Something to SHOUT about!

Super exciting news, folks. This January I entered a script in HBO's Shout GLBT Short Film Contest. The three winners get a little chunk of change from HBO to make their movie. Well, guess what? I was won of the winners!

My film is called "Reunion" and it's about a gay TV design show host who returns to his small Arizona town, boyfriend in tow, to attend his 20-year high school reunion--and then some crazy and surprising stuff goes down. It was loosely inspired by my own reunion which I attended last year with my boyfriend.

We shot the film over two days, March 26th and 27th, at the lovely Casita Del Campo restaurant in Silver Lake and also at the kitchy Pink Motel in Sun Valley. My cast and crew were dynamite and I'm in love with all of them. It was a total blast.

The film will make it's world premier on May 2 at the Miami Film Festival and also play at Outfest in LA and Provincetown. Hopefully, other festivals as well. Unless they totally hate it, HBO will air the film on one of its outlets in June. I'll keep you posted. The whole experience has been one of the most thrilling, creative trips of my life...and it's far from over.

Now back to the editing room!

"Shelter" Swelter

One of the sweetest, best made gay flicks I've seen is a while is about to hit theaters. It's called "Shelter" and it's a love story set against the backdrop of the SoCal surf scene. I got to profile the filmmakers and stars of the movie for The Advocate. You can check that feature out here.

I also wrote a sidebar story about the gay surf scene--and lack thereof--for Advocate.com Check it out here.

And go check out "Shelter." It's like Frankie and Annette with goody-trails.

Machu Picchu Man

In February, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Peru with a group of people from IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association). I flew into Lima, then onto Cusco. From there, we traveled in to the Sacred Valley and up to the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. It was one of the most awe-inspiring places I've ever been. If you ever have the chance to go, go!

I wrote about the trip for Outtraveler.com and you can read my updates here. The link goes to the first dated posting and you can click through the others from there. There are a few other posts in the middle there that aren't from my trip but just keep clicking through.

I also made a video vlog during my trip for OutzoneTV.com You can watch that here.

A million thanks to the amazing folks at Lima Tours, LAN Airlines and IGLTA for making it happen for me.

I ate guinea pig, I touched llama and I saw one of the new wonders of the world. Thrilling!