Boy Culture

Boy Culture
Directed by: Q. Allan Brocka
Written by: Philip Pierce & Q. Allan Brocka
Starring: Derek Magyar, Patrick Bauchau, Darryl Stephens, Jonathon Trent


The current state of gay cinema right now is generally poor. The amount of bad product is unfortunately high, the amount of good product is low and the amount of truly great product is rare. Extremely rare. Don't get me wrong, it seems like the gay movie industry is in an upswing. It just has to make a lot of strides to get to where it deserves to be. Taken seriously.

Boy Culture is an example of what gay cinema can really be. Great. Brilliant. Utterly watchable and totally unforgettable.



Based on the book of the same name by Matthew Rettenmund, Boy Culture is the story of X (Derek Magyar) a gay hustler exclusive to 12 rich clients, which he dubs his disciples, and his two roommates, Andrew (Darryl Stephens) and Joey (Jonathan Trent). X is in love with Andrew, Joey is in love with X, and Andrew is falling in love with X. All while X spends time finding himself with Gregory, his newest "disciple."

The movie is told as a series of confessions with X talking us through the movie. Sometimes voice overs can get grating and distracting. Not so with this movie. X carries us along with wit and charm and gives us more insight into this complex and endearing character.

The relationships between Andrew, Joey, and X are handled expertly and the three have great chemistry. They are indeed a family and in the end, which I won't spoil, you really understand and appreciate them.


The entire cast is stellar. Darryl Stephens is great (beautiful too if I may say). Jonathan Trent plays twink Joey to a tee. He is very funny. Derek Magyar however, commands the screen. This, if I am not mistaken, is his first big screen role and he handles it like a charm. He glows on screen. A star is born as the old cliche goes.

Together, Derek and Darryl ignite the screen.

The scenes between X and Gregory are wonderful. Every word out of Patrick Bauchau is dripping with gold. He brings a stoic professionalism to the movie. The climax of their relationship is most importantly believable. Normally this type of relationship is plagued with cliche and innuendo. Not so here. It's handled skillfully and rings true.

Q. Allan Brocka has delivered what I would call one of the greatest gay movies of the past 10 years. It is impossible not to feel for these characters. Not to care where they end up and want to go along with them on the journey. You feel every emotion they feel. Any betrayal, any bit of happiness or sadness; you feel it right along with them. It's nothing short of fantastic. It is smart, funny, touching, witty, charming...I could list any number of adjectives and it wouldn't be enough.

I believe there is a difference between a movie and a film. Brocka's previous effort Eating Out is a movie. A campy sex comedy that was just that. It didn't try to be anything else and you knew watching that it wouldn't be anything else.

Boy Culture, however, is a film. It is a film about family, about love and fear. It is a film that you feel better for having watched. When the movie ended I wanted to cheer. Finally someone who made a gay film and did it 100% right.

Take a couple hours and watch it. Buy it for yourself and your friends. I doubt you'll be disappointed.



Boy Culture
Rated R
TLA Releasing

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Support Indie films!

From the director of Boy Culture,

It's hard to believe that this day is finally upon us -- the theatrical opening of BOY CULTURE! I directed the film and co-wrote the script with Philip Pierce. It took nearly a decade to make.

The movie is based on a brilliant, critically-acclaimed novel by Matthew Rettenmund and is produced by Stephen Israel, Victor Simpkins and Philip Pierce. It has won 18 national and international awards. I've been as far as Africa, Brazil, Montreal, and London, promoting it and now we are now ready to send our baby out into the world.

BOY CULTURE opens in theaters TOMORROW Friday, March 23 in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco and we urgently need your help!

As many of you know, the first weekend box office determines if a film will sink or swim. Independent films like ours are left to fend for themselves each week. The opening weekend numbers will determine how wide our film plays and how long it lives in theaters.

BOY CULTURE does not have a marketing budget to buy expensive TV commercials or billboards. We have only the power of community and grassroots outreach. With its awards and positive reviews, Boy Culture is getting a lot of attention right now, so its box office performance will be watched carefully by others who are considering investing in gay-themed films. Supporting films like this one is like voting in an election. You are voting with your feet and your dollars.

So what can you do? There are three simple things, right now, where you are sitting.

1. Please forward this email to your friends and any groups you think may be interested in a film like this.

2. Buy tickets and come see the movie on opening weekend! Advance tickets are available on-line in LA now! Come alone or in groups! Tickets make great gifts! (http://www.laemmle.com/ ) or in NYC (moviefone.com ). (If you do not live near one of the opening week theaters, you could help us by buying tickets anyway!)

3. If BOY CULTURE is not coming to your city, please call your local art house theatre and ask them for it! We're trying to book it in every town possible, it's the theatres who don't think there's an audience for gay indie film. Just a single phone call from a local audience member can change someone's mind. It happens all the time!

Every single ticket makes a difference this weekend!

To find more information about the BOY CULTURE, to view the trailer and to read interviews with the actors, please go to: http://www.boyculturemovie.com/ or www.myspace.com/boyculture . So far, the early reviews have been 100% positive! (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/boy_culture/).

The BOY CULTURE cast and film makers will be at the Sunset 5 in Los Angeles during the opening weekend to introduce the film. I hope to see you at theaters this weekend!

Thank you,
Allan Brocka

23 Mar 2007 Opens at Laemmle Sunset 5 West Hollywood CA
23 Mar 2007 Opens at the Castro Theatre San Francisco CA
23 Mar 2007 Opens at the Quad Cinema New York NY
6 Apr 2007 Opens at Landmark Century Centre Cinemas Chicago IL
13 Apr 2007 Opens at Landmark E Street Cinemas Washington DC
13 Apr 2007 Opens at Landmark Magnolia Theatre Dallas TX
13 Apr 2007 Opens Cinemas Palme d'Or Palm Springs CA
20 Apr 2007 Opens at Landmark Lagoon Cinemas Minneapolis MN
27 Apr 2007 Opens at Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas San Diego CA
27 Apr 2007 Landmark Varsity Theatres Seattle WA
4 May 2007 Opens at Landmark Midtown Art Atlanta GA
4 May 2007 Opens at Landmark Kendall Square Cinemas Boston All
11 May 2007 Opens at Landmark's Tivoli Theatre St. Louis All
11 May 2007 Opens at Gateway Cinemas Ft. Lauderdale FL

RAWR(for more)