Boy Culture

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Boy Culture
Theatrical release poster
Directed byQ. Allan Brocka
Screenplay byQ. Allan Brocka
Philip Pierce
Based onBoy Culture
by Matthew Rettenmund
Produced byStephen Israel
Philip Pierce
Victor Simpkins
Phil Lobel
StarringDerek Magyar
Darryl Stephens
Patrick Bauchau
Jonathon Trent
Emily Brooke Hands
Narrated byDerek Magyar
CinematographyJoshua Hess
Edited byPhillip J. Bartell
Music byRyan Beveridge
Production
companies
Boy Culture LLC
NeoFight Film
Pierce Films
Distributed byTLA Releasing
Release dates
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$220,409[1]

Boy Culture is a 2006 American romantic drama film directed by Q. Allan Brocka, based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Matthew Rettenmund. The film stars Derek Magyar, Darryl Stephens, Patrick Bauchau, Jonathon Trent, and Emily Brooke Hands.

Plot[edit]

A successful escort describes in a series of confessions his entangled romantic relationships with his two roommates and an older, enigmatic client.

The story remains the same as the novel, about a man who goes by only the letter "X" to maintain his anonymity and relationships between his two roommates—one of whom he's in love with—and an enigmatic older client who challenges him to find his heart before he will consent to sex.

The film's differences from the novel include Andrew's character (now an African-American) and the location of the story in Seattle, Washington, instead of Chicago, Illinois.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Boy Culture is based on a novel, with a few important differences found between the two. It was decided in the film to set it in Seattle rather than Chicago, and to make substantial differences to the character of Andrew, including his ethnicity. The film is also noted for the careful eye of the director, who managed to turn what was an 18-day production cycle into a fully realized film.[2]

Soundtrack[edit]

Release[edit]

The film made its world premiere in the United Kingdom at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (since renamed BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival), on April 1, 2006, and made its debut in the United States at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2006. It subsequently received a very limited theatrical release in the United States on March 23, 2007.

Film festival circuit

Boy Culture was shown at the following film festivals:

Reception[edit]

Critical response[edit]

Boy Culture currently holds a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews; the consensus states: "Eloquent one-liners and quick pacing make Boy Culture sharper than the typical gay indie flick."[4] On Metacritic, based on 12 critics, the film has a 56/100 rating, signifying "mixed or average reviews".[5] Maitland McDonagh from TV Guide wrote, "Shrewder than you'd think and not half as dumb as it looks."[2] Jeannette Catsoulis from The New York Times wrote, "A slick and absorbing drama."[2] Ronnie Scheib from Variety wrote, "A strong cast, formal visual style and cynical voiceover that propels the action help elevate this Seattle-set gay romp from the ranks of the stereotypical."[2]

Awards[edit]

Year Festival Award Category Recipients
2006 L.A. Outfest Grand Jury Award Best Screenplay Q.Allan Brocka
Philip Pierce
2006 Milan International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Paramount Comedy Award Q.Allan Brocka
2006 Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Jury Prize Best Film
Best Narrative Feature
Q.Allan Brocka
2006 Rhode Island International Film Festival First Prize Alternative Spirit Award Q.Allan Brocka
2006 Fairy Tale Film Festival Audience Award Best Film Q.Allan Brocka
2006 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival Rainbow Award Best Feature Film Q.Allan Brocka
2006 LesGaiCineMad, Madrid International LGBT Film Festival Jury Prize Best Director Q.Allan Brocka
2006 Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Jury Award Best Men's Feature Q.Allan Brocka
2007 Festróia - Tróia International Film Festival Prize of the City of Setúbal Best Film
American Independents
Q.Allan Brocka
2008 Glitter Awards Glitter Award Best Actor Derek Magyar
2008 Glitter Awards Glitter Award Best Independent Film Q.Allan Brocka

Home media[edit]

The film was released on DVD on August 14, 2007, courtesy of TLA Video. The release includes an audio commentary from writer/director Q. Allan Brocka and writing partner Philip Pierce, interviews with Brocka and the four stars, deleted scenes, premiere footage from the Tribeca Film Festival and the film's trailer.[6]

Boy Culture:The Series[edit]

In 2017, a Kickstarter campaign was launched for "Boy Culture: The Series"[7] an episodic sequel to the original, which proposed to star Matthew Wilkas (X), Darryl Stephens (Andrew), Matthew Crawford (Chayce), as well as Stephen Guarino and singer Steve Grand. The campaign met its funding goal and the series was filmed in August 2018. It was also announced that Derek Magyar, who played the lead role "X" in the original film, is now reprising his role, taking over for Matthew Wilkas, who was originally announced to be replacing him.

In June 2021, Magyar announced that the series will be seen publicly before the end of the year.[8]

On August 3, 2021, The Kickstarter was updated to include the date of the 1st public viewing to be 21st Annual San Diego LGBTQ Film Festival! on September 11, 2021, at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) at Balboa Park.[9][10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Boy Culture - Box Office Mojo Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  2. ^ a b c d Alexander Ryll. "Essential Gay Themed Films To Watch, Boy Culture". Gay Essential. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  3. ^ "Seattle International Film Festival: Set your clocks to reel time for a real record breaker". seattlepi.com. May 26, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "Boy Culture". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. August 14, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  5. ^ "Boy Culture Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  6. ^ "TLA Video | Gay Cinema, Gay Adult Movies and Products". www.tlavideo.com.
  7. ^ "Boy Culture: The Series (indie) (gay) (lgbt) (comedy) by Matthew Rettenmund — Kickstarter". Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Wow! So honored and humbled that Rotten Tomatoes has included Boy Culture among its 200 best LGBTQ+ films of all time!". Instagram. June 20, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "2021 LGBTQ Film Festival | FilmOut San Diego". Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "2021 LGBTQ Film Festival | FilmOut San Diego".

External links[edit]