THEGAYUK

Search results for: “ ”

  • COLUMN | Growing up gay – my story

    Inspired by Paul Vitagliano’s book – Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay, I’ve decided to share my own story of growing up gay.

    I’m about eight or nine in this photo, it’s Christmas and I’m striking a pose in my Power Rangers pyjamas proudly showing off my new cross puppet. I remember loving to entertain others, being full of confidence and having no inhibitions. I remember being sensitive, caring and sometimes in a world of my own. My mum describes me as a child by saying I was “such a joy to have.”

    If you had shown me this photo as a teenager I’d have cringed with embarrassment. By my teen years I’d realised that I was different to others; I became very self-conscious of what my peers thought about me and was hiding my sexuality out of fear of what they’d think, say or do. I also became extremely self-critical of seemingly everything about myself.

    Today, I look at this photo and aspire to be like that younger version of myself. I am so thankful that as a child my mum instilled me with confidence to be myself and always made me feel loved. I am still learning and developing as I experience life, but there are many goals I’ve been successful in achieving and the others I’m working towards.

    If there are any gay youth who are experiencing what I did in my teens I would encourage them to stay true to who they are, only listen to the opinions of people who truly love you – they will love you for who you are, seek out support (Google: lgbt support) and come out when you’re ready.

    I look at this photo and think: how did my family not know I was gay? The answer is that they did! I was born gay and I wouldn’t be any other way.

    Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing up Gay by Paul Vitagliano can be purchased from Amazon.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | My Night With Reg

    ★★★★★ | My Night With Reg

    Kevin Elyot’s witty, warm and poignant 1994 play introduces six gay men in 1980s London over the course of three meetings. Shy and nervous Guy is hosting a flat warming and, as he prepares for the evening, John; the flashily handsome man he has spent over fifteen years nursing a crush on, arrives early.

    Bickering couple Bernie (a finicky bore) plus his testosterone fuelled bus driver partner Benny and joyously flamboyant Daniel make up the group of friends. Naïve young Birmingham painter and decorator Eric sits on the peripheries.

    Binding the men is Daniel’s lover, Reg, a mysterious and never seen figure who is never seen on stage but who the men have a surprising amount in common with, namely their night or nights with him. The script is hilarious, tightly written and very ably performed by this superb cast. The themes are writ large but always subtly played. The spectre of AIDS is a constant presence yet is never named explicitly. Unrequited love, betrayal, anxiety and loneliness are all heavily featured yet in such a way that they aren’t oppressive or laboured. It’s a testament to the late Elyot’s writing that this play is so tightly scripted and at 1 hour 50 minutes with no intervals, passes in a whir, never dragging.

    The cast are excellent and the characters are portrayed as well rounded and three-dimensional which is quite some feat in a play that has such comedic power also. There isn’t a weak link in the cast and special mention has to go to the very handsome Julian Ovenden’s prolonged moment of nudity (I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t an image that has stuck in my mind).

    Sadly, Elyot died before he could see this magnificent revival of a play that deserves not to be forgotten. Tickets are selling out very quickly so clamour online, queue for day returns, beg and scramble for one. This is a performance not to be missed.

    My Night With Reg runs until 27th of September 2014 at the Donmar Warehouse, London.

    Tickets available here

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Epstein – The Man Who Made The Beatles

    ★★★★ | Epstein – The Man Who Made The Beatles

    Brian Epstein was, as the title suggests, the man who made the Beatles. After seeing them play a lunchtime gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1961, he persuaded them to let him act as their manager (in spite of no previous experience in this role) and helped find them the record deal that would shoot them to stardom.

    In spite of his pivotal role in changing the face of British music he was often overlooked and missed out on recognition and credit for his behind the scenes influence.

    Jewish, gay in a time when homosexuality was a criminal offence and experiencing an early death aged 32 from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills; what more do we know about Brian’s life? Andrew Sherlock’s well written two-hander delves into the psyche of Epstein by imagining a night just before his death where he brings back a young man (known only as This Boy) to his swanky Belgravia apartment. The writing is tight and witty and cranks up dramatic tension, let down only slightly by the overuse of puns relating to The Beatles and the odd cheesy line and too knowing comment about the sixties. There’s plenty of absurdity in Epstein’s preening and posturing and his fragile vanity but also pathos as he reveals himself as a man who has spent his life fighting his own corner in a bullying and disapproving world for a young Jewish gay man.

    Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street, The Bill) is excellent as Epstein, even managing to look spookily like the man himself. He portrays him with skill as a well-nuanced character with endearing vulnerabilities as well as touches of monstrosity and simpering pomposity. He inhabits the stage, a convincing and versatile sixties interior, with a real presence and is entirely believable. Lancel is clearly an experienced actor at the peak of his powers and is a sight well worth seeing. Newcomer Will Finlason, as This Boy, is also extremely talented and his character acts as part narrator and partly as an excellent foil that illuminates the character of Epstein.

    The set is perfect with stylish back projections and gorgeously stylish animations that work really well to enhance the piece and create period style. The beautifully restored underground gem of the Leicester Square Theatre is an ideal venue for the show as it was dubbed the Cavern in the Town back in the 1960s due to its hosting of music acts. It’s got air conditioning too if you need to escape an oppressively hot evening for a few hours too.
    This isn’t a perfect play but it’s a good play and well worth seeing for an entertaining couple of hours.
    The play runs until the 6th of September 2014
    Buy tickets here: http://epsteintheplay.com

  • INTERVIEW | Well Strung

    Every summer for the past 15 years I’ve hot tailed it to spend my entire summer in Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod. A lot has changed since the first Brits landed there when the Mayflower docked in 1602. They only stayed five weeks before sailing on to their final destination at Plymouth Rock, and they really don’t know what they missed. This captivating beautiful small seaside town has been an artists colony, a Portuguese haven, and now it is an enchanting gay mecca that each summer sees the all-year round population of less than 3000 swell to over 60000 people.

    In a series we are calling POSTCARDS FROM P.TOWN, I will introduce you to some of the people and things that create the magic that make this such a ‘must see’ destination for gay people from all over the world.

    For the past 3 years when you bike down Commercial Street (the main drag of P Town) at dusk, it’s hard not to notice the dulcet tones coming from a String Quartet playing on the sidewalk outside The Art House to advertise their Show. These are the boys who comprise WELL STRUNG: they are four classically trained musicians who put their own spin on a repetoire of pop and classical music: and they sing too. They also are without doubt the best looking guys on the block, which is more than an added bonus. They have very quickly become a big hit with audiences and when they are not performing in P.Town they are on the road touring, and last year they actually made their London Debut at the Leicester Square Theater.

    In their first ever-exclusive UK magazine interview these four disarmingly charming men who the New York Daily News said were ‘the hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games’ sat down with TheGayUK to talk about making music, meeting men and lots more.

    First things first guys. How did Well Strung start?
    In the summer of 2010 Chris (Christopher Marchant) was here in P.Town appearing in ‘Naked Boys Singing’ and in between shows he was busking shirtless in the streets and playing his violin and attracting quite a large crowd.

    Yes, I remember him very well.
    And one person who heard him was Mark Cortale, the Artistic Director of The Art House who immediately offered him a Show at the Theater. That initial idea soon went from being a Solo Performance to maybe forming a String Quartet.

    And how did the four of you come together?
    Daniel Shevlin: (Cello) Chris called me and I was in Denver finishing a National Tour of ‘Rent’ and was wanting to move, so I jumped at the chance.

    Edmund Bagnell: (1st Violin) I was based in NY doing mainly musical theater playing Tobias in the first national tour of Sweeney Todd directed by John Doyle, and I wanted a change.

    Trevor Wadleigh: (violist) My career had taken a totally different path and at the time I was actually working in Financial Services, so I was very happy indeed to get back to performing again.

    We had out first ‘staged reading’ within a few months and then later in May 2012 we made our official debut at Joe’s Pub in N Y, and then we were ready to hit the streets of P Town with our first ever summer season.

    How conscious are you of the fact that you all look as hot as hell?
    WS: Well as artists you are always concerned with your appearance as well as your performance but we think we have evolved more since then, so now it’s much less about how we look and much more about how we sound.

    But your name alone is intentionally provocative!
    Well, our instruments are very well tuned. (laugh)

    And you were all shirtless in your first poster.
    Well, sex sells (but we don’t sell sex) and we will admit it did help us get our first few audiences in before we could depend on ‘word of mouth’.

    I remember sitting in the audience that first year and hearing people somewhat in disbelief saying ‘Wow, these boys can really play, and play well.’ But what they related to as well was how you all shared stories of your life in between your playing which really bonded you with this P-Town crowd.
    I think we also opened up the whole potential of listening to classical music to a brand new audience too, which we are so thrilled to continue to do.

    Who decides the balance of pop vs. classics in your show, and is the choice of the program a collective decision?
    We have a whole team that includes Donna Drake our Director, and David Lavinson our arranger, asides from Mark Cortale our Manager, but essentially we all get a say in what we want to play as we think it an important part of us performing is that we too enjoy all the music.

    What immediately strikes me talking to you all is that you are very close to each other. Has that closeness ever led to anything romantic between any of you?
    NO! (laughing)

    And are you all currently single or?
    Two of us are single, one is involved in a relationship and one is in the ‘its complicated ‘ stage.

    Which is which?
    That would be telling. We’ll let you try and work that out for yourself. (laugh)

    What’s your favourite thing about being Well Strung?
    Being able to combine all the things we love: namely playing our instruments, singing and getting to be actors too. We love the fact that we are a very unique group, in fact so different from the norm, that it’s tough describing it adequately to people meeting us for the first time. And most importantly we have a great deal of fun just being together and performing especially with a new audience and winning over new ‘converts’.

    And now in your third Season here in P-Town and putting the ‘sold out‘ signs up nearly every night you perform, it’s clear that visitors and locals alike love you. What do you think about the magic of this very special place that we get to call home each summer?
    It’s the Never Never Land for gay men (and women).

    (laughing) Beautifully put. What happens next for Well-Strung after the summer ends?
    We have a very extensive nationwide tour with our brand new show POPSSICAL which features the music of Beethoven, Ravel, Madonna, U2 and Miley Cyrus that is going to keep us very very busy. (dates & venues on the website) What we love about our work is that we keep discovering new audiences everywhere: young and old, gay and straight. This year we played to kids at Schools and we also performed at the International Mr Leather (IML) Convention in Chicago.

    When you say ‘perform’ at that raunchy venue you mean…?
    (laughing) Just on our instruments. But they were such a lovely crowd, and we had a blast and learned a lot too (ahem).

    And do you ever think about a life after Well Strung?
    NO! (Very empathically). We all feel that there is so much more for us to do and achieve professionally together, and as long as we and our audiences are happy, we will keep developing and creating and playing our hearts out.

    At TheGayUK the first story we ran on P-Town this summer was entitled ‘Everything Old is New Again’ which was about the remarkable fact that there are a whole plethora of both veteran and ancient stars performing here even though some are in their 80’s and beyond. Can you see yourself being in that group in the far distant future?
    (laugh) Only if you promise to hang on to review us then!

    Touché! So what did you think of London when you played there for a week at the Leicester Theatre in the Fall?
    It was our first time and we LOVED everything about the City. Everybody was so welcoming and friendly, and in fact, we had our first ever groupies there, which made us for once actually feel like rock stars! (laugh) The Brits were very generous and even though we were newcomers, by the end of our run we had ‘sold out’ which was very exciting

    And what did you think of British men?
    For some reason, we had this concept of them all being the big rugged types like the Host on TV’s ‘Restaurant Impossible’ and more than a little bit different than the average American gay man.

    I think you mean Robert Irvine who is different, and STRAIGHT!
    (laugh). Well, the Brits we met turned out to be completely different than that, and a very welcome change. Charming, good looking and very fit but not gym-body obsessed like the men in NY, and very hot indeed!

    So you like British men?
    (laugh) What’s not to like?

    And more than ‘like’ even?
    That would be telling, but let’s just say that we are putting a great deal of pressure on our Manager to close the deal that will take us back to London very soon. And not just so that we can perform on the stage!!

    Watch this space for the exclusive news when the next Well Strung London dates are announced. Meanwhile get an another taster of the Boys with their latest video Mozart meets Kelly Clarkson.

  • FILM REVIEW | Blackwood

    ★★★★ | Blackwood

    If you had just recovered from a shattering emotional breakdown, it might seem like a good idea to relocate with your wife and son to a lonely old house in the middle of a remote wood. Or so you might think. Wrong. The house, it seems, is harbouring a dark secret and Ben Marshall (Ed Stoppard) is determined to get to the bottom of it.

    Blackwood is a modern ghost story cum psychological thriller in the tradition of period pieces like The Woman in Black. According to director Adam Wimpenny and writer J.S. Hill, the team gleaned inspiration from Nicolas Roeg’s darkly atmospheric Don’t Look Now and Joseph Losey’s bleak character-led drama Accident. I’m not sure this move is on the same level of inspiration as either of those two masterpieces, but it is consistently gripping, gradually building the suspense and keeping you guessing till the end when suddenly, and tragically, everything falls into place. I do abhor those thrillers which leave you somehow hanging in mid-air at the end. This one definitely gives you a finale.

    The film looks good too with great cinematography from Dale McCready, and Adam Wimpenny has got some great performances from his cast. The name best known to most of us will be Russell Tovey, fresh from his performance in HBO drama Looking, though here in a supporting role, convincingly playing against type as the sinisterly troubled war veteran Jack and looking pretty buff too. Ed Stoppard plays a highly strung Ben, a man desperately trying to hang on to control but gradually unravelling as the film progresses. As his wife Rachel, Sophia Myles is warmly feminine, concerned for her husband and fiercely protective of her son Harry (a really nice unaffected performance from young Isaac Andrews). Completing the cast is Greg Wise as Ben’s womanising best friend and colleague Dominic, and Paul Kaye as the enigmatic local priest Father Patrick.

    With a little more depth of character than we often get in thrillers or ghost stories, it is an eminently watchable movie, sure to give you the odd start.

    Blackwood opened in cinemas across the UK on August 1st

  • Man Punched Unconscious In Homophobic Attack At Brighton Pride

    Three men who attended Brighton Pride were verbally abused and physically attacked, which left one of the men unconscious in Preston Park during Brighton Pride.

    A police investigation has been mounted and an appeal for witnesses has been launched after one man was left unconscious during Brighton Pride this past weekend.

    The incident took place after two men started to urinate near to where the victims were sitting. When they asked that the men use the toilets, the attackers became violent.

    A single blow to the face knocked one of the victims, a 44-year-old man out. The two other men chased the suspects but were attacked themselves. St John Ambulance staff treated all three of the victims.

    Detective constable Chris Bishop said: ‘The two suspects are described as being white men in their 20s or 30s with Irish accents. One of them was topless and had tattoos on his body and the other was wearing a blue vest top.

    ‘This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are appealing to anyone with information or saw what happened to speak to us on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting 1901 of 2/8.’

    Information of the attack comes just a day after residents in Hanover received homophobic leaflets posted through their doors.

  • INTERVIEW | Andrew Lancel on playing gay music manager, Epstein

    As Epstein – The Man Who Made The Beatles, opens in London’s Leicester Square Theatre, we catch up with ex-Corrie star Andrew Lancel, who plays the gay, legendary music manager to find out what made the man tick.

    Do you think that if Brian Epstein was around today that he would have been out and proud?
    I think Brian was as out as he could be then. It was a different time of course. He would never have done anything to compromise the boys (The Beatles) then or now but in short – yes I think he would be. One of the great things about this play is that Brian is very much ‘around today’ – he’s very now, his footprint is very clear in the business.

    Is it difficult playing a character like Brian Epstein who was so discreet and behind the scenes?
    He’s by far the most complex and fascinating character I’ve played. Many layered but a man full of wit and charm. He was very famous and successful so there is a lot out there to draw from. Plus speaking to people who knew him – extremely difficult but hugely rewarding. The Liverpool run went down very well and hopefully London will latch on this play too and get to know this amazing chap better. He deserves it. Everybody who knew him says the same thing. He was full of charm. He shone.

    What are your thoughts on Epstein’s untimely death? Do you think it was entirely accidental?
    Tragic. He was 32 and had a big hand in changing the world. This play is not a tribute to a tortured soul. If you look at the pictures of him most have him smiling. He had to have wit, energy and life to look after those 4! – so yes for me – entirely accidental and again watching the play people will be able to decide.

    Do you believe that Epstein struggled with his sexuality?
    Not really.

    Did he have to work harder because of it?
    He had to work harder because of many things – his sexuality, his religion, his background, his families success – but mainly because he couldn’t quite find where he should be. Until NEMS and the record store and then ultimately . The Beatles he was searching. I think he found himself in them.

    Which one of the Beatles do you think he fancied the most?
    I have theories and some inside knowledge but I’m declining my answer.. Ha ha.

    What do you think Epstein would think of X Factor and BGT if he were around today?
    Would The Beatles win X Factor? Would Cilla win Britain’s Got Talent? I think yes and anything that would boost his stable he would be behind. Brian did what he did without any of that, no text, twitter, Internet – it’s incomprehensible what The Beatles achieved in the time there were together and likewise what he did from a phone in an office.

    What’s the most interesting fact that you’ve discovered about Epstein since undertaking this role?
    Far and away that he was funny, charming and had a great sense of humour. It’s easy to assume because of what happened to him he was depressed and don’t get me wrong his life was a roller coaster and he had some dark corners (which we show). Will, Jen, Andrew and I work very hard on showing the life of this guy. It’s highs and lows.Another one would be that he held out for America until he felt it was right. That took some balls and clear genius.

    As a celebrity yourself, can you understand the pressures that Epstein has felt?
    Every job has pressure – celebrity or not. What The Beatles did was incomprehensible – their fame and their meteoric rise to it. Elvis never toured outside of the US. These guys were breaking the mould, the rules and the records daily. So I doubt anyone but Brian would really understand that kind of pressure. There’s no training for that. No guide book.

    Playing him I’ve got to understand him a fair bit – but he was under immense pressure – I think Andrew (Sherlock) has captured that brilliantly.

    Self medicating in Celeb Land seems to be such a common occurrence – and untimely deaths too, can you understand how someone can fall into the trap?
    It’s tragic. My generation seem to be saying Gone To Soon far too often. But looking back it’s always been like that hasn’t it. The highs are high… As Brian ultimately knew. He was gone at 32!

    LISTINGS INFO:
    Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles
    Leicester Square Theatre
    6 Leicester Place, London, Greater London WC2H 7BX
    30 July – 6 September 2014
    Preview Performances: 30 July – 2 August
    Mon – Sat Evenings: 7.30pm I Thurs mats 3.00pm I Sat early shows 4.00pm
    Ticket Prices: £30-£42.50

    HOW TO BOOK:
    Book online at www.leicestersquaretheatre.com |telephone 08448 733433 or in person at Leicester Square Theatre box office (Booking fees may apply)
    Writing co-commissioned by Homotopia.
    Supported by Arts Council England, Orange Amplification, Liverpool Vision and Liverpool Echo.
    Production partners: The Beatles Story (Liverpool), Hard Day’s Night Hotel (Liverpool), Hard Rock Cafe (London), The Beatles Coffee Shop/Beatles Walks (London), Gieves & Hawkes (London).
    The official hotel partner is Radisson Blu Edwardian, London.
    The official production charity partner is CALM – www.thecalmzone.net.

    Running Time 2hrs approx

    Suitable for age 14+

  • Laverne Cox Second Only To The Pope In Popularity

    According to an interview with Laverne Cox, Time magazine have named the trans-actor the 2nd most popular cover of all time.

    During an interview on CBS This Morning, Laverne Cox learned that she was the 2nd most popular cover story online according to Time Magazine editor Nancy Gibbs. The Pope was the most popular.

    There was a moment in which Laverne corrected Gayle King when the presenter said that the Orange Is The New Black star had been ‘born a boy’.

    Laverne was quick to correct her saying, ”I was assigned male at birth is the way I like to put it, because I think we’re born who we are and the gender thing is something someone imposes on you. And so I was assigned male at birth but I always felt like I was a girl.’

  • Brighton Gay Scene Targeted By Anti-Gay Leaflet Campaign

    Hateful leaflets, which condemned “homosexualism”, were posted through the letterboxes of Brighton households ahead of Brighton’s Pride event.

    An investigation is underway in Brighton today after a number of leaflets condemning homosexuality were posted through the letterboxes of residents in the Hanover area before Brighton’s pride which took part this past weekend.

    The leaflet in parts states, ‘The practice of homosexuality is both blasphemy against God and rebellion against nature.

    ‘It [is] abundantly evident that a penis is made for a vagina, and not for an anus. An anus is in fact designed solely for defecation.

    ‘Homosexuality, as well as being a sin and a vice, is essentially a neurosis, a pathological condition, the result of several factors including childhood experiences.

    ‘Homosexualism has become a cult, and by the indoctrination of school children and regular propaganda through the media, it seeks converts.

    ‘The general acceptance of homosexuality(…) will only lead to a continuing degeneration and corruption of morals, and the disintegration of family life. There is no such thing, and never can be any such thing as ‘gay marriage’.

    ‘If the practice of homosexuality is acceptable, then in time any form of sexual deviation, perversion and experimentation will be acceptable, including the progressive lowering of the age of consent, taking it below the age of puberty, and thus legalizing paedophilia.’

    A number of people in the area said that they had seen a ‘sinister looking monk’ delivering the leaflets.

    A spokesperson from Brighton’s police force said,

    ‘Police received reports on Wednesday, July 30 that homophobic leaflets had been delivered in the Hanover area of Brighton.

    ‘The PCSO for the area made contact with those who had reported the leaflets and the LGBT team at Brighton police station were made aware.’

  • Watch Adore Delano’s “Stalker”

    RuPaul’s Drag Race runner-up and former American Idol contestant Adore Delano releases the fourth single from her best selling album, Till Death Do Us Party, this Friday.

    ‘It’s a cutesy, crazy, fun, song with an ironic psycho edge’, says Adore Delano of Hello, I Love You. Like all the songs on Till Death Do Us Party, the song is based on experiences from her own life. ‘I was fatally attracted to a guy named Greg Ahern in high school. I cut his picture out of my brother’s yearbook and I would stalk him during his wrestling practices.’

    ‘When it comes to finding love, I can be aggressive,’ she admits. ‘I can also be a gentle pussycat. It all depends on the person I’m in love with… and if I ate that day or not.’

    Fans love Adore’s unapologetic psychosis. She regularly throws herself into the audience at shows to surf the crowd. She says it allows her to get closer to fans. ‘It’s like getting a giant hug from everyone all at once. I adore the adoration.’

    She’s even made a few love connections on tour. ‘I think I’m falling in love with a boy I met at a show in Australia,’ she says. ‘He’s magical.’

    And if he doesn’t reciprocate the love, that’s fine too. ‘I’ll cry about it for two days and then find a cute twink on Jack’d to forget about him.’

    Adore Delano won the hearts of millions, clawing her way to the Top 3 on this past season’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. With ferocious performances and her patented biting attitude, the teenage queen of wigs n’ cigs went on to conquer three challenges, tying Bianco Del Rio with most episode wins.

    She wasn’t new to reality television, having competed on season 7 of American Idol as her male persona, Danny Noriega. ‘I never felt so in drag than when I was out of drag’, she says of her American Idol experience. ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race gave me the opportunity to express myself and to become a role model for those who don’t necessarily fit in.’

    ‘I represent the new queens, the weirdos, the unpolished,’ she says. ‘I stand for those who have been told ‘you can’t do this.’ I’m here to say, ‘you can’.’

    Adore Delano is proof of it. Her Till Death Do Us Party album logged the biggest sales week of any Drag Race competitor, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Dance/Electronic Albums and at No. 59 on the Billboard 200.

    Her single, I Adore U, also debuted on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart at No. 49 and on the Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart at No. 34.

    Adore Delano is currently touring the world, promoting the new album. She especially loves how strongly fans are relating to Hello, I Love You. ‘It’s the song they all seem to know the words to. I guess it’s a message we can all relate with. Whether we’ve been the predator or the one being preyed upon, most have experienced some crazy love.’

    ‘There was this one guy in high school who thought I was a girl and wouldn’t leave me alone for like the whole year,” she recalls. “Eventually, I told him I had a penis and he backed off.’

    Produced by Killingsworth Recording Company, Hello, I Love You follows DTF, I Adore U, and Party, Delano’s first three smashes that helped catapult her album to the #1 spot on the iTunes dance charts earlier this summer. The album also climbed to #11 on the overall album charts. Along with the single, a brand new music video featuring Adore in all her cotton-candied gloriousness is being released. Hello, I Love You is available for purchase now on iTunes and all major online retailers.

  • FILM REVIEW | I Am Happiness On Earth

    ★★★★★ |  I Am Happiness On Earth

    Mexican filmmaker Julián Hernández’s latest cinematic treat is essentially a film within a film.

    Its protagonist Emiliano is an openly gay director whose current movie that we see in progress on screen involves filming real-life dancer Gloria Conterras and some of her students. It soon becomes apparent that Emiliano’s interests in the dancers go way beyond this project as he lusts after all the cute male ones, and soon becomes the lover of one of their number.

    For the seemingly emotionless Emiliano having a handsome lover like Octavio is simply not enough to satisfy him even though it is obvious that the young dancer is hopelessly in love with him. Monogamy equals monotony in the director’s eyes, but even with a succession of hot rent boys who are willing to satisfy his every desire, Emiliano is never happy. But then again it’s hard to know what will. He is very handsome, has a successful career that has given him both fame and fortune and seeks solace in some casual drug and alcohol but still feels completely empty.

    The movie with its sparse dialogue and its emphasis on aesthetics of these handsome Latino men and little attempt to include a conventional plot, makes this a typical Hernández movie. And one that is possibly better than A Thousand Peace Clouds Encircle the Sky and Raging Sun, Raging Sky that won him his two prestigious Teddy Awards from the Berlinale. He has this remarkable ability to photograph his men in the most seductive and sublime manner that when naked they seem so erotic and sensual that make the scenes of intimacy seem so natural and totally beautiful without ever appearing to be remotely just basically explicit or crude in any.

    There are, as always, more than a few questions when certain (of the few) strands of the story seemed to go off-kilter… such as the abandoned Octavio seeking comfort with making out with two girls as if he had now suddenly embraced bisexuality. But then again Hernández never even attempts to make our jobs easy with his lyrical style of filmmaking that focuses more on a vision that encourages us to stretch our imagination a tad more than usual.

    He is helped to this end with a heart-beating cast led by the stunning Hugo Catalán who made such an impact in ‘Clandestinos’ a few years ago, and newbie actor Alan Ramirez as the beautiful dancer Octavio.

    If you like a conventional start, middle and end to your movies, then this is certainly not one for you. However, if you are up for a very intricate piece that is shot almost like a ballet with its seemingly choreographed moves and against an exhilarating soundtrack (composed by Arturo Villela) that is steeped in both passion and pain (with sex too), then you will revel in this extraordinary new movie.

    When Emiliano says ‘I love you’ (as he often did), he means it for that moment. The trouble is that it is followed by a lot more moments. It’s doubtful if he ever will truly find happiness on earth.

More posts