Dustin Lance Black - Big Gay Picture Show

Virginia Trailer – Dustin Lance Black’s directorial debut

Virginia (or What’s With Virginia? as it was initially titled) debuted with mixed-to-bad reviews at the Toronto Film Festival a few months ago, but Dustin Lance Black’s directorial debut still seems like it’ll be worth a look. It’s out on the US in May and should reach the UK later this year.

Black is, of course, best known as the out and proud screenwriter of Milk and J. Edgar, but here thing are less historical and more satirical. In the film, a sheriff (Ed Harris) sees his state senate bid slide onto the ice when his daughter begins to date the son of a charming but psychologically disturbed woman (Jennifer Connelly) with whom the sheriff has engaged in a two-decades-long affair.

Some have commented that the trailer seems deceptive, as the film they saw plays out more tragic than the comic tone of the promo, However it has been completely re-edited since its TIFF debut, due to some of the severe criticism it came in for. Hopefully Dustin will have sorted things out, as the trailer does make the movie look decent enough.

Jane Lynch Joins George Clooney In Dustin Lance Black’s Play, 8

A few weeks ago it was revealed George Clooney would take part in a staged reading of 8, Dustin Lance Black’s play about the court case surrounding Proposition 8 in the California. Now more cast members for the March 3rd at LA’s Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

Adding to the star power, according to the LA Times, are Jamie Lee Curtis, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Glee’s Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch. The play has been performed in New York, but this will be its East Coast premiere, and as it’s taking place in LA, it can call on plenty of celebs. The play chronicles the historic federal court trial overturning Proposition 8, the ballot measure that denied gay and lesbian Californians the right to marry, and is based on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. Also taking part in the reading are Matt Bomer, George Takei, Yeardley Smith, Campbell Brown, Rory O’Malley and Cleve Jones.

All proceeds from the event will go to American Foundation for Equal Rights, with the $2 million that’s expected to be raised being used to continue fighting the court case and on awareness raising events.

It’s also been revealed that 8 will be licensed to be performed in universities and schools for free, with 40 productions expected to take advantage of this during 2012. Milk and J. Edgar screenwriter Dustin Lance Black commented, “People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter. I’ve built my career around exposing and uncovering ‘the real story,’ The goal of 8 is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right and that those who would deny this basic freedom from loving, committed couples have only vitriol and baseless hyperbole to fall back on. The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light. We are doing all we can to help speed that process along.”

And while we’re talking about Dustin, the recently married writer has just found distribution for his directorial debut, Virginia. The movie stars Jennifer Connelly, Emma Roberts and Ed Harris and centers around Virginia, a mentally ill mother protected by her illegitimate son Emmett, whose father may be the local Mormon sheriff. Their small-town secrets are threatened when Emmett begins a romantic relationship with the sheriff’s daughter, while her father runs for public office. Entertainment One has picked up North American right to the movie and a release date is expected to be announced soon. No UK release is currently set.