Ausgezeichnet mit dem Publikumspreis als Bester Film Seoul LGBT Film Festival

FILMOUT San Diego Bester Spielfilm, Beste Nebendarstellerin, Bester Nebendarsteller

Eine Überraschung zum Fest

(OT: Make the Yuletide Gay)

“Certain to be a gay Christmas favourite.” On Top Magazine

"Will be an instant classic." Dougsploitation.blogspot.com

"A potential homo holiday classic." Fab Magazine

USA 2009, 89 Minuten Regie und Drehbuch: Rob Williams Produzenten: Rodney Johnson, Matthew Montgomery, Rob Williams Kamera: Ian McGlocklin Sinclair, Schnitt: Denise Howard, Musik: Austin Wintory

Darsteller: Keith Jordan (Olaf 'Gunn' Gunnunderson), Adamo Ruggiero (Nathan Stanford), Hallee Hirsh (Abby Mancuso), Kelly Keaton (Anya Gunnunderson), Derek Long (Sven Gunnunderson), Alison Arngrim (Heather Mancuso), Ian Buchanan (Peter Stanford), Gates McFadden (Martha Stanford)

Ein Film im Verleih der PRO-FUN MEDIA FILMVERLEIH Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland 2009

www.PRO-FUN.de

Eine Überraschung zum Fest

Kurzsynopsis

Der Schock für Nathan (Adamo Ruggiero, offen schwuler Star der US-Serie DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION) könnte nicht größer sein, als er unangekündigt vor der festlich geschmückten Wohnungstür seiner besseren Hälfte Olaf 'Gunn' Gunnunderson (out- and-proud Collegeschwarm Keith Jordan) im spießigen Wisconsins aufschlägt.

Nicht genug, dass er dessen Dad wie Gott ihn schuf im offenem Bademantel die Tür öffnen sieht - und so auch gleich die frappierende, anatomische Ähnlichkeit zwischen Vater und Sohn erkennen darf -, sondern darüber hinaus auch feststellen muss, dass Gunn urplötzlich zum hundertprozentigen Hetero mutiert ist!?!

Es beginnt das wohl verrückteste Coming-out-Fest seit Robert Downey Jrs FAMILIENFEST UND ANDERE SCHWIERIGKEITEN. Ein wahres Feuerwerk aus Festtagsstimmung, Eierflips und köstlichen Enthüllungen.

Synopsis

Olaf ’Gunn’ Gunnunderson könnte nicht glücklicher mit Nathan sein, stünden die Feiertage nicht vor der Tür. Während Gunn sich noch einigermaßen auf die getrennten Tage bei seinen durchgeknallten Eltern freuen kann, muss Schnuckel Nathan mal wieder erfahren, was es heißt, von der Familie „vergessen“ zu werden. Kurzerhand beschließt der Zurückgelassene, seine Urlaubstage bei den Gunnundersons zu verbringen und unangekündigt spießige Wisconsins-Luft zu schnuppern.

Der Schock für Nathan könnte allerdings nicht größer sein, als Gunns Dad wie Gott ihn schuf und im offenem Bademantel im Türrahmen steht (immerhin sind nun auch die anatomischen Ähnlichkeiten zwischen Vater und Sohn geklärt...) und Gunn urplötzlich als hundertprozentiger Hetero auftritt!

Es beginnt das wohl verrückteste Coming-out-Fest seit Robert Downey Jrs FAMILIENFEST UND ANDERE SCHWIERIGKEITEN. Ein wahres Feuerwerk aus Festtagsstimmung, Eierflips und köstlichen Enthüllungen.

2 Guest House Films present a film by Rob Williams

Eine Überraschung zum Fest

Keith Jordan Adamo Ruggiero Hallee Hirsh, Kelly Keaton, Derek Long Alison Arngrim, Ian Buchanan Gates McFadden

Steve Callahan, Wyatt Fenner, Massimo Quagliano, Kevin F. Sherry Jim Wharton, Doug Prinzivalli, Austin Wintory

Written and Directed by Rob Williams Produced by Rodney Johnson Matthew Montgomery Rob Williams Casting by Judy Cook Director of Photography Ian McGlocklin Sinclair Editor Denise Howard Original Score by Austin Wintory Original Songs by Jake Monaco and Jen Hansen

1st Assistant Director Mike Drobinski 2nd Assistant Director Erald Sejdini 1st Assistant Camera Jaxon Woods Van Nessa Manlunas Alex Cason 2nd Assistant Camera Paul D. Hart

3 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

Gaffers Josh Day Jeff Fry Ken Wales Key Grip Rob Berrey Swing/Grip & Electric Owen Jones Swing/Driver Brian Eastveld Steadicam Operators Nicholas Davidoff Dave Isern Behind-The-Scenes Video Producer Anthony Palato Sound Mixer Ryan Kaiser Sound Designer Billy Picciano Script Supervisor Aprill Winney Key Makeup Ricky Flores Makeup Assistant Jae Lee Hairstylist Julie Mueller Set Decorator JT Tepnapa Production Assistants Anthony Palato Mike Justice Craig Darr Art Department Production Assistants Meagen Johnson Amanda Magdaleno-Arbizu Art Department/Prop/Product Placement Coordinator Scott Simmons

4 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

Craft Services Production Assistant Jason Layvas Production Office Interns Andrew Bluestone Alan Wethern Catering 360 By Gavin Glenn Craft Services Kit & Kaboodle Craft Services Graphic Design Brian Winkeler, Robot House Creative Publicity GrapeVine Public Relations Insurance Premier Class Insurance Services "Hope" Painting Courtesy of Catherine Krueger Payroll Services Wells Fargo Business Payroll

5 Cast

Eine Überraschung zum Fest

KEITH JORDAN began his career in New York City where he received his BFA in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College. Upon graduation, he performed skits on “Late Night With Conan O'Brien,” booked roles in various independent films in NYC and secured various television and radio spots. Soon after, he landed a role in the film Suburban Girl, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alec Baldwin.

Now a full-time resident of Los Angeles, Jordan continues to focus his acting career in film and television. Since relocating to Los Angeles, he has enjoyed growing success in the industry, including securing the role of Superman's Jimmy Olsen in a viral Internet marketing campaign for the Six Flags theme parks, as well as the lead role in the new feature film, Make The Yuletide Gay.

ADAMO RUGGIERO is an experienced actor and host. He began his career in Community Theatre at a very young age. In 1996, he landed his first professional job as Cupid in Stage West’s Christmas production of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." In 2000, he was accepted to Cawthra Park Secondary School (a performing arts school in Mississauga) where Adamo played leading roles in "Godspell," "Carnival," "Auntie Mame" and "The Bath" as well as directed "Sure Thing" by playwright David Ives for the Ontario’s SEARS Drama festival.

In 2002, Adamo landed his first professional television job, premiering in the second season of "Degrassi: The Next Generation" as Marco Del Rossi. Throughout his seven years on the show, his role as a gay teenager has garnered much attention. In 2004, Degrassi received its first GLAAD Media Awards nomination for Outstanding Drama Series for Adamo’s starring episodes entitled Pride (part 1 & 2). In January 2008, Adamo “came out” as a young gay actor in an exclusive TV interview with eTalk and a cover story in Fab, Canada’s premiere gay scene magazine. In an attempt to share his story with other struggling gay youth, he has lent his name to The Trevor Project (an organization that helps suicidal gay and questioning youth) where he shot an international PSA alongside Roseanne Barr, T.R. Knight, Kristin Davis, John Goodman and Neil Patrick Harris. He also produced and starred in a PSA for the Report Homophobic Violence, Period (RHVP) campaign for Toronto’s 2008 Pride Festival. In April 2008, Degrassi was nominated for its second GLAAD Media Award where Adamo was invited to present at the legendary Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, alongside such stars as Ellen DeGeneres, Rufus Wainwright, Sharon Stone and Tom Ford.

6 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

Adamo recently starred in his first feature in Los Angeles entitled Make the Yuletide Gay -- a gay themed, coming of age Christmas story where he plays the film's supporting character of Nathan Stanford. Adamo’s next project takes him to the live stage! In March 2009, he will star in the Toronto premiere of "Dog Sees God: Confession of a Teenage Blockhead" --- a modern adaptation of the iconic Peanuts comic strips. Adamo plays Van (Linus), the pot head, girl-obsessed yet insightful best friend of C.B. (Charlie Brown).

Adamo is also an experienced television host, having hosted/co-hosted such shows as the "MTV Hills After Show," "Video on Trail," "Canada’s Next Top Model," the 22nd and 23rd annual Gemini Awards as well as hosted multiple stories on CTV’s hit entertainment show eTalk. Adamo most recently hosted the first season of YTV’s hit series "The Next Star" where he led the national search for Canada’s next young singing sensation.

In between projects, Adamo is pursuing an honors double major degree at York University in Communication Studies and Film Theory. He hopes to venture into producing/directing in the future.

Acting professionally since the age of 3, HALLEE HIRSH has amassed an impressive resume of film and TV credits. She got her start in commercials in Florida but a family move to New York City when she was 4 put her in place to rapidly expand her horizons and experience starting with a regular gig on the ABC Soap "Loving" and soon leading to significant roles in studio movies. Her earlier films include You’ve Got Mail where she appeared opposite Tom Hanks as his character’s eight year old aunt “Annabelle” and One True Thing, where she played the younger version of Rene Zellweger’s character and opposite both Meryl Streep and William Hurt.

While adding to her theatrical resume, she also began building a solid filmography in TV including both starring and supporting roles in made for television movies and an extensive list of major guest starring roles on TV episodics including "Law & Order," "Malcolm in the Middle," "Judging Amy," and more recently, "Will and Grace," "Boston Legal," "Six Feet Under," "Grey’s Anatomy," "The Guardian," "Cold Case," "," "Ghost Whisperer," "Saving Grace" and others.

7 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

At the age of 13 and after a move to Los Angeles, she landed the major recurring role of Rachel Greene, Anthony Edwards’ wayward daughter on "ER," followed two years later in the recurring role of Mattie Grace Johnson on "JAG" for the next two years.

In recent years, she completed a three season contract on the Discovery Kids Channel hit teen show, "Flight 29 Down," and starring roles in several made for TV movies and independent features, including The Hallmark Channel’s "Wild Hearts," and Don Roos’ Happy Endings. Hallee is the recipient of two Youth in Film Young Artists Awards for her starring role on the Disney Channel’s Christmas classic, "The Ultimate Christmas Present," and a supporting best actress award for her work on Lifetime Channel’s "My Sister’s Keeper."

KELLY KEATON. Born and raised in Wisconsin - Go Packers! This Cheesehead received undergraduate (Moorhead State in Minnesota) and graduate (UNC-Greensboro) degrees in Theatre. She was nominated twice for an Irene Ryan scholarship award. Favorite roles include Bev in "Graceland," Ellen in "The Art of Dining" and Sister Mary in "Sister Mary Ignatious Explains it all to you." Kelly has been a member of Actors Co-op in Hollywood starting in 2004. If variety is the spice of life, this character actress is pretty spicy. She was most recently seen in the original 5 woman show "Dancing with My Father." Just before that, she played 80 year old Italian Mrs. Fremus, 40 year old midwest Karen, and 30 something developmentally disabled Clara in "The Boys Next Door." Her first role at Actors Co-op was sassy Southern Butch in "Shooting Stars."

She also wrote and performed for two runs of "Boobytrap" ~ the very breast show in town raising thousands of dollars for breast cancer research.

Since moving to LA, she has been seen in several national commercials including, Buick, Hallmark, Scrubbing Bubbles, Comcast, Roundtable Pizza and Lexus hybrid. While giving Steve Martin and Eugene Levy dirty looks in Cheaper by the Dozen II, Kelly has worked on several Independent films — including Rob Williams’ Long-Term Relationship and Back Soon. She loves that work most of all, and is looking forward to much more to come!

8 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

DEREK LONG. Derek's recent film roles have included playing a surgeon addicted to electricity in Dark Blue Films/Velvet Candy Entertainment's Socket, and the December in a May/December relationship in Guest House Films' 3-Day Weekend. Recent stage productions are "Hamlet" at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and "A Piece of Tin" at the Lyric Theatre, Los Angeles.

ALISON ARNGRIM, best known to viewers world-wide for her portrayal of the incredibly nasty “Nellie Oleson” on the much loved, long running hit television series "Little House On The Prairie," continues to amuse audiences through her many film, television and stage appearances. She can currently be seen in the independent films For the Love of May with Ru Paul and Patricia Neal, and The Last Place On Earth with Billy Dee Williams and Phyllis Diller. In 2007, she began her foray into French cinema with the role of “Edith” in the French detective comedy, Jean Pierre Mocky’s Le Deal.

In addition to her seven years on "Little House," Alison guested on such cult classics as: "The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island" and the NBC movie of the week, "I Married Wyatt Earp," starring Marie Osmond.

She mocked her own status as an “ex-child star” on Jay Leno’s "Tonight Show," during their month long parody, “Hollywood Survivor” and continues to be a frequent interview subject on everything from “A&E”, “E! Entertainment”, “TV Land” and “VH-1”, to CNN and the Travel Channel. The TV Land network honored her undying image as TV’s worst bitch, by declaring her the winner of their 2006 award for, “Character Most Desperately In Need Of A Time Out”.

Alison’s stage work includes, “Sirena: Queen of the Tango”, "Butterflies Are Free," “Hidden In The Laughter”, "Dear Brutus," "The Wool Gatherer," "Cry Of Players", the French bedroom farce, "In One Bed And Out The Other," Michael Kearns’ “AIDS/US II,” and the role of “Rita” in the 2005 GLAAD Award nominated production of “Last Summer At Bluefish Cove.” Most recently she starred at the ACME Comedy Theatre in the Ovation Award Nominated musical-drama, “Flirting with Morty” as the abusive, trashy and tragic Ray Lee.

As a stand-up comedian, Alison has headlined at nightclubs such as the Laugh Factory, the Comedy Store and the Improv in Los Angeles; as well as the Cutting Room in New York and assorted comedy venues all across the United States and Canada.

9 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

Her one woman show “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch”, which started at Club Fez in New York, has now become a world-wide phenomenon, having been performed to packed houses in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Maui and the south of France, where Alison performed entirely in French to a standing room only crowd at the “Palais des Congres” in her all French version titled: “Confessions d’une Garce de La Prairie”! She then took the show to Paris’ Theatre Dejazet, where she received multiple standing ovations.

In 1986 when her friend and "Little House husband" co-star, Steve Tracy, passed away due to complications of HIV/AIDS, Alison immediately began volunteering at AIDS Project Los Angeles. Her duties ranged from working on the Southern California AIDS Hotline and the APLA food bank, (APLA's Necessities of Life Program,) to chairing the steering committee of the volunteer speakers bureau and developing “Safer Sex” workshops. She has provided AIDS education to doctors, nurses, prison inmates, service clubs, churches, department stores and schools, written AIDS education articles for the magazines "Frontiers" and "Designers West”, and spent seven years hosting the APLA educational cable television show, "AIDS Vision". In 1992, Joel Wachs presented Alison with a resolution by the Los Angeles City Council commending her on her work on behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS.

From 1989 through 1993 she served as Program Manager at Tuesday's Child, an organization assisting children and families affected by HIV and AIDS. From 1989 through 2003 she served as both hostess and producer for the comedy stage at the AIDS Project Los Angeles Annual Summer Party, (on the backlot of Universal Studios), where through an evening of raucous entertainment, featuring name comedians, she helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for people living with HIV.

She currently serves as California Chair, National Spokesperson and Founding Board Member on the National Advisory Board of The National Association to Protect Children (www.PROTECT.org), fighting to give children a legal and political voice in the war against child abuse. As an activist for the improvement of child protection laws, she has spoken before the California Senate and worked on legislative and political campaigns in several states, including Virginia and New York, in addition to PROTECT’s work on federal legislation in Washington, D.C.

10 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

She has appeared on numerous television news programs discussing the legal and political issues surrounding child abuse and molestation. She came forward to tell the world about the sexual abuse she suffered in her own life, during her 2004 interview on Larry King Live.

She continues to be interviewed on this and other topics on "Nancy Grace," CNN’s "Showbiz Tonight," "The Insider," Court TV and Bill O’Reilly’s "The Factor."

Alison currently lives in the wilds of Tujunga with her husband of fourteen years, musician Bob Schoonover, (from the rock and roll band “Catahoula”) and their two cats, Hannibal and Clarice. She takes pride in the fact that so many people enjoyed hating her as a girl and is more than happy to give them the opportunity to do so in the future.

Award winning actor IAN BUCHANAN has appeared in motion pictures, guest starred on television dramas and comedies, and played iconic roles on a host of daytime dramas that have brought him a worldwide audience. He has starred in both classic and modern plays in England and the US. He is currently a member of The Citizen's Band, an avant-garde cabaret collective of international performance artists, reminiscent of the Weimar Era, whose acclaimed theatrical presentations deal with current and controversial political, religious and social themes.

Television guest starring roles in "Nip/Tuck," "Alias," "Hope and Faith," "," "Yes, Dear," "On The Air," "On The Air," "Quantum Leap," It's The Garry Shandling Show," "Stargate," "Raising Dad," Berkeley Nunn: Hollywood Detective," "Nash Bridges," and "The Norm Show," and he was a cult favorite in "," among many others.

Buchanan is familiar to audiences worldwide for his starring roles on "The Bold and The Beautiful," for which he received an Emmy Award, "General Hospital," "," and "Port Charles."

Film roles include memorable appearances in "Mate," "Panic Room," "Lying in Wait," "Double Exposure," "The Cool Surface," and "The Seventh Sign." Born in Scotland, Buchanan resides in Southern California.

11 Eine Überraschung zum Fest

GATES MCFADDEN is know internationally for her portrayal of the role of Dr. Beverly Crusher in the Paramount Studio television series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and four ST:TNG films. Born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, she studied dance, circus techniques and acting throughout elementary and secondary schools and participated in local theater and television. Graduating with a BFA with honors from Brandeis University, she continued her theatre studies in Paris with Jacques Lecoq. After graduating from his Ecole Internationale, she returned to the east coast where she began a fifteen-year career teaching and directing. She was an Assistant Professor at Brandeis University, lecturer at University of Pittsburgh, adjunct faculty at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

She served as guest lecturer or artist at many schools including Harvard, Temple, George Washington, and Perdue Universities, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Brooklyn and Eckerd Colleges, and the Stella Academy in Hamburg, Germany. She was choreographer of the BAM Theatre Company under David Jones, and was Director of Choreography for Jim Henson’s film Labryinth and Gavin Miller’s Dreamchild.

She was the artistic director of The New York Theater Commotion and worked with Edward Petherbridge, Caroline Blakeston, and Ian McNeice in London to develop a production at the Lyric Hammersmith. Her New York acting credits include: the Tommy Tune production of Cloud Nine, The Homecoming at JRT, Emerald City at New York Theater Workshop, EST’s two productions of To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday, Couch Tandem, The Bloodletters, and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream at the Delacorte in Central Park. Film credits include Taking Care of Business, The Hunt for Red October and one of The Muppets’ movies.

She enjoyed a recurring role on “Mad About You,” and was a series regular on “Marker.” Guest appearances on TV include “Party of Five,” HBO’s “Dream On,” “,” and the film “Crowned and Dangerous” among others. Ms. McFadden performed the role of The Devil in “L’Histoire du Soldat,” conducted by Kent Nagamo for the La Jolla Chamber Music Festival, and narrated “Carnival des Animaux” for Leonard Slatkin with the Cleveland Orchestra. She is currently an adjunct member of the USC Department of Theatre and Artistic Director or Ensemble Studio Theatre LA.

12