BRAD HALLOWELL |
It’s not just international talent that will wow the crowds at InterPride (see “Portland to Host International Gay Conference,” by Tony Giampetruzzi). Some local celebs will be on hand, too. In addition to openly-gay funny lady Christine O’Leary and fork-tongued comedian Khris Francis, Portland’s Brad Hallowell will also be on hand to host a screening of Vacationland.Vacationland (not to be confused with the recent road movie of the same name by Lance Edmands) is the story of two high school best friends who ditch their girlfriends and fall in love with each other. At the same time, it’s a tale about growing up in a small town and having aspirations to make something more out of life. The story is an autobiographical tale of director Todd Verow’s youth. Hallowell plays Joe, the artistic, ambitious, more openly gay lead character. It is with his prompting that their budding relationship evolves into more than a friendship.
“Verow tells a story of gay lust in high school between Joe (me), a clearly autobiographical theater geek and his best buddy, Andrew (Gregory J. Lucas), a football star,” says Hallowell. “Joe has been edging his way out of the closet for some time, but Andrew is still resolutely banging chicks. They both have girlfriends, but the charade is wearing thin.”
The plot thickens from there. Hallowell, who works for USM and is a regular Friday-night DJ at Styxx, showed the film in Portland a couple months ago, and is set to do the same at InterPride on the eve of its release on DVD. The Phoenix spoke with him about his work.
Where was the movie filmed, and what are its Maine connections?
The movie was filmed over five weeks in Bangor, Portland, and Manhattan, but the movie is set in Bangor in the early 1980s, where the director grew up and attended high school.
You didn’t wear a lot of clothing in the film — was that tough?
I was clothed through most of the film, but there were quite a few semi-nude scenes. Todd was great to work with and always made everyone on the set feel comfortable. The cast was really close as well. We would go out together for drinks most nights after filming so doing love/nude scenes together was never a problem.
Do you feel that there are problems with being type-cast as a gay actor or someone who plays gay roles?
I think that there is a problem being type-cast in any genre if you continue to make films that are similar in content. And I never have a fear of being type-cast for anything. Those who know me best will tell you that I do my best to defy classification. I do not want to be labeled in any way. In the famous words of Gloria Gaynor, “I am what I am.”
Assuming that you go on to do more film, what are your thoughts on gay cinema?
Although doing gay cinema landed me my first lead role in a film, I do not see it as a viable way to build a career in Hollywood. If the only reason for making films is the love of the art, I think it is perfectly acceptable to star in gay films. I doubt you will see me again in a gay film as a main character. I would love to continue to make films, however difficult that may be while living in Maine
Vacationland | written + directed by Todd Verow | screening October 29, at Holiday Inn by the Bay, in Portland | call 207.773.4188 for time | DVD on sale at www.tlavideo.com
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Tony Giampetruzzi: tony@giampetruzzi.com
