Q-Me Con brings together LGBT actors, writers, directors, producers and execs for a weekend of networking at the Village.

By Christopher Cappiello

Whether you are an experienced filmmaker, an aspiring screenwriter, an actor considering the “lavender ceiling” or a recent grad pondering a career in media content creation, the upcoming Q-Me Con offers an excellent opportunity to meet, network with and learn from other LGBT professionals working at all levels of television and film. The weekend-long event, scheduled for April 13-15 at the Gay & Lesbian Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza, includes 15 seminars with panels of experts who will address such topics as pitching, financing, reality television and issues related to being out in the industry.

Q-Me Con (short for “Queer Media and Entertainment Conference”) was conceived and organized by John Baez and Jennifer Howd of the Brooklyn-based queer media and entertainment group Punkmouse. “We work in a variety of capacities with a variety of different brands, both queer and mainstream,” Baez explains about the company’s work, “and help them figure out ways to address, include and represent the LGBT community in their initiatives, whether it’s content development or marketing initiatives.” As they developed their company, Baez and Howd saw a need for a forum for LGBT writers, producers, filmmakers and other media professionals and aspirants to come together and share knowledge, resources and connections. Following the success of last year’s inaugural Q-Me Con in New York, the partners decided to bring their idea to Los Angeles, with here! Networks serving as a presenting sponsor.

“Last year it was really targeted at a do-it-yourself sensibility,” Baez explains. “I think that in Los Angeles we’ve opened it up and we’ve made it a little more industry-[related], and we’ve allowed for the DIY sensibility, but we’ve also added panels that are addressing advertising—we did a tie-in with Commercial Closet—and we’re working with GLAAD on a representations panel,” he says. “I think L.A.’s a little bit of a different market and we wanted to cater to all the different types of engagement with entertainment out there.” Moving the event to L.A., he explains, “allowed us to tap into all the L.A.-based resources and celebrities.”

Indeed, the panels are filled with high-profile names from television, film and advertising. In addition to an array of familiar actors—including the ubiquitous Chad Allen (here!’s Donald Strachey Mysteries); Queer as Folk’s Robert Gant; and Dante’s Cove cast members Charlie David, Gabriel Romero and Michelle Wolff—the panels feature television and film executives, advertising and marketing experts and writers and filmmakers, including Rose Troche, director of Go Fish.

“Rose Troche is like a legendary queer cinema auteur,” Baez says, “and she has been a big, staunch supporter of ours. She’s on our board of advisors, she’s been very instrumental in helping us get a lot of people on board, especially from the women’s media-making community. Obviously, Go Fish is a landmark in queer cinema, and her involvement is wonderful.”

Howd also shares that they recently finalized plans for Jon Robin Baitz to participate. In addition to being a popular playwright (Substance of Fire, Three Hotels), Baitz is also writer and executive producer of the ABC hit Brothers & Sisters (not to mention longtime partner of Joe Mantello, one of Broadway’s busiest directors). “I’m really excited about having him,” Howd says.

A Sunday afternoon panel will examine the role played by gay and lesbian participants in television reality shows, moderated by Carey Sherell of Apprentice: Los Angeles. “With the start of MTV’s Real World, Road Rules and shows like Project Runway, a queer character is going to be on almost every type of reality show,” Baez says. “It says a lot about integration, but it also says a lot about issues like, is that a stereotype or a representation of the community? I think it will be a really interesting panel.”

How did the duo settle on the Center’s Village as the location for Q-Me Con? “John and I went out to Los Angeles in the late summer of last year to look at a variety of spaces,” Howd explains. “And the Village really offered an everything-in-one package. They have the wonderful Renberg Theatre [for seminars]; it’s gorgeous. They have the black box theater. And the courtyard is wonderful, because we do this thing called the Q-Me Con Lounge where we pour cocktails and play music and people can sit and congregate between seminars. The [Village] space is really perfect and conducive to creating exactly what we wanted.”

Indeed, the Q-Me Con Lounge will feature an open bar serving Pink Vodka cocktails throughout the weekend. The organizers hope that the lounge will be the site of much spontaneous networking, as LGBT professionals from all parts of the film and television industries mingle. “What we’re doing with Q-Me Con is trying to kind of collapse those walls and say, ‘Hey, come to a space where you can actually meet the head of programming for Logo.’ Or, ‘Come to Q-Me Con and you can end up getting a job as a cinematographer or a writer on a project,’” Baez says. “We’ve had a lot of deals that got structured out of Q-Me Con last year because people were interfacing and kind of getting access in a different way. Our goal is to have a fun event that results in a lot of people getting jobs.”

If the seminars and lounge don’t do the trick, there are a host of parties scheduled around the weekend as well. The opening night party, sponsored by Here! Networks, will be at the rooftop pool deck at the Sofitel, across from the Beverly Center. The closing night party is in the courtyard at the Village, sponsored by Out in Television and Film.

Howd sums the weekend up: “It’s really an amazing networking opportunity. You can get a VIP, all-access pass, which gives you access to every single panel, all the parties and the Q-Me Con Lounge, or you can enter with an individual ticket for $35 and to go one seminar, but then you’ve got the option of staying all day in the networking lounge. So there’s no excuse not to be there if you’re gay!”

Q-Me Con takes place April 13-15, with seminars and the Q-Me Lounge at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place. Individual seminars are $35 and a $225 VIP pass allows access to all 15 seminars and all parties.

To register, visit www.qmecon.com, where IN Los Angeles readers can receive a $10 discount on each seminar or a $26 discount on VIP passes by using the special promo code INLA.

Q-Me Con Schedule

Friday, April 13, 2007

7-10 p.m.
Here! Networks Presents
The Official Q-Me Con (L.A.) 2007
Opening Night Party
Location: Sofitel L.A. Hotel,
8555 Beverly Blvd., L.A.
This event is also sponsored by Pink Vodka, Stirrings and Ginch Gonch.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

9 a.m.
Registration Opens
Location: Village Courtyard
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., L.A.

10-10:15 a.m.
Keynote Address
Location: Renberg Theatre

10:30-11:45 a.m.
“Get it Made, Get it Bought, Get It Seen: Pitching and Selling Queer
Content to Media Outlets”
Location: Renberg Theatre

“The Real Deal: The Current State of Queer Documentary and Reality Programming “
Location: Davidson/Valentini Theatre

12-1:15 p.m.
“Creating Cross-Over Hits: Making Mainstream Media with a Queer Twist“
Location: Renberg Theatre

“New Queer Mafia: The Power of Networking & The Art of Building Creative Teams“
Location: Davidson/Valentini Theatre

1:15-2:15 p.m.
Lunch
Location: Village Courtyard

2:15-3:30 p.m.
“The Future of Features: Making and Selling Long-Form LGBTQ Content”
Location: Renberg Theatre

“The Business of Buzz: Marketing, Promoting and Publicizing Your LGBTQ Media”
Location: Davidson/Valentini Theatre

3:45-5 p.m.
“Commercial Closet Presents: How We See Ourselves: Gay Advertising in 2007
Location: Renberg Theatre

“From Comic Books to Pitching Scripts: Insider Tips on Creating and Selling Queer Written Work”
Location: Davidson/Valentini Theatre

5-6 p.m.
Commercial Closet Cocktail Reception
Location: Village Courtyard

9 p.m.-2 a.m.
DIVA Presents I-CON: The Official Q-Me Con (L.A.) 2007 and GLAAD After-Party
Location: i candy lounge, 7929 Santa Monica Blvd., W. Hlywd., www.icandylounge.com

Sunday, April 15, 2007

9 a.m.
Registration Opens
Location: Village Courtyard, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza,
1125 N. McCadden Pl., L.A.

10-10:15 a.m.
Keynote Address

10:30-11:45 a.m.
“OUT is the new IN: Being Out in Entertainment, Music & Media”
Location: Renberg Theatre

“Celluloid Sisters: Why Queer Women Need to Make More Movies”
Location: Davidson/Valentini Theatre

12-1:15 p.m.
“A New Order: Changes and Opportunities for Queer Content in Mainstream and Alternative Distribution”
Location: Renberg Theatre

“Show Me the Money: Funding Your Queer Inclusive Content”
Location: Davidson/Valentini Theatre

1:15-2:15 p.m.
Lunch
Location: Village Courtyard

2:15-3:30 p.m.
Jasoncurious.com Presents “Profits of Pleasure: Gay Men, Porn and Sex”
Location: Renberg Theatre

Babeland Presents “Living in Skin: Queer Women, Sex and the Media”
Location: Davidson/Valentini Theatre

3:45-5 p.m.
“Private Dicks and Sexy Tricks: The Men of here! Speak Out”
Location: Renberg Theatre

4-5 p.m.
Go Magazine Presents “The Official Q-Me Con (LA) 2007 Ladies Tea”
Location: Village Courtyard

5-6 p.m.
Out in Television and Film and IN Magazine Present The Official Q-Me Con 2007 Closing Night Cocktail Party.
Bring a copy of IN Los Angeles magazine and get in for free!
Location: Village Courtyard