A chat with Paul Colichman, new owner of The Advocate and Out magazines...

Just got back from the very crowded Outfest launch party in Hollywood, A pretty chaotic scene with the top floor so packed with people you could barely move and the more spacious bottom floor virtually empty. Anyway, I ran into gay media mogul Paul Colichman there and pulled him aside for a quick gab that I wanted to post for you right away. Paul is chairman and partner of Regent Entertainment , a leading independent film company and the producer of such films as "Gods & Monsters" and "Twilight of the Golds." He is also founder & chief executive officer of here! TV. Regent recently purchased The Advocate and Out magazines from PlanetOut. Here is my conversation with Paul about the latest piece of his growing media empire:

Q. What made you decide to buy the magazines?
A. We are very passionate about these brands. We feel they are the most important brands in gay America and we wanted to make sure they were going to have proper stewardship on a go-forward basis.

Q. Should we be exoecting any dramatic changes in the magazines?
A. What you should expect is provocative, cutting edge, cultural content that is befitting of these brands.

Q. Will Here! TV movies and series get kid glove treatment?
A. Absolutely not and we are very focused on covering all gay television and gay media. They are no means going to treat (Here) better or worse than they treat anyone else.

Q. You had an interview a few years ago when you said you would never want to be in the magazine business. What changed?
A. You know, if it wasn't for brands that are this powerful, I would never want to be in te magazine business. The thought of just buying another magazine would have been unthinkable to me. These are the only magazines that we wanted to own.
Q. Where is the place for The Advocate and Out in the current media landscape when so many operations are struggling?
A. Frankly, i think they are struggling less than mainstream publications are. We have a loyal audience and an incredibly intelligent audience for both brands. Our job is to make sure we serve that every single day both in print and online and make sure we don't disappoint our sophisticated, loyal audience/

Q. How hands-on will you be?
A. As hands-on as someone who owns many magazines and a television network and produces 30 movies a year could be (laughs).