Cringe-Worthy “Judas Kiss”
On the first delightfully warm evening of the season here in San Francisco, I spent it in a stuffy movie theater watching the equivalent of a gay-inspired After School Special. "Judas Kiss" was an overly hyped masturbatory vanity project that was 5 years in the making that finally made it to the screen at the Frameline LGBT Film Festival.
I give the producers credit for trying something original with a gay oriented fictional film, but like so many mainstream Hollywood films in the "how would my life change in an alternate universe?" genre, it falls flat. A bit of "Freaky Friday", "It's A Wonderful Life", and a million body-swap comedies coupled with the angst of young film makers with unrealistic career expectations, and you have "Judas Kiss".
The script had some minor laughs, but it was so formulaic, it seemed more like a rough draft full of "Insert Joke Here" that never got the final touches. At the Q&A following the movie, the crew seemed way too self-indulgent and self-congratulatory than seemed appropriate for the tepid product. They've totally bought into the whole "Glee" genre mixed with "Twilight" to the point of hiring the lead actor with decidedly Robert Pattison pout. Following the "Twilight" playbook, character motivations are murky, emotions are as subtle as a sledge hammer, and emphasis is placed on pretty boys reveling in their moodiness.
And then the "Gleeks" take over. During a very emotion filled monologue, the main character pours out his heart to the younger version of himself all while sitting at a piano fake-playing a piece of music way too complex to believably play while in the heat of conversation. WTF?
More evidence of the "Twilight of the Gleek" connection came when introducing former porn twink Brent Corrigan's character as the alternate love interest. Corrigan plays a film student "into making bloody movies", but not the creature-feature variety. The plot shows Corrigan directing a music video straight out of "Glee" featuring a tall blond twink as a singing and dancing vampire spraying blood instead of confetti or glitter. Glee goes to college.
But the nail in the "Twilight"-ripoff coffin came during the credits when the entire cast broke into a very "Glee-esque" un-memorable song. The pre-screening introduction hinted at a "very special surprise" during the credits, by the very proud producers. Ugh. Cringe turned to cramping by this point.
The producers were so effervescent during the Q&A, they kept grabbing the mic from each other to fawn over themselves. But when they handed the mic to the lead actor, hoping he would continue the giddy school girl excitement, he clearly thought of it as just another job, downplaying the seeming "harmonic convergence" the crew expressed in putting the film together. His reply was essentially, "Um, my agent gave me the script and I did it."
Believe it or not, the most natural and believable actor, despite some thudding dialogue was Brent Corrigan. Corrigan wanted to use his alternate real name Sean Paul Lockhart, but IMDB listed his porn name as did the producers when they introduced him on stage. (Trying to escape his porn past, but only half-heartedly?) Somehow, in all the congratulations, Corrigan never got to speak in the Q&A.
I certainly hope this "Twilight/Glee" convergence, together or separately, is NOT the wave of the future in film making.
Saviour Soul – March 5
I did the poster for this and Lavender Lounge is a sponsor.
Saviour Soul - a monthly club at the Powerhouse in San Francisco by Anna Conda and Sister Mary Ralph. Next event is Saturday, March 5, 4-8 pm. Drink Specials, raffle, Jello Shots and outrageous drag show!
WTF File – Please Shield Your Eyes, Kids
Oh lordy, I did NOT need to see Andy in ripped underwear. However, you need to see it.
Now you can't un-see it.
Subversive Gay Images in Macy’s Parade?
I'm sitting here watching the Macy's Parade as I have for the past 50 years or so, and as usual, struggling to find the subversive gay images. It's actually not that hard to find gay imagery in the Macy's Parade - show tunes, costumes, dancing boys, marching bands, Rockettes. What impressionable gay boy didn't get inspired by the pageantry?
But the most blatantly gay impression I recall from the Macy's Parade was sometime in the 1970's. I was just passively watching the TV broadcast when the hosts (probably Ed McMahon and Betty White) announced "The Great American Yankee Band from West Hollywood, CA". There on national TV was a marching band with uniforms displaying their logo with the acronym for the band "G.A.Y." I sat up in my chair in disbelief. Could it be a gay band playing on NBC in the daytime in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade? My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I believe the song they were either playing was "If They Could See Me Now" (from the musical "Sweet Charity") or "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", or any one of the classic gay anthems. They just marched on by with no mention from the announcers, but my gaydar went into full tilt red alert when I saw the fey looking male baton twirlers with handlebar mustaches.
I've never heard anyone else mention this over the years, so I had to look it up today to confirm it. Sure enough, what's now known as the Freedom Band of Los Angeles (FredomBand.org) was originally called the Great American Yankee Band. The website confirms that the band was formed in 1978 and name was chosen specifically to infiltrate mainstream parades. ("The band geeks who changed the world.") They were the second gay marching band in the world, preceded only by the San Francisco Freedom Band founded a few months earlier.
The website, though hard to read, describes highlights of their history including the 1979 March on Washington, infiltrating a fourth of July parade in ultra-conservative Orange County as well as sneaking into a fourth of July parade in Atlanta, but this time on national television. ("... let that sink in a minute. Yankees. GAY Yankees. In Atlanta. On the 4th of July. In Atlanta.)
That's the kind of creative subversion I love, but now I am confused. There is no mention of their appearance in the Macy's Parade. Did I imagine it? You'd think that would be their biggest accomplishment, but it's not mentioned. I hope someone can contact me to confirm this story. In the meantime, I'm going back to this this year's broadcast and who's the next performer? Famous gay Alan Cumming with a bleach blond faux hawk, and then Gloria Gaynor sang "I Will Survive"! Can't get much gayer than that!
Halloween 2009
I went out for Halloween a couple times in 2009 and got some great pictures each time. This gallery is from Halloween Night. The theme of the party was Gods and Goddesses but I already had an outfit planned before I learned about the party. Since I was planning to wear a wedding dress (size 10, thank you very much!) I found out there is Celtic goddess named Brigit (The Bride) who is best known for having invented beer! That's the kind of god I'm willing to worship!
Just to give a little twist to the bride costume, I wore strap-on dildo underneath and it really got some great reactions! I have tons of photos of people sucking my dick, especially by people I wouldn't expect to do it! Several fantasies got fulfilled that night.
After two years of the Castro being a ghost town on Halloween, the crowds came back this year, but it felt very controlled due a very large police presence. Early in the evening I made one celebrity sighting, Ongina from Ru Paul's Drag Race was also in a wedding dress (where DID she get that idea!) and Jack Macinroth from Project Runway was escorting her in a tuxedo shirt with no sleeves.
HALLOWEEN 2009 - NON-MEMBER PREVIEW - VIP ONLY GALLERY - JOIN
Big Muscle 10 Year Anniversary Party
For the past 6 years Andy and Bill of BigMuscle.com, BigMuscleBear.com and their network of gay social networking sites threw their annual pre-Folsom Fair party. It always happens on the Saturday afternoon before the fair, so it's perfect for the tourists looking to get an early start. I spotted one celebrity tourist on his way to the restroom. Do you remember Rami Kashou from Project Runway Season 4? He was the Middle Eastern muscle bear that always drapes his models like Greek statues. He was sweaty, shirtless, smoking hot and blended right in with the other muscle bears.
Even if you're not a tourist, it's one of the highlights of Leather Week.
This year was important because it marks the 10 Year Anniversary of Big Muscle. Even though a lot of social networking sites have sprung up in competition, Big Muscle is still free and still a "who's who" of gay muscle jocks. Most post their pictures to get laid at some point, but many insist that they just want to "make friends". Some even make it clear they don't want any contact, they just like to show off their 20" biceps and 50" chest to show off.
I got plenty of photos, but I eventually put the camera in coat check and got out on the dancefloor. I've been shooting these Paparazzi Pictures at events like this for quite a few years now. It should be getting blasé about being around all this testosterone and beauty, but it never ceases to amaze me. I do however, run out of words to describe the type of events. To properly understand it, you're going to have to buy a membership to Lavender Lounge and see for yourself.
I shot some amazing pictures from the Big Muscle / Big Muscle Bear party that I posted to the Lavender Lounge VIP Room. You can watch them as a slide show for hands-free viewing, and trust me, you will be tempted to touch yourself, so two free hands will be necessary!
“Inglourious Basterds” Premier With Quentin Tarantino
Facebook has finally proven to be worthwhile. Yesterday afternoon my friend Mikey posted to Facebook that he was giving away two free tickets to the premier of "Inglourious Basterds" at the Castro. The clincher was that the director, Quentin Tarantino would be there, too. It was already after 4 and the screening was at 7, so I moved fast and nailed those tickets. So long, suckas!
As Tarantino described in the Q&A after the movie, he set out to create a WWII "genre picture" way back around 1998. His writing process begins with an idea, then starts building characters. He may or may not have an ending in mind, but the plot develops through the fleshing out and creating the characters. (Though I've never written a full-length script, that's probably how I would do it, too.) In the case of "Inglourious Basterds", he originally thought the movie would be historically correct, but as it turned out, the final script actually changes history.
Paraphrasing Tarantino, "Besides the sub-plot revolving around a Nazi propaganda movie-within-a-movie, the whole picture becomes my own propaganda movie because I end up re-writing history!"
I've seen enough Quentin Tarantino movies and heard him interviewed enough times to know he's basically a movie geek (or "cinephile" as he says) and makes movies HE would like to see. Graphic, gross out violence, dark humor, very complex character-driven plots and homages to other classic films are always incorporated. The audience at the Castro were true Tarantino fans with intelligent questions and a rather disturbing tendency to chuckle or even laugh at extreme violence. Tarantino knows his audience because he is one.
I won't go into the plot of "Inglourious Basterds" because it's very convoluted and complex, with plenty of surprising twists and turns that could be spoilers if I told you too much. I'm going to stick with tidbits of interest to readers of this gay porn blog. For instance:
Brad Pitt is sexy and swaggering as always playing a hot-shot hillbilly leader of an all-Jewish gang of Nazi hunters. He demands that each of his soldiers present him with no less than 100 Nazi scalps, and we see the process of several scalpings vividly. Brad's definitely rocking the hot daddy image.
A good deal of the cast were famous German actors. Maybe I see entirely too much gay porn, but many of them looked like gay porn stars.
My readers will take particular interest in a character called "The Bear Jew" who has a reputation for bashing in heads with a baseball bat. The Bear Jew makes his first appearance after a big build-up to terrorize captured Nazis. Gay fans of bears and bear cubs will drool over the hunky terrorist stud in dirty wife beater and suspenders. (see below) He's played by Eli Roth, the hot young director of "Hostel" and "Cabin Fever", who had to pack on 40 pounds of muscle to play the role. Move over Brad!
When asked to describe a "dream project", Tarantino explained that each of his movies are dream projects, "I am one of the fortunate people that get the chance to actually create my art the way I want to." True to his spirit of independent film making, he insisted that the first run of "Inglourious Basterds" be shown at as many single-screen theaters as possible. I applaud the whole concept of premiering a movie at an old movie palace like the Castro with the director sitting in the auditorium and answering questions afterward. (He actually sat in the same row as us!) It was not a tuxedo and slinky gown red carpet Hollywood affair, as Tarantino chose to arrive in a vintage 1940's Buick rather than a contemporary stretch limo. However, I think his film making technique continues to evolve and "Inglourious Basterds" has the look of a big, Hollywood blockbuster rather than the scrappy little indie films earlier in his career.
Previously Unreleased Video of Michael Jackson’s Hair On Fire!
Wow. This shocking behind the scenes video of Michael Jackson's fateful 1984 Pepsi commercial has never been released before. It was during the sixth take before an audience of 3,000 people that the pyrotechnics went horribly wrong. This is the real footage, and be warned that it is graphic and disturbing.
Celebrity Drag Commercial For Palm Springs
This past weekend I spent in Palm Springs creating a commercial to enter in contest with a $1,000 prize. The assignment was to help promote Palm Springs as a tourist destination and as a production center for gay television. It stars Wenda Watch and a hunky blond stripper we met at the bar the night before. Check out the finished product above.
Wenda Watch convinced me to drive 8 hours each way in hopes of winning that big prize money. I was skeptical from the start, but I figured it would be a small turn out so we would have a good chance to win.
The temperatures were in the range of 108-118 degrees while we shot Wenda in drag with three pairs of panty hose in the blazing sun. In between, we had to attend seminars, search for props, ride around to shoot locations, and finally edit it all together. The entire trip was rush, rush, rush, then jump back in the car and drive another 8 hours to get home. I hardly got any rest on my "vacation".
We didn't win the contest, but it was nice to get away for a few days. The commercial contest was part of a convention to inspire more gay TV production in Palm Springs, so they held a couple workshops, too.
The first was a photography workshop by Tom Bianchi. Listening to him tell about his amazing life experiences was almost worth the trip right there. It's inspiring to hear a successful artist who is able to do what most of us only wish we were able to do creatively - and <i>get paid</i> for it! Therein lies the rub. I know a million artists running around creating great things, but only between shifts carrying plates. Tom Bianchi has been success his entire life, gets to work with beautiful men (and doesn't pay them!), and has 19 books out.
The other workshop was by another living legend, Bruce Vilanch. It's supposed to be a writing workshop, but was really just a chance to hear his amazing celebrity stories. And he has a million of them! Some interesting tidbits about Bruce Vilanch:
-He used to babysit Chastity Bono, and they later both appeared on Celebrity Fit Club.
-He's writing a book on how he wrote for the three worst shows in the history of television, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, The Donnie and Marie Show, and the Paul Lynde Halloween Special.
-Paul Lynde was funny and charming after one drink, but by the second drink, he was a mean old queen.
-Bruce Vilanch wrote the script for Michael Jackson's "This Is It" Tour. (BTW, did you hear it got cancelled?)
-When he was 14, Bruce Vilanch played Joel Grey's father in summer stock.
During the workshop, a cute guy asked Bruce, "How do you know when to have sex with someone to get ahead?" Everyone treated it as a joke, but the next night, the two of them were seen walking back to the hotel together.
And here is a funny Paul Lynde story. He was on a plane drunk and annoyed by a crying baby. He walked back the mother of the baby and told her, "Either you make that kid shut up or I'm going to fuck it."
Needless to say, Paul Lynde never flew on Western Airlines again.
My Theory of Michael Jackson Story
"The King of Pop" is not big enough. Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer that ever lived. -Barry Gordy, at Michael Jackson Memorial
Wadn't nothin' strange about yo' daddy. What was strange what he had to deal with. -Al Sharpton to Michael Jackson's kids at Michael Jackson Memorial
We'll never know the real "story" behind Michael Jackson. There have been so many lies, rumors, cover-ups, jokes and fabrications coming all sides for 40 years, no one knows who to believe. I remember running home from work in 1993 to find the latest details of the Michael Jackson molestation case on tabloid TV. I admit I got sucked into the camp that believed he really did molest young boys. I have since changed my mind about his guilt in the allegations, but I feel he was still not being honest.
I believe Michael Jackson was homosexual and so determined to remain in the closet he was willing to take the chance of being labeled a pedophile rather than come out as gay.
Homophobia is so strong that even a star a big as Michael Jackson couldn't overcome discrimination because of it. Had he come out in 1993 and said, "I'm gay, not a pedophile. Here are names of adult males I've had sexual contact with", the molestation charges would have been completely diffused. The cops searched his house from top to bottom, photographed him naked, but no matter how hard the cops tried to find hard evidence of a crime they never found anything of substance to file charges. That's right, after interviewing hundreds witnesses and at least 30 children who visited and stayed at Neverland, Michael Jackson was never charged with a crime. After the jump you'll find detailed research that answers the important questions regarding Michael Jackson's innocence in child molestation accusations.
I don't know if this is real or not, but someone is spreading messages from Jordan Chandler, the accuser in the 1993 case. Supposedly, he's now saying he lied under direction of his father, and for the first time, current photos of accuser Jordan Chandler have finally appeared:
I want to say that this information it’s for sure (I mess up with the names because i was crying), I don’t really care if you believe it or not, I made a promise to an old friend to tell the truth when Michael will die and that’s what I’m doing. I’m not searching for attention i have enough of it. This is for you Mikey i will always love you…
I never meant to lie and destroy Michael Jackson but my father made me to tell only lies. Now i can’t tell Michael how much i’m sorry and if he will forgive me ”.
Now for the first time i can’t bear to lie anymore. Michael Jackson didn’t do anything to me, all was my father lies to escape from being poor.
An unauthorized biography will be coming out in a matter of days, "The Final Years of Michael Jackson" written by investigative reporter Ian Halperin. You can read some of the juiciest tidbits on a blog I posted a few days ago here at Lavender Lounge. (CLICK HERE) It is these references that solidify what we always really knew. Michael Jackson was gay, and simply made some bad choices. For fear of being always remembered as a "fag" that was innocent of child molestation, he'll instead be remembered as a rich pedophile who bought his way out jail. His loyal fans will always believe he's innocent and a heterosexual role model, just like die hard fans of Liberace still think he "just never met the right girl". Sad.
So why am I spending so much time covering Michael Jackson on a gay porn blog? I'm not sure, but his music has been running through my head all week even though I haven't been anywhere where it has been playing. "Billy Jean", "Thriller", "The Girl Is Mine", "ABC", "Rock With You", and others have been haunting me. I've got a million things to do, but I watched the live coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial, and goddammit I started to cry during "We Are The World", and the waterworks burst when Michael Jackson's daughter spoke for the first time.
I want to start a campaign among gay fans to once and for all embrace Michael Jackson as one of our own. Rather than berate him as a pedophile and closet case, let's include him as another gay icon and give him the respect he deserves.
Michael Jackson Last Video Footage
CNN acquired this short clip of Michael Jackson rehearsing last week, which is thought to be the last video footage before he died.
From reports of the last few rehearsals, they said he would arrive sometimes 2 hours late, walked in "with a spring in his step" but often had to be "helped up the stairs". Now, does that sound like someone ready to perform 50 shows? If you look at the choreography, it's not very "athletic". The steps are not much more than walk to the right, walk to the left, wave your arms, stomp you foot, etc. When there looks to be some bigger movements, the camera goes to an extreme wide shot.
I also read that the shows planned were to be mostly video and lighting effects and Michael would have only been onstage 17 minutes per show. The audiences would have felt ripped off.
Other Michael Jackson news - he will NOT be buried at Neverland. After the last trial, he said he would never set foot there again, and unfortunately, he didn't. A public funeral is scheduled for the Staples Center.
Michael Jackson Story Finallly Revealed
The author of the book "Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson", Ian Halperin, re-connected with his sources to provide insight into the final days of Michael Jackson. In a revealing article from the UK Daily Mail, we're finally learning what most of us already knew despite a lifetime of denial. The full article is after the jump, but here are some excerpts and photos from his last rehearsal.
"It is clear to me that Michael was homosexual and that his taste was for young men, albeit not as young as Jordan Chandler or Gavin Arvizo.
In the course of my investigations, I spoke to two of his gay lovers, one a Hollywood waiter, the other an aspiring actor. The waiter had remained friends, perhaps more, with the singer until his death last week. He had served Jackson at a restaurant, Jackson made his interest plain and the two slept together the following night. According to the waiter, Jackson fell in love.
The actor, who has been given solid but uninspiring film parts, saw Jackson in the middle of 2007. He told me they had spent nearly every night together during their affair – an easy claim to make, you might think. But this lover produced corroboration in the form of photographs of the two of them together, and a witness.
Other witnesses speak of strings of young men visiting his house at all hours, even in the period of his decline. Some stayed overnight.
When Jackson lived in Las Vegas, one of his closest aides told how he would sneak off to a ‘grungy, rat-infested’ motel – often dressed as a woman to disguise his identity – to meet a male construction worker he had fallen in love with.
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AFTER THE JUMP
Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon
Death always come in threes. First it was Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett and now Michael Jackson is dead. Larry King was set to devote his show to Farrah, now she's being put aside to devote two shows to Michael Jackson.
Even before Michael's death was officially pronounced, Brian Ochsman, the Jackson family attorney, for the first time broke ranks and spilled the beans that "He was surrounded by enablers." He stressed that when the truth comes out, it will be a bigger mess than Anna Nicole Smith's tragic end.
I've always suspected that he's addicted to prescription drugs provided by enablers that are exploiting his paranoia and promising to keep the world away from him. He lived in a bubble like Howard Hughs and Elvis.
Michael Jackson's first molestation case occurred before OJ Simpson killed his wife. At that time, a reporter asked OJ what he thought of the Michael Jackson trial, and OJ said, "Where's there's smoke there's fire." Very telling.
Objective legal commenters on CNN are now coming out to refer to the indisputable evidence against him in the child molestation trials, one of which was settled for "eight figures", which no one in the media has stated as fact before.
The truth can now come out, and it's going to get messy.
I don't cover mainstream celebrity gossip as often as I like, but by a simple search on my blog, I was amazed how many times I have mentioned Michael Jackson on Lavender Lounge Blog! He's made an impact even on me.
Michael Jackson's Gay Pornographer Jacko's Porn Pal Investigated Paul Barresi Memoir Outs Hollywood Royalty Michael Jackson In Drag Michael Jackson On Suicide Watch Auction Items From Neverland Estate
Gay Male Hooker Stories at Film Festival
I broke a personal record yesterday - attending three movie screenings in one day!
The first two movies were both on the same topic, male prostitution. After watching "Greek Pete", I wondered why this movie was given two screenings during the festival, and for that matter, why was it even in the festival. It's about a young male hustler in London who is neither successful nor the stereotypical hot mess. He's just boring and and somewhat boorish.
The representative from Frameline stressed the supposed "innovative" technique of creating a "hybrid" of narrative and documentary, which I chalk up as just lazy and indecisive. I think the back story is the film maker, Andrew Haigh, is merely naive to the world of adult entertainment and once he got involved, everything about it seemed fascinating - but only to him. The DVD Extras of virtually any good gay porn movie gives you a much better insight into young men who have sex for money, and with better lighting.
The film maker admitted that he "cheated" giving the subjects directions and topics to discuss in the scenes where they are supposed to be candid. Oooh, very Andy Warhol, but 40 years too late. If I want a fake reality show that's actually scripted, I'll watch "The Hills". He even went so far as to hire an actor (or a non-actor as the case may be) to play the role of a client to show Greek Pete on a date. It wasn't hard to see right through that, and the director even admitted it in the Q&A! I felt ripped off.
A few hours later I saw another documentary on the same topic of male prostitution, but this one was done right and came out a hundred times better. "The Good American" follows a truly interesting character named Tom Weise who helped found RentBoy.com. Why did the shitty little movie about a 20-something hooker sell out the big Castro Theater and the Victoria while the better movie about the 40 year old hooker with health problems was only screened at the smaller Victoria? Simple. Old queens buy tickets to movies that have pretty boys pictured in the program. Period. As a gay man scanning through a film festival program, which of the two images here catches your eye? I thought so.
Whether it's a narrative or a documentary, movies need conflict. "The Good American" enlightened us to numerous issues facing this generation of gay men as summed up by the film's very complex subject, Tom Weise. The film follows him all over New York, Las Vegas and Germany showing how he managed to run a very successful prostitution-related business that is barely legal, but was his only career option as an illegal German immigrant with HIV. The conflict goes even deeper as he pushes the envelope to produce XXX parties in prudish America, putting his immigration status in jeopardy with potential police reaction.
I've met Tom Weise and I attended the one of the Hustlaball events in Las Vegas portrayed in the film. Even at the time, we knew there was a buzz around town that the event could easily have been busted and the Wild Wild West reputation of Las Vegas does not include public nudity and sex. You can gamble and drink all you like, but can't show certain body parts in public!
The film opens as he begins the process of being deported back to Germany, severing ties with the company he founded, and marrying his American partner in Germany in hopes that by taking his husband's last name, he will be able to get a new passport to return to the States. The finale of the movie was to be his triumphant attendance at yesterday's screening, but in a letter from Tom Weise read at the beginning of the show, his visa was denied just two weeks ago.
Wow, talk about conflict and timeliness! This movie really shows courage and ambition by both the subject and the film maker.
“Making The Boys” – Explaining Gay History To The Boys In The Band
The film is not yet finished, but I was grateful to attend an afternoon screening of Crayton Robey's "Making The Boys", a documentary about the Mart Crowley play and movie "Boys In The Band". Not only is the movie a celebrity-laden biography of writer and show business insider Mart Crowley, but it's a well-made gay history lesson to put the play in perspective with the times. As the film maker said during the Q&A, "We needed to create a context for the storytellers of the future."
The play came out in 1967, the movie came out in 1970 when I was 15. My only friend who was old enough to drive would pick me to watch movies for free from the parking lot next to a drive-in. (Yes, kids, people watched movies in drive-in theaters!) One week during Coming Attractions they showed the trailer for "Boys In The Band". We couldn't believe that a movie with gay characters was even possible. I didn't come out as gay till 6 years later, but I had come out as a "freak" long before that. My interest in seeing this "shocking" movie was simply because it was shocking. It's the same reason the general public flocked to see it onstage and in the theater.
It's impossible for me to explain how closeted the entire culture was at the time. The film maker knew that too, and went so far as to interview young gay people that never heard of "Boys In The Band" or knew of its significance. He felt obligated to include a thumbnail of gay history in "Making The Boys", which was really well done and served two purposes. Not only did it explain the significance of the movie culturally, but it provided a context for the debate about the controversy surrounding whether or not it was a "bad representation" of gay life.
Going back to my first screening of the movie in 1970 or 1971, the trailer seemed to indicate it would be more of an outrageous comedy or sexploitation movie. At 15 with no experience of gay life whatsoever, I left the movie stunned. I was somewhat titillated, but didn't understand why. All I knew was that I couldn't talk about the movie with my friend in the car, and neither could he. Many people felt the same way, but many gay activists as well as show business types hated the movie and play because it portrayed gay people in a bad light. Well folks, good art often is often challenging, especially if it's ahead of it's time.
From Frameline's Program:
Who knew that the same week Judy Garland died and our sisters rioted at the Stonewall Bar in the Village, a few blocks away William Friedkin was shooting The Boys In the Band — the first openly gay mass-market film? That is one of many little nuggets in Crayton Robey’s fun-packed Making The Boys. Another is writer Mart Crowley’s comment, “What did I have to lose?” to explain how a fey Hollywood failure wrote the play in a week, won a five-day workshop way off-off Broadway that turned into the event absolutely Everybody Had to See, then turned down big Tinsel town money to insist the 1970 film be made with its original, very brave, cast of unknowns.
This making-of documentary, though, is marbled with swirls of canny (and catty) commentary by a cast of well-known characters. The heads doing the talking include Carson Kressley (Queer Eye), Dan Savage, Michael Musto, Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and a now uncloseted Edward Albee. It is also candy-sprinkled with period clips. Worth the price of admission alone is footage of a Malibu beach party showing Mart Crowley cavorting on the sand at Roddy MacDowell’s house with Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Judy Garland, Rock Hudson and a dozen more of Hollywood’s gay glitterati and female admirers.
Maybe, like Larry Kramer, you thought Boys in the Band spread bitchiness and gay loathing. Or agree with John Cameron Mitchell that it was a breakthrough film showing spunky Sisterhood. Anyway, here’s one fun making-of doc. — MARK FREEMAN
“Little Joe” – The Joe D’allesandro Biography
A big hit at this year's Frameline LGBT Film Festival was last night's screening of "Little Joe", the biography of Joe D'allesandro, the legendary pinup boy of the 60's and 70's.
During the screening, there were a couple times the bf clutched his pearls and gasped at the beauty that was young Joe D'allesandro. Short haired, long haired, posed or natural, the camera just loved him, as well as an entire generation of gay men jerking off to his image. And best of all, Little Joe himself showed up at the screening! In fact, on the way out, he walked right past me within arm's length! I'm swooning!
Some little known facts I learned:
-Joe D'allesandro is much shorter than I thought.
-At over 60 years old, he has an excellent colorist. His hair does not look dyed at all, but obviously it is.
-He appeared in over 50 movies, mostly in Europe, and he had top billing in many of them. -He met Andy Warhol by a friend bringing him to a party that turned out to be a filming. At the time, Andy's film making method was to sit next to the camera and read the paper while a bunch of cute boys and girls would just talk about anything they wanted. Andy would just turn the camera on or off when he felt like it. Since everything was so loose, they just grabbed cute little Joe and put him in the movie.
-Over the years, Joe continually asked Paul Morrissey, (Andy's director), why he was always asked to be naked in movies with drag queens. (Duh! Paul Morrissey is gay! That's why!)
-I knew that Joe D'allesandro had done nude modeling for Athletic Model Guild at some point, but I didn't know it actually preceded working with Warhol. I also didn't know he posed for AMG when is was only 16! The film clip above is the movie "Flesh" which kind of explains the improv style of film making. In it, Jackie Curtis and Candy Darling are reading vintage Hollywood gossip magazines while Joe is getting a blowjob. I am also waiting for a friend to bring me a clip of Joe D'allesandro's only hardcore gay scene. Though he denies having made a hardcore gay movie, it does exist and and I will be bringing it to you asap.
The Dreambears: It’s Raining Men – Britain’s Got Talent
They're chubby, furry, and do cartwheels. The "Dreambears" lipsynch and dance to the gay classic "It's Raining Men" on "Britain's Got Talent", and it couldn't get any campier. Naturally, Simon Cowell didn't like it and buzzed them when the bear on the right got "excited" and his underwear popped out. He didn't think three burly queen bears were the right act to perform before Her Majesty, the Queen. The other judges disagreed, but had they added Susan Boyle as the fourth Dream Bear, they might have won. Hello Dreambears! Though you didn't win, you'll no doubt have better success hooking up with your own kind at MuscleBearCub.com. It's FREE and you won't have Evil Simon Cowell judging you!
Jonas Brother Comes Out – Joe Jonas Lipsynchs In Drag
Joe Jonas, of the squeaky-clean Jonas Brothers, just came out - as a strong black woman. There's been rumors about the sexuality of the gay-bait twinky trio since Day One, but this video seals it. The tight black dancekin and high heels reveals some shapely gams, and the head-bobbing "Oh no you di-ent" attitude just sent him flying out of the closet - as a SBW. But does this mean he's gay? I don't know. Every good looking male celebrity is rumored to be gay until he grows out of his androgynous stage. Every one. I'd hit it.
In fact, below is an example of how I'd like the Jonas Brothers to have a three way.
Levi Johnston Shirtless – Gay Porn Is Next
Back on September 3, 2008 I made some predictions about Bristol Palin's hunky baby daddy, Levi Johnston. The scenario I wrote didn't turn out exactly as I predicted, but I came pretty damn close. I predicted a quickie shotgun wedding and divorce after two years. In reality, they didn't even make it to the alter. The same day he was to make the monumental appearance at the Republican Convention I predicted this: "He might just decide he likes the spotlight, and once he gets Bristol off his back, a slimey agent gets him on reality shows. That idea flops, and next thing you know, he's on gay porn sites." He did get on Tyra Banks and a slew of talk shows just as I predicted. And now, only eight months later, I find out that Levi Johnston posed shirtless for GQ Magazine! Um, for guys of my generation, GQ and International Male WAS gay porn! I jerked off to GQ plenty of times in my 20's. So what's next for Ex-Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's ex-son-in-law that never was? "Hello, is this Randy Blue (or more likely, Broke Straight Boys)? Are you still looking for models?" And as Perez Hilton said, "Hey, nice guns!" See, I was right, and I'd still hit it.
Summary of GayVN Nominated Movies 2009
I just finished casting my votes for the GayVN Awards for 2009! Whew! What a job that was! As always, I had to go through a marathon of viewing movies at the last minute. Thank goodness I've been watching them throughout the year so I was a somewhat prepared.
As an over-all observation of the gay porn industry, I am once again impressed by the quality of films made this year. Though it gets tedious sometimes, every once in a while, I get blown away by a set design, a lighting technique, a special effect, or a breath taking location. Rarely do I see a sex position I've never seen before, but when I do, it may either challenge me or not, but I always welcome innovation. Each year the cameras and the computers get better, and the guys running them get more proficient.
I am going to give you a quick rundown of some of the movies I just watched over the last few days while they are still fresh in my mind.
To The Last Man by Raging Stallion will probably make an enormous sweep of the awards this year. It's the biggest epic undertaking of the year, and though not perfect, it deserves acclaim just for taking such big chances.
Titan's Funhouse picks up the carney /circus theme they've done once a year for the past few years incorporating real gymnasts and circus performers in their contortion-like sex positions. Francois Sagat appears in both Funhouse and Breakers as an oddball character that keeps showing up at odd times. Breakers is another coming-out-of-retirement project by Bruce Cam who has had more retirement parties than Cher. If you liked Bruce Cam's earlier outdoor epics, you'll like this one, too. It's got the same campfire scene in every one.
The Best Sex Comedy category was pretty sparse this year, but that one is always tough. Jet Set Men 's Jock Tease had a genuinely funny montage at the end, but the dialogue throughout the rest of the movie was just butch sounding jock posturing. Not so funny for guys that intimidated by that shit. Straight boy Aaron James seemed to enjoy his role as the sluttiest jock willing to fuck anyone anyhow, while the other gay actors tried to act like they weren't. Irony, darling, irony.
Sex Hiker from upstart company Black Scorpion was big surprise. They appear intent on out-classing their competitors to put out a super premium product. Starting with hiring a South American runway model, D.O. (pronounced Dee-oh), and mr. Pam, they spent a shit load of money not only on production, but the packaging to mimic a fashion magazine shoot.
Foreign films are always a treat because they often incorporate exotic locales. Both AMG Brasil's Rio and Lucas Kazan's Italians and Other Strangers impressed me with the b-roll footage of gorgeous scenery and showed some genuine effort in the production. Lucas Kazan can always be counted on to provide a beautiful tableau that is out of this world.
As another diversion, I got to see a lot of twink movies, and Brent Corrigan seems to have that category wrapped up - but how the hell is he going to transition to bear movies when he turns 30?
This year for the first time, the GayVN Awards have several categories honoring websites. Randy Blue has such a stable of incredible models, but has never put out any DVDs. It would be interesting to see how a feature-length Randy Blue movie on DVD would stack up against other movie studios. Hmm.
And finally, in the fetish / leather / kink categories, Hot House has really learned to mix beauty with pain to consistently put out outstanding products that are challenging and creative. But for raw, niche-specific, know-your-audience fetish material, I was impressed by Lucas Entertainment's Piss! I usually get quite queasy watching piss scenes, but this simple, straight forward look at the fetish was somehow engaging even to me. The piss scenes outdoors and in bath tubs I could understand, but when they were peeing indoors on the floor and leather furniture, I kept thinking about how to get rid of that smell! (I guess Michael Lucas is rich enough to just throw away furniture and move out!)
That's my summary of the best gay porn movies from 2008, and though I didn't give you all heaps of praise in this one blog entry, perhaps it will all pay off when you pick up your trophies! Congratulations everyone, and keep up the good work!
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