A Perfect Passion

If you’re a lover of lesbian web series it’s a safe bet that you’ve already discovered the charms of Bridget McManus, but for those of you who are only just venturing out into the wonderful world of internet entertainment you are in for a treat. A frequent contributor to AfterEllen, Bridget recently starred in two tellofilms productions: Cowgirl Up and McManusLand, and was the more than memorable Rhonda in 3Way.

Bridget kindly took time out to answer some questions about her web series, her future projects and her dog, Taffy.

P.P. It’s taken the networks an age to wake up to the idea that on-line entertainment isn’t the sole property of the adult film industry, but you seem to have grasped the possibilities very early on. What was it that first appealed to you about web based productions?

B.M. The do-it-yourself mentality. Artists no longer have to audition or get a project greenlit by a studio to create their own content. It frustrates me when the same people work constantly while thousands of brilliant artists have to struggle to get their passion pieces to the masses. There is so much more diversity on the web and I really appreciate that.

P.P. Interviewer, vlogger, stand up comedienne, actor, writer and producer… your resume is pretty damn impressive, but if you were forced to choose, is there one aspect that is closer to your heart than the others?

B.M. Honestly, the thing I love the most is creating ridiculous music videos like “Dry Hump,” “Shark Week,” “Haters Don’t Hate” and the upcoming “Put Your Salty Green Nuts in my Mouth,” my ode to shelled pistachios. But since I write, act and produce those videos, I guess I just like doing it all. Whenever I make myself laugh I know I’m on the right track.

I’ve also recently started painting again and I’m loving it. I’m currently working on a series of 1970s female rock icons, and a variety of wild animals. I’m aiming to have a show at a gallery in the near future. Wanna come?

P.P. Your character in Cowgirl Up is ultra competitive and prides herself on her wrangling skills, but would you make a good cowgirl or would Babe trade you in for the first Calamity Jane to cross her path?

B.M. Um, that’s tough. I don’t particularly like “roughing” it in nature or camping, but I’m pretty resourceful. I could probably survive a few days in the wild by myself but I’d most likely cry the whole time. As far as being competitive, I’m really only competitive with myself. I have way too many thoughts in my own head to worry about what someone else is thinking or how well they are going to perform at something.

Cowgirl Up Teaser

P.P. Cowgirl Up had an unusually large cast for a web series; were there any advantages or disadvantages to working with such a large group, especially considering the time constraints that most web series have to contend with?

B.M. I thought it was awesome! As an actor, I really benefited from all the energy from the cast and crew. We really worked well as a team, so if someone was shooting in the bunk house and they needed their chaps back at base camp, the actors would take it upon themselves to jump in the car and bring it over and then stay and watch the scene. Now, if I was producing Cowgirl Up and had to wrangle that many people for lunch, I would probably have a different answer.

P.P. How alike are you and your character in McManusLand? Should we be worried?

B.M. Hahaha! People ask me that question more than anything else. McManusland-Bridget is an extremely heighten version of myself. She has a ruthlessness and obliviousness that real-life Bridget does not have. Wow, did I just refer to myself in the third person? Actually, I think I just described myself in the third and fourth person. You definitely shouldn’t be scared of me because I’m a Libra and a middle child, so I constantly want to take care of other people and make sure they are happy at all times. But most importantly, I have no problem apologizing if I hurt someone’s feelings or do something that, in retrospect, I shouldn’t have. McManusLand-Bridget isn’t one to say she’s sorry and she doesn’t seem to care if the pursuit of her dreams causes casualties.

McManusLand Teaser

P.P. Getting to work with family and friends sounds like fun, but are there any drawbacks to knowing your co-stars and crew that well? Have other members of your family or friends sent in requests to play their alternative selves in the much hoped for McManusLand season two?

B.M. Actually, no. I love it. When I’m working with my family and friends it makes the project so much easier. I really like to play around and get the cast and crew’s opinions, and I think that mix makes a much better end result. When everyone’s voice is accounted for, then people tend to work at their best because they actually care about what they are doing. But I do have a problem shutting off. I could shoot McManusland all day and night, and because the production is in my home I tend to blur the lines between work life and home life because my work life is comprised of my home life.

P.P. I must ask the question that’s been on every McManusLand viewer’s lips since episode four, will Taffy be getting her own show? (she is so cute!)

B.M. Well, you’ll have to watch season two to find out. Taffy and Karman’s lives really transform in more ways then you might expect in the next few episodes. Just thinking about Taffy’s acting career makes me smile.

P.P. You’ve partnered with tellofilms on a couple of projects now; have you found that airing programs under the tello umbrella has helped to generate interest and awareness of individual projects? What more do you think can be done to lure TV audiences away from the tube and towards their monitors?

B.M. Tellofilms has been a joy to work with. I would do anything for/with them. Youtube is a one-stop shop for every kind of video in the world and it’s free. Free content is always going to trump paid content at first glance but what Tello is creating is something that’s not already out there. The main thing we need to do is get the word out. We need to market their shows in any way we can; online, live events, word of mouth something to create a stir and make non-viewers become aware of the terrific work that they are doing.

P.P. Do you have any new shows in the pipeline that we should be looking out for? Any chance of a season two for either Cowgirl Up or McManusLand?

B.M. Yes, I have a few projects in the works. I’m teaming up with comedian Jackie Monahan for a series about lesbian conjoined twin rappers and my production company, baJoint Productions, is doing the final edit on my comedy documentary “Chaos and Cleavage” which is due out in the spring. As for the ranch, I would definitely be game for a season two of Cowgirl Up, although I would prefer fake guns this time. And, of course McManusland is coming back for a season two with amazing guest stars and a lot more insanity.