Email Archive Page M

From: "David

Subject: Re: I'm a martyr! *grin*

Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 10:34:17 -0000

 

"We appreciate your work, despite our suggestions for "punishment."

Actually, you don't need to be forced to watch "Barney" over the next

weeks, as I understand y'all are having elections and you'll be forced to

watch all sorts of nasty political ads. We went through that last fall

here and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone."

I don't mind the punishment!!!!!! *grin*

And, politically speaking, over here the political parties are not allowed to advertise on TV.

What we have is a system of party political broadcasts which have to be carried by all stations, and allow equal airtime for each party.

This election the gay issue is being raised strongly by several LGB pressure groups.

The Conservatives (Tory's (Sorry Tory!)) (http://www.conservative-party.org.uk/) have traditionally been the party of the family but had a large number of closet gay MPs.

The Labour party (http://www.labour.org.uk), with it's 'working class' background was once the place least likely to have gay MPs, but over the past 15 years that's changed and we now have several openly gay MPs in both the major UK parties.

One of the Labour front-bench shadow cabinet (most likely soon to be elected into government) is openly gay.

A former Tory MP, Mathew Parris, now a political satirist for the The Times (http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/Times/frontpage.html?1473142) is openly gay and non the worse for it.

The parliamentary channel is at http://www.parlchan.co.uk/index.htm

Davie.

**************************************************************

Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 10:54:30 -0500 (EST)

From: CARMEN

Subject: Politics

 

Hi Davie,

Apology accepted, sort of...We have a Progessive Conservative party here

in Canada (well, we used to, they got *majorly* trashed in the last

election (something like from 208 seats->2!)) so I've been getting Tory

jokes for years, although after the last election, it's been almost

non-existant.

Ol' Brian Mulroney really messed us up, both the country, and the party.

Now we have the Liberals (in power) the Bloc Quebecois (Official opposition,

with a strong seperatist agenda, basicly "Quebec's party", ie. *very*

regional), the Reform party (Neck and neck with the Bloc, and also regional,

except for the western (mainly Prairie) provinces instead (They can be best

characterised as "rednecks"), the NDP, which has never really been taken

seriously, and the Conservatives. So we have the Liberals who are pretty

much middle of the road moderates and on the other side we have a pack of

rabid seperatists, and a bunch of closeminded rednecks (plus the others,

but they don't really count), and we *also* have an election coming up

soon. It's a nasty situation, since there's only one really "national"

party that's available. The PC's are talking about making a comeback,

but I suspect that the Liberals are going to get all to votes from that

section of the population just to ensure that there's no possiblity of

the Bloc or Reform getting in. I mean Reform is trying to say that it's

National, but they're not fooling anyone, and God help us if the do get

in. And the Bloc is making absolutely no suggestions of national unity

at all. If they got in, they'd have the country split in half so fast it

would make your eyes spin (they've decided that Quebec wants out of

Canada, and both they and the previous Quebec government have been doing

enough fast-talking that the average Quebecer believes that it's

actually a feasible possibility! And our present Quebec Government is

headed by the guy who started the Bloc! And the Parti Quebecois (provincial

gov't) *also* has no *real* opposition.) We may not always agree with

everything the Liberals do, but they're better that a minority

government, or worse, a coalition between Reform and the Bloc. They'd

split the coutry right down the middle between them, and we'd all be in

for it. Politics in Canada, particularly in Quebec, are rather extreme!

Anyways, I'll shut up now, before I bore everyone to tears, or worse.

I can't stand politics, but unfortunately, it's a game we have to at

least understand, if not play.

Tory

**************************************************************

Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 06:54:48 -0800

From: Mike

Subject: Re: Merchandising idea

 

Bruce wrote:

> I had an idea about how to get the word out about BT merchandise

>(assuming there will be any). My boyfriend just bought a copy of the movie

>Jeffrey on video. Inside the case of the videotape was a little color

>brochure for Jeffrey merchandise (t-shirts, coffee mugs and hats). If you

>could get information like this inside the video of Beautiful Thing when

>it's released in the U.S. you could do bang up business. As far as I could

>tell the company offering the merchandise was in no way affiliated with the

>studio who released Jeffrey on video but I'm sure they came to some kind of

>mutually beneficial agreement. What do you think?

That's what I've been saying. Has anybody contacted Sony?? They're in the

vid production phase now -- may even be to late. There should be something

either in the box or on the video annoucing the BT website.

Mike

**************************************************************

From: jens.

Subject: Quote

Date: 20 Mar 1997 01:31:02 +0000

 

Hi to everyone on the list,

I recently found this short text on a german gay mailing list...

- "Was ist das fuer eine Scheisse, baeh, igitt!" - Reaktion eines

Schuelers auf den Film "Beautiful Thing". Das Jugendamt Muenster

hatte Schulen in den Film geschickt, bei der Szene, in denen sich die

beiden Hauptakteure im Wald abknutschen, "verliess eine Handvoll

Schueler demonstrativ den Kinosaal." (Rosa Zone 3/97)

[Translation by me]

- "I've never seen such shit before!", this is what a student said after watching the film "Beautiful Thing". Muenster's youth welfare office had recommended all pupils to watch it; but when Ste and Jamie started kissing in the woods, "some pupils wanted to show their dislike by leaving the cinema". (Rosa Zone 3/97)

Best greetings from Germany (which sometimes is strange) :-)

Jens

**************************************************************

From: "JOE

Subject: Gay movie web site

Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 15:38:22 -0600

 

Clem wrote to the Gay-movie list:

>You know, the weird thing is that there are a bunch of queer films out

>there. I be there will be 8-12 new or revival films that will crop up.

>There should be a bunch to talk about.

>One problem I have with lists in general is that unless I have a really

>good sense of the others on the list I feel like I'm just posting in the

>wind.

>Hey, let's build up a site dedicated to this list, it's members, and all

>the movies we talk about. It'ld be a lot of links but it could still

>cool, and kinda helpful to those thinking about joining the list. It

>would give it a history, character.

Good idea about a web site. There are lots of film sites, but none

devoted to gay-themed films of a non-porno nature.

I probably shouldn't make this offer, but I'm still on spring break, so my

mind is a bit weak <G>, but...

I have some space now available on my regular Prodigy account where I had

been storing the college's web site. They now have their own server and I'd

been pondering what to do with it.

The design wouldn't be near as spiffy as the Beautiful Thing site, but it

could serve a purpose.

I could probably even get a very rough form of it up over the next couple

of days for a test.

However....

I need some help.

(1) I deleted, unfortunately, the instructions for subscribing to the BT

list and the gay-movies list, so I need someone to send that to me to

include on the page.

(2) I have some links to some gay-themed films already, but I need more.

I've found that, if you search the Internet Movie Database for some title,

they often will have a link to a long-forgotten site about the film. I

discovered this when looking up a small film (and a wonderful film) called

"World and Time Enough." There was a link to a site with some pictures and

text about the film.

Anyone with other links needs to send them to me to include on the site.

(3) Even though I'm pretty good at putting together HTML, my graphic

design abilities are minimal. I have a very good sense of design, but I

don't have the software. So, if any of you budding artists who are whizzes

with Photoshop want to create some ideas, I'd really appreciate it. Credit

would, of course, be given on the page.

OK, I've made my offer. Now let's hear from y'all.

Gary

**************************************************************

Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 18:44:04 -0500

From: Max

Subject: Re: Gay movie web site

JOE wrote:

>

>

> However....

> I need some help.

> (1) I deleted, unfortunately, the instructions for subscribing to the BT

> list and the gay-movies list, so I need someone to send that to me to

> include on the page.

Gary,

For once, being a pack-rat pays off! Here's the info RE: subcription:

Subscribe by emailing FTList@zzapps.demon.co.uk, message having one line

which reads

> JOIN gay-movies

>

> Post articles to gay-movies@zzapps.demon.co.uk

 

Ron (HotRod)

**************************************************************

From: "David

Subject: Re: I'm a martyr! *grin*

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 17:41:28 +1000

 

: From: Bruce  wrote:

: David, I applaud your dedication to the web site and the list. Thank

you,

: thank you, thank you!

Bruce, I'd like to second that! Thanks Davie, *hugs*

**************************************************************

From: "Jeff

Subject: Random Thoughts

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 00:58:40 -0600

 

1) Davie and Tory: Thanks for the lesson on British and Canadian politics.

This only goes to show that "Beautiful Thing" transcends national

boundaries and we can all learn from it and from one another as fans. As

for American politics, we from States are all too aware about the hypocrisy

of both the Repelicans (as my favorite Nebraska state legislator calls

them) and the Democrats. The Republicans must kowtow to its bible-thumping

right wing and be tough on so-called Family Values, and the Democrats must

sell us out over issues such as gays in the military and same-sex marriages

to appeal to the queasy electorate. If only the GOP could be minimalized

like the PC in Canada and the soon-to-be-defeated Tories in the UK. But the

replacement here in the states isn't really much more stomachable.

2) Three cheers for John Hartl, an entertainment writer for the Seattle

Times, who wrote this week in a story about the 10 movies overlooked for

the Oscars:

--"Beautiful Thing." Last year's least self-conscious gay movie, about a

pair of teen-age boys whose romance is played out to a soundtrack that

mixes Mama Cass' "Make Your Own Kind of Music" with Rodgers and

Hammerstein's "Sixteen Going on Seventeen."

I'd agree, but this was a tough year for the movies. "BT" means so much to

so many and it deserves credit, but let's face it: A simple, beautiful tale

such as this faced such works as "English Patient," "Shine," "Fargo" etc.

I left "Secrets and Lies" crying the other night. Britain and its Channel

Four make incredible films. Bravo for the Brits. You leave the trash to

the us Yanks and you just keep making your own kind of music.

3) Speaking of soundtracks (what a segue!), the appropriateness of the

music for this "BT" just keeps striking me every time I listen. I'm

awaiting the actual soundtrack from a wonderful friend with whom I first

attended the movie. But I've cheated and bought Mama Cass and borrowed

someone else's Cass albums.

4) The highlight of my mostly mundane week was the arrival of a copy of

Jonathan Harvey's "BT" play script. What a lovely read. The movie truly

did the play justice, of course because the screenplay is by Jonathan. The

movie developed Jamie and Ste's relationship so much more. I got

gut-wrenching feelings during the movie scene of the run through the park.

The play, however great, didn't have the opportunity to develop that or the

visit to the Gloucester. Or the lovely wakeup scene! If you ever hear of

a staging of this play again, alert us!

5) Re: the German youth quote. What a shame. Obviously the movie doesn't

evoke the same strong positive feelings in everyone. Or maybe it meant

more to this kid than he/she was willing to admit.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Jeff in Omaha

**************************************************************

From: "David

Subject: Re: I'm a martyr! *grin*

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 14:44:11 -0000

 

: From: Bruce  wrote:

: David, I applaud your dedication to the web site and the list. Thank

you,

: thank you, thank you!

"Bruce, I'd like to second that! Thanks Davie, *hugs*"

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

Davie.

**************************************************************

From: Ralf

Subject: AW: Merchandising idea

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 06:36:06 -0800

 

... and don't forget the potential of foreign countries where the video

will be released in the next months. For those countries there is still

a lot of time to negotiate with the video release companies to have a

little flyer or brochure in the box. Besides dollars and pounds there is

also a lot of deutschmarks, guilders, shillings, francs, crowns, ... to

make :-)

Ralf

>

> Bruce  wrote:

> > I had an idea about how to get the word out about BT merchandise

> >(assuming there will be any). My boyfriend just bought a copy of the

> movie

> >Jeffrey on video. Inside the case of the videotape was a little

> color

> >brochure for Jeffrey merchandise (t-shirts, coffee mugs and hats).

> If you

> >could get information like this inside the video of Beautiful Thing

> when

> >it's released in the U.S. you could do bang up business. As far as I

> could

> >tell the company offering the merchandise was in no way affiliated

> with the

> >studio who released Jeffrey on video but I'm sure they came to some

> kind of

> >mutually beneficial agreement. What do you think?

>

> That's what I've been saying. Has anybody contacted Sony?? They're in

> the

> vid production phase now -- may even be to late. There should be

> something

> either in the box or on the video annoucing the BT website.

>

> Mike

>

**************************************************************

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 10:34:27 -0500 (EST)

From: Thom

Subject: Re: Random Thoughts

 

Hi all!

I've just been "listening in" since joining the list a week or so ago, but

Jeff's comment this morning ("Speaking of soundtracks (what a segue!), the

appropriateness of the

music for this "BT" just keeps striking me every time I listen.") inspired me

to write a note. It took me 30 years to even begin the coming out process,

so although chronologically I'm 44, process-wise I'm more like 16 and still

in the early days of self-discovery and understanding .... it's like starting

all over again. That's one of the reasons that BT is one of the most

significant films of my life --- it touched me deeply and has given me hope

and encouragement like no film/book/play/song ever has. Don't know how I

stumbled onto the BT web page last fall (thanks for all your work on that

one, Davie), but I knew I had to see the film. Although I was convinced BT

would never come to my area, IT DID! and I almost missed it... saw the last

show of the run and can't wait for the video 'cause once is not enough.

Well, back to the point of my note..... the M&P's were popular back when I

was a teen and I loved them then, but BT has brought new meaning to their

music and given it a whole new life for me. It has been incredible to listen

to the BT soundtrack (snatched it up as soon as I found a copy at the mall)

and hear a new message (very timely for me.. the second time around) in what

would otherwise be "moldy oldie" favorites. On days when I'm feeling

particularly old (44 translates to something like 103 in fag years),

listening to the soundtrack affirms that new beginnings ARE possible.

Anyway.... BT connected with the positive stuff deep down inside me that

somehow got buried under a mountain of internalized homophobia as I was

growing up and I am just so glad that BT is here and that it's making that

connection with people now before they've spent 30 years denying the goodness

of who they are..... and now I finally understand what it meant -- "you gotta

make your own kind of music..."

Thanks for listening,

Thom in Bethlehem, PA

**************************************************************

From: "JOE

Subject: Re: Random Thoughts

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 11:51:58 -0600

 

I just finished reading both the screenplay and the stage play (got both

about a week ago from amazon.com online). There are some interesting

differences between the two - some lines that get moved around from scene

to scene and some scenes that appear in one but not the other.

The stage play doesn't have the scene in the gay bar (likely for staging

difficulties), but it does have some expanded scenes elsewhere.

One of my favorite bits of dialogue that only occurs in the play is during

the scene where Jamie and Ste are reading Gay Times, looking at the ads and

finding out about the Gloucester.

Here's the dialogue (short enough to meet "fair use" copyright laws):

(As Jamie says the next speech, he gets up off the bed and runs his

fingers over the hat, very much the temptress.)

Jamie: I've never had a hat for a present before. It's a nice hat. You

gave it to me. And now, I'm gonna give you somin' to say thank you that

you'll never forget.

Ste: Jay?!

Jamie: On your back!!

Ste: (lying back) What you doin' Jamie?

Jamie: Close your eyes.

(Ste closes his eyes then opens them again. Jamie coughs a reproach. Ste

shuts them. Jamie whips out a pad and pen from under the bed. Writes.)

Jamie: Dear Miss Ellis. Sorry Steven wasn't in school today, only he was

feeling a little queer. Lot's of love, Ste's Dad!

(They collapse in laughter.)

What struck me about this scene was how much it makes Jamie the aggressor

in the relationship or, as the stage directions say, the "seductress."

Jamie at this point has decided not only what and who he is, but what Ste

is and what they will be and he's going after the relationship. We see

some of this in the peppermint foot oil scene too, but here Ste doesn't

attempt to "hide."

Gary

**************************************************************

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 14:01:09 -0500

From: JW

Subject: Favorite Scenes

 

I was re-reading the screen play last night for about the twentieth time

(when, oh when is the video going to be released here in the states?) and I

hit upon the part of the scene just before Jamie massages the Peppermint

Foot Lotion on Ste's back. I like this scene because of the dramatic style

is far and above what is indicated in the stage directions.

This is the scene where Ste has gone to Jamie's flat again after being

beaten up by Trevor or Ronnie or both when they are coming home from boxing.

Ste is sitting on the bed "crying and clutching his side, where his ribs

hurt, in pain." The reality at this point is that we don't actually see the

bruises and abrasions on Ste's chest. We have to feel the severity of Ste's

wounds through Jamie's grimace and wince when Ste "rolls the front of his

T-shirt up." Here the stage directions state that Jamie "stares at the

bruises on Ste's chest." Jamie does more than stare. He actually cringes

at the sight. This makes the bruises all the more worse, because we can't

see them. We have to "see" and "feel the pain" of them throught Jamie's

eyes and sensitivity.

The next part of the scene that is particularly well done is when Sandra

knocks at the door. The stage directions say "There are footsteps outside

the bedroom door and a knock." It may have been the acoustics of the

theater I saw Beautiful Thing in or the sound track or whatever, but I don't

remember hearing any footsteps. The first indication is the intrusive knock

at the door. I really don't think Jamie hears any footsteps at the door

either. He is too engrossed at looking at Ste's chest and the beating Ste

has just taken. When Sandra knocks, Jamie practically jumps out of his

skin. He is startled not only by the knock, but also by being jarred out of

the trance he's in staring at Ste's chest. I think Jamie is lost in the

moment of feeling a great deal of sympathy for Ste and wants to do whatever

he can to help Ste at the moment. Jamie is also startled because he may be

thinking about what he would like to do to express his love and concern for

Ste to comfort him in this time of need.

What are your favorite moments from Beautiful Thing?

Last Updated on 03/03/99