#imageout

[arthurroseart]

My animated short Moonlit Kiss has been chosen to be in the Rochester LGBT Film Festival!!! You can check out more info here!

There’s both online and in person viewings by the way!

[jamesrodayrodriguezpresents]

I also love Pushing Dead, a droll comedy-drama about a struggling L.A. writer who's been HIV positive for more than 20 years, and is struggling against the loneliness of bad luck on the dating scene, as well as his fights against the insurance bureaucracy that falls short of covering the high cost of his meds. The film is more amiable than the description indicates, in part because of the likable characters created by actors James Roday (of TV's Psych), Danny Glover as a longtime friend and Robin Weigert as his friend and apartment mate. The film is a perfect choice for the festival's closing night spotlight. It's at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Dryden.

[jamesrodayrodriguezpresents]

Powerful film about being down and out and HIV positive

Pushing Dead (2016) was written and directed by Tom E. Brown. Believe it or not, this is a funny film about a not-funny situation. Dan (James Roday) has been HIV positive for over 20 years. His life is attuned to the beeping of his wristwatch. He takes his HIV medication ritually, because he needs to take the right meds at the right time to stay healthy. Suddenly, his supply of medications is interrupted, and he may be forced to go without meds for three weeks. Going without HIV medication isn't the same as going without medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol. It could be the tipping point at which HIV-positive status turns into AIDS. How Dan copes with that serious situation, and also how he goes on with his daily life, constitute the plot of the movie. Roday is an excellent actor, and you believe that this is a true life crisis. Three great supporting actors help the movie succeed: Robin Weigert as Dan's roommate, Paula; Danny Glover as his boss, Bob; and Khandi Alexander as Bob's wife, Dot. I was surprised to see Danny Glover as a supporting actor in a small, independent film. My guess is that he liked the role, and wanted to remind us of what a truly great actor he is. We saw this film at the excellent Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum, as part of the wonderful ImageOut Rochester LGBT Film Festival. It will also work well on the small screen. Pushing Dead is one of 22 films that had their New York State premiere, or their East Çoast premiere at ImageOut. My compliments to the ImageOut Programming Committee for their great success.

(Review on IMDb)

[deaflgbtqia]

ImageOUT-Rochester, NY

These are films that will be interpreted during Rochester, NY annual ImageOut film Festival. Take a look and see if you'd like to go see some of them.

Programs that will be ASL interpreted in the 2015 Festival – October 8-18, 2015

Friday, October 9th (9:30 pm)………………………”Fourth Man Out” – Little Theatre 1 Saturday, October 10th (11:30 am)………………”Upstairs Inferno” – Dryden Theatre Saturday, October 10th (2:00 pm)………………..”Drag Becomes Him” – Dryden Theatre Saturday, October 10th (4:15 pm)………………..”Naz & Maalik” – Dryden Theatre Saturday, October 10th (6:30 pm)………………..”Those People” – Dryden Theatre Saturday, October 10th (9:00 pm)………………..”54: The Director’s Cut” – Dryden Theatre Sunday, October 11th (12:15 pm)…………………”Patong Girl” some sub.– Little Theatre 2 Sunday, October 11th (9:00 pm)…………………..”Kiss Me, Kill Me” – Little Theatre 1 Monday, October 12th (6:00 pm)…………………”Tab Hunter Confidential” – Little Theatre 1 Monday, October 12th (8:30 pm)…………………”Cut Snake” – Little Theatre 1 Tuesday, October 13th (8:30 pm)…………………”Nasty Baby” – Little Theatre 1 Wednesday, October 14th (6:00 pm)……………”That’s Not Us” – Little Theatre 1 Thursday, October 15th (5:30 pm)……………….”Akron” – Little Theatre 1 Thursday, October 15th (7:45 pm)……………….”Guidance” – Little Theatre 1 [ Thursday, October 15th (9:45 pm)……………….”Secrets & Desires” shorts – Little Theatre 1 Friday, October 16th (6:00 pm)……………………”The Girl King” – Little Theatre 1 Friday, October 16th (8:30 pm)……………………”Beautiful Something” – Little Theatre 1 Friday, October 16th (11:00 pm)………………….”You’re Killing Me” – Little Theatre 1 Saturday, October 17th (11:30 am)……………..”Reel in the Closet” – Dryden Theatre Saturday, October 17th (2:00 pm)……….....”Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party” – Dryden Theatre Saturday, October 17th (7:30 pm)……………”Margarita, With a Straw” + party – Dryden theatre

[kumuhina]

"Kumu Hina Gives Hope for the Future"

by Dayna Papaleo - 10/8/14:

The perpetual news cycle means that every other day there seems to be a new sound bite in which some clueless lawmaker in an expensive suit weighs in on with whom Americans should be allowed to share their hearts and/or genitals. But movie theaters have long been refuges from all that outside noise, and at ImageOut: The Rochester Film & Video Festival, love inspires art, rather than uninformed opinion.

From Friday, October 10, to Sunday, October 19, ImageOut celebrates its 22nd year with 39 programs of features, documentaries, and short films about the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender experience.

As we learned in ImageOut 2010's screening of "Two Spirits," many indigenous cultures not only accept but embrace the idea of a third sex, one that falls somewhere in between the usual two.

Through the stirring, powerful documentary "Kumu Hina," we come to know one such mahu, a transgender Hawaiian woman named Hina Wong-Kalu devoted to helping her fellow islanders preserve their shared history by teaching traditional music and dance.

Directors Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson also chronicle Wong-Kalu's spare time as the newlywed acclimates to everyday life with a young Tongan husband whose apparent liberality is at odds with a few misogynistic old-world notions.

Watch for the scene stealing Ho'onani, a pint-sized tomboy mirror of her teacher whose preternatural wisdom gives hope for the future.

(Saturday, October 11, 11:30 a.m., Little Theatre 1)

[kumuhina]

"A Story of Deep Inner Grace, Uplifting Beauty, and Self Empowerment in a Paradisiacal Land"

ImageOut Rochester Review by Jennifer Morgan:

The inspiring documentary, Kumu Hina, introduces us to Hina Wong-Kalu, a native Hawaiian transgender woman embracing her cultural heritage in contemporary Honolulu as a respected teacher (or “kumu”), an active cultural council member, and a newlywed.

A beautifully animated prologue by Jared Greenleaf introduces us to the māhū tradition, and directors Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson (ImageOut 2009’s Out in the Silence) offer insight into Hawaiian history and culture while integrating several facets of Hina’s life with the native dance and music so dear to her.

Among the students at the Hālau Lōkahi public charter school, where Hina teaches native Hawaiian studies, we meet Ho’onani, a young tomboy who longs to lead the boys’ hula troupe in her school’s end-of-year pageant.

The compassion, support, and gentle respect that Hina brings to her students are evident throughout the film, exposing an especially rich aspect of her life and gifts as a teacher.

On assignment as a traditional burial council member, Hina oversees the respectful handling and care of native burials that may be disturbed as work on a new rail system progresses. She carefully inspects the advancing excavation and liaises between the native council, foreman, and work crews.

We share Hina’s joyful reunion with Hema, a young Tongan from Fiji still adjusting to his new life in Hawaii, and as their marriage unfolds we witness the ups and downs that come with any relationship as it enters a new phase.

Striking a balance by living an authentic life in a paradisiacal land, Hina’s story is one of deep inner grace, uplifting beauty, and self-empowerment.

Without ignoring the differences between traditional and contemporary attitudes, she molds a life full of dignity, humility, and true inner joy.

[wocwholikewoc]

It's that time again.  The festival runs Oct. 10-19, 2014.  Below I've highlighted some films with (Q)POC in them.

Kumu Hina

Out in the Night

My Straight Son

Blackbird

Appropriate Behavior

Eat with Me