Film Review - @PolariFest AGLIFF "Interior. Leather Bar."

By David Massey

In 2013, James Franco sets the gold standard for self-indulgent Auteur and on a scale that rivals even Andy Warhol. ‘Interior. Leather Bar.’ (Co-Directed with Travis Mathews) is just one of many Franco-projects that I’ve found myself viewing this past year (see also: ‘Child of God’, ‘This is the End’, ‘Oz The Great and Powerful’, ‘Lovelace’, ‘Maladies’, ‘Tar’, ‘Spring Breakers’, ‘The Iceman’ - and those are just the ones I managed to catch at various festivals). Looking forward to 2014, the man has an entire lifetime of projects (for some actor/directors) in varying stages of production. My take on his absolutely madding and eclectic trajectory; Franco has found a new type of celebrity excess and, be it a creative excess or not, I can’t really purport its value to anyone except Franco himself. The films vary from insightful to entertaining, slow & introspective to over-the-top and self-aware. There is not a solid through-line to this career but there is no denying that Franco has an unquenchable thirst for experience and you gotta love him just a bit for sharing it with us.

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Film Review - @PolariFest AGLIFF "Animals"

We liked this one so much we wrote a couple of reviews for it, take a look!

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@PolariFest Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival – “Five Dances” Opening Night Film

By Adam Ruhl

 

 

2013 is the 26^th annual Polari Film Festival, not just Austin’s oldest Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, but apparently the longest running Film Festival in Austin altogether. All of the festival-goers were gathered at the Stateside Theater in downtown Austin for the opening ceremony and opening film. Artistic Director Curran Nault gave a welcoming speech and spoke of the festival audience award which has been renamed the Scott Dinger Audience Award, in honor of the festivals founder. Then it was time to dig into the opening film.

 

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BLOG ZINE! We Gotcher Queeah Heeyah!

by Kari Tervo

Hola Ziney Beasters! It's time for some zining!

If you want to know what this is all about, take a look at the FAQ!

Just one review this week: Queer & Trans Youth Visibility in Riverside, California.

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

Queer & Trans Youth Visibility in Riverside, California
Rating: !.
Price: Not listed
Inland Empire Queer and Trans Youth Visibility Project
facebook.com/IEQTYVP
IEQTYVP@gmail.com

CLICK RAWR FOR THE REVIEW!

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Music Video: Steve Grand - All American Boy

It might be a little soon to call this song a game changer but it just might be.

Steve Grand has just released his first single and video for his song All-American Boy. And...well...it's damn good.

The song tells a story that everyone has experienced: falling for someone you just can't have. The perspective this time just happens to be from a gay guy falling for his straight friend.

Grand is releasing this song on his own. No label, no manager. He is doing it on his own terms and doing it as himself: a gay male country/pop/rock singer. Something pretty much unheard of in the industry, especially in the country industry.

It's an extremely brave and inspiring decision and the fact that this song is connecting with so many people so quickly is just a testament to his talents.

As brave as it is, what might be just as important, maybe more so, is that the song is actually pretty great and the video is an extremely well produced clip. It's a great first single that is already igniting the internet. People are loving it. I bought it myself and have been praising it since I saw the video.  It is just this kind of song that can only open doors for more artists like Steve Grand who have their own stories to tell.  He is an inspiration for sure and he has the talent to back it up and make the suits in Nashville (and in LA) take notice.

Spread it around. Support a great new artist who just released a great new song. He just happens to be gay and that is excellent.

More info:

Facebook
Twitter
Bandcamp

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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

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