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Saturday, May 1st, 2021

I Am Syd Stone : a coming out story

 



This Canadian feel-good romantic queer comedy/coming out story started its life as a short film that had a very successful reception in 2014.  So actor turned writer/director Denis Theriault converted it into a Web Series which we then viewed as a feature film at the OUTshine Virtual Film Festival in Miami.

Syd (Travis Nelson) was once a big player in Hollywood but now that his star is slipping he’s now reduced to acting in an indie movie in the burbs.  His temporary home is the hotel where the crew is holed up, but Syd keeps himself to himself when he has finished shooting for the day.   His only ‘friend’ is the hotel bartender at the bar where he sits most nights drowning his sorrows.

It gives him an excuse to avoid telephone calls from his girlfriend and from his agent who has been trying to get Syd to consider a new movie script.  He has been insisting on turning it down without explaining why 

One night he notices a very studious Matt (Benjamin Charles Watson) who is working hard on his computer in a quiet corner prepping for his first day in Court tomorrow.  He allows Syd to distract him and over a couple of drinks the two men gently flirt with each other.  They move on to the hotel’s indoor swimming pool and Matt is about to lean in for a kiss when they are disturbed by other guests who make matters worse by insisting on having a selfie with filmstar Syd.

 

So now we have the setup:  a closeted movie star who knows he wants to get together with Matt but is petrified at what it will end up costing him.

There are no major surprises in the story but because the script bears all the hallmarks of experienced gay men, the ploy unfolds in both a comfortable and compelling way.

Theriault’s co-writer Gharrett Patrick Paonwho was the original Syd in the short had jumped to be the producer paving the way for Travis Nelson to take the lead,  This is no reflection on Paon in any way, but it was the perfect choice as Nelson gave a finely nuanced performance as the closeted gay man: so much so, everybody would want to end up dating him





Posted by queerguru  at  15:21


Genres:  coming out, international, webseries

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