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

>Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 18:15:19 -0400 (EDT)

>From: Taiyed

>Subject: Re: It's official, even more!

>

>Hey, I work there. Too bad my manager is homophobic. I don't think we'll be

>carrying a lot of copies of it, 2 if we're lucky. :( It's a shame because

>everyone should see it. I know I'll be recommending it to EVERY customer

>that asks what's good (which usually happens about 20 times a day).

>

>Taiyed

>

>

>In a message dated 5/4/97 4:55:57 PM, you wrote:

>

>> Hey kids, what's up? Well, I guess it's even MORE official than I

>>thought it was before: tonight I was in my local Tower Video store and

>>there on the new release board was Beautiful Thing, listed as being

>>released on 5/20. Yahoo!!!!

>>

>>cheers,

>>

>>Bruce

>

>

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

>From: "JOE"

>Subject: Re: It's official, even more!

>Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 18:30:45 -0500

>

>> Hey kids, what's up? Well, I guess it's even MORE official than

>I

>> thought it was before: tonight I was in my local Tower Video store

>and

>> there on the new release board was Beautiful Thing, listed as being

>> released on 5/20. Yahoo!!!!

>>

>> cheers,

>>

>> Bruce

>>

>Yep, two weeks from Tuesday. I have my order in (at the full price,

>but hey, it's worth it) and the video store said I could pick it up

>that afternoon.

>

>It'll be the perfect thing to watch as I pack for my vacation

>Memorial Day weekend at Pensacola Beach, Florida on Santa Rosa

>Island. Memorial Day weekend has become one of the first stops on the

>gay party "circuit" and last year there were about 70,000 folks

>there. (Although I do plan to spend some time retreating to a more

>secluded beach I found last year. :) )

>

>Gary

>

>

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

>From: "JOE"

>Subject: Re: It's official, even more!

>Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 18:34:16 -0500

>

>> From: Taiyed

>> Subject: Re: It's official, even more!

>> Date: Sunday, May 04, 1997 5:15 PM

>>

>> Hey, I work there. Too bad my manager is homophobic. I don't think

>we'll be

>> carrying a lot of copies of it, 2 if we're lucky. :( It's a shame

>because

>> everyone should see it. I know I'll be recommending it to EVERY

>customer

>> that asks what's good (which usually happens about 20 times a day).

>>

>> Taiyed

>

>I'm showing it in June to my summer Monday night film class - a

>"double feature" along with the French film, "Wild Reeds."

>What the class won't know is that my trip the following weekend to

>Atlanta will be to do volunteer work at the Atlanta Pride Festival,

>which last year attracted (according to conservative estimates by the

>Atlanta Police) 325,000 people.

>

>Ah, the joys of summer......

>

>Gary

>

>

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

>Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 23:56:46 -0400 (EDT)

>From: Taiyed

>Subject: romy & michelle

>

>Sorry this isn't bt related, but did anyone see Romy & Michelle's High School

>Reunion? I just got home from seeing it, and it gave me the same feeling

>that bt did, well kind of. Even though it was a comedy, it had that strong

>outcast theme. There was one scene where a Guy told Romy that he would dance

>with her then ditched at the senior prom. After hours of waiting Michelle

>went up to Romy and asked her to dance. It was so nice. Sorry for babbling,

>but you should see this movie if you haven't.

>

>Taiyed

>

>

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

>From: Ralf

>Subject: AW: Jamie & Ste site (was: No Subject)

>Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 00:57:39 -0700

>

>I totally agree. One of the best designed sites I've seen.

>

>Ralf

>

>>

>> I'll second that. Very profesional look. Check it out, folks!

>>

>> M>

>>

>>

>> >Looks good! Can't wait to see what evolves from this great

>> beginning.

>> >=============================================

>> >Todd

>> >

>> >----------

>> >| From: Taiyed

>> >| Subject: No Subject

>> >| Date: Saturday, May 03, 1997 12:27 AM

>> >|

>> >| Hello everyone. I just made a small site dedicated to Jamie and

>> Ste. Its

>> >| still under construction, but most of it is up. Please visit it

>> >| and sign my guestbook.

>> >| Aloha

>>

>>

>

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

>Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 06:44:59 -0800

>From: Mike

>Subject: Re: It's official, even more!

>

>That's interesting, Taiyed. What Tower Video do you work in?? The Tower

>Records/ Video store in Berkeley , CA, near where I live, carries more gay

>video (mostly porn) than any store I know of east of San Francisco. May be

>your manager but it isn't a Tower policy.

>

>M>

>

>

>

>>Hey, I work there. Too bad my manager is homophobic. I don't think we'll be

>>carrying a lot of copies of it, 2 if we're lucky. :( It's a shame because

>>everyone should see it. I know I'll be recommending it to EVERY customer

>>that asks what's good (which usually happens about 20 times a day).

>>

>>Taiyed

>>

>>

>>In a message dated 5/4/97 4:55:57 PM, you wrote:

>>

>>> Hey kids, what's up? Well, I guess it's even MORE official than I

>>>thought it was before: tonight I was in my local Tower Video store and

>>>there on the new release board was Beautiful Thing, listed as being

>>>released on 5/20. Yahoo!!!!

>>>

>>>cheers,

>>>

>>>Bruce

>

>

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

>Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 14:01:19 -0500 (CDT)

>From: Jason

>Subject: laserdisc release....

>

>Any news on a laser release?

>

>Plus, let me second the recommendation to see Romy and Michele. I loved

>it. I think it had a wonderful message on being oneself (even if oneself

>is a kind of ditsy party girl ;-) ). Maybe I was affected more because

>my ten-year reunion is coming up in two years. Hmmm, I wonder if this is

>gonna be a trend. In the 80s, we had all the brat-pack, John Hughes,

>high school angst/comedies. Are we about to receive an onslought of high

>school reunion movies with the same stars? Case in point: John Cusack

>in Grosse Pointe Blank.

>

>Better get those parachute pants altered. :-)

>

>______________________________________________________________________________

>

>

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

>Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 16:28:38 -0400 (EDT)

>From: Taiyed

>Subject: Re: It's official, even more!

>

>Yeah, its my manager. He's a cool guy and all, but he doesn't think movies

>like bt will rent... unfortunately. He didnt even bother watching the promo.

>I think if he did, I wouldn't have had the chance to see it which actually

>worked out for me. But we don't even have it posted on our upcoming movies

>for May.

>

>In a message dated 5/5/97 3:31:48 PM, you wrote:

>

>>That's interesting, Taiyed. What Tower Video do you work in?? The Tower

>>Records/ Video store in Berkeley , CA, near where I live, carries more gay

>>video (mostly porn) than any store I know of east of San Francisco. May be

>>your manager but it isn't a Tower policy.

>>

>>M>

>

>

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

>From: "Todd "

>Subject: Re: Introduction to myself - my turn I guess

>Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 19:45:42 -0400

>

>Wow! What a story! I'm 29 and just "came out" about 1 1/2 years ago.

>Actually, my mother found out when my "roommate" (now my husband) came home

>with me to visit an amusement park in the area. Of course she didn't know

>what to do so she basically told everyone. Even going so far as to go to

>the church I used to attend and ask them to pray for my "deliverance". She

>still hasn't accepted it, but my father (they're divorced) went so far as

>to come to our ceremony in October. I just wish they could have seen

>'Beautiful Thing' and see someone other than their son being in love. This

>movie really inspired me to be open and not care what others think anymore

>because I know what love can be and what it feels like to be in love.

>=============================================

>Todd

>

>----------

>From: Manuel

>Subject: Introduction to myself

>Date: Tuesday, May 06, 1997 12:25 AM

>

>Hi there!

>

>I already subscribed to the list many weeks ago and enjoyed reading all

>the messages.

>But now there seem to be less members and therefore less going on...

>To stop the downswing I decided to write my first message... and here it

>is...

>

> ( After writing the rest of this mail I realized that it got rather

>long,

> although there would be so much more to write about...

> Sorry for that... nontheless I hope some of you will read it)

>

>

>Actually I already described my reactions to Beautiful Thing in a mail

>to the BT-feedback side.

>But whatever happened, it had not been published.

>

>My name is Manuel. I am 22 years old and gay. But I did not come out

>yet. Or shall I say, I had no chance to come out yet? Let me, please,

>describe in detail.

>

>Until a year ago I lived in a very small village. There, of course, was

>no chance to come out without getting isolated. Then I moved to Vienna

>(attending university) and although I know there are some gay groups in

>town, it seems rather difficult to me to find some "gay contact".

>The problem is that I do not know any other gay people (all of my

>friends are straight) and I cannot overcome myself to visit any gay pub

>alone. (Visiting a pub alone?... without knowing anybody in there?...

>"deceiving" all of my friends?... I know that this sounds really silly

>(it even does to me), but on the other hand I am just too

>chicken-hearted... am I not?).

>

>In the last week of January I saw BT for the first time. After the movie

>I did not know what to think and what to do. I was filled with

>enthusiasm, wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. It was the first

>gay movie I saw and I really loved it... I loved Beautiful Thing, I

>loved Jamie, I loved Ste, I loved BEING GAY.

>

>But at the same time I was sad because I knew that there was no person I

>could tell about my feelings...

>I wanted to watch BT again and again.. everything seemed so easy to do..

>why couldn't it happen to me?.. OK, it's just a movie, but (as one of

>you said some time ago) it is NO fantasy... it could happen... and I

>got to know that some of you manage it to be as happy (and lucky?) as

>Jamie and Ste...why is it so difficult to me?...

>

>When I returned home I sat down and wrote a little poem (for the first

>time in my life; for those of you speaking German: you can read it at

>the end of the mail). I know that it is not that good, but hey, it was

>my first and it only took me a few minutes (intuition?).

>

>A few days later (the "Beautiful Spirits" had not yet left me) I

>couldn't do but one thing: I took my best straight friend to BT. He

>liked the movie (not "loved" it, like me) but had still no suspicion

>concerning me. So I told him I was gay. Well, he tolerated it, and what

>is more important, accepted it.

>Now there is at least one person who knows about my feelings (or parts

>of them).

>

>... and he is still the only one. I am still afraid of coming out

>"officially" because there is nobody who really stands behind me. If

>there only would be a gay friend to talk with... a person to go through

>thick and thin... someone to share joys and sorrows with... if there

>only would be a Ste for me, then I would love to go out and tell

>everybody that I am GAY and that I love being GAY...

>

>But... there is nobody... and so it makes no sense to me to come out.

>

>Nontheless, I do not give up hoping and I am still waiting for my

>BEAUTIFUL THING.

>

>Enough for today.

>Thank you for listening to me. Maybe it is possible to hear some

>reactions of you.

>

>Love, Manuel.

>============================================================================

>==============

>

>PS: A kind of poem (in German).

>

>

> _____________________________________________________

> Beautiful Thing.

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Im Film war es noch leicht;

> Und wenn nicht leicht, dann doch zumindest möglich.

> Eins und eins ist zwei. Egal, woher und wer der eine,

> egal, warum und wie der andere.

> Mann und Frau, Frau und Mann, Frau und Frau -

>

> - Mann und Mann.

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Für mich klingt es zwar leicht und echt,

> doch was bin ich denn schon?

> Wer bin ich denn?

> Bin ich denn wer, so wie ich bin?

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Doch alles was ich will,

> ist jemand, der bei mir ist;

> jemand, der mich liebt,

> jemand, den ich liebe.

> Ist das so viel verlangt?

> Ist das zu viel verlangt?

> Ist das unmöglich zu erreichen?

>

> Nicht unmöglich, wie ich weiß.

> Unmöglich nur für mich.

>

> Was fehlt, ist Mut.

> Der Mut in mir, hervorzutreten

> aus dem Schatten meiner selbst.

> Mich nicht mehr zu verstellen,

> offen zu sagen, wer ich bin.

> Denn ich weiß ja doch, wer ich bin;

> daß ich jemand bin.

> Doch das läßt man mich nicht wirklich sein.

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Im Film war es noch leicht.

> ( Ich liebe diesen Film.)

> Doch nach dem Film ist alles wieder schwierig.

>

> Beautiful Thing ?

> _____________________________________________________

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

>Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 20:47:54 -0400 (EDT)

>From: Taiyed

>Subject: Re: Introduction to myself

>

>That was a very nice introduction of yourself Manuel. I took to the movie

>like you did. I'm 21 and find no rush to come out until I have a reason. At

>least you had the courage to tell someone, even if it is just one person. It

>is difficult to admit being gay, I never crossed over that line yet. I know

>if I ever did come out, I would get the boot. Thats what tripped me out

>about beautiful thing, my homelife is like Ste's. The only difference is I

>have a mother, but she's helpless against the abuse and often turns the other

>way. I have a few gay friends, and my straight friends from high school

>always used to make jokes about them to me, and I used to just play along.

> But I no longer hang around them (the high school crowd), so I don't have to

>put up with the ignorant comments anymore. Life is hard, and I commend all

>those that found the strength to come out. I hope we can both find reasons

>soon, Manuel.

>

>Taiyed22

>

>

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

>From: Alex

>Subject: Laserdisc of film resend

>

>Hi,

>I was wondering if anyone could help me. I am interested to find out if Film

>Four Distributors in UK or Sony Pictures Classics or anyone else for that

>matter has or plans on releasing The Beautiful Thing film on Laserdisc? It

>would not matter in which format it was released (PAL or NTSC). I would

>definitely be interested in Buying one. If someone has released a

>Laserdisc could you please supply me with their contact details if you

>have them (fax no or email). Thank you for your help.

>

>Alex.

>

>PS This is a re-send of a msg I sent on Sat 5 April 97. I have not received

>a reply as yet so I decided to re-send it in case it has been lost.

>

>

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

>Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 21:25:35 -0700

>From: Manuel

>Subject: Introduction to myself

>

>Hi there!

>

>I already subscribed to the list many weeks ago and enjoyed reading all

>the messages.

>But now there seem to be less members and therefore less going on...

>To stop the downswing I decided to write my first message... and here it

>is...

>

> ( After writing the rest of this mail I realized that it got rather

>long,

> although there would be so much more to write about...

> Sorry for that... nontheless I hope some of you will read it)

>

>

>Actually I already described my reactions to Beautiful Thing in a mail

>to the BT-feedback side.

>But whatever happened, it had not been published.

>

>My name is Manuel. I am 22 years old and gay. But I did not come out

>yet. Or shall I say, I had no chance to come out yet? Let me, please,

>describe in detail.

>

>Until a year ago I lived in a very small village. There, of course, was

>no chance to come out without getting isolated. Then I moved to Vienna

>(attending university) and although I know there are some gay groups in

>town, it seems rather difficult to me to find some "gay contact".

>The problem is that I do not know any other gay people (all of my

>friends are straight) and I cannot overcome myself to visit any gay pub

>alone. (Visiting a pub alone?... without knowing anybody in there?...

>"deceiving" all of my friends?... I know that this sounds really silly

>(it even does to me), but on the other hand I am just too

>chicken-hearted... am I not?).

>

>In the last week of January I saw BT for the first time. After the movie

>I did not know what to think and what to do. I was filled with

>enthusiasm, wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. It was the first

>gay movie I saw and I really loved it... I loved Beautiful Thing, I

>loved Jamie, I loved Ste, I loved BEING GAY.

>

>But at the same time I was sad because I knew that there was no person I

>could tell about my feelings...

>I wanted to watch BT again and again.. everything seemed so easy to do..

>why couldn't it happen to me?.. OK, it's just a movie, but (as one of

>you said some time ago) it is NO fantasy... it could happen... and I

>got to know that some of you manage it to be as happy (and lucky?) as

>Jamie and Ste...why is it so difficult to me?...

>

>When I returned home I sat down and wrote a little poem (for the first

>time in my life; for those of you speaking German: you can read it at

>the end of the mail). I know that it is not that good, but hey, it was

>my first and it only took me a few minutes (intuition?).

>

>A few days later (the "Beautiful Spirits" had not yet left me) I

>couldn't do but one thing: I took my best straight friend to BT. He

>liked the movie (not "loved" it, like me) but had still no suspicion

>concerning me. So I told him I was gay. Well, he tolerated it, and what

>is more important, accepted it.

>Now there is at least one person who knows about my feelings (or parts

>of them).

>

>... and he is still the only one. I am still afraid of coming out

>"officially" because there is nobody who really stands behind me. If

>there only would be a gay friend to talk with... a person to go through

>thick and thin... someone to share joys and sorrows with... if there

>only would be a Ste for me, then I would love to go out and tell

>everybody that I am GAY and that I love being GAY...

>

>But... there is nobody... and so it makes no sense to me to come out.

>

>Nontheless, I do not give up hoping and I am still waiting for my

>BEAUTIFUL THING.

>

>Enough for today.

>Thank you for listening to me. Maybe it is possible to hear some

>reactions of you.

>

>Love, Manuel.

>===========================================================================

===============

>

>PS: A kind of poem (in German).

>

>

> _____________________________________________________

> Beautiful Thing.

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Im Film war es noch leicht;

> Und wenn nicht leicht, dann doch zumindest möglich.

> Eins und eins ist zwei. Egal, woher und wer der eine,

> egal, warum und wie der andere.

> Mann und Frau, Frau und Mann, Frau und Frau -

>

> - Mann und Mann.

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Für mich klingt es zwar leicht und echt,

> doch was bin ich denn schon?

> Wer bin ich denn?

> Bin ich denn wer, so wie ich bin?

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Doch alles was ich will,

> ist jemand, der bei mir ist;

> jemand, der mich liebt,

> jemand, den ich liebe.

> Ist das so viel verlangt?

> Ist das zu viel verlangt?

> Ist das unmöglich zu erreichen?

>

> Nicht unmöglich, wie ich weiß.

> Unmöglich nur für mich.

>

> Was fehlt, ist Mut.

> Der Mut in mir, hervorzutreten

> aus dem Schatten meiner selbst.

> Mich nicht mehr zu verstellen,

> offen zu sagen, wer ich bin.

> Denn ich weiß ja doch, wer ich bin;

> daß ich jemand bin.

> Doch das läßt man mich nicht wirklich sein.

>

> Alles scheint so schwierig.

> Im Film war es noch leicht.

> ( Ich liebe diesen Film.)

> Doch nach dem Film ist alles wieder schwierig.

>

> Beautiful Thing ?

> _____________________________________________________

>

>

>

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

>From: Robert

>Subject: Introduction to Manuel

>Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 1:07:45 WETDST

>

>Hi there Manuel,

>

>I understand completely your experiences. I haven't actually

>introduced myself to the list probably yet - I think my story

>would need a couple of Megabytes.

>

>I came out myself in the last year of University (Loughborough U.K.)

>- which was a shame really as I never went along to the gay clubs

>they have there. I'm now doing my 'Doctorarbeit' (PHD) in France and

>not knowing the langauge was a major handicap. This meant immediate

>social isolation- no gay friends. By coincidence there was another

>English guy who was gay- but he left shortly after me being here

>and so there is no-one to talk to really.

>I decided to some out to everybody- although it has made me feel

>better to accept myself- I still haven't really got anyone to talk to.

>The Frence is getting better- and I have found a club- although so far

>people have only wanted to sleep with me rather than get to know me.

>There are some gay people at work- I've met them in gay clubs. They

>are worried about my openess and tend to keep away from me- maybe

>they are worried that I may 'out' them. I haven't had many problems with

>attitudes towards me. Out of 250 people who work here- about 60+

>know - and they are all really great about it). They are mostly

>German and English who know where I work. I'm not sure if being

>out has advantages in finding anybody. I think being out certainly changes

>peoples view points- which is important. They liked me before they

>knew- and they still do.

>

>

>B

>>

>> My name is Manuel. I am 22 years old and gay. But I did not come out

>> yet. Or shall I say, I had no chance to come out yet? Let me, please,

>> describe in detail.

>>

>> Until a year ago I lived in a very small village. There, of course, was

>> no chance to come out without getting isolated. Then I moved to Vienna

>> (attending university) and although I know there are some gay groups in

>> town, it seems rather difficult to me to find some "gay contact".

>> The problem is that I do not know any other gay people (all of my

>> friends are straight) and I cannot overcome myself to visit any gay pub

>> alone. (Visiting a pub alone?... without knowing anybody in there?...

>> "deceiving" all of my friends?... I know that this sounds really silly

>> (it even does to me), but on the other hand I am just too

>> chicken-hearted... am I not?).

>>

>

>

> I don't think you are being a chicken. Going to gay clubs on your

>own is a frightening experience. I think you are in a better situation

>than I am- I can speak German- but my French is still terrible. It

>is obviously easier with a friend. The last time I went to a gay club

>here- two guys wanted to sleep with me after five minutes of meeting them

>- I hope that isn't like that in all gay clubs- I think I have been going

to the wrong places. Is there not a gay society at your University?

>

>

> I love your poem . You say you lack courage (was felht ist Mut)- once

>you get over that wall (coming out) things will be so much easier. I

>no longer pretend to anybody- things and reactions are so much easier

>and natural. The coming out process is like 'an illness' that only

>gets better when you start talking about it. Your life changes- you

>no longer have to think about what you are going to say- you just

>say what you feel and you are free.

>

>

>I hope you find you Mut.

>

>

>Lots of love

>

>Robert

>

>

>

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

>From: Ralf

>Subject: AW: Introduction to myself

>Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 04:30:13 -0700

>

>Dear Manuel,

>

> first of all welcome to the German-speaking community of

>Beautiful Thing fans. There was so much truth in your words, so much I

>could find myself. And your poem was very touching.

>

> It is hard to come out. I'm 30 and still working on it. Not too

>long ago I had exactly the same feelings and was in the same mood as you

>was. I watched Beautiful Thing and realized as you did "I loved

>Beautiful Thing, I loved Jamie, I loved Ste, I loved BEING GAY". And

>that I wanted to change something in my life. That I didn't want to hide

>any more, wanted someone "to love and being loved" (as you wrote in your

>poem), wanted to escape from my isolation. But that it would be

>veeeerryy difficult because I'm the same sort of shy and chicken-hearted

>:-) guy as you are.

>

> The biggest problem is to get in contact with other gay people

>you can talk to, find people who understand you and who share the same

>experiences. After that, everything else works out automatically. There

>are many ways to do this first step. Most gay people have their first

>contact to others in the "Szene" (as we call it in German). But this is

>something not everybody likes.

>

> There is no default "recipe" which works for everyone. But I can

>tell you what I did and maybe this is something which suits you and you

>could try yourself.

>

> In every major city there is a gay Kommunikationszentrum, in

>Munich it's called Sub (http://www.altmann.de/sub), and I'm sure there

>is one in Vienna too. There are people you can go to or call

>anonymously. They can tell you what next step would make sense for you

>and which services and groups they offer.

>

> For instance there are coming-out groups where you learn to know

>other gays which are in the same situation as you are, you can discuss

>with them, get help from them, have fun with them, learn to know more

>people and maybe you will get to know friends you like or even love.

>

> This is how I got started and as I said I'm still in the state

>of "Oops, I'm gay, what's next". I have joined one of the coming-out

>groups 2 months ago and it's so good to meet other gay people, seeing

>that I'm not alone.

>

> But as Tayied said, you must find the right time to come out. I

>think you did the first and major step by telling your story to the

>people on this mailing list (this is anything else but chicken-hearted),

>to your friend (it's so good to have at least one person you can talk

>to). But don't wait too long. Just do this first difficult step to get

>in contact with one of these groups and the rest will come...

>

> Auch wenn jetzt alles schwierig scheint, bald wird vieles

>leichter sein and YOUR Beautiful Thing will come true...

>

> Take care

> Ralf

>

>