haviland stillwell Archives

You Should Go: Haviland Stillwell & Amir Levi Live In LA With Alex Vega On Drums!

Yo, LA Straddlers, what are you up to tomorrow night? Oh, you don’t have plans yet? Cool, let me help change that.

Tomorrow (Tuesday!) night, Autostraddle’s favorite risen star Haviland Stillwell will be performing Rockwell: Table & Stage with Amir Levi (of Unicorn Plan-It hilarity and fame) and a bevy of talented musicians, including Autostraddle’s own Alex Vega. Did you just get so excited? Duh, of course you did. Allow me to raise your excitement level even more with this flyer. Try not to faint from the pure hotness that exists in this image.

did you pass out?

This performance is particularly exciting because Haviland has recently released two brand new singles, “MKE” and “Infinity,” and will be performing both of her new hits along with a third single that has yet to be released (and of course many old songs and covers, too!). She has big plans to release a full-length dance pop album in the near(ish) future, but for now you’ll just have to be satisfied with these singles — trust me, they do not disappoint. “MKE” invokes Haviland’s alter ego, MKE, in a fun track that is absolutely impossible not to dance through, and “Infinity” touches on some super gay themes and will have you swooning over the sound of Haviland’s sweet vocals. Did I mention that I really like these songs? And that I’m pretty jealous that all LA humans can go see them performed live? Yeah.

If you’re like me and can’t attend this show, you can still rock out to Haviland’s new singles. Both songs are written by Haviland Stillwell and produced by Mike Schlosser, with cover design by Heather J. Weiss and photos by Sabrina Bringuier. Buy them on iTunes (“MKE“; “Infinity“) or stream them on Spotify (“MKE“; “Infinity“) and host your very own dance party right here, right now. Get into it!

Haviland Stillwell & Amir Levi perform live at Rockwell: Table & Stage, 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA on Tuesday, April 23 at 8pm (Amir Levi) and 9pm (Haviland Stillwell). Haviland and Amir will be performing with Anthony Starble (piano), Alex Vega (drums), Kristy Hanson (guitars and vocals), Ed Goodman (guitar), Julia Davis (vocals) and Lauren Lograsso (vocals). Tickets are $12 and can be purchased on Rockwell’s ticketing site. This is the Facebook invitation. If you don’t go you obviously hate fun, gorgeous humans and unicorns.

Brittani Does Dinah Shore, Girlfriend and Dignity Still Intact

Here I stand (sit?), a two-time Dinah veteran. Not yet a seasoned pro, but getting there. I’ve experienced Dinah as extremely single and extremely taken, as a nobody with a pool party pass and a shitty hotel room and a nobody with a guest bracelet and a nice hotel room. I’ve laughed. I’ve cried. I’ve walked more than I wanted and slept less than I needed. I approached this Dinah with an understanding of what I was about to encounter and a preparedness that allowed me to not only survive but to mostly enjoy myself.

My girlfriend and I drove from LA to Palm Springs Thursday night. I figured it would be healthier for our relationship since there was a thing on Friday we could possibly be late for, and she is perpetually that. One of the perks of being white, I guess: you get to be late and you don’t feel like people will judge your entire race for it. Girlfriend Liz tells me this is called “stereotype threat.”

We arrive at the hotel and they have the wrong name listed for check-in. I don’t really know whose fault this is so I blame the entire human race as I am wont to do. I have to call Alex Vega in the 11 o’clock hour so she can call the hotel and switch the reservation to my name. She handles it like a pro and in no time I’m filling out a form that not only replaces me as the person assigned the room, but lets me list the names of people I authorize to get room keys whenever they need them. All of this is a huge waste of time as apparently they burned this piece of paper as soon as I left, because no one was able to ever get a key without some sort of drama at the front desk.

dinah

The next morning is as leisurely and relaxed as it can be when you have to wait while someone changes their bikini top/shorts/tank top combination five times. We head to get our wristbands before the noon rush and then go back to our room to hang out until our friends and Autostraddle web series members get in. Along with Lauren Neal and Sarah Sokolski from Words With Girls, Sarah Croce, Haviland Stillwell and Ashley Reed are there with Unicorn Plan-It. There’s an Autostraddle meet-up that afternoon; we have all decided beforehand that it will be pointless, but we decide to be responsible individuals anyway. I don’t know about you, but when I’m hyped from just arriving to an event, have been drinking my face off and am dancing violently next to a pool, the number-one thing I want to do is go to a dark bar whose location I’m unsure of and talk to people who are probably way more sober than I am. Needless to say, the meet-up is a rousing success. More than one person shows up. It is great. I also just want to throw in that the only place it was mentioned was in the booklet, which only some people that attend Dinah get and which roughly three people on earth read. One of those people is me. I have literally never seen anyone else even touch that booklet. I don’t know how people know where to be. I guess there’s some gay guiding force that pulls them.

Credit: Andrea Krauss

After the pool party, which I don’t attend much of between the going to the meet-up and and taking note of where everyone’s rooms are, my girlfriend and I decide to find food. We haven’t eaten since we had something quick in the morning, and we’re both starving. We wander around the strips of restaurants a couple of blocks from our hotel in search of a place that has vegan options, isn’t expensive and takes cards. After 30 minutes, we both know that if we don’t find food soon, we’ll to turn into cranky grumbling monsters. Just in time, we find a place called Atomic Dogs. I don’t like hot dogs so while she lucked out, I’m still screwed. I say fuck it and map the closest Burger King, which is two Dinah miles away. A Dinah mile, as defined by me, is five minutes of walking while intoxicated. We decide to meet back at the hotel and I start walking.

Credit: Terry Hastings

After we eat, we nap until it’s time to get ready for the White Party and Haviland’s performance; we really know how to get the party going. Haviland performed a five-song set, including two of her original songs, at Hunter’s, a local gay bar. We watched the show and chatted with Wendy Jo Carlton (Hannah Free, Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together) and Lisa Cordileone (Easy Abby).

Unlike the pool parties, which were at the Hilton, the White Party is in Hotel Zoso, where we are staying. There are three different rooms going, so everywhere you turn, there are hordes of women, dressed in their best (and probably only) white attire with drinks in hand and smirks on faces. Before we join them, the members of Words With Girls and Unicorn Plan-It have to hit up the VIP Party. I go down early to check it out and report back. There are a few of the other web series folks milling around outside the room but none of them are going in—or talking to each other. I decide we can forgo this awkwardness for a little while.

By the time we show up, all of the people I recognized earlier are gone and the only people in the room are the people that paid to be. We’re all standing around talking when we realize the DJ is playing a ton of old Jay-Z and Missy Elliot, along with other straight-up 90s jams like “Candy Rain.” No strangers to spectacle, we dance by ourselves on the empty dance floor until it’s time for the red carpet, where we proceed to look like we don’t belong and probably confuse everyone with our presence.

After the red carpet, we go back to the VIP Room because the DJ is still playing a heavy hip hop and R&B throwback set. A party promoter from the Virgin Islands buys us all drinks, and a Club Skirts photographer snaps pictures of us being ridiculous. There’s no reason to leave so we don’t. They’ve stopped checking wristbands at the door, so we invite all of our friends to the room and only leave when we find out that there’s a hip hop room upstairs. Eventually we’ve danced long enough and most people are too drunk to coherently answer texts about where they are that we decide to move on to the next thing, which is obviously pizza. We find a place that is a)open, b)walkable and c)dirt cheap. We rendezvous with Jess Shaffer of The Love Corner and I call cabs for the eight people that successfully make it to her room. We end up at a house party until 3:30-ish, then head back to get some sleep.

Next: Saturday and Sunday Shenanigans

A Guaranteed Hot Time at The Dinah

Brittani’s Team Pick

In case you hadn’t heard, The Dinah is happening again this year. I know. Thousands of queer women want to party in Palm Springs again? Totes weird. Don’t know why anyone would want to be surrounded by women, stay in a nice hotel, and chill next to a pool all day. People have strange priorities.

If for some reason you live in a place where it’s not at least 60° and sunny all year round, then Jill Bennett, Rose Garcia, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Jacqueline Monahan, Haviland Stillwell (holding a dog), and Dalila Ali Rajah are hoping that they can get you to Dinah Shore if for no other reason than to escape the inclement weather of your current location. The Dinah is taking place April 3-7th in Palm Springs and we’ve already told you what to do once you get there because you’re going, right?

The LGBTQ Side of SXSW: OUTLander Spring Festival

After noticing a surprising lack of LGBTQ friendly media at Austin’s annual South by Southwest Festival, the good people at One More Lesbian hooked up with The OUTLander Project to do what most of us like to talk about in theory but don’t ever actually put the effort into doing ourselves. (Not because we’re lazy. We’re just busy, ya know.) The OUTlander Spring Festival will take place from March 8th through 16th during SXSW and will be the largest showcase of local, national, and international LGBTQ musicians performing over five days right in the heart of one of the iconic events of the music industry. out In conjunction with Tello Films, OUTlander and OML are showcasing a ton of web series during an event called Main Screen. Among them are Autostraddle’s very own web series Unicorn Plan-It and Words With Girls. PLUS Julie and Brandy’s new venture on Tello, Gay Street Therapy because they want to help you…sort of. March 9th at Oilcan Harry’s in Downtown Austin you’ll be able to catch screenings of the aforementioned web series and a three song set by Unicorn Plan-It co-creator/writer/producer/star Haviland Stillwell. She performed at the Oscars. Did you know that? The event kicks off with a networking happy hour from 3-5pm featuring a DJ set from Girlfriend ATX, drink specials from LGBT owned and operated Frot Vodka, and catered food from lesbian owned El Sol y La Luna. After you’re stuffed on gay food and drink, you’ll be able to settle in and check out episodes, exclusive premiers, and trailers for the other web series featured: Once You Leave, Orange Juice in Bishops Garden, Lips, Easy Abby, Cowgirl Up, I Hate Tommy Finch, The Throwaways, Kiss Her I’m Famous, Lez Find Love, and Kam Kardashian. haviland-stillwell AND there will be other musical performances from Stirling and Goddess and She sprinkled throughout. Since they know that watching lots and lots of women prancing across screens, being witty, funny, dramatic, and/or adorable will make you want to find your own series of lesbian events, there will be a dance party from 10pm-2am to close the event. In conclusion, if you are going to South by Southwest, live in Austin, or really really like LGBTQ media and music, go to Main Screen and enjoy yourself. You deserve it.

VIDEO: Unicorn Plan-It Episode 204 “Across The YOUniverse”

Are you ready for another smokin’ spicy hot Unicorn Plan-It fajita of sizzling lesbian sexiness?? Because it’s definitely time. Strap on your scissor bumps and cuddle up with your favorite unicorns!

Behind-the-scenes shots! Pew pew!

UNICORN PLAN-IT is a tight little comedy best described as Modern Family meets The Office meets “a bunch of hot lesbians in Los Angeles.” Has anyone made a real comedy about that last one? Three co-workers, one crazy boss and one enlightened fairy-tale-haired spiritual healer face the slings and arrows of everyday life as event planners and ladylovers. This show is written, directed, produced and edited by Real Lesbian Females who want to make you laugh, make you proud of who you are and generally make your life better in every way. Who are these females? The fantastic cast includes Haviland Stillwell (TV/Broadway Actress, recording artist, voice of Raquelle on Barbie: Life In The Dreamhouse), Ashley Reed (screenwriter/producer, playwright, once recorded a song for you), Sarah Croce (Actress, Miss April, Girl Talk, Fake-Whitney), comedian Sherri D. Sutton, and actors Amir Levi and Catherine Wadkins. Season 2 also promises guest appearances by Oscar Nominee Bruce Dern (Big Love, Monster) and Deborah S. Craig (Hart of Dixie). And for this season, Director K. Rocco Shields of WingSpan Pictures has joined the unicorn team!

Keep up with UNICORN PLAN-IT:

Jodie Foster Coming Out: “This Is Something For Us.”

jodie-looking-fierce Before Ellen and Rosie and Glee and Autostraddle and Unicorn Plan-It, people like me would search for anything we could to find out whom “out there” was gay – who in our lives was maybe like us? When there were no apparents in our family or adult friend set (because it’s not like anyone talked about it really, and you certainly couldn’t flat-out ask) – you turned to celebrities. Who said they were gay, who might be gay, who was “privately” gay? I desperately wanted to just be who I was – whatever that was – and to know that any label I put on myself wouldn’t be stigmatized, ruining my relationship with myself and placing a specific hue on anything I created.

I know – a lofty ideal… but why NOT? Why couldn’t we all just be who we were without having to pronounce ourselves as something that everyone had his or her own definition and idea of? Over the formative years of figuring out who I was and what I wanted, I learned that there is a delicate balance of “public” vs. “private” – and I’m still learning how to dance it. I’ve learned that at a certain point, you have a responsibility to be open, and at a certain point, you have to keep things close. But one thing that’s important is that others like me – you know, gay people – are honest about this one thing publicly – that yes, we are gay – because when we fail to do so, our private lives suffer. And on a community level, visibility is important. And for me, and others I know, in not being open, and therefore strategically hiding that one simple fact about ourselves, our artistic lives would suffer. It doesn’t have to go beyond simply stating the fact, into any sort of details or relationship situations or anything. But the simple fact that people like us – gay people – who are struggling with the revelation of their own truth – to themselves more than to anyone else – can look at “public” figures and say “OK…I’m not alone.”

For many of us, Jodie Foster was THE example of a gay woman who was really “making it” in Hollywood – but of course, the caveat was the reminder of, “Yeah… but she’s not out.” So we danced this line of “public vs private” and learned from birth that acting on instinct was not, in fact, always encouraged. But I am here to say that acting on instinct and being open about LOVE is a very positive thing – and it radiates outward. It’s important.

As we heard in her speech at the Golden Globes, Jodie Foster already came out “back in the stone age,” to her friends and family, and honestly, I understand her defensiveness and annoyance with the fact that going beyond that is necessary. (She also thanked her “beautiful Cydney” in a 2007 speech for the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award.) It is annoying that we are still at the point where we have to declare that, but it is still necessary. She had come out to everyone in her life, and it wasn’t a secret. She hasn’t ever been someone who spilled anything about her life off-screen, but times have changed, and I applaud her. Seriously… I don’t know and have never met Jodie Foster, but just saying, Jodie…I have a feeling it’s going to feel different being you now. Congratulations!

It’s a responsibility to be gay, and a privilege. We are here in part to teach compassion to our fellow humans. We grow up and feel different and then realize we aren’t. We learn specific skills from the start. We are specific, and then, as we meet others like us, we find we are the same. We make our families, and watch our biological families grow and learn, and we grow. And we grow.

I can only imagine to be the kind of public figure Jodie Foster is and has been, for her entire life, everything she said about the need for privacy was 100% understandable, and I believe we will get to the point where “coming out” is unnecessary. We will get to the point where no one will assume someone is straight at birth. We will not need to have “gay role models” because we’ll just have role models.

But the fact that Jodie, the sort of last “holdout” – and the premiere fantasy of just about every gay woman I know, came out in a very public way, stepping way out of her comfort zone… well, this is something. This is something for us. She has been inspiring me for my whole life and now, in a new way, I feel so proud of her! And all of us.

havi
Haviland Stillwell, winner of a 2011 PowerUP Award For “Outstanding Woman in Showbiz,” is an out actress/singer/producer living in Los Angeles with roots in Savannah, Georgia. Her onscreen credits include Single Ladies, CSI:NY, Eastwick, The Apprentice, The Client List and Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse (voice) and she has appeared on Broadway in Les Miserables and Fiddler On The Roof. Her first album, How I Role, debuted in 2010 and she is a co-star, co-writer and co-producer of Autostraddle’s hit webseries, Unicorn Plan-It.

VIDEO: Unicorn Plan-It Episode 203 “Kiss Kiss Dang Dang”

Hey unicorns, have you spent the past six weeks anxiously awaiting the next installment of everyone’s favorite lesbian webseries? Duh, of course you have. Episode 202, “Awkward/Awesome”, was funny and sexy and perfect, but it left us with so many questions! We need to know if Harmony and Bambi are rising in love together, if poor Miguel has finally convinced J to take a shower, and if ~~Sarah Croce and Ashley Reed~~ I mean Keesha and Vic can continue to outdo themselves every fucking episode with the best lesbromance the world has ever seen. These are Serious Questions, ya know? Today is a day for Serious Answers. (Or not — you’ve gotta watch the episode to find out!)

this is a gratuitous screenshot of ash and croce because why the fuck not

this is a gratuitous screenshot of ash and croce because i said so

Okay, everyone scissor-bump in anticipation. Are we ready?! I feel ready. FYI, this episode is gonna teach you that flexibility is essential and that’s true, so feel free to stretch while you watch. Personally I’m in child’s pose right now but I think Harmony would be impressed with any yoga position you can muster up. So take a deep breath and get ready to get horny with Episode 203. Om.

Three co-workers, one crazy boss and one enlightened fairy-tale-haired spiritual healer face the slings and arrows of everyday life as event planners and ladylovers.

Season 2 also promises guest appearances by Oscar Nominee Bruce Dern (Big Love, Monster) and Deborah S. Craig (Hart of Dixie).

And for this season, Director K. Rocco Shields of WingSpan Pictures has joined the unicorn team!

Keep up with UNICORN PLAN-IT:

You Should Go: LezCab New York City

If you’ve been craving a Broadway fix of the Sapphic kind, you’re going to be very excited to learn about LezCab, a monthly cabaret by, for, and about queer women. And if now you’re thinking, Hmmm, LezCab sounds familiar, it’s because the brand-new monthly event kicked off its awesomness during International Autostraddle Meetup Week, when Autostraddle’s very own risen star Haviland Stillwell performed and all proceeds went toward this very website and Unicorn Plan-It. This may be a brand new event on the New York City entertainment circuit, but it’s one you’re gonna want to get to know really fast, trust me!

Mary Kate Morrissey performing at LezCab October 2012
via Tracy Wise

The ladies behind LezCab are all MFA students in the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts: there’s Grammy Award winning artist Thirza Defoe, librettist/lyricist and Autostraddle bruncher extraordinare Rachel Kunstadt, and composer, playwright, and musician Teresa Lotz. In their own words, the creators of LezCab say that the program “seeks to produce and host musical-theatre events by and about queer womyn in order to foster support and a forum for queer womyn in the musical theatre community,” but the vibe is super inclusive at the same time. “We’re creating a community here, not an elitist cult,” the FAQ page explains in response to a query about having to be a queer woman to participate. “If you’re an ally, you’re a part of this! We might not be singing songs about you, but you’re just as important to us!”

The inaugural LezCab boasted a packed house and was hosted by Maggie Keenan-Bolger. She will return to host November’s LezCab, which takes place next Monday, November 26th. That performance will feature In The Heights and Bring It On’s Stephanie Klemons, as well as many other talented queer women in the musical theatre community, from seasoned Broadway professionals to up-and-coming talent. It’ll be like Glee but with more openly queer characters, less horrific plot lines, and absolutely zero Ryan Murphy — plus it’ll be real life not teevee! Which is to say, it will be perfect. Have fun!

LezCab takes place next Monday, November 26th at The Duplex Cabaret and Piano Bar, located at 61 Christopher Street in the West Village. The performance begins at 9:30pm. Reservation required: call 212-255-5438 or visit www.theduplex.com. For more information, visit the LezCab Facebook event page.

VIDEO: Unicorn Plan-It Episode 202 “Awkward/Awesome”

Good morning, election hangover! Happy Obama! Are you ready to give your ears and eyes over to the likes of Haviland Stillwell, Sarah Croce and Ashley Reed? I know, me too. Thank goddess we’ve been gifted with a new episode of Unicorn Plan-It!

In Awkward/Awesome, we’re just really happy to have these people playing for our team. Let’s not wait any longer; be our guest:

And because I can’t get enough of this Season 2 promo video:

Three co-workers, one crazy boss and one enlightened fairy-tale-haired spiritual healer face the slings and arrows of everyday life as event planners and ladylovers.

Season 2 also promises guest appearances by Oscar Nominee Bruce Dern (Big Love, Monster) and Deborah S. Craig (Hart of Dixie).

And for this season, Director K. Rocco Shields of WingSpan Pictures has joined the unicorn team!

Keep up with UNICORN PLAN-IT:

VIDEO: “Binders Full O Bitches,” Featuring Haviland Stillwell As An “NRA Bitch”

The comedic team at Forty-Seven Percent Records, a division of Happy Panda Productions, have put together a catchy Black Romney video entitled “Black Romney: Binders Full O Bitches” in which Romney expresses his disinterest in a variety of human beings, such as the unemployed and single mothers. Created by the very funny Deborah S. Craig and starring Burl Moseley, this biting piece of political satire also features your favorite Out Lesbian Actress Haviland Stillwell, star of Unicorn Plan-It and lots of other things, like your pants. She dances and sings along with a variety of other females. I don’t know, I think you might really enjoy it! See for yourself:

VIDEO – The Premiere Is Here: Unicorn Plan-It Episode 201 “And So It Is”

Hold on to your trousers because Unicorn Plan-It Season 2 is finally here! We’ve been anxiously anticipating UPI’s return with a series of hilarious interviews with the cast and crew and now your patience has paid off. If you’re new here, Unicorn Plan-It is Autostraddle’s first scripted web series and is badass because it takes you seriously and it’s f*cking funny. You can catch up with Season 1 and all of the UPI goings on. Here’s a quick refresher, in case you missed it:

Three co-workers, one crazy boss and one enlightened fairy-tale-haired spiritual healer face the slings and arrows of everyday life as event planners and ladylovers.

Season 2 also promises guest appearances by Oscar Nominee Bruce Dern (Big Love, Monster) and Deborah S. Craig (Hart of Dixie).

And for this season, Director K. Rocco Shields of WingSpan Pictures has joined the unicorn team!

So get your giant bowl of Swedish fish and get ready to watch some shit go down on this Season 2 premiere episode, “And So It Is.”

This season on Unicorn Plan-It:

Keep up with UNICORN PLAN-IT:

UNICORN PLAN-IT’s Ashley Reed, Sarah Croce, and Haviland Stillwell: The Autostraddle Interview

by vanessa & carmen

As you must surely know if you’ve been reading this website at all in the past week, UNICORN PLAN-IT is returning to your computer screens in just a hot minute! Season 2 premieres on October 3rd and it’s going to be bigger, better and hornier. Lucky for us, since the show is created by Autostraddle superstars and is an exclusive Autostraddle lesbian webseries, we were able to score interviews with the smart, sexy, funny ladies who run ~~the world~~ UNICORN PLAN-IT (but also the world). They told us how they came up with the idea for the show, what it’s like to write the episodes, and they even shared a few juicy spoilers.

Beretta at Revolver is hosting the Season 2 Premiere Party this Tuesday, October 2nd at 6:30pm, so if you’re in LA make sure to check it out. The show premieres for the rest of us on Wednesday, October 3rd, right in the comfort of your very own computer screen. Stay hungry, stay horny.

The Autostraddle Interview: UNICORN PLAN-IT Creators Haviland Stillwell, Ashley Reed and Sarah Croce

Creators of UNICORN PLAN-IT: Croce, Haviland and Ashley
photo by Sabrina Bringuier

AS: How did you guys come up with Unicorn Plan-It? Tell us the birthing story, if you will.

Sarah Croce: Haviland, Ashley, Brandy, Julie, Alex and I were all at The Abbey having brunch.

Ashley Reed: I think we were joking around and Croce said, “Bro, I would do a webseries if you would do one, we could just get together and we could just, like, write one.” And I was like, “Yeah, dude, let’s do it, let’s write a webseries, why not?” totally thinking that this is like most things you talk about at The Abbey . . . it will never really happen.

Haviland Stillwell: Riese has always wanted a scripted webseries on Autostraddle, so I felt that if we got a great idea together and made it ourselves and kept it low key, it would be a really good addition to Autostraddle. I thought perhaps it could grow into something more, and it would be a great way to showcase our talents and to use lots of great friends of ours doing the things that they do best.

AS: The characters on UNICORN PLAN-IT are each really strong personalities. Which character do you identify with the most and which character would you most like to date?

SC: I identify the most with Vick. She’s more with it than Keesha, witty, funny — not that I’m either of those things, but I’d like to be. She’s just more confident, and very aware of what’s going on. If I could hook up with any character, I mean, I would hook up with Bambi, but I would worry that she’d be a Stage Five Clinger. And Harmony is way too airy fairy, she’s not my type.

AR: I think I identify with Vick and Keesha. Vick has a little bit of me and a little bit of Croce, and Keesha has a little bit of me and a little bit of Croce. I’m probably more Keesha than Vick, and Croce is more Vick than Keesha. We thought that would be fun. Harmony is probably my type. Yes, Harmony. However, there are some really unbelievably hot go-go dancers. Back in the day I probably would have dated them, too. Harmony and all of the go-go dancers.

HS: I probably would identify most if you mixed Harmony and J into one person, and I would want to go on a threesome date with Harmony and Vick.

photo by Sabrina Bringuier

AS: So help us get to know your respective characters. What are their favorite foods, what do they order at the bar, what do they want from life?

HS: Well, since Harmony was best friends in college with Bambi, I like to think that Harmony was on a very specific path. Her path was the path of a Wall Street girl or something like that, very business-minded, getting things done, being super business-oriented. There is a flashback in this season that kind of shows her being in her Bette Porter mode a little bit. So you know, there’s definitely more of an element of that in her back story. I think there was an awakening that happened with her where she sort of woke up one day — metaphorically — and said to herself, “You know, there’s more than just this work work work, work-for-the-man kind of mentality, things are changing and I can contribute to the world in a really positive way.”

AR: Vick’s favorite food is definitely sushi. I think that Vick is one of those — she kind of orders at the bar, and what she orders depends on the nearest girl she is trying to pick up. For instance, if it was Riese at the bar and Riese was having her Scotch, then she would definitely order a Scotch to try and subtly pick up Riese. Whereas if it was Haviland, she would have vodka and she’d be like, “Oh, I’m drinking water, too!”

SC: Okay. Keesha, her favorite brunch food is scrambled eggs and cheese. She’s modeled a little bit like Kelso from That 70’s Show, and Keanu Reeves — she’s just kind of like, “I’m just gonna have fun,” but you know, she’s a little slow, a little dumber than your average character. She likes lady drinks, things with all sorts of fruit juices and stuff — she’s kind of like a grown-up kid. She’s incredibly emotionally promiscuous, so she will fall in love with women like that, but she never gets laid.

Ash, Croce and Hav or Vick, Keesha and Harmony?

AS: You brought on a new director, Rocco Shields of WingSpan Pictures, this season. How did that happen and how did it change things?

AR: Rocco and I were hanging out at the bar . . . I guess everything that happens around UNICORN PLAN-IT happens at a bar. She said, “Hey, what’s your plans for Season 2? I’d love to be involved.” So then I took it back to the girls and said, “You know, Rocco mentioned wanting to be involved, and I’m a huge fan of her work.” Then it just happened. It was kind of a touch and go, she was super busy so I was hoping it would work out with her schedule, and it did. She was a major asset. I love that girl.

HS: We wanted to get better and Rocco could bring certain elements that we didn’t have. We weren’t directors first, we were actors and writers first. She said, “You know, I can help you with some things, let’s roll with this.” So that’s what we did.

AS: We really can’t wait to see it. Can you describe a little bit what the writing process is like for you guys?

AR: We hang out for about an hour until Haviland gets nervous and says, “Guys! We should work!’ and then Croce gets out her computer and we start kicking around ideas until I get distracted and I start rattling off and talking to myself.

SC: I’m the fastest typer so I do the transcribing, and we basically just improv all the scenes and character voices, and it’s amazing. The best thing is that whenever Ashley or I say something really disgusting or off-base Haviland will always be like, “Ew, guys, I don’t know,” and then I’ll say, “Put it the script!” That’s our game.

HS: The writing process is very funny, because I work with two really smart girls who both have ADD and they are both brilliant and talented and I generally have to remind myself to calm down. Ashley is really good with dialogue, she is a writer first and an excellent screenwriter and playwright so she comes up with really incredible dialogue. Sarah is really excellent with cutting to the chase with things, and I tend to expound greatly.

AR: [Haviland] struggles [with our working styles], but she’s the backbone of Unicorn. She’s the form of UNICORN PLAN-IT. She holds it, she’s like the organizer, the whip cracker. She keeps everything together, she keeps us on point. Me and Croce, we’ll get to the shoot and be like, “Dude, can I borrow your script?” and she’ll be like, “G-d damn it, you guys!” She’s got her shit together, clearly she is a put together lady.

maybe at this exact moment haviland was saying “ewwww”

AS: That sounds really fun. Can you talk about what being on set is like? Is being on set just as fun? Was it different this season with Rocco there?

AR: Being on set is awesome and we love it. It’s really fun. Shooting days are long and crazy, but they are awesomely funny — there’s usually a wrangler. There’s a lot of improv and we’re encouraged to be crazy and really go with the scene, but at the same time there’s somebody who’s there with a hook, you know, waiting to reel me in. We show up with six different costumes because we are shooting six different episodes.

HS: Filming is really fun. It’s my favorite part, definitely. It’s what we prepare for and just as a person, I love being on the set. It’s very funny. We built more improv into our script this season because we knew, for instance, Ashley is incredible at improv, as is Sherri, so we wanted to let them go with a lot of stuff. We had an entire scene that we let Sherri just improv. We said, “Here’s what needs to happen, and what you need to get to by the end of this, but we just want you to roll with it.” Rocco directed it really well and Sherri totally understood what we were going for and we have clips we are going to post that are behind the scenes of us trying not to laugh out loud. We were turning purple laughing at her during the filming.

AR: It’s nuts — you basically have to stay on point and pay attention and know your lines, and if you don’t you better be good at winging it. Croce and I are usually in scenes together and I’ll be like, “Oh, and this is the part where we start making it up because we don’t know where the hell we are.”

photo by Sabrina Bringuier

AS: Who is the funniest person on set? Who is the funniest person in the world? Is Brittani Nichols the funniest person in the world? Yes, this is a real question.

AR: Brittani Nichols’ hair is the fucking funniest person in the world. That is my final answer. Her hair is so funny, her hair is funnier than my dad — and my dad is pretty funny. Sherri’s improvs made me wet my pants, so I will probably have to give it up to Sherri for funniest on set. Deborah S. Craig is in Season 2, she plays one of my hookups and she is the funniest shit you’ve ever seen. It would be a toss up between Sherri and her. Deborah pulled some shit on me that was just unreal. She did some of the funniest shit I’ve ever seen, ever. She was in a corset and drooling, that’s all I’ll say.

SC: Oh fuck. It’s hard to answer that because everyone is funny in different ways. Brittani Nichols, for instance, is so funny that like, you don’t get it for another two minutes. For instance, her production company is called Nichols & Dimes which is genius. As far as improv and delivery, I would say Ashley and Sherri are tied in funny. Sherri is a comedian, so her improv is awesome. Delivery, Ashley owns it, she always nails it. I’m editing it and I’m like, “Goddammit, how does she do that? Teach me how to do it.” The funniest person I’ve ever met in my entire life… [laughs] It’s a really hard question. Julie Goldman, I would say. Yes, for sure.

HS: Ashley is funniest, for sure. Although Sherri would be very close by her side. And just the collective, it’s a funny ensemble. Wait, who is the funniest person on the planet? Brittani Nichols. Yes, absolutely. She did work on our set. We gave her the title of ‘best boi,’ because she kind of did a little bit of everything for our crew and was super amazing. We are really happy she came and helped out. And she has a cameo, she’s in two episodes — really quick cameos.

AS: I want one of the interns to Photoshop a picture of Brittani in a unicorn suit, on a unicorn, in a TV.

via amazeballs intern geneva

AS: Okay, let’s get real for a minute. We have three Really Important Questions. Ahem. Sarah … what was it like to be on The Real L Word, even if just for a moment?

SC: Okay. To be on TRLW was awkward. The one time they got me I was at Lauren’s house, chilling with her and Amanda. I knew Lauren pretty well, and we’d hung out before, not with cameras or microphones. You are insanely aware of what comes out of your mouth, and when you go to the bathroom you’re like, “Are they listening to me pee? This is so awkward.” There was this sound guy outside of the bathroom, listening to me peeing. Since I know crew production, I just turned my mic off when I was peeing, or when I felt like it was a good idea. [Laughs.] It was whatever — I haven’t watched this season, I gather that I’m in the background a lot more than I thought I was.

AS: Ashley, this is the golden question on all lesbian minds: What was it like to be sort of sexy with Sarah Croce?

AR: Wow. [Pause.] It was really awkward, really fast, and a head bump was involved. Yeah, we didn’t use our talents. [Pause.] No, I’m just kidding. It was really funny, and then afterwards I felt really used and I’m like, “Oh my God, this is what it feels like, you’re such a dick, you made me hate myself.” And then I was like, “Come back, though.”

photo by Sabrina Bringuier

AS: Ha! Somewhat related, our third Really Important Question is, what’s your Hot 100 strategy this year?

HS: Gosh, I don’t like to say that I do anything that is motivated by wanting people to like me, I try and do things that I love and that I feel will make things better for the world in general. Cue the Michael Jackson song right now.

SC: Oh my G-d. [Laughs.] Okay, [valley girl voice] for my Hot 100 next year I’m going to run a really strategic campaign and mostly take pictures next to Mollie Thomas and get her PR rep, and we’re collectively going to run for Miss California together. It’s going to be like, Miss and Miss California — His and Hers — and I think that the more PR I get, the more likely I’ll get to be on the Hot 100 . . .

AS: [Laughs] We just know that you did actively campaign for the Hot 100 . . .

SC: That was one comment! I just wrote one comment, because I thought it was hilarious . . . and it fucking worked.

AS: Sarah Croce, ladies and gentlewomen. Okay, bringing it back to the serious stuff: What was your favorite episode or scene in Season 1?

AR: I really liked the release episode. I believe that is the fourth one. I directed that one and it was me and Lauren in the back of the U-Haul watching them do that scene. By the time we were done we were both bright red and I said, “I need a break.” So, that was really awesome.

SC: My favorite episode from Season 1 is the Parkour episode, where [laughs] I don’t really remember anything else except that shot of Ashley trying to Parkour down the wall and falling [laughs] it was so funny. I had to keep it. I was like, ‘This shot is a total accident and I have to keep it.” It cracks me up every time, and as long as it’s funny we want it.

if you don’t remember this scene go back and watch season 1 again right now

AS: Can you give us any spoilers for Season 2?

HS: I can tell you a juicy spoiler: I am, for the first time ever in my acting career, kissing a girl on camera.

SC: Season 2, episode 6 — it’s a spoiler that is far away, so you have to watch the whole season. There’s a huge party, and it’s gorgeous, there’s incredible lighting and . . . my character finds the love of her life. For the night, I mean.

AS: Oh boy — that’s reason enough to watch the whole season, right?! But finally, we’re already anxious to know — will there be a Season 3?

AR: I mean, I would like there to be a Season 3. If people are still laughing at us, you know? And if there’s a way, sure, I’ll play any day.

HS: We are always thinking about opportunities. As far as UNICORN right now, we are really just trying to edit the best product we can to get it out and to just keep on breathing. Right now we are focusing on post-production for Season 2, and we are bringing in a lot more elements, like different music and a different style. But who knows – there are lots of things up our sleeves for what can happen after Season 2.

photo by Sabrina Bringuier

Keep up with UNICORN PLAN-IT:

UNICORN PLAN-IT Is BACK: Director K. Rocco Shields Talks Season Two

Hello everyone, I have some really huge news that I think you’re gonna want to hear. Ready?

Season 2 of UNICORN PLAN-IT, Autostraddle’s first ever original narrative series, premieres in just over one week! Yes, it’s true — the show is back and it’s going to be bigger, better and hornier.

Creators of UNICORN PLAN-IT: Croce, Haviland and Ashley
photo by Sabrina Bringuier

Carmen and I took on some serious investigative reporting and interviewed the cast and their new director to get all the juicy details about this upcoming season, and we’ll be sharing those little tidbits with you over the next 10 days. But before we dive into Very Important Questions — like for example each actor’s favorite brunch food — let’s take a stroll down memory lane to the premiere of the series, because it was a really big deal.

Do you remember? It was August 2011. There was no new Real L Word and no new Glee. A-Camp wasn’t a thing. You hadn’t donated over $100,000 to help us build a new home.

The world was a different place. To be honest, I have no idea what the majority of us were even doing. The cast and crew of UNICORN PLAN-IT, however, were taking the initiative to make lesbians laugh with art that matters. In case you need a refresher, here’s the deal:

Three co-workers, one crazy boss and one enlightened fairy-tale-haired spiritual healer face the slings and arrows of everyday life as event planners and ladylovers.

The fantastic cast includes Haviland Stillwell (TV/Broadway Actress, recording artist, voice of Raquelle on BARBIE LIFE IN THE DREAMHOUSE), Ashley Reed (screenwriter/producer, playwright, once recorded a song for you), Sarah Croce (Actress, Miss April, Girl Talk, Fake-Whitney), comedian Sherri D. Sutton, and actors Amir Levi and Catherine Wadkins.

Season 2 also promises guest appearances by Oscar Nominee Bruce Dern (Big Love, Monster) and Deborah S. Craig (Hart of Dixie).

And for this season, Director K. Rocco Shields of WingSpan Pictures has joined the unicorn team!

We’ve been anxiously anticipating the October 3 premiere that will take place right here on Autostraddle, and to deal with our enthusiasm we’re going to help you get to know the wonderful women (and dude) who are responsible for making this masterpiece happen.

Also! If you really can’t wait, Beretta at Revolver has you covered. They will host the Season 2 Premiere Party on October 2 at 6:30pm, so if you’re in LA make sure to check it out — meet and scissor bump the cast and crew, participate in the GET HORNY photo campaign, and try your hardest to work Croce’s magic on her. Season 2, Episode 1 screens at 9pm, followed by a raffle for UNICORN PLAN-IT t-shirts and other fun prizes. Plus your photo may end up on Autostraddle the morning after — who can resist?!

Keep up with UNICORN PLAN-IT: