EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: TRUE BLOOD's Carrie Preston On Being a Hyphenate and Directing-Producing 'That's What She Said'

TRUE BLOOD and THE GOOD WIFE star Carrie Preston
directed and produced the film That's What She Said,
out October 19 - Photo: Josh Williams

Georgia native Carrie Preston is a familiar face to television, film and theater audiences.  The multi-talented actress-director-producer stars in TRUE BLOOD, is returning to THE GOOD WIFE this season, and guesting on PERSON OF INTEREST.  She also has multiple films in the works where she will lend her acting talents.  Her latest project, the new film That's What She Said, finds her working behind the scenes serving as a producer and director.

That's What She Said tells the story of Bebe (LIPSTICK JUNGLE's Marcia DeBonis) and DeeDee (Daytime Emmy winner Anne Heche), best friends with different relationship problems, who embark on a New York City misadventure with their new acquaintance, Clementine (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT's Alia Shawkat).  We Love Soaps caught up with Preston this week to talk about the film, which hits theaters in New York and Los Angeles and on demand platforms on October 19.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Our mutual friend, Julie Ann Emery, let me know about the film and introduced us.  That woman can do it all!
CARRIE PRESTON:  I feel like I've found my kindred spirit.  We were sort of assigned as friends by Marcia DeBonis, who plays one of the leads in the film.  Marcia has been saying to me, "you have to be friends with Julie Ann."  And saying the same thing to Julie Ann.  Finally, Marcia started this group, we call ourselves "The Hyphenates," seven women who wear different hats like writer-director or actor-casting director.  It's like we were cast by Marcia to be women supporting women in the industry.  We are all rallying behind each other's projects.  It has turned out to be an extraordinary group of women.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: The trailer for That's What She Said looks great! I've been a fan of Anne Heche since she started on ANOTHER WORLD when I was 17 years old. The part where she's brushing her teeth while smoking was hysterical. That scenario never even occurred to me before.

TOP FIVE: Today's Hottest Indie Projects & How to Help PRETTY, HUSTLING, DRIFTER, DAGMAR & FUMBLING

THEY'RE WAITING: The cast of PRETTY needs your help on $5 Friday!

"We would love to give you another season. But the truth is: another season costs money."

Thus proclaims Indie Soap guru (and Indie Soap Award winner) Steve Silverman, "The PRETTY Guy," who is officially campaigning to fund another season of Indie Soap Award darling PRETTY. First, let us say--Hooray for more PRETTY! For awhile there, we had feared the worst.

But also--Steve may be PRETTY, but he's also pretty smart.  What he says is all too true. Ultimately, it's up to all of us to ante-up if we want more of our favorite shows.

INDIE SOAP BEAT: Julie Ann Emery Talks 'Drifter' Dream Team; Sci-Fi With A Love Story!

On the latest episode of INDIE SOAP BEAT, actress/writer/producer Julie Ann Emery (THEN WE GOT HELP!, Hitch, LINE OF FIRE, SUITS) fills us in on all the details of her latest project, DRIFTER, a 30-minute TV pilot.

"There's an apathetic slacker guy who is on a space ship by himself on a supply mission to Mars," Emery explains. "To alleviate boredom and to give himself something to do, he teaches the computer to let him virtually enter the world of his favorite TV show. Where I really got hooked is the TV show is like a half-hour romantic comedy. He falls in love with the leading lady (played by Emery)."