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1. Pioneering and true to life
Profile: Guinevere Turner
This lesbian icon made her major screenwriting and acting debut in the 1994 lesbian cult film, "Go Fish". She began writing in 2004 for the hit drama The L Word and has also contributed to countless other screenplays, including "American Psycho" and "Bettie Page".
Guinevere Turner
"Go Fish", the 1994 American indie film was both historic and pioneering. At the time that it was made, lesbian films certainly were not flourishing and, what's more, an overwhelming majority ended in tragedy, were hard to relate to, and rarely offered even a hint of comedic insight. And then, a young lesbian couple gave the world "Go Fish" - a movie made by lesbians for lesbians and most noted for its fresh, insider perspective.
Go Fish's already low budget actually bottomed out partway through the filming forcing a break in its production. However, despite a modicum of ensuing drama - such as the breakup of the couple behind it - the film made it into the world just two years later. Standing proudly as one of the world's precious few realistic portrayals of the everyday lives of lesbians, the film was lavished with the enamored attention and applause of lesbians everywhere.
Since then, director Rose Troche and screenwriter/actress Guinevere Turner have become central figures within lesbian culture. Guinevere, who continues to make waves in lesbian film, has rightfully gained her own standing as a very conspicuous and equally glamorous film and TV icon.
After "Go Fish", Rose and Guinevere went their separate ways while continuing to shape art and film in their own independent ways and genres. Yet, 10 years later, fate had them working together once again on The L Word, the unprecedented hit lesbian TV drama. Rose was working behind the camera as director, while Guinevere was focused on the script. Once more, the two of them instigated historic change within lesbian culture through the production of another landmark piece.
"Go Fish", a girl-meets-girl story, lends a humorous voice to the doubts and confusions felt by many lesbians of the time. The film also sends a message to every woman - to not give up on love: "Don't think about it every second, but just don't let yourself forget. The girl is out there".
The cast features friends rather than the typical Hollywood-esque models often found in movies, meaning that - right down to the girls - the film delivers with a real dyke edge. Guinevere comments with irony, "When it comes to each of these two works, on the one hand everyone insisted that the women from 'Go Fish' were too ugly, and now 10 years later they say the women in The L Word are just too good-looking (laughs)". TW speaks with Guinevere about her own experiences on the set of this epic film.
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