Second Shot @ LFest - episodes 1,2,3

Creator and Producer Jill Bennett brings Second Shot to L-Fest ! 

Saturday morning Uttoxeter racecourse, the summer sun shining brightly, outside the designated screening room, Ladies of all shapes and sizes are congregating. A simple chalk board displaying the reason for the looks of excited expectation painted on the faces of the growing crowd. 

I can hardly believe my eyes, Jill Bennett presents Second Shot at 10:30am. For those that don’t know her Jill is an LA based actress, director and producer she also champions Queer issues both politically and socially, evident in her support of the “It gets better” campaign. She is best known for her role in Dante’s Cove and lead roles in “And then came Lola” and “We have to stop now”. 

To imagine that she would cross the pond and allow us a sneak peak at her new project is almost too good to be true. The doors open and we all file in chatting nervously, “Will she really be here?” Tea, coffee and biscuits are on display. The room has a large cinema screen emblazoned with “Second Shot, E101 E102 E103”. Three full episodes only screened twice before once at the 2013 Dinah Shore in April and once at LA Outfest July 15th just days before she headed to us at L-Fest. 

A full house is hushed as the gold and maroon floor to ceiling curtains begin to wave, “She’s here!” comes the excited squeak form behind my right shoulder. And so she is a tiny casually dressed brunette with deep blue eyes and flawless completion steps out from behind the curtains. You could hear a pin drop. A representative from “SpringOut” welcomes us all and introduces Creator Jill Bennett. 

It’s been said you should never meet your hero’s you’ll only be disappointed, Well I’m here to say that having had the pleasure of meeting Jill Bennett she was all that and a bag of chips. 

Second Shot is comparable to Cheers set around a small town gay bar “Dot’s Hole” .The characters are your every day sort of gay, a misfit family with common interests in varying stages of life tide together by their need for a safe haven a place they can be themselves and be accepted. The first episode starts with a twist Dot has sadly passed away and ownership has been transferred to Kat ex home town hero and self styled outcast. Hilarity ensues. 

We watch all three back to back and afterwards we have a Q&A with the Creator and producer

herself. Jill sits centre stage and fields question like “How can we support the show?” to “How many of the cast are really gay?” and “How much of you is in Kat?” each question is answered genuinely; this is not a sales pitch it’s a meet and greet for the fans, the atmosphere is relaxed even though its 30’ plus in the cinema. 

This screening and the two before are very special because the series has yet to be picked up by Network. We have been let in on a secret, the ground floor and our opinion matters, if we like it our support will insure that this show and its characters are truly brought to life for our own pleasure. As a true snapshot of our world and the issues we face with a healthy helping of humour from a sterling selection of comedians within the cast. 

To my pleasure it is not a show designed with a heavy straight male influence, leads in plunging necklines, impossibly short skirts and lifestyles only hitting the jack pot in Vegas could provided. 

If we want to keep this gem for the ladies by the ladies you can show your support at Second Shot Series on Facebook and follow on twitter @SecondShotShow. 
 
As a parting comment Jill tells us she is here for the duration and not to be shy about saying hello when we see her out and about as she has already agreed to participate in Planet London’s Celesbian twister at the Solo’s zone. She then poses with some fans for photos.

By CC