OUTFEST2009

wow, the 27th annual outfest opened last night @ the orpheum theatre. i remember going to my first outfest film festival way back in 1985! opening night was @ the four star theater on wilshire blvd., a former porno theater that had been empty for about a year. i'm sure they got this run-down venue for free. the entire audience was approx 30 people. this included the ticket taker and usher. both whom were friends of mine. the premiere film wasMALA NOCHE by a new filmmaker named gus van sant. he did not attend. there was no after party. my how times have changed.

Outfest 2009 kicks off with the Opening Night Gala screening of writer-director Peter Bratt’s La Mission. Starring Benjamin Bratt, Jeremy Ray Valdez, and Erika Alexander, La Mission tells the story of a tough ex-con attempting to come to grips with the fact that his teenage son is gay.
Both Benjamin Bratt and Peter Bratt were @ the screening, they looked great in person. older looking than expected, very macho, definitely straight, but loving gays all the way. the film touched on some racial & the homophobic divides that are all too prevalent. although somewhat broad, and exaggerated, the film hit home on the message. benjamin bratt was excellent. sure to be an underrated performance.
the film was preceded by a tribute to filmmaker Don Roos, writer of "boys on the side," and director of "the opposite of sex." he was very funny and had some poignant remarks for young filmmakers- "when you're young we tend to focus on art and ignore life. next thing you know you're 50 years old, you have your art, but don't have a life. I encourage you to put your art aside sometimes and go for life. pursue that love interest, make a pass at that boy @ the party, chase after your first love. sometimes life is better than art."
christina ricci, lisa kudrow and CHAZ BONO also chatted the audience up.