One on One (2010)

One on One (2010)

 

Director: Luis Fernando Midence
Scenario: Luis Fernando Midence
Genre: Short, Sport, Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Duration: 10 min
Rating: 5.8/10

Actors: Gerry Altamirano, Robert Bell, Timothy Paul Brown, Shain Clark, Gregory Alan Cooke, Braulio Cruz-Ortiz, Alekz Gerard, Ryan Hill, Charlotte Livingston, Erica Manuel, Nick McMahan, Shelley Ohmes, Crystal Taboada, Erica Wrice, Cheol Young Park

From GayCeluloid.com

Built on solid production values, this University of Texas, Dallas student production charms with the tender tale of a pair of gay lovers, only for one to be more at ease in expressing his sexuality in public, than the other. Not that this suits macho lover boy Trevor who views affectionate lip-service from his latino partner Alex, even when on an empty basketball court, as some form of social statement. Only could a gentle waltz under the tuition of Ms Hilda see Trevor finally lower his guard, one-on-one style?

Made in collaboration with The Dance Ensemble at the University of Texas, Arlington, here writer and director Luis Fernando Midence of Affinity and More Coffee fame delights with a short film that is gay to the core. For in a world in which many a man, sexuality and indeed ethnic origin aside, finds it difficult to openly express their emotions, this short resonates with the beauty of dance as a means of binding lovers together.

True the result is far from earth shattering. But then it was never intended to be, given the allure of this piece lies in the dance class itself, one in which looks of alarm are courtesy of the raised voices of warring parties, rather than a gay couple taking to the floor. That first time actors Timothy Paul Brown as Trevor and Braulio Cruz-Ortiz as Alex create a believable "working it out" relationship, makes for a sweet tale of Come Dancing, sexuality irrelevant style. Need more be said?

 

Curious Thing (2010)

Curious Thing (2010)

 

Director: Alain Hain
Scenario: Jason Mills
Genre: Short, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Duration: 8 min
Rating: 8.1/10

Actors: Danny Bernardy, Matthew Wilkas, Rebecca Pappa, Phoenix List

 

 

 

Description:

Based upon a set of true stories weaved together by writer Jason Mills, here we find director Alain Hain walking the more than familiar cinematic ground of falling in love with your best friend; albeit with a markedly straight variant.

For like Marco Berger's captivating exploration of male friendship and sexuality that is Plan B, this part love story, part coming out and part documentary work explores the growing bond between two men, both straight to the world, but equally aware of their burgeoning feelings for each other, emotions are set to test the boundaries of their bromance styled friendship.

Curious Thing by Alain Hain Told via a series of audio interviews / voiceovers, courtesy of six gay men's experiences, sexual or otherwise, with straight men, this telling short poignantly showcases the intense love that Jared feels for his best friend Sam and the hurt it brings, when they see the other flexing their heterosexual muscles, hand-in-hand with a girl.
Beautifully played out by all parties, including Matthew Wilkas previously seen in Jonathan Lisecki's Gayby as a man petrified by that curious thing called love, gay fashion, this movingly honest piece cuts to the core in the sole scene in which the narrative is broken, spoken words that achingly detail a heartrending decision destined to set both men upon their sexual path in life. That the Mills / Hain boys then go on to illustrate the consequences of that life changing moment, makes for a short film, the first of three, that in examining the lives of gay men in New York City, sets out to say it - like it is.