Elisa - My reviews and Ramblings

A Perfect Ending
DVD Available: Feb. 05, 2013
Produced: 2012
Director(s): Nicole Conn
Starring: Michael Adam Hamilton, Imelda Corcoran, Mary Wells, Cathy DeBuono, Bryan Jackson, Barbara Niven, Jessica Clark, John Heard, Morgan Fairchild, Rebecca Staab, Kerry Knuppe
Language: English/Closed Captions
Length: 106 min.
Rating: Not Rated
Amazon: A Perfect Ending (2012)

FROM ACCLAIMED LESBIAN DIRECTOR NICOLE CONN (Elena Undone, Claire of the Moon)

“The sexiest lesbian film of 2012.” — Curve Magazine

Drop dead gorgeous Jessica Clark (True Blood’s Lilith) and TV icon Barbara Niven co-star in this glossy, sexy and fun romantic drama from writer-director Nicole Conn (Elena Undone, Claire of the Moon). When straight and married Rebecca (Niven) seeks out the sexual services of high-priced call girl Paris (Clark) she isn’t expecting to fall in love. A Perfect Ending is filled to the brink with aching desire, and the sexual chemistry between Niven and Clark is off the charts. The cast also boasts Morgan Fairchild, John Heard, Rebecca Staab and a cameo from celesbian actress/therapist Cathy DeBuono.


She’s elegant, wealthy and proper — an upstanding wife and mother with three grown children, a swanky estate and a horrible husband. And tragically, she’s never had an orgasm. Determined to solve the problem, Rebecca’s lesbian friends set her up with an exceptionally talented high-class call girl named Paris — and, needless to say, the lives of both Rebecca and Paris are changed forever. Filled to the brink with aching desire, the sexual chemistry is off the charts between ‘90s TV icon Barbara Niven as the beautiful blond client and out lesbian actress Jessica Clark (True Blood’s Lilith) as the smokin’ hot hooker who truly does have a heart of gold.

This opposites-attract, edge-of-your-seat lesbian romance is a glossy, sexy and fun romantic drama guaranteed to earn a fresh array of fans for veteran writer-director Nicole Conn (Elena Undone, Claire of the Moon).

Grappling with intense family drama at home, Rebecca escapes into the oasis of her encounters with Paris. Meanwhile, outside of her lucrative sex-worker day-job, Paris is a struggling artist with troubles of her own.

Featuring a bold, beautiful, unleashed performance by Barbara Niven and a star turn from drop dead gorgeous Jessica Clark (yes, the British South Asian beauty is also a fashion model), A Perfect Ending also boasts the fabulous Morgan Fairchild as the presiding madam of ill-repute and the talented John Heard as Rebecca’s husband, plus a great turn by prolific daytime star Rebecca Staab and a cameo from celesbian actress/therapist Cathy DeBuono.

Any Day Now
DVD Available: Apr. 23, 2013
Produced: 2012
Director(s): Travis Fine
Starring: Garret Dillahunt, Alan Cumming, Isaac Leyva
Language: English
Length: 97 min.
Rating: Not Rated
Amazon: Any Day Now (2012)

They made him a promise. He made them a family.

Any Day Now is a powerful tale of love, acceptance and family. When a teenager with Down Syndrome (Isaac Leyva) is abandoned by his mother, a gay couple (Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt) takes him in and becomes the loving family he’s never had. But when their unconventional living arrangement is disconcerted by authorities, the men are forced to fight a biased legal system to save the life of the child they have come to love as their own. Inspired by a true story from the late 1970s, Any Day Now touches on legal and social issues that are as relevant today as they were 35 years ago.

A gay Doctor takes his partner to live in a small country town in rural Australia. The pair are nervous about the journey ahead and decide to film their experience.

The film began production in September 2008 when Dr Vincent Cornelisse decided to leave Brisbane and move to country Queensland in order to further his career. However, Vincent wouldn't do this without his partner, Jonathan Duffy.

Neither of the two had ever lived in a country town and were excited about the scene change but nervous about how they would be received.

A friend jokingly suggested that Jonathan should film their experience in case they were murdered. Jonathan decided to do this, not because he thought they would be in danger, because he believed that it was going to be a positive and enlightening journey.
The Doctor's Wife explores their journey through Jonathan's eyes and asks the question, "Would their experience be the same if Vincent wasn't the town Doctor?"

Official Selection Tropical Alternatives FIlm Festival 2011.
Official Selection Hollywood Fringe Festival [Film] 2011.
Official Selection Bent Fest Canberra 2011.
Official Selection Pride Queer Film Festival Perth 2011.
Official Selection Oregon Queer Film Festival 2012
Official Selection Mardi Gras Film Festival Sydney 2012
Recipient of the Rev. Ivor Holman's Memorial Keystone Award, Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association 2011.
Winner Award of Excellence in Filmmaking, Canada International Film Festival 2012.

Academy Award nominated filmmaker Kirby Dick (This Film Is Not Yet Rated) delivers a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. OUTRAGE boldly reveals the hidden lives of some of our nation’s most powerful policymakers, details the harm they've inflicted on millions of Americans, and examines the media's complicity in keeping their secrets.

Outrage (2009)
Actors: Jim McGreevey, Barney Frank, Larry Kramer
Directors: Kirby Dick
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 19, 2010
Run Time: 89 minutes
Amazon: Outrage (2009)

"DULY PROVOCATIVE, WELL-SOURCED AND CERTAIN TO GO MORE VIRAL THAN SWINE FLU." --Scott Foundas, Village Voice/LA Weekly

"That clanging sound you hear is the closet-door lock in the executive men's room being boot-kicked off its hinges" --Dennis Harvey, SF Bay Guardian
"A POWERFUL, DISTURBING AND SIGNIFICANT FILM. Director Kirby Dick is awfully persuasive." --Kenneth Turan, LA Times
"***** Powerrful. An essential film." --Jonathan Curiel, SF Chronicle
"Incendiary" --Rolling Stone
"The film builds in passion and intensity until attaining a stirring cumulative power" --The Onion
"One of the best-made films I've seen this year, and without question one of the toughest and bravest." --Jeff Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere
"Put it on your must see list." --About.com
"...OUTRAGE is entertaining, brisk, visually interesting and perhaps even thrilling." --John Anderson, Variety

Guest House Films has announced the casting of the three lead actors for its upcoming feature film, “The Men Next Door” – Eric Dean (“Nine Lives,” “George’s Intervention”), Michael Nicklin (“The George & Alana Show”) and Benjamin Lutz (“Bite Marks,” “The Love Patient”).

 

Dean will star as Doug, a 40-year-old gay man who finds himself dating two very different men – 50-year-old Jacob (played by Nicklin) and 30-year-old Colton (played by Lutz). What Doug doesn’t learn right away is that the two equally lovable men are, in fact, father and son.

“I cannot wait to get on set with these three actors – individually, they are each extremely talented and charismatic, but when we put them together during the audition process, we immediately saw something special that should translate into amazing on-screen chemistry,” said Rob Williams, writer and director of “The Men Next Door.”

Principal photography on “The Men Next Door”, which will be produced by Rodney Johnson and Williams, is expected to begin in May, and will be distributed by Guest House Films after a film festival run.

Additional casting for the movie will be announced soon. Anyone interested in supporting The Men Next Door is encouraged to visit the film’s IndieGoGo campaign page at www.indiegogo.com/themennextdoor

Year Produced: 2011
Directed By: Allan Brocka
Starring: Aaron Milo, Daniel Skelton, Chris Salvatore, michael vara
Language: English
Run Time: 80 min.
Rating: Not Rated
Amazon: Eating Out: The Open Weekend (2011)

Description

Zack and Benji open up their relationship for a weekend of fun at a gay resort in Palm Springs. After Zack runs into his ex-boyfriend Casey, Casey lies and tells him he met someone new to avoid Zack’s pity. When Casey reacquaints with an old high school friend, Peter, he manages to convince him to pretend to be his boyfriend despite Peter’s reluctance that it will interfere with his promiscuous weekend opportunities. As sexual tensions start to mount between Benji and Peter, Zack becomes increasingly dissatisfied with his relationship while Casey longs for a stable relationship of his own. A sexy and outrageous comedy, Eating Out: The Open Weekend serves up plenty of eye-candy and raunchy fun along with the pursuit of finding true love.

Today I want to ask for your help, but not for me, for my friend Max. Max Rhyser is one of the first online friends I made years ago, when I opened this LiveJournal and it says a lot if 6 years later we still call each other friends, online friendship is feeble and hard to make it last. But with Max, I don't know, it was always easy. In the past six years we met face to face twice, and it was always a nice experience, something I look forward to re-do everytime I happen to be in NYC.

Aside from being nice, kind, with a wonderful smile that reflects the pure soul he has, Max is also a promising actor, he has just won BEST MALE LEAD for his portrayal of Simon Greene in The Austerity of Hope on Broadway this past winter. And now Max, with Sal Bardo, is pursuing another dream, Chaser, a story that has to be told.

From Max's own words:

"The film Chaser started germinating in my mind at the age of 18. In recent years, both my work a s a bartender in a gay night club and then later my Spiritual Healing Practice, has proven to me how much disease there is around sex. This is not particular to any one group of people but certainly the most prevalent within the LGBT communities.

This inspired my research into sex, sexual psychology, deviancy, self-injury and more. This was without question the darkest period of my Life. And I'm happy to say is now finally over. Hallelujah!

I joined forces with filmmaker Sal Bardo, and together we are the co-creators, writers and producers of Chaser.

While from some the support has been immense, we have also met quite some resistance. The topic is controversial. Chaser tells the story of a young, promising high school teacher who, disconnected from his family, culture, and community, seeks solace in the fringes of gay bareback community. Our story focuses on Zach who may or may not be a Chaser - we have done our best to leave that ambiguous enough so the audiences can decide that for themselves... Our commentary is on the increase of unprotected sex within the LGBT community - Our goal, to start a conversation and ask why?

If the topic doesn't excite you, if it downright displeases you... then perhaps your knowledge of me, who I am and what I aim to do with my Life, maybe that is enough to inspire you to help me tell this story. I hope so.



The good news is we will make Chaser no matter what! We'd like to do it right. And as starving artists (at times) we believe in paying our cast and crew for their time and work - therefor the budget of 20,000.00.

Online we've made just over $6,000.00. With additional fundraising we've raised about $2,500.00.

If you are able to donate, do so below:

www.indiegogo.com/chaser (Donors, and donation amounts can be anonymous and no amount is too small.)

If you are not able - please share this with someone who is... or a handful of folk, alas it is a number game - the more people the better...



And in lieu of the above, our final Fund Raising Event is A SPRING AFFAIR, the eve before the end of our campaign.

If you can come, please do, if you cannot, please send your friends, if you are short of friends in the NYC area, please buy tickets in spirit anyway...

10% of ALL BAR SALES will go directly to Village Care's Ryan White program whom deal specifically with GAY MEN OF COLOR aged 18-30, the demographic MOST affected by the spread of the HIV virus." --Max Rhyser

Here is a podcast with Max and Sal talking of the project, if you are still not convinced, listen to it and you will be: http://clickclickexpose.com/podcasts/pm_03202012.html

Often people send me virtual gifts on this Livejournal, of which I'm grateful, I love those virtual gifts on my profile page, but please consider to instead donate to Chaser. It's not my birthday yet, and the IndieGoGo campaign will end on April 18, so I know I'm asking in advance ;-) but please, please, do that. Even if it's a drop, thousand of drops make a storm!

And please, if you can, spread the word on your own blog, facebook, twitter.

The Seminarian (2010)
Actors: Mark Cirillo, Linda J. Carter, Philip Willcox
Directors: Joshua Lim
DVD Release Date: March 27, 2012
Amazon: The Seminarian

Ryan is a closeted gay student in his final semester of seminary studies. Despite his school's hostile stance towards homosexuality, Ryan has two gay classmates - Gerald and Anthony in whom he secretly confides. He is also close to his religiously devout mother who, as things stand, is unaware of his sexual orientation.

Ryan needs to complete a solid theological thesis in order to continue doctoral work at the university of his dreams. As he works on his thesis 'The Divine Gift of Love,' he begins a relationship with Bradley - a man he has met on the Internet who seems perpetually unable to commit himself. At the same time, Ryan learns that Gerald and Anthony have romantic struggles of their own. During this volatile time, with the pain of unrequited love and the inability to share his fears with his mother deepening, Ryan struggles with finishing his thesis and holding on to his faith.

Jitters
Actors: Atli Óskar Fjalarsson, Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Holm, Haraldur Ari Stefánsson, Elías Helgi Kofoed-Hansen, Birna Rún Eiríksdóttir
Directors: Baldvin Z
DVD Release Date: March 27, 2012
Amazon: Jitters

This energetic coming-of-age drama follows a closeted boy and his group of trouble-prone friends, providing a positive, fun look at young people today.

An unexpected first kiss causes Gabriel to feel the electrifying “jitters” of love and lust with the free-spirited Marcus; a perfect way to end a summer studying abroad. Realizing he is gay, Gabriel returns home and is immediately scrutinized by his family and friends who notice he’s different. But as the school year launches with Gabriel distracted with parties and his friends’ own dramas, Marcus returns, reigniting the hot, thrilling emotions of one’s first crush. Jitters fires head-first into the topsy-turvey world of first love with an attractive cast and pulsating soundtrack, making it a smartly refreshing journey into the queer, teen experience.

If you like MTV’s “Skins,” “Degrassi High,” ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of an American Teenager” and ABC’s “My So-Called Life” but GAY you’ll love “Jitters“!