HBO's New Series LOOKING Stars AUGUST's Murray Bartlett

The official trailer went online today for the new HBO series LOOKING and it is looking good. I'm especially excited about the show as it stars Murray Bartlett, one of the leads from the feature AUGUST that I co-wrote with Eldar Rappaport. So it was very exciting to see him in the first shot of the trailer (and the promo image too!) as part of what looks to be a breakthrough show for the depiction of gay men on TV.

Though it's been informally referred to as "the gay GIRLS", the show seems like it will have quite a different tone and take given the creative team behind it. Andrew Haigh whose feature WEEKEND was one of the indie highlights of 2011, is directing with San Franciso-based filmmaker Travis Matthews whose infamous short I WANT YOUR LOVE and then feature with James Franco INT.LEATHER BAR pushed the boundaries for depictions of gay sex and intimacy in indie films.

LOOKING premieres on Sunday January 19th and will follow GIRLS when that show returns for Season 3 in January. I may just have to finally sign up for cable too and stop watching HBO GO at my friends houses to support this new show.  :)  "Looking" forward to it!

Summer Reading And Viewing For Your iPhone/iPad...Courtesy of Me

As the dog days of August begin, I know that a lot of you will be at the beach or up in the country--for some of you I will be staying at your beach/country houses! :)  So I thought it would be a good time to suggest some fun summer reading and viewing, specifically of my very own summery projects.

First off, a few years back I wrote my second novel TALE OF TWO SUMMERS (Simon and Schuster) and it's still going strong, as perennial summer love stories seem to have staying power!  Now it's even available to download for beach reading on your iPhone/iPad for  $11.99 in the iBook store or just $10 on Kindle. On top of that, you get two summer love stories for the price of one...what's not to like!

The other summer-themed projects are movies; first there is AUGUST, a sultry summer romance about a love triangle set during an LA heatwave, which is now available on iTunes as well as streaming now on Netflix and Hulu Plus. This is a film that I co-wrote/produced with Eldar Rappaport and stars Murray Bartlett, who is featured in the upcoming gay HBO show set in San Francisco. The other feature is THE WAY I SEE THINGS, which I executive produced, that was written and directed by Brian Pera and is about a summer road trip that goes awry with some unlikely/lovely detours in the South. It was just released on Amazon Prime (which is free if you try the service for a month).

So check one or all three of these out in your summer downtime, and I hope you have a lovely and relaxing August. And thank you for your continued support of all my creative works.

Actor From AUGUST To Star In New HBO Show

A little belated news but THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER on May 15th announced that HBO is picking up to series a new gay-themed show about three friends living in San Francisco.  One of those friends is Murray Bartlett, the star of the feature film AUGUST that I co-wrote/produced with Eldar Rappaport. Murray was in the pilot for the series, directed by Andrew Haigh who made one of my favorite films of the last couple years WEEKEND, about two UK blokes who have a sexy/intense weekend together. 

I got meet Andrew when WEEKEND screened at the Castro the same week I was in San Francisco for the premiere of AUGUST. And I'm really looking forward to seeing what he does with this show as it develops. There is not much word yet publicly on the story and it doesn't have a title.  All that's known is that it was based on a feature script by Michael Lannan who did a well-received short called LORIMER and who also notably produced the James Franco experimental film INT.LEATHER BAR that had Sundance buzzing this year. 

Anyway, I think it's great that HBO has stepped up to the plate to produce something in which the gay characters don't inhabit the fringes of a major show but instead, finally, take center stage. 

The DVD Now Available For AUGUST

As the photo indicates, you can now get your DVD copy of AUGUST, the film that I co-wrote/produced with Eldar Rappaport. My copies of the movie arrived this week via Wolfe Video, where you can purchase the film for just $19.95. For those of you who are strictly digital these days, you can also stream the film for rental or purchase it digitally on Wolfe's website as well.

AUGUST is a romantic drama about a love triangle set in L.A. during a heatwave. It features great performances from Murray Bartlett and Daniel Dugan as a pair of ex-boyfriends who meet up again when one of them returns to the city.  Complicating matters is the fact that one of them is in a committed relationship, with the sexy Adrian Gonzalez. It's the perfect steamy movie for a snowy weekend so check it out and thanks for supporting the project! :)

Feature Film AUGUST Now Available Online At Wolfe Video

The feature film AUGUST, that I co-wrote with Eldar Rappaport and helped produce, is now available online at Wolfe Video's website. AUGUST is the story of two ex-boyfriends who meet again a few years later and complications ensue. Set during a heatwave in L.A., the film is sexy and real and has been compared to another festival favorite--the British indie WEEKEND.

Anyway, you can now rent the film there directly or purchase it as a digital download with extra features include a behind-the scenes featurette. A special online bonus is that if you want to share the link, you can earn a 10% commission for referring it to others on Facebook or Twitter. Details are at the linnk above. And, of course, if you want to kick it old school, you can purchase the DVD on Wolfe's site or Amazon.com.

AUGUST Is Available On DVD & Download--Check It Out!

As we hit the dog days of August, you might be looking for something to watch other than a movie about a superhero or an animated child.  May I suggest the excellent indie AUGUST, directed by Eldar Rappaport and co-written by yours truly, me!  :)  It's a beautifully shot and wonderfully acted sultry drama about a love triangle that takes place in Los Angeles during a heat wave. Talk about the perfect summer movie....or should I say the perfect movie for the month of August.

The film played to much acclaim at festivals worldwide last year and now is available on DVD as well as digital download. So please check it out, support independent film and have a great steamy week!

AUGUST Is Now Available On iTunes

Last summer, I had a few posts about a feature film that I co-wrote/produced called AUGUST. It was directed by my friend Eldar Rappaport and is a steamy love triangle set in Los Angeles during a heatwave. Well, now that it's summer again and almost August, it seems the appropriate time for the film to get its commercial release.

This week, AUGUST is available for rental or purchase via iTunes; to rent its $4 and to buy its $14. For those who like to have an actual DVD, that will be available later this month via Amazon and Wolfe Video, our US distributor. So check it out this week because, as the temps rise, it's a great time to stay in the comfort of your own home and watch a hot new movie. Thanks for your support!  And stay tuned for more news on my new feature BEST SUMMER EVER....

NewFest Is Moving On Up...To The West Side

NewFest, the New York LGBT film festival which has been running for 27 years, is getting a big makeover this year with a move upon to Lincoln Center.  The festival, which recently partnered with OutFest, announced their lineup this week with screenings taking place at the lovely Walter Reed Theater on the Lincoln Center campus.  I have had give films screen at NewFest, including AUGUST last summer, so I'm excited to see the festival move to this new venue.

The festival will be somewhat smaller in size/scope this year, running only five days. But the lineup looks great--and I have three friends who have films in the festival this year that I'm really looking forward to seeing: Josh Sanchez has his debut feature FOUR, based on Chris Shinn's play of the same name, Kieran Turner has a doc about the first out gay pop star from the 70s JOBRIATH A.D., and Adam Baran has a short film that I supported on Kickstarter called JACKPOT, set in the suburbs in the '80s. The festival takes place July 27-July 31st and tickets are on sale starting today!

The Short That Started AUGUST

We had our screenings of AUGUST last weekend at the NewFest and they were a big success!  Nearly sold-out crowds filled up both of our screenings, despite the 100-plus heat.  And though the movie itself takes place during a heatwave, it was certainly easier to watch that on screen in a nicely air conditioned cinema.

During both Q/As afterwards, questions came up about the short film that started it all, Eldar Rappaport's POSTMORTEM. I saw it at Outfest in 2005 and was so impressed that I approached the director asked if he was doing a feature.  I actually assumed there was a full-length script.  But there wasn't and that's when I started working with Eldar to expand it into a feature film.

You can watch the short below, on the Logo website.  The feature will be released in the US by Wolfe Video, who just acquired AUGUST this month. More details to come on that soon....

Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

AUGUST'S New York Premiere Perfectly Timed With Heatwave

I have talked about AUGUST on the blog a bit lately.  It's a film I co-wrote and helped produce that is about  love triangle set in LA during an intense summer heatwave.  Well, in a case of crazy timing, the movie has it's NYC premiere this afternoon during an intense summer heatwave.  I just checked on Weather.com and it's 104 degrees in Central Park.  Amazing.   That means it's gotta be at least 107 in my hood, where there are a few less tress than Central Park.

Anyway, despite the heat, the show will go on as the movie theatre is air conditioned.  The film plays today at 5PM at the SVA Theatre on 23rd Street, just west of 8th Avenue.  Tomorrow, it screens at 7PM at Cinema Village on 12th Street, just west of University Place.  Tickets are still available for both screenings at the NewFest website.  So come and cool down with our hot sexy film this weekend.  Hope to see you there!

We Interrupt This Blog....

Hi all--so the last month or so has been a bit of a whirlwind with the play WTC VIEW wrapping up and the movie AUGUST opening at film festivals.  Anyway, after a month of travel and film festivals and general excitement, I plan to be back on track with the daily postings here this week.  Sorry about the bloggus interruptus but sometimes life and work just get in the way.  :)

Finally, in movie news, AUGUST has its NYC premieres this Friday and Saturday at NewFest....tix are still available so come check it out this weekend!

AUGUST On The Radio & AUGUST Tickets On Sale

While I was in San Francisco for the Frameline premiere of AUGUST, Steve Pride of KPFK radio interviewed the director and me as well as our lead actors.  The interview, which is part of an Outfest LA preview show, aired last night on the West Coast.  But you can listen to it here online as a podcast.  I've been on Steve's show a number of times before, for my film and book projects, but this was special in that it was a sort of audio portrait of the main creative teamof the project  (minus our amazing cinematographer James Adolphus) as we discussed it's unusual journey from short to feature film.  The portion about AUGUST is about 10 minutes long and starts around the 40:10 mark.

Next up for AUGUST is the L.A. premiere, which happens next Sunday July 10th at Outfest with a screening at the Directors Guild of America theatre.  This is one of my favorite places to see a film....a beautiful auditorium with fantastic sound and a huge screen.  After that, the film will be in Philadelphia the weekend of July 16-17th, where I will be representing the film as the west coasters take a fest off.  Then, the week after that, the film plays here in New York City at The NewFest, July 22nd and 23rd.  Tickets for that screening just went on sale today so get them while you can at the NewFest website.

AUGUST's SF Premiere & A Great Review in VARIETY

AUGUST had its San Francisco premiere at the historic Castro Theatre on Saturday night.  It was a sold out house of 1,400 (yes, the balcony was open!) and the response was amazing.  Even the Q&A after was interesting as, in true SF-style, someone asked about all the tobacco smoking in the film and whether it was stylistically intentional (A: Yes!).

Also, someone else asked if the actors were gay or straight.  Eldar's answer to that question, which is that he essentially hired who he thought were the best actors for the roles and did not quiz people on their sexual orientation, drew a hearty round of applause from the crowd.  I remember being asked this question some 17 years ago with my short film POOL DAYS....when will people stop asking this inane and insulting question?  Hopefully sooner than later....

Anyway, VARIETY published our first major review for the film and it was great! You can read the full review here and there should be more coming out soon.  I will try and link/post them here as well.  Next stop for AUGUST is Outfest in L.A....the film will screen at the Directors Guild Of America main theatre on Sunday, July 10th at 9:45pm (with cocktail reception beforehand at 8pm).  Tickets are onsale at www.outfest.org.  Hope to see you there!

A New Movie Premieres Tonight At The Seattle Intl Film Festival

Now that the excitement of putting WTC VIEW onstage at 59E59 Theaters has ended with our last performance on Sunday, it's back to my day job in the film/TV world. But in a case of good timing, the excitement continues this week with the world premiere of a feature film I worked on called AUGUST.  The premiere is happening tonight at the prestigious Seattle International Film Festival, with a gala screening at the Landmark Egyptian Theatre.

AUGUST is a sexy, romantic drama that tells the story of a love triangle that occurs when an ex-boyfriend shows up in Los Angeles during a heat wave.  I co-wrote the film and helped produce it with a very talented filmmaker at the helm;  Eldar Rappaport. I met Eldar in 2005 at a screening of his amazing short film POSTMORTEM at Outfest.  I was so impressed by his work on that project that I suggested we develop it into a feature.  And now, six years later, voila!  Two of the amazing actors from the short film return to continue their roles in AUGUST, Murray Bartlett and Daniel Dugan, along with the addition of sexy newcomer Adrian Gonzalez.

After the world premiere tonight, AUGUST will be on the festival circuit this summer and fall.  Other upcoming screenings include June 18th at the Frameline Festival in San Francisco and at Outfest in Los Angeles on July 10th, both of which I'll be attending.  There will also be dates in Philadelphia and New York City later in the July....for continued updates and info, please check out our Facebook page and LIKE the film too.  Anyway, I'm just thrilled to be able to finally share this new collaborative project with audiences around the country and hope to see you at one of the films' upcoming screenings.