Documenting gay history is always a worthwhile project, and that’s what Rocco Dared is attempting to do, taking a feature-length look at Pat Rocco, one of Hollywood’s original boundary pushing gay pioneers. Now the film is looking for funding on IndieGoGo, so that you can help out with what looks like it could be a fascinating (and rather sexy) project.
According to the spiel, ‘Rocco sold his all nude male films in the backs of local papers before getting his own festival at Los Angeles’ Park Theatre in 1968. The festival was an instant hit and Rocco continued to pump out more films as fast as he could, pushing new boundaries with each one. In A Very Special Friend Rocco dared to screen the first kiss between two men ever seen on a big theatre screen. Artistic, erotic, and highly romanticized, his films were controversial not for their explicitness but rather their bold political and artistic expression.
‘With a few short re-creations of Rocco’s early days of filmmaking, and Charlie David – fellow filmmaker, activist and star of Dante’s Cove and Judas Kill – playing a young Pat Rocco, the film will blend 21st century HD magic realism, with psychedelic 16mm sixties art films, creating a groovy, modern, hipster feel. We will blend the traditional documentary with contemporary cinema verité techniques, and stretch conventional concepts of imagination and authenticity.
‘David offers an excellent perspective for reflection and analysis, bringing his own unique personal touch to the investigative process, as he literally becomes Pat Rocco in the final scenes of the film. Audiences of all ages will be amazed and inspired by the things Rocco dared to do.’
The film is looking for $20,000 before June 2nd, with contributions accepted from $25 up and different perks offered depending on how much you give. So if you want to help, head over to IndieGoGo and sign up!
Oh, and if you want to know why including Charlie David in anything is a good idea, click here.
Note: While Rocco Dared in being produced by a company called Big Gay Movie, it has no affiliation with Big Gay Picture Show.
