LOS ANGELES – Award-winning out writer/director, Angela Robinson, who’s written and produced the upcoming Girltrash: All Night Long as presented by Power Up is severing all formal ties with the non-profit film company over creative differences and professional, moral and ethical issues.
Robinson, one of the executive producers of HBO’s True Blood and a co-executive producer of HBO’s Hung and Showtime’s The L Word – also known for directing the films D.E.B.S. and Herbie: Fully Loaded, has released an official statement withdrawing any and all endorsements, affiliations and support of Girltrash: All Night Long as presented by Power Up.
Robinson’s refusal to have her name associated with the Power Up version of the film publicly casts light on a behind-the-scenes dispute between the acclaimed filmmaker and Stacy Codikow (founder and executive director), which has been smoldering in recent months.
Since its inception in 2000,Power Up, a non-profit film production company and educational organization for women and the GLBTQ community, has through the years earned praise and name recognition for producing and financing LGBT films and conducting educational programs through its filmmaking mentorships and seminars.
Adhering to its ethos and professional endeavors, Robinson initially partnered with the non-profit company to produce the prequel to her hugely popular web-series Girltrash, which she originally created and produced. Girltrash: All Night Long stars Gabrielle Christian (South of Nowhere), Michelle Lombardo (Quarterlife), Mandy Musgrave (South of Nowhere), Lisa Rieffel (lead singer of Killola), Rose Rollins (L Word), Kate French (One Tree Hill) and Clementine Ford (L Word). However, Robinson’s partnership with Power Up and overall experience in the course of making and producing the film did not live up to the filmmaker’s understanding of Power Up’s advertised standards.
Robinson’s decision to speak out on the issue comes on the heels of Power Up’s current announcement of the (unauthorized) private screening in Palm Springs scheduled for today, and the press release publicizing the upcoming Dec. 15 DVD release of the film through Power Up.
Angela Robinson released the following official statement:
Girltrash! is a project close to my heart.
I was trying to find a way to make affordable, quality lesbian entertainment and develop a brand that would encompass web series, movies, television, graphic novels and stage musicals. To this end, after first making a web series and a penning a graphic novel, I produced Girltrash: All Night Long with Stacy Codikow.
I love the movie and each and every person that tirelessly worked on this project – the crew and mentees that donated their time and energy for free or for cut rates, the incredible musicians, Lisa Rieffel and Johnny Dunn, who wrote fantastic songs, the awesome actors who worked all night long for months on end, Luke Tierney, the composer and Chris Hill, the editor, and of course, Alex Kondracke, the amazing director. I am extremely proud of the work that was done.
But Power Up is presenting a version of the film that I have not seen, that is unfinished and that has not been creatively approved by me and as a result, I do not support nor validate any screenings or commercial sales of Girltrash: All Night Long at this time.
Working with Stacy Codikow and Power Up has been, without a doubt, the worst experience of my career. Because Stacy has been so horrible I will never again be involved in any project in which Stacy Codikow or Power Up is involved.
