PORTRAIT IN BLACK

back in 2009, I watched a crime thriller called PORTRAIT IN BLACK (1960, directed by Michael Gordon).Produced in the patented glossy Ross Hunter mold, this stylish soft focus sudser starred Lana Turner (dressed to the nines in stunning Jean Louis outfits) as Sheila Cabot, as a beautiful San Francisco socialite who cares for her cruel, but ailing husband (played by Lloyd Nolan), a millionaire mogul. Sheila longs to free of her husband, but not his enormous, um fortune.Enter Dr. David Rivera (played by Dr. Anthony Quinn, medicine man), who is hired to be Mr. Cabot's personal physician. The good doctor and the beleaguered wife find solace in each other's arms, becoming involved in a torrid affair.Suddenly Mr. Cabot dies from poisoning (!) and there is an ensuing murder investigation that seems to damper any hope of happiness the couple may have. Then Sheila receives an anonymous letter detailing that someone knows about the crime and implicates her and Dr. Rivera!
Sheila is convinced that her late husband's financial advisor is blackmailing her, and she and the dirty doc set out to find him, but soon he turns up dead as well. Guilt and suspicion get the best of the lovers and one decides to confesses! But which one?The film also stars Sandra Dee, John Saxon and Richard Basehart and veteran actress Anna May Wong (in her last film role). Overall, not a great film nor a over-the-top campfest, but an enjoyable melodrama. I've give it a 6 out of 10.

PORNOGRAPHY: World Premiere in New York City Tonight

As mentioned previously, I worked as Production Designer and Property Master on a provocative film called PORNOGRAPHY. PORNOGRAPHY is premiering tonight, June 8th at Newfest, the New York LGBT Film Festival. It will also screen at Frameline, the San Francisco LGBT Film Festival on June 21 and at Outfest in Los Angeles in July. Here's the trailer again to whet your appetite.

PORNOGRAPHY: You Know You Want to Watch.

Here's the amazing trailer for a film called PORNOGRAPHY from my friends at Triple Fire.

Yours truly worked on this film as Production Designer and Property Master. PORNOGRAPHY will be hitting the festival circuit in the summer of '09.

World Premiere: Newfest, the New York LGBT Film Festival, June 8.
Frameline, the San Francisco LGBT Film Festival, June 21.

You Know You Want to Watch.

SOCKET World Television Premiere TONIGHT at Midnight on LOGO

Yes, SOCKET, the 2007 sci-fi thriller with a decidedly gay twist - that I co-produced, production designed and had a brief on-screen role as "stabbing victim" (see above photo) makes it's World Television Premiere tonight, Thursday January 8th at Midnight (making it actually Friday, January 9th) on Logo.The film has received plenty of positive notices as it made the festival circuit throughout the past two years and has won several awards and is quickly building a strong cult following thanks to fervent supporters like PaperMag's Cinemaniac Dennis Dermody.In addition to being broadcast tonight, SOCKET is also available on dvd in the US, Canada and the UK via TLA Releasing, in Germany via Pro-Fun Media, in France via Optimale and soon in Taiwan. You can read much more about SOCKET on my other blog, Velvet Candy Entertainment. Tune in tonight and please support independent filmmakers who are trying to change what a "gay" film can be.