Two Men Kissing (2008)

 
Two Men Kissing (2008)


 Director: Waide Aaron Riddle
Writers: Waide Aaron Riddle
Genre: Drama, Romance, Short Movie
Country: USA
Language: English
Duration: 8 min
Year: 2008



Stars: Jefferson Hendrick, Waide Aaron Riddle










In a single kiss, two men explore sexual emotion, sexual tension and the intensity of man-on-man bonding and loving.



Two Men Kissing from Waide Riddle on Vimeo.

Based on the award-winning 1995 poem, this film adaptation explores the moment of a single passionate kiss between two men.

Ageless (II) (2013)

Ageless from Heath Daniels on Vimeo.
"Ageless"
Love, sex and relationships are seen through the eyes of two men; one in his 50s, the other in his 20s. Their common struggles prove to be ageless.
A short film written and directed by Heath Daniels.
Shot entirely on an iPhone 5.

Starring:
Michael Massei
Michael Saul
Windham Beacham
Derek Villanueva

The Young and Evil (2008)

The Young and Evil (2008)

Director: Julian Breece 
Writers: Julian Breece
Genre: Short movie
Country:  USA
Language: English
Duration: 15 min
Year: 2008


Stars: Vaughn Lowery, Diana Elizabeth Jordan, Reggie Watkins, Eric Pumphrey, Mark Berry

The five-year-old black gay short film, The Young and Evil, recently resurfaced online as a cautionary tale for gay men of all ages. The intention may have been to garner sympathy for the main character, instead it comes off as a horror movie chronicling the origin of a villain.

Directed by Julian Breece, the film tells the story of an 18-year-old black gay teenager Karel Andrews (excellently portrayed by Vaughn Lowery) living life on the edge. Burdened with caring for his debilitated mother and be an Out homosexual in an urban neighborhood, Karel adopts a lifestyle of dangerously causal unprotected gay sex. Upon hearing the news from a doctor that he tested HIV negative despite his risky sexual activity, the young man reveals that he actually wants to contract the virus.

“My favorite thing in this world is to get fucked,” he tells the doctor, “I like getting fucked so hard, I don’t know who I am when it’s over. I like high-risk, sometimes HIV infected cum. and I’m not giving it up.”

This is where the short film derails. One could speculate through subtext that Karel wanted to be punished for his sexuality, for being gay. One could speculate that Karel was turned on by the thrill-seeking adrenaline rush of engaging in high risk sex. One could speculate that Karel just didn’t care about life in general so he lived it like each day was his last.

The problem with all of that speculation is the filmmakers leave all of the heavy lifting for the audience instead of carrying the weight themselves. This is a trend that is heavily adopted in black gay short films and web series.

It’s never made clear why Karel lives the way he does. Throughout this short film we just see random scenes of a character likely created based on the writer reading a newspaper or blog headline. The internal conflicts and motivations of the main character is never really examined at all. This is a huge oversight given the fact that Karel is depicted to be so self destructive. It turns out the writers devoted most of their attention in building the character Naaman, played by Mark Berry.

As Karel continues his quest to become HIV positive (seriously, this is the ridiculous premise of the short), he finds his way into a dark candlelit sex party. It’s here that he sees Naaman, an older man in his 40s that Karel recognizes from an online video of men speaking on their positive HIV status.

Karel follows the live-in maintenance man of the complex, Naaman, down to the basement of the building where he tries to seduce him. The more reserved elder man of the two clearly recognizes the game that Karel is attempting to play, opting to try to talk sense into the teenager instead.

What follows is a amazingly brilliant, superbly acted and well written pair of scenes that (almost) makes us forget about the shortcomings of the previous dozen. Seeing Naaman reluctantly resist the young man’s advances as Karel quickly calls audibles to adjust his plays was more engaging than any scene in any black gay web series to date.

By the end, however, we’re still left scratching our heads. What did we just see and what was the point of it all?

Was the message: Avoid unprotected sex? If so, Karel was an HIV negative man who wanted to be positive, unprotected sex was the best means to an end in his case.

Was the message: Beware of older HIV positive sexual predators? If so, Naaman did his damnedest to avoid sex with the teenager at all costs until he reluctantly gave in to unrelenting advances. The younger HIV negative man was the predator here. On top of that, whose to say the older man didn’t eventually grab a condom before giving in when all was said and done? The scene cuts off before that moment so Karel may have done all that for nothing.

The only points and messages I could muster from watching this film was:

– Black Gay men love sex, lots of it. Especially unprotected sex.

– Black gay men are weak and self destructive. (even our Naaman eventually gives in to temptation)

This short had to potential to examine possible causes for dangerous lifestyles and behaviors. It could have examined the larger issue of depression in the black gay community. It could have delved into the pressures young black gay men face in urban communities, which often leads to depression and/or risky sexual activities.

The story of Karel was essentially the origin story of a killer or predator. In the context of the world created, we know that once he reached his HIV positive goal, he would continue to have unprotected sex and possibly infect others. That is the only thing that explains his intentional efforts to become infected himself, to infect others. If suicide was his goal, there are much more effective ways to kill yourself. Especially since HIV is not the death knell that it once was.

So if you view The Young and Evil as a horror film (with emphasis on ‘evil’), it works well as a prequel to a larger and more interesting story. Still, given its shortcomings, the skilled directing, strong acting performances and amazing last couple scenes of the film make this a must see.

Source: cypheravenue.com

The Awakening of Spring (2008)

The Awakening of Spring (2008)



Director: Arthur Allan Seidelman
Writer: Frank Wedekind
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Language: English
Duration: 92 min
Year: 2008



Stars: Yuval David, John Aniston, Gary Bisig






Ducdebrabant from New York City, USA - IMDB

First of all, it's basically a photographed stage play, though it's all done in a studio (with neutral backdrops and extremely minimal scenery), not in a theatre in front of an audience. If that turns you off, okay, but it's hardly unprecedented.

Apart from that annoying clarinet, I quite like it. It's a nice to see the Wedekind play done straight (though liberties are taken, names are anglicized and marks become dollars), not to take anything away from the musical "Spring's Awakening." Although the attitude towards sex education may have changed, and our mores, and the amount of information available to children, human nature has not. The way the people grope for answers and try to understand their own feelings and impulses and physicality is timeless.

The acting under Seidelman's direction is very good. Jesse Lee Soffer is very charismatic, Constance Towers is excellent. Bridget Moloney does wonderful things with her little part. There is some tasteful and artistically justified nudity, none of it full frontal.

A clever idea of Seidelman's is to have the teachers (but not the headmaster) in the faculty meeting where Michael is expelled wear carnival masks. It allows them to be doubled (which one senses they are) by the young actors playing the students and thereby adds an extra dimension to the caricatures they basically are.

But over all, the spareness of the production, the fact that it focuses on the generations in the way it does, and the English names and places (New Hampshire is actually mentioned) cause it to dialogue with "Our Town." It becomes the more unflinching cousin of the Wilder play. The dead even come back.

Crossway (2008)

Crossway (2008) "Chemin de croix" (original title)


Director: Cyril Legann
Writer: Cyril Legann
Genre: Drama
Country: France
Language: French
Duration: 53 min


Stars: Fabien De Marchi, Johan Libéreau, Alexandre Palmieri

Jonathan, a working-class teenager from the suburbs is living with a distant father and a tyrannical pregnant step mother. He has a privileged relationship with the priest of his neighbourhood church, who serves in him in answering the questions he cannot ask his own family.
When he finds out he is to be sent to boarding school, he steals money from his father and decides to run away from home. He goes to his friend Steve and convinces him to go on an afternoon trip to Paris where they can have fun spending the money.
After a failed attempt to enter the sex shops in Pigalle they decide to go to a squat and find some weed. They meet a nervous dealer, «Shooter», who gets them what they want. After smoking a couple of joints, Steve has to go back home and Jonathan decides to stay in a hidden place of the squat . Weakened by the smoke, he falls asleep very quickly.
When he wakes up, he finds himself tied up by Shooter, whose real name is Antoine, who wants to keep him as a hostage in case some of the thugs he had an argument with decide to turn him in to the police. An ambiguous relationship grows between the kidnapper and its victim.

The Art of Being Straight (2008)

The Art of Being Straight (2008)


Director: Jesse Rosen
Writer: Jesse Rosen
Genre: Comedy
Country: USA
Language: English
Duration: 70 min
Year: 2008


Stars: Johnny Ray Rodriguez, Rachel Castillo, Jim Dineen

Variety Review by Dennis Harvey
Posted by JesseRosen on Mar 11, 2014 in A.O.B.S. Reviews, Reviews

“A low-key comedy high on charm and credible twentysomething observation, Jesse Rosen’s debut feature, “The Art of Being Straight,” stars the writer-director as a possibly-coming-out newbie in Los Angeles whose puzzling over his sexual identification isn’t helped by his jokily insensitive straight buds. Appealingly played, nicely executed pic has a shot at arthouse distribution in addition to select DVD/cable sales and further fest travel.

Twenty-three-year-old John (Rosen) has just moved to L.A. from New York, ostensibly “taking a break” from his longtime girlfriend. He moves in with college bro Andy (Jared Grey), whose pals incessantly do that kind of “That is so gay” banter that’s essentially harmless — unless you’re the only gay guy in the room. (Acknowledging there actually is a distinction, one eventually queries “Is it ‘gay’ like it’s lame or ‘gay’ like it’s homosexual?”)

A quiet, genial guy among these more boisterous types, John is hardly comfortable discussing his shifting Kinsey scale placement with them, and his new job as bottom-rung gofer at a major ad agency is fraught with sexual tension as a studly boss (Johnny Ray Rodriguez) barrages him with thinly veiled come-ons.

Meanwhile, lesbian friend Maddy (Rachel Castillo) suffers her own travails, questioning her relationship commitment with g.f. Anna (Emilia Richeson) while developing a crush on nice-guy neighbor Aaron (Peter Scherer). Her own low-rung job at an art gallery is made torturous by bitchy, pretentious co-workers and customers.

Maddy isn’t undergoing a major life change, just a wee bi-curious phase. John isn’t so much closeted as simply figuring himself out. His peers aren’t real homophobes, just guys talking typical guy-trash. Narrative developments feel true to an increasingly frequent real-world dynamic too seldom seen in drama: When gay guy (or girl) is just “one of the guys,” not the token “gay friend” or the straight woman’s non-threatening pal. Pic’s slice of post-collegiate L.A. life likewise feels casually on-target in portraying an aspirational milieu that’s more Silverlake than Beverly Hills or West Hollywood.”

In The Moment

N THE MOMENT - HIV prevention campaign at http://www.inthemoment.tv

Created by Dave O'Brien
Official Website
Orientation: Self-Help Forum Melodramatics
Setting: West Hollywood, California
TRT: 27 episodes averaging 5.25mins
Cast: Jesse Lewis IV, John Bryan Davila, Pete Scherer, Nico Sky, Parv Cheena

Premise: The website describes this Melrose Place-y series as "an HIV prevention campaign of LA Gay & Lesbian Center and the City of West Hollywood" and boy, they are not kidding. Almost every line of dialogue is, seemingly, designed to teach you something about safe sex, addiction or body image. It's almost drinking game worthy, but... that seems like that would defeat the purpose.


Orvel.me

Sombrero (II) (2008)

Sombrero (II) (2008)


Director: Nathaniel Atcheson
Writer: Nathaniel Atcheson
Genre: Short movie
Country: USA
Language: English
Duration: 12 min


Stars: Michael Osborne, Jeff Lorch, Anthony Sherritt, Christian Zuber, Alejandro Antonio











James and Raymond are two men looking for a connection in life. They meet for a blind date in a Mexican restaurant. James is extremely nervous, but Raymond is calm and collected and tries to make the most of their awkward encounter. But as the two men learn more about each other, their rocky date takes an unexpected turn toward the absurd. 2008, 35mm.


SOMBRERO from Nathaniel Atcheson on Vimeo.

Men For Sale (2008

Men For Sale (2008)
Hommes a louer (Original title)




Director: Rodrigue Jean
Genre: Documentary
Country: Canada
Language: French (Eng. subtitles)
Year: 2008
Duration: 75 min










Eleven male sex-trade workers are followed over the course of a year, recounting their struggle to survive alcohol and drug-related addictions, abuse and stigmatization – but most of all, their troubled pasts. Trapped in a vicious circle of prostitution and drugs, they pursue their hardscrabble lives, knowing their prospects for the future are dim.

Hommes a louer

Nothing New (2008– )

Nothing New (2008– )
"Rien de 9" (original title)

Creators: Ambroise Bucher, Steve Stone, Maykel StoneWriters: Maykel Stone, Sidney Soriano
Genre: Web series, TV SeriesCountry: FranceLanguage: French with english subtitle
Year: 2008Season:4

Stars: Alban Greiner, Maykel Stone, Anais Rahm, Dorian Martin, Mégane Lizier, Steven Claire, Ralph Schaefer, Karine Piveteau, Esther List, Amandine Lett
Website: http://www.syredpictures.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/Riende9Serie
Streaming available on YouTube, Dailymotion, Blip.tv, and Vimeo
SUMMARY – SEASON 1 – SEASON 2 – SEASON 3 – EXTRAS – CAST – GALLERY – MEDIAS.

Ova tinejdžerska web serija bi mogla biti interesantna mladim gejevcima koji još ne znaju kako da se izbore sa onim što osjećaju i što žele. Kako se povjeriti najboljem prijatelju ili prijateljici i preživjeti prve ljubavi pogledajte u ovim kratkim komičnim epizodama.

The story revolves around some friends living in Strasbourg, their professional and love adventures. Gay or straight, engaged or single, they won’t have a day of rest to say that there’s Nothing New. In three seasons, “Nothing New” mainly follows the relationship between Johannes and Maykel, from their break-up to their wedding.
Around them are their friends, all completely crazy. From a psychiatrist crazier than her patients who accepts to become a surrogate mother, to an homophobic brother who’s a priest, each character is ready to make you crazy.
A victory for Syred Pictures:
Started in 2008 when the whole ‘web series’ concept was not known outside the United States, “Nothing New” was the very first web series to be created in France, and the very first web series worldwide to show gay relations like something “natural”, like a straight relation. Strengthened by it’s ‘very first french web series’ status, “Nothing New” was also widely followed by the medias, newspapers, radios and TV channels in France.
Today, “Nothing New” is counting more than 200 000 downloads per episode for the french version, and 1 million downloads per episode for the english subtitled version, which has a huge success around the world.
“Nothing New” is also the very first web series worldwide that used a 3D camera for an episode, and was critically acclaimed for that.
The strength of the show is, naturally, due to its story based on true events, and so is even more realistic and immersive.

Season 1

SUMMARY – SEASON 1 – SEASON 2 – SEASON 3 – EXTRAS – CAST – GALLERY – MEDIAS.

Drowsiness (2008)

Drowsiness (2008)
"Sennosc" (original title)

 

Director: Magdalena Piekorz
Writer: Wojciech Kuczok
Genre: Drama
Country: Poland
Language: Polish
Duration: 105 min
Year: 2008

 

Stars: Malgorzata Kozuchowska, Michal Zebrowski, Rafal Mackowiak, Bartosz Obuchowicz, Krzysztof Zawadzki, Joanna Orleanska, Dorota Pomykala, Andrzej Grabowski

 

 

Drowsiness ( Nesanica) je film o ljudima koji u jednom trenutku svog života shvaćaju da ne žive na način na koji bi to željeli i da sebe predstavljaju drugačijim nego što jesu.
Suočeni sa krajem, koji za neke od njih i konačan, odluče da ostatak života iz korjena promjene.
U filmu se susrećemo sa tri glavna karaktera. Roza koja bolje od narkolepsije i koja sumlja da je muž vara, nezadovoljna životom u zlatnom kavezu pokušava da nađe izlaz iz njega. Drugi lik je Robert, pisac koji shvata da živi sa osobom koja je sasvim drugačija od njega i sa kojom se osjeća kao da je u nečijoj tuđoj koži. Osim toga suočava se za bolešću koja čini da je njegov životni put pri kraju.
Adam je mladi doktor koji upoznaje nesređenog momka, uličnog huligana i sa njim stvara vezu koja će obilježiti njegov život. Najveća dilema mu je kako saopštiti roditeljima da neće živjeti život koji su mu oni predodredili.

Iako je film na momente nekako spor i težak za gledanje gledaocima koji nemaju skolonosti da se sažive sa glavnim junacima. Medjutim vjerujem da će mnoge ostaviti u razmišljanju kako da odgovore na jednostavno pitanje: Da li ste zadovoljni načinom na koji živite i da li sebe predstavljate onakvim kakvi jeste?

Podsjetio me je na jednog mog prijatelja koji još uvjek pati od raskida sa momkom sa kojim je godinama djelio dobro i zlo. U jednom trenutku obadvojica su shvatila da žive u lažima koje su ispleli oko sebe. Lagali su jedan drugog, lagali su prijatelje, roditelje i na kraju sami sebe.

Jedan od njih odluči da raskine i krene iz početka.  Pokušava da nađe djevojku sa kojom će se oženiti i imati djecu. Ubjeđen je da će na taj način poboljšati svoj status i svoj život i živjeti onako kako zaista želi.
Drugi je ovaj moj prijatelj koji pati i luta. Duboko negdje u sebi zna ukoliko krene istim putem kao i njegova dugogodišnja ljubav biće nesrećan i živjeće nekim tuđim životom , a ne svojim. Ali kako izaći iz tog začaranog usuda?

Senność / Drowsiness is the second feature in the young director's output. We waited four years; does it come up to expectations? Has Magdalena Piekorz successfully cleared the "second film threshold", allegedly the most difficult in any director's career? The audience's reaction at the Gdynia festival left no room for doubt; Piekorz's film was applauded the longest of all the films in the competition - Drowsiness won the Golden Claqueur.

This is how Magdalena Piekorz presents her film in an interview (available in the distributor's materials):

'Drowsiness' is a story about people who realize at some point in their lives that they are shouldering a burden, a cross, which is weighing down on them too much. They feel at a dead end, but meeting others with similar problems makes them look differently at reality and decide to change something. The film has three main characters - Róża who suffers from narcolepsy and suspects her husband of cheating on her, Robert who is a writer and realizes that the relationship he's been in for many years is an unfulfilling one, and the family into which he has married is completely different mentally from him - they are hard to live with and oppressive. There's also the story of Adam who, though he has very good relations with his parents - simple people - decides to leave his family home and move to the city. First and foremost, though, he discovers his identity, his real self, and takes the first serious step towards being true to himself. And this is what the film is about - that it's worth being true to yourself in life. The sooner you start acting in accordance with your own conscience and morals, instead of acting against them, the easier it becomes to achieve genuine happiness."

Piekorz's film can be seen as three intertwined stories about contemporary thirty-year-olds at a crossroads in their lives: each of them faces overwhelming challenges. You can also see the film as a metaphor of a generation entangled in the rat race: the world belongs to the winners. But, the winners are few - what about the rest? Perhaps we need to admit openly that not everyone is suited for the rat race, but everyone is entitled to happiness. How can it be achieved? The first - most difficult - step is to be honest with yourself; to make a gesture of honesty which will become the key to your inner self, to liberation in a broad sense.

 

Audiences gave Drowsiness a good reception, seeing it as a useful reminder of a few familiar truths that we tend to forget in the heat of the rat race. Critics, on the other hand, were put off by the work's excessively literary character, which shouldn't come as a surprise given the strong creative personality of writer Wojciech Kuczok, the screenplay's author. It's worth highlighting the film's "Altmanesque" structure and the division into three parts marked by the work of Marcin Koszałka's camera - the story of Róża the actress is told in the mood of a nightmare, the tale of Robert seems grotesque, while the story of Adam, the doctor who musters the courage to admit he is different, breathes realism. Drowsiness is one of those projects we could call a "generation film": portraying a specific generation and providing it with food for thought.

Ties (2008)

Ties (2008)

Director: Baldvin Kári
Writer: Baldvin Kári
Genre: Short movie
Country: USA, Iceland
Language: English
Duration: 6 min
Year: 2008

Stars: Corey Boardman, Eric Schneider

A friendship between two teenage boys is challenged when one of them crosses a line.
3rd Prize at Reykjavík International Short Film Festival 2008

 

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The Letter (2008)

The Letter (2008)

Director: Evan Randall Green
Writer: Evan Randall Green
Genre: Short movie
Country: USA

Language: English
Duration: 8 min 
Year: 2008

Stars: Dominic Cocciolone, Jake West

Two boys stand at the crossroads of love and adolescence; but their hearts can only journey one path
When Adrian (Dominic Cocciolone) decided to write down his feelings for Patrick (Jake West), the blinding power of love made him ignorant to the upset his actions would cause. With the letter he wrote his secret love making its way back into his possession, Adrian must face who he is before friendships are lost forever.

Sweat (2008)

Sweat (2008)

Director: John Lochland
Writer: John Lochland 
Genre: Short movie
Country: UK
Language: English
Year: 2008
Duration: 15 min

Stars: David Paisley, Tom Frederic and Tom Swash

25-godišnji Simon se jedno poslijepodne odluči otići u gay saunu kako bi po prvi put doživio intrigantnu pedersku atmosferu takvih mjesta. Susreće se sa likovima kojima sauna nije nepoznanica, a seks sa nepoznatima je uobičajen "sport" Međutim za takve doživljaje očito nije spreman, bez obzira koliku želju imao.

Jeste li kada bili u nekoj od gay sauna? Ako jeste onda već sve znate, ali ako niste povedite računa kako i na koji način će te eventualno imati seks sa nekim koga tamo "upoznate" Iako su kondomi lako dostupni ili vam ih čak i daju pri ulasku u saunu, mnogi zato uopšte na mare. Dark room, kabine za seks, grupni seks i druga zadovoljstva nose mnoge opasnosti koje lako postanu zanemarene pri napaljivanju sa nekim kuratim likom kojem lice ne vidite, a kurac osjetite!

Sweat is the story of an afternoon of debauchery and intrigue as Simon takes leave of his senses and heads for a sauna. Negotiating the humiliating locker room strip where he inadvertently injures a fellow punter, he forges his first impromptu introduction to a handsome man called Tim. Nerves prohibit normal conversation as they share an empty sauna and both of the attractive men shy in each other's presence. Later, Simon encounters an opportunistic rent boy called Tiger and is amazed that at seventeen, he seems to have learned more about sex than Simon has in all his twenty-five years. Further into his journey, an experiment with poppers and some very public sexual displays, leave him wondering what he came for, and possibly leaving none the wiser, albeit with a phone number and a wry smile. Written by John Lochland 

Visit: Orvel.Me

Lloyd Neck (2008)

Lloyd Neck (2008)

 

Director: Benedict Campbell
Writer: Benedict Campbell
Genre: Short movie
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Duration: 16 min

Stars: Brian Dare, Aaron Michael Davies and Carina Goldbach

Alex je zaljubljena u bratovog prijatelja Jesse. No Jesse voli Alexovog brata Taylora. Alex osjeća da ni njen brat nije ravnodušan. Uhvaćen u nezgodnoj situaciji taylor odluči da pozove i Alex i Jesse na njegovo omiljeno mjesto.

Jednostavna kratka priča u kojoj niko otvoreno ne smije da kaže šta osjeća i želi.
Podsjetila me na jednog druga iz srednje škole. Neko vrijeme smo bili nerazdvojni. Zajedno išli u školu i bježali iz škole, a najviše smo voljeli da idemo na jedrenje. Jednom smo tako plutali na moru čekajući vjetar. Ćutali smo i uživali u nevjerovatnom trenutku kada je more bilo kao staklo, a odraz okolnih planina uranjao u dubinu vode. Pogledi su govorili dovoljno, ali riječi nikada nisu našle svoj put.

 

Alex has a crush on her brother's friend, Jesse. But Jesse likes Alex's brother, Taylor. Alex knows something is up with her brother. Caught in an awkward position, Taylor takes Alex and Jesse to his favorite spot.

Visit: Orvel.Me

Dog Tags (2008)

Dog Tags (2008)

Director: Damion Dietz 
Writer: Damion Dietz 
Genre: Drama 
Country: USA 
Year: 2008 
Language: English 
Duration: 90 min
Stars: Paul Preiss, Amy Lindsay and Candy Clark

Ova priča nam govori o prijateljstvu dva naizgled sasvim drugačija lika. Konfuzni Nate Merritt  koji traži način da upozna oca se pridružuje marincima i odlazi u Palm Springs. Susreće Andyja momka koji živi u nekom svom svjetu za koji se ne može reći ni da je gej ni str8. ali pokušava da se oslobodi balasta prošlosti i pronađe neki novi životni put.  Družeći se upoznavaju jedan drugoga ali i sami sebe.

Neke odluke donosimo zato jer smo naučili da to tako treba, a neke jer osjećamo da treba nešto da uradimo. Koliko zaista poznajemo ljude oko sebe i koliko zaista poznajemo sami sebe. Možete li da se ne stidite svojih želja?

Film me je podsjetio na jedan događaj dok sam bio u vojsci. Tuširao sam se sa tadašnjim drugarem i u jednom trenutku mi je tražio da mu nasapunjam leđa. Bio sam vrlo zbunjen jer to baš nije uobičajeno pri vojničkim tuširanjima ali pošto sam bio doveden pred svršen čin uzeo sam sapun i natrljao mu leđa. Dok sam to radio osjetio sam i strah i uzbuđenje te mi se u jednom momentu počeo dizati. Brzo sam završio, i on se okrenu da isto učini meni. U strahu da neko ne naiđe ili da ne primjetimoje uzbuđenje, okrenuo sam se i rekao nema potrebe, ja sam dovoljno razgiban da mogu sam da se nasapunjam.

Iako je bilo kasnije i drugačijih dešavanja kada su tuširanja u pitanju, strah koji sam osjetio zbog sopstvene reakcije i nemogućnosti da se u potpunosti iskontrolišem mi je ostao urezan u sjećanju. Od tada sam dosta radio na sebi da bih mogao da se kontrolišem u svakoj situaciji, bez obzira na emocije ili uzbuđenje.

A small character story, "Dog Tags" just misses out on greatness due to an obstinate desire to confuse through use of flashbacks (or are they flashforwards?). Setting that misstep aside, it's an engrossing and affecting tale of two guys in ruts who help one another move forward.
Nate (Paul Preiss, who delivers a strong performance) has daddy issues (he doesn't know his father's identity) and joins the Marines. Andy (Batr Fletcher) is aimless and seemingly unwilling to step up and take responsibility for past actions. Once they meet, they help one another with their respective dilemmas. Yes, there's one Andy-Nate coupling scene, but it's never clear if Nate is gay, bisexual, questioning his sexuality or simply living in an emotionally charged moment. For the purposes of this movie, it doesn't matter.
With "Dog Tags," writer/director Damion Dietz crafts a finely tuned character study that's marked by moments of quiet stillness. It's engaging, simple and at times powerful, marred only by the unnecessarily messy and confusing introduction of Andy.   -- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor --

Visit: Orvel.me

James (2008)

James (2008)

Director: Connor Clements 
Writer: Connor Clements (screenplay) Genre: Short movie 
Country: UK 
Language: English 
Year: 2008 
Duration: 17 min


Stars: Niall Wright, Matt Jennings and Margaret Goodman






James je naučio da živi povučeno i sa drugima ne dijeli svoje životne dileme i tajne. Zbunjen i konfuzan pokušava da nađe nekoga sa kim bi pričao o sebi i svojim strahovima da bi mogao biti gay. Kada mu u jednom javnom WC priđe stariji čovjek ( moguće pedofil, prm.aut) James biježi i poziva majku da dodđe po njega. Naravno ni njoj nije mogao reći o čemu se radi. Razočarenja se ređaju jedno za drugim. U jednoj svađi između roditelja čuje oca kako kaže majci: Ako nešto loše pođe sa Jamesom, ti si kriva, znaš da ja ionako nikad nišam želio djecu!
Nakon toga pokušava da razgovara sa svojim učiteljem za koga predpostavlja da bi mogao biti ovjek koji će ga razumjeti. Učitelj očito uplašen da se ne upetlja u takve priče sa maloljetnim licem, govori mu da  posjeti školskog savjetnika ili da ode u neku od crkvenih gripa. Takođe mu kaže da ne može više biti prisutan na njegovim časovima. Beznadežno očajan nailazi na onog prepredelnjaka iz WC i odlazi sa njim u autu.
Koliko su škole krive za ovakve situacije u kojima 13-godišnjaci mogu postati žrtve duštva, drugih učenika, roditelja i prijatelja? Što je najgore mogu postati i žrtve pedofila!


James has learnt to be withdrawn and secretive in a family with long buried secrets. Lonely and confused, he is drawn to one of his schoolteachers, Mr Sutherland, focusing on him as the one person who might understand his inner turmoil. When an older man approaches him in a public toilet, James panics and calls his mother, but refuses to tell her what happened. Late that night, James listens to his parents arguing about him. His fathers offhanded dismissal of his mothers concern results in a vicious row. When a devastated James turns to Mr Sutherland for help, the teachers response leads James to take an irrevocable step.
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No Particular Night in Fun City (2008)

No Particular Night in Fun City
Director: RD Alba
Genre: Short movie
Country: Usa
Year : 2008
Duration : 16:30 min
Language : English

Cast : Tommy Davis, Paul Vinson






Directed by RD Alba, this gay short starts with a young boy running away from the law. He ends up in the back alley, only to bump into another trouble, a leather jacket daddy, who hates faggot. Conversation between them reveals that the boy runs away because he bashes a man whom he thought was trying to blow him when he was taking a leak.


No Particular Night in Fun City is a short film based on an Off-Broadway show. The gay themed short film starring Tommy Davis and Paul Vinson was added to YouTube on April 8, 2008. The short film was directed by RD Alba and written by David Michael Taylor.

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The Closet (2008)

The Closet (2008)
Director: Stewart Hendler
Writer: Richard Bloom Genre: Short movie Country: USA
Language : English Duration: 4 min

Stars: Jay Edwards, Andy Scott Harris and Dalton O'Dell


13 July 2008 | by Barry Ford (bfinla@gmail.com) (United States) – IMDB
I viewed a screening of this film yesterday, 7/12 at LA's Outfest where it was first on the program. "The Closet" is a fine example of film making art - telling a complex sensitive story through images, i.e., visually with very little need for words. It is magnificently cast and acted - a real gem. Had it been programmed with similar short films, it would have been even more appreciated, I believe. In the program on 7/12, it was a bit overshadowed by the full-length documentary verité following it, however all who created it should be quite proud of what they have achieved.
There was a Q&A with Director Hendler and Producer Huberwald in attendance. Unfortunately, I was unable to compliment them on their achievement since time was short. (Comments on the 2nd film took up all the Q&A time.)

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Cowboy (I) (2008)

Cowboy (I) (2008)



Director: Till Kleinert Writer: Till Kleinert
Genre: Short movie Country: Germany
Language: German
Duration: 35 min
Year: 2008



Stars: Pit Bukowski and Oliver Scherz

Real estate agent Christian travels the countryside scouting for investment prospects. In a forgotten, seemingly abandoned village far off the main roads, he finds more than he is looking for. Getting entangled in an encounter with a taciturn teenage farmhand, he confronts his sexual frustrations and, in the process, gets drawn into the undergrowth of a bloodthirsty rustic community.

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