Thoughts on the Kickstarter campaign for Kiss Me/ Kill Me
Hi everyone
As you may know, there is currently a Kickstarter campaign to raise funding for a movie called Kiss Me, Kill Me.
The movie is directed by David Michael Barrett who directed Such Good People which starred Randy Harrison.
Gale Harold has some kind of role (as yet undefined) in the new movie.
Recently in response to an entry in Kinwad's journal, Gaedhal posted an exchange between herself and David.
The point Gael was making was that she feels that the fandom is being exploited by people who cast Gale, sometimes in a very small role, to encourage his fans to financially support their projects.
I have to say that I agree with just about everything Gael says. I do feel that there is a degree of exploitation that goes on in these situations. And I am becoming a little cynical about it. (Saving Gale Harold's own projects of course, like The Lock.)
So I totally respect Gael's point of view.
(If you want to read what she said (and David's response), it's in one of her comments to this entry.
Kin's journal entry
However, I did support this project on Kickstarter.
And only marginally because Gale was cast in it. I supported it because I believe this film, and others like it are an part of an important process in promoting understanding and acceptance for the LGBT community.
So I thought I'd share my thoughts - the email I sent to David.
And the response I received.
Here's the text of my email:
Hi David
More than happy to support projects like this.
As a long time fag hag, I'm thrilled to see films being made by gay film makers or straight, starring gay actors or straight that are about gay people just getting on with their lives.
I don't mean "gay-themed" movies, I mean movies like SGP. For me, one of the things I liked most about that movie was that, while the two central characters were gay, that was mostly incidental to the movie as a whole.
I don't know if I'm explaining myself well, but I believe that this process of placing gay characters in central roles which are not essentially about their sexuality is incredibly important.
I honestly believe that it's the way to build understanding and therefore wider and more unconditional acceptance. To me, there's something very powerful about focusing on the "sames" rather than the "differents", if that makes sense.
Of course the differences are there - as there are differences between Yanks (no offense) and Poms and Aussies. But the tendency of many gay films (and gay literature) in general to focus on the differences and the struggles arising from those differences to some extent just keeps emphasising the "different" and therefore reinforcing the distance.
Sorry, didn't mean to climb on the soap box, but I did want to explain why I am so happy to support your work. I truly loved SGP and am looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.
The fact that Gale Harold has a role is a happy addition.
But I'd want to support the movie anyway.
Wishing you every success
Regards
Wendy
And, for those who are interested, David's response:
Hi Wendy!
Thank you so much for that very sweet email. Yes, I totally agree. I think the future of LGBT cinema should be "Victim-Free" meaning -- the fact that the characters are gay should not be what the story is about. That's what i was so thrilled to do in Such Good People.
And that's what we're doing again in Kiss Me, Kill Me. It's a murder mystery that happens to have gay characters. I could have very easily done the same movie with straight characters -- but I think making it with gay characters makes it so much more interesting.
And I agree with you about how this is the way to truly have audiences see gay people. Not as people with a problem because they're gay. But problems that anyone could have.
We're so excited about this new film -- people are responded to our campaign. We do still have a very long way to go.
But we'll get there!!!
Thanks again for your support!
DMB
So there you have it.
I think that if small films like this one are made, and have some success, then that paves the way for bigger films with gay characters in central roles that are not about their gay-ness. And that this process is an important part of "normalising" same sex characters and relationships.
Given that this is October, with its focus on anti-bullying, I'd add that I also firmly believe that this process is critical, long term, to reducing, even eliminating bullying of our LGBT sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, friends. And that that in turn may help reduce the horrific figures of suicides among LGBT teens.
So that is why I decided to support the movie on Kickstarter. It came to my attention in part because Gale Harold has some kind of role in the movie.
And also because it's directed by David who directed Randy Harrison in SGP.
But I'm supporting it because I liked SGP, I loved the way it handled the sexuality of its characters, and I truly believe that films like these have an important role to play in the fight for achieving true equality.
If you're interested in supporting it for whatever reason, the Kickstarter link is:
Kiss Me, Kill Me Kickstarter Campaign
.
As you may know, there is currently a Kickstarter campaign to raise funding for a movie called Kiss Me, Kill Me.
The movie is directed by David Michael Barrett who directed Such Good People which starred Randy Harrison.
Gale Harold has some kind of role (as yet undefined) in the new movie.
Recently in response to an entry in Kinwad's journal, Gaedhal posted an exchange between herself and David.
The point Gael was making was that she feels that the fandom is being exploited by people who cast Gale, sometimes in a very small role, to encourage his fans to financially support their projects.
I have to say that I agree with just about everything Gael says. I do feel that there is a degree of exploitation that goes on in these situations. And I am becoming a little cynical about it. (Saving Gale Harold's own projects of course, like The Lock.)
So I totally respect Gael's point of view.
(If you want to read what she said (and David's response), it's in one of her comments to this entry.
Kin's journal entry
However, I did support this project on Kickstarter.
And only marginally because Gale was cast in it. I supported it because I believe this film, and others like it are an part of an important process in promoting understanding and acceptance for the LGBT community.
So I thought I'd share my thoughts - the email I sent to David.
And the response I received.
Here's the text of my email:
Hi David
More than happy to support projects like this.
As a long time fag hag, I'm thrilled to see films being made by gay film makers or straight, starring gay actors or straight that are about gay people just getting on with their lives.
I don't mean "gay-themed" movies, I mean movies like SGP. For me, one of the things I liked most about that movie was that, while the two central characters were gay, that was mostly incidental to the movie as a whole.
I don't know if I'm explaining myself well, but I believe that this process of placing gay characters in central roles which are not essentially about their sexuality is incredibly important.
I honestly believe that it's the way to build understanding and therefore wider and more unconditional acceptance. To me, there's something very powerful about focusing on the "sames" rather than the "differents", if that makes sense.
Of course the differences are there - as there are differences between Yanks (no offense) and Poms and Aussies. But the tendency of many gay films (and gay literature) in general to focus on the differences and the struggles arising from those differences to some extent just keeps emphasising the "different" and therefore reinforcing the distance.
Sorry, didn't mean to climb on the soap box, but I did want to explain why I am so happy to support your work. I truly loved SGP and am looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.
The fact that Gale Harold has a role is a happy addition.
But I'd want to support the movie anyway.
Wishing you every success
Regards
Wendy
And, for those who are interested, David's response:
Hi Wendy!
Thank you so much for that very sweet email. Yes, I totally agree. I think the future of LGBT cinema should be "Victim-Free" meaning -- the fact that the characters are gay should not be what the story is about. That's what i was so thrilled to do in Such Good People.
And that's what we're doing again in Kiss Me, Kill Me. It's a murder mystery that happens to have gay characters. I could have very easily done the same movie with straight characters -- but I think making it with gay characters makes it so much more interesting.
And I agree with you about how this is the way to truly have audiences see gay people. Not as people with a problem because they're gay. But problems that anyone could have.
We're so excited about this new film -- people are responded to our campaign. We do still have a very long way to go.
But we'll get there!!!
Thanks again for your support!
DMB
So there you have it.
I think that if small films like this one are made, and have some success, then that paves the way for bigger films with gay characters in central roles that are not about their gay-ness. And that this process is an important part of "normalising" same sex characters and relationships.
Given that this is October, with its focus on anti-bullying, I'd add that I also firmly believe that this process is critical, long term, to reducing, even eliminating bullying of our LGBT sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, friends. And that that in turn may help reduce the horrific figures of suicides among LGBT teens.
So that is why I decided to support the movie on Kickstarter. It came to my attention in part because Gale Harold has some kind of role in the movie.
And also because it's directed by David who directed Randy Harrison in SGP.
But I'm supporting it because I liked SGP, I loved the way it handled the sexuality of its characters, and I truly believe that films like these have an important role to play in the fight for achieving true equality.
If you're interested in supporting it for whatever reason, the Kickstarter link is:
Kiss Me, Kill Me Kickstarter Campaign
.