SKINNY the movie Premieres in NYC this weekend

FILMMAKER PATRIK-IAN POLK OF

“PUNKS” AND “NOAH’S ARC”

NEW YORK CITY OPENING OF NEW INDIE FILM

“THE SKINNY” AT THE FAISON FIREHOUSE THEATER ON FRIDAY, JUNE 8TH

The highly anticipated NYC premiere of THE SKINNY, the third feature film from Patrik-Ian Polk (PUNKS, NOAH’S ARC) will be presented during the First Annual Pride Cultural Series at the Faison Firehouse Theater, 6 Hancock Place, Harlem, NY 10027 opening Friday, June 8th with proceeds benefiting GMAD’s (Gay Men of African Decent) Charles Angel Youth Leadership Academy's 'Stop the BS' campaign- an anti gay-bullying and suicide initiative.

A sharply scripted comedy, THE SKINNY tells the story of four young, black, gay men (Magnus, Sebastian, Kyle, Joey) and their lesbian best friend (Langston), who meet up in New York City one year after their graduation from Brown University. Their plans for a weekend of fun start off well, relaxed in each other’s company as only old friends can be. But old tensions quickly resurface.

Drinking, drugs, hidden desire and the demands of promiscuity put friendship, trust and even lives at risk. In between sharp one-liners and a great soundtrack there’s a few important lessons that these pleasure-seekers must learn for themselves. Written with a real sense of the demands of urban living, these bright and believable characters will remind you of someone you know. Remaining true to his past work, Polk addresses issues in THE SKINNY that face the LGBT community such as date-rape, infidelity, and HIV/AIDS awareness.

The film stars Jussie Smollett (the former child actor of “Mighty Ducks” & “North”, and older brother of well-known actress Jurnee Smollett), Blake Young-Fountain, Anthony Burrell, Shanika Warren-Markland and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. Supporting cast includes alumnus of Polk’s past features such as Darryl Stephens (“Noah’s Arc”), Jennia Fredrique (“Noah’s Arc”), Wilson Cruz (“Noah’s Arc”) and Seth Gilliam (“Punks”, “The Wire”, “Oz”, “Teen Wolf”). The cast also includes newcomers Dustin Ross and internet sensation B. Scott.

THE SKINNY’s open-ended NYC run begins Friday, June 8th at the Faison Firehouse Theatre in Harlem (6 Hancock Place, New York, NY 10027) as the featured film of the Firehouse's First Annual Pride Cultural Series.

OPENING WEEKEND's Showtime: 3:30pm | 5:30pm | 7:30pm & 9:30pm

Tickets $15.00 purchased in advance online at Smarttix.com.

For additional details & showtimes go to Skinnythemovie.com.

Patrik-Ian Polk's THE SKINNY- Official Teaser Trailer

THE SKINNY, the new feature film from writer/director Patrik-Ian Polk, tells the story of five Brown University classmates reuniting in the Big Apple for a weekend of sin and fun.

The Skinny - A New Film From Patrik-Ian Polk

What's The Skinny?!

Patrik-Ian Polk, the award-winning filmmaker behind the hit LOGO television series "Noah's Arc", is now working on a brand-new project- THE SKINNY. And it's gonna be great, but we need your help to make it happen.

THE SKINNY has been in development for two years, and the project is on the verge of being fully funded. Some amazing people have already put their support behind this movie, and now we're bringing it to the Kickstarter community to help us cross the finish line.

What's it About?

THE SKINNY tells the story of five Brown University classmates who reunite one year after graduation for Gay Pride weekend in New York City. Magnus has just completed his first year of medical school and is excited to see his friends & introduce them to his new man, Ryan. Angelic Sebastian has recently returned from a year in Paris and looks forward to finally losing his virginity. Devilish trustafarian playboy Kyle is up to his old tricks, bagging as many hot bodied men as possible. Atlanta native Joey is hiding a few secrets, not including the obvious pounds he's packed on since graduating. And acid-tongued black British lesbian Langston tries to hold her own with the boys in the Big Apple. Through three action-packed days of sex, drama, secrets, lies & laughter- these five college pals discover just how much can change in one short year. And you won't believe what goes down at the Gay Pride Parade!

RODNEY CHESTER SHARES AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH FANS AT THE GEORGE FAISON FIREHOUSE THEATER IN HARLEM DURING NY PRIDE WEEK THIS JUNE

On Wednesday, June 22^nd at 7:30pm, Actor, Producer & Entrepreneur Rodney Chester comes to The Big Apple from Hollywood and shares an intimate night with fans and supporters of his work on both Television & the Silver Screen. There are so many unanswered questions from the last season of the Noah’s Arc TV series and fans want to know what Rodney has been up to for the last four years. Rodney and his friend & television host, Lloyd Boston come together during NY Pride week this June to interact and share untold stories at the Faison Fire House Theater, 6 Hancock Place (at 124^th Street & St. Nicholas Blvd), Harlem, NY 10027.

Rodney Chester best known as Alex from the hit Logo Network original series; “Noah’s Arc” has been a working professional in the field of dance and choreography for the past 15 years. He worked with Patrik-Ian Polk on his independent film Punks, which led to his starring role in Polk’s series “Noah’s Arc.” In the fall of 2008, Noah's Arc the movie “Jumping The Broom” surprised the entertainment industry by opening at Number 1 on the independent film box office report, according to IndieWire.com . Since the success of the movie, Rodney hosted the 2009 Out Music Awards, will appear in HBO’s original series "PLAYERS" and travels the U.S. hosting events.

A native of Cocoa Beach, Florida, Chester graduated with honors from Bethune Cookman College. He began his career as a dancer, which took him all over the world. His talents led him to a dancing role in “Cinderella,” starring Whitney Houston and other production work for Prince, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Toni Braxton, TLC and Deborah Cox to name a few. In addition, Chester has acted in a variety of Off-Broadway productions and television commercials.

Chester attributes (the) performances in television, film and music video to his success as owner and director of Trio Talent Agency (www.triotalentagency.com) in Los Angeles. He enjoys working with some of the world’s top musical and dance artists, continuing to be at the top of his dance game on all levels. As he continues to create new entertainment ventures, Chester still makes himself available to host events around the world.

His latest project entitled An Evening with Rodney Chester: This Ain’t No Game! produced by Nathan Hale Williams, co-written by Craig Rose and managed by Richard E. Pelzer II, & Chrissy Dorey promises to be a SMASH hit and the talk of the year. Seating is limited for this special performance. Tickets are available at RodneyChester.com. Purchase TODAY and don’t Da GAG-GAG! A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to The Black AIDS Institute.

“Through hard work and perseverance success is imminent”

- Rodney Chester

A Future Gay Soap Opera?

This is something that has been in my head for a very long time.

Two days ago, I watched a full one hour episode of The Young and the Restless. I wanted to watch this phenomenon that most women, lesbians, and gay men are into. In the beginning, I really wasn't a fan of soap operas. I began asking people "How can you keep up with over a thousand episodes?"

Soap operas are daily shows. It's not like waiting next week to watch the new episode of Law and Order. If you want to watch a new episode, wake up the next day and it's on. I remember running into a woman who is a fan of this show. This woman knew what happened in episode seven thousand to the present episode. I'm sure it will reach episode ten thousand before the next decade.

After watching this show, I immediately became addicted to it. I just became part of that group of gay men who love soap operas. This show will give me an excuse to wake up every day at 9:00 AM. It's suspenseful, romantic, comedic, the perfect ingredients for a good show. I might add another soap opera to my list, but I just want to get used to this show first.

While watching this show, I began to think about our community back on television. Right now, the only couple I see on a soap opera is Luke and Noah from As The World Turns.

Their stories are amazing, but it's time to branch out. It's been more than a year now with these two, and As The World Turns is about to be canceled in just a few months. After watching these soap operas along with characters like them, it got me thinking. There should be a future soap opera just surrounding gay characters.

Out of all the shows people are dieing to watch, the gay community contains a large percentage of it. Whenever I walk past a group of people who just watched an old episode of Noah's Arc, Queer As Folk, and The L Word, they continue to talk about it, and even express their own ideas for new episodes. It's like a clock froze in their head and they can never forget. That's how much of a fan they are.

Which is why I suggest they should create a gay soap opera on television or online. We'll need to call Dwight Allen O' Neal (Christopher's Street), Maurice Jamal (The Ski Trip), Patrick Ian Polk (Noah's Arc), Ron Cowen (Queer As Folk), Ilene Chaiken (The L Word), or some newcomer and make this happen. We have to show a body of work that Showtime, Logo, SoapNet, NBC, and many more to make this happen.

All these ideas just gets me thinking.

Should there be a gay soap opera?

BREAKING NEWS - GLO TV with PRESIDENT MAURICE JAMAL FEATURED IN JET MAGAZINE

GLO TV, THE WORLD’S FIRST URBAN LGBT TV NETWORK AND ITS PRESIDENT MAURICE JAMAL FEATURED IN JET MAGAZINE

Maurice Jamal, President of GLO TV is featured in the current issue of Jet Magazine speaking about the future of independent film, digital media and GLO TV. As a pioneer amongst urban LGBT filmmakers, Jamal discusses how GLO TV sets an example for the new trends and desires in digital media.

“We have to create a different economic model as filmmakers and storytellers. I had so many friends, not just in the gay community, who would say they had great stories but no way to get them out. So a bunch of us got together and founded a television network as a way to get filmmakers out there whose voices you don’t hear from a lot,” Jamal reflects.

The article, with actor Jaden Smith on the cover, is on newsstands now. Pick up a copy and write to the editors at JET to inform them that you want to hear more about GLO TV, as well as quality representation of the urban LGBT community.

The future of TV has arrived and it is about reflecting our community. Be bold. Be proud. Let everyone see your GLO!

ABOUT GLO TV

The GLO TV Network is first urban LGBT TV network and our goal is to always make you proud. GLO is an innovative TV network with a diverse slate of quality programming for the urban LGBT audience, our friends, family and allies. GLO is about showing all of who we are with programs that are entertaining, informative, affirming and sometimes provocative. GLO understands that within each of us is a unique story to be told. You can trust that our programs will always be presented with creativity, quality and integrity.

GLO TV is led by President Maurice Jamal who is a celebrated independent filmmaker in the LGBT community for giving us such films and programs as “Ski Trip,” “Friends & Lovers” and “Dirty Laundry” which starred Rockmund Dunbar, Loretta Divine, Sommore, Jennifer Lewis and Terri J. Vaughn.

For more information about GLO TV, visit http://www.glotvnetwork.com. Subscribe, Sign-up, Support. The season's preview begins on Sunday, June 27 and the full season of shows will premiere on Friday, September 3, 2010.

It's About You. It's About Us. It's About Time!

Zolra's Corner: Do Gays Love Romantic Comedies?

For me, I love romantic comedies. I think it's the best genre of movies in the world. I started writing screenplays, and the first script I wrote was a romantic comedy called Jen loves Stephen. I love to see the way how romance occurs in a comedic way. It's funny, and pays attention to the attraction towards the two characters at the same time.

Days ago, I went to see Along Came Polly, a romantic comedy I have been dieing to see for years. After watching it, tons of questions came in my head. I went out with some friends for dinner in order to keep myself entertained.

While some were talking about their relationships, I was talking about what's going on in the movies. Tons of questions were still in my head. Then it brought me up to the question. My relationships, my friend's relationships, the movies we love, the way we run our lives. This one question ended all questions.

Do gays love romantic comedies?

After that question popped up, I began searching and researching. Then I began to believe it's possible. For most of us, it's hard to find that one person that will treat you well and not move along the second they see someone that is hot and fresh. Going to the movies looks like the one way where we can find ourselves trapped in another world positively.

I have a shelf full of mostly romantic comedies. I have Straight and gay romantic comedies. I love them all. There are other genres, but romantic comedies are 98% on the shelf. As long as they keep me entertained, I will put them on my shelf. Relationships is something I take seriously. One thing romantic comedies do is teach me the good and bad parts of a relationship. One of the best romantic comedies I have seen years ago was created by Maurice Jamal called The Ski Trip.

It's pure original. It's something I have never seen before. The characters Omar and Corey resembles so much of me. In general, it's one of the best romantic comedies surrounding our community. Ever since I saw this movie, I have seen alot of gays and lesbians talking about this movie for a full year. It was like this film was this years Oscar winner for Best Picture. Then let's not forget the one movie that everyone is still talking about.

These are a few differences I see between Noah's Arc the tv series, and the movie. The tv show is considered a dramedy. It centered around the character's relationships and everyday life. Then there was the drama surrounding the issues around the gay and lesbian community. So when I went to see the movie, I considered it to be the same as the tv show. Then I when I saw it, I said to myself "This is a romantic comedy".

There were no issues surrounding the community at all (unless you include the problem surrounding Wade's side of the family). This was mostly about how the characters fixing their relationships, and it also centered around a wedding. If you been to a gay wedding like this in the movie, you will believe me by saying it's a romantic comedy. The press agrees too.

We might never know what types of movies we love. As long as the relationship between two individuals captures us, we will hooked on it no matter what the genre is.

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "The 7th Annual Black Gay Men's Network Retreat"

Over forty plus men came together in Miami, Florida at The Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel for the 7th Annual Black Gay Men’s Network Retreat. The retreat attracted close to 85% first-time attendees, including myself. Past participants were prominent Black Gay Men such as Keith Boykin, Patrick Ian Polk, Reginald Van Lee, to name a few.

The Black Gay Men’s Network 7th Annual Retreat – “The Stimulus Package” – a product of The Black AIDS Institute opened with a bold welcome and state of the union address by Phil Wilson, President and CEO of The Black AIDS Institute. Assertively, Phil spoke on the current state of HIV/AIDS in America and its affect on the African-American community. Providing the group of men with accurate statistics and reports on where the Black AIDS Institute stand in eradicating the spread of HIV through prevention and testing campaigns, he urged us to continue to take action in our lives and our communities. The opening address was also an introduction to the Black AIDS Institute’s media partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation and the new HIV/AIDS prevention campaign WE > AIDS.

WE > AIDS campaign comes with a clear focus and strong message to continue to encourage testing, education, wellness, and rebuilding the African American community. The campaign is slated to tour selected cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Detroit, to name a few. Though the conversation felt a bit drawn out and heavy for an early morning start, it was extremely important to address these issues, be reminded of our main agenda, which is to positively combat the plague of HIV/AIDS in the African American race, especially amongst Black Gay Men in America.

The remainder of the weekend consisted of workshops, seminars, and fun activities based in emotional, physical, spiritual, social, and financial wellness and awareness, aiming to “stimulate” our minds so that we’ll return to our perspective communities with deeper relations, positive ideals, and stronger leadership in the community. There were numerous activities that built on the principle of connectedness such as Speed Networking, the dinner Gala that featured American Idol Finalist Anwar Robinson, and the I.Dare.U night where brothers fearlessly and unapologetically shared their hearts, soul, and creativity ‘open mic style’ through song, storytelling, poetry, and memories. E. Patrick Johnson, author of “Sweet Tea” also blessed us with excerpts from his one-man show Pouring Tea. The performances dazzled us and brought many of the men even closer together as the dialoguing continued post activities.

A highlight for me, was meeting a group of Ethiopian guys who just happened to be vacating in Miami during our stay. They were invited to I.Dare.U night. Our Ethiopian Brothers were so moved to tears by the work and community amongst the BGM Network Brothers. While they participated in I.Dare.U sharing their heart and souls and even blessing us with inspirational songs in their native language, they also shared their disbelief and frustration with the current state of Ethiopia – its miseducation and lack of education on HIV/AIDS and its intolerance of homosexuality. “We can’t be this way in Ethiopia…we’ll get killed,” the young Ethiopian brother said.

Following his comment, it dawned on me – this is the revolution! The movement of The Black Gay Men’s Network is the revolution that Marlon Riggs and Joseph Beam proclaimed during their final days as Black Gay Men in America. The work that is being done with The Black Gay Men’s Network is greater than I could have imagined. It goes beyond us. This movement shall help nations all over – just like our Ethiopian Brothers – liberate themselves and their communities. The power of the Network and The Black AIDS Institute is manifesting on a higher level and I humbly confess that I’m proud to be a part of this collective movement.

Here’s to the work ahead and next year’s Black Gay Men’s Network Retreat.

“Black men loving Black men is a call to action, an acknowledgement of responsibility. We take care of our own kind when the night grows cold and silent. These days the nights are cold-blooded and the silence echoes...With complicity."
-Joseph Beam

For more information:
The Black AIDS Institute
www.blackaids.org

The Black Gay Men’s Network
www.thebgmnetwork.com

WE > AIDS
www.greaterthan.org
www.Test1Million.org