So So Gay
Lesbians, hold onto your heart. I Hate Tommy Finch, developed and produced by Christin Mell, written by Julie Keck and Jessica King, will have you laughing and tearing up in equal measure.
Following the lives of two young girls from age eight to thirty-five, I Hate Tommy Finch (IHTF for short) was first presented as a play in front of sold-out audiences in Chicago in 2011. The play was then revisited and turned into a web series.
The first episode opens with Stephanie, played by Nicole Pacent (Anyone But Me), and Alyssa, played by Shannan Leigh Reeve (Cowgirl Up), age eight, stuck outside the principle’s office. Stephanie is feeling nauseous. Alyssa, in trouble for hitting Tommy Finch, offers to rub Stephanie’s back to make her feel better. And here begins their life-long relationship. To go into details about the plot would take away from the intimacy and stunning writing.
I Hate Tommy Finch is essentially minimalist in set and still feels like a play. This isn’t a bad thing. If anything, having to only focus on a pair of strong performances, under the direction of Mell and King, of a touching and realistic script, adds to a very unique experience. Each episode moves through important moments in the girls’ lives and the impact these have on their relationship.
Supported by a fantastic soundtrack that includes music from Katie Todd (her album Mumbled Speech is available now), Sami Grisafe and Shannon Nicole (their album will be available later this year), I Hate Tommy Finch is fresh in its approach and moving in its delivery. This is a beautifully told story of a female relationship.
While we continue to await good content on the big screen, we can for now breathe a sigh of relief – the internet could well be the last frontier of viable creativity for lesbian-lead series and films.
Nicole Pacent and Shannan Leigh Reeve
To watch the complete series of I Hate Tommy Finch, visit Tellofilms.com and sign up to their premium content page. Episodes 1 and 2 are available now, the next three will be available over the course of the next weeks.
Follow the cast and creators on Twitter: @NicolePacent @ShannLeighReeve @KingIsAFink @TelloFilms #IHTF
