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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2003)
19.2003 F ILM .......... w .......... h, the Internet. W e’ll never run out of 1 stories about experiences on the Internet. There must be as many stories as there are sites. Which is exactly what writer/director Jed Weintrob found when he became addicted to live cam video sites (you know, where you get to watch people live their lives in real time) while nursing a heartbreak some time back. His new movie, OnJUne, is about just such a guy, John, a Manhattanite who joins his old col lege buddy in an Internet pom venture after his woman walks, leaving him an emotional wreck. Their site, Intercon-X.com, hooks you up via your live cam to “hosts” with cams of their own. “She might live halfway across the coun try— or just across the street. It dcx:sn’t really matter, does it? The world is a lot smaller than you think,” begins the monologue to this smart, sexy film about the difference between fantasy and reality— and how computers now lend so widely to both. Josh Hamilton (Matt in Urbaniii and Marty in The House o f Yes) as John is the perfect used-to-be-a-normal-guy Internet geek with his own Web video diary and a voyeuris tic addiction to an attractive woman on Long on shorts Portland welcomes two short film festivals hether you’re short on cash or attention span, you’ve got a couple of fine oppor tunities worth checking out. First is Queer Films m Color!, a nice selection of shorts presented by the American Friends Service W whiny, isolated student in Ohio surrounded by frat boys, sneaking moments on his roommate’s comput er. The ultimate question between the twi>—should 1 actually find this person?— by L isa B radshaw is at the cnix of the movie’s investigation. “Would you really want to meet her, or AngelCam.com. (Yes, the Web sites in the would that just nun every film really exist, but you get the feeling they thing?" John narrates. were thrown up after it was released.) This narration, in tan John’s foil is his hyperactive roommate and dem with several scenes business partner, Moe (Mercutio in Romeo + made up completely of Juliet), a ladies man whose current conquest is onscreen cam shots and a the vulnerable Moira (Isabel Gillies), who has snuxith set of loungy, regular chats with lonely college student Ed international-sounding (former Oregonian Eric Millegan— see Suave Manhattanite A1 has a thing or two to teach O hio college rhythms (due in no small Page 29) on the live cam suicide site student Ed in On_Line part to two new Pink Mar FinalExit.com. Ed, in turn, regularly hcxiks up tini tunes) create somewhat of a grainy dream- through Intercon-X with an older New Yorker, together in real life that all the trouble starts, scape lovingly recorded on digital video. A1 (John Fleck), for hot rounds of Master and but it’s also their closing of this big cyber-circle On_Line, which opens Sept. 26 at Holly- that proves imperative when tragedy strikes. Servant. A l’s best Net buddy is the bisexual wtxxJ Theatre, has its ups and downs, but it’s The most touching relationship of the film is Jordan (Vanessa Ferlito), a pouty-lipped beauty one of the better installments of films about between Ed and Al, vastly different people from who enjoys the film’s most satisfyingly sexual Internet connections and their ability to open completely separate worlds— yet finding a con scene with John via live cam (of course). up your entire world— or shut it down. JH nection. Millegan is particularly convincing as a It’s when John and Jordan decide to get User available? Log in to the new indie flick On Line Committee in recognition of films by and about people of color in the queer community. Highlights include trans slam poet Marcus Rene Van’s “Junk Box Warrior,” about the frustration of not fitting into the gender bina ry; “Forever Bottom,” a frank look at the insa tiable appetite of an Asian male bottom; “Two Spirit People,” an overview of the Native American concepts of gender and sex uality; and the award-winning “A Different Kind o f Black M an,” which documents the QUEER BOYS IN PON CAN KICK 'EM TO TH E CURB. feelings of successful black gay men around masculinity and their roles in the African American community. Queer Films in Color! plays at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Hollywood Theatre, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd. Your other option is the annual PISS Fest (th at’s the Portland International Short Short Film Festival), a diverse collection of quick flicks from around the world. Having shuffled through hundreds of crap entries so you don’t have to, PISS Fest offers the best of the best, which this year includes two queer-themed entries: Portlander Andy Blubaughs baleful but engaging “He Said" and the baffling but beautiful Australian entry “T h e Chase.” PISS Fest plays Sept. 26 at Hollywood T h e atre and Sept. 27 at Itisness, 3016 N.E. Killingsworth St. Showtimes are 7 and 9 p.m. Both festivals are short on admission, too, asking $5 each. |H J ust w h e n y o u t h o u g h t IT W A S S A F E TO G O BACK IN T H E W A T E R . . . The Portland Spirit presents STORM LA R G E IT S WHAT WE DO. STDS! W A N T TO K N O W M O R T ? C A LI 8 0 0 . 777.2437 & TH E B A LLS Portland's favorite "Lounge core" act Donna 's Piano Studio N oui Open Key into your talent with a patient understanding instructor with an M.M. degree and 21 plus years teaching. All Styles of Music. Home teaching available. F rid a y Sept. 5th, 19th and October 3rd, 17th Boarding at 10 : 4 s / Cruising 11 : 0 0 pm to 1 : 30 pm I’urtlunil S15 per person (A dults 21+ only) $8 one-time hors d’oeuvre buffet C a l l (8 0 0 ) 2 2 4 -3 9 0 1 o r (503) 2 2 4 - 3 9 0 0 Visit www. port Ian (¡spirit, com
