From http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=beyond081108.htm

Beyond Distribution has been named the worldwide distributor for a collection of programming from MTV Networks’ VH1 and Logo channels for launch at MIPCOM.

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The dating reality show Transamerican Love Story from Logo follows Calpernia Addams, who is openly transgendered, as she whittles down a group of eight bachelors living together in a Los Angeles-area home.

Maybe a cute Aussie guy will see it and ask me out?

More Pix and info at: http://www.advocateinsider.com/2008/07/awards-night-mi.html
Last night was OutFest’s Awards Night ceremony. I was on the US Dramatic Features jury this year, which meant that for the last two weeks I was seeing several 2+ hour movies a day so that we could vote on awards for Best Feature, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Screenplay. I also got to be an awards presenter, separately from being on the jury. This is what happens when you are a writer, an activist AND an actress, ha ha. I wore another Richard Bowman/Xavier Othon gown, to the delight of many… Janice Dickensen herself went ga ga for it backstage in the green room.

(Image by Andrea James)
When I went up to present the award, the recipients were not there, so I got to talk a little bit to fill time. I shrugged off my wrap lasciviously, inspiring Momma to come stand behind me and block the audience’s view of my chest with her hands, which got people laughing. I made some jokes (?) about needing an agent, and then I made a little humor-tinged jab at what was essentially Hollywood’s GLBT filmmaking community all gathered in one audience. I said something like, “Wow, as soon as you stop casting men in wigs to play transsexual characters, maybe I’ll end up with some work!” I think I got the tone right, because everyone laughed but still “got the message”. Having Momma standing behind me, covering my boobs with her hands, probably helped.

After the awards show, the feature film played. It was “Were the World Mine”, and let me tell you, it is REALLY REALLY good. 

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Hey kids! I’m going to be a guest on the talk show of sexy comedian Ian Harvie on Monday, July 28th, here in Los Angeles.

The format is familiar; the content is rich, authentic and solidly funny. Transgendered Comedian, Ian Harvie is at the helm of this unique talk show, brandishing his wit and humanity, charming guests into intimate and humorous dialogs.
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Previous guests have included:
* Iconic Comedian, Author, Dancer and Actress, Margaret Cho
* Tony Award Winning Actor and Performer, Alan Cumming
* Fashion design rebel and Winner of Project Runway, Jeffrey Sebelia
* From CBS’ Two and a Half Men, Christopher Guest’s film: Best In Show, and Showtime’s hit series: The L-Word, Actress, Jane Lynch
* Adult Film Star, Buck Angel
* The 1st gay singer/songwriter signed to the 1st gay music label from TommyBoy Records, Matt Alber.
* Beautiful Model and talented Actress, Jenny Shimizu.
* From NBC’s The Last Comic Standing and Comedy Central Presents, comedian, Sabrina Matthews.
* From CBS’ News program Second Cup Cafe, hard-working country-rocker, Garrison Starr.

The Ian Harvie Show
Monday, July 28th, 9pm
@ Largo at The Coronet Theater
366 N. La Cienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
http://www.ianharvie.com/theianharvieshow.html

Probably the best I’ve ever looked in my life. Thank you, television!

Nowadays, one of the most frequent questions I’m asked by fans of the show is, “Are you and Shawn still together?” I’ve been incredibly busy recently, traveling and working on several new projects (which is one factor that informs the answer to their question), so I haven’t written anything about this yet, but I think it’s finally time.

The short answer is “No, Shawn and I are friends but we are not dating.” He is a great guy. We are both just very busy, and we live a long distance away from each other. Finding someone with whom you can share that rarest of sparks is like winning the lottery, and sometimes it only happens once in a lifetime… or even never. I’m kind of a handful anyway, so Shawn is probably counting his blessings at this point, ha ha.

I wrote a little article for The Advocate back in April called ”The Reality of Love”, in which I had this to say about the show:

I went into Transamerican Love Story with an open heart and an open mind, but I never felt I should be obligated to fake “love” with anyone if it didn’t happen naturally because, of course, actual emotions can’t be awarded as “prizes” on a show, no matter what the setup. A reality dating show is actually a very difficult circumstance in which to get to know someone because any time spent together is very brief, very managed, and under the probing eye of the camera. I decided that the best thing I could do was to look at it as exactly what it was: a fun romp with a bunch of interesting guys (like playing spin the bottle at summer camp) rather than a deadly serious path to matrimony. Fortunately, I met some really cool men, and I’m looking forward to seeing what might develop in “real life” with Shawn, the last man standing on the show.

I’ve said in a few interviews since the show “You can award your attention, but you can’t award your affection. It will either spark or it won’t.” In the case of Shawn and me, there was definitely some chemistry, attraction and interest, but I think we both recognized that life may still have a soulmate in store for us elsewhere. We’ve had some dinners and get togethers, but Shawn and I have not continued to date after the show. We remain good friends who will always share a unique experience.

It’s important for me to note that I did not go into the show with a jaded, heartless attitude and the expectation that I would discard the boys immediately upon the end of the series. I went in with an open heart and an open mind, fully ready to experience romance and love if it should happen, but fully aware that love is ever so much more rare than “I Love New York” and “Tila Tequila” would have you believe.

I think that with love, you can only be open to it. You can’t force it, or expect it, or demand it. At the risk of using a gaggingly cloying metaphor, it’s like planting flowers in the hopes of attracting butterflies. You can prepare the garden, bury the seeds and nurture the plants… after that, you just have to hope that the butterflies come. If they don’t, at least you still have some nice flowers.

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Well, here we are at another OutFest already! This year, I am a Juror for the US Dramatic Film category! Tonight was the opening night, which meant new dress by Richard Bowman and Xavier Othon, red carpet, pre-party, the opening night film ("Breakfast with Scot") and then after party.

Andrea has joined the OutFest Board of Directors, so we were both there in official capacities again this year, which is always fun. Of course, whoever printed the badges spelled my name “Capernia Adams”, but it happens, I suppose… ha ha.

Margaret Cho said hello to me personally! She crossed the red carpet just to say hi! OMG!!! I got to meet RuPaul and Marcellas Reynolds (from Big Brother), and I got to see Cathy Debuono, John McLaughlin, Jill Bennet and Thea Gill, from the upcoming ”Slate&Kelly” movie in which I’ll play bartender Jodie.
”Breakfast With Scot” was really sweet. I was thrilled to see Megan Follows, who starred in the beloved 1985 ”Anne of Green Gables” television series. It’s been 23 years, and she only looks 25 years old. Magic! But Megan plays a supporting role. The film is about two masculine, somewhat selectively closeted gay husbands who end up taking care of their nephew through a convoluted only-in-the-movies set of circumstances for which I was happy to suspend disbelief, because the story was so charming. The twist is that the kid is pretty flamboyantly “gay”—meaning effeminate and persnickety—in a way that might make some straight viewers uncomfortable but which will be immediately recognizable to GLBT folks who knew at early ages that they were “different”. There are humorous hijinks and touching family moments throughout. At the most stripped down core, this is a story we have seen in other “family movies”: the foundling/lost kid/troubled relative/scrappy pet moves in ("It’ll just be for the week!") and wins everyone’s hearts. But we’ve never seen this traditionally heart warming story told through the lens of the gay experience.

Most kids with gender variant behavior tend to just grow up gay, but a small subset end up realizing that they are trans like I did. So even though this was a very “gay” story, albeit with atypical-for-movies butch gay male leads, I could still relate to the child’s difficulties.

Hey kids, here’s the site:
http://www.atlantapride.org/

Here’s my calendar:

From Southern Voice Atlanta: Leaders of the Pack

ADDAMS IS FAMILY

Transgender star Calpernia Addams looks forward to eating good southern cooking during her turn as an honorary Pride grand marshal.

“I miss the South so I’m going to eat as much southern food as I can,” she says.

Addams is well-known in recent years for her turns in Hollywood, starring in the Logo reality TV show “Transamerican Love Story” and appearances in “CSI,” “Deadwood” and the critically-acclaimed movie “Transamerica.” But she started her career in the South, taking the name Calpernia Addams while performing in Nashville, Tenn.

“I never thought that would become my name,” she says. “Nobody does drag like the South, and after seven years on stage in Nashville and everyone knew me as Calpernia, I slowly got comfortable with it.”

While working at clubs in Nashville, she met Army Private Barry Winchell. The two started dating, and as Winchell’s Army buddies became aware of his relationship with a trans woman, he was increasingly harassed. Eventually he was beaten and killed by fellow soldiers in 1999. The killing inspired the Showtime movie “Soldier’s Girl.”

Addams, herself a veteran of the Navy Hospital Corps, became an outspoken transgender rights activist. In 2004 she staged a sold-out run of the “Vagina Monologues” at the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood, which benefited the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.

“Transamerican Love Story” on Logo reintroduced her as a household name in many gay homes. The eight-episode show, in which men competed for Addams’ affections through challenges and dates, ended in Calpernia selecting Shawn, a 33-year-old concert promoter, to be her boyfriend. But the relationship didn’t last.

“We’re still good friends, but it didn’t develop into a marriage sort of thing,” she says. “You can award your affections on a dating show, but you can’t award your emotions.”

Since the show aired, Addams has become a fixture at Pride celebrations across the country. She is appearing at prides in Las Vegas, Cleveland, Hollywood and others, but Atlanta will mark her first time as a grand marshal.

PLEASE look out for the upcoming comedy “Tranny McGuyver”, starring my good friend Willam Belli (who also writes one of the funniest blogs I’ve ever read in my entire career). If you pause this trailer around the :15 mark, you may see a certain Amercia’s Transsexual Sweetheart in a green bolero jacket and Jerry curls, being pimped out by the uber hot Darryl Stephens

And the original hilarious pilot for the film: