A last word about Outfest....
Tommorrow, I'll be hanging out all day at the Beverly Hilton for day two of the ABC Press Tour which makes this hit home: Outfest is really over. Why does the Los Angeles LBGT Film Festival mean so much to me?
It is such a pleasure to be able to see people like me up there on the screen in so many different genres and in well-written, well-acted quality films of substance. I was sititng with a twentysomething friend at one of the screenings who was feeling sort of over everything.
And I said to him: "You know why I'm not over everything? Because I remember what it was like to live in the closet, to not have many gay movies to see and many of those out there were about painful subjects like AIDS and living in the closet. There were so few stories with hope and that really shapes you when you're a teen and in your 20s. You wonder, "How can I ever have a happy life?"
Outfest paid tribute to the past in a completely lovely way with the restoration and screening of "Parting Glances." I hope a lot of younger people got an idea of the diginity so many displayed during those years in the 80s when AIDS was a virtual death sentence. And then you see love stories like "Shelter" and "We're All Angels" and you feel hopeful and wonderful comedies like "Love and Other Disasters" where you can see smart and successful people be as dysfunctional as you are when it comes to relationships.
But Outfest is about more than seeing terrifc movies (I took in about 30 this year between screenings and screeners) and meeting stars and directors and writers. It's about having fun with friends like my pal Trevor (pictured with me below) and making all kinds of new friends and acquaintances. I've gotten so many nice e-mails in recent days from people saying: "What are we going to do now that Outfest is over?"
Mainly, it's just the whole experience of being with thousands of people for nearly two weeks and having so many shared experiences - kind of like an alternative universe of gay people. I love that, I love that we have that. I'm old enough to really appreciate how far the festival has come in its 25 years of existence and young enough to look forward to many more.
Here are some of the postings from my incredible 2007 Outfest experience...
- From Perez Hilton to Michael Huffington: My Night at Outfest 2007
- The Cast of Ugly Betty Comes to Outfest...- Judith Light shining bright at Outfest 2007...
- Gay classic 'Parting Glances' restored and celebrated
- Experiencing 'For the Bible Tells Me So"
- "We're All Angels" tells story of Jason and deMarco
- The East Side Story boys hit Outfest...
- Gay-friendly "Brothers & Sisters" gang delights Outfest
Until next summer...
Pictured at right are best actior co-winners Merlin Gaspers and Dorian Brockington" ifor"25 Cent Preview" which the festival's grand jury also chose as best dramatic film.
Grand Jury Awards:
I'll be posting the winner of Outfest awards in a few minutes but first wanted to share some of the humor of the brilliant Bruce Vilanch who hosted tonight's ceremony at the Ford Ampitheatre. I caught up with Bruce after the awards and asked him to pose with the sexy duo of Jensen Atwood and Darryl Stephens and promised I'd start rumors.
"It's such a great story with so many elements to it and it has such a great cast and direction," Alvarado tells me. "It was a phenomenal experience and I think that's why everyone can relate to it. It hits everything: It's funny, it's got some drama to it. It's a great film and I loved being a part of it."
"Being a gay Latino movie that was shot here in Los Angeles,. this is the perfect ending for it," Portugal says of the Outfest playdate. " It's a movie that has a heart, it has some gorgeous, hunky guys and a lot of comedy and amazing performances.It's a movie that talks to the heart about not what it's like to be different, but what it's like to be human. Wanting to have a home, family and friends and be happy where you're at."
Uh, OK. I mean, we are encouraged as festival goers to see all types of films but I wondered why Darryl was seeing a lesbian-themed movie when there were so many movies with so many men and so little time to see them all. Then yesterday, I'm flipping through the Outfest program, I saw that Darryl is one of the film jurors who will decide which film wins what at tomorrow night's awards gala.
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I liked the film, directed and produced by Robert Nunez, very much. It follows the couple as they criss-cross the country performing everywhere from churches to the White Party. They record their CD and we are able to see the warts and all process of that. They also talk about their relationship which is strong, but not perfect. And among those interviewed are parents, actor Chad Allen and Soulforce founder Rev. Mel White and cameos from K.D. Lang and Carson Kressley.
The film is one of five movies at Outfest 2007 that explore being queer and Christian with "For the Bible Tells Me So" the festival's centerpiece documentary earlier this week.
Filmmaker Daniel G. Karslake [pictured with Archbishop Desmond Tutu] has created something so remarkable that I can see so many in the LGBT community sending a copy to their families. It will give parents who are not accepting of their children [and attribute it to religious beliefs] much to think about and it also educates us. This well-researched film examines what, if anything, the Bible actually says about homosexuality as we know it today.It also intelligently explores the way religious conservatives have systematically misled the public in regards to biblical references of homosexuality and how this campaign continues to stigmatize the gay community. 
So I bumped into T.R. Knight last night at the Outfest reception for the superb documentary "For the Bible Told Me So" (OK, I heard he was there and hunted him down) and we talked about the movie which I think is going to change lives.
While the Outfest crowd should be quite receptive to the film, Karslake wants the movie to be seen by everyone. "I actually made the film very specifically for middle America. It's sort of for this moveable middle of people who are, for the first time, meeting somebody in their workplace or in their family or at their school who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender but also still kind of go, 'Oh, but they're condemned." And they just want to hear more information. It's really about giving people the ability and the permission to have some new information."
Mark Indelicato, the gloriously free to be himself, fashion-loving kid on ABC's "Ugly Betty," turns 13 today. Although he wasn't among the "Betty" cast members present at Sunday's 
Liight (pictured here with your favorite blogger) really is the belle of the ball at this year's 25th annual Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival what with her sensational dramatic turn in the opening night film "Save Me" and her appearance with the "Betty" cast. She has been upgraded from recurring cast member to full-fledged regular for the upcoming season.
But yesterday I had planned to go to the premiere of "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" which was pretty star-studded but not ienough to miss the "Ugly Betty" event. So here are a few picks starting with Reichen Lemkuhl and his hottie boyfriend who look like they were born to walk a red carpet...together! Below, Reichen joins his "Dante's Cove" castmates Jensen Atwood, Gregory Michael and John Fleming for a group shot. 
How fun was this? Pretty damned fun! Much of the cast of gay-fave "Ugly Betty" showed up at the Director's Guild of America yesterday (including my pretend boyfriend Eric Mabius) for a informative and sometimes hilarious panel discussion and a wonderfully intimate after-party. America Fererra, Ana Ortiz, Vanessa Williams, Judith Light, Michael Urie and Mabius were there from the cast as well as the show's creators. The kid who plays Justin was not present but there was much discussion about his character - a 12 year old we all know is gay but a storyline producers want to handle with care. What's great is this is a 12 year old whose family loves him fiercely no matter what.
Kicked off the day pretty early with yet another program of short films under the heading of "Straight Boys." Outfest audiences love their short films and the theater was almost completely full. This year, the shorts have been particularly good. This one was highlighted by this pee-your-pants funny animated short called "Bro and Dude's Cool Afternoon." It's in the outrageous vein of "South Park" with an animated Lance Bass as the main character who takes a few hits but nothing like those reserved for creepy Mark Foley and Ted Haggard. Funny. Funny. Funny. 
I really liked the 21-minute "Flatmates," a Swedish film about two rommates, one gay, one straight, whose sexual tension comes to a head one night. And really excellent was "Shawram and Abbas," a 37-minute film from the Netherlands about two Iranian refugees who pretend they are gay in order to obtain asylum in the Netherlands.
The shorts were followed by the provocativly titled feature "Men in the Nude" ("Ferfiakt") a Hungarian film about a middle-aged novelist married to an actress whose life is turned upside down when he falls in love with a 19-year-old Russian hustler. The title is a bit misleading but certainly succeeded in achieving a packed theater. The movie was well-done and beautifully acted by the three leads and I liked it a lot. But the characters did have their clothes quite often.
It's Sunday afternoon at Outfest 2007 and I'm here at the DGA Theatre between screenings. I have about 20 minutes of spare time so thought I'd start my posting in Alexis Arquette whose documentary "Alexis Arquette: She's Our Brother" screened yesterday. Alexis, of the famed Arquette clan (Patricia, Rosanna, David, among others) starred in many films including gay faves "I Think I Do" and "Grief," among others, and had a recurring role in one of my all-time favortie shows, Showtime's late, great "Beggars and Choosers." Her film follows her journey transitioning from life as a man to living as a transgender woman.
I'm wrapping up my third day at Outfest but before I head home, wanted to tell you about some off-the-charts terrific short films that screened this morning under the title of "Boys Shorts." The photo at right is from "Kali Ma" which is one of the funniest shorts I've ever seen at this festival. A high school student of Indian descent is bullied by the kid at school he has a crush on. The bully writes stuff wit an ink marker on the kids neck and when his mother finds out, she marches over to the kid's house in a rage. She turns into Rambo and teaches blonde bully a lesson he won't soon forget. My God, this was so terrific. Director Soman Chainami, a film student at NYU, deserves major kudos for this 15-minute masterpiece.
And just a brilliant in a different way was the 20 minute gem "I Hate Musicals" directed by Stewart Schill. It's about a work-obsessed guy who works for a cuthroat insurance company that puts the bottom line ahead of humanity. He has a big presentation and tries to get out of attending the opening night of his actress-fiancee's new musical. He ends up going but his cell phone goes off during her big finale. Later, he tells her that she was good but that he hate's musicals and always will. The next morning, he wakes up and he cannot talk - he can only sing. This is where things take off to glorious heights. The musical numbers are so hilarious (there are three in all) and you see how his inability to talk and only sing changes the guy's life. Schill told me after the screening that he plans to make the short into a full-length feature. That is great to hear!
There were six shorts in all and the sexiest was "Heartland," a sweet story about a New Yorker who is forced to go back home and help out on his dad's farm for awhile. He and the hunky farmhand, who is raising his younger siblings after the death of their mother, strike up a friendship that ends up being more. Their kiss in the pick-up is better than Heath and Jake in "Brokeback Mountain." The 12-minute short was directed by Mark Christopher who directed the feature film "54" about the famed Studio 54. That movie starred Ryan Phillipee, Salma Hayak, Mike Meyers and Neve Campbell among others. Much was cut from the film for theatrical release and it is my hope that a more extended version will be released on DVD.
And then there was the feature film "The Picture of Dorian Gray" which is a contemporary retelling of the classic novel by Oscar Wilde. It's now based in NYC in the art world of the 1990s and fully enacts the homoeroticism that was only hinted at in earlier versions. The actor who plays Dorian (David Gallagher) is unbelievably good looking and he is terrific in the role. Director Duncan Roy displays some terrific filmmaking techniques but his storytelling is an absolute mess. I focused hard and still didn't know what the hell was going on half the time. I left the theater very annoyed by the whole thing.
My favorites were "Orphan" [leading man Scott Strasser is pictured at top of page. His performance is brilliant!] and "Mommy's House," the latter which starred Veronica Cartwright [pictured, right] in a deliciously funny and creepy role. Loved her! Also good were "Where we Began" and "Doorman" and rounding out the program were "At the River" and "The Famous Joe Project." Since this was sold out, organizers say they are likely to repeat in next Sunday and I highly recommend you try and catch it...those of you in LA, or within driving distance. They aren't worth flying across the country for, OK?
Of the evening's first film, the French movie "One To Another," the guy said: "It was on the low side of so-so...it was just so FRENCH. I can't do sad movies like that anymore...it's just too much fior me."
Trevor, the little social butterfly that he is, knew more people than I did! And it kinda pissed me off! I did a buncha red carpet interviews before Trevor arrived to steal my thunder and got to hang with Rene Lynch of the LA Times who I worked with for many years - including covering a murder case in Arizona where a madman kept the body of his murder victim in a freezer. Life is a lot less grisly for both of us these days.
It was so great to see the cast of "East Side Story" and to finally meet the writer-director Carlos Portugal. Trevor and I kept running into the guys - like about six times - so we all got rather chummy. Here I am pictured with Steve Callahan who has a lot going on in his career right now. We had a chat that, you guessed it, I'll share in a few days. Steve told me he is a faithful reader of Out In Hollywood.
Once the red carpet slowed down, Trevor and I hit the VIP pre-party. Trevor's motto for the night: "Think VIP!" We gabbed with Perez Hilton whose hair was very orange - frighteningly orange. Perez, who I interviewed for an piece in The Advocate last year, told me he had some kind of big announcement today. I still gotta check and see what it is...Perez is seen hanging out with Tori Spelling and her hubby Dean McDermott at the after-party filming something for Tori's reality show I believe.
I was saved when the ushers started to insist that we go into the theater to our seats. The "East Side Story" dudes told us they had seats in the front row. Trevor lamented our N-48 and N-50 seats. It just wasn't VIP enough for him. We settled in and watched Bill Condon get a special achievement award who said: "I can't describe what it means to me to be recognized today - the phrase 'being recognized by your peers" has a literal meaning." Condon noted that he was standing on the same stage where one of the musical numbers from his "Dreamgirls" was filmed and went on to thank his gay manager and gay agent and partner Dan Morrisey.
Met a buncha people Trevor knew and when I tried to introduce him to someone I know, GLAAD Executive Director Neil Guliano, it turns out they already know each other. And there's Wilson Cruz! "Hi Wilson! Meet Trevor." Knows him. Chad Allen? Knows him (that's Trevor pictured above with Chad). Finally, we spot Tony Tripoli and his boyfriend T.J. (pictured below) and Trevor knows neither of them. Had a great time hanging out with them for awhile and Darryl Stephens (Noah on "Noah's Arc") came by for awhile. Darryl, who also starred in "Boy Culture," has just finished an indie film and is excited to start filming the new "Noah's Arc" movie next month. Tony, once Kathy Griffin's favorite gay friend, and I met when I wrote a cover story on him for Fronteirs Magazine.
What stood out for me the most was the journey that Allen's character takes and how he really seems to find himself after being so lost and how, in the end, he makes his own choices and doesn't feel bad about himself. But he had to get there and Allen makes his journey believable and touching. But Judith Light is the real revelation here. My God. She inhabits this role so completely and gives so much depth to a very conflicted character with many layers. She conveys what she is thinking or feeling so well just with the look on her face. I was so impressed with Light and I hope she gets award recognition for her superb work. 
Remember Brad Rowe from "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" almost a decade ago? He came oh-so close to kissing Sean Hayes but left him, and us, frustrated. In "Shelter," the Jonah Markowitz film that is to be the dramatic centerpiece selection at next month's 
But Cox, who penned "Sweet Home Alabama," is onto new things like "Bride" which follows the impending nuptials of Alex and Ryan, a seemingly happy heterosexual couple (played by Tori Spelling and James O'Sheah. But their arrival is disrupted by the arrival of Ryan's old high school friend Matt (Phillip Karner) with whom Ryan had a fling with when they were teens. Old feelings resurface, secrets are revealed and the movie goes on to explore the "complex social and sexual landscape of today's society," according to the press materials at least.
"This is a script that came through the lab two years ago and we were looking for a project to make as our first feature," Cox said. "We're really pleased to have the movie makie its world premiere at Outfest. "Without being overtly political, we talk about the state of gay marriage." 
I've seen "East Side Story" many times already but I am SO GLAD to learn that this wonderful movie written and directed by Carlos Portugal has been given a spot in 
Then new neighbors Wesley and Jonathan move in and the relationship between hunky Wesley and Diego is immediate and electric. This leads both men to re-examine their lives in this comedy-drama that takes on family dynamics, culture clashes, sexuality and gentrification in East L.A. 
Opening night (July 12) of Outfest 07 will also be highlighted by the presentation of the Outfest Achievement Award to Oscar winning writer/director Bill Condon. Most recently, he dazzled us with the film version of "Dreamgirls" which won Jennifer Hudson an Academy Award. But there is much more: Condon wrote the screenplay for the movie version of "Chicago" and directed "Gods and Monsters" as well as "Kinsey." What a genius!
The movie explores the controversial ex-gay movement and casts Allen as Mark, a sex and drug-addicted young man who overdoses and finds himself at the mercy of his disapproving family. They check him into a Christian-run ministry overseen by Gayle (Light), who believes she can help cure young men of their 'gay affliction' through spiritual guidance. At first, Mark resists the treatment and soon finds solace and brotherhood with several of the members, including Scott (Robert Gant), who is battling family demons of his own. When Mark and Scott begin to find their friendship developing into an unexpected romance, both are forced to confront the new attitudes they've begun to accept, and Gayle finds the values she holds as an absolute truth to be threatened.
Duralde has written a book by the same name and will discuss such things as: We know what makes THE BOYS IN THE BAND a gay movie. But why is MOMMIE DEAREST gay? Or FIGHT CLUB? Or JACKASS? Duralde provides a glimpse into how he crafted the list for his book. Through images and discussion, Duralde will demonstrate that a movie can be queer without having any specific homosexual content. Join Duralde as he discusses a broad range of favorites including BOOM!, SHOWGIRLS, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, THE WOMEN, TONGUES UNTIED, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, MAHOGANY, SWOON, FEMALE TROUBLE, BOUND, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, and many more.
Ticket information: Outfest Members $7.00 with current Membership card
No worries, I won't be quitting my day job. Sorry for the lack of postings in recent days. While I was in PS, Fusion: the Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival, announced its audience award winners for this year’s festival and I think the audience had terrific taste, especially with the selection of "Best Narrative Short" which was given to THE DL CHRONICLES, EPISODE: ROBERT, directed by Quincy LeNear & Deondray Gossett. It's the story of men of color who by consequence and by choice live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles identified as straight but engage in sexual activity with men. This episode was terrific and sexy and the fantastic news is the here! TV will produce and air more episodes.
Best Feature was given to CUT SLEEVE BOYS, directed by Ray Yeung. This British Chinese Gay film – the first of its kind – boasts witty one-liners. After the death of a mutual friend, two aging gay Chinese men use different approaches to find true love.
The shorts ranged from a few minutes long to about 20 minutes in length. The most accomplished were the effective "She Kills Me," which tells the love story between a tough street boy who falls for a transgendered woman, and the dramatic and well-acted "Sarang Song." which is set in the 1970s and forces a young college student to choose between her involvement in the student protest movement and then woman she loves.
This 23-minute film, directed by and starring Tamika Miller, has received distribution from Frameline. "This movie was made with a lot of love from a lot of people," Miller told ther audience prior to the screening.
And "the DL Chronicles, Episode: Robert" which screened Sunday afternoon as part of a program of five short films. "The DL," which runs 35 minutes, is about a closeted talent agent who falls for a hot health store manager. Both actors in this movie are very effective...and absolutely HOT. And their love scene, while very tastefully done, is a scorcher! 
And finally, I watched "Hotel Gondolin" which was part of tonight's closing program at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. The documentaryfrom Argentina is about a hotel that is home for 30 transgender and transsexual sex workers in Buenos Aires who create a safe environment for themselves and band together to effect social change. Directed by Fernando Lopez Escriva, the film shows the harsh reality of their lives and the interviews are compelling. I expected that I would maybe watch a few minutes of this movie then maybe move on but it was quite absorbing and is one of the rare works that humanzes transgendered people who can be so little understood and too often forced to live on the franges of society. Most of the girls here make it plain that 'sex worker' is not their first career choice, but the only possibility allowed them in Argentinian society. But it is so impressive how Monica, the self-proclaimed leader of these women, has such a strong sense of self. She is a real hero.
Outfest, Fusion: The Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival begins its three-day run on Friday night and I am so looking forward to it. I missed last year's inaugural edition of the event, the only multicultural, gender-inclusive film festival of its kind. But I'll be there this year for the opening night gala at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. 
The festival will kick off with a series of a diverse short films from the US and around the world, featuring beautiful radical lesbians, spirited queer youth, and relationships stemming from unlikely attractions. Of course, since I do like a good party, also fun should be the opening night post-movie gala, an electric party with music that organizers say will make you movewith delicious food from hot LA restaurants, and a hosted Absolut bar. 
In addition to the Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 South San Pedro Street, movies will also be screen Saturday and Sunday at both the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, and the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.
Although AIDS is a heavy subject, the night's hostess Caroline Rhea made sure there were plenty of light moments. This woman is F-U-N-N-Y! "I'm not a direct member of the GBLT community but I have had a BLT," she said shortly after taking the stage. She then went off on bans on same-gender marriage: "Until gay people can get married, don't let straight people get divorced. It'll happen pretty quickly!" She got a little political too: "Everytime you watch (President Bush) talk, it's like watching your parents dance - a little part of you dies." And my favorite comment: "All the gay people I know just use the voice that God gave them and are just very, very brave."
But here's something I'm sure will garner even higher bids: the leather jacket worn by Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain." Rhea said: "It has pure Aussie (body odor). It will get you laid for the rest of your life!" The jacket, which was modeled on stage Friday night, is up for auction on eBay for another week with proceeds benefiting the Legacy Project.
And shortly before we all entered the Silver Screen Theater for the award presentations, I chatted up "Dante's Cove" star Charlie David (Toby) who I had met and talked to at-length last year in Chicago. He told me that it looks almost certain that "Dante's" will return for a third season and that making the second season's five episodes was a blast with the cast having a lot of fun between takes. "I had a wonderful time doing it, shooting on the North Shore of Oahu. It's such a fun sbow, very sexy and soapy. People are enjoying it." And what about all those love scenes with on-screen boyfriend Kevin (played by Gregory Michael). "Greg is a real sweetheart," Charlie said, laughing. He's too much of a gentleman to kiss and tell. 
After the program, chatted up Brett Chuckerman, one of the leads in the gay comedy sequel "Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds." The title is horrible in my opinion but the movie is not. It will hit selected theaters the first week of December. Brett told me the cast had a blast time making the indie movie and it shows. He promises a good time for all: "It's funny! It's a fun crazy
“Word is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives� is a landmark stereotype-crushing film presents interviews with people from around the U.S. discussing their diverse experiences as gay men and women. Considered the first feature-length documentary about LGBT identity made by gay filmmakers, this film had a huge impact on gays and lesbians when it was released almost 30 years ago.
. You can't take you eyes off of this 24 year old actor who I ran into Saturday afternoon during a break between movies.
who I found myself standing next to at one of the bars at The Abbey last Friday night. I had seen his terrific film,
Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily
News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession
with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen
at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never
seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.