Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

I’m A Porn Star (DVD Review)

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I know this will come as a shock to many of you, but lots of people enjoy watching one person inserting one of their body parts into the body parts of other people. Even more shocking is that some people enjoy it when two or more men are engaged in such activities, without any women there at all! This is apparently known as ‘gay pornography’, and this arcane, esoteric subject is what the documentary I’m A Porn Star is all about.

Ok, maybe I have heard of gay porn before. In fact I may even have seen some of it – purely for research purposes, of course. [Read more…]

The Secret Path (DVD Review)

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While indie gay cinema has become more diverse in recent years, the genres it’s dipped its toes into are still limited, largely because the often minuscule budgets tend to limit what you can do in arenas such as sci-fi or action. Another genre we very rarely get is period drama, but writer/director Richard Mansfield has found a way to do it by making a film that’s set totally in a forest with only four people ever seen – and just two of them on-screen for 95% of the time. As a result he can do period drama just with costume and character.

In the early 1800s Frank (Darren Bransford) and Theo (Henry Regan) have escaped the Navy and washed up on the shore. They are now on the run from the press gangs and hiding in the woods near a large country house. They plan to get by on crime, perhaps as highwaymen or grave robbers. [Read more…]

Shivers (Blu-ray Review)

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Coming to Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world, David Cronenberg’s debut feature gets a sharp HD upgrade. Filmed a full 40 years ago on a fairly low budget, Shivers looks surprisingly good, even if on Blu-ray you can see the edges on some of the effects. That said though, for a movie that helped create so many of body horror effects that became popular after the film, they still work extremely well. Indeed one scene with a creature crawling around under someone’s stomach has never really been bettered.

Shivers is set in the big, modern Skyliner apartment block. A doctor has been experimenting, using a parasite to replace human organs. He tries to end the research by killing the female test subject and then himself. However it’s not enough and soon the parasite is out, infecting residents of the block. The infection causes all boundaries to break down, with everyone becoming sexually voracious as they look for more victims. [Read more…]

Boys (Jongens) (DVD Review)

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Although some people roll their eyes at films about young people coming to terms with their sexuality, as they perceive them as being rather old hat, there’s a reason they’re popular. In a world where the LGBT-experience can seem ever more diverse and yet homogenised at the same time, the confusion of new feelings and first same-sex love is the closest we have to a universal gay experience.

The new film Boys is a touching, poignant look at this time of life, seen through the eyes of two teenage Dutch boys. Sieger is dealing with a strict father who’s constantly butting heads with his wayward older brother. Marc meanwhile is on the cooler, more popular end of the social spectrum. [Read more…]

The Other Woman (DVD Review)

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Carly (Cameron Diaz) is a lawyer who thinks she’s found the perfect man – the handsome, romantic Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). However when she tries to surprise him at his home, she discovers he’s not there, but his wife is. While Carly is ready to just dump Mark and never see him again, his wife, Kate (Leslie Mann), isn’t about to let it lie, and soon the two team up teach him a lesson.

However neither of them is prepared for the fact that Mark has another, even younger woman that he’s dating (Kate Upton), and may also be involved in some shady dealing. Together all three women set out to take revenge. [Read more…]

All God’s Creatures Makes It Three In A Row For Australia At The Iris Prize Gay Short Film Festival

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all-gods-creatures-slideAustralia seems to be where it’s at for gay and lesbian short films, as for the third year in a row (after The Wilding and Gorilla), a filmmaker from Down Under has picked up the prestigious Iris Prize, handed out in Cardiff, Wales, to the best LGBT short screening at the fest. This year the winner is All God’s Creatures, directed by Brendon McDonall, which picks up the £25,000 main prize, supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation, that allows the filmmaker to create a new short in the UK.

All God’s Creatures, about the relationship between two young brothers following the death of their father, beat out Aban + Korshid and Bombshell in the very final stage of competition. It was handed the award by Lord Glendonbrook at the sold out Iris Awards 2014, presented by Amy Lamé at Cardiff’s Park Inn Hotel.

Sara Sugarman, Chair of the Iris Prize Jury commented, “Iris 2014 theme was ‘bigger and better’, and this was nowhere more evident than on the screen. The standard of films this year was exceptionally high, covering a rich diversity of genres and themes, and this made for some very robust jury discussions.  We were really pleased to see stories tackling some of the most pressing issues affecting the LGBT community globally, as well as more intimate, personal dramas.”

All God’s Creatures wasn’t the only winner, as the new Best British Short prize was presented to Middle Man, directed by Charlie Francis, who was present at the ceremony. The gong is sponsored by Pinewood Studios who have committed services valued at £14,000 for the winner’s next short film. Jury Chair Judith Nobel said: “Middle Man is a perfect short film. It is beautifully structured, witty and touching. In 5 minutes we have watched great directing, wonderful characterisation, excellent editing and a great story. A story about love with universal appeal.” There was also a Commendation for WE ARE FINE directed by Simon Savory.

The Best Feature Award was presented to Boy Meets Girl, while the performance awards, sponsored by Gay Star News, were presented to Michael Welch for his role as Robby in Boy Meets Girl and Kate Trotter who played Alice in Tru Love. Presenting the Award Tris Reid-Smith and Lynne Reynolds said, “This has been a breakthrough year for features at Iris and our deliberations were tough but the performances we chose represent  the best of LGBT cinema – challenging, heart-warming and true”.

Finally, the Iris Prize Youth Award was presented to Bombshell, directed by Erin Sanger from the USA. The Youth Jury said, ”This film is really useful as a teaching aid because issues of identity and prejudice are drawn out authentically for a teenage audience. It is a perfectly scripted and played mood piece that discusses misogyny and encourages empathy with those who are perceived not to be normal.”

There was also a special mention for Butterfly as a positive film that helps us understand the realities of living with aspergers and transgender issues.

The next festival is already in the works, with next year’s Iris Prize Festival taking place from Wednesday 7th-Sunday 11th October 2015. [Read more…]

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Maldod, The First Welsh Language Gay-Themed Movie Is Announced & It Wants Your Help

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maldod-pic1-slideNot too many films get made in the Welsh langauge, but now a new one has been officially announced at the Iris Prize Festival, which will be the first independent gay feature film in Welsh. The movie is called Maldod, and while most of its funding will come from traditional sources, it wants your help to top that up and so it’s launched an IndieGoGo campaign, which is currently seeking donations.

The film begins when 8-year old Mali discovers an angel in a field. The angel turns out to be Al, a man reeling from the sudden death of his partner. Mali and her mother Carys give Al shelter and set about trying to fix him.
 As Al recovers from his loss he transforms the lives of mother and daughter.
 He quite literally brings magic to Mali’s life by teaching her how to perform magic tricks and Mali goes from being the most bullied girl at school to the most popular. Al also transforms Carys’s failing dairy business and turns it around by producing gourmet ice-cream.

Together Al, Carys and Mali form an unorthodox family. Their happiness is threatened however by the prospect of a new love-affair for Al that forces him to face the circumstances of his partner’s death and his role in it.
 Ultimately Al must decide whether he can stay on the farm with Mali and Carys or return to his old life in London.

Maldod is based on a script by Roger Williams and will be directed by Lee Haven Jones. It’s the first feature film for both of them, although they have plenty of experience in TV. The current hope is to shoot the movie during the summer of 2015 in West Wales.

Take a look at the fundraising video below along with some short, mood-based concept pieces designed to give people a feel for the movie’s rural aesthetic. If you want to help this Welsh-language tale get made, head over to IndieGoGo. [Read more…]

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First Look At Charlie Cox In Netflix’s Daredevil Series

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daredevil-netflix-pic1Netflix has big plans for Marvel properties with all sorts of series in the works. The first to arrive will be Daredevil, with Broadwalk Empire and Stardust actor Charlie Cox in the lead role. Now the first pics from the show have arrived, with an in-costume short (which looks a little Zorro) above and Cox being a bit beaten up below.

The show is inspired by Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.’s seminal Daredevil: Man Without Fear, and follows attorney Matt Murdock, who was blinded by a tragic accident when he was a kid, but is now imbued with extraordinary senses that don’t just compensate but allow him to fight crime. By day he takes on the bad guys in court and by night he turns masked vigilante.

Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson), and Vincent D’Onofrio (Wilson Fisk), Ayelet Zurer (Vanessa Marianna), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Ben Urich), Bob Gunton (Leland Owlsley), Toby Leonard Moore (Wesley) and Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple) will also star.

It’ll be available on Netflix sometime in 2015.

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Actor/Musician Chris Salvatore Shares His Story For National Coming Out Day

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chris-salvatore-coming-outLongtime readers of BGPS will know we’re fans of Eating Out and Paternity Leave star (and more recently men’s underwear magnate) Chris Salvatore. As today is National Coming Out Day, Chris has stepped up to share his own story in a video that you can take at below.

He’s also encouraging others to share their experiences and help others through the Moovz gay social network, for which he’s an ambassador.

We’ve also got for you another vid supported by Moovz, where they’ve joined forces with YouTube star Davey Wavey to help a gay guy from a religious Mormon family in Texas who battled the odds to come out of the closet.

Coming Out can be tough, so if it’s something you’re thinking about, taking a bit of inspiration from the videos below, and you can find some more resources on the Human Rights Council website, or you can use the Moovz app to take a look at other people’s stories under the hashtag #comingout. [Read more…]

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Wonderkid Short Film Gets Support From Ian McKellen To Take On Homophobia In Football (& It Needs Your Help Too)

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RHYS-CHAPMAN-IAN-MCKELLEN-wonderkidIn recent years many groups have tried to tackle homophobia in football (that’s soccer for all of you of a non-British persuasion), but it’s a sad fact the there are no out player in any of the UK professional leagues and it’s not uncommon to hear anti-gay heckles coming from supporters in the stands.

Now a short film is hoping to help challenge the preconceptions of masculinity in football and also to show the effects of homophobia. The film is called Wonderkid and it has launched a Kickstarter campaign in the hope of raising £25,000, which should allow the makers to film and complete the 20-minute short.

Once finished, the film will follow ‘the inner turmoil of an unnamed football prodigy as he comes to terms with his own identity, struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his issues with alcohol and OCD’, all in a hyper-masculine environment.

Wonderkid has already made plenty of friends, including getting Ian McKellen to narrate the Kickstarter video, as well as getting a grant grant from the Kevin Spacey Foundation. They’ve also teamed up with Galop, a charity which tackles abuse in the LGBT community, in the hope that together they can communicate/represent those that have suffered abuse / violence / hate crime. That includes coming together for a fundraising event called Looking for Changes – 7 Short Films, on Tuesday, October 14th at Cafe 1001, Brick Lane, London from 7pm.

Mel Stray from Galop comments, “The enthusiasm of the up-and-coming young filmmakers behind Wonderkid is infectious, and we are very much looking forward to working with them. Tackling homophobic stigma in football is incredibly important – this is a film that needs to be made!”

The main young filmmaker Mel is talking about is director Rhys Chapman, a keen football supporter himself, who’s been busy engaging with the LGBT community to get the movie made. If you want to help out, watch the McKellen-featuring fundraising video below and then head over to KickStarter. Your can also find out more at the short’s official website. [Read more…]

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