Jason KingShelter $14-
November 2nd 2008 07:21
Shelter $14-
One of the best coming out, gay romance films I have ever seen.
Forced to give up his dreams of art school in order to take care of his family, Zach (Trevor Wright) has become accustomed to a life where he neglects his own needs in favor of taking care of his older sister, Jeanne (Tina Holmes) and his nephew, Cody. When his best friend’s older brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe), returns home to cure a case of writer’s block, Shaun and Zach develop a friendship that develops into a true, intimate relationship. Shaun presses Zach to take control of his life, and to take ownership of his artwork. He also develops a strong bond with Cody, and Zach happily notices the positive effect Shaun’s attention has on him. As time progresses, however, a host of new issues come up. Zach struggles with his identity, his family, and friends, while trying to understand the new emotions Shaun has brought into his life. When the cat is let out of the bag, Jeanne threatens to take Cody away. Wanting nothing but the best for him, Zach is forced to decide between his pattern of always putting others’ desires first or fighting for what is really most important and appropriate for both his and Cody’s future.
This film totally blew my mind, it does not have the highest production qualities but the script and acting and plot are superb. Maybe I like it so much because it has more meaning to me? I don't know. But Brokeback had wide appeal - I am pretty sure I even saw macho biker guys crying in that one and I think this has the same appeal, it has less sexual imagery than Brokeback so don't squirm while thinking "fucking fag film" - because you douche bag I sit through a million films of guys and girls getting it on and I love, even appreciate the beauty of two people, regardless of orientation, connecting and finding the inner fairy tale we all want.
This might be another reason I loved it so much, my fave films are, as most of you know Titanic and R&J - and besides the Leo thing (LOL - yes we are secretly dating) these films represent a forbidden love. A love that should not be and yet these characters say "well f*&k it" it's what I want and I am grabbing as strong as I can and not letting go. There's my fairy tale. And what makes this film stand out is how it not only deals with the regular "coming out" story typically overdone in gay films but it throws them in a difficult life situation similar to the life story of Eminem in 8 Mile. And one thing I absolutely applaud this film for doing. Having a story with gay men and children - half the population with 1/4 of a brain actually think all gay men are secretly pedophiles. Because hell, if they aren't sleeping with who the bible say they should be sleeping with then they are probably doing it with anything. Keep the gays from the children "it might be contagious".
One thing I found a bit odd was how everyone kept working out Zach was gay like someone had told them but it was never explained. When you had to go through what Zach goes through it is a little bit harder but I suppose you can't fit all that into an hour and a half film.
Director's Statement:
About the lead character: Charismatic actor Trevor Wright is a talent on the rise who makes his breakthrough performance in Shelter.
Back in 2003, Wright was named by Teen Vogue as a “young and upcoming star that’s here to stay” alongside other talents like Kate Bosworth, Derek Luke and Scarlett Johansson. He has worked steadily since then on both the big and small screen. His film credits include the children’s film Air Buddies and the drama Special Ed, where he starred opposite "Friday Night Lights" star Connie Britton and Traffic’s D.W. Moffett. Wright will next be seen in a lead role opposite Emily Rios (Quincenera) in the drama Vicious Circle, due out later this year. His TV credits include a recurring role on “George Lopez,” and guest-star turns on series like “CSI:NY,” “NYPD Blue,” “Scrubs” and “Boston Public.” Wright also made an impression starring opposite singer Stacie Orrico in the video for her debut single “Stuck,” which at the time was the longest running video on "TRL". Wright has also done some stage work, most notably in “The Less Than Human Club,” which co-starred Amy Smart and Anna Farris. The play, written by Timothy Mason and directed by Taylor Sheridan, centered on a group of young outcasts in the turbulent 1960s.
Trevor’s entry into show business was being the first “GAP” kid, no doubt paving the way for thousands of well-dressed children. He also co-starred with Elijah Wood in the Paula Abdul video “Straight Up.” A diehard athlete who enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and other extreme type activities, Wright continues to reside in his native Los Angeles.
Another amazing thing about the film is the brilliant cinematography and art direction. Considering the budget this film tears it apart and totally rocks!! Zach is heavily into street art and they used renowned street artist Ryan Graeff.
Ryan worked closely with art director Michael Fitzgerald to transform and create magical environments for Shelter. Ryan helped create a specific language of imagery and style for the character of Zach, using shapes and color to depict Zach's evolving transformation. As the story progressed, the character's true colors showed as a caring, loving uncle-father figure, and a mature college-level street artist was born.
About Ryan Graeff:
Ryan Graeff grew up skateboarding and exploring the industrial beach community of El Segundo. His first job was as a "child slave" at Big Brother magazine at age 13. In the mid-nineties, he started doing graffiti, but it wasn't until 2005 when he really began to leave noticeable imprints on the art world.
Soon after creating the now well-known image "the bandit," Graeff started up The Restitution Press, a hand-printed, self-published collective of artists. Using a traditional silkscreen process combined with an American painterly influence, Graeff unleashed posters and zines on newsprint all over Los Angeles and San Bernardino County. Even his grandma started noticing him. After being met with an overwhelming amount of positive support, The Restitution Press has gone on to publish 12 volumes to date.
Getting to work on movies has been some of the most fun and exciting times for Graeff and he hopes to work on more film projects in the future. Graeff's current projects include a San Francisco street sheet and a New York newspaper. You can see more details on his website www.therestitutionpress.com
I LOVED this film as has many people, winner of numerous awards including Best Feature, Best Actor, and Best New Director in over 10 Film Festivals and top ten lists of variety!
If you get the opportunity to rent this one out do so! Worth $14-
And as a total aside: Morgan - I think we have found another celebrity doppelganger. Zach looks just like Shia Labouf.
One of the best coming out, gay romance films I have ever seen.
Forced to give up his dreams of art school in order to take care of his family, Zach (Trevor Wright) has become accustomed to a life where he neglects his own needs in favor of taking care of his older sister, Jeanne (Tina Holmes) and his nephew, Cody. When his best friend’s older brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe), returns home to cure a case of writer’s block, Shaun and Zach develop a friendship that develops into a true, intimate relationship. Shaun presses Zach to take control of his life, and to take ownership of his artwork. He also develops a strong bond with Cody, and Zach happily notices the positive effect Shaun’s attention has on him. As time progresses, however, a host of new issues come up. Zach struggles with his identity, his family, and friends, while trying to understand the new emotions Shaun has brought into his life. When the cat is let out of the bag, Jeanne threatens to take Cody away. Wanting nothing but the best for him, Zach is forced to decide between his pattern of always putting others’ desires first or fighting for what is really most important and appropriate for both his and Cody’s future.
This film totally blew my mind, it does not have the highest production qualities but the script and acting and plot are superb. Maybe I like it so much because it has more meaning to me? I don't know. But Brokeback had wide appeal - I am pretty sure I even saw macho biker guys crying in that one and I think this has the same appeal, it has less sexual imagery than Brokeback so don't squirm while thinking "fucking fag film" - because you douche bag I sit through a million films of guys and girls getting it on and I love, even appreciate the beauty of two people, regardless of orientation, connecting and finding the inner fairy tale we all want.
This might be another reason I loved it so much, my fave films are, as most of you know Titanic and R&J - and besides the Leo thing (LOL - yes we are secretly dating) these films represent a forbidden love. A love that should not be and yet these characters say "well f*&k it" it's what I want and I am grabbing as strong as I can and not letting go. There's my fairy tale. And what makes this film stand out is how it not only deals with the regular "coming out" story typically overdone in gay films but it throws them in a difficult life situation similar to the life story of Eminem in 8 Mile. And one thing I absolutely applaud this film for doing. Having a story with gay men and children - half the population with 1/4 of a brain actually think all gay men are secretly pedophiles. Because hell, if they aren't sleeping with who the bible say they should be sleeping with then they are probably doing it with anything. Keep the gays from the children "it might be contagious".
One thing I found a bit odd was how everyone kept working out Zach was gay like someone had told them but it was never explained. When you had to go through what Zach goes through it is a little bit harder but I suppose you can't fit all that into an hour and a half film.
Director's Statement:
Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes is what has always drawn me to cinema. It makes me realize that no matter how different we may seem, we are all essentially the same. Although situations may differ, most of our desires are quite universal. We do things for many of the same reasons, often with similar results. I wanted Shelter to be a story that anyone could relate to – a story about tuning into one’s sincere desires, finding love, and creating family.
To keep this story accessible, I wanted to make sure that the characters were struggling with more than just their sexuality. I wanted Shelter to be about identity and family. We live in a time when many of us leave our families, move far away, and create new ones. These created families are just as important in forming our identities as the ones we are born with. I wanted to show that if you can create love, you can create family, and become comfortable with who you are.
I entered the world of filmmaking through production design. I worked on large budget films where we were able to visually tell the story by building large sets and modifying locations. I also designed smaller, independent films, which taught me how to do this without expansive resources and expensive settings. These experiences taught me how to analyze a set, and reduce it down to its true purpose in the context of the film. I learned how to focus on the most important elements and make them shine. When I began Shelter, I knew that with an 18-day schedule and limited resources, we would all have to employ this philosophy and really focus on the core of what we were trying to say. In doing so, we could create a film with a simple and universal message.
Shelter is a story about people – not gay people - just people. It’s not a gay story, but a story about an ideal relationship born from a less than ideal situation. During casting, it was important to me that the cast valued this as much as I did. Both of the leads are straight. Instead of trying to sum up the experience of being gay, we simply focused on intimacy. We talked about what it felt like to stay in bed with someone all day – how rare and desirable it is, how fleeting it can be, and how much it can hurt when it’s gone. I really respect that both Trevor and Brad were able to see that it didn’t need to be any more complicated than this. This allowed them to approach the decisions their characters made from a genuine and personal place.
The rest of the amazingly talented cast and crew that assembled to make Shelter came on board for similar reasons. They found elements of the story they could relate to and wanted to help bring to the screen. Shelter is about the difficulties we have relating to both the families we are born with and the families we create. It shows that the burden of struggling through these experiences is something we all share. Making Shelter taught me how much I enjoy diving into these moments, threading them into a story, and bringing them to life.
- Jonah Markowitz To keep this story accessible, I wanted to make sure that the characters were struggling with more than just their sexuality. I wanted Shelter to be about identity and family. We live in a time when many of us leave our families, move far away, and create new ones. These created families are just as important in forming our identities as the ones we are born with. I wanted to show that if you can create love, you can create family, and become comfortable with who you are.
I entered the world of filmmaking through production design. I worked on large budget films where we were able to visually tell the story by building large sets and modifying locations. I also designed smaller, independent films, which taught me how to do this without expansive resources and expensive settings. These experiences taught me how to analyze a set, and reduce it down to its true purpose in the context of the film. I learned how to focus on the most important elements and make them shine. When I began Shelter, I knew that with an 18-day schedule and limited resources, we would all have to employ this philosophy and really focus on the core of what we were trying to say. In doing so, we could create a film with a simple and universal message.
Shelter is a story about people – not gay people - just people. It’s not a gay story, but a story about an ideal relationship born from a less than ideal situation. During casting, it was important to me that the cast valued this as much as I did. Both of the leads are straight. Instead of trying to sum up the experience of being gay, we simply focused on intimacy. We talked about what it felt like to stay in bed with someone all day – how rare and desirable it is, how fleeting it can be, and how much it can hurt when it’s gone. I really respect that both Trevor and Brad were able to see that it didn’t need to be any more complicated than this. This allowed them to approach the decisions their characters made from a genuine and personal place.
The rest of the amazingly talented cast and crew that assembled to make Shelter came on board for similar reasons. They found elements of the story they could relate to and wanted to help bring to the screen. Shelter is about the difficulties we have relating to both the families we are born with and the families we create. It shows that the burden of struggling through these experiences is something we all share. Making Shelter taught me how much I enjoy diving into these moments, threading them into a story, and bringing them to life.
About the lead character: Charismatic actor Trevor Wright is a talent on the rise who makes his breakthrough performance in Shelter.
Back in 2003, Wright was named by Teen Vogue as a “young and upcoming star that’s here to stay” alongside other talents like Kate Bosworth, Derek Luke and Scarlett Johansson. He has worked steadily since then on both the big and small screen. His film credits include the children’s film Air Buddies and the drama Special Ed, where he starred opposite "Friday Night Lights" star Connie Britton and Traffic’s D.W. Moffett. Wright will next be seen in a lead role opposite Emily Rios (Quincenera) in the drama Vicious Circle, due out later this year. His TV credits include a recurring role on “George Lopez,” and guest-star turns on series like “CSI:NY,” “NYPD Blue,” “Scrubs” and “Boston Public.” Wright also made an impression starring opposite singer Stacie Orrico in the video for her debut single “Stuck,” which at the time was the longest running video on "TRL". Wright has also done some stage work, most notably in “The Less Than Human Club,” which co-starred Amy Smart and Anna Farris. The play, written by Timothy Mason and directed by Taylor Sheridan, centered on a group of young outcasts in the turbulent 1960s.
Trevor’s entry into show business was being the first “GAP” kid, no doubt paving the way for thousands of well-dressed children. He also co-starred with Elijah Wood in the Paula Abdul video “Straight Up.” A diehard athlete who enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and other extreme type activities, Wright continues to reside in his native Los Angeles.
Another amazing thing about the film is the brilliant cinematography and art direction. Considering the budget this film tears it apart and totally rocks!! Zach is heavily into street art and they used renowned street artist Ryan Graeff.
Ryan worked closely with art director Michael Fitzgerald to transform and create magical environments for Shelter. Ryan helped create a specific language of imagery and style for the character of Zach, using shapes and color to depict Zach's evolving transformation. As the story progressed, the character's true colors showed as a caring, loving uncle-father figure, and a mature college-level street artist was born.
About Ryan Graeff:
Ryan Graeff grew up skateboarding and exploring the industrial beach community of El Segundo. His first job was as a "child slave" at Big Brother magazine at age 13. In the mid-nineties, he started doing graffiti, but it wasn't until 2005 when he really began to leave noticeable imprints on the art world.
Soon after creating the now well-known image "the bandit," Graeff started up The Restitution Press, a hand-printed, self-published collective of artists. Using a traditional silkscreen process combined with an American painterly influence, Graeff unleashed posters and zines on newsprint all over Los Angeles and San Bernardino County. Even his grandma started noticing him. After being met with an overwhelming amount of positive support, The Restitution Press has gone on to publish 12 volumes to date.
Getting to work on movies has been some of the most fun and exciting times for Graeff and he hopes to work on more film projects in the future. Graeff's current projects include a San Francisco street sheet and a New York newspaper. You can see more details on his website www.therestitutionpress.com
I LOVED this film as has many people, winner of numerous awards including Best Feature, Best Actor, and Best New Director in over 10 Film Festivals and top ten lists of variety!
If you get the opportunity to rent this one out do so! Worth $14-
And as a total aside: Morgan - I think we have found another celebrity doppelganger. Zach looks just like Shia Labouf.
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Comment by Cheryl J
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It looks like a story with great emotional depth.
Great review.
Comment by Wilson Pon
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WoW, I think this is gonna be a very emotional and great film here...
For me, I didn't care whether they're straight or queer, as long as the actors/actresses know how to bring out their truth color, then I will definitely support them!
Comment by Jason King
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CJ - I think that people get uncomfortable by it because they may find it a pleasure to watch and they relate to it (in a platonic way) then freak out because they go "oh shit - do I have gay tendencies" - for a blokey bloke this could be scary.
It does have great emotional depth, hope u can get a hold of a copy - if not let me know and will post you my copy as a loaner.
Wilson, it is an emotional film - there were a few scenes that had tears dripping off my chin. SShhh. Thanks for the comments!
Have a great day people!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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haha well i dont think i would have ever thought that!
sounds like a film i would probably really enjoy - ill keep an eye out for it!