At LELO, we may treat sex like a serious business, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the humorous side of all things sex-related. We had the great pleasure of speaking with Maxie Solters, creator, producer and star of CLIMAX!
This hilarious new web series follows sex therapist, Dr. Sarah Dickmann as she uses her trusty “pulsating methods” to treat a host of larger-than-life patients!
Volonté: Can you briefly describe your role as Sarah Dickmann and what CLIMAX! is about?
Maxie Solters: CLIMAX! The Series, follows sex therapist, Sarah Dickmann, as she opens her own practice and attracts a gaggle of crazy clients. Through her pulsating methods, mostly involving vibrators, Sarah restores and enhances her clientele’s sexual energy in this bare all, provocative, hilarious, and seductive new web series.
V:How did you come up with this idea, and how did you prepare for your role?
MS: I created the series based on some ridiculous conversations I’ve had about sex. I began to notice how surprised people were that I spoke so openly and honestly about sex without any filter that society tends to put upon us.
My comfort level with these topics escalated when I started working with V-Day International in 2008, producing and performing in The Vagina Monologues on an annual basis to raise awareness and funds to stop violence against women and girls. I ran the campaign for two years at the University of Southern California and put on a special event featuring Dr. Denis Mukwege of the Democratic Republic of Congo with more than 1,000 people in attendance.
After graduating, I started my own campaign, V-Day Studio City. This year The Vagina Monologues will be presented on March 11th and 12th at The Federal Bar in North Hollywood CA.
Audience members constantly thank me for making them feel at ease enough to speak up, whether it be about a positive or negative sexual experience.
My goal with the series is to continue my mission of bringing sex to the forefront in a positive, fun, supportive light, especially with strong female characters like Sarah.
When women come off as “sexual,” sometimes they are referred to in an adverse light. I hope to begin a dialogue so people know there is no shame in owning your sexuality. These subjects are so personal and I hope everyone will be empowered to be true to themselves, sexually and otherwise.
Since the show is a comedy, I feel we can reach a larger audience by focusing on the laughter rather than the “taboo.” I hope that eventually everyone can be as comfortable saying vagina, penis, vibrator etc. as they are talking about what they ate for breakfast. Plus viewers can learn valuable sex tips along the way! Not to mention a special offer from Adam & Eve that will be available by watching CLIMAX!.
V: Has the role bled over into your real life?
MS: Yes! I’ve become the go to non-licensed sex therapist for all my friends. Just the other day, one of my girlfriends texted me to ask about a good non-toxic lube. Another wanted tips on how to spice up her bedroom life and reach orgasm consistently. I’ve given demonstrations of some of my favorite positions that are a little less standard using pens, silverware, or other household items. Whatever works, right?!
V: Do you have any advice for anyone who is curious about starting their own similar project?
MS: I’ve been acting for as long as I can remember, putting on full staged productions in my living room from an early age. In the past few years, I’ve had a mental shift about what serves me creatively. I was tired of waiting for someone else to cast me in a project, tired of driving across town at 4:30pm on a Friday for an audition to say one word on a network TV show.
I decided that I was going to be in charge of my career and my life, and that’s when I started generating original content. CLIMAX! has been a roller coaster journey and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Watching my dream become a reality is the greatest accomplishment and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to persevere and continue creating.