Friday, December 30, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Chad State's "Cruising"


I want to begin again investigating intentions and meaning surrounding and embedded in FOURPLAY: TAMPA as we ramp up for the film's Sundance screenings in January. Screenwriter Carlos Treviño received as a gift from TAMPA actors Matt Hislope and Josh Meyer (the talented duo behind Austin's Rubber Rep Theater) the new photo essay book CRUISING by Chad States.

I've posted one of the photographs from the book above. For me, the wonderful feeling I had upon first reading Treviño's screenplay is also to be found in the photography and accompanying essays in States' book, where consensual, adult sexual actions, so often demonized and marginalized culturally, politically and legally, are recuperated and invested with humanity and the accompanying spirituality of "connection" almost completely missing from popular media representations.

"In Cruising, Chad States portrays not so much a parallel universe but one just down the street and only partly camouflaged. He begins to describe a social overlay where the interplays between assertion and marginalization of male sexualities are constantly in flux and while regular public sex is being expressed the forces that directly harm, discount, isolate, ghettoize, and assimilate erotic outsiders are, at least for a few moments, kept at bay," states Gordon Brent Ingram in his Cruising on the Margins accompanying essay.

I hope, in some small way, FOURPLAY is a similar work, perhaps not so much assimilating erotic outsiders as at least giving them their "due," for I feel their actions are far more prevalent and normal than the homogenizing forces of popular culture would care to admit. After all, that which we marginalize is the part of ourselves we care not to admit exists.

- Kyle


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Going to dance in the Sun...



OK, we can finally spill the beans ...
FOURPLAY:TAMPA is screening at Sundance 2012! 32 U.S. short films were selected from 4,083 [US] submissions and over 7,675 total shorts submissions. Them is LOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG odds, and we are ecstatic to be included in such find company. Best XMAS gift we could've received!

If you like this FOURPLAY project, please help us spread the word by suggesting to "open-minded" friends that they either follow the blog or "like" our Facebook page. In the days leading up to Sundance we'll be sharing a "making-of" short doc here on the blog (a little too raunchy for Facebook, so ONLY posted here) and more interviews from cast and crew.

- Kyle

Saturday, December 3, 2011

4PLAY: NC-17 for sex but not for violence?


A re-post from the world of Facebook, wondering why NC-17 is only reserved for adult sexual content in America and for not violence (prompted by this IndieWire article)?

Well, I don't really wonder about that because I think it's pretty obvious that America is a violent nation (e.g. highest murder/incarceration rate in the world!) where violence is normalized in media, games, sports, et al, ad nauseum, but adult conversations and content about sexuality is repressed and hidden ... conveniently retaining its power to help sell a lot of SHIT to us through advertising.

Anyway, see Kirby Dick's THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED to get the low-down on the MPAA and the history of X, R and NC-17. I think it is quite relevant to our little old FOURPLAY, especially when we try to figure out, especially theatrically, how this film will get out the world.

PS - Exciting news coming next week...

Kyle

Sunday, November 20, 2011

4PLAY: IndieWire's Sundance '12 wish list!


Thanks, Indiewire, for mentioning FOURPLAY on your Sundance 2012 wish list! It don't mean a thing till the large lady sings, but one way or another, FOURPLAY will get out there in the world and find its audience. But ... the attention is always heart warming and encouraging! Keeping fingers crossed and the prayer network on turbo overdrive.

- Kyle

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

4PLAY: SF wins top prize @ Brazilian festival!


4PLAY: SF awarded Best Int'l Film prize by Young Critics Jury at the Janela Int'l Film Fest in Recife, Brazil! Said fest rep Emilie Lesclaux "We had very strong reactions to the film during the festival, lots of people talked about it." Thank you!

Speak Portuguese? Check out their press release here.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

4PLAY SF @ Long Island G&L Fest tmrw, Sun (11/13)

The last stop for SAN FRANCISCO screening all on its lonesome outside the feature FOURPLAY anthology will be tmrw, Sunday (11/13) @ 12:30PM at the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. See link for more info if you are out near Huntington, NY on Long Island. - Kyle

Saturday, October 22, 2011

4PLAY: SF in Kiel, Germany - Fri, Oct 28th @ 6PM

To each his/her own ... and the Fetish Film Festival in Kiel, Germany is determined to try to "represent" for each and everyone out there in the dark! FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO is winding down its journey around the world this month, and this is one of its last stops. If in Kiel, check it out on Friday, October 28th at 6PM on the TRANS-GENDER-KURZFILMPROGRAMM. More info here at this link. - Kyle

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

4PLAY: SF - Compassion, dignity and generosity...


What the Iris Prize Jury said about FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO when awarding it a high commendation at the festival:

"This film shows compassion dignity and generosity. The sex worker had the most beautiful quality of being able to empower another human being."

Here's looking at you, Paul and Gary, for bringing this relationship so beautifully alive. And Carlos for writing such a powerful script. And the inimitable Chloe for letting us co-opt her life for a little while.

- Kyle

Monday, October 10, 2011

4PLAY: SF - Iris Prize Commendation!

Well, we didn't win the whole enchilada, but we did get a special jury High Commendation for FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO as this year's Iris Prize Festival. Hmmmmm, I wonder what jurist Sally Griffins could possibly have been talking about regarding a jury debate whether or not it "Was the toe or the whole foot?". See FOURPLAY the feature, which will be premiering at a festival in early 2012, to find out! - Kyle

Friday, September 30, 2011

4PLAY: SF - Iris Prize Trailer...

Nice trailer for the Iris Prize with a short clip from FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO buried within. Like an Easter Egg hunt, can you find the shot? - Kyle


4PLAY: SF plays at Q! Fest Indonesia ... please support!

FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO plays in Indonesia @ the Q! Film Fest, the only GLBT fest in a predominantly Muslim country. Screens in Jakarta @ the Salihara, 2:30PM on Sat, Oct 1st and at the Kineforum, 2:30PM on Sat, Oct 8th.

So proud we are part of a fest fighting on the front lines of global human rights for GLBT people. I believe they are getting pretty intense harassment for this event as their site now requires you to become a member, so please, in solidarity, go to the link above and type in your email address to become a member!

- Kyle

Monday, September 26, 2011

4PLAY: SF at Iris Prize Fest - Oct 7th @ 12:30PM

Have any friends in Cardiff, Wales? Then recommend the FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO screening on Fri, Oct 7th @ 12:30PM at the Chapter arts center as the film vies for the prestigious Iris Prize! See this link for ticket sales and theater info. - Kyle

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

4PLAY: SF's Paul Soileau wins Best Actor @ MiMi!


 Paul Soileau, who plays the part of Aliya in FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO, won the Best Actor prize at the MiMi LGBT Short Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain.  Congrats! - Kyle

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

4PLAY: SF Nominated for Iris Prize 2011!

FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO has been nominated one of the top international prizes for LGBT work, the Iris Prize. Check out their site for a list of quality queer short films to peruse in the future and as always, we are pleased as punch. BTW, I had the chance to see last year's winner, The Samaritan, by Norwegian director Magnus Monk, at Newfest this year. Below is a video of Iris jurists speaking about this powerful work and clips from the film. It you have the chance, seek it out and watch it today. Proves again the adage that just because you have suffered oppression does not mean that one day you will not become an oppressor yourself given the right set of circumstances. - Kyle

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

4PLAY: SF wins Newfest 2011!


Congrats to the cast (Paul Soileau, Cyndi Williams, Gary Chason) and crew of FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO for helping the film win Best Narrative Short at Newfest - NYC's premiere LGBT film festival last weekend. Check out the links above for a trip down blog memory lane. - Kyle

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

4PLAY: SF in Barcelona Sat, Aug 13th!

MiMi 2011 from MiMi Short Film Festival on Vimeo.

FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO continues its' world travels at the MIMI LGBT Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain on Sat, August 15th @ 6PM on a shorts program appropriately titled "Qué Overdose!!!" For more info about the screening including location and festival info click on this link. In Spanish only! Their cute trailer is posted above. - Kyle

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

4PLAY: SF in NYC @ Newfest!

(Cyndi Williams in FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO)

Have friends in NYC? Why not recommend they see FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO either this Fri, July 22nd @ 9:30 PM at the School of Visual Arts theater OR next Tues, July @ 3PM at the Cinema Village.
See this link for more info and to purchase tickets:

http://newfest.slated.com/2011/films/fourplaysanfrancisco_kylehenry_newfest2011

Friday, July 15, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Jose Villarreal Int Pt 3


Final part of my interview with FOURPLAY: TAMPA star Jose Villarreal. To read Pt 01 or Pt 02 just click on these links! Remember to come out to our NewFest screening in NYC of FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO on Fri, July 22nd, more info here. - Kyle

4) Was there anything you learned about your craft as an actor while making the film? As someone who is fairly new to film, what surprised you about the operation of the film set? Feel weird about all the fake dongs being bandied about?

Granted I'm still new, there was nothing really that surprised me. I had a pretty decent knowledge of what to expect from the commercial experience I've gathered. What I really enjoyed was something I had been waiting my entire career to experience, sitting with the audience and hearing their reactions. I actually loved the dongs. I thought, and I guess was surprised at this part, that there was a wrangler for them to keep clean and sign in and out for. I heard on the Harry Potter sets everyone had to sign in and out for their wands, the Star Wars sets people had to do so for their lightsabers. Big deal. We had people signing in and out for their dongs. How awesomely hilarious is that?




Wednesday, July 13, 2011

4PLAY: SF in NYC on Fri, July 22nd @ Newfest!


FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO makes its' NYC debut at NewFest on Fri, July 22nd at the SVA theater @ 9:30PM. Put the kiddies to sleep early and come on down to see some wild, freaky shit! I'll be there to answer for what we've done, live and in-person. If you can't make, we have another screening on Tues, July 26th @ 3PM at the SVA but I'll be bye-bye by then. - Kyle

Saturday, July 9, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - One more chance to see in LA...

Great packed screening at Outfest in LA last night! One more chance to see FOURPLAY: TAMPA at 9:30 PM on Monday, July 11th at 9:30 PM at the Laemmle Sunset 5. Click this link to purchase tickets or pass on info to LA friends! - Kyle

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Jose Villarreal Int PT 2


A continuation of my interview with FOURPLAY: TAMPA star Jose Villarreal. Click here to read part one. - Kyle

3) What particular challenges did you face playing your role? Any fears you had to overcome?

For me, it was quite a unique sort of challenge/fear. I take comedy very seriously. I've made crude jokes and whatnot, but to be part of them physically in such a way as this is entirely different from just talking comedy. I've always been of the mind that, if done properly, nothing is off limits in the world of comedy, with exception to "too soon" jokes which people don't realize is an aspect of the timing of comedy.

Luckily for us/me, the first day of shooting included the scene of (SPOILER) me being found in the stall at the end of the short covered in "happy juice" (END SPOILER). The process of getting prepped for that, and the light atmosphere by everyone involved helped remind me that this was not a melodrama, and my fears were quickly alleviated. Had that not been shot the first day, I might have had a harder time giving Kyle what he wanted for Louis.

That being said, the only real fear I still have is that my mother will see this. I don't need her telling me I'm going to hell (for yet another of many reasons).

Monday, July 4, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Jose Villarreal Int Pt 1


Happy 4th of July, America! We're celebrating our freedom to be freaky by counting down the days to the North American premiere of FOURPLAY: TAMPA at Outfest in Los Angeles this Fri, July 7th @ 9:30PM, with an interview with the film's star, Jose Villarreal. Jose was game for pretty much anything thrown his way and always went 200% above and beyond what was required to break our hearts while making us hysterically laugh. What's not to love about that pouty Charlie Brown expression thrown your way in the photo above? - Kyle


1) What were your first feelings when approached to play your role in TAMPA? First thoughts after reading the script?

When my agent first sent me the script, she warned me it might be out of my comfort zone and pretty much left it at that. I started to read it and began to feel a bit awkward at the first "encounter". I honestly thought to myself that my agent had submitted me for gay porn, but out of sheer curiosity I kept reading; even before deciding to audition, I already felt connected to Louis after a few scenes. Once the farce antics began to roll, I knew this was going to be an experience I wanted to be part of. After reading the script, I couldn't wait to audition.


2) What, if anything, helped you prepare to play your role?

I've performed gay characters before, but only my interpretation of them. This was the first time I had a role that was originally written as a gay character. I could see how it would feel strange, but it wasn't just that a gay man was being turned down for gay sex, it was someone just looking for someone to accept him as a lover, that was part of how I felt so strongly connected to him. It wasn't his sexual orientation, but his quest failures and success and situations that I focused on, I guess. The audition was a little awkward at first, but I guess I was too nervous about the audition process itself than it's material. Again, like the filming, it was the fact that it was comedy that loosened me up. I ended up having a blast; it was probably one of the most fun auditions I have ever been too. I really enjoy that, to this day, I can embarrass my friends (hopefully in the middle of a family friendly restaurant) by getting up to squat and air hump and say, "I did this for about a half hour straight for the audition. My glutes got a good workout."

I guess what was most difficult after the audition was accepting (THINKING) I didn't get the part. I was telling someone at the Alamo Drafthouse fundraiser we had about that. After my singles audition with you, I was sure I didn't get the part. With each take you kept asking me to be more subtle. I thought I wasn't giving you what you wanted and you were basically repeating/rewording yourself to get subtlety out of me, it wasn't till a conversation we had after filming that you told me about how you were seeing how subtle I could get; I was subtle, but still connected and comedic.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

4PLAY: SF - Consultant Chloe muse for painter ...


Chloe, the trans sex-worker who served as consultant and inspiration for FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO, has continued her journey through life as muse for another artist, this time painter Daniel Samaniego. Chloe is a knock-out and a real sweet heart in "real life," so at first I was a bit taken aback by the artists' use of her image, then I was blown-away by his technique and amazed by the way he transformed Chloe into the mythological Hydra figure! Some Jungian analysts see dreaming of a hydra (or serpents in general) as metaphors for dealing with issues of temptation, which of course would certainly make sense given Chloe's profession. Samaniego's work reminds me a lot of Chicago artist Ivan Albright's deliriously scary paintings, which I adore, in particular his "Into The World There Came A Soul Called Ida". Enjoy! - Kyle


PS -
For a Chloe redux, click-here for the first in a series of fascinating interviews I did with her last year.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA Carlos Treviño Int Pt 4


Final installment of my interview with the talented 4PLAY: TAMPA screenwriter Carlos Treviño. To read the other installments, click on part 1, part 2 or part 3.

BTW - I wish we had a more open society in the USA where our public and private masks weren't so psychotically split. I'm speaking about the latest political scandal, this time involving Anthony Weiner, where yet again, the public face of the "squeaky clean family man politician" is blown by the behind-the-scenes sexual shenanigans. I'm not a Weiner apologist, but when will a non-married candidate who is up front about their sexual behavior (e.g. "Hi, I'm Bob, I'm running for Congress and I've slept with a lot of people but I'm great at accounting and balancing the budget!") be allowed to run and win public office? I could care less what a politician does in the bedroom as long as they are not exploiting anyone NOR hypocritically mis-representing themselves. I'm not looking for role-models in politics, I just want honest and adroit bureaucrats! I do think we have a long way to go before that happens, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to make FOURPLAY, which I hope at least will start a few more conversations about sexual practice versus public persona every time it screens somewhere. - Kyle


What obstacles or limitations did you have to overcome when writing TAMPA and how did you creatively work around or within them?


I knew pretty early on that I wanted to tell the whole thing with visuals and sound effects only: no dialogue. And though there’s one character who breaks that rule for comic effect, I can say I succeeded. Not being able to rely on dialogue forced me to be extremely specific about setting up motivations, reactions, and comic beats. I think that can only help my writing in the long run.

Have you learned anything special that you'd like to communicate to screenwriters about the short film form now having written three of these FOURPLAY shorts?

Nothing special. Shorts are hard. Especially if you’re not just trying to set up a joke or sell some Dutch beer. Well, even then, I guess shorts are difficult. It’s a great honor and boon to have someone as good at producing and directing my work as I have with Kyle Henry. Getting my work produced is one of the biggest motivators in allowing that work to continue. So if I have any special advice to screenwriters, it’s: get a boyfriend as talented as mine!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Behind-the-scenes photo album!


In honor of Queerbomb this weekend in Austin, TX, check out this link to the amazing photos taken by Otis Ike (aka Patrick Bresnan) for FOURPLAY: TAMPA. Patrick is a wonderful artist/photographer/video-grapher/and soon-to-be architect who gifted us with these treasures today after culling through his stash of photos taken on set a little over a year ago. Thank you! - Kyle

Thursday, June 2, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA Carlos Treviño Int Pt 3


A continuation of my interview w/ TAMPA writer Carlos Treviño. (Clear here to read PT 1 and PT2) - Kyle


How did you make this story (TAMPA) your own?

Well, knowing this is my spin on a Tom of Finland scenario, just about anything you see in this story that’s not Tom of Finland came from me. I’m happy to say that it’s quite a bit. By the way: before my father the minister died (and presumably went to heaven…though we can never be too certain), he put his doctrinal seal of approval on the story. Agreed with the theology, he said. The last shall be first and all that.

What research (if any) did you conduct before writing TAMPA?

Hm, I guess I’d rather not say.

What excites you about writing a new screenplay? What makes you want to write?

If there’s anything consistent in my approach to new work, it might be that I’m usually looking for something different. Different from what I’ve done before, tonally or structurally; different in size and scope. Different also from what I see going on now in filmic media: stories that aren’t being told and can’t be told in any way other than how I’m going to tell them. From doing the work, I hope to discover my personal differences as well. By the end of a project, I’ll find that some aspect of my world view has been expressed—a total delight for someone as inept at political conversation as I am. Through writing, I can experience psychological and emotional states familiar and unfamiliar as a personal kind of whetting stone. With each film, I try creating and using various modes of film poetics, elements of story and genre, and, to a lesser degree, different tools of language in both script and dialogue. Some day I might look back and see that I’ve written the same script over and over, but at this point, each one seems fresh to me. So I’ll keep enjoying this aspect of it until maybe someday it stales. When that happens, though, perhaps I’ll be perfectly satisfied writing the same old thing as before.

Friday, May 27, 2011

4PLAY scrnings in early June ...

FOURPLAY shorts continue to play all over the world in early June. The run down below and please recommend to friends whom you might have in each city. - Kyle

- Sat, June 4th @ 3:00PM

4PLAY: SAN FRANCISCO
Hartford, Connecticut
Connecticut GLBT Film Festival

- Sat, June 4th @ 7:30PM


4PLAY: SAN FRANCISCO
Antwerp, Belgium
Strangelove Queer FilmFest
CarWash Theater

- Sun, June 5th @ 2:30PM

4PLAY: TAMPA
Paris, France
Quinzainne des Realisateurs' Shorts
Forum des Images

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - A report from the premiere ...

Carlos Garza, programmer for the Morelia Film Festival, had this to report about the TAMPA screening at Directors' Fortnight. Thank you Carlos for being our eyes and ears since we had to skedaddle back to the USA before the premiere! - Kyle

The auditorium was about 3/4 full with nobody on the balcony seats, and from a quick perusal before the lights went down I could tell that a good proportion of those in attendance were non-badge holders, i.e. a real audience. Up until your film the program consisted exclusively of slow-moving, contemplative work and due to the Fortnight's habit of bringing the lights up between each short with a good twenty or thirty-second gap as well as the fact that it was a relatively long program, a lot of people started to leave after the fifth film, but quite a few came back once Fourplay: Tampa came on, perhaps also because the opening music indicated they were in for something different.

The audience was absolutely complicit as soon as the film's premise became clear, and the gasps before the guffaws were quite elated rather than indignant. I think everyone was extremely grateful to get a good laugh in regardless of their openness or savviness regarding the material. It's quite an accomplishment for the film to hold a non-gay audience captive like this, and I can assure you absolutely no one walked out once the film begun (I was checking).

As far as jaded queer audiences such as myself are concerned, I felt equally engaged. I think the film struck just the right tone and I really appreciate being genuinely surprised at where the film was heading. And well, absolutely no one could have anticipated the ending! The way the film crescendos is absolutely brilliant, my sincere congratulations!

On the way out I solicited some reactions from some high school students, who in an absolutely deadpan way said it was "disgusting" and "disrespectful". A thirtysomething year-old woman next to us overheard and said: "oh don't pay attention, it's because they're young, I thought it was amazing."

Shit, so it really has come down to this: the young as humorless upholders of traditional values. I've had so many indications of this lately that it was almost enough to kill my buzz. In hindsight I should have asked the high-schoolers why they stuck around until the end if they were so offended. An older man next to the thirty-something woman grinned and said, "I always suspected Jesus would give really good head."

Monday, May 23, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Cannes press round up...



A few notices and articles from 4PLAY: TAMPA's Cannes screening, enjoy. - Kyle


- Directors' Fortnight video interview re why "sex is fun"

- Queer de Palme interview (in French)

- FILMMAKER blog entry about why we had to miss our Fortnight screening

- IndieWire Thompson on Hollywood blog mention.

4PLAY: SF in Mumbai + Milan this week!

SAN FRANCISO plays at Kashish - Mumbia Int'l Queer Film Fest, one of the few GLBT fests in India this Thurs (5/26) at 1:30 PM at the Alliance Francaise de Bombay.



Also, on the opposite end of the planet, SAN FRANCISCO will play at the Mix Milano film festival in Milan, Italy this Fri (5/27) at 3PM at the Sala Grande (Teatro Strehler).

Thursday, May 19, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA Carlos Treviño Int Pt 2


The second part of my interview with the screenwriter for 4PLAY: TAMPA, Carlos Treviño. To backtrack and read part one, click here. The film premieres at Directors' Fortnight in Cannes tomorrow, Friday, May 20th at 11:30AM in the festivals' JW Marriott theater. If you don't have any plans, why not jet over and give us the low-down? - Kyle

2) What issues or themes do you think TAMPA deals with for a straight and/or queer community regarding sexuality?

Every one of us has felt left out at some point, or to some degree. As much as the search for sex can be construed as a search for affirmation, this film is about a person searching for both in his particular place and way.

I think TAMPA addresses issues of looksism that run through the shallows of modern gay culture, and the anxiety and shame that can prickle up inside those of us who don’t fit into its templates. Queer culture should be a celebration of our differences as much as our commonalities. The plethora of body types represented in this film I think are reason alone for loving it.

(Speaking of that, I’m sad that, even searching every major city in Texas, we could not find a single African-American actor who would agree to be in this film. Even the queer ones wouldn’t come near us. Granted, the project is pretty outrageous, but still. Just to say, the script calls for more diversity than Texas was able to deliver.)

I think this film is also a visceral celebration of the baseness of sex and bodies. We don’t get enough reminders that humans are pretty much just squidge plus divine consciousness, so I’m glad to be able to provide that reminder with this script, in what I hope are completely disgusting and totally hilarious ways.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Cannes thoughts... PT01




We came, we saw, we left exhausted. A few snapshots from our whirlwind trip to Cannes for the beginning of the Directors Fortnight section. For those of you who don't know, the Directors Fortnight was founded in 1968 to “defend artistic, moral, professional and economic freedom in filmmaking, and to participate in the development of new cinema structures.” See this great Scout Foundas article for more on its founding.

It today still is the bastion of the new, the unknown and the disposed of cinema while the Palais du Cinema down the street at the official festival is still the "establishment," where the big Hollywood behemoths compete with the international cinema cultural lions in the circus that is Cannes. Underground, hidden underneath the Palais is the open secret of what the official festival really is about, the Marche du Cinema, the market place of big money where films are bought and sold and entrepreneurs hawk their wares. The hierarchy of architecture though still prevails in Cannes (as in all cities) with most big sales occurring in the pent-house suites of film sales companies that most film goers wouldn't be able to ever name (e.g. Celluloid Dreams, the Wild Bunch, et al).


Is it a festival of cultural exchange or a center of hoary economic transactions? As a very little ant among the ants on the Croisette, I was happy to find that the Directors Fortnight hadn't changed since I was last there and was still a refuge for cineastes to gather away from the storm, to watch the work of young unknowns with something to say about the world in new ways, and to honor the hard work and frighteningly vulnerable position each new film and filmmaker puts themselves in when they share their films with the world. The Fortnight is not a church, or a marketplace, but a showcase and a gathering point for filmmakers and cineastes to gather, compare notes and disperse again to the far corners of the earth.

I felt privileged we could be in the presence of such a revitalizing gathering. More about the films we saw in the next post. - Kyle

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA Carlos Treviño Int Pt 1


Part one of an interview with FOURPLAY: TAMPA screenwriter Carlos Treviño who also plays the film's very hunky military recruiter! Opppss, I think I'm revealing too much of a prior lifetime's military fetish. - Kyle

-------------------

What and/or who inspired you to write TAMPA?

I needed to write something funny to counterbalance the two dramas I’d written for our FOURPLAY series. Around that time, I’d been given a compendium of Tom of Finland’s work. Tom was this gay porn illustrator who worked from the 1950s through the 90s creating erotic and fetish art that has become iconic in the gay community. So in one of these volumes of his work is this hilarious public men's' restroom scene. It starts with two guys alone in the restroom, scoping each other out at the urinals. One by one, various hyper-masculine Tom of Finland types wander in and join in the fun. It ends in this ridiculous butt-fucking conga line where everyone comes at once and leaves very happy and chummy. To adhere to the FOURPLAY theme (transgressive sex that is transcendent for one or more of the participants), I needed a character for whom this scenario could be both trial and triumph. So I started by placing someone very un-Tom of Finland into the scene; someone none of Tom’s guys would even look at: not chiseled, not masculine, not hung like an elephant. A sympathetic underdog on his quest for anonymous sex. As the writing went on, I discovered that making these other guys less Tom-like and more realistic only added to the pathos of our hero getting rejected by them over and over again.


Sunday, May 8, 2011

4PLAY ... all over the world in May!

OK, too much, too much! So here's where you can check out 4PLAY: TAMPA and SF in your own hoods this month ... all over the world. - Kyle

FOURPLAY: TAMPA

Cannes, France - World Premiere @ Director's Fortnight
Friday, May 20th @ 11:30 AM
Palais Stéphanie/Théatre Croisette

FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO

Seattle Erotic Arts Festival - Short Film Showcase
Friday, May 20th-22nd - Various Times (see program link below)
http://seattle-erotic.org/short-film/

Mumbai, India - Kashish Mumbai Queer Film Fest
Thursday, May 26 @ 1.30 pm
Alliance Francaise de Bombay

Milano, Italy - Mix Milano Film Fest
May 25 - 29th @ Various Times (check program link below)
Piccolo Teatro Strehler

Hartford, CT (USA) - Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Fest
Saturday, June 4th @ 3PM
CineStudio on Trinity College Campus

Saturday, April 23, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA - Ritz Fundraiser - Sat (4/30) @ 1PM!


Don't cry, you can see FOURPLAY: TAMPA very soon if you live in Austin, TX! See link below for info on the AFS, aGLIFF and Alamo Drafthouse sponsored sneak peek fundraiser for TAMPA on Sat (4/30) @ 1PM! Be the first to see it ALL go down and help us finish the film! - Kyle

http://www.originalalamo.com/Show.aspx?id=8320

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA @ Cannes!


OMG!!! I got the call yesterday that FOURPLAY: TAMPA will have it's international premiere at the Directors Fortnight at Cannes this year! I nearly fell out of my chair... then quickly got on the phone to congratulate writer Carlos Treviño, star Jose Villarreal, and producer Jason Wehling. It's going to be a crazy few weeks getting everything ready from now till May 9th when the print is due in France. Light a candle for us. Mon Dieu! - Kyle

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

4PLAY:SF BUTT int Pt 6 ... the last bit of wood


The last and final 4PLAY: SF blog entry and the final installment of the interview that art critic Andy Campbell did w/ Paul Soileau (Aliya in SF) and Chloe (SF sex-worker consultant) that was censored/aborted/rejected by BUTT magazine ... losers ... I love them! Anyway, big thanks to all you lovelies out there in the dark that take on the shame of others and transform it into healing connection, in whatever form it might take! - Kyle


Andy: Oh! I almost forgot to ask about you guys’ grandmas. Paul: Our grandmas? I told you it’d come up again. You thought I forgot.

Chloe: What do you want to know about our grandmas?

Well, do you have a special grandma name? Some people say Meemaw, some people say Nana, or Babooshka.

Paul: I have Mam-maw.

Chloe: It’s just Grandma with me.

Paul: Really, just Grandma?

Chloe: Boring, huh?

Paul: Mam-Maw works for me. It’s so country. We have the weirdest names. Like my godparents, I call them Nanny and Paw-ran. Nanny is my godmother and my godfather is Paw-ran. It’s Cajun French, I don’t even know what the hell it means. In Louisiana, that’s how we roll. It’s so messed up. I could go on and on.

Well, ladies, thank you so much. I hope it was fun for you.

Paul: Thank you. It was.

Chloe: It was so good for me. I’m gonna have a cigarette now, and I don’t even smoke.

Paul: I think I will too!

I am not going to have a cigarette, ‘cause that shit is disgusting. You smoke, Paul? Oh, yeah, I’ve seen you smoke. But you don’t smoke, right, Chloe?

Chloe: I do occasionally. I’m a social smoker, you know. The problem is that Chloe smokes. Scott doesn’t smoke, but Chloe does.

What does she smoke?

Chloe: It’s one of those perfect props – Export A’s, the gold ones. Export A Lights, from Canada. They’re short, sweet, to the point.

Paul: Very classy… Not Nat Sherman Fantasias?
Chloe: No.

That’s what Christeene smokes when she can get them, I guess.

Paul: I love those!

Chloe: She smokes OP’s, honey…Other People’s.

Whatever people give to her. She doesn’t have a brand.

Paul: That’s true…

Good night!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

4PLAY: TAMPA ... just another day ...




... at the office. A few more stills from the set of 4PLAY: TAMPA. We did a sneak peak rough cut screening at SXSW last week and "rocked the box". DP PJ Raval confirmed after the screening that we are all now officially going to hell so I think my work on the film is almost done. Photos taken by the lovely OtisIke. - Kyle


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

4PLAY: AUSTIN Atticus/Kai PT 03




Final installment of Atticus Rowe's (Kai in AUSTIN) interview. - Kyle
5) Finally, anything extra you'd like to share about the process and experience of making this film?

One of the most striking things to me about this film and script is how we all think we're special and OUR problems are different or more intense than others, but really they're not. I didn't know Carlos or Kyle before this film and yet, Carlos could write something that I felt so comfortable in.

All relationships face issues and problems and ultimately, they all come from being human. If you strip down what makes us different, there's something at the core that's the same and I hope that makes people able to relate to this film.

And, of course, I would like to share how wonderful everyone was on this project. The blend of professionalism and fun on set was a joy and I look forward to working with any of the cast and crew again.
I remember sitting in an alley, in the heat, with our crew of about 6 people and looking up the alley about two blocks and seeing MACHETE (Robert Rodrigues' film) being shot and hundreds of people and trucks. Looking around at our little group and my busted bike and thinking, "we've got it made!"

Monday, January 31, 2011

4PLAY: Thought for the day...

Perusing readings for a class I'm putting together, stumbled upon this quote from Andrei Tarkovsky is his wonderful book SCULPTING IN TIME that I think pretty much sums up how about feel about the miniaturist "realism" movement still taking up too much space on the national film festival circuit. Life is MUCH bigger that these very small, unambitious, navel-gazing films. - Kyle

I think in fact that unless there is an organic link between the subjective impressions of the author and his objective representation of reality, he will not achieve even superficial credibility, let alone authenticity and inner truth.

You can play a scene with documentary precision, dress the characters correctly to the point of naturalism, have all the details exactly like real life, and the picture emerges in consequence will still be nowhere near reality, it will seem utterly artificial, that is, not faithful to life, even though artificiality was precisely what the author was trying to avoid.

Curiously enough the label "artificial" is applied in art to what unquestionably belongs to our ordinary, everyday perception of reality. The explanation is that the pattern of life is far more poetic than it is sometimes represented by the determined advocates of naturalism.

Andrei Tarkovsky

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

4PLAY: AUSTIN Atticus/Kai PT2



PT 2 of my interview w/ Atticus Rowe, who plays Kai in AUSTIN. - Kyle

3) What particular challenges did you face playing your role? Any fears you had to overcome?

As I mentioned, allowing myself to truly deal with issues so close to my own was scary, but ultimately it was a gift.

4) During the process of making the film, was there anything you learned about the world or yourself that you feel like sharing?

HA!!! I learned that I have a porn threshold!!! I remember when we first went into the "news shop", everyone was sort of giggling and cracking jokes about the title of a movie or toy etc. Then we started working and everyone was very professional and that settled down and we moved on to trying to get what Kyle was looking for. But at some point, it was if I had been looking at the Sun too long or one of those 3D pictures. It was floor to ceiling porn, everywhere. The only place there was not porn was the floor or the ceiling and I found myself staring at both. And I am by NO MEANS a prude. It was sort of like working on a green screen for a long time and your eyes start to "die." It was like I went from intrigue, to desensitized, to overloaded. I remember Kyle asking me to do something specific with my eyes and it was everything I could do to do it and ultimately, I don't think I could do it.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

4PLAY: AUSTIN Atticus/Kai PT1


A new year ... time to move on to the next FOURPLAY short, AUSTIN, which will be making it's way in the world soon. Simply put, it's the story of young couple, Kai and Lily, who debate independence vs conceiving over the course of an evening and arrive at a startling compromise. Below is part one of my interview with Atticus Rowe who plays Kai.

1) What were your first feelings about being approached to play your role in AUSTIN? First thoughts after reading the script?

My first feelings about playing Kai were apprehension and fear. Not because I was worried about being able to play the part or understand the character, but more because of the parallels that I felt with Kai's life and his relationship with Lily and the precipice at which they stood. It's quite a bit scarier to explore things that are true and meaningful, rather than playing at something you need to create.

2) What, if anything, helped you prepare to play your role?

I was recently married when we started production and I would say that the experience of having recently taken a big step and discovering what that step meant helped me significantly. It's funny how you may think, "Oh, I took this step. Now, I am here." and you think you'll stay there for awhile, but before you know it, you're either thinking about, talking about or taking that next step. There always seems to be a next step and if you are in a relationship and you respect each other, one tends to be waiting for the other to be "ready" and then when they are, the other may have backed off!