Center Blog

Guest Post by Terry Levine

Swan Lake’s ballet. Celine Dion’s music. Hedda Lettuce’s antics.

On May 11^th at 7 PM, these elements and many more were featured in Go Go Crazy, a film presented by Center Cinema as part of the Summer Camp series of events.  This mockumentary from director Fred M. Caruso gave Center viewers an interesting glimpse into Philadelphia’s ”premiere” go-go boy contest.  Which one of the five competitors would ultimately take home $1,000 in cash and the illustrious title?  Who would win the favor of the contest’s host, Hedda Lettuce?

Go Go Crazy introduced the audience to five speedo-clad aspirants each with a distinct personality and stage “presence.”  Vinnie attracted the support of folks with his uncanny resemblance to Jersey Shore’s The Situation; Kiernon a native of Georgia (the country) provided a ballet routine, a stark contrast to typical stripper pole performances; Chase schemed to get ahead in the competition; Connor, the straight one of the group, enhanced his “assets;” and Ken had dreams of Broadway.  With back-stabbing, sex and great costumes, the constant bursts of laughter proved that just about everyone was entertained!  Viewers also met three judges: former contest winner, Blake Goldenrod; Celine Dion “embodier;” Tina Perkins; and Hank, the club’s owner and contest’s bank roller.

The film’s Director and Producer, Fred M. Caruso has worked all over the United States in shows like Big River, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Shenandoah, Mame, The Music Man, and Oliver. He wrote The Big Gay Musical which follows a brief period in the lives of two young actors, one who is openly gay and the other who is in the closet.

Overall, watching this film was a great way to spend a Friday evening!

Guest Post by Paul Reed

On the evening of Monday, February 27^th, Center Cinema with co-sponsorship by The Gender Identity Project screened two short films, The Joneses and Smalltown Boy, both directed by Moby Longinotto. With the filmmaker stuck in London working on another feature documentary for Channel Four, Aviva Wishnow, the producer of The Joneses, was fortunately on hand to present both films and conduct a Q&A session.

In the short feature, The Joneses, we are introduced to a tight-knit family living all together in a trailer home in rural Mississippi. Jheri Rae Jones, formerly the father of the household, rears her two adult sons, Trevor, a 34 year old depressed from the absence of a love life, and Brad, a son born with brain damage. Both sons display a deep love and respect for Jheri, calling themselves fortunate to have such a great mother in their lives. The fifteen-minute film only acts as an introduction to the Jones family, and if the viewer wants more time with the family then he or she is in major luck. Aviva informed us during the Q&A session that with the financial support of the LGBT community, the short film is being produced as a full-length feature film for early next year.

For the second short feature, Smalltown Boy, Moby takes us into another rural community, this time a small village in England. David, the central character, is isolated within his village for being different, and now at the age of fifteen has decided to come out as gay. With the scorn of his entire town upon him, David courageously decides to be paraded through the main square as the first ever, male summer carnival queen. The film expertly captures David’s resilience and triumph against dominating and seemingly imprisoning social norms. In one powerful scene, an adult man publicly insults David for being gay, highlighting the fact that in David’s reality it is socially appropriate for a grown man to act aggressively toward him, a fifteen-year old boy.

Both films alert us to the isolation that many LGBT individuals throughout the world endure and, better yet, overcome. I couldn’t help but feel grateful that I have the opportunity to watch such powerful films within the safe space of Center Cinema.