Actor Patrick Swayze lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last night, passing away at age 57. The gallant star made such memorable films as The Outsiders, Red Dawn, Dirty Dancing, Roadhouse (yes, a classic), Point Break, Ghost and Donnie Darko. In his own way, he shone in all of them. But he also sparkled as a wise and winsome drag queen in To Wong Foo, Thanks Everything, Julie Newmar.
Fashion guru Tom Ford's first film has been screened at the big Venice Film Festival. A Single Man is based on the novel by gay literary legend Christopher Isherwood, and it tells the story of a day in the life of a middle-aged gay man living in 1960s L.A. The film's cast is amazing: Colin Firth stars in the lead role, with no less than Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love), Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), Nicholas Hoult (Skins) filling out the cast.
I wasn't convinced of Ford's filmmaking prowess (but his sense of style and visuals has never faltered) but so far, but A Single Man just snagged the Queer Lion trophy at Venice (for best gay film) so that's something. The film is also debuting today at the Toronto Film Fest, so expect more buzz.
The trailer, above, looks smolderingly sexy. Julianne Moore looks stunning, as do all the men featured. Love the big black glasses on Mr. Firth, too. Nice.
Logo's on Twitter: Meet Our Staff Tweeters! Plus, Office Gossip & Special Offers!
We here at Logo are always looking for ways to keep in contact with our viewers (and in NewNowNext's case, with our readers) to keep you guys up to date on everything that we're doing here. So yes, we're coming at you with a full serving of Twitter whoop-ass!
If you don't have a Twitter account yet, get one now! Create an account so you can start following @logochannel. We'll change staffers daily, giving you some insight into the Logo office (if you only knew) and the folks behind what you see onscreen and online. (And yes, Rebecca Glasscock is still locked in the supply closet.) If that isn't enough, we promise there will be exclusive contests for our Twitter followers!
And without further ado (well, after the jump) meet your Logo Tweeters!
A trio of muscle-bears (aka Paul, Jonny & Fergus) welcome you to the set of "Bear City."
About a week ago I got to visit the set of a very cute, very gay and very burly movie being shot right now in NYC: BearCity! Maybe you can guess from the title, but the film looks to be a charming/funny romantic-ish comedy about a boy who moves to NYC, gets a crush on a bear, falls into the bear scene and may (or may not) find true love, burly-man-style!
The film is directed by Doug Langway, and was cowritten by Langway and Lawrence Ferber. I’ve known Lawrence as a journalist forever, but he’s also a savvy screenwriter/filmmaker.
Anyway, I spent most of a recent Friday on Christopher Street in the West Village in the cute side street (Weehawken Place) next to The Ramrod (formerly known as The Dugout). The scene was a big moment in the film, and the whole cast was on hand (as were many bearish extras).
Screenwriter Lawrence Ferber and "BearCity" cutie Will Bethencourt. Friendliest set ever!
Playing one of the lead bears (think hunky and bearded, moreso than hefty) is Gerald McCullouch, who you may know from CSI. He’s been in several TV, film and stage projects, but I had no idea he was openly gay. Nice!!!
Anyway, after the jump, check my pics from the set and get a bit of my conversation with the studly and smart McCullouch. Go Bears!
"Sex and the City 2" Auditions: Watch the Fierce and Delusional Explain Why They Deserve to Be in the Film!
A gay "Sex and the City?" These guys wanna make it happen...
--By Becca Roth
Hey, Sex and the City fans! Get ready to be reeeaaally jealous! If you weren’t clued in enough to hear about the open casting call for the next SATC film, you may have missed your only chance to chill with Carrie and the gang on the silver screen.
Over 5,000 fans lined up this past Tuesday in NYC for the chance to be cast as extras in the upcoming sequel, scheduled to begin shooting soon. No acting experience was required for the quick audition, which consisted of a mere walk-in and snapshot. The casting agency sought everything from fashionistas to gays and lesbians, from international clubgoers to professional soccer players (okaayyy...). There were definitely some delusional outliers that attended the call, but at least they were enthusiastic.
Bradley Cooper and Eric Dane to Play Gay Couple in New Movie?
It seems Cooper is making a name for himself in the romantic comedy market, what with this year's He's Just Not that Into You and the upcoming Valentine's Day. As long as he's getting employed and will continue to be pretty, I don't care what kind of movies he's in.
Yes, you read that title correctly. Bradley Cooper, who is gorgeous, and Eric Dane, who is equally as gorgeous, might possibly be playing gay in the upcoming movie Valentine's Day. It hasn't been confirmed, but from piecing together several facts, it's safe to assume that it's happening. Back in May, the Hollywood Reporter announced that Cooper would be playing a gay man in the romantic comedy who is dating a "closeted football player." Just yesterday, Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Dane will be playing a "Brett Favre-esque quarterback." If you put two and two together, that most likely means the two are lovers. Woo!
Whoever came up with the nickname McSteamy for Dane's character on Grey's Anatomy is a freaking genius. Perfect.
If this is true, I expect to see copious amounts of graphic sex scenes. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want that? The casting agents for this new movie have my eternal gratitude for making these two an on screen couple.
Bruno Comes Out... For Out! Plus, Enter the Bruno Sweepstakes!
Is the ever controversial Bruno setting the record...er...straight?...about his new movie in Out?
Out magazine is dedicating their August cover to Bruno, the flamboyantly gay creation of comic Sacha Baron Cohen. The Austrian fashion journalist has already bared all for the covers of GQ and British gay mag Attitude, so I can only imagine what the controversial star is going to do on Out's cover. Seriously, once you go nude, what's left to do? I hope I don't regret asking that...
Says Out Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin in his Editor’s Letter: “Yes, he is puerile, offensive, and utterly inappropriate, but so what? The same has been said of Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, and Sarah Silverman, comic geniuses all, whose humor rests on having the balls to say ‘boo’ to the ghost in the room.” He adds: "The ghost in this case, is homophobia, although whether it’s being lampooned or perpetuated is part of the tension that makes the movie work.
I expect the new "Eating Out" movie to be filled with nothing less than a bunch of nearly naked gorgeous men and the campiest storyline ever.
The latest installment in the Eating Out franchise - the popular gay film series about fag hags, hot men, and sexually confused straight men, among many other things - is set to premier at the Philadelphia QFest for a surprise screening July 19. Eating Out 3: All You Can Eat (god, I love the cheesy titles) is set to once again feature Rebekah Kochan as she returns to play the outrageous Tiffani, along with Mink Stole, and Leslie Jordan.
The plot involves Tiffani and her friend Casey creating a fake online profile to lure in a hot guy named Zack. The movie also introduces us to six openly gay actors, including Daniel Skelton, Chris Salvatore, Michael Walker, John C. Stallings (one of the models from "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency"), Maximiliano Torandell, and Rick D'Agostino. I imagine lots of sexual confusion, men without their shirts on, and Tiffani acting nuts. Sounds perfect.
Best Road Movies Ever? What About Thelma, Louise, Brad & Pee Wee?
Wha...? Men don't love Thelma & Louise?
The fashionable men over at Men.Style.com, the online home of Details and GQ (the latter with its now-fussed-over pics of Bruno playing football with high-school lads) have another feature up on their site that caught my eye. They're picking the 10 Best Road Movies Ever. And surprise, the results are dude-centric so far.
I can't argue with classics like Easy Rider, National Lampoon's Vacation (a big fave of mine) or the amazing Badlands (Sissy Spacek!). But Sideways? Zzzzz... And they're missing some serious estrogen and homo-filled road flicks in there. C'mon men, loosen up!
Here are some they're missing...
Thelma & Louise is only one of the best road movies in the entire world. Sweet yet take-charge women who've had it. In a convertible. With guns. And some amped-up feminist ass-kicking.
Plus, amazing performances by Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel and this one guy who made a big impact...
More great road flicks -- including some gays with guns -- after the jump.
Top 10 Modern Musicals Gays May Not Know But Should
WERE THE WORLD MINE: Like "High School Musical" meets "Dead Poets Society" - but gayer!
By Jaeson Kim
These musicals didn't start on Broadway or even Off-Broadway. These musical movies are in a league of their own. If you've played your Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and Rodgers and Hammerstein albums to death, check out some of these modern works for a fresh take on a very gay-friendly genre.
10. De-Lovely - This biographical musical based on the life of gay composer and songwriter Cole Porter features some notable actors and musicians including Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Alanis Morissette, Robbie Williams, and Sheryl Crow. Full of emotional conflicts and tragic events, the musical still manages to offer something lively and with a level of sophistication that's unique to the genre.
Corpse brides, Paris Hilton, and Neil Patrick Harris after the jump!
Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno and His Red Carpet Shenanigans
At least he didn't show up wearing an actual bull's hide. The last thing Sacha Baron Cohen needs is more controversy, especially from someone like PETA.
The past couple of days, Sacha Baron Cohen has been traveling the globe in character as Bruno to promote his upcoming film. Almost as hilarious and outrageous as the movie itself are the outfits and stunts that Bruno has been pulling at every premier. Take the above picture for example. The incredibly flamboyant and vain Bruno is seen wearing a bull costume to the premier in Madrid, Spain.
Now, it may look innocent enough, but the picture is carefully cropped to hide what is a very scandalous and revealing outfit. Let's just say that if the costume is anatomically correct, then Cohen's fiancé Isla Fisher is one VERY lucky lady.
Check out Bruno's "talent" and pictures of him at other premiers after the jump!
NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show: Watch the Red Carpet Insanity Now!
The NewNowNext Awards are gonna be airing any moment now (at 9pm, actually, but sooner right here). But til then, watch the freaked-out red carpet coverage of the very special NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show! The first clip is above to get you started!!!
It's hosted by NewNowNext PopLab's crazy-tastic Mike Diamond, Charlene from the Logo reality series Gimme Sugar: Miami and me (er, that's John Polly of NewNowNext.com, y'all)!
To watch the rest -- featuring Cheyenne Jackson, the Real Housewives of NYC, Christian Siriano, the gigantic Wendy Williams, Scissor Sister Del Marquis, stylista Robert Verdi, hotter-than-hot rapper Eve, and lots more, click to the NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show playlist!!!
In every gay's life there are some movies that are monumental. Maybe they're touching coming out stories (like Beautiful Thing) or pulpy self-loathing drama fests (The Boys in the Band) or just sexy hot flicks (Bound). But we all love discussing which movies are totally gay classics...
That's why Liz Dahmen and John Polly are sounding off in a new vloggy mini-series called Amazing Gay Stuff, which you'll find here (and as part of Amazon’s Gay & Lesbian Store), and which will serve up fun rundowns of what are some of the most-loved gay films, TV series and more.
This week it's all about the most essential gay movies you need to see. And it's a fun batch. From But I'm a Cheerleader to All About Eve, watch John and Liz sound off on films make their big all-time must-see lists.
And if you get inspired to actually buy them, those folks at Amazon can hook you up!
2009 NewNowNext Award Nominees: Presented by Ronnie Kroell and Bianca Del Rio! With Pizza!
Oh Hell! It's time once again for the NewNowNext Awards, 2009 style!!! Yep, coming soon to Logo is the f*cked-up, freaky and fab awards show that doles out honors to the best new, rising talent on your TV, movie screens, iPhones and anywhere else you consume your messy pop treats!
And in a loopy video announcing the nominees, it's Make-Me-a-Supermodel hottie Ronnie Kroell and NYC's own drag hellion Bianca Del Rio! Damn, now I'm craving some pepperoni!
Watch the above clip, and expect to hear the buzz begin around such nominees as True Blood, RuPaul's Drag Race, Clementine Ford, Ladyhawke, Sam Sparro, the Real Housewives, Lykke Li, James Franco, Bruno, New Moon and other festive stuff!
And yes, as was already announced, RuPaul will be hosting this madness that airs on Logo on Saturday, June 13 at 9pm ET. You can also watch it on LogoOnline. And go to NewNowNextAwards.com to get the full list of nominees. You can even VOTE for your faves!
Look for extra-special NewNowNext Award categories to be popping up soon on DListed, Pink Is the New Blog and the fab music blog ArjanWrites.com, too. They've got their own special NewNowNext Awards coming at you, too.
Now, how do I order up a piping hot Ronnie for myself?
On April 1st, MTV, MTVU, Logo and MTV3 will all air a big new TV-movie about one of gay TV's late pioneers. Back in 1994 Pedro Zamora because the first-ever gay HIV-positive man on TV when he was cast in the third season of MTV's The Real World.
Remember? The battles with Puck? Nice cartoonist Judd? Pedro's boyfriend and his struggles? They're all coming back to TV in a movie cowritten by Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black. Pedro: The Movie tells his story. Watch the trailer above to get primed.
Oscar Special! Best Supporting Vlog with MILK's Denis O'Hare!
Oscar weekend is upon us! And for today's Best Supporting Vlog, somehow Liz Dahmen and I have been graced by a visit from one of the stars of 8-times-nominated MILK! Tony Winner Denis O'Hare stops in for a chat!
Right now Denis is onstage in NYC in Uncle Vanya, with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard and Mamie Gummer. In MILK, Denis played nasty anti-gay State Senator John Briggs, and he rocked! But you also saw this out actor play a evil doctor opposite Angelina Jolie in Changeling, and a nice doctor in Babymama with Tina Fey.
You've also seen Denis in Garden State, Michael Clayton, A Mighty Heart, and (one of my faves) The Anniversary Party. Denis also snagged a Tony Award for his amazing turn in the gay baseball drama, Take Me Out. And he also starred in Sweet Charity and Assassins. And coming soon, you'll see Denis in Duplicity with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, and The Proposal with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bulock. Busy!
Today, Denis talks about making MILK, hanging with Angelina & Brad, and he offers his Oscar picks, including a rundown of some of the films up for the Best Animated Short Film prize! Yes, we get specific like that.
Black was greeted with standing o's by the crowd and had this to say: "We need to dream bigger than Proposition 8... I’m a child of Harvey Milk, and I’m a child of the movies. Those two things can inspire a guy to dream big."
Milk Screenwriter Poses for Gus Van Sant, Vogue Hommes International
Director Gus Van Sant has confirmed what we knew already, that Milk's screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (he's Oscar-nominated) is wayyyy cute. Van Sant has put together a sweet pictorial of the talented scribe for the fashion-y Vogue Hommes International, that includes some nice shirtless pics, and just some great intimate, scrapbooky shots, which are mixed in with some archival Harvey Milk papers and photos, and notes about how the film came to be made, too.
I'm not sure what Black's Oscar odds are, but he's bound to win nicest-lookin' screenwriter. And given what we know of Harvey Milk's affinity for dreamy guys, I'm thinking he'd be pleased with the pics, too.
Thanks to AfterElton & Defamer for the scoop. Check more pics after the jump!
GLAAD Media Awards to Honor Tyra, Suze and Other Gay Stuff
Tyra & Suze: How can the gays NOT love 'em?
The do-gooders for all things LGBT and media-related over at GLAAD have unveiled their list of nominees for this year's big GLAAD Media Awards. Think of them as the Gay Oscars, or the Gay Emmys, or the Gay Cable ACE Awards (do they still give those out?).
Lots of usual suspects are included: Milk, Brothers & Sisters, South of Nowhere, Ugly Betty... But there are some nice inclusions that make for a nice surprise (maybe?).
Alongside Milk as nominees for Best Picture - Wide Release are Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (it had those cute indie-band gays), Brideshead Revisited (dashing gay-ish Brits), Vicky Christina Barcelona (Penelope & Scar-Jo get it on!) and RocknRolla (made by Guy Ritchie - anybody see that one?).
Films in limited release getting nods were Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom, Shelter, XXY, Save Me & The Edge of Heaven. These all get handed out in various ceremonies in NYC, LA & SF in March and April.
And one fun category...
OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM America's Next Top Model (The CW) I Want to Work for Diddy (VH1) Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo) Shirts & Skins (Logo) TransAmerican Love Story (Logo)
Is this one award that Kathy G. won't win? Oh, the supsense! Maybe Kathy, Miss J, Diddy's Laverne Cox and Calpernia Addams can just play a game of horse against the Shirts & Skins gays to figure this one out. (They should recruit straightie Nigel Barker. He's tall! And probably hot in b-ball gear.)
More on Tyra and Suze's big honors after the jump!
Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, swept the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend, winning the grand jury and audience choice awards. Directed by the openly gay Lee Daniels the film has been touted the new The Color Purple, but set in Harlem.
The film's main character is the obese, illiterate 16-year-old Precious Jones, played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Precious is pregnant with her second child — by her father. Comedian Mo'Nique plays Precious' abusive welfare mother. It's such a surprising role for the usually comic Mo'Nique that she also picked up a special jury prize at the festival.
PUSH's Happy Crew: Mariah Carey, Lee Daniels, Mo'Nique & Paula Patton!
It's dark and disturbing, alright, but also incredibly hopeful. Precious triumphs over her extreme adversity thanks to her lesbian teacher (Paula Patton) and social worker (Mariah Carey - yes, Mariah!).
Last night the acting community awarded its best and brightest for their work in 2008, and Sean Penn was singled out for one of the biggest awards of the night for playing Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's biopic. His acceptance speech was a plea for equal rights, and his final thanks were to "the counsel of Cleve Jones and the great Harvey Milk". But first, he gave the crowd a healthy dose of humor:
"Something happened to me during the making of this movie. I noticed it tonight that the statues have rather healthy packages. As actors we don't play gay, straight ...we play human beings. (I'm) So appreciative of this acknowledgment. This is a story of equal rights for all human beings. Thanks Gus San Sant, Lance Black, the counsel of Cleve Jones and the great Harvey Milk."
The men of Milk got plenty of screen time at the awards (including when Josh Brolin goosed James Franco onstage while they and Emile Hirsch were introducing their film), but it wasn't the only instance of gay visibility at the SAG party, which had "Diversity" stamped all over it. Which is nice.
Here's my top ten list of gay moments from the event!
I would like, if you'll indulge me, to talk about why grammar, and particularly syntax, matters. Take, for example, the upcoming film Lesbian Vampire Killers. Right, so what do you infer about this film from those three words? Is it about lesbian vampires who kill? Is it about lesbians who kill vampires? Or is it about people who kill lesbian vampires? See, syntax does matter.
Now, thanks to the first teaser trailer for Lesbian Vampire Killers (which is clearly competing with Snakes on a Plane for least subtle movie title ever), we know the answer. It's about people who kill lesbian vampires. Bummer.
On screen, Ellen Page has played a pregnant teen, an X-Man and a dark metaphorical cousin to Chris Hansen. And now she will play one of us. The 21-year-old actress has been attached to the feature film adaptation of Freeheld, the true story of a terminally-ill lesbian's struggle to pass her pension benefits to her partner.
Good As You reported on Friday that Cynthia Wade, the director of the Oscar-winning short documentary, was turning her film into a full-length feature with Ellen attached. Freeheld is based on the story of Laurel Hester, who became terminally ill and could not secure any rights for her partner, Stacie Andree upon her death.
Laurel Hester (left) and partner Stacie Andree
Laurel, a 25-year veteran of the police force, and Stacie were registered domestic partners. But because they were not and could not be legally married her county freeholders (like a county supervisor, but in Jersey) denied Laurel's request. So she fought them, while dying, for her rights. On Jan. 25, 2006, after extensive public outcry and Laurel's own hospital-bed appeals, the freeholders reversed their decision and granted Stacie full benefits. Laurel died 25 days later.
Hey movie nuts and Oscar fans! It's new vlog time! As you’ve surely noticed, it’s the time of year when Hollywood releases their uber-important films, and as critics’ best-of lists issue forth daily, you’re likely trying to figure out when the hell you can see everything.
Liz Dahmen and John Polly feel your pain, and their brand new Best Supporting Vlog is all about the Oscar buzz, which heavy-duty movies are coming out, what’s gonna win, and who’s getting shafted. Plus: freaky Oscar party ideas, trailer reviews (in case you can’t see the whole damn movie) and loopy insight on how this all might matter to gay folks.
This week the pair talk Oscar history, Rumer Willis, Revolutionary Road, Hugh Jackman vs. a lesbian Oscar host and those baffling Golden Globes. Plus, ice cream and Harvey Milk balls!
And since we discuss it, here's the trailer for Revolutionary Road.
Best Gay Year Ever? It's Time for the AfterElton & AfterEllen 2008 Visibility Awards!
It was the best of times (Obama wins! Rachel Maddow! Ellen! Matthew Mitcham! Torchwood!), it was the worst of times (Prop 8, Grey's axes its lesbians, Katy Perry). And all year big gay entertainment sites AfterElton and AfterEllen have been keeping close tabs.
Now they're announcing the winners (and losers) of their 2008 Visibility Awards! And you voted! Check each of them and see how your faves like Brothers & Sisters, Project Runway, The L Word, Kathy Griffin, Ugly Betty, Uh Huh Her, 3-Way, Brad Pitt and the rest all fared.
I came across the above well-made video (via Queerty), which sends out a pretty powerful message. It uses an audio excerpt (with some nice music mixed in) from a Harvey Milk speech to drive home the urgency that we have to elect gay people, and be visible as gay people to truly effect change and give young LGBT folks hope.
It's as relevant today (maybe moreso?) as it was 30 years ago... And it's good to remember here on International Human Rights Day.
Similar bits of this show up in the Milk film, which is riding a wave of year-end film critics awards. Mostly notably it just snagged the NY Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film. The same batch of movie mavens also named Sean Penn as Best Actor and Josh Brolin as Best Supporting Actor for Milk, too.
Given Harvey Milk's impactful message it's no wonder...
One of the most appealing elements of the Transporter series of films — besides the frequent shirtlessness of star Jason Statham — has been the idea (fomented by one of the creators of the first two movies) that the lead character is gay.
Transporter 3, alas, suggests otherwise. Find out more after the jump!
Little Ashes, or as I like to call it, "Brideshead Redecorated", will soon be bringing the bromance between Salvador Dali and Federico García Lorca (with a little Luis Buñuel thrown in for added flavor) to the screen. There are a few clips out that bank enough longing stares to fill an entire Merchant Ivory marathon.
After the break you can check out two more clips: in the first, Lorca gets his first look at Dali, who arrives at school realizing that he came dressed for the Benny and Joon theme party about 60 years early. In the second, the two get arty in a cottage. Please to enjoy.
As you may have heard, Gus Van Sant's Harvey Milk biopic opened over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in limited release. But here's what you may not have heard: despite playing in only 36 theaters, Milk raked in almost $2 million, making it the #10 movie of the weekend and giving it a whopping $38,361 per-screen average (compared to the $9,571 per-screen average of Four Christmases, the #1 movie of the weekend).
2008 ThanksGIFTing Holiday Gift Guide: Noah's Arc DVD & Soundtrack
If you watch Logo at all, chances are you're familiar with Noah's Arc, the series which follows four gay African-American men through their lives and loves in Los Angeles. And if you're a Noah fan (and you know who you are!), you've probably already been to see the big new movie, Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom or are gagging to!
Well, here's more good news: You can go ahead and pre-order Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom on DVD. Like, now! It won't arrive until February, when it's officially released, but at least you'll be at the head of the line. Just like Tiffany in the video above.
Til then, get your de-ga-ga groove on with the Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom Soundtrack, which is a fierce little compendium of tunes from the TV series and the film, and features the likes of Solange Knowles, Michelle Williams, the legendary Phoebe Snow, out singer Matt Alber, Bob Sinclair and even the musical stylings of Noah's Arc creator Patrik-Ian Polk himself!
NewNowNext NOISE Interview: Tanner Cohen & Zelda Williams of Were the World Mine
The indie film Were the World Mine opened in NYC, SF and Berkeley this past weekend, and it's already selling out majorly! The movie is the musical story of cute high school guys putting on their production of Midsummer Night's Dream, and after some romantic trickery, end up turning the whole town gay. In this fun film, rock-n-roll meets fantasy, along with studly jocks, sensitive drama kids, and even a love potion gone haywire tossed in!
Above is a great interview with two of the film's leads: Tanner Cohen & Zelda Williams. Tanner is a NYC boy currently enrolled at UCLA; he's tall and dreamy, and absolutely fantastic in the film. Zelda is great up-and-coming actress who just happens to be a big LGBT activist and Robin Williams' daughter!
Hear them riff on making this gay fairy tale, about their parents' reaction to the film (Robin cried!), their devoted fans, and "fairy orgies!" The film's opening all around the U.S. this month and next. Check it out!!!
More MILK Interviews: James Franco & Diego Luna Talk Sex & San Francisco
Oh, the MILKtrain just keeps chugging along! This may just be the biggest gay movie we've seen since Heath and Jake got frisky with that handful of spit up on Brokeback, and it's certainly the most directly, full-on politically-minded gay film EVER. So, can we help it if the promo tsunami just keeps roaring on?
In the above interview clip, Diego Luna talks about his sex scenes with Sean Penn. I love Mr. Luna, but really... Do you really think he needed tequila to man up for his kiss with Penn? Seen Y Tu Mama Tambien, much? Anyway, I like Luna and I liked him in the film. He's got the best insanely poofed-up movie hair since Lainie Kazan starred in, er, anything!
And because he's everywhere now, delicious James Franco pops up again to ramble on adorably about how filming in San Francisco helped give the movie an extra-special vibe. Whatever! Franco can say anything he wants... He had me at the first moment in Milk when he shows up in his own kinked-out wig and hot porn 'stache.
Anyway... MILK hits NYC, SF & LA tomorrow. Get ready to be recruited!
In the category of “Is this a good thing?” Twilight actresses Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed will shoot another movie together, starting in January. They'll reportedly be playing men.
The movie, K-11, takes place in the section of the Los Angeles county jail that holds gay inmates, keeping them segregated from the general prison population. (“K-11” is the official classification for a gay inmate.) Stewart, who stars as Bella in Twilight, will play a boy and Reed, Twilight’s Rosalie, will play a 30-year-old man. Stewart’s mom, veteran script supervisor Jules Stewart, will direct.
The MILK Cast Talks! Sean Penn Blasts Prop 8. Emile Hirsch Talks Bathhouses. Plus, Madonna!
The entire MILKcast, director Gus Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black all hit NYC this week to host screenings and shindigs in honor of the powerful biopic which opens in NY, LA and SF this coming Wednesday (Nov. 26th), and then wide on Dec. 5th.
Among the many events was a press conference at the Regency Hotel where they a lined up and fielded questions from reporters. Throughout the event Sean Penn sneezed and sniffled, and studly Josh Brolin cracked jokes and James Franco looked cute. They’re a lovable bunch! And they all truly adore this movie...
After the jump, get all the quotes: Sean Penn goes off (in a good way)! Josh Brolin recalls getting teary! And Emile Hirsch learns about gay sex, 1970s style! And somebody even brings on the first Mrs. Penn, aka Madonna.
Breasts! Nuns! Strippers! Guns! Wait, sorry, I feel a little woozy after watching the new trailer for Bitch Slap. Please distract yourself with this shot of the women of Bitch Slap pouring water on each other so you can feel as woozy as I do.
Since our first breathless reporting on what is shaping up to be the mother of all post-modern B-movie exploitation flicks back in August, the ladies (and gentlemen – but let’s face it we just care about the ladies) of Bitch Slap have released a new red-band trailer (for mature audiences) with more fights, explosions and cleavage than you can shake a stick at.
Two great videos of the talented folks behind Milk speaking about the film, gay rights and Harvey Milk's legacy have surfaced that deserve a look.
First (above) there's a series of MTV interviews with the movie's young cast speaking at length about the film's parallels with the current battle against Proposition 8.
And after the break, check out ET's footage of the men of Milk on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere, which features the stars and director speaking eloquently about the film's inspiration (Emile Hirsch says it best when he simply comments that Harvey Milk was "an American hero").
Stars such as Will Smith and Jake Gyllenhaal have played gay on their way to international superstardom, but Robert Pattinson, currently best known as Cedric from the Harry Potter movies, has the order reversed. This Friday, he opens in Twilight, the eagerly-awaited adaptation of the first book in the bestselling teen vampire series, and it's widely expected to make him a star.
But come winter (in the U.K.) and spring (in the U.S.), we'll see him starring as Salvador Dali in Little Ashes, a small British movie about the passionate friendship/"bromance"/love affair between the famous "straight" painter and his gay playwright friend Fredrico Garcia Lorca.
Levi’s Serves Up Milk, Retro Realness in San Francisco
San Francisco in the 1970’s was all about free love, disco, Castro Street, men in tight jeans, mustaches, shaggy hair and (hello…) the rise of the gay culture and the gay rights movement—led by Harvey Milk—as a vital political force. Last night all of these elements got celebrated at the city’s lavender landmark, the Castro Theater, when local legends Levi’s threw a hometown bash for the movie Milk.
It was dubbed the “People’s Premiere” which meant that Levi's doled out 1,400 free tickets to the Castro community via their new swank little Levi's store on Castro Street. Which meant that eager denim-clad gays crammed the Castro Theater for the rousing, call-and-response screening. Levi’s honcho Robert Hanson, Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and out SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty introduced the film to a packed house that was palpably stoked. And given last week’s passing of the hateful gay-marriage banning Prop 8 and the near daily protests which have followed, the movie (which chronicles the rise of Harvey Milk as America’s first elected gay male politician and the 1978 battle to defeat a homophobic ballot proposition) couldn’t have come at a better time.
Levi's, hankies, flannel, queens at the Castro Theater... Some things never go out of style!
More photos, drag queens and Levi's-wearing studs after the jump.
Imagine a movie starring two Oscar-winning actresses. Imagine that they play a couple. Imagine that one of the women portrays the world's first post-op male-to-female transsexual. Finally, imagine that this is all based on a true story. Now, stop imagining, because it's actually happening.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron have signed on to the independent film The Danish Girl, based on the novel about real-life early 20th century Danish artists Einar and Gerda Wegener. Einar (played by Nicole) often dressed as a woman to model for wife Gerda (played by Charlize), and in 1930, became the first person to successfully undergo gender reassignment surgery to become Lili Elbe.
Nicholas Hoult, who went from being the young star of About a Boy to a studly, bum-baring young adult on BBC America's Skins, has joined the cast of gay designer Tom Ford's directorial debut, A Single Man.
Here's a short clip from Milk to remind us how far we've come and how far we have left to go.
Meanwhile, Defamers asks if the film might have made a difference in the Proposition 8 battle had it been released in October rather than the Oscar-friendly holiday season. A missed opportunity?
As long as there has been a Hollywood, movie companies have tried to build on the success of their rivals. Call it the "This studio needs one of them there Bible-musical-gangster-war-monster-surf-biker-disco-vigilante-superhero pictures" syndrome.
And with Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom scoring high per-screen averages in its first two weekends in theatrical release, don't be surprised to see the other big gay film distributors working to emulate the success of Logo Films' debut feature by seeking out movies about queers of color.
How did Brandon Routh (above right) go from wearing tights for Bryan Singer to having a gay pornstar boyfriend in Zack & Miri Make a Porno?
“I felt it should be a salt-of-the-Earth, middle-American kind of guy. Someone like Superman,” said Porno director Kevin Smith to the Los Angeles Times. “And Seth [Rogen]’s like, ‘Brandon Routh. Let’s call him.’ [Elizabeth] Banks was in the room while I was having this conversation with Seth, and she’s like, ‘Superman? His agent is my agent.’”
Smith envisioned the character as a twofold sort of “straight man” — Routh’s character Bobby Long is not only closeted and repressed but he’s also the foil to the hilarious Justin Long (above left), playing Bobby’s boyfriend, porn star Brandon St. Randy.
On The Red Carpet of The Noah's Arc Movie Premiere!
Yes, from the queer (at least for the night) carpet at Mann's Chinese Theatre, Daniel Leary brings you all the fab Noah action of the Jumping The Broom premiere - the one you heard so much about, yeah? AfterElton's etiquette expert chats up the entire cast - Darryl, Rodney, Christian and Doug, the whole gang - along with the fab Jennia Fredrique, who admits she and her character, Brandy, may have a few traits in common...
Daniel also meets the Noah's Arc creator himself, Patrik-Ian Polk. Don't miss out, girl!
Last night Milk premiered in San Francisco and the film's stars were there along with some high-profile gay folks, political figures, and a whole mess of people out to honor the film's subject and support the fight against Proposition 8.
Daily Buzz Bits: Noah's Arc Movie Rocks The Box Office!
It's been Noah's Arc movie-mania this weekend - and thanks to you fans, Jumping The Broom averaged $32,260 per screen, putting it second only to Angelina Jolie's Changeling. Yes, per screen - and there were only five screens - but that's still damn impressive, kids! - IndieWire
In a political shocker, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt came out in support of gay marriage – Spencer because Heidi’s hair and makeup crew is gay and he loves those queers - despite the couple's public love of guns and Sarah Palin. - Queerty
Uh-oh, I was scared of this: Rumors fly Lindsay Lohan is craving some man-action and may be an ... Anne Heche-type lesbian after all. - Dlisted
New York’s CMJ music fest hosted the American concert debut of Roisin Murphy … and she had on an interesting outfit, huh? - Getty
After giving it all a listen, MTV.com confirmed Beyonce’s next album is a double-hitter, the I Am … Sasha Fierce - Sasha is B's drag persona, I would venture - being the uptempo half. I am glad “Sweet Dream” made the cut, though. – MTV
Guuurl! Are You Seeing The Noah's Arc Movie This Weekend?
...'cause those seats are goin' fast! Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom is already screening in select cities, so you better find your screening. You already know what Alex has to say, but check out a few critics' comments on LOGO's Noah flick:
"The movie is terrific and worth the wait….Only a cast already this
comfortable with their characters and with each other could come up
with that kind of chemistry and those kinds of performances…." - Greg
Hernandez, LA.com
"Fans of the show should jump to see the film, because there’s a good chance it will be sweeping into and out of theaters quickly."
- Tim Plant, Metro Weekly (DC)
Ha! Well, looks like time is of the essence, Noah fans - and, come on, you know those Alex moments are worth the price of admission...
Talk about your truth in advertising. The poster for the new lesbian film I Can't Think Straight indeed has just that effect on a gal. Hello.
International filmmaker and novelist Shamim Sarif, who previously wrote and directed the lesbian drama The World Unseen, helms this story of two women from different backgrounds who fall in love and then must reconcile their relationship with traditional expectations. Lisa Ray (The World Unseen and Water) and Sheetal Sheth (also from The World Unseen and Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World) play the opposites who attract — and do so quite attractively, I might add.
Gays love musicals, the popular logic goes, so this was probably inevitable: A new queer indie film called The Big Gay Musicalgoes before the cameras today in New York City.
According to a press release, the film will boast dozens of Broadway veterans, including Liz McCartney (Taboo, South Pacific), Jim Newman (Curtains, Minnelli on Minnelli),current Mr. Broadway Marty Thomas (Xanadu), Andre Ward (Xanadu), Joey Dudding (A Chorus Line, La Cage aux Folles, Xanadu, Wicked, The Secret Garden), as well as Trick co-star Steve Hayes.
Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom, The L.A. Premiere Party Pictures!
The gang's all here: At the official Hollywood premiere of Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom, the spiffed-up cast worked the carpets, savored their big screen debuts and, of course, after-partied it up! I included up top my personal favorites, Wade and Baby Gat (well, Jensen Atwood and Jason Steed, really), but be sure to check out the rest of the Arc cast after the jump...
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