Queer Film: Award-Winning “Kiss Me, Kill Me”

The award-winning queer film noir Kiss Me, Kill Me is now available on DVD and VOD.

Synopsis:

Starring as Dusty, four-time Emmy nominee Van Hansis (“As the World Turns” and “EastSiders) blacks out while confronting his cheating boyfriend, Stephen, played by gay icon Gale Harold (“Queer as Folk”). When Dusty comes to, Stephen was murdered and he’s the prime suspect.

With plot twists and turns to keep you guessing, the film also stars a colorful collection of characters, many of whom might have their own reasons for wanting Stephen dead.

Director Casper Andreas had this to say about working on the slick flick:

“I have always enjoyed a good who-done-it. Growing up, I was a huge fan of both Agatha Christie novels and suspense thrillers, so when screenwriter David Michael Barrett sent me the script for KISS ME, KILL ME, I got very excited. Not only was this a bona-fide murder mystery, it was centered in a world I am very familiar with – gay West Hollywood.

“One of the things I loved most about the script was that it wasn’t a spoof of a thriller; it was the real thing. It also didn’t take itself too seriously, and even had characters commenting on the outrageous events, often balancing them with humor.”

I enjoy when a movie comes at you from a very specific point of view and style, and Andreas brings the “noir,” albeit with a light touch. It’s not until the last ten minutes of the film that the suspense and sense of danger gets you on the edge of your seat.

It’s great to see Gale Harold in a gay project again, this being his first since his work on “Queer As Folk.” He’s a strong anchor to the film. And Kit Williamson (“Eastsiders”) turns in a strong performance as Dusty’s bestie.

Kudos to composer Jonathan Dinerstein for his evocative original score, which lands right in the sweet spot for the film.

Radio Show: Director/Actor Gerald McCullouch Chats On His Acclaimed Film DADDY

Had a great time interviewing director/actor Gerald McCullouch last night on my BlogTalkRadio show.

As I mention during the radio chat, having Gerald on the show is like Christmas for a me cause he’s just a great guest.

Gerald dropped by to chat on his new indie film, DADDY, and the upcoming BEAR CITY 3. Continue reading “Radio Show: Director/Actor Gerald McCullouch Chats On His Acclaimed Film DADDY”

Short Film: “I Am Syd Stone”

Award-winning short film I Am Syd Stone, a film written and directed by Denis Theriault, produced by Colin Davis.

Official pick at Miami & Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Atlantic Film Festival, North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Torino Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Melbourne Queer Film Festival and many, many more.

Via press release:

Hollywood heartthrob, Syd Stone, returns home to attend his 10-year high school reunion. The only person granted access to his grandiose suite is Brent, the other half of Syd’s closeted high school relationship. From the moment they reconnect, the past comes back to throw them into an emotional tailspin.

Trailer: “Kings, Queens, & In-Betweens: A Documentary on Gender, Identity, & Drag”

Five years in the making, Kings, Queens, & In-Betweens – addressing issues of identity in sexual orientation and gender – will debut at the Cleveland International Film Festival on April 2nd and 3rd.

Via press release:

KINGS, QUEENS, & IN-BETWEENS is a documentary about gender through the lens of drag, featuring the compelling stories of 8 performers from Columbus, Ohio — “the crown jewel of drag in the Midwest.”

KQIB peels back the layers of identity through the art form of drag and shines a light on the distinctions between gender, sex, and sexuality. Through humor and poignancy, KQIB makes a complex subject approachable for mainstream audiences.

As a pre-festival reviewer wrote: “In this fab documentary…Gender is the New Frontier, and here are the pioneers who are defining, redrawing, and crossing those borders. Call them what you will (and they do not give a damn what that is), they are two things for certain: they are Strong and they are Fabulous. KINGS, QUEENS & IN-BETWEENS will introduce you to your new heroes.”

Trailer: “4th Man Out”

What happens when a 24 year old mechanic comes out to his 3 blue collar best friends?

Via press release:

Evan Todd (“Switched at Birth”) stars as Adam, a small-town, blue-collar mechanic who likes beer and hockey but surprises his buddies when he tells them he’s gay.

Well meaning but perhaps fated to trip over themselves, hilarity ensues when said buddies all try to help Adam find a boyfriend.

Parker Young (“Arrow”), Chord Overstreet (“Glee”), Jon Gabrus (“Younger”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office) co-star in the film from producers Lauren Avinoam, Lauren Hogarth and Jed Mellick.

Big winner at tons of film festivals like Los Angeles OutFest, Toronto Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, Iris Prize Festival, and Rhode Island International Film Festival.

4th Man Out is coming out on February 5, in theaters and VOD.

Trailer: “Winning Dad”

In 2010, writer-director Arthur Allen joined the US Merchant Marine to write Winning Dad.

In 2013 the Winning Dad creative team fundraised $31,000 on Kickstarter from 532 supporters of the film. In July 2013, principal photography was shot in Seattle and the North Cascades of Washington State. The crew shot 34 locations in 21 days.

Winning Dad premiered at the Boston LGBT Film Festival in April 2015 as the Harvard Square opening night film. It continues to screen at festivals around the world and will be available on VOD December of 2015.

Synopsis: Colby’s dad knows his son is gay, but he doesn’t like talking about it. He respects it, but ignores everything about that aspect of his son’s life–he doesn’t even know about Colby’s long-term boyfriend, Rusty.

Increasingly committed to Rusty, Colby hatches a plan to trick his father into camping with Rusty under the pretense that Rusty is Colby’s straight friend and future business partner. Colby is convinced that, given the chance, his father and his boyfriend will get along great…

Winning Dad will be available December 1st on Vimeo here.

DADDY The Movie World Premieres At Montreal World Film Festival

Gay themed play-turned-feature-film DADDY, starring BearCity star (hottie) Gerald McCullouch, will world premiere today at prestigious Montreal World Film Festival.

DADDY chronicles the intergenerational tale of an older gay male (played by McCullouch) falling for a younger man played by Jaime Cepero, from the NBC show Smash. McCullouch not only stars in the flick but also directed.

Montreal Gazette talked with the handsome McCullouch about whether being out has affected his acting career:

I get asked that question a lot. And I really don’t know how it’s affected my career. I only have the career I have.

I’ve never been one to hide who I am or what I think. And I’ve never understood people’s belief that my eye color, or shoe size, or sexual orientation limits my imaginative capacity to pretend to be someone different.

Mind you, I’ve also appeared in many non-gay-themed shows like Bones and House and Law & Order and many others where I have a wife and kids and no affinity for dudes at all.

And I think the terrain is changing daily of opportunities for out actors and artists. But I’ve been “out” since before it was in fashion. Never really considered being “in.” Not sure what my life would have been. Or my career. Only know the life I have.

DADDY screens at Cinema Quartier Latin at the Montreal World Film Festival:
Aug. 30 at 4:10 p.m.
Aug. 31 at 9 p.m.

Click here for more info and tickets.

Trailer: CAROL

Variety notes the Oscar buzz around the upcoming Cate Blanchett film, Carol, which chronicles the journey of a lesbian romance set in the 1950s.

Oscar buzz began for the film, directed by Todd Haynes, following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Blanchett plays a Manhattan socialite trapped in a loveless marriage with Kyle Chandler, whose life is forever changed when she meets a department store clerk (Mara).

The lovely and stylish, set to the song “My Foolish Heart,” shows the blossoming romance.

Opens in theaters in the US November 20.