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The Outfest Legacy Awards was a relaxed, fun and moving event last night with a lot of stars on hand including Ewan McGregor, Molly Shannon, Kristen Bell, Mary McCormack, Wilson Cruz and the evening's host Bruce Vilanch.

McGregor presented an award to honoree Bruce Cohen, producer of such films as "American Beauty," "Milk," and TV's "Pushing Daisies." Cohen is a dedicated LGBT activist and a longtime Outfest supporter.

"I always knew there'd be a night when I'd want to give (a kiss) to a boy I love and tonight is that night," Ewan said. "To know Bruce is to adore him."

Cohen received a standing ovation as he took the stage and got his award: "I kissed Ewan McGregor on the lips!" he said. "That's what this whole thing was about. Ewan is truly a gorgeous human being inside and out."

The newlywed also gave a call to action to defeat Proposition 8: "This is our history folks, happening right here in our state, in our lives, in the next 41 days. It's our history to make or break."

NBC co-president Ben Silverman was there to represent honoree NBC-Universal for its distinctive history on innovative LGBT promgramming including "Will & Grace," just about everything on the Bravo network, the feature films "Brokeback Mountain," "Far from Heaven" and the upcoming "Milk." NBC also aired such breakthrough TV movies as "That Certain Summer" and "An Early Frost."

"My mom is gay and I wish she could be here today," Silverman revealed to the audience. "I know we all have personal stories here...this is sharing and being human."

Had to miss Sunday's awards night at the Ford Ampitheatre because of the NBC party so I'm ripping off a story from The Hollywood Reporter about who won what! I'm happy to see that Thomas Gustafson's "Were the World Mine," which recounts an all-boys high school production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," was named outstanding U.S. dramatic feature. It happened to be the movie that was screened after the awards ceremony. I watched it on DVD a few weeks ago and loved it.

Click HERE to a clip and my interview with the director....

The festical, which formally closes tonight, also honored Lucia Puenzo's "XXY" as best international dramatic feature. Daryl Wein's "Sex Postitive" took the documentary award. Tye Olson was chosen best actor in a feature for "Watercolors"; Nicole Bilderback was best actress for "The New Twenty."

James Bolton earned the screenwriting award for "Dream Boy" which I reviewed over the weekend. Click HERE to see that.

Other winners: Madeleine Olnek's "Countertransference" was named best dramatic short; Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega's "La Corona" (The Crown) was hailed as best documentary short.

David Assmann's "Football Under Cover" received the Freedom Award, Dave O'Brien was recognized with the Emerging Talent Award for "Equality U" and Matt Wolf took the prize for Artistic Achievement for "Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell."

Audience awards went to David Oliveras, "Watercolors," first dramatic feature; Andrew Fleming, "Hamlet 2," dramatic feature; Carolyn Coal, "A Place to Live," documentary feature; Lee Sung-eun, "I'm Jin-Young," dramatic short; Micheli and Vega, "La Corna," documentary short; and "Hamlet 2," soundtrack.

It was so great to see Nichelle Nichols in "Tru Loved" as the sassy grandmother of a closeted high school football player who doesn't seem to care if he dates girls or boys - as long as they're black! It's a sweet film and i recommend it highly if you don't yet have a ticket for closing night of Outfest tonight at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown LA.
Nichelle, who played Lt. Uhura on the original "Star Trek" television series, will receive the Liberty and Justice Award from the ACLU of Southern California Foundation before the film is screened. The award is in recognition of her contributions to the fight for civil rights and social justice and will be presented to her by her "Star Trek" co-star George Takei who has become an outspoken leader for LGBT issues in recent years..

She was the first African American actor to have a recurring, non-stereotypical role on a network television series. Even though the role was groundbreaking, she felt it was not substantial and was tempted to quit the show. But Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay with the series because Lt. Uhura was an important role model for black children.

Related post: Countdown to Outfest: "Tru Loved" is a true gem...

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

It was Saturday night and the Directors Guild of America theater was absolutely sold out with plenty of disappointed Outfesters turned away. I guess since the straight crowds have had their "American Pie" movies and the like, the gays are embracing ranchy flicks geared toward them. There's been "Eating Out" and its sequel then there was "Another Gay Movie" and last night, the world premiere of "Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild."

And wild it was.

Directed and written by Todd Stephens, this is a wonderful example of how LGBT movies are hitting all kinds of different genres these days. I think a lot of younger gays are gonna have a blast with this flick. It's got lotsa hot guys, making out, promiscuous sex, backstabbing, drinking, projectile vomiting, etc. as four best buds head to Ft. Lauderdale for spring break.

I believe there is just one holdover from the cast of the first film which I saw and thought I liked but realized as I was watching the second one that I do not remember a single thing about the first flick.

Stephens captures that beach blanket movie feel and the guys gone wild stuff well and the main four actors are just a hoot! RuPaul actually does a nice job as the resort's activities director but a subplot involving Perez Hilton getting hit on the head and becoming some kind of evangelist was ill-advised and not well-received.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that a former member of the "Big Brother" cast, Will Wikle, did such a fun job as the major villain in the movie - a bitchy guy named Jasper whose two sideklicks are also named Jasper (kind of like the Heathers I reckon). I really hated the head Jasper so Will did a good job!

The film is set for theatrical release this fall.

This is such an impressive movie. I'm so glad I got myself over to the DGA Theatre this morning to see "Dream Boy" despite a very strong desire to sleep in. I got there when the movie was just starting and just settled in.

The movie - based on the novel by James Grimsley - is set in the 70s and tells the story of painfully shy Nathan (Stephan Bender) who has moved to rural Louisiana with his religious parents - moved in right next door to Roy (Maximillian Roeg) and his family. The bookish Nathan is immediately smitten with the outgoing and confident Roy. Homework sessions blossom into more - far more. However, Nathan's dark secrets threaten to tear them apart.

Cool side note: Nathan's mom is played by Diana Scarwid who played Christina Crawford opposite Faye Dunaway in "Mommie Dearest" and Roy's mom is played by singer Rickie Lee Jones!

I have to say right here, the sex scenes in this film between the two leads are among the most sensual and tender that you will see. Add the stolen moments element and it is just perfect. Bender and Roeg are absolutely superb in their roles - not a false note anywhere.

For a good 20 minutes there is very little dialogue and you just can't stop watching. Director and co-writer James Bolton just does such an amazing job with the cast he assembled.
While Bender and Roag are both very attractive, the hunk of the film is Randy Wayne who plays Burke. You will not want to miss the swimming scenes foir one thing, but Wayne does a fine job of showing up the characters dark side - at first in subtle ways with the darting of the eyes - then in truly awful ways.)

I don't want to give away the ending but I was surprised at how upset I felt at the way things turned out. I had gotten so absorbed in the characters and cared about them.

After the screening, Bolton told us the movie took 21 days to shoot and "cost far less than it may look." International distribution is already set but a deal with a domestic distributor has not yet been closed.

This is one of the better films of the entire festival. I've seen more than two-dozen and this ranks in my top five.

Sat in on part of this panel discussion in the afternoon. It brought together directors Gregg Araki ("Mysterious Skin"), Donna Deitch ("Desert Hearts"), Andrew Fleming (Hamlet 2"), Don Roos (Happy Endings") who talked about what goes down on a movie set during the shooting of a sex scene.

It wasn;t as titliating at the program seemed to promise but then again, don't they say these sex scenes are always far more technical to do than enjoyable?

Roos, whose credits include "The Opposite of Sex" and "Happy Endings," admitted: "I'm the least sexual person in the world ... I would much prefer someone brush my hair.'

After showing a graphic scene from "Mysterious Skin" involving Joseph Gordon-Levitt and a nother actor, Araki talked about the acting and camera techniques and all of that but then admitted: "The scene still sort of startles me when I see it."

"I'm really fascinated by the way people interact with each other when they are having sex," he added.

Fleming talked about some of the difficulties of shooting the sex scenes on his movie "Threesome" which starred Lara Flynn Boyle, Josh Charles and Stephen Baldwin.

"Bascially, every scene in that movie they are either talking about sex or having sex," he said.

The biggest issue usually had to do with how much of Boyle's breast could be shown without a body double being called in. She had an iron-clad contract detailing how much breast could show. But as far as the climactic threeway between the leads, the director said: "The problem was going to be getting them to stop touching each other."

Each director was asked to name their favorite sex scene in any film and Araki chose the classic one between Daniel Day-Lewis and Gordon Warneckein "My Beautiful Launderette" of which he said: "I remember seeing that scene and besides being turned on, I was blown away by the intensity of it."

It's pretty tough to think you have problems after watching a movie like "A Jihad for Love." I watched a screener of the documentary, which plays tonight at Outfest, and the tears just fell. Your heart breaks for what the people in this film have been put through because they are gay.

Directed and written by Parvez Sharma, it was shot in twelve countries and nine languages. "Jihad" is an amazing film in which the subjects of the documentary speak openly about the challenges of being gay/lesbian and Muslim. There are those who have had to flee their country or been beaten or jailed. There are also the deeply personal struggles to reconcile a faith that is part of the fabric of who they are, with a faith that also rejects them for who they love.

The screening tonight begins at 7 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America Theatre. Tickets can only be purchased at the door at this point.

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

There's a reason why the Fairfax was absolutely sold out last night for the 7 p.m. screening of the Israeli film "Antartica" written and directed by Yair Hochner. It has the most attractive ensemble cast of any movie at Outfest this year and the sex scenes are so explicit that it was (almost) enough to make me blush!

This romantic comedy set in Tel Aviv is about a group of young men (and a few women) who are searching for something. Some of them are getting it: sex, sex and more sex. Omer, about to turn 30, works at the local library and reads books about U.F.O.s before bed. Then Omer meets Ronen, a handsome journalist working on a U.F.O. story. There are also a couple of dancers - one very young, the other closer to 30 - who intermingle in this stiry and a couple of lesbians and Omer's very manly mother (she's played by a man apparently which I didn;t know for sure until I got a consensus from other audience members).

Anyway, there's a good film in there somewhere but it is just a little too meandering and takes much too long to get where we knew it was going. You don't mind so much during the more passionate scenes but at one point, things got so tedious that BOTH the friends I went with had nodded off, one of them emitting a brief little snore.

If ya missed "Antartica" and want to see it, it screens a second time and in a bigger venue: Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in DGA 1.

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

Festival-goers who are planning to attend the Awards Night screening of "Were the World Mine" on Sunday are in for a real treat. It's a musical fantasy that is beautifully done.

Directed and co-written by Tom Gustafson, it's set at an all-boys high school that is putting on a production of that Shakespearean classic. Handsome and imaginative Timothy (Tanner Cohen) is the class outsider who mentally escapes his surroundings by imagining a row of dodgeball-wielding jocks as a corps de ballet.

Then he gets cast as Puck opposite his secret crush, dreamy jock Jonathon (Nathaniel David Becker) and things get complicated and absolutely turned upside down. With the help of a certain flower, Timothy gains the power to make the unlikeliest of people besotted with each other.- incliuding Jonathon with him! Bascially, he goes about making his entire closed-minded town gay!

Gustafson adapted the film from his acclaimed short film "Fairies." I talked to him last week just as he was about to leave for the airport. His film opened the Tokyo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival last Friday.

"The festival circuit is pretty great, traveling and getting the work out there and encouraging people to spread the world," he added. "The only way these movies have a life is if people keep talking about them. It's been amazing. We premiered at the Florida Film Festival, a non-gay festival. It was great to kick-off at that type of festival to break down the barriers and we won the audience award. We played Nashville and won a music award, then Italy. We just played the Castro in San Francisco. It's been a really great, exciting ride. Mainstream and gay and lesbian audiences have reacted to it like a live theatrical event."

There is am lot of making out in the movie and I can tell you, the cast really goes for it! Tom told me why: "It was really important to me to cast gay actors in gay roles but some are, some aren't publicly out. Obviously, I wouldn't have cast them if they weren't comfortable with the script. We made it clear: everyone's got to get over any sort of homophobic thing you have. You are in a musical with gay characters so get so over it."

The film was shot in Chicago in 24 days on a budget that was "way under" $1 million.
"We are a small film with a big heart. It can be overwhelming (making a movie) but the thing I stress to other first-time filmmakers is to surround yourself with others doing it for the first time because they want to prove themselves too and make something magical."

Often times, LGBT films are relegated to a brief arthouse run - if they are lucky - then discovered on DVD. Tom is hoping for major big-screen exposure.

"We have some offers, we hope to close out some distribution deals soon," he said. "We really want this to have a theatrical run where people can experience it in a communal setting. Obviously we will keep playing festivals and are talking about doing a school tour. We want youths to be able to see it."

Here is a sneak peek of the movie:

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

It was great to see a full house at the Directors Guild of America Theatre last night because the more people who got to experience the first public screening of the restored version of the landmark documentary "Word Is Out: Stories of Our Lives" the better.

We laughed, we cried and I'm sure most people are still today thinking about the movie and the 26 people featured who opened up in front of the camera about their lives; their struggles, their quiet triumphs. What an eclectic group - wonderful group. All so different from each other. Some of the stories were chilling: the man who was sent to an institution and given shock therapy after he confessed to his wife that he was gay; the woman who lost custody of her children because she was living with her lover; the woman who willingly spent four years as a teenager in a mental hospital in an effort to not be gay, and on and on.

These people break your heart at times then warm it with their resilience, their humor and their incredible perspective. The movie was released in 1978 and has a positive feeling to it because the sense was that LGBT people had come quite a ways and it would only continue to get better.

Then came AIDS.

It is impossible to watch "Word Is Out" and not reflect on your own journey. It may or may not have been as harrowing as some of the people in the film but I'm certain it was not an easy one.

The restored version of the film is supposed to have a theatrical release sometime later this year with a DVD release in early 2009. What's even better is the DVD catches up with some of the living subjects 30 years later. We got a glimpse of that footage.

I am so excited for everyone to see this movie. To learn more about the film and to keep track of its release plans, go to the WordIsOut website.

If you are in the LA area and care at all about LGBT film history, get a ticket to tonight's Outfest Legacy Project Gala. It showcases the restoration premiere of the gay classic "Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives."

OK, so restoration premiere doesn't turn you on? It didn't me either when I half-heartedly went to last year's gala where "Parting Glances" was screened. It was absolutely my favorite night of the entire festival. So this year, my expectations are high and I feel confident enough to recommend you go since so much love and care goes into preserving these films about out history.

"Word is Out" is a landmark documentary created by a group of young filmmakers in 1978 and the second feature film restored by the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation. The filmmakers capture the innocence and charm of 26 people - ranging in age from 18 to 77, from San Francisco to New Mexico to Boston, from beehived housewife to sultry drag queen.

In 1978, the San Francisco Chronicle's John Wasserman wrote that the film was the "most intelligent, telling cinematic look to date at the homosexual experience in America, but beyond that, it is quite funny and speaks not only to the homosexual, but to all of us who have experienced the pain of being different; which is to say, all of us."

Outpass holders will need a seperate ticket to this event. A VIP TICKET costs $50 and includes admission to the 7 p.m. VIP pre-party at the DGA Heineken Green Room. General admission tickets are $30 and includes admission to the 10:30 p.m. Gala After-Party (DGA Lobby). Proceeds from this special event will benefit The Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation, a collaboration between Outfest and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

Just got back from the Fairfax theatre where I saw three movies today, interviewed directors and actors and got asked out on a date. Not a bad day at the office. We are now five days into Outfest and I have seen 21 of the movies - nine with audiences and 12 on DVD. It's been such a wonderful treat to be immersed in all of this gay cinema.

I'll highlight some of the movies I've seen. If you don't live in LA, you might be wondering why I'm sharing all of this with you since you aren;t attending the festival. Well, if you live in a big city like San Diego, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Miami or even Palm Springs, there is an LGBT festival sometime during the year and some of these films might be there. Also, more and more and being released on DVD so you buy or rent some of these titles once they become available.

Sadly, as good as many of them are, we aren;t likely to see them outside the art house theaters.

FASHION VICTIMS: ****
OK, my favorite movie of the seven I saw over the weekend surprised me a lot because I went in with zero expectations: it's a hilarious German film called "Fashion Victims." It was just an absolute treat and combines a coming- out tale with screwball comedy and poignant family drama.

Karsten (Florian Bartholomäi, who is a dead ringer for Adam Brody) has his holiday in Spain with his teenage friends ruined when circumstances force him to become a driver for his obnoxious, clothing salesman father (Edgar Selge). Then things grow more complicated and hilarious when Karsten strikes up a flirtation with handsome Steven (Roman Knizka), his father's chief competitor.Just a terrific movie and very funny.

CLAPHAM JUNCTION: ***
This is a British film that initially is most noteworthy because it reunites James Wilby and Rupert Graves, the two stars of the gay classic "Maurice." Gee, couldn't Hugh Grant at least have done a cameo? But this is no "Maurice" and for anyone put off by violence, there are at least two very violent scenes involving gay bashing in this film. The film is also quite graphic sexually as it looks at gay men in contemporary London whose lives intersect during a 36-hour period. The acting is first-rate, the movie pulls no punches and is not afraid to explore the darker side of people who on the outside, are living "normal" lives.

THE LOST COAST: **1/2
Former high school pals Jasper, Mark and Lily reunite for one last booze-fueled adventure - Halloween night in the Castro - before Jasper marries his college girlfriend. Beneath the revelry lies Jasper ( Ian Scott McGregor) and Mark's (Lucas Alifano) undeniable magnetism; there is an undertow to their relationship pulling them back to memories and feelings neither has resolved. Lily is played by Lindsay Benner whose Halloween costume is one of the most interesting visuals in the film.

Written and directed by Gabriel Fleming, the film was shot over a period of five months on evenings and weekends in San Francisco and around (including on Halloween Night) without permits. It's pretty good guerilla filmmaking! Fleming said after the screening that McGregor was cast first but it is Alifano, in his first movie role out of acting school, who is so natural and charismatic, you wonder why he was/is still attracted to Jasper who is so sullen. Lucas can currently be seen playing "BJ" in the award-winning CBS web series Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side 2.

Still, it's an interesting film and you stay with it even if the ending didn't feel very satisfying because it is left quite vague whether this is a happy ending or not. Go to www.thelostcoastmovie.com to see what festivals it is playing in next - the film is booked intoi quite a few. Here is the trailer:

FRIENDS AND LOVERS: **1/2
Just the name Maurice Jamal alone provokes interest from me because he wrote and directed "Dirty Laundry," one of the better films I've seen at Outfest in recent years. Maurice returned to the festival Sunday with "Friends and Lovers," a sequel of sorts to his "Ski Trip."

There were technical difficulties at the start so Maurice - in his tradmark Mohawk haircut - took to the stage and talked about his movie which, he admitted, he has shot some last-minute footage for just last week! Because "Ski Trip" was so popular as it aired endlessly on Logo, this film serves as a pilot for a series he hopes will be on the air by the fall. He shot the film in 13 days and locals can recognize such spots as Java Detour next to The Abbey and A Different Light bookstore on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Part romantic comedy, part drama, the story follows the lives, loves and mishaps of three diverse couples living in Los Angeles, and their eccentric circle of friends. Maurice is among the cast members. I would love to see this become a series!

THE WAY I SEE THINGS **After the unexpected death of his longtime boyfriend, Otto's world has fallen apart. Hoping to snap him out of his funk, his buddy Rob drags him on a cross-country road trip, but Otto escapes and winds up at a new-agey commune where members are encouraged to get in touch with their "authentic self."

I had so many questions after the film was over. I wondered if I was just not getting it - if maybe I wasn't sophisitcated enough or something. But several others in the audience were also scratching their heads. i don't mind thought-provoking stuff but after spending all that time with the characters, I didn't appreciate walking out of there wondering who was who, who was real, what was a flashback, what was present.

What really saved it some for me was just how funny the commune speak was. The leaders would talk in a cadence that would make whatever they were saying sound so wise but really, they are saying nothing. It's pretty brilliant actually.

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

When the movie "54" was released 10 years ago, it was a commercial and critical flop. It starred Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayak and Breckin Meyer as three young people working at New York's famed Studio 54. It also starrred Mike Myers in one olf the best performers of his career as club owner Steve Rubell, Neve Campbell as a soap star and Sela Ward as a recording industry executive who frequents the place and get involved with Phillippe's character.He literally screws her unconscious.

The movie, written and directed by Mark Christopher, chronicled the rise and fall of the famed NYC hotspot of the 1970s where the likes of Liza Minneli, Bianca Jagger, Andy Warhol, and other A-listers could be seen partying night after night But the movie released by Miramax was far different than the director's original version which was screened last night at the Fairfax theater to the delight of a sold-out crowd that had come to see a "secret showing" of an unnamed film.

"What an amazing night foir me," Christopher told the crowd before the film started. "It's been 10 years coming and I didn't think it would ever come."

So how different is the directior's cut? VERY. And it's MUCH better and much more gay! Phillippe's character is bisexual in this superior version and shares screen kisses with several men, including Breckin Meyer who since this movie, has been one of Phillippe's closest friends off-screen.

The skittish studio had seen this terrific 1 hour and 45 minutes cut and demanded that 45 minutes of it be cut and that additional scenes be shot to beef up what had been essentially a brief fling between Phillippe and Campbell into more of a full-blown relationship.

Big mistake. Christopher's original version is such a better film because it chronicles the club's fall along with Phillippe's personal journey. It reminded me a little bit of "Saturday Night Fever" and I was thinking about what would have happened to THAT movie if some studio folks decided it needed serious re-shooting.

Anyway, ss an added treat, we also get to see a bit more of the beautiful Cameron Mathison of "All My Children" and "Dancing With the Stars" fame who was only seen briefly in the studio version. His character is gay! We did not know this from before. But in the director's cut, he's in a relationship with one of the other bartenders and they even share a passionate kiss. Love it!
I think this film would have grossed far more than $16.6 million at the domestic box office if it had felt more complete and been more satisfying.

As far as I know, there is no deal to re-release the movie in its original form theatrically or on DVD but I hope this screening and others like it will encourage Disney, which owns the rights the Miramax library,to take advantage of this opportunity and make the money off this title that they could have a decade ago. They have a really good film on their hands with terriffic performaces by big stars. Phillippe is absolutely beautiful in the movie and Meyer is so good that it's criminal that he's been stuck in "Garfield" movies.

Both he, and the film, deserve more.

There are five movies that are part of the Outfest series "Outing Politics" and the first to screen is "Karl Rove, I Love You" at 7 p.m. in DGA 1. I watched a screening of the movie last weekend and found it to be very clever, very smart.

Here is a synopsis: What happens when the role of a lifetime becomes the love of your life? Dan Butler (Bulldog on "Frasier") and his friends play themselves in this witty satirical film about "an unknown supporting actor" obsessed with Karl Rove. Butler's research on Rove leads him first to anger, then mania and ultimately to put on a one-man show. His show is a huge success and Butler gets so deep into the character that reality and fiction blur.

Dan Butler and Phil Leirness along with cast will appear at a Q&A after the screening
Several hours before "Rove," Butler will be among those participating in the "Queer State of the Nation" panel. On the eve of the 2008 presidential election, with issues like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and marriage equality set to return to the table, moderator Kyle Buchanan (writer for The Advocate) and panelists will tackle where we are politically and what's at stake for the next four years.

Other panelists are Jeremy Bernard (Obama Campaign Fundraiser and LGBT Liason, B&G Associates), Rick Jacobs (Chair and Founder, The Courage Campaign), and Sheila Kuehl (California State Senator, District 23).

The event starts at 2 p.m. in DGA 2.

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

Knock me over with a feather. Meryl Streep has managed to, once again, astonish. Is there no end to this woman's amazing talent?

Outfest attendees got to see Meryl's musical "Mamma Mia" a week or so early Thursday night during two sold out showings at the DGA Theatre. I was igddy with excitement but running late for the 7 p.m. screening. But the musical gods were watching over me as I was the second-to-the-last car let in to the DGA parking structure before it was declared full and I was the very last Outpass holder let in under the 15 minute rule. If you are a passholder and don't arrive at least 15 minutes early, you have to wait in line with the other ticket holders which could mean a crummy seat.
We were treated to an appearance of one of the film's stars, Amanda Seyfried, who was given an ovation as she ran onto the stage to charmingly introduce the movie. Amanda is a real talent who plays Meryl's daughter in the movie - the daughter getting married who invites the three men who could potentially be her father to the wedidng. T^hey are played Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard.

Pierce cannot sing, let's face it. But he doesn't try too often, thankfully. This is the ladies' show all the way. In a bit of brilliant casting, Meryl is joined by two-time Tony winner and Emmy winner Christine Baranski and Oscar nominee Julie Walters who play her best friends.

What a delicious trio!

The movie was shot in the Greek isles so it is visually quite brilliant. And except for a dip in energy about midway through, the movie really zips along. I liked it more than "Hairspray," "Chicago" and maybe even "Dreamgirls" which I loved.

The reason is Meryl. Magical Meryl. When she is standing on the rocks by the water singing "The Winner Takes It All" to Brosnan, i don't think she has ever been more beautiful, more brilliant. It is kind of a Jennifer Hudson "And I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going" moment and it is breathtaking.

Other standout numbers include Walters dancing on the table tops singing "Take A Chance On Me" to Skarsgard, a wonderful "Mamma Mia" led by Meryl, "I Have A Dream" by Seyfried, and group numbers "Dancing Queen," and 'SOS."

You don't have to be an ABBA fan or to have seen the show on stage to absolutely enjoy this film. I promise.

The red carpet outside the Orpheum Theatre was a real scene last night and I did my best to try and take it all in on opening night of Outfest 2008, the 26th Annual Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

Here it is, as it unfolded:

I chatted with Margaret Cho which was the highlight for me - especially when she did some of her hilarious impressions of her mother for me. Then there was Jane Lynch who is getting to be a bigger star every time I see her. She is beloved by the LGBT community. Ben Shenkman, one of the stars of the opening night film "Breakfast With Scot" arrived early and was my first celebrity interview of the night.Wilson Cruz and Darryl Stephens did the red carpet together and caught up with both of them and talked with Charlie David and some of those involved with his film "Mulligans" which will screen next Friday night. Also gabbed with the lovely Michelle Clunie of "Queer as Folk" and J.P. Calderon of "Survivor" and "The Janice Dickerson Modeling Agency" as well as many other folks. I'll share some of the interviews in the coming days.

Margaret Cho opened the night by walking across the stage like a model and said: "I always have to work the runway a little bit, bitch." She remarked that this year's Outfest is even more exciting "\because we have marriage equality in California....Make sure that we keep this right!" She then commanded everyone to get married: "Marry a trick! Get married!"

Filmmaker Donna Deitch ("Desert Hearts") was presented with the 12th annual Outfest Achievement Award by Jane Lynch who said:"During the summer of 1990, I watched 'Desert Hearts' 117 times. For the first time in my life, I watched two women fall in love on screen."

Then came the screening of "Breakfast With Scot.' I was given a terrific seat near the front and the best part was that it was right next to John Amaechi, the former NBA player who wrote a terrific memoir last year detailing his playing days and his coming out publicly. It was good to chat with John (pictured with me, below) - all off the record - and to meet his friend, photographer Jeff Sheng who is working on a photo exhibit in connection to the Olympic Games.
The movie was a big hit with the audience. I had already seen it in January at the Palm Springs Film Festival and it was interesting how much more a gay audience reacted to the film. I think a lot of the audience members saw some of themselves in the 10-year-old kid who is at the center of the film and felt more free to laugh knowingly at his behavior than maybe a straight aiudience would. It was a good choice to open the festival with because it's a crowd pleaser.

I bailed about halfway through the movie and hung out in the lobby of the Orpheum with my publicist pal Dominic Friesen who basically knew everyone who walked by us so I met a lot of new people! Got into the after-party a bit early and was able to get a drink before there were any lines then began what was at least two full hours of schmoozing and flitting about.

Since I've been watching so many Outfest advance screeners in recent weeks, the after-party was a real treat for me as I got to meet so many of the filmmakers and performers whose work I've been enjoying so much. It was kinda surreal to be standing with two of the stars of this campy horror film "Gay Bed and Breakfast of Terror" which I thought was a hoot. I kept telling the woman who played the main killer: "I can't believe how evil you were in the movie!" Then I told the director: "The sex scene in the pool house was amazing!" Yeah, I had had a vodka and cranberry juice on an empty stomach.

Then there was just the fun of seeing friends - old and new - as I flitted about the party. I'm still so happy about seeing my old friend Justin Rudd (pictured with me, above), a Long Beach activist who recently was on the cover of Frontiers Magazine. When I was first coming out in a more public way about 10 years ago, Justin welcomed me into his circle of friends and all those Monday Night Supper Club events, parties, parades and movie nights really helped me to become more comfortable in my own skin. One of my favorite memories is when a group of us surprised Justin on his 30th birthday by kidnapping him and flying to San Francisco for the weekend. Such good times. Check out Justin;s website at JustinRudd.com to see all the cool things he's up to.

It was also good to hang out with my pal Trevor Daley who I haven't seen much of lately. Ditto Jim Key who was there with his LA Gay and Lesbian Center colleague Alan Acosta who I once worked with at the Los Angeles Times. When I was a young reporter at the paper - terrified of coming out - Alan was an out and proud editor and I remember hoping I could be like that someday. This was back in the early 90s and almost nobody was out at the paper. (The photo on the left is Marcellas Reynolds, Jim Key and J.P. Calderon. Marcellas is red because of the disposable camera used to take the pic ...most shots were over-exposed!).

Before leaving, gabbed with actor Tony Tripoli ("Fashion House") and his friend Dennis Hensley, the author of the book "The Screening Room." Tony and Dennis were on the first season of "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" as her gay best friends. Unfortunately, there was a falling out between the three of them and they no longer speak.

So, things are off to a terrific start and stay terrific with tomorrow night's screening of "Mamma Mia" at the DGA Theatre. I. Can't Wait.

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

The top photo of the Orpheum Theatre is by Brian Putnam...

Before heading over to last night's opening night festivities for Outfest, I watched a screener of the film "Ciao" which was superb.

Directed by Yen Tan, this is a no-frills movie with a wonderful script. It's mostly two guys talking, getting to know each other. And you can't keep your eyes off of them. I didn't feel like I was watching a movie sometimes, just watching two people interact.

Here's a synopsis: When Mark (Chuck Blaum) dies in a car accident, his best friend Jeff (Adam Neal Smith) is left to tie up loose ends as he mourns. While sending emails of the sudden passing, Jeff meets Andrea (Alessandro Calza), Mark's Italian online boyfriend. On a whim, Jeff and Andrea decide to meet, each hoping to gain a sense of closure.
We only see Mark toward the end in a video he made but it is a powerful appearance and we understand why both of these men loved him. Calzar is physically so beautiful but he also brings such a charm and a lot of heart to his performance - especially in those moments when he is sharing with Jeff the things about Mark that Jeff never knew about. Whether over dinner, over beers or visiting Mark's apartment and grave, these two form a beautiful bond and you will want to witness it.

"Ciao" will screen at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 18 at the Fairfax 1. Thought I'd give you a heads-up if any readers in LA are attending Outfest. This one is an absolute keeper. Here is the trailer:

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

Anyone attending closing night of Outfest in downtown LA a few weeks from now is in for a really wonderful treat when they see "Tru Loved." I watched a screener last night and absolutely loved it!

It's the new film by wroter-director Stewart Wade who also did "Coffee Date." This is about an extremely well-adjusted high schooler named Tru (short for Gertrude, as in Stein) who is the new kid at her So Cal suburban high school. Tru (an amazing Najarra Townsend) has two moms, two dads ("I know we're not exactly 'The Brady Bunch' but it's worked pretty well for us so far"). Alexandra Paul and Cynda Williams are terrific as Tru's moms.

Everybody initially thinks Tru is the big dyke on campus until she starts hanging out with star quarterback Lodell (Matthew Thompson). He's a sweet kid and clicks with Tru but ends up wanting to use her as a beard.

When he sends out mixed signals, Tru says: "I'm just trying to get you to admit what we both know. You're gay! Big (expletive) deal!"

Lodell: "It's just that I don't want to be gay. It kinda sucks you know. ...Most black folks think being gay is a white thing." He said of his family: "They don't want to know how things are, they want to hear what they want to hear."

Tru finally says: "I said I wouldn't tell anyone, I didn't say I'd be your Katie Holmes."

Tru sets out to discover her place at her school by founding a gay-straight alliance. With a fierce determination to fight for equal rights and she ends up changing some hearts and minds. But it's not an easy road.
Some of the supporting casting is just delicious with Alec Mapa as an English teacher at the high school, Marcia Wallace as the drama teacher who agrees to be the alliance's faculty advisor, Bruce Vilanch as the gay uncle raising Tru's boyfriend,Trevor played by adorable Jake Abel,, Nichelle Nichols of "Star Trek" fame as Lodell's grandmother and Jasmine Guy and a cameo by Dave Kopay, the first NFL player to come out."

Jane Lynch appears in the final scene as Alec Mapa's friend. He is a closeted teacher and wonders if he shoiuld come out. Lynch replies: "If you were doused with kerosine and lit on fire you couldn't be any more flaming than you already are every single day."

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

If you have seen either of the first two "A Donald Strachey Mystery" movies starring Chad Allen as a gay private eye, then you will want to catch the latest one "On the Other Hand, Death" when it screens at Outfest at 7:30 p.m.on Sunday July 13 at Fairfax 1.

This series is a real showcase for Chad and he is tough, funny and sexy in this part and his chemistry with co-star Sebastian Spence - who plays his husband Tim - has really jelled in this third film.

Here is the plot synopsis: When the residents of a neighborhood are offered huge sums of money to sell their homes to a developer, the only ones to refuse are a lesbian couple played by Margot Kidder (she is terrific!) and Gabrielle Rose. Soon after, the couple's home is hit by anti-gay vandalism and Donald suspects it's motivated by big business rather than homophobia. Complicating things is a visit by sexy Andrew McWhirter (Damon Runyan) who is Tim's ex and makes a pass at Donald.

If the good acting and suspense aren't enough foir ya, the scene of Andrew emerging from the lake late at night is alone worth the price of admission!

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

Think "The Broken Hearts Club" but with a sexy interloper who works his way into the lives of a group of tight-knit gay men. At first he seems like a fun and exciting new addition but he ends up causing all kinds of trouble - on purpose!

I had no expectations when I put this movie in the DVD player because I had not heard much buzz about it. But I liked it and recommend you add it to your Outfest schedule. It is written by Emmy winner Jason Brown,directed by Richard Lemay, and will screen at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday July 15 at Fairfax 1.

Kudos to David Rudd who plays the bad guy, Drake. It's his chiseled body and hairy chest on many of the promotional materials The cast is solid and includes Brad Anderson, Desmond Dutcher, Mark Ford, Alexis Suarez, and Bryan West. It doesn't hurt that the cast is attractive and the kissing scenes are far better than the ones in "Broken Hearts Club."

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org

What a sweet film this is! Well-acted and well-written, "Ready? OK!" is a comedy about a single mom (Carrie Preston) whose sweet, happy and enthusiastic 10 year old son (Lurie Poston) wants to be a cheerleader. Mom gently tries to discourage this ambition which is ridiculed at his Catholic school.

What I love most about this movie is that the kid, Joshua, is absolutely undaunted and not at all self-concsious about following his dreams. They are his dreams and the adults in the movie who don't get it, or him, can't dampen his enthusiasim and focus. Poston is perfect as Joshua and conveys a real feeling that this is a kid who knows who he is. While mom is a frazzled working woman with some control issues, you begin to understand how Josh came to be this beautiful soul: He's got an uncle (John G. Preston) who drifts in and out of his life but with whom he has a strong connection, a gay neighbor (Michael Emerson) who makes the kid uniforms (he's a tailor) and helps him with his cheers, and there is his grandmother (Sandra Ellis-Troy) who rolls with anything the kid comes up with with total love and acceptance. Everyone should have a grandmother like this. ,It;s all about embracing the kid's individuality and his beautiful spirit - a good lessons to parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, school officials and anyone else who has influence over kids.

This movie was a terrific gem in my package of Outfest screeners. Written and directed by James Vasquez,, it has already won three awards this year at FilmOut San Diego 2008 including best narrative feature film, best actress (Preston) and outstanding emerging talent (Vasquez).

The film will screen at Outfest on Friday, July 11 at 7 pm and again on Saturday, July 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the Fairfax Theatre.
Here is a clip:

Related posts:
- Countdown to Outfest: A chat w/Charlie David about "Mulligans"
- Gearing up for Outfest 2008...
--Countdown to Outfest: A chat w/the writer-director of "The New Twenty"

For more information about Outfest, the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - which runs July 9-21 - go to Outfest.org