Gay Directors Discuss Their Independent Gay Films

Three gay directors discussed their films and gay cinema, at a seminar in Palm Springs. They raised the question: Is there still a need for independent gay films?

With gay mainstream films and gay television shows today, some think gay cinema has become obsolete. Not so, say directors Andrew Litvack, director of Merci Docteur Rey, Christopher Herrmann, director of Ghostlight and C. Jay Cox, director of Latter Days.

Cox describes his film as "the story of a Mormon missionary who comes to Los Angeles and becomes the target of a West Hollywood party boy. It's an out romantic drama with strong comedic elements, and a clash of two cultures."

Asked if being gay affects his moviemaking, Cox says "as for my sexuality being part of the process, in some ways it has nothing to do with anything, and in other ways it colors everything that I do. It's impossible to view the world specifically without some filters that we carry around."

Cox explained why he made the movie: "Some part of me wants to see a big mushy gay romance; it's also partly autobiographical. I was a Mormon missionary."

Herrmann calls his "Ghostlight" a campy homage to dance pioneer Martha Graham. "I had the honor to get to know Martha Graham," he explained. "I knew her better than anybody. I was her biographer, and I worked with her on a documentary."

"It's not a gay film," Herrmann says, "but it has a lot of gay people and gay icons in it, such as Deborah Harry. The film came to Tribeca in New York, and then started going to gay festivals." He says that's because "I cast a brilliant man [in drag] in the role of Graham. He plays her straight."

Does his sexuality influence his work? Herrmann says this about that: "I think that being gay has allowed me to be open to gender choices that a lot of directors may not have made. I cast Richard Move in the role; I think partly because I am gay, I did that."