Nov

7

Tru Loved - A Recipe for a Successful LGBT Family Movie

Filed Under Celebs, GLBT Parents, Gay Entertainment, Gay Film, Gay Students, Gossip 

Tru Loved a new film by Stewart Wade- Start with a truly non-traditional family type boy meets girl love story

Tru, a 16-year-old high school student from San Francisco, is uprooted from her gay-friendly home by her lesbian moms and moved away – not only from San Fran but also from her gay dads – to a new, decidedly more conservative neighborhood in suburban Southern California. Her non-traditional family makes her a bit of an outsider – until high school football hero Lodell takes a liking to her.

Lo, as his friends call him, is actually gay and closeted. And in Tru he finds a friend with whom he can really be himself, though still afraid to do the same with his mom, grandmother and closest pals.

- Be sure to add current LGBT trends / organizations

When Tru sees and hears the closed-minded comments about homosexuality from her new group of “friends,” she takes a bold step: Together with openly gay student Walter she lays the groundwork to start a Gay-Straight Alliance club at her new school.

Through the GSA, she meets Trevor, a smart and charming young man – raised by his gay uncle Daniel – with whom she becomes smitten.

Will Tru follow her heart and stay true to herself, or will she continue to cover for Lo, who feels he has too much to lose to be true to himself?

- Cast a trio of talented young actors

Tru Loved, stars Najarra Townsend as Tru, Jake Abel as Trevor and Matthew Thompson as Lodell.

- Have the story written and directed by a talented storyteller who can draw from his own family life and add lots of love

The film is directed and written by Stewart Wade who came out with the wonderful film Coffee Date last year.

“For me, what the story says about family is that there is no one ‘real’ kind of family,” says writer/director Stewart Wade. “There are literally hundreds of thousands of children in America being raised by gay parents, but you virtually never see or hear their stories.”

Wade, who is raising a son with his partner, the film’s producer Antonio Brown, adds, “I want my son to grow up feeling like his family is just as good as anyone else’s – different, yes, but not less than. I believe that movies and other forms of entertainment are a great way to familiarize the rest of America with gay people and their families, and a great way for kids growing up in gay families to finally see their lives portrayed accurately, and lovingly, onscreen.”

- Make sure to include the family love

Wade’s partner (in family and business) Antonio Brown agrees. “This is a family film that just happens to involve a gay family. We also include a multi-ethnic family, and an intergenerational family; all of these themes are explored, but it’s the ‘gay family’ aspect that people who we’ve talked with about the film seem to find most thought provoking.”

- Add and mix in an amazing supporting cast with lots of love

The supporting cast assembled by the filmmakers is nothing short of eclectic and iconic, including Bruce Vilanch as Trevor’s uncle Daniel, Alec Mapa and Jane Lynch as an unlikely pair of betrothed high-school teachers, Jasmine Guy and Nichelle Nichols as Lo’s mother and grandmother, Alexandra Paul and Cynda Williams as Tru’s lesbian, multi-racial moms, and gay NFL legend David Kopay.

Each had a very personal reason that inspired them to be part of Tru Loved. And that would be just the beginning of the interesting lineup; there are lots of notables in this film. How Wade and his producers managed to wrangle everyone into this film is amazing! Tru Loved also features Marcia Wallace, Vernon Wells, Joseph Julian Soria and Tye Olson.

- Support the film with a lovely Production team

Tru Loved is produced by Antonio Brown and Stewart Wade, and executive produced by Eric Borsum and Eric Miller, and co-produced by Elaine Hendrix and Ty Donaldson.

The creative team includes Director of Photography Howard Wexler, Production Designer James J. Agazzi and Editor David Avallone.

- Love and Dream Big

“Our dream,” says Brown “is for folks to leave the theater and start a conversation about what they’ve seen, what they imagine to happen in the future of the characters, and how they would deal with these issues in their own lives.”

But, adds Wade, “Tru Loved is first and foremost a fun and emotional look at the lives of some quirky, interesting characters.”

- Edit to perfection and release to an audience hungry for stories about our families.

Tru Loved is currently in post-production and is expected to hit the film festival circuit in 2008.

Related Links:
- Official movie website: Tru Loved
- Tru Loved on MySpace

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