May 2013 issue of Odyssey is out and guess who’s on the cover!

DAVID W. ROSS!

Ross is lead actor in the film I DO and will be in attendance to the film’s screening at HRFF this year. Read his interview with Freddie Jordan from the magazine clips below:

You’ve waited long enough and now here it is!

With a little under a month away from the festival, you’ll now have time to browse the program schedule and buy tickets online!

Here are two ways to view the program from the homepage:

1. From the main drop down menu: Click “2013 Film Festival”
   
2. From the slideshow: Click the image of this year’s key visual banner
   

Stay tuned for news on the print program and more updates!

And be sure to follow us on social media:
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HRFF23 caught up with LEAD ACTOR of HRFF23 BEST FEATURE FILM: “MEN TO KISS” Frank Christian Marx in between falling in love with Hawaii.

TONIGHT, June 03 @ 7:45pm  MEN TO KISS 
Plays with HALF-SHARE (Alec Mapa)

Synopsis:  Colorful balloon dresses, long party nights in Berlin’s trendy clubs with drag queen Nina Queer and erotic evenings on the dining table – this is the chaotic relationship of the unequal couple of Ernst and Tobias

I’ve heard you’ve been traveling a lot these days… I’m not even sure where you are! Are you in Hawaii now? What country were you last in?

Yes I am in hawaii now and i´m completely overwhelmed. On my first day the festival staff took me and another filmmaker to a tour throughout the island. It was like I was holding my breath every twenty minutes when I saw something new and exciting. Like this place called “From here to eternity” where they filmed all these movies. I felt like I´ve landed in paradise. Or the ranch where they filmed the “Lost” Show or  the movie “Soul Surfer”. Some of the most beautiful places I´ve ever been to. And coming to hawaii was always one of my biggest dreams. I mean, Bette Midler grew up here and she is one of my alltime favorites.

How do you feel Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival differs from the other film festivals you’ve been to so far?
The festival is very unique. First of all it´s because it´s on this breathtaking island and you get to see all this breathtaking things. But second and much more important is that the festival itself is pretty amazing. Brent knows excactly what he´s doing and he´s working so hard to make sure that the visiting filmmakers having the time of their lifes here. Every single member of the festival is so friendly and supportive. Their warmth and their kindness and their knowledge blew me away. And the media attention that we´ll get from it is incredible. I had two interviews at a tv station and a radio station and both of them were such a wonderful experience. The third thing that striked me was meeting all of the other filmmakers and actors. Whether it was the gifted Patrik Ian Polk,  the amazing Anthony Meindl or the unbelievable charming Larisa Oleynik, we all got to know each other a little bit and became friends.  will never forget this island and I´m very sure that I´m coming back soon. And, by the way, we just won “best feature film” here, so it´s like the cherry on top of it. I know I´m sounding like I´m in a commercial or I´m doing a ” oh my god they´re all so wonderful” kind of “Movie Making of” feature, but this is my experience here and I´m very enthusiastic to talk about that.

Read More »

You’ve heard from the directors of Half-Share! Now here’s the inside scoop from actor Alec Mapa.

Sunday, June 03 @ 7:45pm HALF-SHARE
Plays with MEN TO KISS 

Synopsis: HRFF alums and favs. ALEC MAPA (Going Down in La La Land) and JESSE ARCHER (Violet Tendencies) star in this ecstatically hilarious Fire-Island based comedy.  Check your inhibitions on the mainland and hop aboard the fairy ferry to the Island of Misfit Boys!  Fire Island is like Summer Camp…with better abs!

Tell us what was it like filming “Half-Share” on Fire-Island?

Fire Island is a magical, hedonistic paradise and we had filmed at the very end of the season. The whole place felt like a bunch of naughty fun stuff had not just happened all summer but for the past 50 years.Michael Lucas loaned me his house and there was a mirror on the ceiling in my bedroom. It was fun as hell.

Your a HRFF Alumnus… How do you think the Honolulu Rainbow FF audience will receive “Half-Share”?

If the last audience I sat in was any indication I’m sure they’ll have a blast. I didn’t get the sense that anyone in Honolulu took themselves or the festival too seriously, and I loved that.

What is one of your favorite scenes in the film and why?

I loved when we filmed the good bye scene on the ferry. By the end of the week all of us had actually become very good friends and the affection we all felt for each other was pretty genuine. Of course, it could’ve just been acting on everyone else’s part….

If you had to choose Jesse Archer (“Lex”/writer/producer/co-director) or Sean Handley(writer/producer/co-director) to be stranded on a deserted islandwho would you pick and why?

Well, Sean is very attractive and smart and funny, but Jesse is indestructible. He can smoke or drink anything and still be a functioning person the next day. I think I’d pick Jesse because he’d get me fucked up all the time and he’d live longer.

Sunday, June 03 @ 7:45pm HALF-SHARE
Plays with MEN TO KISS 

Directed by Sean Hanley and Jesse Archer, who also stars in the film, Half-Share provides a provocative peek into the lives of six gay men sharing a beach house. Sean and Jesse share with us all the fun from making this short film.

Sunday, June 03 @ 7:45pm HALF-SHARE
Plays with MEN TO KISS 

Synopsis: HRFF alums and favs. ALEC MAPA (Going Down in La La Land) and JESSE ARCHER (Violet Tendencies) star in this ecstatically hilarious Fire-Island based comedy.  Check your inhibitions on the mainland and hop aboard the fairy ferry to the Island of Misfit Boys!  Fire Island is like Summer Camp…with better abs!

How accurate of a portrayal would you say Half-Share is of Fire Island life?

Jesse Archer: Depending on the house, it’s not that exaggerated. Drop a bunch of gay boys together on an island with few restrictions and no inhibitions and poof! Glitterbomb.

How did the cast and crew stay focused while shooting?

JA: We mainly stayed focused trying to keep the drag queen, Anita Private, alive.

Are any of the actors purposely drunk in any of the scenes?

JA: We passed around a bottle of Patron with a straw in it during the dinner scene. It was our last scene of the shoot and we got plastered enough to film a promo piece afterward where Jack Plotnick directed us in singing the theme song to Laverne & Shirley!

Which character is most like you and why?

JA and SH: The character I play – Lex. He’s outrageous, mischievous, and superficial at first glance. Also, I really am a Blouse.

We’re asking Alec Mapa to share a few funny moments of filming and working with the two of you.  What do you think he will say? =)

JA  & SH: It was very cold as we had to shoot out of season and Alec still had to dress as if it were blazing hot summer. I wager he’ll say he rather enjoyed catching pneumonia with us. Read More »

Founder of Hula Girl Productions, Connie Florez, has made many documentaries and narrative films that won several awards. At this year’s HRFF, we are honored with a sneak peak of Connie’s documentary of Hawaii LGBT history!

Saturday, June 2 @ 5:15pm FRUIT PUNCH! FILM SHORTS
Plays with: QUEEN, MY NIGHT WITH ANDREW CUNANAN, THE MAIN EVENT IN AMERICA, SLANT

Synopsis:  The Glades Project (Work in Progress) reveals an integral part of Hawaii’s culture with very-rare-film footage and performances from the 1960s-70s on the LEGENDARY Glade Show Lounge multi-tiered show-stage located in the heart of Honolulu’s Old Chinatown at 152 N. Hotel Street, which at the time was the red light district.  This is a celebrated group of local Mahus, where genders were blurred and ordinary boys became beautiful girls.

Where and how did you collect such great historical videos and photos for this film? 

Film clips and some photos are from our very own Bishop Museum Archives and DeSoto Brown.  An archive of almost 7,000 photos are from the Glade Show Lounge girls and boys through extensive research from Hawaii to NYC.   San Francisco LGBT Archives and State Library were amazing in assistance and literally weeks and weeks of research.  Our very own LGBT Center had the most extensive Library that really gave me a foundation to start.

Why should gay and straight audiences come to see The Glades Project (wip)?

The Glades Project is about our community, our ‘ohana and the changes that occurred after Hawaii statehood with new laws through our legislature.  That very law enacted after three front-page articles in our newspapers.  How a community inclusive of Families, Tourists and military enjoyed coming to the performances by the busloads to see the ‘Boys will be Girls” show….and the change that happened after the “I AM A BOY” button was required by law to be worn as a mahu or drag queen.

What has been one of your favorite stories through your interviews and why?  

Lindsey Lau, AKA Isadora Sei of the House of Sei.  The life that Lindsey lived has been truly remarkable.  As a performer on stage at the Glade Show Lounge, to a queen mother, to a civil rights activist (when she didn’t know a label existed!) for Mahu rights for housing, education and jobs.  As Isadora’s would say, ‘It is the right for any human being to have the same opportunities as any one else…I am standing up to do the right thing’.   There are many amazing interviews and each has been a journey of life.  Honestly they are all amazing and resilient, from Prince Hanalei stories Jack Cione stories and more.  All gave their stories for the first time on camera and all life has to offer, one day at a time. Read More »

Everyone has their story to tell from a trip to Vegas–America’s playground, and this particular one of Michael Jortner is bi-curiously interesting. Michael gives us more information about his Bisexual short to premiere here at HRFF.

Sunday, June 02 @ 8pm STRIP
Plays with AUGUST

Synopsis:  Brent, a recently divorced businessman in Las Vegas visits a straight nightclub, and he gets more than he gambled for when he meets blonde siren Brandi.  After hitting it off  -and several drinks later – Brandi invites Brent to her hotel suite.

Tell us why your film is titled “Strip”?

It’s a metaphor that works on several levels.  The film is set in Las Vegas so there’s the famous Strip there, where all the hotels and casinos are.  And there are a lot of strip clubs in Vegas, so we built that motif in there, along with an actual striptease that furthers the plot.  But it’s really about this character discovering who he is — and stripping off his mask, or layers of protection — and taking the biggest risk of his life.

There is no trailer for “Strip”so festival goers will need to go to the screening to see the steam and heat that is “Strip.”  What can you tease our followers with what they will be seeing in your film.

Well, STRIP, I have been told by people who have seen the film, is a “surprising story.”  It takes the viewer on a journey that is very revealing and sexual.  Several male audience members have told me the sex scene aroused them.  That made me happy.

What have you learned about directing a “progressive” threesome love scene?

I have learned that it is a real challenge!  The first thing a director has to do is make all the actors feel comfortable; they have to trust you or they will appear self-conscious.  Rehearsing fully clothed first, and then blocking well, help with that.  I also learned that, in terms of coverage, get as much of it as you can:  reaction shots, 2-shots, 3-shots.  I was also surprised at how I wanted to focus on each actor’s reactions, when I went into the shoot envisioning I would just focus on the lead actor’s.  You have to picture the end result, the edited film, and how the viewer can truly feel a part of the sexiest action of your film.

Read More »

The 23rd Annual HRFF Awards were presented on Friday Evening, June 01 and the WINNERS are:

Best Short Film
THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY

Phred Love Award- Hawaii Filmmaker
KEO WOOLFORD “LUNCTHIME”

Jack Law Award – Awarded to the person best embodying the HGLCF’s mission
GINA CURUSO

 Rainbow Award – Awarded to the film that intermixes the LGBTQ culture and introduce a new audience to the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
BIRDS OF A  FEATHER

Adam Baran Award – Awarded to the LGBTQI Filmmaker that has excellend in his/her career in the film industry
PATRIK-IAN POLK

Best Documentary Film
NO LOOK PASS

Best Feature Film
MEN TO KISS

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS!  Award photos coming soon.
Tickets still available for final 2 days of our 23rd Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.
We hope to see you here!
http://hrff.festpro.com/schedule/

http://hrff.festpro.com/films/