Jennifer Beals Publishes "L Word" Book of Her Photos from The Set
May I ask you, is the L Word brand still relevant? Jennifer Beals via Showtime is publishing a book of photos she took of the cast during the 6 years while The L Word was in production.
We've seen these photos before. The Advocate ran them a few years ago, then they were published on OurChart, and they also appear in the DVD set of the final season. 
May I ask, what is the incentive to buy the book? Will you buy it for charity? The proceeds go to Matthew Shepard Foundation, Mia Kirshner's I Live Here Projects, a Project of ETINA and The Pablove Foundation — organizations that Jennifer supports.
Is all this rehashing bordering on L Word fatigue? Are you still interested in an L Word movie, what about the reality series? Or do you think lesbians remain loyal fans?
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Comments [89]
Why buy the book
To be honest, hated what IFC did to TLW and I hold Showtime and CBS accountable as they allowed her enormous ego to run rough shod over them which in turn allowed her to produce in the end an inferior product.
But that is water under the bridge.
I will absolutely but the book. There will be no less that 250 behind the scenes photos by J. Beals (most of which no one but Beals has ever seen). She is a wonderful portrait photographer and really has a unique way of capturing the essence of a person in the moment.
Whether the book was about TLW or unknown faces in the crowd, I would buy the book simply because Beals took the photos.
The proceeds are also going to some very worthy charities so it is a good thing as Martha would say for all involved.
the l word in retrospect to
the l word in retrospect to me is like having to remember an uncomfortable break up. it was full of amazing moments and gave me much satisfaction, but by the end, things just fizzled out (e.g. the last season). i still have room in my heart for its mark on the lesbian pop cultural timeline, and hell, i'd be curious to look, maybe even swoon, at the pictures in this book.
Just a slight correction:
Just a slight correction: According to several sources, there are in fact photos in the book that haven't been seen yet, so they aren't ones that have all been published online in the past. The L-word folk are admirally all on a roll lately with charity drives for good causes. Good for them.
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
Just
to have it as a coffee table book would be good. It would be a good conversation peice at a party. I don't think I know one gay friend of mine that wouldn't want to look at these ladies. lol
@SedoraOfficial
Maybe some people buy it
Maybe some people buy it because they like the photos. I haven't seen it and don't know what the pictures look like. Look at the art that's in museums. A lot of it's promoted for ideological reasons, not because it's any good. Let's ask about that.
Kate
is a work of art
It's a sad day when the hotness of Katherine, doesn't even get a comment on here.
Agreed!
I've seen her in other roles on other shows as well, and she's very good, not to mention simply hot.
mmm are you sure you'r
mmm are you sure you'r totally objective?
-Do not follow me, I'M LOST-
Look at those abs
Not a word said! ... the lesbians here, must truly be over it.
Yeah
I'll buy it for my coffee table.
Regardless of the decline of storylines and the questionable ending and the "I hate Ilene", hate campaign ... this show mean't alot to me (and still does). As I've said before, the show was lifechanging - when nothing else would have changed my life.
Think of our tv history without it ... TLW broke ground for all these new lesbi ... Oh wait! there are none
I think the negative attitude towards The L Word & Ilene is more to do with our bad habit of eating our own, rather than the 'mistakes' they have made ...
Every popular show in history has had declining storylines, questionable endings (Six Feet Under & Once & Again excluded) and have eventually exploited their brand. How many years ago did The X-Files end? ... you would think it was only yesterday
Straight TV does this as a rule, yet we are asking a lesbian brand to shut up and go away? Weird.
Eating our own BS
Calling eating our own regarding the travesty that IC warped a perfectly good show into, is total BS. I adored that show and fully respected what it did for an under served community. Then she kicked the shit out of it. Not even the hotness of Kate can sugar coat that. I don't think you should go about dissing people for having the common sense to honestly evaluate what was wonderful AND woeful about the L.
I'm not
"dissing people" and I have common sense. We do eat our own - I see it time & time again. We shower someone or something with adoration, making out that they're going to be the savior of our community ... then we see the cracks - it's not actually perfect, we get bored and turn on it. Especially when a hot new more "interesting" lesbian comes along.
Yes The L Word lost the plot, but I choose not to focus on the crazyness that ensued at the end. The beginning was what did it for me and not all the later episodes were bad. As Robin pointed out, whoever was directing and writing made the difference.
I'm more interested in WHY that happened. Why did Ilene take her 'baby' and do that? ... was it deliberate? What was happening in her life? ... There's an untold story there people!
Right on Joanne! I really
Right on Joanne! I really think you'e on to something here. So the show lost the plot, it happens. Yet some people are taking it as a personal blow to the entire LGBT community and suddenly it's totally acceptable to take out our anger at all of the injustices against us on one person.
Time to get over the resentments and move on.
Doesn't make me want to buy the book but I agree with you 100 percent here. xoxo
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
Exactly
We even see what you are talking about happening here on occasion, as well as on OC in the past.
Television is not reality, and like all illusions, the shows we like eventually fade and go away. Story lines dry up, actors don't want to get type-cast and move on with their careers, or people simply lose interest in watching. Or, sometimes, the corporate media just decides, enough, let's do something different. Given that all corporate media is trending towards inexpensive reality and talk shows, and as a result many very good shows are disappearing, what TLW accomplished, and how long it did so, means more than how it went out in the end.
Even the last season of TLW, as bizarre as it was, had its moments. The "Shenny" episode was, to say the least, hilarious, especially the look on Alice's face when she put together what was going on. While the other seasons tended to address more common or external issues (gays in the military, having and raising children, transphobia and homophobia, voyeuristic men, to name a few), I look at the last season as more of a dark and occasionally comical introspective, albeit exaggerated for dramatic effect.
Quite frankly, I was far more upset at what happened to OC, the slow painful death of that wonderful community, than the somewhat bizarre way TLW was going out.
Anyway, that's just my opinion, for what it's worth.
Yeah
the silence around the OC demise, soured people's grapes
It was so bizarrely dealt with, that I can only assume there must have been some kind of legal agreement that required Ilene to not be transparent about it. I still wonder if the L Word actresses really were "part owners" or whatever they called themselves? ... They didn't say a word after it died.
It all contributed to the bad feelings at the end. It seemed (at the time) like we were losing everything we have! ... which, now that I think about it, was a little overdramatic
Now we have Velvetpark ... and new tv will come along, unfortunately it's a long time between drinks for the gays.
They didn't own the OurChart.com domain
CBS-Showtime Networks, Inc (a subsidiary of Viacom) did. Since those involved with TLW were under contract to the same company, it stands to reason there is a nondisclosure agreement at play somewhere in there (kind of standard procedure).
In the end, it was probably nothing more dramatic that some accountants saying "not profitable enough" that ended TLW and OC. Viacom was killing off a lot of CBS-SNI shows around that time.
Plus, it's difficult for all
Plus, it's difficult for all of us to look at our own mistakes and shortcomings. It's easier to point a finger at "the man" and blame all ills and problems and injustices on another person. I'm sure there were many reasons why the L-word and OC failed other than simply being "used" by the power elite.
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
But would we call it 'eating
But would we call it 'eating our own' if we said that some straight TV producer went from doing a great show to doing something totally insane (or total crap)? Take Chris Carter. If we point out how he created an amazing show with The X Files that then devolved into some serious WTF?! (not to mention daring the Moonlighting curse) are we then somehow 'eating our own'? Assuming 'our own' is a straight, white, sexist TV producer.
It's completely legitimate to critique art and regardless of if you think TV is actually art, it is a creative enterprise. Mainly though, it's enterprise and making crap means no one will make more of what you did because it can't make them money.
FYI, not all of us think Kate is hot so not commenting on her may just be because we don't find her attractive and she's no longer playing a lesbian so what's the point?
And for those who do apreciate her particuar charms
those pics have already been on the altar wall for a good long time. Not that I have one one.
Unless you call a closet full of white dresses and black high tops an alter.
Crap is crap
Ignoring the obvious problems with GLBT programming does the process no good. Crap is crap and it doesn't matter who creates it. The last season of TLW was crap. And Kate Moennig never did a thing for me, either.
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
I see the obvious problems
with LGBT programming ... like I see the problems here.
Like I said, I don't have rose coloured glasses on.
Maybe if some lesbians had a better attitude, things might change.
"Man in the mirror" and all that.
lesbocrap
Some lesbians need to change their attitude? I agree 100%. But I think it's the lesbians telling other lesbians not to criticize crap just because the crap is lesbocrap.
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
I don't believe
I've ever "told" anyone here, not to state their opinion ... feel free.
I don't have to like it, as no one has to like mine ... it's all about the TONE and intention.
My opinion is, at this point, we do not have enough lesbian TV/Film material to pick & choose or throw sticks at ... Nor should we be burning at the stake, ladies who wish to bring us some more.
Another " touche' " for you
Another " touche' " for you Joanne. You're on a roll girl. ;) Speaking of being used..I'm starting to get the feeling that a few people are are purposely being confrontational to try to get a rise out of people and "up" the site usage.
(But that would be judging before I know all the facts, wouldn't it?)
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
seriously?
PK, If you are accusing me have the guts to say it. I truly believe the final season was a stinking pile of crap and yes, I will say so. I have no stake in "upping" the site usage.
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
LOL...it was definitely a
LOL...it was definitely a "stinking pile of crap." Relax Rusty I'm not accusing you or anyone of anything, just making a point of how we all have a tendency to judge without knowing all the facts. I do it to.
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
Most of this started with JR
Most of this started with JR complaining that no one was commenting on something/someone (show and actor) she feels a peronal attraction for. Now it is just a mess of rehashing old bad feelings. If you want to put it out there that anyone is doing anything to up the site numbers, woman up and be specific. Frankly, I think there are a great number of things that both the creators, administrators, bloggers, and all community members could do toward that end without doing a thing wrong. When you care about an organization or a business you ought to do what you can to help it flourish.When it come to media part of that is deciding on topics and focus.
For clarity
My comment about the hot photo of Kate was my 2nd comment a few hours after my first about the blog ... and I neglected to add an essential emoticon
It was a sarcastic *poke*. There was a time when we openly drooled over kate, now ... *silence* and yeah, I know the pic's not new, but it's still effective (for me anyway).
*insert giant smiley faced emoticon here* ... so you know I'm not picking a fight!
No problem with Kate
Maybe the connotation of complaining mislead you. I got it without the icon. What I was getting at is that the line of discussion denigrated into the same old tired debate over the L and IC, and no amount of bickering is likely to change that.
If you want to get together and do some drooling...
I'm very confused
So what did you mean when you responded with "touche" to JR's comment? It sounded like you were agreeing with her.
What does not judging a book by it's cover have anything to do with the discussion?
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
I was agreeing with her and
I was agreeing with her and Rusty let it go. I'm not fighting with you on here, even though I know you love it..Yes you LOVE it! Admit it.
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
We'll see.
Hmm. She called me out. You agreed with her. I should let it go . . . . why? Maybe it's because you insist on having the last word in every discussion?
We'll see.
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
*passing the candle* "All we
*passing the candle*
"All we are saying....is give peace a chance.." "All we are saying....is give peace a chance..."
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
Or....
We just have a difference of opinion.
You're propbably right. :)
You're propbably right. :)
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
Seriously? Can you ever just
Seriously? Can you ever just express your own opinion and have the cojones to stand by it? You agreed with Joanne, which means you disagreed with me (no problems) but then you accuse someone (Me? Rusty?) of trying to increase site usage by starting arguments. Then when I point out that Joanne and I were just having a (very civil) difference of opinion you flip-flop and agree with me.
I may disagree with Joanne but I respect her for expressing an opinion and standing by it.
Isn't there a dyke bar you
Isn't there a dyke bar you and Rusty should go hang out in and pick on people you don't like?
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
Hi guys
I'm sure we are ALL teetering on breaking a guidline here.
So can we ALL take it down a notch or take it to the PMs.
thanks!
tweet tweet @gracemoon
are you really using "dyke"
are you really using "dyke" as a pejorative? That's how it's coming across. If you don't want people to disagree with you then why do you jump in to arguments?
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
tofuckinguché
toufuckingché
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
Not a prblem
Vampires don't do a thing for me.
I'm not into vampires either.
I'm not into vampires either. It's the slayage I'm a fan of.
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
Thanks for setitng me straight
There's been an
interesting amount of venom spat at Ilene. I guess (for me) that is the difference.
Yeah, I can think of a few straight tv creators who've lost the plot (in real life) due to drugs or general temporary insanity and that crossed over into their shows ... some of those programmes even went on a long "hiatus" until the creator sorted himself out. Fans & viewers didn't write them off or vow to boycott any of their future work.
SyFy "fans"
If you want to see venom you need to check out the SyFy fan forums. What was said about IC and The L Word is nothing compared to what Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) or Brad Wright & Robert C. Cooper (Stargate Universe) get hurled at them. The furor over Stargate Universe being darker than the other shows in the franchise and having a lesbian storyline is off the charts. Those are just two examples.
Lesbians don't eat their own. Fans do.
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
Yes, but
SyFy fans are freaking weirdos!
(I kid)
Oh, and on the venom- Duh!
Oh, and on the venom- Duh! We were all blown away, thrilled, excited out of our minds, pick your over the top emotion, at the idea of TLW. Then she crapped all over it. If it was just any old show that someone destroyed we'd be upset and disappointed but we all took that shit personally. If you compare that to how upset lesbian Buffy fans were over the killing of Tara or how people have gone pretty much apeshit when their favorite show got cancelled what the dykes have said about Ilene isn't nearly as extreme as you like to think it is.
Heck the Trekkies went wild
before a lot of the folks lurking here were born. And most of them won't even admit to being queer.
Who has written Ilene off or
Who has written Ilene off or vowed to never watch anything else she makes? I've seen no one (certainly no one here at VP) say that. Some of us have said we're not interested in a TLW reality show or a TLW movie because we feel like the franchise has been ruined by Ilene. That's not the same thing as writing off Ilene.
Really??
Have I been seeing things?
At OC, debates right here at VP and all over the lesbian internets.
When you say you're "not interested" in the tv show or potential L Word movie that hasn't been made yet, that is writing someone off.