The 50 Greatest Gay Films Ever Made!

AfterElton.com just published their 2009 list of the top 50 gay films ever, based on reader polls, and I'm thrilled/elated/flattered/shocked that my film SHELTER came in at...wait for it.... okay, wait some more.... #2!!

Last year we were #3, so we're moving on up!

I know. I'm in shock. For those you that know me - or know any independent film maker - you know how hard it is to find a good script, find financing, then try to make something good for the 3 cents that people give you to make LGBT films. What we lacked in budget, we made up with on SHELTER with an absolutely fantastic creative team who really went above and beyond, due to their love of the material.

Everyone always asks me why I make gay films, and an accolade like this really continues to encourage me considering how much flack I get from my friends who make main stream features and television ("why don't you get out of the small gay pond?"). I like gay film and I want to make good movies for our community for a variety of reasons, but mainly it's due to the fact that we still have no rights in this country, the teen suicide rate in the US if 4 times that of straight kids, and there really is a lack of positive images of us in the media. You can go to your multiplex every weekend and not see a single representation of yourself. So we have this small gay market, and for a change, you and your date or a group of friends can actually go see a movie about us. Then even if your parents, your church or your school mates think you're going to hell or you're a "fag", you can hopefully feel - if only just for a bit - like you're okay.

When Jonah gave me the script for SHELTER (of all places at the Abbey at brunch one Sunday), I loved it on first read and called him immediately, knowing I wanted to produce this film. I was shocked to find out that it had not even won or made the Top 5 at that year's Outfest's Screenwriting Competition.

I just finished production on my follow-up feature A MARINE STORY, and we had the same experience on that film. I love working with writer/directors, and this time it was another talented fellow named Ned Farr. Once again, I fell in love with the script on first read. We had an absolutely stellar creative team and again, relied on the kindness of strangers for handouts all over town. You can read more about that film - which is currently in post production - at www.amarinestorymovie.com For this film, we put together a production blog so everyone can see the process in photos and videos each day of the shoot. (thanks to the love and donation of Cyndi Greening!)

By the way, if you don't know what a film producer does (don't feel bad, no one does!), here's a bullet list I put together.

And of course, I encourage you to check out SHELTER at one of my favorite lesbian owned and operated web sites, Wolfe Video, by click on the photo below:

Buy a copy by clicking on the image above.

You can read all about the poll, the films and everyone's comments at AfterElton.com

Here's the list:
1 Brokeback Mountain (2005)
2 Shelter (2007)
3 Latter Days (2003)
4 Milk (2008)
5 A Beautiful Thing (1996)
6 Get Real (1998)
7 Maurice (1987)
8 Were the World Mine (2008)
9 Trick (1999)
10 Juste Une Question D'amour (Just a Question of Love) (2000)
11 Big Eden (2000)
12 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
13 Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
14 Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008)
15 Broken Hearts Club (2000)
16 Angels in America (2003)
17 Longtime Companion (1990)
18 Jeffrey (1995)
19 Sommersturm (2004)
20 All Over the Guy (2001)
21 Mysterious Skin (2004)
22 Philadelphia(1993)
23 Burnt Money (2000)
24 Birdcage (1996)
25 Edge of Seventeen (1998)
26 My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) 27 Boy Culture (2006)
28 Parting Glances (1986)
29 Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
30 The Trip (2002)
31 Shortbus (2006)
32 The Boys in the Band (1970)
33 Yossi and Jagger (2002)
34 Another Gay Movie (2006)
35 The Bubble (2006)
36 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
37 C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
38 Coffee Date (2006)
39 Making Love (1982)
40 Prayers for Bobby (2009)
41 East Side Story (2006)
42 Love Songs (Les Chansons D'Amour) (2007)
43 Mambo Italiano (2003)
44 Adam & Steve (2005)
45 In and Out (1997)
46 My Own Private Idaho (1991)
47 Rent Count (2005)
48 Eating Out (2004)
49 Mulligans (2008)
50 Transamerica (2005)