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Email Archive Page 18

From: Niall
Date: 6/5/97 5:18PM
Subject: BT showing in Belfast on 27th June
 
I have just caught up with my e-mail backlog, having this week deleted 1386
mail messages, of which 709 came from the BT list since 12th March (I have
kept some as well). So I thought it was about time I posted to the list for
the first time.
 
I am the secretary of Cara-Friend, which is the local lesbigay switchboard
in Belfast, Northern Ireland. We have arranged a fund-raising showing of BT
in the Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast on Friday 27th June at 7.15pm.
Tickets are available in advance or at the door for L5.
 
Any other list members from Northern Ireland? Email me privately.
 
Niall

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

From: chakravorty
Date: 6/5/97 5:50PM
Subject: Re: a project proposal
 
Which just goes to show - the film is so great it continues to inspire new
cohorts of viewers every day (and with the same inspiration yet)! Best of
luck on your work, it can't miss. Perhaps I can suggest yet another twist
(or chapter) - the womens point of view ;-)8 ? (you did say Boys Stories,
didn't you?). Out of curiosity, besides myself, how many other women
subscribe to this list?
 
In a related vein, I have been working on a study of the portrayal of
relationships involving older women and younger men in American
pop media. I'd love to consider media from beyond our shores and I'd
appreciate any and everyone's thoughts on this theme (especially re: BT).
But to all who responded to my original query re: Tony and Sandra, keep
your comments coming. I'm mulling some of them over and will get back to
all of you.
 
Love,
B.

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

From: J W
Date: 6/5/97 7:12PM
Subject: Renting the movie
 
I know I'm behind the power curve, but I was finally able to rent BT from
Blockbuster. The store personnel kept insisting that the video was in the
store. I figured it was just my bad luck to get to the store when someone
else picked it off the shelf. Guess where they had their one copy
mis-shelved for about three days? It was on the shelf with the 50 copies of
"Beautiful Girls." Ironic or what?
It's everything I remembered and more! :) I am remembering all of
the email messages we sent back and forth from March until now. I finally
saw the 269!! The mysterious appearing Gay Times magazines on the shelf.
I taped the audio onto a cassette so I can listen to ("see") the
movie on my 45 min. commute to work. I am amazed how clear the dialogue is.
You can also hear a lot of background chatter that I missed before. When
Sandra is getting ready for work, the radio is giving the traffic and
weather report "overnight temp 16 Celsius, tomorrow's high 28 Celsius."
Hearing just the dialogue helps when I actually get to watch the video as
well. I guess I am just hooked.
I will have to weigh in on the side of not having a BT sequel. Too
many times these are designed to cash in on the first success. How could
you improve Abbey Woods? "Some things are just hard to say."? "Dance with
me"? I like the idea about another set of characters with Jamie and Ste as
supporting cast. But I want to believe Jamie and Ste live above the Anchor,
happily ever after.
I've learned to answer mail each day. I had 73 messages on Tuesday.
I've skipped a day, so I can imagine how many will be waiting tonight. It's
great to be among friends. A digest may be the way to go. It seems to me
instead of responding to each and every message, we can combine responses to
messages. Yes, you lose the Subject: but with the growing numbers of posts
each day, we have to find ways to police the message traffic ourselves.
Poor Davie is probably busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest.
Finally, I have to say I am a Jamie fan. I think he shows a lot
more depth and sensitivity. He is the one who personifies the struggles I
have been through. He gives up sooner than his character would indicate
sometimes (the water fight with Brian McBride), but his persistence with Ste
is incredible. Is that me or what? The Peppermint Foot Lotion scene when
Ste switches ends: I noticed last night how Jamie squints his eyes, kind of
contorts his face, ever so slightly nods his head, opens his eyes with a
look of determination and then kisses Ste. Jamie's thinking: "OK, I'm
going to do this. Now. Now, I am going to do this. Just do it!! Jamie's
demeanor during the whole Anchor visit with Sandra. I love him.

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

From: JOE
Date: 6/5/97 7:17PM
Subject: Re: a project proposal
 
Bonnie wrote:
 
> Subject: a project proposal
> Date: Thursday, June 05, 1997 1:44 PM
>
> Hello all, I'm writing to you in my incarnation as academic and
popular
> culture afficiando (or afficianda as the case may be).
<snip>
> The other project, more modest, and
> probably having less mass appeal, would be a book or academic paper
about
> the fans of Beautiful Thing, ( e.g., individual interpretations,
> identification with characters, etc.) with some analyses of inter-
and
> intra group differences
<snip>
>Too often media scholars and film critics speculate on what viewers
"thought of" or "got out of" a
> film or television program, without ever collecting data from real
viewers
> (except perhaps their close personal friends or SOs, [ I base this
> impression on my experiences at national conferences on popular
culture
> where I have listened to too many papers of this ilk).
>
 
Davie wrote:
>You're a late-comer so you won't know that both these ideas have
been in the works since Andi and I >had them October 1996.
>Three publications are planned; "Beautiful Thing: the birth",
"Beautiful Thing: making of a movie", >and "Beautiful Thing: boys own
stories"
>
>Work will begin later this year on all three, with publication due
in 1998.
 
As an academic myself (yep, that's what pays for the internet access
<G>), I see possibilities in both Davie's and Bonnie's ideas, since
they only partially overlap. In fact, what Davie proposes doing is
just the sort of thing we academics write "scholarly" (had to use
quotes there, since I've been to too many of those incredibly dull
paper-reading conferences myself <G>) is phenomena like this. That
is, the fact that a movie would generate not only a web site, a
mailing list and (hopefully) a newsgroup _plus_ some books, is
something that someone could write an academic article about.
 
For example, I teach a course called Media and Society, in which
students learn to analyze media from viewpoints outside of what they
normally would as media professionals (that is, as broadcasters,
etc.) We study different media from semiological, Marxist, Freudian
and sociological perspectives. For instance, we do semiological
(signs and symbol study) of music videos, we've done Marxist analyses
of shows like "Dallas" and "Beverly Hills 90210" and we've done
Freudian analysis of fashion ads in magazines like "GQ" and
"Cosmopolitan." This year we did sociological analysis of
"marginalization," looking at how four groups - women,
African-Americans, Hispanics and gays/lesbians use are
(1)marginalized in media (stereotyping, lack of visibility, etc.) and
how they _use_ media to deal with this marginalization. We mainly
use stand-up comics from all four groups for analysis. We also talk
about how all four groups are now using other media to get their
message out and become more visible. We watched the movie,
"Celluloid Closet" to see just how the images of gays/lesbians have
changed over the years in movies.
 
Lots of "gay" movies have recently begun developing "cult"
followings, but the BT phenomenon (movie, screenplay sales, web site,
mailing list, planned book collections, etc.) beats all I've ever
seen (and I'm really happy about it, of course) and it's certainly
something that would merit further academic study.
 
So, what I'm trying to say in this long post is that _both_ Davie and
us academics probably have some future projects to work on. After
all, "Citizen Kane" inspired people to write books and articles about
the movie and then, later, people wrote about people writing books
and articles about the movie.
 
Jonathan Harvey just may not have realized what a "cottage industry"
his little story would inspire. :)
 
Gary

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

From: <HeadDr
Date: 6/5/97 8:15PM
Subject: TODAY ON THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW ---- SCOTT NEAL
 
I knew it was a brilliant idea!!! I think that it would be great!!! I
actually have a very close friend whos sister is interning this summer for
Rosie. (I know it sounds far fetched kinda like a friend of a friend, of a
friend, for a friend.... but it's actually true) She told me that Rosie is
truely very responsive to her fans and her email, "much more than you'd
thing" were her words. This is one reason why I love Rosie so much!!! When
I last talked to my sister's friend, I dropped a hint to her and invited her
to watch the movie with me but she had to leave and could not. :(
 
As for the agent thing, cannot help there except for showing my support!!!
I think that he could be a major star in the US. I wish him the best and
will be in the audience at the Rosie Show!! :)
 
jim

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

From: David
Date: 6/5/97 9:34PM
 
Subject: Apology and daily update...
 
Firstly, sorry for problems with the list earlier. For the past ten hours I've been
fighting to fix a major system crash that required the reinstallation of Win95
several times, as well as other parts of this complex beast.
 
It all started when I tried to fix the problem I've had using MS Frontpage to
work on the web sites since Monday - something was messed up and I
couldn't access my local copy to edit it.
 
Anyhow, I reinstalled FrontPage, WebSite server, MS IE 3.02, and
then more problems occurred with the memory manager in Win95 so
I'm still limping but with at least some reliability back in the system.
 
Today:
I've had a few private emails offering help on various tasks relating to our
growing BT community on the web. Chris has offered to help IRC freshers,
Sandra to translate the web site into Spanish, Olaf into German, and so on - if
I've forgotten someone please forgive me but I've had little more than 18
hours sleep in the past 6 days and I'm a wreck.
 
With permission, I'd like to compile a private web page (not linked from the contents)
with contact details for each person and what their offer of help is on.
I'll publish the URL on the list only, and you can then ask them in private email for help.
 
If you have offers for anything you might be able to contribute, maybe
you want to watch all the gay newsgroups for questions about BT,
or regularly search the web for mentions of it so we can keep a links page up-to-date...
 
All this would help me by taking a load of work off my shoulders and
allow me to concentrate on the important work of getting the merchandise
deal done and stuff made up.
 
Jason  has done a load of WAV samples which I have cleaned
up for the web site in Real Audio format. I also have the clean versions in WAV
so I will compile a series of compressed ZIP archives with them in, and a few
Windows95 Sound Schemes to keep you fantatics happy. You will then be
able to download them from the web site and use them on your PC.
 
I have been speaking to Body Shop about doing a deal with Peppermint Foot
Lotion, a special gift presentation pack. They are interested, I'll bring you
more information when there is positive news.
 
Virgin Megastores: As well as talking about allowing us to sell the UK
video from the web site (Virgin have the UK distribution rights) they're
also interested in stocking the merchandise in their stores. It won't be
the full range, probably just the clothing, although with order cards inserted
in ehatever they will carry non-Internet fans could get more using mail order.
 
Jonathan faxed over an Introduction text for the Jerusalem Pride event
which starts today. Hagai will be reading it to the assembled audience
at the Hebrew University later this afternoon. If you want to see what they are
doing visit the web site they have built for it. http://www.ma.huji.ac.il/~dafid/pride.html
 
This was funny - I had it in mind he needed for 3pm today, and Jonathan
only got it to me at 2pm, so I was panicing. I emailed the text to Hagai,
faxed it, and worried that he would be at the event as it had started, then
proceeded to call every part of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem I could,
trying to get a message to him.
 
I called the Faculty he works in, the main switchboard, the faculty of Law
where the Dean who was the introductory speaker is, I called his home and
left a message on his machine, I called the student union - and every time I
got a recorded message so I'm guessing there was some sort of national holiday!
I think Hagai tried to phone me this evening but the line was bad and he couldn't hear me.
 
Now it looks like I have my local web editing problem licked, I'll addd it
to the web site in the next hour or so - looks like I'll get to bed sometime after dawn !!!
 
Talked to Scott's UK agent about the best way we can help him find
a US agent. She was amazed at how quickly I was able to get responses
to her. Who wants to scour the web from Yahoo looking for agencies,
identify the A list, and try to locate those that specialise in bringing Brit
actors into the USA - and have a good record of doing so?
 
Faxed out press-releases announcing the 40,000 visits to the site.
 
Talked to Mathew Linfoot, who presents the GLR (Greater London Radio) LGB
programme which last week broadcast the one hour special with Jonathan.
I still hadn't received a tape. He is going to get one over to me as soon as he
can, with permission to quote from the interview and use short clips - he's all for it.
He's also going to visit the web site from his home sometime tonight - probably already been.
 
You will notice I've altered my signature slightly to reflect the true role
I seem to have assumed lately - that of co-ordinating the Internet activities
relating to BT and acting as liason between it and the people that made it possible.
 
Lastly, I'd like you to help me evaluate how effective the contents frame
of the new style web site is, and if there is anything hidden deeper in the
site that we can somehow link to from there? I've thought of adding a java script
to run an Index window alongside the browser with tips on where to find things - any comments?
 
An added advantage of having the site now on Netlink is that my logs
show the number of visits to each page, graphic, etc. Using this
information I can evaluate how best to proceed in any changes to
make the site more accessable.
 
Regards, Davie

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

From: Todd
Date: 6/5/97 9:48PM
Subject: Re: Renting the movie
 
----------
> From: J W
> Date: Thursday, June 05, 1997 7:12 PM
> Finally, I have to say I am a Jamie fan. I think he shows a lot
> more depth and sensitivity. He is the one who personifies the struggles
I
> have been through. He gives up sooner than his character would indicate
> sometimes (the water fight with Brian McBride), but his persistence with
Ste
> is incredible. Is that me or what? The Peppermint Foot Lotion scene
when
> Ste switches ends: I noticed last night how Jamie squints his eyes, kind
of
> contorts his face, ever so slightly nods his head, opens his eyes with a
> look of determination and then kisses Ste. Jamie's thinking: "OK, I'm
> going to do this. Now. Now, I am going to do this. Just do it!!
Jamie's
> demeanor during the whole Anchor visit with Sandra. I love him.
>
 
That's what I loved about his character too. Glen did such a great job of
getting into this role. Much of it seems so real that I can picture myself
doing many of the same things. I guess that's why I love the movie so
much. It is so on track with the coming out process, having your parents
find out, and finding a special connection with an other person. Of course
I don't want to single him out. Everyone did a tremendous job and that is
what makes this movie so appealing. You have the struggles of being in a
bad home life, being picked on in school, having to fight for everything
you have, having nothing to look forward to and then you have Tony mixed in
there just to make things interesting. Actually, out of all the
characters, I'd have to say I like Tony the best. He's kind of just there
and a bit clueless. It really lightens the movie when he tells Sandra what
a lobotomy (thank God for spell check) in the middle of a fight. It great!
 
Cheers all.
 
Todd

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

From: <Boiler
Date: 6/5/97 9:57PM
Subject: end of movie etc.
 
I was wondering - I'm kinda new at this and I have a question:
 
At the end of the movie, is it just me or am I the only one who is
wondering what happens next. Is Ste to move with Jamie and his mom to the
new flat or is he left back in the flat with his dad and brother. This has
been bothering me. Also, the movie has been released on video in the USA,
but in my area it costs $100.00. Is that the normal price in the US or
should I look to other places. Please help me.
 
Thanks - Jason

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

From: Speaker
Date: 6/5/97 11:04PM
Subject: Re: Renting the movie
 
And thus spake Todd ...
> Actually, out of all the
> characters, I'd have to say I like Tony the best.
 
Am I the only one who doesn't think Tony fits the description
given in the screenplay?
"He is dressed a bit New Age and is in his mid to late
twenties" A bit later it says "Tony speaks in an irritating middle-class-
trying-to-have-street-creed accent, forever trying to have the same
accent as everyone else."
Or is this just a case of my Oklahoma ears not being able to tell
teh accents apart.
In any case, I don't think he looks 27. He looks more 35 to me.
 
--

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

From: Speaker
Date: 6/5/97 11:05PM
Subject: Re: end of movie etc.
 
And thus spake Boiler...
> Also, the movie has been released on video in the USA,
> but in my area it costs $100.00. Is that the normal price in the US or
> should I look to other places. Please help me.
 
I have found ti at http://www.reel.com for around $75.00 on
NTSC VHS. That seems to be the going price. Maybe in some time (weeks?
months? years?) it will drop.
 
--

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

From: J M
Date: 6/5/97 11:18PM
Subject: Re: end of movie etc.
 
Jason,
 
The price is "Priced for rental" sometime down the road, the price
will come down. :)
 
Jason
--

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

From: Jeff
Date: 6/6/97 1:29AM
Subject: "BT" at a Lower Price
 
If you really want an early copy of BT, I suggest http://www.reel.com,
where i got my copy for about 80 bucks and a few dollars for shipping. Do a
search for Beautiful Thing. It will take you to a special page with a
picture of the butt-ugly cover, with links to a review (best to overlook
that), audience reaction and how to RENT BT and BUY BT. Yes, Reel.com
rents through the mail. You can also add your rating for BT.
 
The company is very helpful despite a messup early on after I ordered BT.
 
All the other Internet outlets for BT seems to have it listed for nearly
100 bucks.
 
 
Jeff
 
----------
> From: Boiler
> Subject: end of movie etc.
> Date: Thursday, June 05, 1997 8:57 p.m.
>
> I was wondering - I'm kinda new at this and I have a question:
>
> At the end of the movie, is it just me or am I the only one who is
> wondering what happens next. Is Ste to move with Jamie and his mom to
the
> new flat or is he left back in the flat with his dad and brother. This
has
> been bothering me. Also, the movie has been released on video in the
USA,
> but in my area it costs $100.00. Is that the normal price in the US or
> should I look to other places. Please help me.
>
> Thanks - Jason
>
>
>

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

From: <Cabaret
Date: 6/6/97 6:01AM
Subject: Re: Movies in the Heartland
 
Well, I'm from close to the Heartland. :) I live in Ohio, the northeastern
section, and to my knowledge BT wasn't in any theater anywhere around here.
:( Oh, well, I'm still bubbling tho. I got my copy of the screenplay the
other day at Broders and my copy of the movie arrived at Blockbuster
yesterday and I'm gonna pick it up today after work. Yay!!! Now all I'm
waiting on are my copy of the stageplay and a Mama Cass album that I also
ordered from Borders. Ah, well, sweet obsession. Au revoir for now!
 
Mason

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

From: "Fred
Date: 6/6/97 11:33AM
Subject: BT/Phila
 
Dear Keith,
 
I saw your postings on the BT List and just wanted to let you know that I
am from Phila also. Actually, for the last few years, I am in Phila just
on the weekends when I come home to my mostly real life. I work here in
NYC during the week. I just got a copy of the BT video if you are
interested in borrowing it. I see you are at the ACP so we may have a
little in common. Write back.
 
 
Fred

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

From: David
Date: 6/6/97 12:46PM
 
Subject: Scott Neal's Birthday.
 
Okay, I have all the cards in I think. I'll wait for last delivery tomorrow
then mail them all to him.
 
Between now and then - about 18 hours - you may, if you wish write a SHORT
email greeting to him which I will print out and include with the cards.
I mean SHORT. a paragraph at most.
 
Send your greeting
 
Regards, Davie

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

From: Meinolf
Date: 6/6/97 3:59PM
Subject: Re: Michael (was Re: Bible and homosexuality)
 
Hello Bruce,
 
> to them, a friend or a family member, is gay or lesbian. THAT'S how minds
> and attitudes will be changed-not by debating biblical passages.
I realy hope you are wrong.
Infact I belive that people, even christians, are able to learn.
 
Maybe a little to my own story.
I was thirteen when I found out I am gay or bi. And I was a practiseing
catholic at this age. And still I belive I am a christian and even a
catholic, in fact I am still a member.
 
And I think the fundamentalistik christians are a minor problem. The big
problem is that most of the christian gays do belive in a chamber of
thier heard they are sinners.
 
And as long as they do this they will be seen as sinners.
 
In fact only when they to come to the point to see this god is the one
who loves and protect us as he promiesed. And he do love us the way we
are as the whole person.
And when we belive this in our hearts the fundamentalists will loose.
 
And we all will win because we are in protecting love.
 
:-) Isn't this emotive? :-)
 
Sometimes I forgot I am not a prayer. :-)
 
But this is enough.
 
 
Meinolf
--

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

From: Meinolf
Date: 6/6/97 4:27PM
Subject: Re: MY VOTE FOR MOST EMOTIONAL SENTENCE IN MOVIE HISTORY
 
Todd  wrote:
>
> I think mine would have to be
> 'I'm happy when I'm with you'
> It's the point where he actually admits he has fallen for Ste. Really
> sweet.
You are so right! I love this scene!
 
Meinolf
 
--

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

From: Pat
Date: 6/6/97 5:22PM
 
Subject: US Consumer Video Purchase/What I thought of BT
 
Hi there! I'm new to the list, so please excuse me if this question has
been asked already.
I know that the street date for the US video release of Beautiful
Thing was on May 20. But that's for rental only, right? I've seen the video
available for purchase on online stores, but it's about $91 dollars. Eek! I
know this is currently the case with Trainspotting, another Channel 4 Film,
which is available for rental and video purchase for about $80 dollars and
I heard it will be availble for consumer purchase this November. Anyway, my
question is, does anyone know the date in which Beautiful Thing will be
available for purchase at regular video purchase price (at about $20 bucks
or so?). I'm going to go postal if I don't get my hands on it soon!
("Postal" is an American slang term meaning "crazy" or "ballistic").
 
I saw Beautiful Thing for the first time a couple days ago and just
thought I'd say that it truly is the best gay film I have ever seen, or at
least the one I can best relate to. Being a young gay guy myself, it's a
real breath of fresh air to see a film in which gay relationships are
portrayed in a realistic and truthful manner, rather than the gay
characters getting ostracized and rejected, killed, or committing suicide
which is typically the case in so many other gay films I've seen. I believe
that films portraying gays really shape the way society as a whole
perceives gays and it also "shapes the way gays view themselves," to
loosely quote from The Celluloid Closet. I really wish that the American
film industry would produce such breakthrough films like Beautiful Thing
and crush the harsh and greatly exaggerated stereotypes that exist in
America's collective mentality. I wish everyone in the world could see
Beautiful Thing. I think the film really speaks a multitude of words for me
and other gay youth around the world.
 
Thanks for reading my ramblings,
Pat

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

From: David
Date: 6/6/97 5:50PM
Subject: A response from the US video cover designer - any comments as to it's accuracy?
 
> Name TIM
> web
> comments Dear sister:
> I received a message that you (or perhaps others that visited your site)
were upset with the artwork for the home video release (in US)and how
surprised I was to find that your web site opens with the same photo that we
used on the cover of our video box!
>
> Perhaps you (or they) were referencing some other territory (Canada?) that we
are not responsible for. In any event - I am pleased with the way that the Domestic
release went out (and that the Sony Corp embraced the artwork and the product)
and that we were able to stay true to the film and still make it as accessible to as much
of the public as possible (because as a gay man, I believe that it's an important film and
that it's important for ALL people to see - especially young and isolated gay youths - but
also those that need to be educated and enlightened to our struggles.
>
> Anyway, I think that we're on the same page (certainly on the same rainbowed planet)....
>
> Lemme know if you have any further questions and/or comments.
>
> Big regards,
>
> Tim
Regards, Davie

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

From: <HeadDr
Date: 6/6/97 10:48PM
Subject: CD Cover....
 
Just got the sound track today.... I just luv it.... I've been jamming
all day. However, the subject of CD covers must come up...( After all, it is
the first thing that you see!! ) I have no other way to sugar coat it but
Ste (Scott) take off the shades...UGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!! (Whew!!!, I feel
better now!!) Gawd, I hate that picture!! Why could they not put the one
on back of the CD on the front??? It would have been perfect!!!!
 
Next subject, merchandise --- I cannot wait. I want a tee shirt and a hat
most definitely and I'm sure that I'll order more. I am assuming that this
will be available in the US too!!
 
Next subject, the video -- 80 bucks.. and that's as low as it goes for
now!!! And the FBI wonders why there is so much video piratecy going on???
But I did buy my copy of Jerry Maguire for 14.88 at Walmart today!!! :)
 
Did I mention that I lived in Alabama?? You folks in the midwest think
it's tough there... MOVE HERE!!! LOL
 
Just a bit of news, my friend that works on the Rosie show comes home next
weekend and will be watching BT with me. I'll let you know where it goes??
 
How's the agent thing going?? I hope good...!!!
 
I did go to Blockbuster today and re-rent BT... Needless to say, the sales
clerk knew who I was.... (No restraining orders has been issue yet ...
LOL!!!)
 
Ste vs. Jamie.. ++++ nothing is going to change my mind!!!!!
 
All this email... I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
 
Jim

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