About ten years ago, the gaúcha Danielle Mordini is the editor of the lesbian website Labris. In the wake of the website, other projects emerged. The main one was Sappho em Cena, a lesbian-themed video show that took place in Florianópolis monthly over two years.
Currently, she has dedicated herself to other projects, such as producing and directing the Sappho em Cena Web TV project, an online and entirely Brazilian program that aims to discuss issues related to Sapphic daily life, as well as disseminating cultural and entertainment tips.
The program will also feature episodes of the documentary “Speaking of Women and Loves” in its editions. Filmed in Porto Alegre and Florianópolis, this documentary tells a little about the experiences of women who love women when it comes to sex, relationships, marriages and desire. Currently, Sappho em Cena Web TV can be watched on the website labris.org – or directly at YouTube.
Below, check out the interview that Dykerama.com carried out with the person responsible for this project, Danielle Mordini.
Dykerama – When did the project start and why?
Danielle - The Sappho em Cena project began as a local cinema exhibition in Florianópolis. The aim of the project was to promote lesbian visibility through arts and culture. After two years of the show, with a monthly audience of approximately 80 women, the event organizers decided to change course a little and try to reach a greater number of women. There was also a need to give a voice to the target audience in order to promote more discussion and reflection on everyday topics. Then the idea of a Web TV program was born.
Dykerama – Who is involved in it?
Danielle - The direction and conception is by Danielle Mordini. Each episode of the program has different producers and staff.
Dykerama – What can people find on Sappho on the Web TV scene?
Danielle - People will be able to find cultural and entertainment tips and chats on sapphic daily topics. In addition, they will be able to watch episodes of the documentary “Talking about Women and Love”, which brings together the views of several women who love women about love, relationships, jealousy, sex, desire and other facets of the lesbian reality.
Dykerama – Why did you choose this name?
Danielle - Sappho was a Greek poet, inhabitant of the Island of Lesbos (do you understand the connection?), who defended literacy and formal education for women at a time when they did not have the right to citizenship. When the film exhibition was conceived, the name Sappho referred to the purposes of the event. Since the TV show has similar goals, the name seemed appropriate.
Dykerama – Why did you choose to use the internet for transmission?
Danielle - The internet is cheap and democratic. The program wants to reach as many women as possible and the internet is the ideal way to do this.
Dykerama – Who is the program’s target audience?
Danielle - All lesbians who enjoy culture, entertainment and who want to discuss and participate in debates about the topics covered by the program.
Dykerama – What is the schedule and frequency of Sappho em Cena?
Danielle - We don't have a fixed grid. I think you can expect the next episode in about 20 days. The only fixed frame in the program is the documentary Speaking of Women and Loves.
Dykerama – Is this the first TV initiative for lesbians on the Brazilian internet?
Danielle – As far as we know, yes. The initiative is innovative and pioneering.
Dykerama – The content is professional in nature. How do you record and edit the show? Is everything homemade or do you maintain partnerships?
Danielle - The program has a professional team. The director has 5 years of work in television news, advertising and fiction films. Professional quality is achieved through concern with the technical aspect of the program and the director's experience in this area.
Dykerama – Do you intend to increase the visibility of the program? In what way? Television?
Danielle - We don't think about television. Not for now, at least. The internet serves the purposes of the program very well.
Dykerama – What are your plans for the future of the program?
Danielle - We can currently say that the program will exist for another 5 editions. What will happen from there is still a mystery. We have the desire to continue, but whether we will have the opportunity, the energy and the public is something that only time can tell. One day at a time is our team's motto.
