The Outsider

I've always been Out. I've made Outsider art. I've had Outrageous sex.

 I've lived in times when to be Out was to be a bit of an Outlaw.

I like being an Outlaw.   - Phil Tarley 

On March 12 on Vice TV's Sex Before The Internet, sexual stylist  Phil Tarley will be interviewed in an episode about legendary gay porn directors. Sex Before The Internet explores a world before Pornhub and Onlyfans, analog-style! Tarley is the only fellow of the American Film Institute ever inducted into the Gay Porn Hall of Fame as producer-director Phil St. John, his nom de porn.  "I’ve directed hundreds of men having sex, choreographing them for moving cameras, like a pas deux or pas de trois. "  In  Below The Belt (1986), starring Chad Douglas,  St.John staged the first double penetration ever photographed in gay porn. DP's went on to be adapted into the sexual practice and fantasy life of almost every gay man in America. Double penetration became St. John's leitmotif culminating in his "gay porn Oscar" for Double Delights.

In the early 90s, the times swirled with currents of unique queer cultural and political change. Tarley grabbed his camera and traveled around the country, documenting the queerest subcultures he could find. He used that footage to make, The Year of The Queer, which debuted at the American Film Institute Film Festival in 1992. Tarley is currently editing a feature-length political and cultural documentary of those wild times of earthshaking queer changes in our society. Somewhat of a revolutionary, Tarley/St. John has been an in-your-face- take no prisoners-- street activist his entire life. He's been on the frontlines shooting video, performing in guerilla theater, rioting, protesting, being arrested and jailed in actions with ACTUP, Queer Nation, The Gay Liberation Front, Students For a Democratic Society (SDS), and back in the day, The Cockettes and The Angels of Light, when Tarley was dragged-up and drugged up enough to get on stage. 

"For me, politics, sex, travel, and adventure continue to be inseparable. Perhaps the wildest porn-making experience of my life was when I was in Puerto Rico shooting two tropical dick movies back-to-back in the jungles near San Juan. I couldn’t wait to write it up as a story.  I feel that now, the times are right to take my “novella” Diary of A Puerto Rican Porno and make it into a feature film. "

March 23 & March 24: New Orleans

Phil Tarley will be reading from his porno diary and from his just-completed autobiography at the Tennessee Williams, Saints, and Sinners Literary Festival at The Hotel Monteleone, in the Royal Dee Room, on March 23 at 10 AM and on March 24 at 1 PM.

Saints and Sinners, a program of the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, features LGBTQ+ writers, publishers, small presses, booksellers, promoters, and other literary professionals creating a community and network for the LGBTQ+ literary world. 

Tarley/St. John is available for on-camera, phone, or print interviews. Contact him via email.

philipmarctarley@gmail.com 

Phil Tarley, writer, filmmaker, curator, photographer, and critic has written for American Photo, LA Weekly, Wow Report, Fabrik, Advocate, Out, and other print and online publications. Excerpts of his work-in-progress autobiography have been published in The Gay and Lesbian Literary Review. https://glreview.org/thirteen/   https://glreview.org/how-i-learned-to-grift/ Tarley's on-camera cultural commentary is featured in four documentaries, which include Circus of Books on Netflix and Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story on Amazon Prime. MARCH 12: WATCH PHIL TARLEY ON VICE TV'S SEX BEFORE THE INTERNET 

A Subliminal Existentialist

Sydney Pollack: A Subliminal Existentialist

by Wes D. Gehring

Available now from Indiana Historical Society Press

“Gehring remains supreme in film comedy scholarship” - Choice

“Just about anything with film historian and media writer Wes D. Gehring’s name on it will be of quality.”

- Cinema Retro

"Gehring has a breezy and playful writing style. I found myself chucking aloud several times. His prose is also, at times, wickedly cynical...referring to the kidnapped Betty in the 1934 version of The Man Who Knew Too Much as a 'losable daughter.' " - The Hitchcock Annual

Filmmaker Sydney Pollack found his greatest success as the director of such celebrated pictures as They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, The Way We Were, Tootsie, and Out of Africa which won Pollack Oscars for both director and producer. Pollack found early success as an actor, an acting teacher, and later as a producer. In ensuing years, he would be praised as a character actor, from Dustin Hoffman's scene stealing agent in Tootsie to a sympathetic cynic in Eyes Wide Shut.

Forever curious, Pollack often used these films to see how other significant directors plied their trade. Trying to balance time for family and his many other soon-to-be-explored talents, Pollack's ability to recognize quality material also made him a producer of such memorable works as The Fabulous Baker Boys, Sense and Sensibility, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Iris, and Michael Clayton. This work weaves the story of Pollack's life and career through ten of his films and covers his relationship with two actors; teacher and mentor, Burt Lancaster, and Robert Redford, with whom he frequently collaborated

Peter Evans, Emeritus Professor of Film Studies, Queen Mary University of London, recently wrote the author, "You certainly make an excellent case for his [ Pollack's ]re-evaluation, [ while ] providing your characteristic mixture of scholarship and sharp analysis."

Order Here -

https://shop.indianahistory.org/products/sydney-pollack-a-subliminal-existentialist

"Homewrecker"

Filmmaker and horror fan Robert Hensley has made a delectable short film in the genre with the title Homewrecker - let me give my opinion on it before Robert explains it all to you.

I really love that he has gotten to the root of horror films from my youth, yeah they weren't all slasher films and bloodbaths, stuff like that. They had character, and played upon our inner anxiety and fears. 

Robert's short which won the Direct Monthly Online Film Festival is well deserved. It does  a quite modern take on an old tale La Llorona and it works like a charm. I have actually watched it a few times, it's that good. I felt the best way to convey the cool factor of it to all of you minions was this statement from the man behind it all Robert Hensley!!! 

"When did horror films become a vehicle for grotesque gore and franchisable maniacs with the weakest of plots barely gluing it all together? Thankfully, filmmakers such as James Wan are producing films which throw back to a more story and character-rich horror genre. This, too, is where I found the inspiration for HOMEWRECKER.

Rona

A huge fan of Hitchcock and Carpenter, I set out to create a short horror film which built up a sense of anticipation. The audience knows something is going on, something is coming, and it all leads up to that reveal. Blood and guts were incidental to the story as a whole.

I was inspired by the traditional fable of “La Llorona,” also known as the Wailing Woman or Woman in White. There are several variations of the tale, all featuring a beautiful woman who married for money, and kills herself in despair when her husband leaves her for another woman. In one version, she kills her children in a rage and then takes her own life when she realizes what she’s done. In all the various tellings, she comes back and walks the riverside where she drowned and wails for the loss of her children or her marriage. Whoever hears her scream is cursed to die.

For HOMEWRECKER, I focused on a failing marriage and a philandering husband. This was the catalyst for Rona to take her own life and her transformation into a vengeful spirit. While “La Llorona” is always connected to water: a stream, a river, or a lake, I chose to consider more domestic uses for water such as bathing, showering, and laundry. 

C&C (Chests & Crack)

The first horror film I actually had permission to watch was “My Bloody Valentine,” which has an infamous laundromat scene. Being a child of the eighties, the horror films I grew up with were R-rated, T&A, boy’s club franchises. I also wanted to pay tribute to these movies in some way. Getting permission to film a scene in a laundromat was a start!

Nudity was another. However, I made the decision to keep my female talent clothed, and undress the men, turning T&A into C&C (chests and crack). I cast actors who were not afraid to disrobe and appear nude on camera for a vigorous sex scene, which builds along with the drama happening with Rona at home.
​
Finally, the colors, saturation, and tones in the finished film find comparisons to the horror films of the 70’s and 80’s. Jason Lange, our cinematographer, who lit and shot HOMEWRECKER by himself, created a beautiful visual tribute to the films which inspired me."

Become a Homewrecker at:

https://homewreckerfilm.weebly.com/  

Got Ed Wood?

Alamo Drafthouse's American Genre Film Archive and Something Weird

announce brand new 4k transfer of Ed Wood's THE VIOLENT YEARS 

Coming to Blu-ray on November 21st

Enjoy The Violence!!!

Alamo Drafthouse's American Genre Film Archive, the largest non-profit genre film archive in the world, and Something Weird are excited to announce an November 21st release of THE VIOLENT YEARS on Blu-ray. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015, AGFA purchased a 4K film scanner to create new digital transfers of titles from the Something Weird library. THE VIOLENT YEARS is the third release of dozens in this partnership, following THE ZODIAC KILLER and BAT PUSSY.

Written by legendary Hollywood outsider Edward D. Wood, Jr. (PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, GLEN OR GLENDA), THE VIOLENT YEARS is the story of Paula Parkins (Jean Moorehead), a good-girl-gone-bad who leads her degenerate teenage hellcats down a path of gas station hijackings, pajama party orgies, and cold-blooded murder! From Wood's patently deranged dialogue to the scene where the gang performs a "man attack," THE VIOLENT YEARS is an essential exposé on crime, gender politics, and sweater-stealing. Remember, "This is a story of violence!"

"Ed Wood's influence is woven into our DNA," said AGFA director Joe Ziemba. "We're honored to help the world reassess his importance as a ground-breaking queer filmmaker through our release of THE VIOLENT YEARS with Something Weird. Wherever he is, we hope Ed is smiling."

Special features include:

- New 4K scan from the original camera negative!

- Commentary track with filmmaker Frank Henenlotter (BASKET CASE, FRANKENHOOKER) and Ed Wood biographer Rudolph Grey!

- Gutter-noir trailers from the Something Weird vault!

- Memorabilia scrapbook!

- Bonus movie: ANATOMY OF A PSYCHO (1961), a new 2K scan from an original theatrical print

- Reversible cover art

  

Order THE VIOLENT YEARS here.

Watch AGFA's original theatrical trailer here.  

"Sorceress" In St. Petersburg, Russia

Filmmaker
Naama Kates

This just in from Entertain Me favorite and friend Naama Kates. The indie film she wrote, directed and starred in Sorceress is headed to a Film Festival in Russia, here is the 411 from Ms. Kates herself: 

"Wheeee! Just got word "Sorceress" is an Official Selection of the White Nights Film Festival in Russia's amazing city of St. Petersburg, from April 17th-20th, just a couple weeks away!"

http://whitenightsfestival.top/en/about 

You go Naama! Nobody does it better than  you! 

While your at it why don't you do yourself a favor and saunter over to Amazon and let Sorceress put a spell on  you. If you love indie film like I do, you'll be glad you did.

Hit the Amazon link at:

https://www.amazon.com/Sorceress-Naama-Kates/dp/B06XBDZBG9/ref=pd_ybh_a_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QXHAZNZXQWMY6VNQHY6F

The Sorcery of Naama Kates

Sorceress
Naama Kates 

My first introduction to Naama Kates was as a singer/songwriter, then I came to find out she was so much more. She is also an accomplished actress as well as a screenwriter. Now she can add full fledged filmmaker to her resume' with her directorial debut Sorceress, which recently got some much deserved attention at AFM (American Film Market.) To describe this movie would be unfair to the viewer. It is something one needs to experience on their own terms. 

Me? I loved it! Here to answer five questions about it is none other than the woman behind the madness Ms. Naama Kates! 

MS:  What was the inspiration for the film?

NK: Well to me all of life is an inspiration-- whatever happens, for better or worse, if it ends up as material, I can feel like it was worthwhile... I think that's especially important to remember now, during the hard times.  Film, music, literature, comedy, art in general, reminds us that we're not alone in any of it.

That being said, I started writing what became the film in short pieces of dialogue, impressions, usually from conversations I'd had or heard that felt interesting.  And then the location- Finland- where I did my artist residency, was a huge inspiration.  Other elements of the story, of course, came from my life, and from historical figures I found interesting- like Giordano Bruno, a 16th-century alchemist, and the obsession of the film's protagonist.  I wasn't even sure I wanted to make a film, until I had to write a proposal for the residency program.  Like with most of the bigger decisions in life, I act first, and figure it out later.  

MS:  How did it feel being a first time Director?

NK: I was all over the place!  We shot it over a really short period of time, with what felt like relatively little preparation.  On the other hand, I've worked on films before with even less preparation and planning... I hardly feel like I directed anything; I had great actors and crew and a great cinematographer, and I think those ingredients, paired with a good script, are most vital.  Since I also wrote it, I wasn't so sure about that last part- the good script- haha.  It was my first time doing anything like it.  At times it was sort of incredible-- all these great people were making my ideas happen!  But then I'd think, wait, are they all just doing this because it's the job?  Does anyone actually think this is a good idea?  Checks and balances are important! 

And I couldn't have had a better experience than I did in Finland.  Everyone was so professional, intelligent, humble and straightforward. And so talented!  It's an incredibly progressive society; there is virtually no sexism there and probably never has been, really.  I am extremely grateful for that. 

MS: The Cinematography was amazing, and played a role in the story. Where did you find the cinematographer?

NK: Thank you-- and, indeed!  The cinematographer, Jarkko T. Laine, is a member of the Finnish Society of Cinematographers, like our ASC, which is an invitation-only, very prestigious organization.  In the US, I think it would have been nearly impossible for a first-time filmmaker on my budget to get a member to shoot my movie, without pulling some serious strings.  Because Finland is a much smaller country (only 5 million people) and isn't so crazy when it comes to the movie business, the artists are more accessible; I went to the FSC website and emailed Jarkko directly, and then he brought on the A.D, Ville Gronroos, and A.C., Jenni Riutta, as well as the sound recorder, Akseli Soini.  That was our crew!  And they really brought it to another level. 

MS:  Now, I don't want you to give away the ending, but while I didn't see it coming in hindsight I should have.

NK: Hehe... well, so far I haven't heard from anyone that they saw it coming.  I wanted to leave it somewhat open to interpretation.  I think that, for people who resonate with the movie, it will probably be a somewhat familiar question: am I crazy? Is this real? Is it just a coincidence? Will anyone believe me?... I think most people have those moments, and I think that the answer is never clear.  It was easy to do in the script, but I questioned it during editing-- whether it was too ambiguous.  I didn't have any guidance while I was writing, but had quite a lot of invaluable input during post-production.  I was so connected to it by then, it was impossible to be objective.

MS: To me the film is ultimately about the creative process, what would you  like the audience to take away from their experience? 

NK: I like that.  I think it doesn't have to be about the creative process in the way we usually intend-- like, it doesn't have to literally be about art.  Just about thinking differently, feeling differently, than people around you.  Wanting to be understood, and then maybe feeling that connection with someone, and then losing it.  It's also largely about dealing with loss/grief.  I think those themes are rather universal, and really I just want an audience, period!  Haha!  And ideally, I hope they take that away-- a feeling of being understood, by the film itself... 

Naama on the WWW:

https://twitter.com/naamakates?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/NaamaKates/
https://www.reverbnation.com/naamakates
https://www.youtube.com/user/delilah11
www.imdb.com/name/nm0441809/ 

Dudley Saunders "What I Won't Do"

Storyteller
Dudley Saunders

It's treat time peeps! Here is the latest from troubadour Dudley Saunders. With a statement and video from the artist, that's right two treats in one post. Happy Monday, enjoy your week!

"Here is the 9th lyric video from IN THESE BOXES (and also the album MONSTERS).  "What I Won't Do" was written for the film UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP, which I encourage you to see if you haven't.  Footage is courtesy of the filmmaker Jim Hubbard.

If you're in New York between November 17 and December 10, an video installation version of IN THESE BOXES (including this video) will be part of the new Visual AIDS exhibit, "Everyday", at La MaMa Galleria (47 Great Jones Street in the East Village)."

Dudley on Social Media at:
https://twitter.com/DudleySaunders
https://www.facebook.com/DudleySaundersMusic/
dudleysaunders.com/  

Pamela Anderson, Jane Fonda & Jake Shears Are "Connected"

Stripped Down
Pamela Anderson

Bet you'd never thought you would see this combo of three names together? Frankly, neither did I, but in the good ole biz of show these days I also know anything goes.

Oh yes, let me spill exactly how these three appear in the same headline. Pamela Anderson stars in a sci-fi short by Luke Gilford, bearing the title Connected. Which also features narration by Jane Fonda and music by Jake Shears. Got it?

Here is what filmmaker/photographer Gilford has to say about it: 

“’Connected’ is a portrait of a woman grappling with aging, self-perception, and transformation in a technologically optimized world,” Gilford explains on his website. “Jackie (Pamela Anderson) is … obsessed with self-improvement tapes (voiced by Jane Fonda), and she is soon drawn to an advanced yet enigmatic wellness spa that promises to enhance her mind, body, and soul.”
The short is quite effective and shows Ms. Anderson in a whole new light, as someone who is yearning for something different than what she has been pigeonholed as. Kudos Pamela you did a bang up job! Cheers to seeing more of this type of of thing from you in your future endeavors, stay Connected. 
View Connected after the jump!

Pamela on the net:
https://www.instagram.com/pamelaanderson/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/pamfoundation?lang=en
www.pamelaandersonfoundation.org/ 

These Are A Few Of My "Favorite Hunks"

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