OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Filmmaker Jota Mun talks about “Between Goodbyes” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ that POV will debut on PBS at 10P Monday December 8th. The film follows a Korean adoptee reconnecting with her original mother in Seoul as she unravels decades of silence, stigma, confronting long-held regrets while facing cultural misunderstandings with tenderness, humor and resilience. “Between Goodbyes” is an open love letter to all original mothers who have suffered from family separation providing a deeper understanding about how the adoption industry affects families globally. As a Korean adoptee Mun’s lived experience brings personal insight and uncommon intimacy to a story that reframes conventional narratives about adoption and kinship. Jota filmed “Between Goodbyes” during the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic through 2021. Archival photos and footage trace the family’s milestones including a reunion in the Netherlands in 2002, time together in South Korea in 2016 and another visit in 2021. Through candid conversations with siblings and extended family “Between Goodbyes” reveals how secrecy and migration intersect inviting audiences into a story that is as complicated as it is loving. Featured in the film are participants Okgyun Kang, Mieke Murkes and Ruth Chon. “Between Goodbyes” made its world premiere at the 2024 DMZ International Film Festival winning the Emerging Filmmaker Award for Jota. The film also won the Special Jury Award for Feature Documentary at the 2024 Santa Fe International Film Festival and was an Official Selection of 2024 DOC NYC. We talked to Jota about the inspiration for “Between Goodbyes” and Mun’s spin on our LGBTQ issues.  Jota Mun directed and produced “Between Goodbyes” along with Zoe Sua Cho and Barb Lee, a Jjigae Productions with Point Made Films and Avonhead co-production. The director of photography was Jimin Lee with editor Michelle Chang. Sound design was by Sung Rok Choi and composer Gene Back. The executive producers were Alex Gibney, Maiken Baird and Erika Dilday and Chris White for American Documentary. “Between Goodbyes” premieres on POV the multi-Emmy®, Oscar® and Peabody Award-winning PBS documentary series December 8th.    For More Info… LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

Tim Mendelson who was the longtime executive assistant to legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor and is currently a trustee and officer of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about Taylor's legacy. Tim worked fulltime for Taylor from the early 1990s until her death in 2011 beginning as a freelance production assistant in 1984 but after assisting with Taylor's "White Diamonds" perfume tour in 1991 she hired him as her secretary. He eventually became her executive assistant and worked with her closely on her charitable endeavors including her fight against AIDS. Mendelson and Taylor developed a close and trusting relationship over their decades together. As a trustee of her estate and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation he continues Taylor's humanitarian work. Tim personally witnessed Elizabeth’s passionate drive to help people affected by HIV/AIDS with an immediacy that she felt was crucial for this fight. Currently Tim remains dedicated to keeping Elizabeth’s voice and spirit pre-eminent in HIV/AIDS activism for the purpose of ensuring it is at the forefront of current actions concerning this global pandemic. Mendelson has appeared in documentaries related to Elizabeth Taylor including the fabulous film “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” (2024) on MAX. Now with thousands of Gen Z and Gen Alpha fans newly discovering Elizabeth through Taylor Swift’s new album it’s a perfect time to highlight what this fierce ally brought to our LGBTQ community through her lifetime. We talked to Tim about what he would like to accomplish with Elizabeth Taylor’s legacy and his spin on our LGBTQ issues.  Elizabeth Taylor co-founded The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985 and regularly lobbied President Ronald Reagan and Congress to address the epidemic. She established The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991 to provide direct care along with love and moral support to the most vulnerable patients. Today ETAF carries forward Elizabeth’s mission with heart and hope until the end of HIV/AIDS. Tim Mendelson worked as Elizabeth’s executive assistant for over 20 years and currently serves as Co-Trustee of her estate per her request. He personally witnessed Elizabeth’s passionate drive to help people affected by HIV/AIDS and remains dedicated to keeping Elizabeth’s voice and spirit pre-eminent in HIV/AIDS activism.  For More Info… LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

Jeff Copeland talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about his new book “Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn” published by Feral House. The memoir depicts how an unlikely friendship evolved between a young gay writer and Holly Woodlawn one of Andy Warhol’s superstars from the films “Trash” and “Women in Revolt” as well as being Lou Reed's Holly in the hit glam rock song "Walk on the Wild Side". The book is based on the lengthy collaboration between Jeff and Holly as they created the bestselling 1991 autobiography “A Low Life in High Heels: The Holly Woodlawn Story”. For the trash mondo fans this must-read book is a pure delight and a refreshing escape from current affairs. Holly is the embodiment of Auntie Mame and Bette Davis fueled by chardonnay introducing Jeff to the glamorous and sometimes larcenous world of a Warhol Superstar. In turn Jeff uses his writing and typing talent to give Holly the second chance at the fame she craves. This wild read that you just can’t put down takes you on a ride through Hollywood in the late 1980’s through the 90’s. Many of the named people in this literary extravaganza are real and some are famous so you’ll probably recognize those but other names have been changed to protect the innocent and not so innocent’s privacy. The layout and design by Ron Kretsch illustrating Copeland’s journey also adds a timeless dimension with fabulous Hollywood montages and rare photos. We talked to Jeff about his inspiration for writing “Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn” and his spin on moving forward in the current political climate.  Jeff Copeland served as a writer/producer for almost thirty years in Hollywood for a variety of TV networks and film studios including Discovery, Animal Planet, HGTV, ABC, FOX and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Copeland also spent two years working with Garry Shandling which led to a corporate position with Sony Pictures Television. Jeff additionally devoted years developing scripts to be made into feature films. Currently he’s turning some of those scripts into literary applications.  For More Info…  LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

In the conclusion of our audio montage series celebrities and filmmakers talk with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ at the 27th Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF). First we talked with Christine Vachon whose production company Killer Films has produced many acclaimed independent films including Far from Heaven, Boys Don't Cry, One Hour Photo, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Go Fish, Swoon and Carol. She also produced the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce. Vachon received her first Academy Award nomination in 2023 for Past Lives and recently produced Materialists starring Dakota Johnson. Christine serves on the PIFF’s Advisory Board. Next we talked to Sophie Hyde and Aud Mason Hyde about their film Jimpa starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow that premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and was directed by Sophie. The film is about Hannah (Olivia Colman) and her non-binary teenager Frances (Aud Mason Hyde) who visits her gay grandfather (John Lithgow) in Amsterdam. We talked about the film and LGBTQ issues in Australia their native country.  Then we talked with Michael Koehler who directed the documentary SPIRITUS: No Business like Dough Business which explores the history and culture of Spiritus Pizza in Provincetown, MA. This film explores the rich history of one of the oldest family-run businesses in Ptown highlighting the challenges faced by the business, the LGBTQ community and the AIDS crisis against the backdrop of the conservative Puritanical attitudes in the town during the 1970s and 1980s. We concluded our audio montage with Claire Titelman who’s working on developing her short Remember Me into a feature film. The film is autobiographic about after a series of personal setbacks 40-year-old Claire moves back home to care for her ailing father. Despite her challenging circumstances she musters the courage to re-enter the dating scene.    The Provincetown Film Society, Inc. (PFS) is a non-profit year-round organization and home of the Provincetown International Film Festival. PIFF creates a unique international platform for the west and east coast entertainment industry to experience the diversity and community of Provincetown. PFS is also dedicated to showcasing the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors.  For More Info… LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

Filmmakers at the 27th Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) talk with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ in the first part this two-part audio montage series. First we talked with Emmy-winning actor Murray Bartlett and star of “The White Lotus” who was recipient of this year’s Excellence in Acting Award. Bartlett talks about being honored and staring in the PIFF feature film “Ponyboi” directed by Esteban Arango with screenplay by River Gallo based upon Gallo’s short film. It also stars Gallo, Dylan O'Brien, Victoria Pedretti and Indya Moore. Murray known for his expansive work in HBO’s “The Last of Us”, “Looking” and Hulu’s “Welcome to Chippendales” also gave us his spin on our LGBTQ issues. Then we chatted with director Megan Rossman whose short film “We’ll Carry On Alright” was selected as Best Documentary Short at this year’s PIFF. Megan talks about how her film focuses on the friendship between Mabel Hampton an African American lesbian activist and Joan Nestle a white Jewish lesbian professor who is 40 years her junior. Ms. Hampton cared for Joan as a child and roles reversed when Joan cared for Ms. Hampton at the end of her life. Rossman talks about her inspiration for making this film and her spin on our current LGBTQ issues. Next we talked to director Carmen Emmi about his film “Plainclothes” that won the PIFF Audience Award / Best Narrative Feature. Carmen shared experiences about making the film set in 1990s New York and inspired by true events about a working-class undercover officer whose job was to entrap and apprehend gay men only to find himself drawn to one of his targets. We talked to Emmi about what he would like to accomplish with his career and his spin on our current civil rights issues. We concluded the first part of our two-part series with directors Jackie Reeves and Lauren Wolk who talk about their film “The Art of Survival (Unafraid)”. The film is a collection of five short animated films that explore what it means to persist in an increasingly precarious world. Each film fuses animation, poetry and music to confront themes of identity, resilience, and resistance. Raw and unfiltered these pieces reflect the struggle to remain creative, truthful and whole while facing personal and societal pressures.  The Provincetown Film Society, Inc. (PFS) is a non-profit year-round organization and home of the Provincetown International Film Festival. PIFF creates a unique international platform for the west and east coast entertainment industry to experience the diversity and community of Provincetown. PFS is also dedicated to showcasing the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors.  For More Info… LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES