CBC- How Sue Johanson, Canada's 'grandma with a pottymouth,' became the country's leading sexpert

What does an old lady like Sue Johanson know about sex toys?

"The answer? Plenty," she tells the audience of Sunday Night Sex Show, a colourful spread of adult products on the desk before her.

The scene will be a familiar one to generations of Canadians who tuned in to hear the renowned sex expert hold forth about the birds, bees and beyond on Sunday nights. But this time, it appears in the new documentary, Sex With Sue, which looks back at the now 92-year-old Toronto-born nurse's career and influence on sex education.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/sex-with-sue-documentary-1.6608843

Toronto Star- ‘Sex With Sue’ documentary will explore impact of sex educator Sue Johanson

For decades, there was a comfort in talking sex with Sue.

Curious people across the world could turn to the call-in series “Sunday Night Sex Show” (or “Talk Sex with Sue Johanson” in the U.S. and abroad) on late-night television for advice on everything from safe sex to oral sex techniques to talking to your partner about your secret interest in kink.

The expert was, of course, Sue Johanson, the public health nurse who made it her goal to educate about subjects many were taught to not talk about.

She was unassuming but confident, relatable but authoritative, like a grandmother who could talk to you about reproduction and demonstrate how best to use a sex toy while enthusiastically encouraging the importance of lubricant.

https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2022/10/09/sex-with-sue-documentary-will-explore-impact-of-sex-educator-sue-johanson.html

Global News Interview-New doc explores life and work of sex educator Sue Johanson

‘Sex With Sue’ is a new documentary profiling iconic Canadian sex educator Sue Johanson. Filmmaker Lisa Rideout and Sue Johanson’s daughter, Jane, talk about what it was like bringing Sue's journey to the screen.

https://globalnews.ca/video/9181075/new-doc-explores-life-and-work-of-sex-educator-sue-johanson-2/

Corus Entertainment Announces Sue Johanson Documentary

W Network spotlights the prolific career of sex educator Sue Johanson in Sex with Sue (1×90), directed by Lisa Rideout. Viewers will be reintroduced to the former W Network personality and see the unexpected and exciting ways her legacy lives on today.

https://www.corusent.com/news/corus-upfront-original-release-2022/

She Does the City Interview- Sex with Sue doc celebrates the legacy of Canadian hero Sue Johanson

Sue Johanson is a Canadian icon. If you grew up in the eighties, nineties, or were a teen in the early 2000s, Sue was likely the one who educated you about sex. Maybe you learned the technical stuff in health class (“when a penis is inserted into the vagina and sperm travels up the fallopian tube…”), but Sue gave Canadians the real deal, like how to give a rim job, choose a cock ring, or ride a dick ‘till you cum. She gave people what they really wanted. 

https://www.shedoesthecity.com/sex-with-sue-doc-celebrates-the-legacy-of-canadian-hero-sue-johanson/

What Night Taught Them- Wins Creators of Colour Incubator Pitch

Every year the Creatives of Colour Incubator concludes with the big pitch in partnership with Tiff, where all participants have the unique opportunity to pitch their projects to a selected jury of industry leaders and professionals. This year’s jury prize winner is Lisa Rideout with her film What Night Taught Them.

https://creatorsofcolour.com/the-big-pitch/

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Celebrity Magazine: Interview with Director

In anticipation of One Leg In, One Leg Out’s screening at the LA Film Festival, Lisa describes what her hopes for the the film are.

“I think sex work is still very much taboo. Even with people I consider progressive, there is this subconscious puritan belief that selling your body is wrong. I hope this film helps illustrate that these women are doing what they have to do to survive and that it is important to create safe spaces for sex workers. I also want it to complicate the understanding of sex workers and choice. Yes, some sex workers chose it as a profession, others don’t. All should be kept safe and those that feel forced into it should be given support to leave it.”

https://justcelebritymag.com/2018/09/12/2260-lisa-rideout-one-leg-in-one-leg-out-interview-documentary/

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Refinery 29 Interview: "I Was A Sex Worker For 10 Years, This Is How I’m Changing Career"

In this shared interview Iman, the subject of One Leg In, One Leg Out reveals why she got in to sex work, the role the film has played in her life and where she sees herself in the next ten years. Lisa talks about what she learned getting to know Iman over two years.

"They really tell me they have no choice. They walk into retail stores or offices and they've applied and they feel the judgement on them and they never get called back for interview," Lisa continues. It's a frustrating reality, which Iman echoes when we chat. "I always wanted to do something to help people like me, for girls like me, because we cannot get jobs the way we are," Iman tells me."

For the full interview visit:

https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/one-leg-in-one-leg-out-documentary

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Growing up Mixed-Race- An Essay by Lisa Rideout

In this article for CBC, Lisa Rideout recounts her own experience growing up mixed- race and why she decided to make a documentary about identity and belonging:

I was the last student to the map. I added my yellow to Britain and Canada easily enough. Then on to India, which my mom had shown me on a map before, then Portugal — my teacher guided my hand; she had been there on vacation.

My last yellow dot stuck to the tip of my index finger as I tried to find Armenia. I couldn’t. My teacher couldn’t. My classmates had no idea. One Scottish-Irish boy watched me, perplexed, before finally asking, “What’s an Armenia?”

I didn’t know.

To read the full article visit: https://www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/blog/a-case-of-too-many-identities-growing-up-mixed-race-meant-i-didnt-know-wher

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Director Spotlight: Breakthrough Film Festival

To compliment her role as a panelist on Breakthrough’s Your Audience Panel, Lisa spoke about her work and what other emerging female filmmakers might learn from her experience in this spotlight.

“Watch films, read books, spend time writing and learning about storytelling. Work with people who are better than you. No one is good at anything right away, keep at it, don’t get discouraged, do the work. Practice, practice, practice, and don’t put all your practice online.”

To read Lisa’s director spotlight visit: http://www.breakthroughsfilmfestival.com/blog/2018/7/5/director-spotlight-lisa-rideout-take-a-walk-on-the-wildside

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Filmmaker Spotlight- Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival

To accompany the premiere of her film at RIIFF, Lisa discusses the challenges and aims of directing One Leg In, One Leg Out.

“I hope the film shows how challenging it can be for transgender women to find “traditional” employment. That is something I heard often from Iman and her friends. And that once you get into the sex industry, if you are from a low-income background, how difficult it can be to leave. I hope this helps alleviate judgement toward sex workers but also illustrates that there needs to be support to help people like Iman transition into a new career path.”

For the full interview visit: https://rifilmfest.blogspot.com/2018/06/riiff-filmmaker-spotlight-series-lisa.html 

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Toronto Outdoor Picture Show Interview

Lisa reveals what inspires her to make films based in Toronto.

“I think the something special is the diversity of this city. There are so many different people, doing so many different things with their lives. I have also found people are quite warm and open, contrary to popular belief, ha. I think I could probably make Toronto-based films for a long time.”

For full interview visit: https://www.topictureshow.com/interview/2018/rideout-dunphy

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She Does the City Interview

Lisa discusses the creative process behind Take a Walk on the Wildside.

“The style of the film materialized from the days I spent observing Paddy in the store. I wanted viewers to be able to see those genuine and important moments between Paddy and her customers. Based on this, I decided that the best approach stylistically would be an observational-fly on the wall documentary. Some of the documentaries that were inspirations were Rich Hill, Above and Below and the short documentary film Hotel 22. They are all beautiful films that tell important stories through a “fly on the wall” lens.”

For the full interview visit: http://www.shedoesthecity.com/hotdocs17-take-a-walk-on-the-wildside-w-director-lisa-rideout

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Indie Activity Interview: Lisa Rideout unlocks incredible documentary One Leg In, One Leg Out

Lisa discusses production on One Leg In, One Leg Out.

“There were 3-5 people on set at all time. Documentary crews are always nimble so it wasn’t much different than other shoots. We were often shooting in tight spaces and there wasn’t room for too many bodies. But also keeping the crew small meant Iman got to know everyone and she was comfortable with them. That was important to me, to keep the environment comfortable and intimate.”

Read the full interview: https://www.indieactivity.com/lisa-rideout-unlocks-incredible-documentary-one-leg-in-one-leg-out/

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Torontoist Interview

Lisa chats goals of her film Take a Walk on the Wildside.

“I don’t think [cross-dressers] have a huge deal of representation in media, or when they are represented, that one person has a certain reason why they’re doing it. And that cannot represent an entire community…..for both Paddy and I, that was important to showcase [individuality] in the film.”

For full interview visit: https://torontoist.com/2017/04/meet-woman-helping-men-walk-wildside/

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