www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 28, 2002 Q1 CYMK Q-COVERstory Film Frenzy Fort Lauderdale Film Fest Features More Gay Films Than Ever Before By Mary Damiano Arts & Entertainment Editor We all know that size really does matter. The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) is back, and it’s bigger than ever. The festival, now in its 17th year, holds the distinction of being the longest film festival in the world. Though the official gala opening night is Friday, November 1, mini-fests, including the Asian Pacific Film Food of Love (Spain)—A young musician gets swept up in an intense affair with his idol, a handsome, famous pianist, as he and his newly separated mother travel through Europe. Festival, have been going on since Stars Juliet Stevenson and Paul Rhys. Dates: October 31, November 2, 3. October 22. Screenings will take place primarily at Cinema Paradiso and the Devil in the Holy Water (Canada)—Documentary Regal Las Olas Theatre in Fort about the first World Gay Pride Day, which coincides Lauderdale. with the Pope’s Jubilee in Rome, and features a colorful cast of characters, from Neo-Fascists to This year, FLIFF will feature over drag queens. Dates: November 2, 4, 7 (subtitles). 125 films, including nearly a dozen films by gay filmmakers or with gay characters or themes, the greatest number of gay films ever featured at the festival. It’s a Fine Time to be Gay at the Movies Gregory von Celebration (USA)—A six-year-old boy makes an announcement. (This Short plays before Food Hausch, president of of Love) Dates: October 31, November 2, 3. the festival, says that that FLIFF has tried to get more gay titles in Devil in the Holy Water (Canada)—Documentary about the first World past years, but Gay Pride Day, which coincides with the Pope’s Jubilee in Rome, and features a colorful cast of characters, from Neo-Fascists to drag queens. because gay films have Dates: November 2, 4, 7 (subtitles). become big box office, their film fest window is much shorter than According to von Hausch, FLIFF may other smaller, independent films. soon feature a gay and lesbian mini-fest, much Several of the films featured at the along the same lines as the Asian Pacific Film festival may be familiar to South Florida Festival they have featured for several years. audiences because they were shown at the “I think within one or two years, the event will Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF) take place at Cinema Paradiso, in a time frame last spring. Far from being a detraction, von outside of FLIFF but still under our direction.” Hausch sees this as a positive thing. “In some ways it can help through word The Talented Mr. Damon of mouth,” he says. “Festivals must learn to In addition to the vast array of films, work together, especially in light of the fact FLIFF is famous for hosting filmmakers and Blind Spot (USA)—Three Strangers develop a bond when they discover they’ve that there are more and more festivals every year.” special guests. This year, they include Leslie each been cheated by the same man. Dates: November 8 and 9. This year, FLIFF partnered with the local Nielsen, John Philip Law, Amanda Plummer arts organization ArtsUnited to present the and Steve Guttenberg. And FLIFF has just There will also be the Chairman’s Brunch gay films. The November 2 premiere of the announced a real coup—Matt Damon will Hollywood Glamour & Cruise on Sunday, November 3, at 10:05am. new Steve Guttenberg film, P.S Your Cat Is appear in person for a question and answer Takes Center Stage Brunch will be served on board the Caprice, Dead, in which Guttenberg stars and makes session with the audience. Everyone loves a good party, and at as the cruise winds it way through Fort his directorial debut, will be co-presented by Damon, who has appeared in The FLIFF, movies and parties go hand in hand. Lauderdale’s waterways. FLIFF and MGLFF. MGLFF Program Director Talented Mr. Ripley, Dogma and Good Will Parties punctuate this film frenzy, and it all Other parties include the Spanish Fiesta, Carol Coombes states that the screening is Hunting, for which he won an Oscar for gets started Friday, November 1, with the Mexican Fiesta, Fiesta Italiana and the MGLFF’s way of saying thank you to its screenwriting, will be at the Regal Las Olas opening night bash, Movie Masquerade, at Luminaries Awards Gala. The festival will end current members, by offering them an Theatre on Friday, November 8, at 8pm. After the Design Center of the Americas in Dania with a bang, as the November 9 closing night opportunity to attend the South Florida clips from his films are shown, Damon will Beach. Hollywood glamour is the theme. Wrap Party features fireworks. premiere of the film, at a $2 discount on FLIFF field questions from the audience. There will More than 20 local restaurants, including The For a complete rundown of everything ticket prices. Current MGLFF members who be a party afterward, with all proceeds going Black Orchid Cafe, Casa D’Angelo and FLIFF has to offer, including films, events, wish to attend must buy their tickets directly to benefit a friend of Damon’s who is fighting Susie’s Scrumptious Sweets will be parties, prices, times and locations, visit from MGLFF. leukemia. participating in the event. www.Fliff.com. Q2 www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 28, 2002 CYMK Q-UPclose Blue Door’s Vino Forays into Book Covers By John Bryson nationwide distribution. boss, who sweeps him off his feet. Hallock called the experience “unexpected, News Editor “I asked the mother during the shoot if “I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to but exciting.” Long known for his work on Blue Door she was all right with how things were going,” do,” Vino said. “The right guy just wasn’t Where the Boys Are was the fourth novel Productions’ yearly wall calendars featuring Vino said. “And she said, ‘Yes, it’s great!’ I jumping out at me. Then I realized I had the in the project and, Vino said, his easiest. male models in sexy and sensual poses, was surprised, but glad, that she was right guy in my own back yard.” That’s because the photo used for the novel Raymond Vino has recently completed a four- comfortable with what I was doing.” Vino’s vision of Andrew was right in the was already taken. book project with Kensington Publishing Vino said the hardest novel for him to Blue Door offices. Josh Hallock, Blue Door’s “That was a circumstance where the Corporation. The publishing company, find a cover for was Boyfriend Material. A marketing director, went in front of the camera publisher and writer liked a shot that I already excited by the results, is now in negotiations novel that features a motley group of friends and became the image of Andrew Westlake. had available,” Vino said. “It was a powerful to sign him up for another four projects. living Sex-in-the-City-type lifestyles, it picture—four guys huddled together with The four books featuring Vino’s required Vino to find four guys who fit very tremendous sexual energy—which made it easy photographic work—The Night We Met, different profiles, were photogenic together to see how it could represent a novel about Boyfriend Material, Where the Boys Are and and comfortable with the idea of being on gay men and the world of circuit parties.” It’s in Her Kiss—are a first for him, an the cover of a gay novel. Vino enjoyed working for Kensington, experience he found challenging. “The chemistry can be difficult to and he is very confident an agreement will “It’s different from shooting for a capture,” Vino said. “You’ve got multiple be worked out soon for him to begin calendar or card, where the vision I’m going people of varying ethnicities. You shooting another series of for is my own,” Vino said. “With a book cover, have to get them all to see your novels. Kensington, which you have to collaborate with the writer and vision, have the right look and bills itself as the last the publisher because the photo has to fit an blend with each other in a manner remaining independent already written story.” that appears genuine and sexy. It’s a U.S. publisher of hardcover, In particular, Vino said It’s In Her Kiss tough task, and I was lucky. They were trade and mass market was the first time he had ever had the perfect!” paperback books, is also opportunity to do a photo shoot for the cover The third novel, The Night We Met, recognized as North America’s of a lesbian novel. To add to the challenge, provides an interesting story behind the largest publisher of gay novels. the mother of one of the models was present cover itself, not to mention the novel. Vino All but one of the novels have on the set—at Vino’s invitation—because said he struggled to find a model that would been released. If you are interested she was concerned about her daughter. A help him portray the image of Andrew in finding out more about Vino’s work, natural instinct, Vino said, for a mother whose Westlake, a young author whose fortunes in visit www.bluedoorproductions.com. daughter would be portraying a lesbian girl New York City appear to have left him in the Information on the novels is available at on the cover of a novel that would have dumps—until he meets the son of a mafia www.kensingtonbooks.com.