Exclusive: Queer advocacy group Out in Hollywood released its third annual list of the best unproduced queer-focused television pilot scripts of the past year.
The scripts that made it to the list underwent a blind evaluation process overseen by Out in Hollywood’s Board of Directors featuring an all-queer-identifying panel of judges conformed of proudly Out producers, studio and network executives.
“In 2023, our mission feels more urgent than ever. From the political attacks on queer identity and expression happening around the country to the WGA’s fight for–amongst other things–opportunity, equity and creative agency, creating space and a platform for queer writers remains a necessary act of both protest and joy,” Board member Maija Gustin said of this year’s list.
Scripts are evaluated based on criteria including the strength of the writer’s voice, viability of the project to be sold in today’s marketplace, conceptual freshness,...
The scripts that made it to the list underwent a blind evaluation process overseen by Out in Hollywood’s Board of Directors featuring an all-queer-identifying panel of judges conformed of proudly Out producers, studio and network executives.
“In 2023, our mission feels more urgent than ever. From the political attacks on queer identity and expression happening around the country to the WGA’s fight for–amongst other things–opportunity, equity and creative agency, creating space and a platform for queer writers remains a necessary act of both protest and joy,” Board member Maija Gustin said of this year’s list.
Scripts are evaluated based on criteria including the strength of the writer’s voice, viability of the project to be sold in today’s marketplace, conceptual freshness,...
- 6/26/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad), Jonathan Del Arco (Major Crimes), Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal), Steve Kazee (Shameless) and Susan Sullivan (The Kominsky Method) have signed on to star in The Grotto, the first feature written and directed by Tony Award-winning actress Joanna Gleason (Into the Woods).
The film centers on Alice (Brandt), who uncovers her recently deceased fiancé’s secret past when she inherits part ownership of a forgotten nightclub in the Mojave Desert.
Del Arco will play Victor, the owner of the nightclub, with Bucatinsky portraying Alice’s new best friend, Kip. The roles played by Kazee and Sullivan have not yet been disclosed.
Actors set to appear in supporting roles include Miguel Sandoval (Station 19), Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Michael Nouri (Damages), Amy Aquino (Bosch), Lindsay Mendez (Broadway’s Carousel) and Kevin Chamberlin (Broadway’s Seussical).
Ouroboros Entertainment’s Laure Sudreau is producing the film, alongside Todd Shotz,...
The film centers on Alice (Brandt), who uncovers her recently deceased fiancé’s secret past when she inherits part ownership of a forgotten nightclub in the Mojave Desert.
Del Arco will play Victor, the owner of the nightclub, with Bucatinsky portraying Alice’s new best friend, Kip. The roles played by Kazee and Sullivan have not yet been disclosed.
Actors set to appear in supporting roles include Miguel Sandoval (Station 19), Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Michael Nouri (Damages), Amy Aquino (Bosch), Lindsay Mendez (Broadway’s Carousel) and Kevin Chamberlin (Broadway’s Seussical).
Ouroboros Entertainment’s Laure Sudreau is producing the film, alongside Todd Shotz,...
- 9/16/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Tony-Winning Actress Joanna Gleason To Make Feature Film Writing & Directing Debut With ‘The Grotto’
Exclusive: Tony Award-winning actress Joanna Gleason will make her feature film writing and directing debut with The Grotto, set to begin production later this month.
The project was announced by Gleason’s 18 High Street Films, Ouroboros Entertainment and T42 Entertainment, the three partners on the production. Casting will be announced in early this month.
Gleason said in a statement, “As the reality of the pandemic dawned, I found myself in a state of high anxiety and a shared world grief. How to feel like life could move forward? Writing/directing this film was the answer for me. I wanted to continue to push myself creatively, tell a story on screen and join other women who have discovered their ‘second acts.”
The film is described by the production as “a story where grief, laughter and music bring about small miracles.” The Grotto follows Alice,...
The project was announced by Gleason’s 18 High Street Films, Ouroboros Entertainment and T42 Entertainment, the three partners on the production. Casting will be announced in early this month.
Gleason said in a statement, “As the reality of the pandemic dawned, I found myself in a state of high anxiety and a shared world grief. How to feel like life could move forward? Writing/directing this film was the answer for me. I wanted to continue to push myself creatively, tell a story on screen and join other women who have discovered their ‘second acts.”
The film is described by the production as “a story where grief, laughter and music bring about small miracles.” The Grotto follows Alice,...
- 9/1/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Update, 10Am Pst: Ofcom has launched an urgent investigation into London Live’s David Icke interview. It has now received 41 complaints about the show. A spokesman said: “We have assessed this programme, and we are concerned that it raises potential issues under our rules. We are now investigating it as a matter of urgency.”
Previously, 2Am: Britain’s culture secretary Oliver Dowden has called on media regulator Ofcom to take action against local TV network London Live after it broadcast a 105-minute interview with coronavirus denier and notorious conspiracy theorist David Icke.
More from DeadlineWhite House Giving Reporters Covid-19 Tests Before Thursday's Donald Trump Press BriefingCoronavirus In Los Angeles County: 25 More Deaths, But Down From Wednesday's High; Toll Stands At 223 - Update'The Rich Eisen Show' Joins Nbcsn Team Ahead Of NFL Draft
On Wednesday night, London Live — which is owned by the billionaire Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev — broadcast London...
Previously, 2Am: Britain’s culture secretary Oliver Dowden has called on media regulator Ofcom to take action against local TV network London Live after it broadcast a 105-minute interview with coronavirus denier and notorious conspiracy theorist David Icke.
More from DeadlineWhite House Giving Reporters Covid-19 Tests Before Thursday's Donald Trump Press BriefingCoronavirus In Los Angeles County: 25 More Deaths, But Down From Wednesday's High; Toll Stands At 223 - Update'The Rich Eisen Show' Joins Nbcsn Team Ahead Of NFL Draft
On Wednesday night, London Live — which is owned by the billionaire Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev — broadcast London...
- 4/9/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Kiefer Sutherland, who played Jack Bauer on 24, is back on TV this fall, starring on the new ABC political drama Designated Survivor.
ABC's description of the series says, "Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tim Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the Us Capitol during the State of the Union. In this dramatic thriller, Kirkman will struggle to keep the country and his own family from falling apart, while navigating the highly volatile political arena and while leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack."...
ABC's description of the series says, "Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tim Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the Us Capitol during the State of the Union. In this dramatic thriller, Kirkman will struggle to keep the country and his own family from falling apart, while navigating the highly volatile political arena and while leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack."...
- 9/14/2016
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.
– Film Movement has announced its acquisition of Boo Junfeng’s second feature film, “Apprentice,” “about a correctional officer who becomes friends with the chief executioner of a prison and then is tapped to become his trainee.” The film premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and will next make its North American premiere in the Contemporary World Cinema program of the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
“Apprentice” stars Fir Rhaman in his first feature film. In it, he plays “Aiman, a 28-year-old Malay correctional officer who is recently transferred to the territory’s top prison. At his new workplace, Aiman begins to take an interest in a 65-year-old sergeant named Rahim (veteran actor Wan Hanafi Su). Soon,...
– Film Movement has announced its acquisition of Boo Junfeng’s second feature film, “Apprentice,” “about a correctional officer who becomes friends with the chief executioner of a prison and then is tapped to become his trainee.” The film premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and will next make its North American premiere in the Contemporary World Cinema program of the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
“Apprentice” stars Fir Rhaman in his first feature film. In it, he plays “Aiman, a 28-year-old Malay correctional officer who is recently transferred to the territory’s top prison. At his new workplace, Aiman begins to take an interest in a 65-year-old sergeant named Rahim (veteran actor Wan Hanafi Su). Soon,...
- 8/19/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
CBS Films and Lionsgate announced the casting on Thursday on the project that will already star Dylan O’Brien and Michael Keaton.
Michael Cuesta will direct American Assassin from Stephen Schiff’s adapted screenplay based on Vince Flynn’s bestseller.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler produce the spy story.
Daniel Arsham, Yung Jake and Lily Baldwin and Saschka Unseld will join the Sundance Institute New Frontier | Jaunt Vr Residency Program, a six-month initiative to help creative Vr short film creators.Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights from Circus Road Films to Tim Kirkman’s romance Lazy Eye, which premiered at the Provincetown International Film Festival and stars Lucas Near-Verbugghe, Aaron Costa Ganis, and Michaela Watkins.
Michael Cuesta will direct American Assassin from Stephen Schiff’s adapted screenplay based on Vince Flynn’s bestseller.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler produce the spy story.
Daniel Arsham, Yung Jake and Lily Baldwin and Saschka Unseld will join the Sundance Institute New Frontier | Jaunt Vr Residency Program, a six-month initiative to help creative Vr short film creators.Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights from Circus Road Films to Tim Kirkman’s romance Lazy Eye, which premiered at the Provincetown International Film Festival and stars Lucas Near-Verbugghe, Aaron Costa Ganis, and Michaela Watkins.
- 8/18/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The process of finding investors for independent film can be trying, to say the least, but it can also be illuminating. Anyone who has ever attempted to find money for a film knows that there are typical questions that always get asked by first-time investors: How will I make back my investment? When do the investors get paid? How is the deal structured? Can I come to the premiere? While looking for partners for Lazy Eye, our micro-budget feature, writer/director Tim Kirkman received an e-mail from a potential investor who had forwarded our package to a friend/advisor. The email contained […]...
- 7/16/2015
- by Gill Holland and Tim Kirkman
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The process of finding investors for independent film can be trying, to say the least, but it can also be illuminating. Anyone who has ever attempted to find money for a film knows that there are typical questions that always get asked by first-time investors: How will I make back my investment? When do the investors get paid? How is the deal structured? Can I come to the premiere? While looking for partners for Lazy Eye, our micro-budget feature, writer/director Tim Kirkman received an e-mail from a potential investor who had forwarded our package to a friend/advisor. The email contained […]...
- 7/16/2015
- by Gill Holland and Tim Kirkman
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
London Live's request to alter the timing of local TV output has been denied by Ofcom.
The channel, which launched in March, recently applied to reduce its local content commitments during peak times.
After a public consultation period, Ofcom has rejected the application, arguing that the proposals would "substantially alter" its character.
"Ofcom decided that London Live's application to change its programming would have substantially altered the character of the channel – making it much less local," said an Ofcom spokesperson, following on from a report issued today (September 16).
"The requested changes to the licence were not approved, as they didn't meet three of the four statutory criteria needed for Ofcom to give its consent."
London Live COO Tim Kirkman said that he was disappointed by the decision.
"I am disappointed by this outcome as I believe the changes would have allowed us to produce an even better product for Londoners,...
The channel, which launched in March, recently applied to reduce its local content commitments during peak times.
After a public consultation period, Ofcom has rejected the application, arguing that the proposals would "substantially alter" its character.
"Ofcom decided that London Live's application to change its programming would have substantially altered the character of the channel – making it much less local," said an Ofcom spokesperson, following on from a report issued today (September 16).
"The requested changes to the licence were not approved, as they didn't meet three of the four statutory criteria needed for Ofcom to give its consent."
London Live COO Tim Kirkman said that he was disappointed by the decision.
"I am disappointed by this outcome as I believe the changes would have allowed us to produce an even better product for Londoners,...
- 9/16/2014
- Digital Spy
London Live has announced plans to stop commissioning new entertainment shows in favour of news and current affairs.
The Evgeny Lebedev-owned London TV station will shift its programming to be closer to the 15-44 audience of the London Evening Standard, which is also owned by Lebedev.
The station's Ofcom licence states that it must broadcast eight hours of new content each day. It currently airs 5.5 hours of news and current affairs and 2.5 hours of original entertainment shows.
Its new strategy will see all eight hours of new content covering news and affairs that aims to "honour its Ofcom licence commitments".
Since launching in March, London Live has commissioned around 25 original series, including Food Junkies and Drag Queens of London.
"London Live has delivered on its remit to deliver talked-about, noisy London content that punches above its weight, outshining traditional broadcasters with its fresh tone of voice and approach," said Tim Kirkman,...
The Evgeny Lebedev-owned London TV station will shift its programming to be closer to the 15-44 audience of the London Evening Standard, which is also owned by Lebedev.
The station's Ofcom licence states that it must broadcast eight hours of new content each day. It currently airs 5.5 hours of news and current affairs and 2.5 hours of original entertainment shows.
Its new strategy will see all eight hours of new content covering news and affairs that aims to "honour its Ofcom licence commitments".
Since launching in March, London Live has commissioned around 25 original series, including Food Junkies and Drag Queens of London.
"London Live has delivered on its remit to deliver talked-about, noisy London content that punches above its weight, outshining traditional broadcasters with its fresh tone of voice and approach," said Tim Kirkman,...
- 8/18/2014
- Digital Spy
#66. Tan Lines - Tim Kirkman It's been a long dry spell of sorts for helmer Tim Kirkman, who presented anything since Loggerheads - a drama that was included at the Sundance film festival back in 2005. His next feature is a long shot of sorts to break the line-up - a low budget tennis comedy titled Tan Lines. Pic stars Dash Mihok, Cameron Monaghan, Kevin Sussman, Alexie Gilmore and Josh Hopkins. Gist: Owen "Game Set" Match is one of the top tennis pros in town, employed by the prestigious Fountain Club, with sun-bleached hair, gimp knees, and tan lines that make the women swoon. But when a history of bad decisions finally catches up to him, he's forced to pick up the pieces of his faltering career at the local Ymca club, where dysfunction is the norm. At the Y, a gang of culturally diverse, potentially psychotic, Adhd, Ocd, and potentially...
- 11/13/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
- A little cash can go a long way when developing a screenplay, and if you happen to be working on anything related to “stories about science and technology or portray scientists, engineers and mathematicians as major characters” then a hand over from the Tribeca Film Institute’s Tfi Sloan Filmmaker Fund should be among your priorities. Today a jury comprised of Darren Aronofsky, Steven Shainberg, producer Caroline Baron, producer/writer Ann Druyan and a couple of profs and doctors selected the recipients of some financial and creative support. Among the project we find some familiar names including Amy Redford who has The Guitar coming out in November, and speaking of in November, Greg Harrison directed Courtney Cox in a film going by just that title and finally Tim Kirkman last directed Loggerheads for a very small theatrical run in 2005. The five selected projects selected received a sum of either
- 10/28/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
- Loggerheads is a time twisting symbolic tale about finding again the familial love you abandoned or let go of years ago. It is a story told in three parts that interweave only to finally connect at its’ climax - after it’s too late. The past, present and future are compressed into one story line leaving you asking the question of what could have been only if the characters’ timing were right. This is Loggerheads’ most noteworthy accomplishment. A son, Mark, has been on the road, prostituting himself, since he ran away from his adoptive parents, a stern minister and his wife, Elizabeth, and the cliché town of Eden, an all American neighborhood with white picketed homes, where he grew up. Stopping at Kure Beach to track the return of the Loggerhead turtles, turtles that return to that shore at this time of the year to reproduce, he finds
- 10/11/2005
- IONCINEMA.com
PARK CITY -- "Loggerheads" is an ambitious and intricately structured first-time narrative film from documentarian Tim Kirkman. While subject matter and insights are far from new, the writer-director takes an unusual approach and is rewarded with honest and pensive performances by a fine ensemble cast. The film lacks somewhat in dramatic energy, so its theatrical appeal is limited mostly to festivals and gay programming.
The conflicts in "Loggerheads" are oh-so-carefully and quietly modulated. Even in sharp exchanges -- and these are rare -- no one raises his or her voice. The story takes place in communities, where people try to keep personal matters far from public view so when things do boil to the surface it's a slow, managed boil.
Kirkman's strategy is to interweave three stories, each set in a different year on a Mother's Day weekend in North Carolina, Kirkman's home state. Unfortunately, the different time frames are not immediately apparent so audiences may become understandably confused.
Grace (Bonnie Hunt) returns to her hometown following a suicide attempt to stay awhile with her mother (Michael Learned). She finally decides to begin a search for the Baby Boy she was forced by her mother to give up for adoption so many years earlier.
Mark (Kip Pardue), a young man clearly adrift in life, comes to a small beach town with the goal of helping to save the endangered loggerhead turtles. George (Michael Kelly), a motel owner who is attracted to him, offers Mark a room in his less-than-successful establishment. Mark's admission that he is HIV positive puts a momentary damper on the sexual side to their relationship, but the two grow closer as Mark opens up about the demons that haunt him.
A minister's wife (Tess Harper) must confront a changing society where homosexuality is in the open and the fact their son, who is gay, ran away from home since he was unable to find acceptance in a home dominated by the rigid if not bigoted sense of morality of her husband (Chris Sarandon).
Audiences will quickly realize the connection among the three stories. They can just as quickly guess what is at the root of everyone's dilemma for there is a bit too much Psychology 101 here. The film never really digs deep enough.
Similarly, the twin villains of small-town conformity and religious intolerance, while valid, are more than a little tired. The drama enters much firmer ground when it moves into the area of adoption rights and people's desire to reach out and restore severed ties. Here the film is quite touching.
Cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg shoots in muted colors that create beautiful landscapes where you can almost feel the regret and loss. Mark Geary's soft music is used minimally as Kirkman often prefers a country song or two.
LOGGERHEADS
Independent Dream Motion Pictures
Presents
A LaSalleHolland Production
In Association with dB120 Films
Credits:
Writer/director: Tim Kirkman
Producer: Gill Holland
Executive producers: Lillian LaSalle, Stephen Hays
Co-producers: Cindy Tolan, Les Franck, Zeke Zelker
Director of photography: Oliver Bokelberg
Production designer: Jim Shaugnessy
Music: Mark Geary
Costume designer: Susan Oliver
Editor: Caitlin Dixon.
Cast:
Elizabeth: Tess Harper
Grace: Bonnie Hunt
George: Michael Kelly
Sheridan: Michael Learned
Mark: Kip Pardue
Ruth: Ann Pierce
Robert: Chris Sarandon
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 95 minutes...
The conflicts in "Loggerheads" are oh-so-carefully and quietly modulated. Even in sharp exchanges -- and these are rare -- no one raises his or her voice. The story takes place in communities, where people try to keep personal matters far from public view so when things do boil to the surface it's a slow, managed boil.
Kirkman's strategy is to interweave three stories, each set in a different year on a Mother's Day weekend in North Carolina, Kirkman's home state. Unfortunately, the different time frames are not immediately apparent so audiences may become understandably confused.
Grace (Bonnie Hunt) returns to her hometown following a suicide attempt to stay awhile with her mother (Michael Learned). She finally decides to begin a search for the Baby Boy she was forced by her mother to give up for adoption so many years earlier.
Mark (Kip Pardue), a young man clearly adrift in life, comes to a small beach town with the goal of helping to save the endangered loggerhead turtles. George (Michael Kelly), a motel owner who is attracted to him, offers Mark a room in his less-than-successful establishment. Mark's admission that he is HIV positive puts a momentary damper on the sexual side to their relationship, but the two grow closer as Mark opens up about the demons that haunt him.
A minister's wife (Tess Harper) must confront a changing society where homosexuality is in the open and the fact their son, who is gay, ran away from home since he was unable to find acceptance in a home dominated by the rigid if not bigoted sense of morality of her husband (Chris Sarandon).
Audiences will quickly realize the connection among the three stories. They can just as quickly guess what is at the root of everyone's dilemma for there is a bit too much Psychology 101 here. The film never really digs deep enough.
Similarly, the twin villains of small-town conformity and religious intolerance, while valid, are more than a little tired. The drama enters much firmer ground when it moves into the area of adoption rights and people's desire to reach out and restore severed ties. Here the film is quite touching.
Cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg shoots in muted colors that create beautiful landscapes where you can almost feel the regret and loss. Mark Geary's soft music is used minimally as Kirkman often prefers a country song or two.
LOGGERHEADS
Independent Dream Motion Pictures
Presents
A LaSalleHolland Production
In Association with dB120 Films
Credits:
Writer/director: Tim Kirkman
Producer: Gill Holland
Executive producers: Lillian LaSalle, Stephen Hays
Co-producers: Cindy Tolan, Les Franck, Zeke Zelker
Director of photography: Oliver Bokelberg
Production designer: Jim Shaugnessy
Music: Mark Geary
Costume designer: Susan Oliver
Editor: Caitlin Dixon.
Cast:
Elizabeth: Tess Harper
Grace: Bonnie Hunt
George: Michael Kelly
Sheridan: Michael Learned
Mark: Kip Pardue
Ruth: Ann Pierce
Robert: Chris Sarandon
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 95 minutes...
- 1/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Kip Pardue has signed on to the indie feature Loggerheads for Gill Holland and Lillian LaSalle's newly formed LasalleHolland management-production shingle. Inspired by a true story, Loggerheads, to be directed by Tim Kirkman, revolves around three interweaving tales in North Carolina. Pardue will play a charismatic drifter who travels to a coastal town to help save endangered loggerhead turtles and must decide whether to keep traveling or settle down. Also on board Loggerheads are Elizabeth Perkins, Melinda Dillon (Magnolia), Michael Kelly (Dawn of the Dead) and Robin Weigert (HBO's Deadwood). Shooting begins next month in North Carolina. Holland (Spring Forward) is producing, with Stephen Hays and Lillian LaSalle serving as executive producers. LasalleHolland formed in January when Holland's CineBlast! merged with LaSalle Management Group. Kirkman's credits include the documentary Dear Jesse. Pardue -- whose credits include thirteen, Driven and Remember the Titans as well as the upcoming Imaginary Heroes and Chasing Fate -- is repped by ICM and Untitled Entertainment and attorney Jay Froberg.
- 4/16/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The challenge in translating a hit one-man stage show to the screen is retaining the element of immediacy that contributed to its success in the first place.
That actor-activist David Drake's "The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me" makes the transition more successfully than most is all the more remarkable given that the politically charged performance piece opened off-Broadway in 1992 at a less hopeful time in the history of AIDS, which claimed so many of Drake's friends.
In revisiting the finely honed material, Drake offers more than a snapshot of a particular time and place. Working in collaboration with energetic documentary filmmaker Tim Kirkman ("Dear Jesse"), he manages to keep the reflective piece very much of the moment with only a scant minimum of updating.
Screened at Los Angeles Outfest 2000 and recently opening theatrically in New York, "Kramer" serves up a reasonable facsimile of the Obie Award-
winning stage show.
Drake kicks off his collection of interconnected monologues with a triptych of moments of personal awareness marked by his attendance at various stage performances, including seeing a production of "West Side Story" when he was 6, going to "A Chorus Line" at 16 with a secret high school crush and, most notably, a consciousness-raising viewing of Kramer's "The Normal Heart" in 1985 on Drake's 22nd birthday.
From there he surveys various aspects -- humorous and poignant -- of the urban gay male experience. And while some things work better than others, the best bits, including the insightful "Why I Go to the Gym" and a revised fantasy epilogue set on New Year's Eve 2017 in the wake of the Gay Crusades, mix humor and social politics with dramatic efficiency and a minimum of props and set decoration.
Shot over a period of six live performances, the film benefits greatly from the involvement of director Kirkman, who pulls off the feat of bringing viewers right up on stage with Drake thanks to rapidly cut close-ups and interesting camera angles that go a long way in breaking up the boxiness that usually goes with the territory.
THE NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME
FilmNext/Montrose Pictures
Producers: Michael Kaplan,
Kirkland Tibbels
Director: Tim Kirkman
Screenwriter: David Drake
Director of photography: James Carman
Production designers: Anna Louizos,
Craig Young
Editor: Caitlin Dixon
Music: Steve Sandberg
Color/stereo
Cast:
Himself: David Drake
Running time - 79 minutes
No MPAA rating...
That actor-activist David Drake's "The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me" makes the transition more successfully than most is all the more remarkable given that the politically charged performance piece opened off-Broadway in 1992 at a less hopeful time in the history of AIDS, which claimed so many of Drake's friends.
In revisiting the finely honed material, Drake offers more than a snapshot of a particular time and place. Working in collaboration with energetic documentary filmmaker Tim Kirkman ("Dear Jesse"), he manages to keep the reflective piece very much of the moment with only a scant minimum of updating.
Screened at Los Angeles Outfest 2000 and recently opening theatrically in New York, "Kramer" serves up a reasonable facsimile of the Obie Award-
winning stage show.
Drake kicks off his collection of interconnected monologues with a triptych of moments of personal awareness marked by his attendance at various stage performances, including seeing a production of "West Side Story" when he was 6, going to "A Chorus Line" at 16 with a secret high school crush and, most notably, a consciousness-raising viewing of Kramer's "The Normal Heart" in 1985 on Drake's 22nd birthday.
From there he surveys various aspects -- humorous and poignant -- of the urban gay male experience. And while some things work better than others, the best bits, including the insightful "Why I Go to the Gym" and a revised fantasy epilogue set on New Year's Eve 2017 in the wake of the Gay Crusades, mix humor and social politics with dramatic efficiency and a minimum of props and set decoration.
Shot over a period of six live performances, the film benefits greatly from the involvement of director Kirkman, who pulls off the feat of bringing viewers right up on stage with Drake thanks to rapidly cut close-ups and interesting camera angles that go a long way in breaking up the boxiness that usually goes with the territory.
THE NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME
FilmNext/Montrose Pictures
Producers: Michael Kaplan,
Kirkland Tibbels
Director: Tim Kirkman
Screenwriter: David Drake
Director of photography: James Carman
Production designers: Anna Louizos,
Craig Young
Editor: Caitlin Dixon
Music: Steve Sandberg
Color/stereo
Cast:
Himself: David Drake
Running time - 79 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 7/27/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.