Exclusive: Gracie Lawrence is heading to Essex College as a new series regular for the upcoming third season of Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble’s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Created by Kaling and Noble, Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls follows four college roommates in their first year at New England’s prestigious Essex College. Season 2 picked up with the students returning after their fall break, tackling the challenges that were thrown their way at the end of Season 1, while also facing their next semester filled with new faces, parties and predicaments.
Lawrence will play Kacey, a student who has recently transferred to Essex College.
Returning series regulars for Season 3 are Pauline Chalamet, lyah Chanelle Scott, Amrit Kaur, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Paulino and Renika Williams. As we previously reported, Reneé Rapp has exited the series as a regular for the upcoming season. She’ll appear in a handful of episodes,...
Created by Kaling and Noble, Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls follows four college roommates in their first year at New England’s prestigious Essex College. Season 2 picked up with the students returning after their fall break, tackling the challenges that were thrown their way at the end of Season 1, while also facing their next semester filled with new faces, parties and predicaments.
Lawrence will play Kacey, a student who has recently transferred to Essex College.
Returning series regulars for Season 3 are Pauline Chalamet, lyah Chanelle Scott, Amrit Kaur, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Paulino and Renika Williams. As we previously reported, Reneé Rapp has exited the series as a regular for the upcoming season. She’ll appear in a handful of episodes,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Former Mosaic manager Cullen Conly has joined Anonymous Content’s literary department as a manager and producer, based out of the company’s New York office.
Conly started his career in the mailroom at WME before holding positions at Paramount Vantage, Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program and at ICM Partners, where he was a Motion Picture Literary agent in the company’s New York office. At Mosaic, he was based in LA.
His client list of filmmakers and TV writers includes Oscar-winning filmmaker Sian Heder (Coda), Emmy-winning filmmaker Cory Finley (Landscape with Invisible Hand), Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), Kat Candler (Queen Sugar), Laura Moss (Birth/Rebirth), Lindsey Ferrentino (National Theatre at Home: Ugly Lies the Bone), Chad Hodge (Single All the Way), Logan Kibens (The Power), Matt Lutsky (On Becoming a God In Central Florida), Michael Lannan (Looking), Rhys Ernst...
Conly started his career in the mailroom at WME before holding positions at Paramount Vantage, Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program and at ICM Partners, where he was a Motion Picture Literary agent in the company’s New York office. At Mosaic, he was based in LA.
His client list of filmmakers and TV writers includes Oscar-winning filmmaker Sian Heder (Coda), Emmy-winning filmmaker Cory Finley (Landscape with Invisible Hand), Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), Kat Candler (Queen Sugar), Laura Moss (Birth/Rebirth), Lindsey Ferrentino (National Theatre at Home: Ugly Lies the Bone), Chad Hodge (Single All the Way), Logan Kibens (The Power), Matt Lutsky (On Becoming a God In Central Florida), Michael Lannan (Looking), Rhys Ernst...
- 12/8/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Film Independent President Josh Welsh announced today that entertainment attorney and producer Brenda Robinson has been elected the new chair of the nonprofit’s board of directors.
Robinson succeeds longtime Film Independent chair Mary Sweeney, who has served in the position for the past nine years and on the board for more than two decades. Previously vice chair, Robinson will continue to work closely with the executive committee of Film Independent, the arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards and serves to champion creative independence in visual storytelling.
Film Independent also announced three new members to join the board: Matthew Greenfield, president of Searchlight Pictures; Rhys Ernst, producer and director; and Edward Rada, non-profit financial executive, who will serve as the executive committee treasurer.
“We are thrilled to have Brenda Robinson as the new chair of Film Independent’s Board of Directors,” Welsh said in a statement announcing Robinson’s election.
Robinson succeeds longtime Film Independent chair Mary Sweeney, who has served in the position for the past nine years and on the board for more than two decades. Previously vice chair, Robinson will continue to work closely with the executive committee of Film Independent, the arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards and serves to champion creative independence in visual storytelling.
Film Independent also announced three new members to join the board: Matthew Greenfield, president of Searchlight Pictures; Rhys Ernst, producer and director; and Edward Rada, non-profit financial executive, who will serve as the executive committee treasurer.
“We are thrilled to have Brenda Robinson as the new chair of Film Independent’s Board of Directors,” Welsh said in a statement announcing Robinson’s election.
- 1/26/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Brenda Robinson, an entertainment attorney, producer and partner at film financing and development company Gamechanger Films, has been elected the new chair of the board of directors at Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization behind the Spirit Awards.
She takes over for Mary Sweeney, who served as chairman for the past nine years as part of a two-decade-plus run on the board. The nonprofit also said Wednesday that it has appointed three new board members: Searchlight Pictures president Matthew Greenfield; Transparent producer-director Rhys Ernst; and Edward Rada, a nonprofit financial executive who joins the executive committee as treasurer.
“We are thrilled to have Brenda Robinson as the new Chair of Film Independent’s Board of Directors,” Film Independent president Josh Welsh said. “With her unparalleled passion and advocacy for the arts and artists, Brenda is uniquely qualified to help lead Film Independent. And I’d also like to extend a...
She takes over for Mary Sweeney, who served as chairman for the past nine years as part of a two-decade-plus run on the board. The nonprofit also said Wednesday that it has appointed three new board members: Searchlight Pictures president Matthew Greenfield; Transparent producer-director Rhys Ernst; and Edward Rada, a nonprofit financial executive who joins the executive committee as treasurer.
“We are thrilled to have Brenda Robinson as the new Chair of Film Independent’s Board of Directors,” Film Independent president Josh Welsh said. “With her unparalleled passion and advocacy for the arts and artists, Brenda is uniquely qualified to help lead Film Independent. And I’d also like to extend a...
- 1/26/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Wolfe Releasing has acquired worldwide rights to transgender drama “Death and Bowling” from writer/director Lyle Kash. The film world premiered at Outfest Los Angeles, where it won the Narrative Feature Audience Award, and is playing NewFest on Monday. It will be released next year.
In the film, a struggling trans actor goes on an adventure of self-discovery after the death of his close friend and captain of a lesbian bowling league in Los Angeles.
Made by predominantly trans cast and crew, “Death and Bowling” is the directorial debut of trans filmmaker Lyle Kash and was executive produced by Rhys Ernst.
The film was produced by Ariel Mahler and stars Will Krisanda, Tracy Kowalski, Faith Eileen Bryan, Denise Turkan, Leontine White Doster and D’Lo.
The deal was negotiated by Evan Schwartz, VP of content at Wolfe Releasing, and Kash.
“In a time when the conversation around LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment has been amplified,...
In the film, a struggling trans actor goes on an adventure of self-discovery after the death of his close friend and captain of a lesbian bowling league in Los Angeles.
Made by predominantly trans cast and crew, “Death and Bowling” is the directorial debut of trans filmmaker Lyle Kash and was executive produced by Rhys Ernst.
The film was produced by Ariel Mahler and stars Will Krisanda, Tracy Kowalski, Faith Eileen Bryan, Denise Turkan, Leontine White Doster and D’Lo.
The deal was negotiated by Evan Schwartz, VP of content at Wolfe Releasing, and Kash.
“In a time when the conversation around LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment has been amplified,...
- 10/18/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Theo Germaine will star in John Logan’s untitled feature directorial debut, a new horror film for Blumhouse, formerly known as Whistler Camp.
The movie is an Lgbtqia+ empowerment story set at a gay conversion camp.
Germaine is best known for playing James Sullivan in Ryan Murphy’s The Politician on Netflix, as well as in Abby McEnany’s Work in Progress executive produced by Lilly Wachowski for Showtime. They also starred in Rhys Ernst’s feature Adam which made its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
A three-time Oscar nominee, Logan is also writing the Blumhouse title which Jason Blum and Michael Aguilar are producing.
Ryan Turek is the creative executive overseeing the film for Blumhouse.
Germaine is represented by Gray Talent Group, Avalon Management and Frankfurt Kumit Klein & Selz.
The movie is an Lgbtqia+ empowerment story set at a gay conversion camp.
Germaine is best known for playing James Sullivan in Ryan Murphy’s The Politician on Netflix, as well as in Abby McEnany’s Work in Progress executive produced by Lilly Wachowski for Showtime. They also starred in Rhys Ernst’s feature Adam which made its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
A three-time Oscar nominee, Logan is also writing the Blumhouse title which Jason Blum and Michael Aguilar are producing.
Ryan Turek is the creative executive overseeing the film for Blumhouse.
Germaine is represented by Gray Talent Group, Avalon Management and Frankfurt Kumit Klein & Selz.
- 9/20/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
As LGBTQ culture filters further into the mainstream, it seems every TV show (and even most films) have a queer character these days. Loki is bisexual, “The L Word” is back, and “Euphoria” has every teenager (and some adults) wishing they were as cool as Jules. But, as discussed in this IndieWire Anniversary piece about the future of queer film and TV, more doesn’t always mean good. With every project trying to squeeze a queer character into even the most unlikely places, more and more of our stories are being told without our input. Queer filmmakers and creators need industry support now more than even, or this next wave of inclusivity will be just as disappointing as not being represented at all.
Which is why LGBTQ+ film festivals like Outfest are just as crucial, if not more so, than ever. Now in its 39th year, Outfest is one of...
Which is why LGBTQ+ film festivals like Outfest are just as crucial, if not more so, than ever. Now in its 39th year, Outfest is one of...
- 8/13/2021
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Outfest has launched its annual Outfest Screenwriting Lab and selected eight scripts that advance the visibility of Lgbtqia+ storytelling. This year’s fellows include Johnny Alvarez, Courtney & Hillary Andujar, Carlton Daniel Jr., Gary Jaffe, Raul Martin, Damon Royster, Cody Stickels & Kea Trevett, and Leandro Tadashi.
The Outfest Screenwriting Lab was established as a screenwriting contest in 1997 and has since become the cornerstone of Outfest’s education and mentoring program, Outfest Forward. Because this year’s Lab will take place virtually, it provided Outfest the ability to accept their largest cohort to date and extended the time frame of the Lab to five days. Fellows will meet with top industry showrunners, executives, and writers who will offer professional development and discuss trends within the industry.
The Lab roster of Lgbtqia+ industry leaders include showrunners Latoya Morgan, Derek Simonds (The Sinner), and M Dickson, alongside...
The Outfest Screenwriting Lab was established as a screenwriting contest in 1997 and has since become the cornerstone of Outfest’s education and mentoring program, Outfest Forward. Because this year’s Lab will take place virtually, it provided Outfest the ability to accept their largest cohort to date and extended the time frame of the Lab to five days. Fellows will meet with top industry showrunners, executives, and writers who will offer professional development and discuss trends within the industry.
The Lab roster of Lgbtqia+ industry leaders include showrunners Latoya Morgan, Derek Simonds (The Sinner), and M Dickson, alongside...
- 12/2/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
“Cowboys and “Welcome to the USA” were awarded the top prizes at the 32nd annual NewFest LGBTQ Film Festival.
Top honors went to writer and director Anna Kerrigan for “Cowboys,” who took home the Grand Jury Prize for narrative feature, while director Assel Aushakimova’s “Welcome to the USA” won the Grand Jury Prize for international feature.
Director Posy Dixon’s “Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” took home the documentary feature prize, and “Queenie” director Cai Thomas won for New York short.
The announcement was made today at the festival’s virtual award ceremony by NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff and Director Of Programming Nick McCarthy.
The jury members — Rhys Ernst, Dino-Ray Ramos, and Isabel Sandoval; Whembley A. Sewell; Barbara Vasconez said, “We don’t often get to hear the stories of our trans elders through their own words, and to know that we have a living elder whose...
Top honors went to writer and director Anna Kerrigan for “Cowboys,” who took home the Grand Jury Prize for narrative feature, while director Assel Aushakimova’s “Welcome to the USA” won the Grand Jury Prize for international feature.
Director Posy Dixon’s “Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” took home the documentary feature prize, and “Queenie” director Cai Thomas won for New York short.
The announcement was made today at the festival’s virtual award ceremony by NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff and Director Of Programming Nick McCarthy.
The jury members — Rhys Ernst, Dino-Ray Ramos, and Isabel Sandoval; Whembley A. Sewell; Barbara Vasconez said, “We don’t often get to hear the stories of our trans elders through their own words, and to know that we have a living elder whose...
- 10/25/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Film financing event to be held during the BFI London Film Festival.
Us producer and filmmaker James Schamus is to speak at Film London’s Production Finance Market (Pfm), which is shifting online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The 14th edition of the film financing event will run from October 12-13 during the BFI London Film Festival (Lff), which has yet to confirm how the virus crisis will impact its own plans.
Announcing that Pfm applications are open from today, screen agency Film London said the move online put the health and safety of delegates at the forefront of...
Us producer and filmmaker James Schamus is to speak at Film London’s Production Finance Market (Pfm), which is shifting online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The 14th edition of the film financing event will run from October 12-13 during the BFI London Film Festival (Lff), which has yet to confirm how the virus crisis will impact its own plans.
Announcing that Pfm applications are open from today, screen agency Film London said the move online put the health and safety of delegates at the forefront of...
- 6/8/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.
Adam (Rhys Ernst)
There’s a specific kind of warm, crowd-pleasing aesthetic–often in the coming-of-age subgenre–that seems to find a home among the Sundance programming more so than any other festival. A few years ago, Sean Baker’s Tangerine heralded a major breakthrough for transgender representation in cinema and broke this mold in formally compelling ways. For better or worse, Adam has now arrived to fit more in the aforementioned lighthearted, simplistic, but ultimately empathetic dramedy conceit. – Jordan R. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes
Age Out (A.J. Edwards)
The only thing worse than never getting your happy ending is having it...
Adam (Rhys Ernst)
There’s a specific kind of warm, crowd-pleasing aesthetic–often in the coming-of-age subgenre–that seems to find a home among the Sundance programming more so than any other festival. A few years ago, Sean Baker’s Tangerine heralded a major breakthrough for transgender representation in cinema and broke this mold in formally compelling ways. For better or worse, Adam has now arrived to fit more in the aforementioned lighthearted, simplistic, but ultimately empathetic dramedy conceit. – Jordan R. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes
Age Out (A.J. Edwards)
The only thing worse than never getting your happy ending is having it...
- 11/22/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Slate sales on SXSW winners Alice, Saint Frances, Tito.
Visit Films has concluded a raft of deals on its Afm slate that includes documentaries White Riot and The Sanctity Of Space, and Toronto drama Hearts And Bones starring Hugo Weaving.
Company president Ryan Kampe and director of sales Lydia Rodman have licensed White Riot in the UK (Modern Films), Australia and New Zealand (Icon Film Distribution), Films We Like (Canada) and Benelux (Periscoop). Rubika Shah’s punk rock documentary won the Grierson Award for best documentary at BFI London Film Festival and an international premiere is being lined up for a major festival.
Visit Films has concluded a raft of deals on its Afm slate that includes documentaries White Riot and The Sanctity Of Space, and Toronto drama Hearts And Bones starring Hugo Weaving.
Company president Ryan Kampe and director of sales Lydia Rodman have licensed White Riot in the UK (Modern Films), Australia and New Zealand (Icon Film Distribution), Films We Like (Canada) and Benelux (Periscoop). Rubika Shah’s punk rock documentary won the Grierson Award for best documentary at BFI London Film Festival and an international premiere is being lined up for a major festival.
- 11/19/2019
- ScreenDaily
Trans Substantiate: Ernst Turns Back Time in Sincere, Flawed Trans Rom-Com
“Lying is stupid and lonely,” says Margaret Qualley, a wearied queer woman towards the end of Rhys Ernst’s debut, Adam, a period piece on trans activism set in 2006 New York. Eloquence, however, is nowhere to be found in this arguably anachronistic exercise which favors a whiny pitch in its attempt to speak truth to power. Well-intentioned and packed to the gills with conversation starters on queer and gender identity defined and hobbled through heteronormative lenses, Ernst (a producer on Amazon’s celebrated series “Transparent”) attempts to launch a coming-of-age romantic comedy built on familiar role reversal revelations through a Ya lens.…...
“Lying is stupid and lonely,” says Margaret Qualley, a wearied queer woman towards the end of Rhys Ernst’s debut, Adam, a period piece on trans activism set in 2006 New York. Eloquence, however, is nowhere to be found in this arguably anachronistic exercise which favors a whiny pitch in its attempt to speak truth to power. Well-intentioned and packed to the gills with conversation starters on queer and gender identity defined and hobbled through heteronormative lenses, Ernst (a producer on Amazon’s celebrated series “Transparent”) attempts to launch a coming-of-age romantic comedy built on familiar role reversal revelations through a Ya lens.…...
- 10/25/2019
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Universal’s Global Talent Development and Inclusion have unveiled the participants for the 2019 Directors Initiative. The initiative has also expanded their partnerships to include the American Black Film Festival and the New York Latino Film Festival. In addition, NBCUniversal Filmmasters will join veteran partners AFI Directing Workshop for Women as well as the Sundance Institute’s FilmTwo Fellowship.
This year, the Initiative has doubled in size with 17 directors from diverse backgrounds selected to participate. This year, the Initiative has the strongest international reach with directors from China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Iran and Singapore.
Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in this year’s Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (The Mustang), Rhys Ernst (Adam), Atsuko Hirayanagi (Oh Lucy!) and Kirsten Tan (Pop Aye). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women are directors Amber Sealey (How Does it Start), Jessica Kaye (Inheritance), Carly Usdin (Suicide Kale), Parisa Barani (Ablution (Wuzu)), Marielle Woods...
This year, the Initiative has doubled in size with 17 directors from diverse backgrounds selected to participate. This year, the Initiative has the strongest international reach with directors from China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Iran and Singapore.
Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in this year’s Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (The Mustang), Rhys Ernst (Adam), Atsuko Hirayanagi (Oh Lucy!) and Kirsten Tan (Pop Aye). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women are directors Amber Sealey (How Does it Start), Jessica Kaye (Inheritance), Carly Usdin (Suicide Kale), Parisa Barani (Ablution (Wuzu)), Marielle Woods...
- 10/7/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion group has selected filmmakers for its 2019 Directors Initiative, which introduces directors to the studio filmmaking process as well as executives across the company.
The Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in the Directors Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (“The Mustang”), Rhys Ernst (“Adam”), Atsuko Hirayanagi (“Oh Lucy!”), and Kirsten Tan (“Pop Aye”). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, directors participating include Amber Sealey (“How Does it Start”), Jessica Kaye (“Inheritance”), Carly Usdin (“Suicide Kale”), Parisa Barani (“Ablution (Wuzu)”), Marielle Woods (“Do No Harm”), Shilpi Roy (“Hipsterhood”), Siyou Tan (“Hello Ahma”) and Talia Zucker (“Child”).
Additionally, Lukas von Berg (“L’aria Del Moscerino”) is joining from NBCUniversal’s Global Distribution & International Filmmasters program, while Numa Perrier (“Jezebel”) is participating from American Black Film Festival, and Gabriela Calvache (“The Longest Night”) is joining from New York Latino Film Festival. Dinh Thai (“Monday”) is joining from last...
The Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in the Directors Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (“The Mustang”), Rhys Ernst (“Adam”), Atsuko Hirayanagi (“Oh Lucy!”), and Kirsten Tan (“Pop Aye”). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, directors participating include Amber Sealey (“How Does it Start”), Jessica Kaye (“Inheritance”), Carly Usdin (“Suicide Kale”), Parisa Barani (“Ablution (Wuzu)”), Marielle Woods (“Do No Harm”), Shilpi Roy (“Hipsterhood”), Siyou Tan (“Hello Ahma”) and Talia Zucker (“Child”).
Additionally, Lukas von Berg (“L’aria Del Moscerino”) is joining from NBCUniversal’s Global Distribution & International Filmmasters program, while Numa Perrier (“Jezebel”) is participating from American Black Film Festival, and Gabriela Calvache (“The Longest Night”) is joining from New York Latino Film Festival. Dinh Thai (“Monday”) is joining from last...
- 10/7/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
AdamAdam has the right to exist—but I do not think it is a good or successful film. Adam has the right to exist—but I would have preferred a few other, better trans-related works of literature chosen to be adapted by major independent film producer James Schamus. Adam has the right to exist—but it is not a film I would implore people to see. In fact, I might even encourage people to skip it. Not out of protest or the symbolism that is ascribed to power in purchasing a movie ticket in support of Lgbtq-related films, but because I do not think this film is worth rallying around or against. As a film, it should and ought to be treated equally like the idealized notion of purchasing a movie ticket: seeing something worth seeing. Adam is not worthless or easily disposable as a whole enterprise, although I...
- 9/11/2019
- MUBI
In “Adam,” a teenager pretends to be trans, and his journey provides a bittersweet gateway to the young man’s sexual awakening. Naturally that arc leads to a whole lot of questions, some of which the movie controls better than others. Some have argued that the very premise of “Adam” yields troubling transphobic implications, going so far as to launch a boycott of the movie well in advance of its release, and those allegations deserve serious attention. But the abject dismissal of the movie on the basis of its premise alone negates the actual mechanics of a narrative that hovers inside a cis male gaze, and charts a path toward its redemption.
“Adam” certainly stimulates a complex dialogue about the biases of its anti-hero and his twisted act of deception. But the thorny representational issue surrounding “Adam” belie its sweet, amiable tone, and there’s much to be appreciated about...
“Adam” certainly stimulates a complex dialogue about the biases of its anti-hero and his twisted act of deception. But the thorny representational issue surrounding “Adam” belie its sweet, amiable tone, and there’s much to be appreciated about...
- 8/14/2019
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
“Adam,” the directorial debut of Rhys Ernst, a producer on Amazon’s “Transparent,” has a lot of first-film problems. It’s overly ambitious, it has too many characters, and it tries to do too much. But there is also a lot here that feels fresh and original, particularly in the first half, which takes in a lot of new territory — both thematic and geographic — with a pleasing light touch.
Most films set in Manhattan don’t capture the flavor and intensity of the city, but “Adam” is an exception. In spite of any budgetary limitations he may have had, Ernst makes sure that this coming-of-age story is alive with specific places and references that fix it in the year 2006.
That’s when 18-year-old virgin Adam (Nicholas Alexander) goes to visit his sister Casey, who lives communal-style in Manhattan, where she goes to school. The posters on the walls of their...
Most films set in Manhattan don’t capture the flavor and intensity of the city, but “Adam” is an exception. In spite of any budgetary limitations he may have had, Ernst makes sure that this coming-of-age story is alive with specific places and references that fix it in the year 2006.
That’s when 18-year-old virgin Adam (Nicholas Alexander) goes to visit his sister Casey, who lives communal-style in Manhattan, where she goes to school. The posters on the walls of their...
- 8/13/2019
- by Dan Callahan
- The Wrap
Adam, named for the first “man,” is a virgin. Awkward, shy, and socially ostracized in his small town, the 17-year-old strikes gold when he’s invited to spend the summer living with his queer older sister in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Finding himself the outsider in an eclectic group of people who run the gamut of the Lgbtq+ alphabet, Adam unwittingly stumbles into a misguided deception when a pretty girl assumes he is trans — and he doesn’t correct her.
Just your typical coming of age story, right?
That’s the premise of “Adam,” the feature filmmaking debut of Rhys Ernst, a queer transgender man whose credits include producing “Transparent” and creating the docu-series “We’ve Been Around.” Backed by powerhouse indie producers James Schamus (“Brokeback Mountain”) and Howard Gertler (“How to Survive a Plague”), the movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to warm reviews and is set...
Just your typical coming of age story, right?
That’s the premise of “Adam,” the feature filmmaking debut of Rhys Ernst, a queer transgender man whose credits include producing “Transparent” and creating the docu-series “We’ve Been Around.” Backed by powerhouse indie producers James Schamus (“Brokeback Mountain”) and Howard Gertler (“How to Survive a Plague”), the movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to warm reviews and is set...
- 8/7/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
"What are you even doing here? At least I belong here." Wolfe Video has debuted an official Us trailer for an indie coming-of-age film, a "comedy of errors about mistaken gender identity", titled Adam. This initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year (not to be confused with the other coming-of-age romance also titled Adam from Sundance 2009 about a guy with Autism). This Adam is the feature directorial debut of Rhys Ernst, a producer on the "Transparent" series, and producer / director of "This Is Me". The film tells the story of an awkward teenage boy who pretends he's a trans man in order to date a lesbian girl he has feelings for, which is a bit odd. Nicholas Alexander stars, along with Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Margaret Qualley, Leo Sheng, Chloë Levine, Colton Ryan, Dana Aliya Levinson, and Alisha B. Woods. I haven't seen the film yet, so I can't comment,...
- 7/23/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
It wouldn’t be awards season without an Oscar hopeful from Focus Features, and this year the specialty arm of Universal looks to have a big one with “Harriet.” From “Eve’s Bayou” director Kasi Lemmons, “Harriet” is a biographical drama that tells the story of the abolitionist icon Harriet Tubman. Born into slavery, Tubman breaks free and embarks on a mission to help slaves escape North using the Underground Railroad.
“Harriet” stars rising Hollywood star Cynthia Erivo in the title role. Erivo is best known to theater-goers for her breakout work on Broadway, including winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2016 for her acclaimed run as Celie in the revival of “The Color Purple.” Last fall, the actress broke big at the movies with supporting turns in Drew Goddard’s “Bad Times at the El Royale” and Steve McQueen’s “Widows.” “Harriet” marks Erivo’s debut as a leading star.
“Harriet” stars rising Hollywood star Cynthia Erivo in the title role. Erivo is best known to theater-goers for her breakout work on Broadway, including winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2016 for her acclaimed run as Celie in the revival of “The Color Purple.” Last fall, the actress broke big at the movies with supporting turns in Drew Goddard’s “Bad Times at the El Royale” and Steve McQueen’s “Widows.” “Harriet” marks Erivo’s debut as a leading star.
- 7/23/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The massive success of Jill Soloway’s “Transparent” offered a foot in the door for many trans actors, writers, and directors to get a first legitimate credit in Hollywood. Episode director Silas Howard directed Octavia Spencer in “A Kid Like Jake”; writer Our Lady J is a writer and producer on “Pose”; and actress Trace Lysette’s star is about to reach new heights when she appears opposite Jennifer Lopez in “Hustlers.”
Now, we can add Rhys Ernst to the list of trans Hollywood elite to come out of the school of Soloway. A visual artist and filmmaker, Ernst makes his feature filmmaking debut with “Adam,” a Ya romantic-comedy with an unusual twist.
The movie, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, packs a number of rising stars in its ranks. Margaret Qualley, who will next appear in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” costars in the film,...
Now, we can add Rhys Ernst to the list of trans Hollywood elite to come out of the school of Soloway. A visual artist and filmmaker, Ernst makes his feature filmmaking debut with “Adam,” a Ya romantic-comedy with an unusual twist.
The movie, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, packs a number of rising stars in its ranks. Margaret Qualley, who will next appear in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” costars in the film,...
- 7/22/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
“Game of Thrones” might be over, but HBO doesn’t seem quite ready to give up its coverage of controversial female leaders who fancy themselves the kind of royals who can break the very chains the monarchy has made possible. In “Catherine the Great,” an upcoming limited series from director Philip Martin and writer Nigel Williams, the chain-breaking potential turns to an actual ruler: Catherine the Great, played by Helen Mirren.
The four-part historical drama follows the Russian monarch as she nears the end of her reign in the late 18th century, with an apparent focus on her romantic relationship with Russian military leader Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke). The series also stars Georgina Beedle, Thomas Doherty, Andrew Rothney, Antonia Clarke, and Phil Dunster.
And yet the trailer at least hints at the early stages of Catherine’s remarkable run, one shaped by an auspicious and audacious start — she overthrew her...
The four-part historical drama follows the Russian monarch as she nears the end of her reign in the late 18th century, with an apparent focus on her romantic relationship with Russian military leader Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke). The series also stars Georgina Beedle, Thomas Doherty, Andrew Rothney, Antonia Clarke, and Phil Dunster.
And yet the trailer at least hints at the early stages of Catherine’s remarkable run, one shaped by an auspicious and audacious start — she overthrew her...
- 7/22/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Trans activist and model Corey Rae is getting a second crown — so to speak. Red Crown Productions has acquired the rights to Harry Tarre’s screenplay Queen which is based on Rae’s article “How I Became the World’s First Transgender Prom Queen — A Personal Essay.”
As the title of the article suggests, the screenplay is based on the true story of Rae’s real-life high school transition process and how she became the world’s first openly transgender prom queen. The film will be produced by Daniel Crown and Yoni Liebling of Red Crown Productions, and executive produced by Corey Rae and Harry Tarre, along with Amanda Crown, the Creative Executive, who brought the picture to Red Crown.
Rae first shared her story publicly on her blog in 2016 after transitioning (2009-2012). She looks to help break social stigmas surrounding transgender women. “I couldn’t be more excited...
As the title of the article suggests, the screenplay is based on the true story of Rae’s real-life high school transition process and how she became the world’s first openly transgender prom queen. The film will be produced by Daniel Crown and Yoni Liebling of Red Crown Productions, and executive produced by Corey Rae and Harry Tarre, along with Amanda Crown, the Creative Executive, who brought the picture to Red Crown.
Rae first shared her story publicly on her blog in 2016 after transitioning (2009-2012). She looks to help break social stigmas surrounding transgender women. “I couldn’t be more excited...
- 6/25/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s only appropriate that The L Word: Generation Q adds a new roster of Lgbtqia characters to the mix to join original series stars and executive producers Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey. Arienne Mandi (Baja), Leo Sheng (Adam), Jacqueline Toboni (Easy) and Rosanny Zayas (Orange is the New Black) are set to star in the forthcoming sequel to Showtime’s groundbreaking drama. Executive produced by showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan, original series creator Ilene Chaiken, Kristen Campo and Steph Green (pilot), the series is set to begin production on eight episodes in Los Angeles this summer.
As a follow up to the original series which ran on the premium cabler from 2004-2009, The L Word: Generation Q continues to follow the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Hailey) and Shane McCutcheon (Moennig), along with new characters Dani Nùñez (Mandi), Micah Lee (Sheng...
As a follow up to the original series which ran on the premium cabler from 2004-2009, The L Word: Generation Q continues to follow the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Hailey) and Shane McCutcheon (Moennig), along with new characters Dani Nùñez (Mandi), Micah Lee (Sheng...
- 6/24/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Fleadh is a key festival in the Irish filmindustry calendar and the country’s largest film market.
Us producer, writer and director James Schamus will deliver a keynote speech at the Fleadh Forum at the Galway Film Fleadh (July 9-14).
Schamus is the latest high-profile guest to be announced as an attendee at this year’s Fleadh, a key festival in the Irish film industry calendar and the country’s largest film market.
The award-winning screenwriter (The Ice Storm), producer (Brokeback Mountain) and director (Indignation) is the former CEO of Focus Features and now runs his own New York-based outfit Symbolic Exchange.
Us producer, writer and director James Schamus will deliver a keynote speech at the Fleadh Forum at the Galway Film Fleadh (July 9-14).
Schamus is the latest high-profile guest to be announced as an attendee at this year’s Fleadh, a key festival in the Irish film industry calendar and the country’s largest film market.
The award-winning screenwriter (The Ice Storm), producer (Brokeback Mountain) and director (Indignation) is the former CEO of Focus Features and now runs his own New York-based outfit Symbolic Exchange.
- 6/14/2019
- by Esther McCarthy
- ScreenDaily
Outfest has unveiled its programming lineup, including appearances by Kathy Griffin, Trixie Mattel, Angelica Ross and Robert Englund, for its 37th version on July 18-28.
Officially titled the 2019 Outfest Los Angeles Lgbtq Film Festival, the event opens at the Orpheum Theatre with the “Circus of Books” documentary and closes at The Theater at the Ace Hotel with family comedy “Before You Know It” from Hannah Pearl Utt (who also co-wrote and stars), featuring Judith Light alongside Alec Baldwin and Mandy Patinkin.
Films are from 33 countries and in 26 languages, and more than two-thirds of the titles are directed by women, people of color and trans filmmakers.
“As my tenure comes to an end I am most proud of Outfest’s increased visibility in Hollywood and our ever-growing stature within the industry,” said executive director Christopher Racster. “Outfest Los Angeles continues to shine a spotlight on those stories we must see and...
Officially titled the 2019 Outfest Los Angeles Lgbtq Film Festival, the event opens at the Orpheum Theatre with the “Circus of Books” documentary and closes at The Theater at the Ace Hotel with family comedy “Before You Know It” from Hannah Pearl Utt (who also co-wrote and stars), featuring Judith Light alongside Alec Baldwin and Mandy Patinkin.
Films are from 33 countries and in 26 languages, and more than two-thirds of the titles are directed by women, people of color and trans filmmakers.
“As my tenure comes to an end I am most proud of Outfest’s increased visibility in Hollywood and our ever-growing stature within the industry,” said executive director Christopher Racster. “Outfest Los Angeles continues to shine a spotlight on those stories we must see and...
- 6/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
After 37 years as the nation’s premier Lgbtq film festival, Outfest shows no signs of slowing down. The 2019 festival, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from July 18-28, has just announced its full schedule. The lineup features a combination of festival favorites and rarely-seen foreign films, placing Lgbtq cinema in a truly global context.
The festival opens on July 18 with “Circus of Books,” the Tribeca hit about a daughter’s learning about her parents’ groundbreaking gay porn shop. It closes out with Sundance breakout “Before You Know It,” and will feature 28 world premieres during its run.
From features and documentaries to shorts and episodic content, this is truly an all-inclusive launching pad for Lgbtq filmmakers. The festival continues to push the boundaries of progress, with a majority of this year’s films directed by filmmakers from groups underrepresented in queer film.
“As my tenure comes to an end I...
The festival opens on July 18 with “Circus of Books,” the Tribeca hit about a daughter’s learning about her parents’ groundbreaking gay porn shop. It closes out with Sundance breakout “Before You Know It,” and will feature 28 world premieres during its run.
From features and documentaries to shorts and episodic content, this is truly an all-inclusive launching pad for Lgbtq filmmakers. The festival continues to push the boundaries of progress, with a majority of this year’s films directed by filmmakers from groups underrepresented in queer film.
“As my tenure comes to an end I...
- 6/12/2019
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Now in its 37th year, Outfest serves up an inclusive and intersectional slate of programming, two-thirds of which includes content directed by women, people of color and trans filmmakers. The fest, which will be held July 18-28 in Los Angeles, will open with Rachel Mason’s documentary Circus of Books which spotlights L.A.’s iconic brick-and-mortar gay erotica emporium and bookstore. Sundance favorite Before You Know It directed, co-written and starring Hannah Pearl Utt, as well as Judith Light, Alec Baldwin and Mandy Patinkin, will serve as the festival’s closing night film.
The fest will have films from 33 countries and in 26 languages and will include appearances from Kathy Griffin, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner Trixie Mattel, Pose actress Angelica Ross, horror icon Robert Englund, musician and actor Sam Harris and others.
“As my tenure comes to an end I am most proud of Outfest’s increased...
The fest will have films from 33 countries and in 26 languages and will include appearances from Kathy Griffin, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner Trixie Mattel, Pose actress Angelica Ross, horror icon Robert Englund, musician and actor Sam Harris and others.
“As my tenure comes to an end I am most proud of Outfest’s increased...
- 6/12/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Wolfe Releasing has taken U.S. rights to director Rhys Ernst’s coming-of-age comedy Adam starring Nicholas Alexander (I Love You Phillip Morris), Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Leo Sheng, Chloë Levine (The Oa) and Margaret Qualley.
In the film, awkward teen Adam (Alexander) spends his last high school summer in New York City with his big sister, Casey (Qualley), who throws herself into the city’s lesbian and trans activist scene. When Casey’s friend Gillian (Menuez) mistakes Adam for a transgender man at a party, he must keep up a charade to win over the girl of his dreams. Adam and those around him experience love, friendship and hard truths during the Summer of 2006.
The film made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released theatrically this summer. Adam also features performances...
In the film, awkward teen Adam (Alexander) spends his last high school summer in New York City with his big sister, Casey (Qualley), who throws herself into the city’s lesbian and trans activist scene. When Casey’s friend Gillian (Menuez) mistakes Adam for a transgender man at a party, he must keep up a charade to win over the girl of his dreams. Adam and those around him experience love, friendship and hard truths during the Summer of 2006.
The film made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released theatrically this summer. Adam also features performances...
- 5/19/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
May 15
– NewFest and NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50, in partnership with Sva Theatre, announced its multi-day lineup of cinema and in-depth conversations for the 2019 edition of OutCinema from June 17 – June 19.
Each night features specially curated screenings followed by Q&As with the filmmakers and cast along with open bar after-parties. The three-day format encompasses the diversity of voices and perspectives within the Lgbtqia+ community while celebrating and commemorating the community’s commitment to our history.
“With the success of last year’s multi-day format for OutCinema, we’re thrilled to continue with the same structure for WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50,” said NYC Pride’s Executive Director, Chris Frederick, in an official statement. “This year’s film selections focus on diverse perspectives from our vibrant Lgbtqia+ community.”
“Given the momentous occasion of WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50, we’re delighted to showcases stories from New York City to a global audience with ‘Adam’ and ‘Wig,...
– NewFest and NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50, in partnership with Sva Theatre, announced its multi-day lineup of cinema and in-depth conversations for the 2019 edition of OutCinema from June 17 – June 19.
Each night features specially curated screenings followed by Q&As with the filmmakers and cast along with open bar after-parties. The three-day format encompasses the diversity of voices and perspectives within the Lgbtqia+ community while celebrating and commemorating the community’s commitment to our history.
“With the success of last year’s multi-day format for OutCinema, we’re thrilled to continue with the same structure for WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50,” said NYC Pride’s Executive Director, Chris Frederick, in an official statement. “This year’s film selections focus on diverse perspectives from our vibrant Lgbtqia+ community.”
“Given the momentous occasion of WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50, we’re delighted to showcases stories from New York City to a global audience with ‘Adam’ and ‘Wig,...
- 5/15/2019
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
Tribeca, SXSW award-winners 'Initials S.G.', 'Alice', 'Tito' on Visit Films Cannes slate (exclusive)
Ryan Kampe to show teaser footage fromupcoming adventure doc The Sanctity Of Space, punk rock doc White Riot.
Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films heads to the Croisette with a bumper sales slate led by Tribeca Film Festival Nora Ephron Award winner Initials S.G.
The roster includes Tribeca selection Crshd, SXSW winners Alice, Saint Frances and Tito, SXSW selection The Wall Of Mexico, and Sundance selection Adam.
Visit will screen Lucía Garibaldi’s Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition best award-winner The Sharks, about a girl’s sexual awakening in a small beach town. Kampe will also present teaser footage from...
Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films heads to the Croisette with a bumper sales slate led by Tribeca Film Festival Nora Ephron Award winner Initials S.G.
The roster includes Tribeca selection Crshd, SXSW winners Alice, Saint Frances and Tito, SXSW selection The Wall Of Mexico, and Sundance selection Adam.
Visit will screen Lucía Garibaldi’s Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition best award-winner The Sharks, about a girl’s sexual awakening in a small beach town. Kampe will also present teaser footage from...
- 5/13/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Inside Out Toronto, Canada’s leading Lgbtq film festival, announced its full lineup for its 29th edition today, including news that the Taron Egerton-starring Elton biopic “Rocketman” will open the festival following its Cannes premiere. Mindy Kaling’s “Late Night” will close the festival, with Netflix’s update to “Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City” featured as a centerpiece presentation.
The festival also announced Thursday a new four-year partnership with Netflix in support of Lgbtq filmmakers in Canada. The strategic partnership will begin with the 2019 edition of the festival, which runs May 23 – June 2. Through Inside Out’s Lgbtq Film Financing Forum, the first of its kind in the world, the Netflix funds will be used to expand Inside Out’s professional development and mentorship programming to develop the next generation of Canadian creators and talent.
“Inside Out is committed to establishing itself as the home of Lgbtq filmmakers,...
The festival also announced Thursday a new four-year partnership with Netflix in support of Lgbtq filmmakers in Canada. The strategic partnership will begin with the 2019 edition of the festival, which runs May 23 – June 2. Through Inside Out’s Lgbtq Film Financing Forum, the first of its kind in the world, the Netflix funds will be used to expand Inside Out’s professional development and mentorship programming to develop the next generation of Canadian creators and talent.
“Inside Out is committed to establishing itself as the home of Lgbtq filmmakers,...
- 5/3/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Set in the summer of 2006, Rhys Ernst’s feature directorial debut, “Adam,” takes a story with some familiar themes — coming of age, understanding one’s sexuality, falling in love for the first time — and twists them into some interesting new shapes. Based on Ariel Schrag’s novel of the same name, the film also finds new ways to explore ideas in serious need of freshening, like the “trans deception trope” that Ernst was eager to buck. The film follows the eponymous Adam (Nicholas Alexander), a cisgender teenage boy who joins his cool older sister in New York City during one pivotal summer. His sibling his heavily involved in the Lgbt scene, and when Adam is mistaken for a young trans guy, he goes with it — especially because it allows him to spend more time with a young lesbian who might not be so inclined if she knew his actual status.
- 2/5/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
IndieWire’s First-Time Filmmakers Dinner at the Sundance Film Festival, presented by Rimowa, took place on January 28 and introduced a new crop of talent you can expect to see more of in the years to come. “We know that being a first-time filmmaker is something very personal to you, and you’re in the middle of this journey,” IndieWire’s Eric Kohn said at the event. “We get excited to tell the world about it, so we expect to hear more from you down the line. One of the most gratifying things about going to Sundance is coming back and seeing people back here and seeing what you do next.”
Countless filmmakers have gotten their start at the festival, from Quentin Tarantino and Nicole Holofcener to Ryan Coogler and Steven Soderbergh, making it an especially fitting venue for such an occasion.
This year’s dinner began a new tradition in...
Countless filmmakers have gotten their start at the festival, from Quentin Tarantino and Nicole Holofcener to Ryan Coogler and Steven Soderbergh, making it an especially fitting venue for such an occasion.
This year’s dinner began a new tradition in...
- 2/1/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
IndieWire’s annual first-time filmmakers dinner at the Sundance Film Festival, presented by Rimowa, celebrated rising auteurs the night of January 28 at the restaurant Firewood on Main Street in the heart of Park City, Utah. Attendees included Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (‘The Mustang’), Tayarisha Poe (‘Selah and the Spades’), Noble Jones (‘The Tomorrow Man’), Jocelyn DeBoer & Dawn Luebbe (‘Greener Grass’), Bert & Bertie (‘Troop Zero’), Rhys Ernst (‘Adam’), and Ivete Lucas (‘Pahokee’), among many others.
- 1/29/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Nicholas Alexander, star of the Rhys Ernst-directed film Adam, was signed by Wme after the Lgbtq dramedy made its premiere Friday in the Next section of the Sundance Film Festival.
The film, which premiered to a positive ovation, marks the directorial feature debut for Ernst, who worked as a producer and director of Amazon’s Transparent. In Adam, Alexander stars as the titular awkward, self-conscious teenager who visits his sister Casey (Margaret Qualley) in New York for the summer and is introduced to Brooklyn’s passionate and progressive Lgbtq community. While there, he falls for Gillian (Bobbi Salvör Menuez), a smart, beautiful young woman, who mistakenly assumes he is a trans man. Flummoxed and enamored, he haplessly goes along with her assumption, resulting in an increasingly complex dramedy of mistaken identity.
Prior to Adam, Alexander was seen in New Line Cinema’s film Fist Fight. He has also...
The film, which premiered to a positive ovation, marks the directorial feature debut for Ernst, who worked as a producer and director of Amazon’s Transparent. In Adam, Alexander stars as the titular awkward, self-conscious teenager who visits his sister Casey (Margaret Qualley) in New York for the summer and is introduced to Brooklyn’s passionate and progressive Lgbtq community. While there, he falls for Gillian (Bobbi Salvör Menuez), a smart, beautiful young woman, who mistakenly assumes he is a trans man. Flummoxed and enamored, he haplessly goes along with her assumption, resulting in an increasingly complex dramedy of mistaken identity.
Prior to Adam, Alexander was seen in New Line Cinema’s film Fist Fight. He has also...
- 1/29/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The New Hollywood Podcast landed in Park City to spread inclusivity and representation at the Sundance Film Festival. In one of two live panels focused on Lgbtq inclusion and representation, we chatted with Adam director Rhys Ernst and star Bobbi Salvor Menuez as well as Sister Aimee directors Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann.
Although the two films take place in two totally different time periods, they are cut from the same cloth when it comes to sexual liberation and exploring sexual identity. Adam follows the titular awkward, self-conscious teen (Nicholas Alexander), who spends the summer with his hip and queer older sister Casey (Margaret Qualley) in New York City. While he is there he falls for Gillian (Menuez) — but she mistakes him for a trans man and he can’t quite bring himself to correct her error as the two grow closer. Before long, what started as a simple misunderstanding...
Although the two films take place in two totally different time periods, they are cut from the same cloth when it comes to sexual liberation and exploring sexual identity. Adam follows the titular awkward, self-conscious teen (Nicholas Alexander), who spends the summer with his hip and queer older sister Casey (Margaret Qualley) in New York City. While he is there he falls for Gillian (Menuez) — but she mistakes him for a trans man and he can’t quite bring himself to correct her error as the two grow closer. Before long, what started as a simple misunderstanding...
- 1/28/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s a specific kind of warm, crowd-pleasing aesthetic–often in the coming-of-age subgenre–that seems to find a home among the Sundance programming more so than any other festival. A few years ago, Sean Baker’s Tangerine heralded a major breakthrough for transgender representation in cinema and broke this mold in formally compelling ways. For better or worse, Adam has now arrived to fit more in the aforementioned lighthearted, simplistic, but ultimately empathetic dramedy conceit.
Directed by Rhys Ernst and written by Ariel Schrag (based on her own 2014 novel), the film follows Adam (Nicholas Alexander), a sheltered high schooler who spends the summer of 2006 with his sister Casey (Margaret Qualley), who is immersed in Brooklyn’s Lgbtq+ community. As they jump around from queer bars to The L Word viewing parties to marriage equality rallies to S&M clubs, Adam’s understanding of sexual identity gets expanded, particularly so when...
Directed by Rhys Ernst and written by Ariel Schrag (based on her own 2014 novel), the film follows Adam (Nicholas Alexander), a sheltered high schooler who spends the summer of 2006 with his sister Casey (Margaret Qualley), who is immersed in Brooklyn’s Lgbtq+ community. As they jump around from queer bars to The L Word viewing parties to marriage equality rallies to S&M clubs, Adam’s understanding of sexual identity gets expanded, particularly so when...
- 1/26/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Though it takes place in 2006, Rhys Ernst‘s directorial debut feels like a throwback in more than just its setting. “Adam” is premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, and it’s reminiscent of the Lgbtq+ indie movies that were hallmarks of the fest in the ’90s and ’00s, like “High Art,” “But I’m a Cheerleader” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” What feels like a breakthrough here is that we have a transgender director casting trans actors to tell their stories, which still feels embarrassingly revolutionary in a decade that has produced “The Danish Girl,” “Dallas Buyers Club” and last year’s controversial “Girl.” This gentle comedy likely won’t achieve that level of chatter, but there’s value in its earnest and authentic take on the coming-of-age film.
Continue reading ‘Adam’: A Case Of Mistaken Sexual Identity Makes For A Charming, Timely Rom-Com [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Adam’: A Case Of Mistaken Sexual Identity Makes For A Charming, Timely Rom-Com [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.
- 1/26/2019
- by Kimber Myers
- The Playlist
Taking a sideways approach to transgender issues that might attract a more diverse (and younger) audience than many film treatments of that theme, “Adam” amusingly channels those issues through an update of the Shakespearean mistaken-identity hook plus familiar “losin’ it” teen sex comedics.
Graphic novelist and “L Word” contributor writer Ariel Shrag’s original 2014 book was deemed offensive by some in the trans community for its premise of an underage straight boy dating a lesbian who thinks he’s trans male. But her adaptation and “Transparent” series producer Rhys Ernst’s feature directing debut make that concept seem comically innocent, much like their protagonist. “Adam” isn’t really about trans or even gay people — though there are plenty on-screen — so much as an open-minded but clueless teen getting a crash course in complex new gender-identity rules that are way over his head.
Though too insider-hip (and sometimes sexually graphic) a movie for more conservative viewers,...
Graphic novelist and “L Word” contributor writer Ariel Shrag’s original 2014 book was deemed offensive by some in the trans community for its premise of an underage straight boy dating a lesbian who thinks he’s trans male. But her adaptation and “Transparent” series producer Rhys Ernst’s feature directing debut make that concept seem comically innocent, much like their protagonist. “Adam” isn’t really about trans or even gay people — though there are plenty on-screen — so much as an open-minded but clueless teen getting a crash course in complex new gender-identity rules that are way over his head.
Though too insider-hip (and sometimes sexually graphic) a movie for more conservative viewers,...
- 1/26/2019
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Classic comedy of errors ingredients like mistaken identity, gender reversal and an unintended deception that takes on a life of its own get dropped into an early-2000s Brooklyn queer hipster community in Adam. Directed by Transparent producer Rhys Ernst and adapted by Ariel Schrag from her provocative Ya novel, the film flirts knowingly with cultural insensitivity by focusing on a straight male teenager using gender subterfuge to make romantic progress with a Titian-haired lesbian goddess. But he's called out on his creepy cluelessness just in time. It also helps that he's played by Nicholas Alexander in a performance of such ...
- 1/25/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Classic comedy of errors ingredients like mistaken identity, gender reversal and an unintended deception that takes on a life of its own get dropped into an early-2000s Brooklyn queer hipster community in Adam. Directed by Transparent producer Rhys Ernst and adapted by Ariel Schrag from her provocative Ya novel, the film flirts knowingly with cultural insensitivity by focusing on a straight male teenager using gender subterfuge to make romantic progress with a Titian-haired lesbian goddess. But he's called out on his creepy cluelessness just in time. It also helps that he's played by Nicholas Alexander in a performance of such ...
- 1/25/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Director Rhys Ernst from Adam is among the voices, faces and creative folks that are a part of the ten films selected for our favourite section at the Sundance Film Festival. Added to the fest at the beginning of the decade, over time, the Next section (formerly referred to as “<=>”) has unearthed some of the best voices in micro American indie film projects with the likes of Sebastian Silva, Josh Mond, Rick Alverson, Anna Rose Holmer, Andrew Dosunmu, Craig Zobel, David Lowery and Janicza Bravo. We return with Sundance Trading Card Series focusing on the 2019 Next section selected films and personalities.…...
- 1/25/2019
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The Sundance Film Festival is all about independent film — but is it really?
In between screenings and late into the night, Park City is actually Party City. From intimate cocktail soirées to musical performances, this year’s film festival has something for everyone.
Here is Variety’s ultimate party guide for Sundance 2019…
Thursday, Jan. 24
Lyft & Neon Kick Off Party
Celebrating “The Biggest Little Farm” and “Apollo 11”
Lyft Lounge, 5:30-7:30pm
Friday, Jan. 25
30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Nominations Announcement
Mj Rodriguez and Nico Santos
At&T Hello Lounge, 8 a.m.
Danny Clinch Pop-Up Gallery Opening Party
Salesforce Music Lodge, 4-6 p.m.
GLAAD Media Awards Nominees Cocktail Party
At&T Lounge, 4:30-6 p.m.
SundanceTV’s Sundance Film Festival Kickoff Party
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jenna Elfman, Rhea Seehorn, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Sarah Wayne Callies
SundanceTV HQ, 5-8 p.m.
“Honey Boy” Party
Shia Labeouf, Fka Twigs, Maika Monroe,...
In between screenings and late into the night, Park City is actually Party City. From intimate cocktail soirées to musical performances, this year’s film festival has something for everyone.
Here is Variety’s ultimate party guide for Sundance 2019…
Thursday, Jan. 24
Lyft & Neon Kick Off Party
Celebrating “The Biggest Little Farm” and “Apollo 11”
Lyft Lounge, 5:30-7:30pm
Friday, Jan. 25
30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Nominations Announcement
Mj Rodriguez and Nico Santos
At&T Hello Lounge, 8 a.m.
Danny Clinch Pop-Up Gallery Opening Party
Salesforce Music Lodge, 4-6 p.m.
GLAAD Media Awards Nominees Cocktail Party
At&T Lounge, 4:30-6 p.m.
SundanceTV’s Sundance Film Festival Kickoff Party
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jenna Elfman, Rhea Seehorn, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Sarah Wayne Callies
SundanceTV HQ, 5-8 p.m.
“Honey Boy” Party
Shia Labeouf, Fka Twigs, Maika Monroe,...
- 1/24/2019
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Sundance has always been pretty gay. Whether the festival was supporting queer filmmakers to lead the indie film boom of the ’90s, ushering in the dawn of the New Queer Cinema, or unofficially partnering with OutFest to share programmers and titles, Park City has always been fertile ground in which Lgbtq cinema can thrive. This year brings fewer solely queer offerings than previous years, but the program still has plenty to look forward to.
This year’s program marks the first in Kim Yutani’s new role as director of programming. Formerly a senior programmer for the festival, Yutani began her career at OutFest, where she lived and breathed queer films in her roles as artistic director and director of programming. Yutani reports to festival director John Cooper, another out and gay power player in independent film.
When Sundance released its first round of programming, it boasted that 40 percent, or...
This year’s program marks the first in Kim Yutani’s new role as director of programming. Formerly a senior programmer for the festival, Yutani began her career at OutFest, where she lived and breathed queer films in her roles as artistic director and director of programming. Yutani reports to festival director John Cooper, another out and gay power player in independent film.
When Sundance released its first round of programming, it boasted that 40 percent, or...
- 1/23/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Amid the calls for leadership diversity at film festivals, Sundance director John Cooper did something about it: promoting feature programmer Kim Yutani to become the fest’s director of programming in May. Aside from her Asian-American heritage and gender, this appointment makes Sundance the first major film festival with two Lgbt leaders. Yutani and Cooper previously worked at Outfest L.A.
“She has incredible taste and an understanding of what festival curation is, as opposed to just a critical eye,” Cooper says of Outfest’s former artistic director. “A kicker was that she knows a lot of the industry around the world. I started getting such great feedback from people outside the U.S. of how much she was respected, especially as we build up our world cinema presence. It just all fell into place.”
“Once Trevor [Groth, the previous director] announced that he was leaving [to join marketing and distribution company 30West], it really made me think: What is the next step in my career?...
“She has incredible taste and an understanding of what festival curation is, as opposed to just a critical eye,” Cooper says of Outfest’s former artistic director. “A kicker was that she knows a lot of the industry around the world. I started getting such great feedback from people outside the U.S. of how much she was respected, especially as we build up our world cinema presence. It just all fell into place.”
“Once Trevor [Groth, the previous director] announced that he was leaving [to join marketing and distribution company 30West], it really made me think: What is the next step in my career?...
- 1/23/2019
- by Gregg Goldstein
- Variety Film + TV
Last year’s Next section offerings gave us Madeline’s Madeline, Night Comes On, Search and We the Animals. This year we have Rashaad Ernesto Green’s Premature (see pic above), Tayarisha Poe’s Selah and the Spades and Alistair Banks Griffin’s The Wolf Hour. Easily our favorite section at the fest, here are the ten titles:
Adam / U.S.A. — Awkward teenager Adam arrives to spend his final high school summer with his older sister, who has thrown herself into New York City’s lesbian and trans activist scene. Over the summer, Adam and those around him experience love, friendship, and attendant hard truths in this coming-of-age comedy.…...
Adam / U.S.A. — Awkward teenager Adam arrives to spend his final high school summer with his older sister, who has thrown herself into New York City’s lesbian and trans activist scene. Over the summer, Adam and those around him experience love, friendship, and attendant hard truths in this coming-of-age comedy.…...
- 11/28/2018
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Later today, the Sundance Film Fest unveil their 2019 line-up. Taking a Thierry Fremaux Cannes approach, the fest will be annoucing their programming offerings in real time. For those who want to check out our prognosticates, you’ll find a simple checklist and of particular note, this upcoming fest should be especially sweet for a pair of 24 year-olds in Montana born Margaret Qualley and New Orleans born Kelvin Harrison Jr. Qualley who broke out in Park City with Novitiate and a supporting role in The Vanishing of Sidney Hall, could be there with five films in Rhys Ernst’s Adam, Benedict Andrews’ Against All Enemies, Rashid Johnson’s Native Son, Jonathan Helpert’s Io and the American premiere to Tim Sutton’s Donnybrook.…...
- 11/28/2018
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
A project that once had Desiree Akhavan attached to direct, Adam would land in the lap of “This Is Me” and “Transparent” producer-director Rhys Ernst somewhere in 2017. Ernst who has been, forgive the pun, trans-parent in his own life (read his remarkable story here) would be returning to Park City — as his 2012 short shot on 16mm The Thing was an official selection. Adapted from Ariel Schrag’s comic novel which NYTimes describes as “a bewildered teen-ager suddenly immersed in New York’s post-collegiate lesbian and queer hipster scene,” production would have taken place sometime last year. Established indie it personality Margaret Qualley is joined by potential breakout star Nicholas Alexander.…...
- 11/20/2018
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
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