Upcoming film to explore teenage homophobia in small town U.S.A.
“Tru Loved” now in post-production.
Wed, 10/17/2007 – 10:22am
by Community Editor
For Proud Parenting: Click Here
Jane Lynch and Bruce Vilanch in the same film? It’s almost too good to be true.
A new film by writer/director Stewart Wade – called Tru Loved – centers on Tru (Najarra Townsend), the straight daughter of a lesbian couple (Alexandra Paul, Cynda Williams) who faces challenges when her family moves from San Francisco to a conservative Southern California suburb.
One of our favorite actresses, Jane Lynch stars in the film. Lynch’s credits include The L Word, Best in Show and Talladega Nights. Comedy writer Bruce Vilanch also stars. Dave Kopay, the former professional U.S. football player who came-out in 1975 has just been added to the cast. He will play himself in the film, inspiring a young football player to come out to his friends and family – offering words of support based on his own experiences coming out as a professional athlete.
Stewart Wade also wrote and directed the short film Coffee Date, which screened at over 35 festivals worldwide and won awards at the Honolulu International Gay, the Lesbian Film Festival and the Madrid Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. The short was released in 2005 as part of a compilation titled “Straight Men and the Men Who Love Them.â€
The feature version of Coffee Date, starring Wilson Cruz, Jonathan Silverman, Sally Kirkland and Deborah Gibson, successfully played over 30 international film festivals, winning an Audience Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival – and voted Best Feature Film by audiences at the Sedona International Film Festival. Coffee Date was released theatrically by Film and Music Entertainment, and it’s scheduled for a 2007 DVD release.
Tru Loved comes at a time when gay teen stories are popular – including Brent Hartinger’s teen novel Geography Club, and James St. James’ Freak Show.
The film began principal photography on July 2, 2007 and it’s now in post-production.