FEATURES / THE L LIST

anessa Piazza is just as dy- to move ahead: for Piazza, it’s all about it gets very real for Piazza, who is clearly namic, talented, and badass having talent, whether you’re on screen or moved by how much the series has spoken as the women in front of behind the camera. “What’s great about to people. “Whether that’s coming out or the camera on Showcase film and TV is that people from all walks something else, we’ve helped people, and and SyFy’s hit series Lost of life can excel, you don’t have to have a that’s amazing.” GirlV, and frankly I didn’t expect anything cookie-cutter education.” When she starts talking about the less from the show’s executive producer. No one is more enthusiastic about Lost women in the show, it’s obvious that she’s When I caught up with her, she was in the Girl than Piazza. “Every morning I wake thrilled by how talented they all are. Each middle of filming the premiere episode of up and I’m excited to be here—and that’s of them brings something unique to the season five, which is so loaded with action amazing.” While that’s partially due to the show. “It’s an embarrassment of riches,” she that it requires two episodes to tell the Lost Girl team, it’s also about what the says. Surrounded by all that talent, having tale. “It’s been like shooting a feature film,” show has brought to people’s lives, and an amazing team, working on a show with says Piazza. how the small screen’s queerest, sexiest lots of diversity, relatable characters, and a While Piazza clearly loves the job she’s show has “such a strong message of em- high fun factor are all pluses, but for her got, becoming a producer was initially not powerment.” the best part of Lost Girl is that “there is a on her radar. (She majored in history in That message resonates behind the lot of heart in the show.” university.) Fresh out of school, she moved scenes too, where lots of women are in- All that heart, combined with lots of to Toronto, snagged a job in the editorial volved in making the series happen, from action and plenty of heat, keeps us coming department of a magazine, but then the directors to production staff, and where back for more, whether we’re jonesing to fates—or maybe the Faes—intervened. there is a strong LGBT presence. “Having see what’ll happen to Bo and Lauren, or A job opened up at Jay Firestone’s new diversity in front of and behind the camera just curious about whether quirky side- Prodigy Pictures and she was all in, start- is very important to me,” says Piazza. So kick Kenzi will be resurrected. But we will ing at the bottom, working her way up, it’s not surprising that age, sexuality, race, have to wait, because Piazza is not giving jumping into projects feet first. “Some- and religion are non-issues on the show. up any spoilers. times, getting tossed into the fire can be For Piazza, it’s all about the characters, When Piazza talks about Lost Girl’s a great education,” she says. Although and she is really proud that the show has embarrassment of riches, she probably she claims that she “fell into producing,” it “made diversity normal.” isn’t including herself, but she should. turned out to be a perfect match for her, so Of course Piazza has been to a Comic- We have her to thank, at least in part, much so that these days she is partnering Con or two, and like the cast she was for the phenomenon that is the Doc- with Firestone. both surprised and thrilled by the show’s cubus, and frankly I can’t wait to see She’s also a little, or maybe a lot, smit- popularity. While Piazza is every inch what she has in store for us next season. ten with celluloid, especially the potential the high-powered producer, she is also all (showcase.ca/lostgirl) inclusiveness and diversity offered by the heart, and the fans’ stories and shared mo- medium. “I’m really thankful that I work ments really touch her. Fans often tell her LOST GIRL AIRS ON SHOWCASE in an industry where it’s so creative, open, just how much the show has changed their IN CANADA AND SYFY IN THE U.S. LOST GIRL IS PRODUCED BY and progressive.” And where you don’t nec- lives—how it has given them the courage PRODIGY PICTURES essarily need to have gone to film school to be who they want to be. It’s here that

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