GAY MOVIE/ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Archives - Page 101 of 235

Michael Urie Set To Team With Patti LuPone For A New Douglas Carter Beane Play

February 12, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Michael Urie gained a lot of fans in Ugly Betty, but for the past few years he’s mainly been on the stage, having particular success with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway, and touring with a one-man show.

Now he’s teaming up with Broadway legend Patti Lupone for Douglas Carter Beane’s new play, Shows For Day. Urie will be ‘Beane’s alter ego, 14-year-old Car, in the semi-autobiographical story about a community theater in Reading, Penn.’ LuPone will be the head of the troupe, described as ‘an indomitable force of nature whose life is dedicated to putting on productions she directs, designs and stars in.’

Orange Is the New Black’s Dale Soules will also appear as a member of the theatre company.

Variety doesn’t report whether the play touches on LGBT themes, but there’s a good chance, as Beane also wrote The Nance, which starred Nathan Lane as an actor famed for playing effeminate characters, who has to deal with a mayor who’s trying to crack down on homosexual ‘deviants’. He also wrote the Tony Award-winning The Little Dog Laughed, about an agent concerned her client’s ‘slight recurring case of homosexuality’ will details his acting career before it’s begun.

The Lincoln Center Theater’s Off Broadway production of Shows for Days starts previews on June 6th ahead of a June 29th opening.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:

Laverne Cox Is Turning Transgender Lawyer For Legal Drama Doubt

February 11, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Laverne Cox made a massive impact in Orange Is The New Black, resulting in her becoming a bona fide star and being the first transgender person to make the cover of Time magazine and the first to receive an Emmy nomination. She has helped frame the zeitgeist at a time when trans* issues have never been so talked about.

The fact is though, that as successful as Orange Is The New Black has been, it is only available on Netflix and so hasn’t reached the sort of audience a major network show can. She may be remedying that though as she’s taking a major role in the pilot for a potential CBS called Doubt.

Variety reports that show will follow ‘a yet-to-be-cast attorney who gets romantically involved with one of her clients who may or may not be guilty of a brutal crime’. Cox meanwhile will be will Cameron Wirth, a Ivy League-educated lawyer who’s both competitive and compassionate. Described as fierce and funny, Cameron’s own experience with injustice as result of being a trans* woman causes her to fight even harder for all of her clients.

Of course getting a pilot order isn’t a guarantee the show will end up on television, but Grey’s Anatomy producers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan who are behind the show have definitely made a smart move hiring Cox.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Laverne Cox

The Samurai Trailer – Take a look at Iris Prize Winner Till Kleinert’s FrighFest hit

February 10, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

We enjoyed The Samurai when we caught it at the Iris Prize festival last October. The film comes from Till Kleinert, who won the Iris Prize itself a few years ago for his excellent gay-themed short film Cowboy, which resulted in his making the also very good Boys Village.

What ties all those things together is an interest in the odd and creepy, and that continues with the loosely queer-themed The Samurai.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘On the edge of a dark forest, where the fear of wolves prevents locals from straying too far from home, a young police officer, Jakob receives a package addressed to the ‘Lone Wolf’. As the night shift starts a mysterious caller claims the package belongs to him.

‘Venturing out alone, Jakob unknowingly delivers a samurai sword to a wild-eyed man in a wedding dress, who entices him to participate in a bloody crusade through the village.

‘As night wanes something hidden is unleashed to meet the first rays of daylight…

‘Till Kleinert’s genre debut pulsates with relentless intensity, The Samurai is a daring, outrageous and fascinating journey into the sexual heart of darkness.’

The film is out on DVD and On-Demand in the UK from 13th April 2015. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
DIRECTORS: Till Kleinert FILMS: The Samurai

Power Erotic Trailer – Forget Fifty Shades, this is what the world of Gay BDSM is like (NSFW)

February 10, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

All the straight folks will be heading to Fifty Shades Of Grey this weekend, and while Jamie Dornan is very hot, he will unfortunately be sexually dominant with a woman. However if you’re more interested in the world of gay BDSM, there’s the documentary Power Erotic, which has launched a new, five-minute trailer.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘This documentary explores how power, dominance and masculinity influence human sexuality in general and gay male sexuality in particular. Distinguished academics guide the audience through a maze of conflicting attitudes ranging from our evolutional instincts, to the psychological.

‘Gay men speak out about the power dynamics that influence their sexuality, opening up honest dialogues that challenge our beliefs and reshape ideas on gay male sexuality. No effort is made to conceal their thoughts, beliefs and fantasies on what drives their sexual behavior.

‘Candid conversations, some of which are captured after actual sexual encounters provide unusual access to the psychological aspects of sexuality. It is out of these insightful and revealing conversations that form the basis of this documentary.

‘The film reaches its conclusion pondering the balance between sexual attraction, fantasies and the search for loving relationships.’

The film is currently screening at festivals. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:

James Franco & Zachary Quinto’s I Am Michael Will Open The BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival

February 10, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

After its world premiere at Sundance, I Am Michael, starring James Franco and Zachary Quinto will make its jump across the pond, making its UK debut as the Opening Night film of BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival. The BFI has also announced is a new pilot mentorship programme for emerging LGBT filmmakers which will launch at the Festival in partnership with Creative Skillset.

Adapted from Benoit Denizet-Lewis’ New York Times Magazine article ‘My Ex-Gay Friend, I Am Michael tells the real-life story of Michael Glatze, formerly a leading US journalist for prominent gay magazine XY, and also an activist working for LGBT rights. After a profound and life-changing epiphany, Glatze gradually renounced his homosexuality and turned to Christian ministry, becoming outspokenly opposed to queer lifestyles.

BFI Head of Cinemas and Festivals Clare Stewart says, “We’re thrilled to be opening BFI Flare with such strong new work from Justin Kelly straight from its highly applauded and hotly discussed debut in Sundance. This is provocative, probing cinema that avoids easy assumptions and judgements and it’s sure to be a major talking point at the Festival.”

The BFI’s Deputy Head of Festivals Tricia Tuttle adds: “We can think of no better film to open the 2015 edition of the Festival than I Am Michael, Justin Kelly’s audacious and assured directorial debut. This follows the great success of last year’s Opening Night, the European Premiere of Hong Khaou’s Lilting which went on to earn Hong a BAFTA nomination. I Am Michael is an equally powerful new work, and it’s a real testament to the growing regard within the industry for BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival”.

The full programme of BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival (formerly London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival) will be announced on 18 February. The Festival’s 29th edition will run 19 – 29 March 2015 at BFI Southbank with over 50 features and 100 short films representing the best in contemporary and archive LGBT cinema from around the world. BFI Flare is the UK’s longest running and most popular LGBT film festival with over 22,000 admissions.

As mentioned BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival, in partnership with Creative Skillset, is launching a mentorship pilot that will offer five emerging LGBT filmmakers from the UK the opportunity to develop industry knowledge, professional connections, their passion for cinema and an overview of LGBT features entering the marketplace. From March to December 2015, selected filmmakers will have one-to-one support from a senior industry figure who will act as a mentor over the nine-month programme. They will also have access to a one-of-a-kind package that includes a wide range of BFI festival screenings and BFI Flare events, as well as filmmaker-focused events and talks.

The programme is open to writer/directors/producers who have previously screened a short or a feature film in any of BAFTA’s qualifying film festivals or in BFI Flare (formerly LLGFF). Filmmakers will be chosen by an invited panel of industry professionals. The first events in this programme include a series of talks and events within an expanded BFI Flare Industry programme for all of the Festival’s accredited industry professionals.

The deadline for receipt of applications for the 2015 scheme is 23rd February 2015 and applications are available here: http://www.jotformpro.com/LFF/BFI_Flare_Film_Mentorship

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: James Franco, Zachary Quinto DIRECTORS: Justin Kelly FILMS: I Am Michael

How To Get Away With Murder’s Jack Falahee Talks More About Why He Won’t Say If He’s Gay Or Not

February 9, 2015 By Tim Isaac 2 Comments

A couple of weeks ago there was a lot of talk about comments How To Get Away With Murder’s Jack Falahee made, where he refused to say if he was gay in real life, or whether it was just his character was. Some praised him for refusing to be reductive, while others felt he was simply trying to have his cake and eat it.

You can understand the criticism, as his original comments to Out did come across more like he was trying to fudge and avoid the question than because he really believed his own point. At the time he said, “It’s been really interesting to be in the middle of the industry’s fascination with the individual, because I never thought about that growing up or when I was at acting school. No matter how I answer, someone will say, ‘No, that’s not true.’ We still live in this hetero-normative, patriarchal society that is intent on placing everything within these binaries. I really hope that — if not in my lifetime, my children’s lifetime — this won’t be a question, that we won’t need this.”

Now he’s expanded on what he was trying to say, telling Instinct, “We’re definitely making headway. The way we frame the conversation around sexuality is maybe not the best. That’s why I was adverse to answering that question.

“To answer how Jack Falahee defines his sexuality undermines what is being achieved by showing a character like Connor Walsh. Connor Walsh is unabashedly who he is because he’s confident in who he is. He doesn’t need to answer to anyone, and that’s okay.

“It’s really tough to assume that heterosexuality is the norm and that we are now forcing people to come out of closets. As soon as we can reconstruct the way that we view sexuality as a society, then this won’t be a conversation. You look at an actor who plays James Bond, and you don’t ask him if he’s gay or straight — or even the other men on my show. There’s no conversation being had about it, it just happens to be that I’m playing a gay man. So it seems really undermining to the greater cause.”

He does have a point, but he’s not necessarily getting it across particularly well. He’s right about James Bond and also that the question is only asked to him because he’s playing an LGBT character, but equally the way he talks about it does sound like he’s avoiding the issue.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Jack Falahee

Pride Picks Up A BAFTA, But Imitation Game Loses Out

February 9, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

EE BAFTA Rising Star winner Jack O’Connell

It was a big night at the EE British Academy Film Awards, where Boyhood was named Best Film with Richard Linklater winning Director and Patricia Arquette receiving the award for Supporting Actress. The Awards were hosted for a tenth year by Stephen Fry and held at London’s Royal Opera House.

While Pride lost out on Best Supporting Actress for Imelda Staunton and Best British Film, Writer Stephen Beresford and Producer David Livingstone received the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for the movie.

However the big loser on the gay-themed front was The Imitation Game, which had high hopes due to its 10 nominations, but walked away with absolutely nothing. To be honest that won’t be surprising to many, as few thought it was likely to do particularly well, but there was hope it would pick up a couple.

The Grand Budapest Hotel won five awards: Costume Design, Production Design, Make Up & Hair and Original Music, with Wes Anderson winning his first BAFTA for Original Screenplay.

Leading Actor was presented to Eddie Redmayne for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, which also received the awards for Outstanding British Film and Adapted Screenplay.

Whiplash received three BAFTAs: Supporting Actor for J. K. Simmons, Editing and Sound. Leading Actress was presented to Julianne Moore for her role in Still Alice, meaning all four of this year’s performance awards went to first-time BAFTA winners.

Writer Stephen Beresford and Producer David Livingstone received the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for their first feature film Pride. Previous Outstanding Debut winner Pawel Pawlikowski picked up the award for Film Not in the English Language for Ida.

Emmanuel Lubezki received the BAFTA for Cinematography for Birdman, having won this category twice previously, most recently in 2014.

The Lego Movie received the BAFTA for Animated Film, and Special Visual Effects was presented to Interstellar. The award for Documentary was won by Citizenfour.

Boogaloo and Graham won the British Short Film award and the British Short Animation award was presented to The Bigger Picture; both shorts are nominated for this year’s international short film and animation categories at the Oscars later this month.

The EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, was presented to Jack O’Connell.

The special award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema was presented to BBC Films in their 25th year. Mike Leigh, whose films include Naked, Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake and Mr. Turner, received the Fellowship, the highest honour the Academy can bestow.

You can take a look at the full list of winners below:

[Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Jack O'Connell, Julianne Moore, Patricia Arquette, Eddie Redmayne FILMS: Pride, The Imitation Game, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Zachary Quinto & Melissa Leo Up For Oliver Stone’s Edward Snowden Biopic

February 5, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Oliver Stone is pulling his Edward Snowden biopic together. He’s already got Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead role, with Shailene Woodley as his girlfriend and Scott Eastwood also set to star. Now three more people are in talks, according to TheWrap.

Zachary Quinto, Melissa Leo and Tom Wilkinson are all in negotiations for key roles. Quinto will be attorney and journalist Glenn Greenwald, who Snowden entrusted with actually leaking the secret US government documents that caused a firestorm when they were released.

Melissa Leo will play Oscar-nominated documentary director Laura Poitras, who made Citizenfour about Snowden and also reported on the leaked NSA documents when they were first released.

Wilkinson meanwhile will play Guardian intelligence correspondent Ewen MacAskill, who was key in actually getting to documents checked and the information they contained to the public.

Oliver Stone will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Kieran Fitzgerald (The Homesman). It’s believed it will start shooting soon.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Zachary Quinto, Melissa Leo, Tom Wilkinson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt DIRECTORS: Oliver Stone FILMS: Edward Snowden

BBC Releases First Pic From Upcoming Transgender-Themed Sitcom Boy Meets Girl

February 4, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Amazon’s Transparent has gained huge amounts of acclaim since it was first released, but what the transgender-themed show forgot was to have any major characters played by trans* actors. The BBC isn’t going to make that mistake as it’s commissioned Boy Meets Girl, which has just started shooting, and stars trans* actress Rebecca Root in one of the two central roles.

It’s her first major role and a bit of a change of pace, as Root has previously spent much of her time as a voice coach working with other trans* people.

To mark the start of filming the first image has been released, which you can see above.

The show came about after the BBC launched a talent search to create more shows based around trans* people. Boy Meets Girls was created Trans Comedy Award winner Elliott Kerrigan, alongside Simon Carlyle and Andrew Mettam.

As well as Root, the series stars Harry Hepple as the ‘boy’ of the title, as well as the likes of Denise Welch, Janine Duvitski, Nigel Betts, Lizzie Roper and Jonny Dixon.

Boy Meets Girl has been compared to Gavin & Stacey, focussing on the developing relationship between Leo and Judy. However this isn’t a show that’s only about the issue trans* face in the dating world, as there’s also a mini May-December thing going one as Leo is 26 and Judy is 40, along with plenty of other things to negotiate.

BBC Commissioning Editor Kristian Smith comments: “Boy Meets Girl is a heart-warming romantic comedy that draws on the glorious differences that shape all of us. It’s a brilliant thing to be able to support comedy that is not only funny, but can also promote affirming messages of humanity and acceptance.”

The show will premiere on BBC2 in the UK later this year.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Rebecca Root, Harry Hepple FILMS: Boy Meets Girl (TV)

Old Dogs & New Tricks Launches Crowfunding Campaign For Fourth & Final Season

February 4, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

All good things must come to an end, and it seems that’s true for the popular gay-themed web series Old Dogs & New Tricks. It’s currently planning it’s fourth season, but has also announced that it will be the last.

However there’s a hurdle to overcome before we get to see what happens to the boys in this final season, as it need to get some funding together and so has turned to IndieGogo. While it’s got a modest initial target of $5,000, that will just pay for a mini-movie conclusion, but if it can get up to the $15,000-25,000 mark, we’ll get a full eight to 10 episode season.

“What would ODNT be like without YOU?” show creator/writer & star Leon Acord muses on how bad his show would be without the financial support of his audience, in the campaign’s first funding video. He then shows us, with a short fourth-season spoof episode with bad camerawork, worse lighting, lousy sound, and Acord playing all four dogs. (Look for a favorite special guest star in a cameo!). You can watch that vid below.

“You have to clock web shows’ lives in dog years,” jokes Acord. “In web series, three years is a long-running show. To make it to a fourth season puts us in rarified territory. Very few shows do. Its like the online equivalent to Gunsmoke or the original Dallas! So if we’re lucky enough to make it that far, I think we need to be grateful and say goodnight.”

ODNT covers the comedic romantic & professional melodramas of four middle-aged gay best friends in youth-obsessed West Hollywood. It stars Acord, Curt Bonnem, Jeffrey Patrick Olson, David Pevsner with Amanda Gari and frequent special guest star Bruce L. Hart as villainous “Nelson Van Eddy.”

The Season 3 finale left many questions hanging: Has Nathan given up on love? Is Muscles coming back from Ohio? Will Brad get the gig? Who will Ross choose–that is, if he survives his heart attack?

If you want to see more, head over to IndieGoGo. The final episode(s) should arrive in 2016, and you can take a look at Season 3 here. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES: