Michelle Paradise
Encyclopedia
Michelle Paradise is an American actress, writer and producer and lesbian, best known for the short film The Ten Rules and the television series Exes and Ohs
.
Paradise wrote, produced and starred in the short film The Ten Rules: The Lesbian Survival Guide, which debuted in 2002 and subsequently played at gay and lesbian film festivals, both in the United States and in Europe (specifically Copenhagen
, Paris
and Reykjavík
). The film, which focused on a group of lesbian friends in Los Angeles, won awards at the Boulder Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Verzaubert International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Austin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
.
After the success of The Ten Rules, Paradise developed the themes of the film into a television series for Logo
, Exes and Ohs
. Paradise writes, produces and stars in the series, debuted on October 8, 2007. Unusually, she developed, produced and sold Exes and Ohs without an agent
.
Paradise has also appeared in the film Heart of the Beholder
and the television series George Lopez
and Rodney
. On stage, she has performed improv comedy
with the Groundlings
, Second City
and the Gay Mafia
, and has played lead roles at the Bitter Truth Theater, Theatre Rhinoceros
, the Berkman Theater and the Little Theater Group.
Paradise was born in San Diego. She has two bachelor's degree
s (in English and French) from Brigham Young University
and a master's degree
in comparative literature
from San Francisco State University
.While Paradise was at BYU she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "I was Mormon for about seven years and pretty much left the church after graduation ... all for reasons that are pretty personal." In 2007, POWER UP
named Paradise one of its "10 Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz".
Michelle also appeared in Gregory Hutton's award-winning short film "Black Road", released in 2002.
Exes and Ohs
Exes & Ohs is an American and Canadian cable TV series that was launched on Logo on October 8, 2007, and Showcase in Canada. The show centres around the dating life of Jennifer , a lesbian documentary filmmaker with a vivid fantasy life and a floundering career. Jennifer is looking for Ms...
.
Paradise wrote, produced and starred in the short film The Ten Rules: The Lesbian Survival Guide, which debuted in 2002 and subsequently played at gay and lesbian film festivals, both in the United States and in Europe (specifically Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
). The film, which focused on a group of lesbian friends in Los Angeles, won awards at the Boulder Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Verzaubert International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Austin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
The Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by TLA Entertainment Group in 1995. The event is the third largest of its kind in the US, and the largest on the East Coast....
.
After the success of The Ten Rules, Paradise developed the themes of the film into a television series for Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
, Exes and Ohs
Exes and Ohs
Exes & Ohs is an American and Canadian cable TV series that was launched on Logo on October 8, 2007, and Showcase in Canada. The show centres around the dating life of Jennifer , a lesbian documentary filmmaker with a vivid fantasy life and a floundering career. Jennifer is looking for Ms...
. Paradise writes, produces and stars in the series, debuted on October 8, 2007. Unusually, she developed, produced and sold Exes and Ohs without an agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
.
Paradise has also appeared in the film Heart of the Beholder
Heart of the Beholder
Heart of the Beholder is a 2005 drama film that was written and directed by Ken Tipton. It is based on Tipton's own experience as the owner of a chain of videocassette rental stores in the 1980s. Tipton and his family had opened the first videocassette rental stores in St. Louis in 1980...
and the television series George Lopez
George Lopez (TV series)
"The George Lopez Show" redirects here. For the late-night program hosted by the same comedian, see Lopez Tonight.George Lopez is an American sitcom starring comedian George Lopez...
and Rodney
Rodney (TV series)
Rodney is an American television sitcom that was shown on ABC from September 21, 2004, to June 6, 2006. Ric Swartzlander was the creator and executive producer of the comedy series...
. On stage, she has performed improv comedy
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
with the Groundlings
The Groundlings
The Groundlings are an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes...
, Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
and the Gay Mafia
Gay Mafia
The Gay Mafia or Velvet Mafia is a term that is pejorative when used to describe the amalgamation of gay rights groups in politics and the media. The "Gay Mafia" and "Velvet Mafia" are typically associated with the upper echelons of the fashion and entertainment industries, and the terms are also...
, and has played lead roles at the Bitter Truth Theater, Theatre Rhinoceros
Theatre Rhinoceros
Theatre Rhinoceros or Theatre Rhino is a gay and lesbian theatre based in San Francisco. It was founded in the spring of 1977 by Lanny Baugniet and his partner Allan B. Estes, Jr....
, the Berkman Theater and the Little Theater Group.
Paradise was born in San Diego. She has two bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
s (in English and French) from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in comparative literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
from San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
.While Paradise was at BYU she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "I was Mormon for about seven years and pretty much left the church after graduation ... all for reasons that are pretty personal." In 2007, POWER UP
Power Up
POWER UP is an American non-profit organization and film production company with the stated mission "to promote the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment, the arts, and all forms of media". It was founded in 2000 by film producers Stacy Codikow and Amy Shomer...
named Paradise one of its "10 Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz".
Michelle also appeared in Gregory Hutton's award-winning short film "Black Road", released in 2002.
External links
- Official website
- Exes and Ohs blog written by Paradise
- Michelle Paradise en Lesbicanarias
- Michelle Paradise interviewed for VelvetparkVelvetparkVelvetpark - Dyke Culture in Bloom, is a lesbian arts and culture site that regularly features music, literature, theater, fine arts, film, television, and social activism as it impacts queer culture...
magazine