FAQS (2005)

India, a name he's given himself because it sounds cool, finds himself surviving the rough streets of Los Angeles. Tossed out by straights, beaten, exploited by pornographers, and starved, he soon crosses paths with Destiny, a gun-toting vigilante who saves him from a couple of bashers. Proud and sexy, Destiny teaches India to be the same.

India soon takes on the straights who hurt him, brandishing a gun and a sharp wit. But he can't stop asking himself some important questions. Most importantly, is all this violence worth it when he keeps taking home so many cute boys?

One of them might even be the one, if India can convince him that kisses are louder than bombs

Anything can happen, and in FAQS everything does happen in a very short space of time - climaxing with our queer musketeers freeing themselves from the homophobic bonds of an oppressive American society - with a lot of sexy fun thrown in along the way.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.faqsfilm.com

LUSTER (2002)

Everett Lewis' "Luster" lives up to its title as a fresh, bittersweet look at the pursuit of love among a creative group of L.A. young people. It is an unusual film in that most all its people are gay but virtually no one seems homosexual in any stereotypical way in regard to mannerisms, attitudes or preoccupations. Sexual orientation seems a purely incidental matter, scarcely worth thinking or talking about. The irony, however, is that had it occurred to any of them to look at one another as relationship material, the results would not have been so dire.
These are all attractive, appealing people. Lewis, who made his 1990 debut with the memorable "The Natural History of Parking Lots," has cast in the leading role Justin Herwick as Jackson, a lanky guy with blue hair who skateboards around the record store expressing strong views on the customers' tastes while working part time for the kindly Sam (Shane Powers), who has a maturity about him that contrasts with Jackson and their friends, although he clearly is not much older. Jackson is intense, as one would expect of an aspiring poet.
   
 Knowing what love is and recognizing it is Lewis' abiding concern in this film. After a boozy, druggy orgy, Jackson awakens to conclude that he has fallen in love with Billy (Jonah Blechman), who only wants to be friends. Out of the blue, Jackson's Iowa cousin Jed (B. Wyatt), seemingly naive but definitely uninhibited, visits. Meanwhile, Jackson becomes the object of love at first sight on the part of a record store customer, Derek (Sean Thibodeau), who strikes Jackson as too square. Among Jackson's pals are a chic lesbian couple (Susannah Melvoin and Pamela Gidley), and they are not left out of the action, nor is a creepy, decadent rock star (Willie Garson) for whom Jackson writes lyrics and to whom Billy is attracted.

"Luster" has a charming, skittish quality, and Lewis finds pathos and humor in his characters' often painful search for love. There are moments in which the actors seem a bit self-conscious, yet this low-budget picture is a calling card for pretty much everyone in front of the camera.

"Luster's" finale comes out of left field, although it becomes more credible as it sinks in. Rounding out the film's pleasures is its rousing score, featuring a long list of queer friendly rockers including Pansy Division, Third Grade Teacher, Nerdy Girl, No No Boy, Band of Outsiders and many others.

Justin Herwick ... Jackson
Shane Powers ... Sam
B. Wyatt ... Jed
Jonah Blechman ... Billy
Sean Thibodeau ... Derek

A TLA Releasing presentation of a Film Research Unit production in association with Form A, 2042 Films.
Writer/director/editor - Everett Lewis.
Producer - Robert Shulevitz.
Associate Producer/Music Supervisor - Garret Scullin
Cinematographer - Humberto De Luna.
Original score - Michael Leon.

SKIN & BONE (1996)

Young men disillusioned with their "acting careers" as callboys with fantasy fulfilment guarantee.

Henry, Dean, and Billy earn money doing jobs supplied them by their agent Ghislaine: they fulfill the sexual fantasies of Hollywood's rich women and, in particular, men. Dressed up for the parts, they play their roles not only in private houses, but will even, on demand, beat up a client in a parking lot, when a white man in LA also wants to be mistreated by a cop. Occasionally they make erotic films, so playing out their own fantasies of being artists. Artists they are, but in the end they are left by the wayside: in contrast to socially accepted artists, the sex actors are treated as mere products, which exist only for the satisfaction of their paying clients. It can happen that those who have hired them act as if they own them, a trait their agent has also taken on. A profitable exit from this trade seems hopeless, but the boys cannot resist an attempt...

If Skin & Bone were not so funny in places, it would have to be described as a melodrama. Everyone has dreams in this films, many of which have already become an obsession. And in an Everett Lewis film these desires are dangerous, because they are manipulated by others and so you are at their mercy. All in all the film is consistent, the American Dream is over on this side of Hollywood. The callousness of the sex industry is accurately portrayed, there are very few bright spots. Even death does not mean the end of sexual exploitation.

Skin & Bone assumes that you do not know much about this trade and have not yet seen many films on the subject. And so a lot of crazy "perverse" episodes are thrown together; we are to look on, astonished at what turns these people on. Naturally this takes up a lot of time, but there are almost two hours available for the characters themselves, and the plot. All in all, the film is very convincing, even though the audience is not really compelled to experience the story along with the characters and to suffer with them. However, the mix of sex, violence and humour in Skin & Bone should win it a broad audience.

Director -  Everett Lewis   
Writer -  Everett Lewis  
Producer(s)  Claudia Hoover  |  Gardner Monks  
Director of photography  Fernando Arguelles  
Edited by  Everett Lewis   
Music by  Geoff Haba  |  Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz  
Songs by  Pansy Division  

Cast:
B. Wyatt  |  Alan Boyce  |  Susannah Melvoin  |  Garret Scullin  |  Clark Brolly  |  Chad Kula  |  Nicole Dillenberg  

AN AMBUSH OF GHOST (1993)

Stress Fiesta Films presents An Ambush Of Ghosts, a dark, brooding, hallucinatory voyage into the mind of George Bets (Stephen Dorff), a Los Angeles teenager. Ten years ago, George's innocence was shattered when he witnessed the accidental killing of his seven year old brother by their mother Irene (Geneviève Bujoid). The following decade unfolds with all the clarity and logic of a nightmare. The family has tried to carry on, but Irene's denial of losing a son has pushed her to the brink of insanity. George's ineffectual father, Bill (Bruce Davidson) is often forced to rely on restraints and sedatives to subdue his wife.

Through a twisted series of events George hooks up with a possible murderer. Although George tries to lead a normal teenager's life, he is unable to escape the haunting shadows of his past. Just like his mother, George goes over into his own internal world - a world where he can protect his brother. Mom is happy, and everyone is okay.

DIRECTED BY EVERETT LEWIS
PRODUCED BY ROBERT SHULEVITZ & LAUREN GRAYBOW
WRITTEN BY QUINTON PEOPLES
CINEMATOGRAPHY BY JUDY IROLA
MUSIC BY IN THE NURSERY

STARRING: STEPHEN DORFF, GENEVIEVE BUJOLD, BRUCE DAVIDSON, ANNE HECHE, DAVID ARQUETTE, ALAN BOYCE

WINNER OF 'Best Cinematography' award at Sundance Film Festival - 1993

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PARKING LOTS (1990)

This emotionally powerful, erotically charged independent film was "one of the year`s ten best," according to the Los Angeles Times, and the Village Voice declared it "a post-Bruce Weber REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE." Following two young brothers both reaching their manhood, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PARKING LOTS examines their bond both emotionally and sexually.