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Gay Film Weekend is one of my favorite weeks of the year, as we meet writers from around the country, and hear their new screenplays performed as enhanced staged readings during this fun weekend at the Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatre.
This year, we have an added bonus - a Queer Shorts Film Program on Sunday at 5 pm, curated by Chicago's Indie Boots Film Festival. There are also two panel discussions on the history of LGBT film, and making LGBT films today.
Tickets to all events are $10 and are available here. And if you want a festival pass to see all six events for $40, please go here.
I hope to see you there! Especially because the short film program features one of the funniest movie musicals I have ever seen. You will love, love, love it - I guarantee!
David Zak
Executive Director
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The Enhanced Staged Readings of Gay Film Weekend are the Five Finalists in Pride Films and Plays' Great Gay Screenplay Contest. They represent 'what's next' for new LGBT film. Please come enjoy the readings, meet the writers, and give your feedback as these projects take shape.
The schedule for the weekend is:
- Thursday, October 18, 7:00pm: A Friend of Dorothy's, directed by Charles A. Berglund
- Friday, October 19, 7:00pm: Barrio Boy, directed by Kyra Morris
- Saturday, October 20, 3:00pm: Father Frances, directed by Sarah Ballema
- Saturday, October 20, 5:00pm: Panel Discussion, "The Evolution of LGBT Cinema"
- Saturday, October 20, 7:00pm: Visalia, directed by John Nasca
- Sunday, October 21, 2:00pm: Snowmen, directed by Alexander St. John
- Sunday, October 21, 4:00pm: Panel Discussion, "Making LGBT Films in a Changing World"
- Sunday, October 21, 5:00pm: Queer Shorts Film Program
- Sunday, October 21, 7:00: Closing Night Reception
Each screenplay reading and the Queer Shorts Film Program will be followed by audience discussion with the writers and/or filmmakers.
Synopses of the screenplays and bios of the screenwriters:
Barrio Boy by Dennis Shinners, New York, NY
Barrio Boy is the story of a closeted, sexy, young Latino barber who falls hard for a newly arrived, handsome, and charming Irishman during a scorching summer in a tough Brooklyn 'hood. These uncontainable desires eventually test the seams of the relationships with his friends, family, and ultimately, the bond between him and the new love in his life.
Dennis Shinners grew up in New Jersey, attended NYU's film school and is a writer, producer, and director of on-air promos who has done award-winning campaigns for Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Spike TV, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, TV Land, and the Oxygen Network. He recently completed two short films, Area X and Go-Go, which have enjoyed both domestic and international festival runs and distribution deals. He wrote Barrio Boy as his feature directorial debut.
Father Frances by Thomas Ziegler, Christianland, Virgin Islands
When a tough Catholic bishop appoints a rookie priest as pastor of a violent, crime-ridden parish, he's sure the young man lacks the cojones to do the job. Turns out he's right. Although the bishop is unaware of it, his rookie pastor is actually a woman passing as a man. After Father Frances succeeds in turning the parish around, the question remains, did she owe her achievement to being a woman or, as people saw her, a man?
Thomas Ziegler was born, raised, and educated in the Chicago area. He holds a B.A. from Lewis University in Lockport, an M.A. from Northern Illinois, and has had two plays produced off-Broadway, including Grace & Glorie, starring Estelle Parsons and Lucie Arnaz. He later co-authored the Hallmark Hall of Fame teleplay of the same title which aired on CBS. Other plays of note include Mrs. Kemble's Tempest, Sundays at Eleven, and Servantissimo. His other screenplays are Say Goodbye to Boris and Subway Series.
A Friend of Dorothy's by Jim Piazza, New York, NY
In the winter of 1967, addled showbiz legend Judy Garland goes missing. Wild twists and turns have led her to a secret refuge -- the suburban bedroom of a troubled teenage fan. His family is none the wiser until Judy inevitably misbehaves and chaos ensues.
Jim Piazza's play collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winner James Kirkwood Jr. launched a writing career that has included best-selling books on film, essays in OUT, The Village Voice, and The New York Times, and a bio of Elvis, "The King."
Snowmen by Ethan Steers, Norwich, NY
Fresh-out-of-high-schooler Logan falls in love with a gruff and outdoorsy man several years his senior, causing him to question his dreams and plans for his life.
Ethan Steers hails from the small town of Norwich, NY, and has been writing films for four years. He currently studies film and television at NYU and is enjoying it tremendously. He is extremely interested in the horror genre, but is starting to become increasingly more focused on drama.
Visalia by Dennis Nivens, Hermosa Beach, CA
In a 1950s California small town, a high school football coach and a police officer fall in love and face prejudice and harassment. When the coach is falsely accused of being a pedophile, his lover must risk both of their careers and their future together to set the record straight
Dennis Nivens lives in Hermosa Beach, California, where he does boring technical work when the surf isn't pumping. He has freelanced feature articles on outdoor sports and adventure travel to various publications, and was a contributing editor to a surf culture magazine for a period of four years. Visalia is his first attempt at a screenplay.
Tickets are all events are $10 and are available here. And if you want a festival pass to see all six events for $40, please go here.
For more information visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com. |
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PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS
www.pridefilmsandplays.com
David Zak
Executive Director
John Nasca
Artistic Associate
Allison Fradkin
Literary Coordinator, Women's Work
Artistic Ensemble
Derek Van Barham, Charles A. Berglund, Derek Bertelsen,
David Besky, Tom Chiola, Brian Grey, Sean-Edward Hall,
Michael Hampton, Jude Hansen, Valerie Heckman,
John Highberger, Kris Hyland, Kelley Keough,
Joan McGrath, Michelle McKenzie-Voigt, Kyra Morris,
Tiffany Nasca, Cyra K. Polizzi, Stewart Quarles,
Beth Richards, Nelson Rodriguez, Chad Ryan,
Patrick Rybarczyk, Mark Smaglinski, Jamie Smith,
Andrew Souders, Alex St. John, Nicholas Stockwell,
Kelli Walker, Kevin Webb, Lee Wichman |
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The Queer Shorts Film Program features:
*Half (2012 Indie Boots Audience Award Winner), directed and written by Alex Bohs
*Fluid (2012 Indie Boots Honorable Mention), directed and written by Dara Sklar
*Skallamann, directed by Maria Bock, written by Lars Jacobsen and Maria Bock
*Tuesday Night Make-Out, directed and written by Richard Paro, with segment direction and writing by Cyra K. Polizzi and Breahan Eve Pautsch, and additional segment direction by Katie Jones
*Lee, directed and written by Roland Wiryawan
*Reverse Cowgirl, directed and written by April Faith Hirschman
*Marimacho, directed by Elisha Lim, written by Coco Riot
*Bedfellows, directed and written by Pierre Stefanos
*Last Kiss, directed and written by Charles Lum
*Heartland Transport, directed and written by Cody Stokes
*Make A Mate, directed and written by Jennifer Jordan Day
*both/and - Trailer, directed by J. Paul Preseault, written by Jamil Khoury
The film program contains sexual situations, nudity, and adult language. Viewer discretion is advised.
A complete synopsis of the films can be found at
here.
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I would like to thank everyone who made our Simply Sensational 2 Benefit last night a grand success.
Our thanks to benefactor Michael A. Leppen who sponsored the refreshments.
I would like to thank the talent from Avenue Q, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and Heidi Kettenring from Sunday in the Park With George.
I also want to thank vocalist Tom Michael, the great singng trio With A Twist, Crush Dance Collective, and most of all, the sensational Kim Kuzma.
Finally to The Saints, the PFP Ensemble and Board, Jill Valentine from Stage 773, and Pat Cummings who sponsored the theater rental on PFP's behalf.
Special thanks to my pals Kate Garassino, Brenda Didier, Keith Stoneking, and Tom Chiola who provide inspiration daily.
And most of all, I would like to thank those who attended and supported in other ways. It was, indeed, Sensational!
Thanks,
David Zak |
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Coming soon ...
At The Flash by Sean Chandler and David Leeper, directed by David Zak. This fierce and funny play was the winner of the 2012 Great Gay Play and Musical Contest.
It opens November 17 at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theater. For more information, go here. For tickets, go here. |
Find a complete calendar of PFP Events here.
Like what we do? Support Pride Films and Plays by making a tax-deductible donation here.
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