Butch Jamie

Butch Jamie (2007) was written and directed by Michelle Ehlen, who also starred in the film. (Ms. Ehlen is a very talented woman.)

This movie--set in Hollywood, but shot mostly in Albany, NY--is about a butch lesbian (Jamie) who wants to find work as an actor in Hollywood. Unfortunately, when she answers casting calls as a femme woman, she gets nowhere. However, when she goes as "herself," she's offered work--in a man's role. The rest of the plot revolves around the results of Jamie's acceptance of this role. The director and producer of the film-within-a-film know she's a woman, and, of course, we know it, but no one on the set knows it.

Michelle Ehlen makes us believe in Jamie as a person, and she's a good enough actor to make us believe in "Male Jamie" as well. Tiffany Anne Carrin plays the beautiful young member of the film crew who's attracted to Male Jamie, and Olivia Nix does a great job as Nola, Jamie's roommate. Nola's goal in life is to make a star of Howard, her cat. (Howard is portrayed by Huey. Butch Jamie was his first important role. Huey isn't listed in the IMDb credits, but he's credited on screen. In any event, he does a great job.)

This movie will work on DVD. We were fortunate to see it as part of ImageOut--the Rochester NY Lesbian and Gay Film & Video Festival.