Author Topic: Shelter: The "gay surfer movie" (it's so much more!). See it now and discuss it!  (Read 324040 times)

Offline yankeefan96

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Haha, I told myself I wouldn't write Shelter fanfic, well there you have it... LOL...

This one-shot is what might have happened after the break-up scene between Zach and Shaun in the car. It involves some internal dialogue and THE conversation between Shaun and Gabe we all thought was sadly missing from the movie, but that could never have been added because they story is from Zach's POV.

http://rightwhere-u-r.livejournal.com/28290.html

My lj is friendslocked, just leave me a message here or on one of the non-friendslocked entries on my lj:

http://rightwhere-u-r.livejournal.com

Mel



Mel,

What's the title of your one-shot? I would love to read it.

LJ - yankeefan96

Thanks!


injest

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Just spent hours reading all 55 pages of this thread. So my first post will be a random jumble of thoughts in response to past posts.

MPAA rating and censorship issues: I think the "R" rating was more for language than for the sex scene or gay content. There are a couple dozen f-bombs in the dialogue, and the MPAA usually only permits about 1-3 in a PG-13 movie. If you watch the trailer, which was approved for all audiences (meaning the MPAA considered it to have G-rated content!), it is carefully edited to convey that this is a gay-themed movie. Several Zach-Shaun kisses (cut just before their lips meet), as well as scenes of them in bed together, are shown in the preview ... but no one says the word "gay."

It appears to me that here! has targeted the marketing and distribution of this film to gay audiences. I think many straight folk will quickly put this movie back on the shelf after seeing the cover art, which shows two men lying in bed together giving each other loving looks. If this film had been promoted differently, with wider distribution, different posters, etc., it could have had mainstream cross-over appeal (like "Brokeback Mountain"). This marketing approach also may explain why the big-box chain stores didn't pick up this title.

I seldom see independent gay cinema titles in big-box stores like Circuit City or Best Buy. Chain stores will carry some gay-themed major studio productions (such as "Wilde," "Capote," "Brokeback Mountain," and "The Birdcage"), but not the indie stuff. I've had the best luck finding independent gay-themed titles through mail-order, or in gay bookstores. I prefer not to think of this as a shameful / closeted thing, so much as a specialized thing. It's also good for the community to patronize independent businesses. If the chain stores don't see profit$ from selling independent gay movies, there are independent businesses who believe in the value of this genre and will gladly sell us the movies we want!

My favorite scene: When Zach returns to Shaun at the end, Shaun notices someone is trying to contact him on the walkie-talkie. He picks it up, a little surprised at first, and quickly figures out Zach must be close by. Though still hurting from their argument and break-up, he gets a little smile on his face, recognizing that Zach has come back to him. He's ready and willing to forgive.

One thing I'm not sure of: Did Shaun keep that walkie-talkie close at hand, awaiting a call from Zach? Or did Zach sneak into the house (he still had codes / keys) and plant it there?

Gay parenting issue: This film takes a radical stance in favor of gay parenting / gay adoption. Religious conservatives oppose the idea of allowing gay couples (especially two men) to adopt children. Jeanne trots out their usual specious arguments ("Cody needs a positive man in his life," as if to say Shaun is a bad influence just because he's gay). This film shows us otherwise, setting up a scenario in which a heterosexual couple (Jeanne and Allen) would make for lousy parents, while a gay couple (Shaun and Zach) would provide Cody with a good upbringing. Jeanne is forced to realize this (though she resists all the way to the end).

Zach's portfolio / CalArts application: The last time we see Zach's portfolio is the scene where Gabe bursts in the house. During the mad scramble to put on clothes, Zach's portfolio is among all the piles of clothes, towels, etc. in Shaun's bedroom. Zach sneaks out (wearing one of Shaun's shirts) while Shaun distracts Gabe. He leaves the portfolio behind. (Another thing Gabe might notice that clues him in to what's going on...)

After the argument / break-up in the car, there's a scene where Zach is looking for the portfolio back at home but can't find it. Shaun tries to call Zach on his cell phone, but Zach doesn't take the call. Was Shaun just trying to call so they could work through their argument? I think something more was going on...

Zach seems surprised in a later scene when he picks up the voice mail from the CalArts admissions office, saying they got his application, reviewed it, then sent his portfolio back to "the Ocean Beach" address it had been sent from. At that moment, Zach realizes Shaun had snagged the portfolio and sent it to CalArts, along with an application - *after* their argument/breakup. I don't think Zach ever filled out that application - he resisted the idea when Shaun gave him the paperwork. Shaun couldn't just give up on Zach - he did Zach's application for him, so Zach would get that "push" he needed to get his life back on track. Shaun's unconditional love was powerful - how many people would do this for someone who just dumped them for the wrong reasons?

One more thing about Gabe: The ending would have been even more powerful if Gabe had been there with Zach, Shaun, and Cody in the closing scene (which was supposed to take place months later, perhaps after Zach's first semester of art school). Surely by then, Gabe would have come back home and learned that Zach and Shaun had worked things out, moved in together, and unofficially taken custody of Cody ... big changes while he was out traveling and partying. From the conversation in the diner, we learn Gabe still valued Zach's friendship. They would certainly run into each other again in the future, given the close-knit circle of family/friends they had.


I wonder if Gabe being there might have distracted a bit....in the final scene what we see is a happy healthy family unit...complete in itself and almost insular..

I will have to think about how it would have looked to me with Gabe there..(there is something to be said after all for EXTENDED families...)

and the problem I have is that I live in a rural area...to me the whole independent film thing is a hidden world. I wouldn't know where to start to look for them and I would be hesitant to buy a movie I had heard nothing about...

Offline piano71

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injest -

If you are in the USA, Netflix carries just about every GLBT/independent title I've read about. That way you can try before you buy.

Don't know about DVD-by-mail services in other countries though...

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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--and the problem I have is that I live in a rural area...to me the whole independent film thing is a hidden world. I wouldn't know where to start to look for them and I would be hesitant to buy a movie I had heard nothing about...

And also--

"IFC Entertainment is the first and only film studio to embrace the day and date concept and detail a broad multi-picture strategy. IFC First Take is a newly created label that acquires and distributes 24 films a year, releases them nationwide, and simultaneously offers them on-demand to cable subscribers. Currently each film is available on both Cablevision and Comcast services on IFC In Theaters."
 
Website: http://www.ifcfilms.com

(I'm lucky--I don't even have a television, but I live near an IFC Theatre on Sixth Avenue and 3rd Street in Manhattan--but you can pop your own corn and stay home and watch some of the neatest things--the future is great!)

 :)

"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Shakesthecoffecan

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Zach seems surprised in a later scene when he picks up the voice mail from the CalArts admissions office, saying they got his application, reviewed it, then sent his portfolio back to "the Ocean Beach" address it had been sent from. At that moment, Zach realizes Shaun had snagged the portfolio and sent it to CalArts, along with an application - *after* their argument/breakup. I don't think Zach ever filled out that application - he resisted the idea when Shaun gave him the paperwork. Shaun couldn't just give up on Zach - he did Zach's application for him, so Zach would get that "push" he needed to get his life back on track. Shaun's unconditional love was powerful - how many people would do this for someone who just dumped them for the wrong reasons?



Wow, I totally missed that. There would probably have been the "San Pedro" address on the application and the portfolio going back to Ocean Beach, maybe Shaun wanting to hold onto it. Perhaps that morning when Gabe showed up unexpectedly Zach left it behind in his hurry to sneak out of the house.

I think Zach did sneak in and put the walkie talkie where Shaun would find it. 
"It was only you in my life, and it will always be only you, Jack, I swear."

Offline Flashframe777

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Wow...a very long thread. 

I only read through the last few pages, so forgive me if I repeat.

Today I watched the narrated version of Shelter.  Brad Rowe is a total crackup.  At one point when Shaun's kissing Zach and heading past his belly button, you can no longer see him Brad says that he left and went over to the kraft service table to snack.  A few seconds later as they're watching themselves make out Brad jokes, "I give really great head."
"yet he is suffused with a sense of pleasure because Jack Twist was in his dream"


Offline belbbmfan

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hey Flashframe,

I agree, the commentary was very good. I love hearing their voices. They sound so comfortable with each other. You could hear that they had a great time making the movie. I also thought the references to how cold it was were very funny too.

They just don't sound like 'movie stars' but just regular (though very good looking  8)) guys, having a good time and a laugh.

We watched 'Shelter' with the eurobrokies at the Brussels gathering last week. It was nice to watch it with brokies. Lovely movie.
'We're supposed to guard the sheep, not eat 'em'

Offline Flashframe777

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hey Flashframe,

I agree, the commentary was very good. I love hearing their voices. They sound so comfortable with each other. You could hear that they had a great time making the movie. I also thought the references to how cold it was were very funny too.

They just don't sound like 'movie stars' but just regular (though very good looking  8)) guys, having a good time and a laugh.

We watched 'Shelter' with the eurobrokies at the Brussels gathering last week. It was nice to watch it with brokies. Lovely movie.

The physical change that Brad had by just putting on a few extra pounds was very shocking.  His Brad Pitt-like image is etched in my mind from "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss". 

For me it is like having a crush on 2 really handsome actors who are really the same person.

The best feature of this movie will always be the happy ending.
"yet he is suffused with a sense of pleasure because Jack Twist was in his dream"


injest

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Wow...a very long thread. 

I only read through the last few pages, so forgive me if I repeat.

Today I watched the narrated version of Shelter.  Brad Rowe is a total crackup.  At one point when Shaun's kissing Zach and heading past his belly button, you can no longer see him Brad says that he left and went over to the kraft service table to snack.  A few seconds later as they're watching themselves make out Brad jokes, "I give really great head."


oh my god! They were supposed to be having oral sex??!!! I wondered what Shaun was doing!

 ??? ???

Offline Brokeback_Dev

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Anyone know if Artiste has watched Shelter yet?  Just asking.  I think he should see it.   :-*