QFEST 2012 is set to be an amazing lineup of films and festivities. This year QFEST brings film lovers over 120 internataional films including several world premieres and philadelphia local films!
Between top notch films and shorts, awards, receptions and parties, QFEST.com has your film viewing and socializing needs covered! Tickets are on sale now!
Yesterday, TLA had an informal gathering at the offices for all the filmmakers and guests in town. Great spread by Joseph Divon of Innovative Catering Concepts. And I’m going to go through Barefoot Wine Bubbly withdrawal after the festival; as it’s been my QFest drink of choice.
Since we had the directors, cast, producers etc in one place, we rounded them up for informal video chats in one of the back rooms of the TLA offices, where there’s a red curtain, hence the blog post title. Here’s the results!
If you’ve missed any of the videos taken at post screening Q & A’s and audience exit interviews on facebook and twitter, you can find them on my youtube channel .
QFest has had a good, long relationship with Casper Andreas (The Big Gay Musical, Between Love & Goodbye, A Four Letter Word,Violet Tendencies) making his latest film Going Down in La La Land the perfect choice for our closing night film.
We got a chance to have a little chat with Casper on La La Land, filmmaking and QFest!
Q: What attracted you to the novel “Going Down In LA-LA Land”?
CA: I used to live the struggling actor life in LA about 10 years ago; so I loved the depictions of that world in the novel. I also thought it was interesting why anyone (like the lead character Adam) would think it would be a good idea to get into pornography.
In addition, I really loved some of the characters in the novel — in particular Candy — and I thought it would all lend itself really well to a feature film.
Q: Going Down in La La Land is about the seamier side of the entertainment industry. Any first hand knowledge of the porn world?
CA: No. But I have a friend who worked on the administration side for a company in LA ; he gave me advice on the script in addition to helping me secure some locations and extras for some of those scenes.
Q: Other than comedic, how would you describe your signature style; particularly for viewers who have not yet seen your previous films?
CA: Well, if they haven’t, they should buy them at once!
I guess I’m mostly known for my sexy romantic comedies. This film is a bit darker — more of a dark comedy, or a dramedy, and I like the tone of it a lot. For me, it’s important to make films that are well-acted, nicely shot, and with interesting stories that have something to say, even if on the surface, they might be very light and comedic. So far all my films have been very low-budget; but I work very hard for them to not look low-budget! I think “Going Down in LA-LA Land” is my most ambitious film to date and my sleekest looking film as well.
Q: You founded Embrem Entertainment in 2004. So many filmmakers want to produce and distribute their own films. How hard was it to get Embrem started? And did you have help with financing?
CA: My first film “Slutty Summer” was shot on a micro budget and me and my roommate at the time, who came on as a producer, put up all the money and countless hours into making the film. The success of that film made it easier to get investors for my second one.
Today it’s even more possible to make a great looking film on a tiny budget, if you have some talent and are willing to put the time in. So I would advice anyone who wants to do it, to stop talking about it and go out and do it!
Q: Does Embrem go to film festivals and seek out films to distribute?
CA: I got into distributing my own films as a way to get them released the way I wanted, keep some control, and hopefully be able to pay back my investors faster, but I’m not really interested in distributing anyone else’s films at this time.
Q: The QFest film synopsis says that a strong element to the film is the relationship between the lead Adam and his roommate Candy. Was this the case in the novel? Or did you punch this up for the film?
CA: That was in the novel as well. Candy says and does some hilarious things in the novel that I included in the script. I changed the character a bit from the novel though to make her more likable and a little less of a user. Actually, Candy in the film is also partly inspired by my straight female roommate who I lived with in LA for a while and who like Candy, was always looking for a man to help support her.
Allison Lane who plays the role is fantastic. At screenings so far everyone adores her! I think we succeeded in creating two leading characters who are endearing in all their flaws and who the audiences are rooting for in the end.
Q: And, was it difficult casting to find a Candy that would have the right chemistry with Matthew Ludwinski?
CA: Actually, I cast Allison first. She had a role in my film “A Four Letter Word” and I just loved her and as I was writing the script I knew she would just be perfect for it. I had worked with Matthew as well — he had a role in my film “Between Love & Goodbye” and he was the first person I read for the role of Adam. But since it’s quite a demanding role (Adam is in almost every scene). I felt I needed to see other actors as well; so I auditioned actors both in LA and NYC for the role before offering it to him.
I then had Matthew and Allison meet up and work together on their relationship and they became great friends. It’s funny, at the time of us making the film they were both based in NYC. Matthew moved to LA earlier this year, and now Allison just moved to LA as well, and is staying with Matthew while looking for a place.
Q: What do you love about QFest?
CA: That you play all my films!! 
QFest has been very supportive of my work over the years – all six of my features, plus a short, has played the festival. “A Four Letter Word” was the opening night film in 2007 and “The Big Gay Musical” was the closing night film in 2009. Last year, “Violet Tendencies” was a centerpiece film. I’m thrilled to be back with another closing night film!
“La La Land” screened this month at Oufest here’s an excerpt of Greg in Hollywood.com’s review:
The movie was shot in 19 days in and around Los Angeles. While it has its dark moments, overall, “it’s a feel-good movie. You can’t stop laughing from beginning to end. I think anyone who has ever pursued acting or moved to LA will really relate to this movie.”
Single tickets and Closing Night Combo tickets are available.
Don’t forget to like Going Down in La La Land facebook page
What upcoming films still have Guests? Where’s the Socializing? What films have been chosen for the Monday TBA Slots?
All that information is found in this PDF
QFEST GUEST LIST 7.16.2011 (for Downloading)
and Viewed below:
Please also continue to follow us on Twitter and facebook for additions and reminders.
Becky Lane (Director), Amy Driesler (Actress) POKER FACE, Deb Shoval (Director) AWOL, Giovanna Chesler (Director) BYE BI LOVE
Qblogger did all women on Sunday – Love Her or Leave Her was such strong programming! All of the shorts were clever and expressed so much in so little time. But after polling a few women after the screening “AWOL” by Deb Shoval seemed to be the favorite, with several people saying they’d like to see it extended to a feature.
There were plenty of good questions for these female filmmakers. Below is the Q & A Video:
I’m so glad the woman next to me, Sandi (pic left) at Love Her or Leave Her, suggested I see Wish Me Away, instead of Three.
Although, I rode home on the bus with a guy who liked Wish Me Away, but loved Three.
At any rate, Chely Wright who recently became the first gay country music star to come out, has quite a compelling story to tell. Her long journey of denying her sexuality is well documented and moving. Her personality is so likable and genuine – it’s heart-wrenching to see her anguish over coming out and knowing how it may impact her career and family relationships.
There’s a part in the film where her spiritual advisor is preparing her for fan rejection – “People can be mean, but nobody’s meaner than those mean for Jesus” – That says it all!
The doc’s soundtrack is a compilation of Wright’s songs, new and old. Can’t wait to download some of her music. I’ve followed a number of country artists since the early 90′s, but somehow, I never heard a single Chely Wright song until this film. I also somehow missed her coming out interviews in People, on Oprah and the Today Show!
Bridget O’Loughlin from PhillyGayCalendar.com reviews
“Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same.”
When I saw the opening night submission, I believe that my reaction was,”Ugh, really? Lesbian aliens?” This might have been true for others, as the theater was not as full as I would have hoped it would be for opening night, but I want to change that for their second screening being held on Monday, July 11th.
While on the surface, Madeleine Olnek’s “Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same”, is a black and white kitchsy alien movie, it is so much more than that. Olnek combined her thoughts about searching for the right person and feeling like you are never going to find them, along with the “big feelings” that we have all experienced when we meet someone new that we are dating. Instead of those two concepts being turned into the “usual” lesbian movie, she used her great imagination to translate that into a funny, original movie about aliens coming to earth….
Read more at PhillyGayCalendar.com
BITE MARKS Ritz East 1 at 12:15pm
GUEST: Mark Bessenger (Director), Benjamin Lutz, John Werskey (Actors), Dennis Ashe (Executive Producer) and Clifton Radford (Director of Photography)
THE LOVE PATIENT Ritz East 1 at 5:00pm
GUEST: Michael Simon (Director)
LOVE HER OR LEAVE HER (shorts program) Ritz Bourse at 5:00pm
GUEST: Deb Shoval (Director) – AWOL
GUEST: Giovanna Chesler (Director) BYE BI LOVE
GUEST: Becky Lane (Director) – POKER FACE (Watch video of Becky introducing her film at Saturday’s TLA Anniversary party)
BLACKMAIL BOYS plays with short I WANT YOUR LOVE Ritz East 2 at 9:30pm
GUEST: (Feature) Nathan Adloff (Actor)
Event at Tavern on Camac, 243 South Camac St. Sunday, July 10 – 7:30-9:00
Love Actually…Sucks! pre-reception Love Actually… Sucks! Gee really? You can find out from director Scud (if he’ll tell you). He is joined by actors Haze Leung and Ryo van Kootenand crew member Heung Tsz Chun visiting from Hong Kong, at this special pre-reception, with Festival drink specials and speculation about this erotic drama about sex and love, among a group of young men.
LOVE ACTUALLY …SUCKS Ritz Bourse at 9:30pm
GUESTS: Scud (Director), Haze Leung, Ryo van Kooten (Actors), Heung Tsz Chun (crew
When director John Gallino came across an article informing him that two local NJ boys were going to break the world record for longest continuous kiss, he knew it would be something worth documenting. The timing couldn’t have been better, as Matty and Bobby had their kiss scheduled for that very same weekend. With a simple email, the plans were set. John packed some camping gear and prepared to spend a weekend by Matty and Bobby’s side as they attempted to make history.
Gawker Blog wrote the following, the night of Matty and Bobby’s victory: “Their fans cheering in the background, Bobby sipped water from a bottle and Matty leaned into the camera and thanked the internet. The rules for “Longest Continuous Kiss” specify that the couple must be standing and in a public venue. The duo devised a system of hand signals and stretching exercises to get them through the physically grueling feat of staying awake for a day and a half, standing with your mouth mashed against someone else’s. Adult diapers are not allowed either (Guinness isn’t into fetish kisses?) so the lads did a “cleanse” and nutritional training, too. No word on whether they peed at any point; before embarking on the kiss, they acknowledged having a contingency plan for that.
Matty and Bobby’s stated goal was to “queer the Guinness World Records.”. They are not lovers but “just friends.” Bobby got permission from his boyfriend before embarking on the kiss.”
John sent us a little behind the scenes look at the film with a personal introduction, here’s the video:
Our Lips Are Sealed screens Tuesday, July 12, 9:15 PM (Ritz East Theater 2).
After the screening Q &A with: John Gallino (Director), Kelly Dolak (Producer), Bobby Canciello & Matty Daley!
Purchase Tickets HERE and don’t forget to like the Our Lips Our Sealed facebook page
Fatelink Productions is not playing when it comes to marketing their Short, Winner Takes All, they’ve sent a wonderful amalgamation of materials for the film.
Actually, We’d like to take this moment to thank ALL the filmmakers who have contributed to the Qblog, can’t wait to see what else comes in!
Winner Takes All (Directed by Camille Carida) is a dark comedy tackling the “looks” hierarchy in gay L.A.. It follows the unapologetic manipulator Ryker as he engineers a fight between his two lovers….with Ryker himself as the ultimate prize. After all, Ryker (Gavyn Michaels, “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency”) is gorgeous and talented and smart and famous (sort of), so he deserves to be a prize, right?
Here’s a clip and film introduction by writer/producer Hunter Lee Hughes:
In addition, Hunter Lee Hughes is the first filmmaker to send a video response to the 3 Q-Questions! What was Hunter’s first LGBT film to make an impact on his life? Watch to find out.
And for QFest’s Spanish-speaking audience. Winner Takes All principal actor, Adrian Quinonez did an interview with “Los Ojos Del Espectador” click HERE to read.
Winner Takes All screens on Friday, July 8, 5:15 PM (Ritz at the Bourse) & Monday, July 11, 9:15 PM (Ritz East Theater 2) Preceeding the film Over the Edge .
And also
Thursday, July 14, 9:30 PM (Ritz East Theater 2) & Sunday, July 17, 9:30 PM (Ritz at the Bourse) preceeding the film Kink Crusaders.
Join us for an after-party on Thursday, July 14, until 2:00 AM at The Bike Stop, (204 S. Quince Street), in the Gayborhood. Where Hunter and Kink Crusaders’ Dorjan Williams (Editor/Co-producer) and Lombodara Das will be talking with QFest Attendees!
And don’t forget to like both Winner Takes All facebook page and Kink Crusaders facebook page!
Judas Kiss Review and Q & A
This review of Judas Kiss was submitted to the socialmedia@phillycinema.org inbox by Alejandro Morales -
Remember in The Butterfly Effect, where Ashton Kutcher traveled through time with the help of a magical notebook, and everybody was like “Magical notebook? I don’t get it.” and then watched it anyway, because we wanted to see Ashton Kutcher be all serious with a beard?
Judas Kiss is a little bit like that. There is some serious parallel universe/time traveling/changing the past/changing the future stuff happening here, but there are almost no discernible rules to govern the action or explain the phenomenon. To take another example from the film pantheon of time travel, in the Back to the Future movies Marty McFly is warned that if he meddles with the past it could cause disastrous results in the present/future. There is no such warning in Judas Kiss; Tinkering with the past is the whole point.
But no matter. Even though you’ll scratch your head throughout wondering how and why, the movie keeps a brisk pace and the action unfolds in a way that grabs your attention and holds on to it, with only a few blips of difficulty suspending disbelief.
Zack Wells, played by Charlie David, is a chain-smoking failed filmmaker at 35 in L.A. whose successful director friend sends him back to his Alma Mater to judge a student film competition. Once there, he enters some kind of weird time warp in which he discovers that the college kid he bangs during his first night in town is actually himself as a 20-year-old (played with matching intensity and eyebrows by Richard Harmon). And that means that he’ll be judging his own student film, Judas Kiss. Wells’ former professor (“Faces and films — I remember the good ones,” she intimates) clues him into to that fact and tells him in no uncertain terms that this is his chance to rewrite his future.
As if the time-traveling wasn’t enough complication, there’s also a love triangle and some serious daddy issues thrust into the mix. The love triangle involves the domineering son of wealthy film financiers (Timo Descamps) and a sensitive, wide-eyed student filmmaker (Sean Paul Lockhart). The daddy issues… are of an unsavory stripe. There is also a minor twist dressed up as major revelation, which is introduced and discarded without much to-do.
And then there’s the film at the center of the film: Judas Kiss. This student film is the core of the whole story, because it’s what makes young Zack Wells special; if young Zack Wells isn’t special, why does the very fabric of space and time rip itself open so that old Zack can rearrange his life and tamper with the results of his film competition? If young Zack Wells isn’t special, why does the rich kid have a minor seizure after watching a stolen copy of his student film? If young Zack Wells isn’t special, why is dreamboat spectacular Brent Corrigan /Chris Wachowski mooning over him so hard? If young Zack Wells isn’t special, why is his best girlfriend so wholeheartedly invested in his life to the exclusion of any reference to her own?
We do, finally, get to see snippets of the movie-within-a-movie, a squirm-inducing “show me using film art where the bad man touched you” short that indirectly provides the reason for why Zack Wells turned out to be a failure as a filmmaker. It’s just not worth all the hoopla.
That’s not why the film wants you to believe that Wells is the fallen figure we meet at the beginning of the story, however. The narrative would have you believe that Wells’ is a rehab regular who’s sold his soul and exhausted his youthful promise. He refers to himself as “a seven who can only get fives” and some college students allude to him as “that old guy,” but the actor Charlie David, with his impeccable wardrobe, break-through-glass jawline and mussed-just-so longish hair, doesn’t look like an old guy, and if he’s a mere seven on the 1-10 scale, then let’s all please explode the 1-10 scale before it’s the end of all of us.
Slight miscasting aside, Charlie David and Richard Harmon successfully carry the narrative along through its many twists and turns with steely commitment. Their scenes together bristle with tension, and it makes sense to see the universe literally ripple around them. Speaking of universe rippling, the special effects and musical score are employed with grace and precision, and the pace of the editing maintains an air of suspense throughout.
The supporting characters also gamely make their appearances, although Zack seems to be everyone’s primary concern. Timo Descamps keeps his rich kid character from one-dimensional mean girl territory and tempers his bullish tendencies with a few moments of tenderness. And as far as vulnerability goes, QFest Rising Star honoree Sean Lockhart avails himself well in a generally undemanding role that doesn’t push the limits too far from “sensitive heartthrob” territory.
Overall, Judas Kiss is an imaginative and gripping story plopped into a murky alternate reality where just about nothing is certain, and for better or for worse, there’s no neat bow in sight to tie things together. Confounding as it is, the action — and the hook-ups! — are unrelenting, as drama and time itself both unfold to reveal the complicated mess one man can make out of a life without rules.
The post-screening Q & A consisted of Judas Kiss – Writer / Producer: Josh Cohen, Director: J.T. Tepnapa, Writer / Producer: Carlos Pedraza Actors: , Sean Paul Lockhart (tonight’s Rising Star Recipient), Timo Deschamps and handsome, Charlie David.
If you missed it watch it here: (And Judas Kiss screens again today Sat. 7/9 at 12noon)