Renee Gannon: Creative Voyage » Entertainment

Outfest 2009 Feature Film: Make the Yuletide Gay

reneegannon — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:19:00 +0000

Original article cross-posted from Examiner.com.

OutFest 2009 the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is the oldest continuous film festival in Los Angeles, featuring 182 films and videos from 25 countries in 7 different venues over 11 days starting July 9th and ending July 19th. Outfest will dazzle Los Angeles with 87 separate public programs – 6 galas, 68 features, 10 short film programs and 13 panels and special events.

On Thursday, July 9, Outfest will launch with the presentation of the 13th Annual Outfest Achievement Award preceding the Opening Night Gala film LA MISSION starring Benjamin Bratt.

There are many incredible movies, both short features and full-length that will be presented at this years festival. I will be featuring several must-see film picks for this year’s festival, starting with Guest House Films‘/Rob Williams’ fourth film in just under three years, the delightfully sexy romp Make the Yuletide Gay.

Make the Yuletide Gay stars openly-gay Canadian star Adamo Ruggiero (Degrassi: The Next Generation) at the Regency Fairfax Theatre on 7/14 & 7/18. The film recently had it’s sold-out World Premiere in Toronto, and practically sold out its U.S. Premiere at FilmOut San Diego.

Make the Yuletide Gay takes place at college where homo heartthrob Gunn lives out loud with his boyfriend Nathan (Adamo Ruggiero). But in the eyes of his wacky parents, Gunn is Olaf Gunnunderson, a devoted son who is 100% straight. So when Nathan shows up for a surprise holiday visit, Gunn’s worlds collide in an explosion of tinsel, eggnog and shocking revelations!

Fab magazine called it “a potential homo holiday classic,” while the festival said that “audiences were laughing so hard throughout the film they drowned out some of the best lines of dialogue!” No matter how you look at it, Make the Yuletide Gay has been getting rave reviews across the board; the first screening on the 14th has already sold out . The film has also already won four Audience Awards from FilmOut San Diego and Seoul LGBT Film Festival. It will also be screening in Philadelphia, North Carolina and some other cities as well. If you’re interested in seeing Make the Yuletide Gay, you can get your tickets here. Follow Outfest on Twitter.

What a Whirlwind of a Week (Plus Photo of the Day)

reneegannon — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:34:26 +0000

I have been a busy girl these last few days which is why I haven’t updated on here since Monday. If you must know, I went to the American Idol Finale at the Nokia Theater yesterday (May 20th) with a friend on Seat Filler tickets. You want to know more? Sure, I’ll tell you all about it. If you are unaware what a seat filler is, don’t feel ashamed, I did not either until I was graciously informed by a friend. I will now be that friend to you. A seat filler is simply this: a person who fills the seat of anyone sitting in the first 50 (or so) rows of a filmed production (like American Idol) until the ticket holder arrives. Seat Fillers also occupy empty seats during the entire show to anyone up front that needs to pee or do a line of coke in the bathroom. Producers don’t want empty seats on film. I would soon learn, for a Seat Filler, a trip to the theater becomes an evening of whimsical musical chairs with Hollywood celebrities, past Idols and glitterati galore.

Having grown up in a small-ish coastal New England town, big Hollywood-type events still leave me in a bit of shock and awe. I had no idea what to expect from my new Seat Filling obligations. Would I end up seat-less, standing in the back of a dark theater or worse, in some holding room waiting for a bladder engorged teeny bopper to pee so I could catch 30 second glimpses of the show? I was overcome with scenerios of the situation to which I was entering. It was exciting.

Before the show, we were placed in the first 5 rows. As ticket holders arrived, we were moved around, each time to a new empty seat. It was like playing the lottery. Would your seat holder arrive or would you end up with one of the best seats in the house? I was moved about 5 times before settling about 15 rows back from the stage in an aisle seat next to what I believe was some actress who has been on TV. She looked so familiar. Anyway, it was a solo seat so I prayed it’s occupant got held up at the office and couldn’t make it to the show. As luck would have it, the occupant of Seat 110, Row AA never made it to the Idol finale. I got to see the whole show from 15 rows away. Never in a million years would have imagined myself in that position, in that very moment/ It was surreal. And thanks to FOX for putting on a truly fantastic show. Fireworks? KISS? Free giveaways to the audience? It was awesome.

Now I will leave you with the Photograph-of-the-Day: Sedona Vortex. This is a little fun photoshop project I worked on from an original photo taken of me in Sedona, AZ. I experimented with different filters, brushes and filter styles. I hope you like it.

This is the original:

Adam Lambert on the Road to Stardom

reneegannon — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:33:52 +0000

The first time I met Adam Lambert, I knew he was destined for stardom. I had the pleasure of watching Adam perform months before thoughts of American Idol were floating through everyone’s head. Adam was part of an amazing LA-based cabaret group produced and hosted by Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel called Upright Cabaret. Upright Cabaret has featured cast members from over 75 Broadway shows as well as stars from Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, Cold Case, How I Met Your Mother, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, House, Nip/Tuck and countless other film and television productions.

Back in December ’08, I attended Upright’s Holiday Blowout and one of the performers was a handsomely tall boy wearing tight jeans with soft, emo eyes. He seemed quiet and soft spoken as he took the stage, yet when the music started playing, a completely different person emerged; this kid had superstar written all over him. He performed two songs that night, was vocally daring and kept the entire audience mesmerized. One of his performances included a Prince song that totally rocked my (and everyone else in the audiences) socks off.

It was only a few months later, as I was sitting down to watch the opening episodes of American Idol, there Adam Lambert was, auditioning on one of the most life-changing shows on TV. Fast forward 4.5 months later, and it’s down to the final two performers, Adam being one of them. I never once doubted for a second that Adam wouldn’t be there, especially after his version of Tears for Fears -- Mad, Mad World. To me, that song, the arrangement and the performance itself was complete and utter brilliance. No matter what the outcome of the American Idol finale is, I know Adam is going to be hugely successful in his career and I look forward to following him every step of the way.

Good luck Adam!