Science of Smut

Vancouver International Film Festival - REVIEW: Señorita

2011-10-06T22:25:00.000-07:00

Heyo, smutlings! Reporting back from more VIFF action!

Last Sunday night, I was lucky enough to attend a screening of Señorita, a film noir-inspired melodrama from the Philippines. As some of you film festival buffs may know, Señorita got its start as a short film of the same name (which also screened at VIFF last year) and had been recently expanded into a full-length feature.

Here's the official description of the plot from the film's official website:

Wanting to quit sex work in Manila and start a new life, Donna, a transgender woman, gets her chance when an old friend asks Donna to look after her 12-year-old son Tomas while she works overseas for a year. Donna moves to a small town to look after Tomas only to find out that the town mayor who is seeking re-election is a crony of one of her regular clients back in Manila. In her efforts to break away from her past, she becomes entangled in the town's local politics and ends up leading a double life

Here, screenwriter/director/actor Vincent Sandoval delivers an honest, and at times deliciously devious, portrayal of the transgendered femme fatale, Donna. It was refreshing to see a believable transgendered character at the crux of the story, with real emotions and motivations instead of a comical, superficial (read: flaming queen) caricature as often seen in Filipino cinema. And Sandoval's screenplay shines, intelligently weaving a political backstory of town corruption with Donna's secret life as a sex worker that sets up the final climactic scene where Donna is forced to face the consequences of her actions.

Señorita is a great exploration of the film noir genre, and is an exciting example of the future of Filipino filmmaking. Highly recommended.

For tickets and showtimes, visit http://www.viff.org/festival

Steve Jobs: 1955-2011

2011-10-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

As an avid tech affectionado and loyal Mac user for most of my life, as well as GuySpy.com's science & tech Guyd, I would like to pay tribute to Steve Jobs, who passed away today at the age of 56.

Steve Jobs was truly a one of a kind visionary and innovator, and his achievements have shaped modern day technology as we know it. Without his contributions, I know a lot of what I do would not be possible.

We thank you, Steve. And we will always remember you.

Vancouver International Film Festival - REVIEW: Cloudburst

2011-10-02T01:10:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! I'm back from another day of screenings at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and boy, do I have a review to share with you! I'm still grinning from ear to ear after seeing the film Cloudburst, starring Olympia Dukakis. Why? Well lemme tell you!

So here's the basic premise behind Cloudburst: The blind partner of an 80-year old grisly "bull dyke" gets put into a nursing home after a confrontation between said bull dyke and her partner's granddaughter (against the bull dyke's will, of course). So what's an enraged and lovesick lesbian gonna do? Bust her lover out of the nursing home and take a roadtrip up to Canada to get married!

So what makes this movie so special? Olympia Dukakis portrayal of the stubborn and vulgarly outspoken Stella is simply brilliant, with comedic timing so spot on that her acerbic one-liners come at you like rapid fire. Dukakis is equally matched by Brenda Fricker's Dot, Stella's blind romantic counterpart of 31 years, and their genuine, non-saccharine love for each other squeaks through their constant spats. The screenplay by writer/director Thom Fitzgerald is comically clever and quirky, and presents us with characters that are complex and believable amidst situations that are at times quite absurd. Also Fitzgerald's exploration of same sex relationships amongst the elderly has to be commended, and Tom Harting's breathtaking cinematography exquisitly captures the natural beauty of Nova Scotia that serves as the backdrop for Stella and Dot's journey.

Although the story revolves around a lesbian couple, there's something here for straight girls and gay boys, too! Besides Olympia Dukakis being an icon in her own right, there's a hilarious scene which features full frontal male nudity - something I wouldn't expect in a movie about two elderly lesbians! Plus the 20-something aspiring dancer that the lesbian lovers encounter on the way, Prentice (played by newcomer Ryan Doucette), is quite irresistable and strikingly handsome, and he's often shirtless and in various states of undress! (Drool!)

So, to quickly summarize my review: GO SEE THIS MOVIE. I cannot stress it enough.

Cloudburst screens again at VIFF on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 4:00pm, Empire Granville 7

For tickets and showtimes, visit www.viff.org/festival

Visit the official Cloudburst website at http://thomfitzgerald.com/feature-films/cloudburst/

Vancouver International Film Festival - REVIEW: Wish Me Away

2011-09-30T01:45:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! I'm back! And yes, I'm back covering VIFF! I just got my media pass, and so stay tuned for blog posts about my picks and reviews from VIFF 2011!

So I just got back from seeing two films tonight, and one really stuck out for me. Wish Me Away, directed by Bobbi Birleffi and Beverly Kopf, follows country singer Chely Wright's journey from Nashville music bombshell to gay rights activist. With hit singles like 1997's "Shut Up And Drive" and her number one country smash "Single White Female" in 1999, Wright's meteoric rise to the top of the country music charts combined with her sex-symbol status had garnered adoration from millions of country music fans and respect from the country music industry; however, the painful secret that she had been harbouring for 30 years was about to be revealed in a very big and very public way: a carefully orchestrated release of a revealing album; an autobiography-plus-nationwide book tour; and interviews on syndicated radio shows, major news channels, The Today Show and Oprah. There was no doubt that Chely Wright was taking a big gamble by becoming the first openly gay commercial country music artist in an industry that is known for not openly accepting gays and lesbians.

The documentary was strikingly raw, heartfelt and heartbreaking, and truly conveyed the emotions that Chely was dealing with. It is an honest portrayal of a woman standing for her own truth in the face of Nashville and conservative America. Along with interviews with immediate family, friends and entertainment industry colleagues, the feature length documentary includes video diary footage personally shot by Chely herself. While coming to terms with her faith and the realization of her true self as a lesbian, the film explicitly bears Chely's crippling fear of being shunned by family, her fans, and the threat of losing her entire career. Furthermore, it shows that despite recent strides in LGBTQ rights, homophobia still exists in a fervent way. As Chely's minister/personal spiritual advisor states: “There's nobody quite as mean as people being mean for Jesus”.

Wish Me Away is not only for country music lovers; it is definitely a must see for those who may be struggling with coming to terms with their own sexual identity, as well as those who are struggling to accept the sexual identity of those closest to them.

Wish Me Away screens at VIFF on Wed, Oct 5th 11:00am, and Wed, Oct 12th 11:00am, Empire Granville 7.

Official Wish Me Away Trailer:

To obtain tickets and showtimes for all VIFF screenings, go to www.viff.org/festival

Official Wish Me Away website: http://www.wishmeawaydoc.com/

Podcast recommendation - THE HEATLEY CLIFF

2011-09-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

Heyo, smutlings! Just blogging y'all to recommend a new podcast! It's called THE HEATLEY CLIFF! Now it's a joint podcast done by none other than my very own big sister, Sheryl, and her good friend Amy Foster. What's it about? Well, they describe their podcast as a "modern day salon" where they discuss books, knitting, pop culture and whatever strikes their fancy!

So sit back, relax (preferably with a cup of tea) and listen to the debut episode of The Heatley Cliff, where Sheryl & Amy discuss caravans! Visit www.theheatleycliff.com to listen & subscribe to their podcast! Follow @TheHeatleyCliff on Twitter, too!

And Miss Universe 2011 is... Miss Angola!

2011-09-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

Photo: Andre Penner/AP Photo

Hey hey, smutlings! So did anyone catch the Miss Universe Pageant last night? Well, I was truly surprised that it snuck up on me so quicky; I had completely forgotten about it in the wake of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Anywhoo, one of the gay stereotypes that I completely subscribe to is that of beauty pageants. Yes, I LOVE them: I thrive on their superficiality and their gloss and glam; the contestants' vaseline-enhanced gleaming smiles hiding their seething rage and jealousy when someone else's name gets called instead of their own... and who doesn't love it when a poor contestant walks the runway in a god-AWFUL dress or completely flubs the all-important final question?!

Well last night was no exception. So the big winner of the night was the stunning 25 yr-old Leila Lopes of Angola, who fittingly took the title of Miss Universe ahead of runner-up Miss Ukraine, 23 yr-old Olesia Stefanko. Rounding out the Top 5 were Miss Brazil (not surprising, since Sao Paulo Brazil was hosting the pageant), Miss Philippines, and Miss China. Although I agree as to who made it to the Top 10, I was totally shocked that Miss Venezuela and Miss Puerto Rico did NOT make it in! WOW. Venezuela and Puerto Rico ALWAYS make it in! Does this mean that we're one step closer to the apocalypse? Whatever. What did surprise me was the Asian representation in last night's Top 5; yes, both Miss China and Miss Philippines made it in. Does that mean Southeast Asia is like the new Latin America when it comes to beauty pageants? Hmm...

So what did you think of the Miss Universe Pageant? Comment below! Or tweet me @ScienceOfSmut on Twitter!

9/11 - Ten Years Later, We Remember

2011-09-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago, on this day, the world looked on in horror as the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, VA were attacked by commercial airliners hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists. Nearly 3000 perished in the attacks.

Ten years later, we still remember that fateful day, and we remember those lives that were lost and those families whose lives were impacted by this tragedy. We also remember the courageous spirit of those involved in the evacuation and rescue efforts on September 11, 2001, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Please take a moment out of your day to remember.

Click here for the link to the 9/11 Memorial, officially opening today in NYC.

Click here for the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, VA

Click here for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania

New version of GuySpy app for iPhone - now with VIDEO!

2011-09-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

So some of you know that I also blog for GuySpy.com as their official Science & Technology blogger. So what is GuySpy? Well, it's a GPS location-based gay and bi dating/friend finder app... in other words, it'll let you see who's near you and you can connect with the guys you wanna meet via chat. Now the latest version of the iPhone app has been released! Version 2.1 adds these great features:

Video - send and receive video in one-on-one chat

Cruise - swipe through the latest uploaded images of hot guys

Buzz - read the latest from our great gay blog. Travel, entertainment, sex and more!

YES!!!! You can now video chat! Cool, huh? Well whaddya waiting for?! You can download it NOW from the App Store, or click here to view in iTunes!

Remember, smutlings, stay safe, and Happy GuySpying!

Vancouver Men's Chorus Open Rehearsals - September 14, 21, 28, 2011

2011-09-07T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! Since joining the Vancouver Men's Chorus last year, my life has been forever changed by this amazing Vancouver institution, now celebrating its 31st season! As a proud member, I'm formally inviting all of you guys to come check out the VMC at our annual Open Rehearsals starting Wednesday, September 14, 2011!

So what are Open Rehearsals? Well, if you wanna come see if singing as part of the VMC is for you, now's your chance! All singers of all backgrounds and experience - whether you're a seasoned performer or a complete newbie - are welcome. When you arrive, you will be partnered up with someone from the Chorus that will show you the ropes; that way, you won't be completely on your own. If you decide to take things further and wish to join the VMC, you can then sign up for an audition at a later date. (Yes, you do have to audition, but it's not intimidating; basically the audition is to assess your vocal ability and which section of the Chorus you belong based on your vocal range. You will be asked to perform some basic vocal exercises and sing a selection of your choice; if you don't have a preselected song, you can sing 'O Canada'!)

Some of the things to look forward to this season include the annual ScotiaBank AIDS Walk For Life, the Singing Can Be A Drag performance/fundraiser in November, the World AIDS Day Performance on December 1, our annual Making Spirits Bright seasonal concerts, our Spring Concert series, and various outreach events and retreats (including an out-of-town retreat in the Fall). We're also planning to take the show on the road by attending the GALA 2012 Festival in Denver, CO in July!

So why not? Give it a try! It's a lot of fun, you get to express yourself musically, and you'll be in the company of some of the nicest, most welcoming guys that I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

VMC Open Rehearsals happen September 14, 21, 28, 7:15pm at the Vancouver Academy of Music (1270 Chestnut Street Vancouver BC). For more information, go to http://www.vancouvermenschorus.ca. You can follow the VMC on Facebook and Twitter @VMChorus as well!

HOT GUYS READ... SARAH PALIN!

2011-09-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! I'm BACK. Sorry for the long absence, but the cray-cray world that I live in, especially with the flurry and excitement of being the official Social Media Socialite of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, hasn't given me a lot of time to fully blog. So I apologize, faithful smut-purveyors.

Now back to BUSINESS! Tonight I've been invited to participate in the "HOT GUYS READ..." series at the J-Lounge in Vancouver. Now if you're not familiar with it, it's a regular event where, you guessed it, hot guys read from popular book selections! Oh, and I mentioned it's filled with hot guys, too, right? Past editions of "HOT GUYS READ..." have included Twilight, Suzanne Somers and Lesbian Erotica. So yeah, you can imagine: notable hot (gay) men ~~reading~~ poking fun at literary genres, so it's always a night filled with laughs.

Well tonight's edition is HOT GUYS READ... SARAH PALIN! Yes! For all you mavericks out there, this is one to get all rifled up about. And you betcha it'll be one heck of a great time with all the quirks that this proud Alaskan Republican can only bring. So what am I reading? Well I'll give ya a hint: It'll be selections of a somewhat "poetic" nature... you gotta come to find out! I'll tweet the source material sometime tonight (Are you following me on Twitter yet? Follow me @ScienceOfSmut!)

HOT GUYS READ... SARAH PALIN happens TONIGHT, September 6, 8pm at J-Lounge Vancouver (1216 Bute St). Seating is on a first come, first served basis, so try to come early!

Farewell, Oprah. We thank you.

2011-05-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

I just watched the farewell episode of the Oprah Winfrey show. No surprise giveaways, guests, makeovers, musical acts... just a quiet love letter delivered with grace and sincerity to her viewers. Let's just say that I was moved to tears by the simple, yet infinite wisdom that Oprah spoke about. Live your calling. Give love and validation to others. Give gratitude. Through this, you empower yourself, and take control of your life. Thank you for reminding me of these truths that I try to align myself with.

Thank you, Oprah, for the past 25 years. You are a true inspiration. We look forward to your next endeavour.

Much love,

Jay xoxo

Mad Max: Beyonce Thunderdome

2011-05-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings, I'm back! Now that the Vancouver Men's Chorus spring shows are now OVER, I'll have a bit more time to blog! Yay! Speaking of the shows, DUETS-TWO FABULOUS! was a smashing success! We even had Jann Arden and Sarah McLachlan visit us during the run. (Ms. McLachlan was so gracious! Sarah even told me I did an amazing job on my "Telephone" solo, and gave me a huge hug! Wow, talk about approval!). Here's a pic of me with Sarah and the guys of the VMC!

Now speaking of powerful pop music women, Beyonce has released her video for her latest ~~lacklustre~~ single, Run The World (Girls). So what do I think of it? Well, there's a lot of shoulder and hip thrusting like no one but the House of Dereon can deliver, but it's an interesting view of what the Knowles empire would look like in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by Bey-Bey herself. Kinda scary, but oh so glamorous! All hail the future Empress! Plus the video made me want a pair of pet hyenas.

Well judge for yourself! Watch the vid! And comment below!

The 80s according to Gaga

2011-05-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

Heyo, smutlings! Now if y'all are starting to come down from your Lady Gaga high that arrived last Thursday with the premiere of the "Judas" video and her Monster Ball Tour HBO special this past Saturday, fear not! Mother Monster has come back with ANOTHER track off of her upcoming album Born This Way entitled "The Edge Of Glory".

My thoughts? I LOVE IT! It's a total throwback to 80s pop-belters, and Gaga even throws in a lengthy saxophone solo in there! Wow, I never knew I'd miss those sax breakdowns... So far it's my fave of the three she's released.

Well, have a listen! Whatcha guys think? Comment below! Or CLICK HERE to follow me on Twitter and tweet me what you think!

Jay xoxo

Vancouver Men's Chorus - DUETS-TWO FABULOUS! May 12-15, 2011

2011-05-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! I'm baaaaack! Miss me? Anywhoo, so much has happened since we last chatted! I got a new iPad 2 (which I LOVE!), I blog for guyspy.com as their science & tech expert, and now I'm Director of Communications for the Vancouver Men's Chorus! YES!

Speaking of which, I'm now in the middle of rehearsals for the Vancouver Men's Chorus' Spring show DUETS- TWO FABULOUS! It'll be my second show with the VMC, and it's been a BLAST so far! And I have a featured solo at the end of Act Two! WOOT! It's FIERCE! And it's all going down at Performance Works Granville Island May 12-15, 2011.

So what's the show like? Just like the name of the show suggests, the theme is, you guessed it, DUETS! We're even teaming up with the women's ensemble Pandora's Vox for this show! Working with the women has been AMAZING! Such great vocalists, and they bring such an energy to the production.

Here's a sneak peek video of the show (btw, I made the video! You like?):

Well whatcha waiting for! Get your tickets at http://www.vancouvermenschorus.ca! We'll see you next week at Performance Works!

It Gets Better Project - Vancouver Men's Chorus

2011-03-01T02:15:00.000-08:00

Hey hey, smutlings, I'm back to share a video that I've had the utmost privilege to be a part of. This is the Vancouver Men's Chorus' official It Gets Better Project video. As a proud member of the VMC, I urge all of you to watch the video and share it amongst all your family and friends. We need to take a stand against bullying and homophobia/transphobia. This is the VMC's way of showing LGBTQ youth out there that they are not alone, and that life really does get better.

Much love,

Jay xoxo

Resources in Canada:

- Out in Schools (outinschools.ca)
- Qmunity (qmunity.ca) - 604.684.5307
- Prideline
Qmunity's peer support/information/referral phone line. Weeknights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 604.684.6869 or toll-free: 1.800.566.1170
- Kids Help Phone Line
Canada's only toll-free, 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, referral and Internet service for children and youth
1.800.668.6868 | kidshelpphone.ca

Resources in USA:

The Trevor Project (thetrevorproject.org)
The Trevor Lifeline 24/7
866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) - U.S. CALLS ONLY

New Year = NEW PROJECT(S)!

2011-02-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

Hey hey, smutlings, sorry for being so AWOL lately. A lot has happened to me in the last few months. An amazing first term with the Vancouver Men's Chorus, meeting someone then being dumped a WEEK before Christmas, and my sister going in for surgery two days after for breast cancer. Yes. Both amazing times and tough times at the end of 2010.

But 2011 is a new year! And this gurl isn't one to cave and crumble due to setbacks! Yup, a true diva channels the pain into fierceness and comes back stronger than before! So look for a great new project that I'll be announcing soon... it'll be fun and amazing, I swear!

Much love,

Jay xoxo

My duel with the KFC Double Down... Ugh, I need a cleanse...

2010-10-19T00:31:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! So I decided to give in to my fried chicken cravings and bought the KFC Double Down sandwich, which finally debuted in Canada. I approached the KFC location on Davie Street here in Vancouver like I was entering a seedy stripjoint... constantly looking around and checking over my shoulder to see if no one would notice my shameful chicken indiscretion. But I was actually surprised at the sheer numbers of people inside KFC who were buying the Double Down. I had to wait about 15 minutes for my sandwich to arrive! Yes, I waited that long. There were so many orders for the diabolical sandwich that you could tell the people in the back were struggling to keep up with the demand!

Anyway, my sandwich finally arrived. Here's a photo that I tweeted earlier of the Double Down (FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!):

The actual sandwich was smaller than I thought it would be. For something to sport such a high calorie, fat and salt content, you'd expect it to be this to be behemoth of a sandwich. But nope. It's no bigger than a piece of KFC chicken. It is quite thick though. The label on the wrapper that enveloped the Double Down read "Caution: Hot". And they weren't kidding! It was SCALDING hot. If you dare attempt to eat this thing, it's best to wait for several minutes before taking the plunge.

Sandwiched between the two deep fried chicken breasts were two slices of bacon, two slices of pepperjack cheese and a tangy special sauce. The first thought that popped into my head as I bit into this thing = SALTY! It was so salty that I could feel the salt stripping the tastebuds from my tongue. I desperately needed a tall glass of water to wash the saltiness from my mouth after biting into it. But what about the pepperjack cheese? The bacon? The sauce? Well, the cheese and the sauce were quite tasty; however the overwhelming saltiness of the sandwich completely overpowered any taste of bacon. Quite frankly, I I thought to myself "what's the point of having bacon in this sandwich?". And then it hit me; the bacon just adds more allure to this thing. Two fried chicken breasts + cheese + sauce = cheap-ass chicken cordon bleu. Two fried chicken breasts + cheese + sauce + BACON = SINFUL & INDULGENT. And you know, smutlings, I'll take sinful and indulgent any day. So bring on the bacon!

Now my friend Aaron popped in to the KFC to witness me eating this monstrosity of a chicken sandwich, and he bravely took a bite. He didn't like it at all. He agreed that it was too salty, and he felt it wasn't that great. I beg to differ. It wasn't as orgasmic a taste sensation as I'd hoped, but it did have some redeeming qualities that I thought were worthy of at least one trip down the cardiac bypass expressway. The cheese and the sauce were definite winners, and the quality of the chicken breast filets was really good. Those were some meaty and juicy breasts! And this is coming from a gay man! Hehe.

Oh yeah, make sure to get lots of napkins before you eat this thing; you're gonna need 'em. Here's the aftermath of my gluttonous gobblefest. (Gawd, I can't believe I actually ate this thing! Ugh, the shame...):

Love it or loathe it, KFC definitely has a best seller on its hands here. I predict that the Double Down will (unfortunately) prove to be so popular with late night clubgoers and potheads everywhere that it will eventually become a permanent fixture on the menu. And when that happens, expect the landscape of Canadian waistlines to change forever. Lord have mercy on our arteries...

KFC Double Down comes to Canada. Cardiologists lament.

2010-10-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! As many of my close friends know, I absolutely adore fried chicken. Heck, I'd even go on record to say that fried chicken is my culinary kryptonite; that is, it's my dietary weakness. I can't resist eating it if it's in the same room as me. Nothing comes close to the taste of it in my opinion. Sometimes I yearn for that deep fried goodness at weird hours of the night. I am a fried chicken addict. And here's another shocking revelation for you smutlings; bacon is probably my second fave taste. So the notion of throwing fried chicken and bacon together is like an orgasmic taste explosion of epic proportions in my books.

And so the fast food lords of the underworld have heard my lustful thoughts and delivered their latest junkfood demon to steal away my hard-earned cash and replace it with artery-clogging sinfulness. Yes, the controversial KFC Double Down sandwich will be making its Canadian fast food debut TODAY, October 18. The sandwich made its Stateside bow back in April to much hoopla and debate, and it has become KFC's most successful sandwich to date. And now it has crossed the border and invaded our nation and soon, our waistlines.

So for those of you who haven't been keeping up on your fast food news, the KFC Double Down is a sandwich comprised of two slices of bacon, two slices of pepperjack cheese and special sauce encased between TWO fried chicken breasts. Yes. No bun. Just fried chicken.

As grotesque as that sounds, it does have less calories and fat than a Burger King Whopper (540 calories and 30 grams of fat versus the Whopper's 670 calories and 40 grams of fat), and equal in calories and close to the same fat content as a Big Mac (which has 29 grams of fat). And no bun means less carbs (like that really matters if you actually decide to eat this thing!). However, it has a crazy amount of salt: 1380 milligrams of sodium per sandwich! That's nearly the daily recommended intake of 1500 milligrams!

Ouch. I think I'm having chest pains. And I haven't even tried the sandwich yet!

Still, this sandwich looks sinfully delicious not to pass up at least one try. Combining two forbidden foods that I LOVE, plus cheese?! You know I'll be taking the plunge, even if it comes at the expense of my dignity and my arteries...

images courtesy of KFC/Yum! Brands Canada

Langara College 40th on 49th Celebration!

2010-10-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, hey, smutlings! Just spreading the word about the HUGE 40th anniversary celebration at Langara College! Come and check out the Langara 40th on 49th Celebration this Thursday (that's TODAY) October 14 from 12pm - 7pm!

So what's there to see and do? There's lots of free food and drinks, games, live entertainment, giveaways, and a plethora of prizes to be won ALL DAY. (And these are some SERIOUSLY good prizes, people! Stuff like $1500 in tuition, PS3s, iPads, iPod touches and Canon cameras. SERIOUSLY! Come and win some amazing shizz, y'all!). You can even have your own portrait taken at the professional photo lounge! And come check out the Biology pavilion at the Langara Student's Union (LSU) Building; that's where I'll be, showing you all how to collect your own DNA from your very own cheek cells! FUN! (And PLEASE say hi if you see me! I LOVE meeting all my fellow smutlings!)

I say get there early: the first 2,500 people will get a free swag bag featuring Langara's new "look" (yes, that orange logo above is part the new official look. You like? Post your comments below!)

And for all you social media junkies out there, if you check in to Foursquare and show your check-in at Langara College on October 14 between 12pm-7pm, you receive a special gift, too! (Only 3,000 available)

Look at the official Langara 40th on 49th Celebration webpage for more info and the full schedule of events: CLICK HERE!

See you at Langara today! Muah!

Jay xoxo

Langara College 40th on 49th Celebration
Thursday, October 14, 12pm - 7pm
100 W 49th Avenue, Vancouver BC

Transit directions:
By rapid transit: Take the Canada Line to Langara - 49th Avenue Station.
Walk eastbound (turn left upon exiting the station) two blocks along W 49th Ave towards Langara College.
By bus: Langara College is accessible via the #49 UBC/Dunbar Loop/Metrotown Station bus.

logo courtesy of Langara College

VIFF Queer Flick o' the Day! - Mogadishu Dreaming

2010-10-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hey, hey, smutlings! Yes, it's that time again for Jay's VIFF Queer Flick o' the Day! Today's film is Australian director Leslie Brangan's documentary Mogadishu Dreaming.

Here's the official description from the Vancouver International Film Festival program guide:

Leslie Brangan's short documentary about Ahmed Hagi, a gay Somali artist who fled his war torn country to Sydney, Australia where he now spends his days painting idealized visions of Mogadishu before it fell under the control of gangs and warlords. His encapsulation of little-known Somali history in the later 20th century is as eye-opening as his colorful folk-art creations.

I'm interested in seeing how his life was like prior to the downfall of Mogadishu, and also how he, as a gay man, was treated there prior to and after the downfall. I'm also interested to see how he's captured happier times in Mogadishu's history in his artwork, and why he chose Australia as his new home. As we know, Australia is having a lot of struggles in terms of LGBTQ equality rights lately, so it would also be interesting to see if the documentary highlights that.

Mogadishu Dreaming screens at Empire Granville 7 TONIGHT, Tuesday Oct. 7 at 6:45pm, and at Vancity Theatre Thursday Oct. 14 at 11:00am. For information and tickets, click here!

image courtesy of Vancouver International Film Festival

VIFF Queer Flick o' the Day! - HEARTBEATS

2010-10-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! And Happy National Coming Out Day! Well, I'm back with the VIFF Queer Flick o' the Day... and what better way to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving AND National Coming Out Day than with a Canadian queer film! Today's film takes the form of a French-Canadian bisexual love triangle from director/producer/actor Xavier Dolan... Ooh la la! Trés sexy, non?

Heartbeats (Les amours imaginaires) centers around best friends Marie (Monia Chokri) and Francis (Xavier Dolan) who meet a young hipster named Nicolas (Niels Schneider) at a dinner party. The ambiguous Nicolas quickly becomes the object of desire for both Marie and Francis, and you know what that means... Yep, you got it: friendship on the rocks! And a whole lotta dramaaaa! Pettiness and sabotage. Desperation and jealousy... you get the picture...

Oh, and the movie looks HOT. Trés sexy, indeed! Check out the trailer below!

Heartbeats (Les amours imaginaires) screens TONIGHT, Monday, October 11 9:45pm, and again on Wednesday, October 13, 1:15pm, at Empire Granville 7. For the official movie description and for tickets, click here.

Official website: http://www.lesamoursimaginaires.com/

image courtesy of Vancouver International Film Festival

VIFF Film Review - SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL

2010-10-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Image c/o Vancouver International Film Festival & Mongrel Media

Hey, hey, smutlings! I just came back from attending the Vancouver International Film Festival, and boy, do I have to tell you about the flick I had the absolute joy to watch! It's SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL!

In Score, producer, director and writer-turned-lyricist Michael McGowan (One Week) paints a glorious ode to Canada's sport institution, hockey, with a good dose of song, dance and a whole lot of heart. The film features an all-star cast headed by the likes of Olivia Newton-John, Marc Jordan, and Nelly Furtado, as well as a host of other cameos from Canada's vast music and hockey heritage. But the real standout is dreamy newcomer Noah Reid as the innocent, wide-eyed teen hockey phenom Farley Gordon. (Look out teenage girls; a new heartthrob has finally arrived! Commence high-pitched screaming...) Not only can he skate and sport mad stickhandling skills, the kid's got some serious pipes! He pretty much carries the entire film singing the 20 plus songs that make up Score's score. Along with his great vocal ability, Reid brings such a sincerity and lovability to his character that it makes the whole story believable; McGowan definitely found his golden boy with Noah Reid.

After the VIFF screening, there was a Q&A session with producer/writer/lyricist/director McGowan. He definitely has much love for Canada, as well as its national pasttime hockey, and it shows in his films and the way he speaks of his projects. I asked him if he was shopping around the Score film for an international release given the recent resurgence of the movie musical and shows like Glee becoming so mainstream - to which he said "yes", and that he wants the movie to be "the little film that could" and that "we're aiming for global domination!". I also asked him how he got Olivia Newton-John aboard, saying that it was great to cast Marc Jordan in the movie because he was an influential reason that Newton-John signed on (Newton-John and Jordan are long-time friends). Also he revealed that one of the reasons Nelly Furtado joined the project because her father is a huge hockey fan, and she wanted to be part of something that her father would love. There is also talk of a stage version of Score... look out for news about that soon!

After the Q&A, I had the great pleasure to chat with Michael McGowan, and he is definitely a sincere individual. Here are some photos I took of writer/director Michael McGowan at the Q&A session today:

I highly recommend seeing Score: A Hockey Musical. It boasts a lot of wit and charm in a non-boastful Canadian way. The music and musical numbers are fantastic, and the film has a great message to boot. It's a film that will entertain both hockey fans and fans of musicals alike. A definite SCORE for Score!

Score: A Hockey Musical opens in theatres across Canada on October 22!

Score: A Hockey Musical Official Trailer

VSO Tweet-up! - Gilbert & Sullivan Night

2010-10-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

image courtesy of GayVancouver.net

Hey hey, smutlings! Last night, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting up with several others who I've become friends with on Twitter in the past few months. I know many of you have read their blogs or tweets online! People in attendance included Josh Rimer from YouTube's Top Trending Topics show, Mark Robins from GayVancouver.net, and Raul Pacheco from hummingbird604. I also got to meet others for the first time, like Miss604's Rebecca Bollwitt, Donovan from the uber-popular Homorazzi, Caroline from CITR 101.9FM Radio's talk show Sexy In Vancity, PR Consultant Cynnamon Schreinert, PR professional Ryan Bazeley, Marc Smith from Amuse Events, and Marketwire client relations manager Gus Fosarolli.

The evening consisted of amazing performances of Gilbert & Sullivan selections. The soloists were in fine form, and as you G&S fans know, all hilarity ensued. The show even made fun of Vancouver references like Olympic Village, the bike lanes on Burrard Bridge, and even social media like Facebook and Twitter (you know us social media types were laughing at that reference!). But overall we were pleasantly surprised that the event was far from the stuffy, hoity-toity stereotypical image that comes to mind when you think "orchestra". I cannot recommend it enough to go see the VSO, even if you have never been before. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

After the show, we were taken on a backstage tour of the Orpheum Theatre. We also got to meet with Maestro Bramwell Tovey, who was so gracious to meet with us while we were all tweeting up a storm. He admitted he didn't have any idea how Twitter works, but was really happy that we were helping to spread the word about how wonderful the VSO was. And indeed they were wonderful. Here are some pics of Maestro Tovey and a shot from the stage that I tweeted last night!

Maestro Bramwell Tovey of the VSO

Backstage shot of the Orpheum Theatre

A special thanks again to Mark from GayVancouver.net for arranging the tweet-up and the VSO for a wonderful evening! (Follow the VSO's tweets HERE!)

VIFF Queer Flick o' the Day! - LA ZOMBIE

2010-10-09T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hey smutlings, have I got a queer flick for you! It's Bruce LaBruce's LA ZOMBIE! Now if you like gay porn, and you like zombie flicks, this is definitely for you! Get this: LaBruce's controversial gay zombie porn involves an alien (played by French gay porn star Francois Sagat) arising from the ocean that brings dead corpses to life by f*cking them. Yeah, pretty f*cked up if you ask me. But so intriguing! It was so controversial that it was banned earlier this year from the Melbourne International Film Festival. And you know I LOVE controversy! I'll be checking out tonight's screening for sure, so I'll letcha know what I think. Follow my tweets on Twitter!

LA ZOMBIE plays at VIFF TONIGHT, Saturday Oct. 9, at 11:45pm, and again on Tuesday Oct. 12 at 4:30pm pm and Wednesday, Oct 13 at 9:45pm, Empire Granville 7. For tickets and info, click here!

image courtesy of Vancouver International Film Festival

VIFF Queer Flick o' the Day! - 108 (Cuchillo de palo)

2010-10-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, smutlings! Enjoying all the excitement that the Vancouver International Film Festival has to offer? Well it's that time again for my VIFF Queer Flick o' the Day!

The movie I'm HIGHLY recommending today is the documentary 108 (Cuchillo de palo). This film follows Paraguayan filmmaker Renate Costa and her exploration into her late uncle's life. Her investigation leads her to discover that he was listed on one of the 108 known homosexuals by the former Paraguayan dictatorship and as a result was persecuted throughout his lifetime. Enthralling, powerful and personal, this documentary highlights the struggles that queer people all over the world have faced, while serving as a reminder that many LGBTTQ people are still denied basic human rights in their respective home countries.

108 (Cuchillo de palo) plays tonight, Friday Oct. 7, 7:00pm and Wednesday, Oct 13, 10;30am at Empire Granville 7. For the official film description and for tickets, click here.

image via Vancouver International Film Festival