their actions are "humbling, lovely and touching". Getting the word out there about the campaign to the mainstream is the key to influencing change, all involved agree. Nicole can't thank the supporters enough and says their "devotion and dedication so inspiring – truly the icing on the cake."

Our discussion ends with a final thanks to cast and crew, and the US organisation Marriage Equality, led by Bryan Silva, who provided organisation backing to the campaign.

By Katie
 

SHE4ME and Jen Foster

Jen Foster is the voice and generosity behind the music video at the heart of the SHE4ME campaign. In partnership with Sue Melke, Executive Producer of the PSA, Jen adapted a fan favourite track, the 2004 'She' into an upbeat dance tune, with the help of music producer Eve Nelson. 

'She' has been performed in all of Jen's tours since, and used a many commitment ceremonies, so it clearly resonates with the lesbian and bi women's community. From there, Sue introduced Jen to Nicole Conn who came on board as the director of the video, and from there it "snowballed".

Jen and Sue took the decision to align with Marriage Equality, the organisation, and also to be patient in waiting for things to come together to make a special video that would really be a "statement". It was not always a straightforward process to get supporters on board and keep them on board and wait for things to fall in place, but well worth the wait in our opinion. 

Jen says that once Nicole Conn was signed up, she was so easy to work and a team player who brought along some familiar names with her.

It was Jen and Sue's "persistent approach" and determination and perseverance "to make it happen"  and that now is the time to turn the video into a real campaign. 

Jen felt that after talk of gay marriage and bullying in the media over the last twelve months, that perhaps the public are ready to hear what we have to say. "It's a different time" and we need to seize the opportunity to be heard.

For Jen, Marriage Equality in every US state would be the "ultimate freedom" but there's still a "long way to go until we get there". Jen says that after making a lot of progress, "projects like this really important to keep it in the forefront" and the message within SHE4ME is one of inclusivity and that same-sex love is the same as heterosexual love, with similar goals and journeys. SHE4ME "focuses on the similarities, not the differences". 

The filming experience was one of the best says of her life, and filled with energy. A massive orchestration of 160 cast and crew, and thanks to the generosity of the Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood, rooms were provded for breaks and preparation, as well as the ballroom for the filming of the wedding scenes.
 
There was a shared experience of everyone on set, everyone giving up their time for the day, but there because they wanted to be, and having fun too. Jen and director Nicole Conn both found themselves watching the action through a camera lens with tears in their eyes as the visuals emerged. It was a moving experience that didn't escape the cast either, and the extras fell to the same experience. This proved it was "really something special".

In particular the sense of collaboration and "team" felt strong and that everyone was working together for the "greater message and the greater good". Jen said she was "blown away" at how smoothly the filming went - the production team took care of problems and kept smiles on their faces the whole time. 

If Jen could predict her own dream wedding, it would be focused on making the other person happy and enjoying that experience - even if that means skydiving out of a plane! 

Jen, and everyone behind the project, are amazed and overwhelmed by the love and support and the collective action the video has inspired. The Love Warriors are sharing the message with 20-30 people a day each. And there's been some great press too, incredible mentions in the likes of Huffington Post, She Wired and Curve. It's not just the sharing the link that has mattered, it's also creating the space for people to share their own personal stories and express their situations, creating a sense of love and validation.

Jen's celebrity aim for the Love Warriors include retweets from Bono and Bill Clinton... and may be even Kate Middleton or the Queen! However with names like Melissa Etheridge and Suzanne Vega already retweeting the video, she's not complaining! Jen is very clear to say that she is "So deeply grateful for everyone who has related to the message and taken it to the next level" and for relating "their personal experiences relating to the video, with the struggles to be openly gay and own the love they have with their partners... Please know the continued help is very welcome"

Jen is already thinking about the next project that could become a part of the campaign – perhaps other songs, new songs. It's a new passion for Jen that is not just to put out an album but to align songs with causes she is passionate about.  She's also going to undertake some on the ground volunteering to remain "inspired and re-fuelled". 

By Katie

SHE 4 ME & Nicole Pacent

We chatted to the beautiful out bisexual actress Nicole Pacent, a lead Bride in the Nicole Conn directed SHE 4 ME music video, describes what marriage equality in every state, and every country would mean to her.  

After many years fighting the struggle and progress happening at a slow pace, in waves and troughs it's now happening at a faster pace than ever but there's still a "long way to go". There's a lot of "emotion" about Proposition 8 being legalised but there's a real need for the cause to reach an international level as well.

Nicole talks about her "inspiring" fan base and some of the horrors LGBT people face around the world, with homosexuality  being illegal, let alone a fight for equal marriage.

She describes the realisation of full equality as an "unspeakable triumph", when it happens, and is very "proud to be a part of the cause" making it happen. She say's "it's so hard to picture there not being a lot more work to do, despite lots of wonderful triumphs".

Nicole's involvement in SHE4ME came about as a result of a meeting of many creative minds, sparked initially by Sue Melke, a "tour de force", whom Nicole met following her involvement in Tello's I hate Tommy Finch". Through Sue Melke, Nicole eventually met Nicole Conn (director of the SHE4ME video) and got involved in the project.


The experience on set was full of "synergy and energy" for Nicole. The shoot was special, despite long hours standing in bridal heels, and the tight crew and direction made it an easy project to work on. In particular, Nicole bonded with co-stars Gaby and Mike, playing the other leads, which helped created respect and chemistry between them all very quickly. 

I asked Nicole about her dream wedding celebration. She pragmatically responds that it would of course depend on the right person, but something that brings together nature and spirituality, family and loved ones perhaps on the Malibu cliffs and fairy lights, would probably feature. 

As with all the talent taking part in the project, Nicole has been blown away by the support. Her favourite messages have been where family and friends have got behind the campaign. Nicole's parents have posted the link - a big deal for them to publicly get behind the campaign - as well as her childhood pastor and babysitter. Add this to the support received from people all over the world and it's something to be really proud of. Nicole's ideal gay celebrity supporter/Love Warrior would be Ellen. However mainstream support is really key to the success of the campaign, so if Brad and Angelina want to get behind it, Nicole would be very happy indeed. 

Nicole has a special message of thanks to all the Love Warriors out there sharing the links...

"thank you for being in support of what is one the most important causes of our time, thank you for not just sitting back. Thank you for all the beautiful messages – life is good and I appreciate on every possible level. You are on the right side of history."

Nicole is currently preparing for a return to the Shakespearean stage as well as actively supporting the SHE4ME campaign.

By Katie

 

 

A Queer New Year's Eve for us all... event round up

A little roundup of all the best events for LBQ women in case you haven't decided what to do...

(As Dermot would say, in no particular order...)

What: 90s NYE @ Candy Bar
Where: Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, Soho, London W1D
When: 5pm - 5am
Entry/Tickets: Entry £5 and £3 for members. (Not ticketed in advance)
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/events/631021140270243/
Details: 
NYE 1996… when it all begun! Open- 5pm till 5am.

Candy Bar is taking you back to the 90’s for one night and one night only!
As many of you already know the Candy Bar will close its doors for the final time in January 2014. The Candy Bar was opened in 1996 so we are rewinding back to its opening to make this a celebratory affair and not one of sadness.

Dress up as your favorite 90’s celebrity… don the questionable fashions from that decade or simply come and dance your shell suit off!

There will be special goody bags for you including things like glow sticks and giveaways!

We have an incredible DJ line up for you who will be playing you a mixture of your favorite chart hits as well as commercial dance/rnb/pop/electro plus the odd surprise 90’s track!

DJ'S Sandra D / Poppy L Kav & Caz Coronel.

What: Sunday Happy Day NYE Party
Where: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, Soho, London
When: 9pm - 3am
Entry/Tickets: Early bird tickets £20, after 9 Dec tickets go up to £25. After 22 Dec tickets are £30 if available. 4 tickets maximum per person (SOLD OUT)
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6141177377
Details: 
Ticket price includes free glass of Prosecco for all ticket holders and nibbles for early arrivals.
Some VIP tables available, £40 per table for six and includes a bottle of Prosecco.


What: New Year's Eve Queer Disco @ Blush
Where: Blush Bar, 8 Cazenove road, Stoke Newington, N16 6BD
When: 8pm - 2am
Entry/Tickets: Free Karaoke upstairs, £5 Disco downstairs
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/events/249276235236145/
Details: 
We are proud to announce we have DJ Soraya from Luscious spinning an amazing set for New Year’s Eve 2013. Playing all your favourite dance club classics and keeping you on that dancefloor til we see the NEW YEAR in together. .... you asked for it and we are giving it.
Free karaoke in the upstairs bar & DJ Soraya Khan (Luscious, Oak bar, Rumours) spinning the decks downstairs.

What: Countdown to 2014 with MINT and Code…
Where: Green Carnation, 5 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4DD
When: 9pm - 5am
Entry/Tickets: Tickets £10 (early bird) 
Further info: http://bit.ly/JekbGe   https://www.facebook.com/events/219779621529037
Details: 
If there’s one night of the year which is guaranteed to leave you feeling lost and confused, it’s New Year’s Eve. So make your New Year’s resolution in advance, save the stress and promise yourself something amazing this December 31st, as Code and MINT come together for the last and best party of the year!

Bringing all the best bits of 2013 to one venue, this party will mix the finest DJs from One Love, Girls Club Together, Hot Mess, Popstarz, Code and MINT, with some of the hottest women London has to offer.

With floor upon floor of music, you can switch your taste according to your mood. Start out with RnB and pop, before moving onto House and commercial remixes, then maybe end the night with some 80s and 90s floor fillers with a remix twist. Each DJ feels like a new party, which is why this night ALWAYS sells out.

There will be limited tickets held on the door, but you can buy your early bird ticket now at only £10. We love a good man crush, so gay boys are welcome as guests, just make sure they arrive with you or they won’t get in. For extra special VIP tables, email nicola.chubb@gmail.com.

We’re not going to force you into something you don’t feel comfortable wearing, so there’s no dress code. But try to don your best swagger in anticipation of the balloon, glitter, streamers and champagne corks at midnight. Start the year as you intend to continue, looking amazing and having fun!
What: Push the Button New Year's Weave
Where: SE11 5HY London
When: 8pm - 4.15am
Entry/Tickets: Final remaining £15 Advance tickets here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/242202
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/events/340807982722555/
Details: 
SNATCH YOUR WIGS AND HOLD ON TO YOUR KNICKERS GIRLS! It’s time for NEW YEAR’S WEAVE and the most ridiculous, daftest party you’ll have the opportunity of attending.

London’s BIGGEST Pop party is going in to OVERLOAD for the New Year!

2013 - what a year! We've enjoyed friends of PTB Icona Pop FINALLY releasing 'I Love It' AND scoring a #1 HIT to boot; you've inadvertently allowed Miley to become A THING; Britney pinched Madonna's trick of pilfering from gay culture with INCREDIBLE results; and, importantly, Whitney off of Eastenders performed an interpretive dance version of Shania's You're Still The One LIVE on the Royal Vauxhall Tavern Stage.

SO, it's TIME TO CELEBRATE with the BIGGEST PUSH THE BUTTON TO DATE.

The line-up will be confirmed over the coming months but we already have some fabulous performances and installations (including Myra Dubois and The Dream Bears) PLUS there'll be more sweets, stickers, Poundshop tat, posters, weaves and INCREDIBLE POP than EVER BEFORE!

A new venue for lesbians in Soho - it's coming!

We popped in for a quick chat with Gary Henshaw, current owner of the Candy Bar that will close in January, which Henshaw describes as the "End of an era". All the current events on the regular Candy schedule will have one last blast throughout January until the venue closes, including big plans for New Years Eve.

The new evening venue in Soho for lesbians will open in mid January. It is going to be like nothing we've had before - bringing the best of the current scene taste of lesbian, bi and queer women to Soho. Whilst running in the basement space of Ku Bar Frith Street, the space is being completely remodelled, and will be designed to incorporate existing (and new) events from the old Candy venue. 

There will be take over nights, where big events will use the whole of the Ku Bar Frith Street space and incorporate a 3am venue.

Ku Bar Frith Street will stay open as a mixed LGBT day time cafe-style venue.

Henshaw is committed to maintaining a women's venue and women's events. Ruby Tuesday's has run successfully at Ku Bar for ten years and there is a commitment to uphold what women want. The new venue will continue to offer free space to LGBT community and not-for-profit groups for meetings and socials.

Share your ideas of the best ever lesbian, bi & queer venue with us below!