Sundance Channel's "Out Loud" Sounds with World Premier of Cho's "Revolution"
Tue. June 15, 2004 12:00 AM
Film Centerpiece of 6th Annual GLBT Tribute, With a Gay Themed Film in Every Day in June
New York, NY -
Sundance Channel's 6th annual "Out Loud" celebration gets louder than ever with the world premiere of Margaret Cho's new stand-up comedy film Revolution on June 19th at 9:00pm. The film is the centerpiece of this year's "Out Loud" event, when a GLBT-themed film will air every Monday night at 9:00pm as part of DOCday and every day in June at various times. Joining Revolution in the "Out Loud" lineup is a wide selection of narrative features, documentaries and shorts about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender life.
Revolution finds Cho tackling a range of topics with the same acerbic, no-holds-barred humor that has made her a comedy phenomenon and the hero of the GLBT (gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender) community. Frequently using her life as raw material, she holds forth on everything from the Bush administration to the entertainment offerings of Thailand's red light district; from the functional flaws of a certain diet plan to a theologian's highly specific interpretation of gay love. Revolution was filmed live at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles during Cho's critically acclaimed, sold-out 2003 national tour.
Written by Margaret Cho, the film stars Cho and Bruce Daniels and was directed, produced and edited by Lorene Machado. Revolution also airs on the 22nd at 9:00pm, the 24th at 10:00pm, the 26th at 11:00pm and the 27th at 10:00pm.
"I'm very inappropriate," Cho remarks during Revolution - and for that, comedy lovers of all stripes can be deeply grateful. Cho's convention-defying sensibility places her in the tradition of comedy mavericks like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Richard Pryor. At the same time, she has forged her own comic path, developing a voice that is individualistic and ultimately empowering. Her audience is huge, adoring and diverse - encompassing gays and lesbians, Asians, women, people of color, college students, comedy fans, and basically anyone who has ever felt like an outcast. Revolution is Cho's third performance film, following the critical and popular hits Notorious C.H.O. (2002) and I'm the One That I Want (1999). In 1994, she starred in the controversial, short-lived ABC sitcom "All-American Girl," television's first program about an Asian-American family.
"Out Loud" narrative feature premieres include:
June 3rd at 9:00pm
Gasoline (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Monica Stambrini. A sexy, edgy Italian road movie about Stella (Maya Sansa) and Lenni (Regina Orioli), lesbian lovers who go on the lam after an argument with Lenni's mother leads to a fatal accident.
June 4th at 8:00pm
The Lawless Heart (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Tom Hunsinger and Neil Hunter. The sudden death of a gay restaurateur leads three men - his lover, his brother-in-law and his footloose old friend - to reconsider their lives. Funny and poignant, this much-acclaimed British film stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Tom Hollander (Gosford Park) and Douglas Henshall.
June 8th at 10:00pm
Zus and Zo (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Paula van der Oest. Nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the 2003 Academy Awards®, this Dutch comedy follows the efforts of three sisters who are determined to prevent their gay brother's marriage to a woman - which would entitle him to sole ownership of the family's seaside hotel in Portugal.
June 9th at 9:00pm
Hush! (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi. Balancing droll humor with insightful drama, this Japanese film follows the travails of a young gay couple and a socially maladroit young woman as they consider starting a family together.
June 16th at 9:00pm
Soldier's Girl (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Frank Pierson. Based on a true story, this sensitive, exquisitely acted drama chronicles the tragic love affair between Private Barry Winchell (Troy Garity, Barbershop) and transgendered nightclub performer Calpernia Addams (Lee Pace). Sean Hatosy (The Cooler) co-stars as Garity's terrifyingly volatile roommate. Winner of a 2004 Peabody Award.
June 18th at 8:00pm
His Secret Life (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Ferzan Ozpetek. After her beloved husband is killed in a traffic accident, an Italian woman (Margherita Buy) learns that he led a double life with a gay lover (Stefano Accorsi). Her discovery leads to an unlikely friendship, and more. From the director of Steam: The Turkish Bath.
June 24th at 8:30pm
Go Fish (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Rose Troche. Opposites attract in Troche's wonderfully lived-in romantic comedy about the extroverted Max (co-writer Guinevere Turner) and reserved Ely (V.S. Brodie), who are fixed up by mutual friends.
"Out Loud" documentary premieres include:
June 7th at 9:00pm
Garden (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Adi Barash, Ruthie Shatz. Garden follows a year in the lives of Nino and Dudu, teenagers who fled abusive households and now work as male prostitutes in the "electricity garden" in downtown Tel-Aviv. Their bleak prospects are further complicated by their nationalities: Nino is Palestinian and Dudu is Arab-Israeli.
June 14th at 9:00pm
The Tasty Bust Reunion (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Stephen MacLean. A stylish and triumphant look back on events surrounding the 1994 police raid on the "Tasty," a queer dance club in Melbourne, Australia where 463 patrons were lined up and strip-searched at gunpoint. But clubsters fought back, leading to a landmark lawsuit.
June 15th at 11:15pm
Wigstock: The Movie (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Barry Shils. New York's reigning outdoor drag ball - a joyous extravaganza of music, performance and sky-high wigs - hits the big screen. Performers include Lypsinka, Deee-Lite and the Dueling Bankheads, performing "Born to Be Wild" as only Talullah(s) can.
June 21st at 9:00pm
Our House: A Very Real Documentary About Kids of Gay and Lesbian Parents (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Meema Spadola. A frank examination of what it means to grow up with gay or lesbian parents, Our House profiles children in five families who are facing the usual ups and downs of family life while encountering varied reactions from extended family, classmates, teachers, neighbors, and public officials.
June 21st at 10:00pm
No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Joan Biren. Known as the founders of the modern lesbian civil rights movement, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon launched the first public organization for lesbians in 1955. The film chronicles the lives of these two women, who have been both partners in love and political activism for 50 years.
June 28th at 9:00pm
Yves St. Laurent: 5 Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by David Teboul. Offering a fascinating glimpse of what goes on behind the closed doors of an haute couture house, Teboul chronicles the creation of the final women's collection by the legendary fashion designer Yves St. Laurent.
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel brings television viewers daring and engaging feature films, shorts, documentaries, world cinema and animation, shown uncut and with no commercials. Through its original programs, Sundance Channel connects viewers with filmmakers, the creative process, and the world of independent film. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture between Robert Redford, Showtime Networks Inc., and Universal Studios. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of supporting independent artists and providing them with wider opportunities to present their work to audiences. Sundance Channel's website address is www.sundancechannel.com.
Revolution finds Cho tackling a range of topics with the same acerbic, no-holds-barred humor that has made her a comedy phenomenon and the hero of the GLBT (gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender) community. Frequently using her life as raw material, she holds forth on everything from the Bush administration to the entertainment offerings of Thailand's red light district; from the functional flaws of a certain diet plan to a theologian's highly specific interpretation of gay love. Revolution was filmed live at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles during Cho's critically acclaimed, sold-out 2003 national tour.
Written by Margaret Cho, the film stars Cho and Bruce Daniels and was directed, produced and edited by Lorene Machado. Revolution also airs on the 22nd at 9:00pm, the 24th at 10:00pm, the 26th at 11:00pm and the 27th at 10:00pm.
"I'm very inappropriate," Cho remarks during Revolution - and for that, comedy lovers of all stripes can be deeply grateful. Cho's convention-defying sensibility places her in the tradition of comedy mavericks like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Richard Pryor. At the same time, she has forged her own comic path, developing a voice that is individualistic and ultimately empowering. Her audience is huge, adoring and diverse - encompassing gays and lesbians, Asians, women, people of color, college students, comedy fans, and basically anyone who has ever felt like an outcast. Revolution is Cho's third performance film, following the critical and popular hits Notorious C.H.O. (2002) and I'm the One That I Want (1999). In 1994, she starred in the controversial, short-lived ABC sitcom "All-American Girl," television's first program about an Asian-American family.
"Out Loud" narrative feature premieres include:
June 3rd at 9:00pm
Gasoline (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Monica Stambrini. A sexy, edgy Italian road movie about Stella (Maya Sansa) and Lenni (Regina Orioli), lesbian lovers who go on the lam after an argument with Lenni's mother leads to a fatal accident.
June 4th at 8:00pm
The Lawless Heart (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Tom Hunsinger and Neil Hunter. The sudden death of a gay restaurateur leads three men - his lover, his brother-in-law and his footloose old friend - to reconsider their lives. Funny and poignant, this much-acclaimed British film stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Tom Hollander (Gosford Park) and Douglas Henshall.
June 8th at 10:00pm
Zus and Zo (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Paula van der Oest. Nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the 2003 Academy Awards®, this Dutch comedy follows the efforts of three sisters who are determined to prevent their gay brother's marriage to a woman - which would entitle him to sole ownership of the family's seaside hotel in Portugal.
June 9th at 9:00pm
Hush! (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi. Balancing droll humor with insightful drama, this Japanese film follows the travails of a young gay couple and a socially maladroit young woman as they consider starting a family together.
June 16th at 9:00pm
Soldier's Girl (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Frank Pierson. Based on a true story, this sensitive, exquisitely acted drama chronicles the tragic love affair between Private Barry Winchell (Troy Garity, Barbershop) and transgendered nightclub performer Calpernia Addams (Lee Pace). Sean Hatosy (The Cooler) co-stars as Garity's terrifyingly volatile roommate. Winner of a 2004 Peabody Award.
June 18th at 8:00pm
His Secret Life (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Ferzan Ozpetek. After her beloved husband is killed in a traffic accident, an Italian woman (Margherita Buy) learns that he led a double life with a gay lover (Stefano Accorsi). Her discovery leads to an unlikely friendship, and more. From the director of Steam: The Turkish Bath.
June 24th at 8:30pm
Go Fish (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Rose Troche. Opposites attract in Troche's wonderfully lived-in romantic comedy about the extroverted Max (co-writer Guinevere Turner) and reserved Ely (V.S. Brodie), who are fixed up by mutual friends.
"Out Loud" documentary premieres include:
June 7th at 9:00pm
Garden (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Adi Barash, Ruthie Shatz. Garden follows a year in the lives of Nino and Dudu, teenagers who fled abusive households and now work as male prostitutes in the "electricity garden" in downtown Tel-Aviv. Their bleak prospects are further complicated by their nationalities: Nino is Palestinian and Dudu is Arab-Israeli.
June 14th at 9:00pm
The Tasty Bust Reunion (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Stephen MacLean. A stylish and triumphant look back on events surrounding the 1994 police raid on the "Tasty," a queer dance club in Melbourne, Australia where 463 patrons were lined up and strip-searched at gunpoint. But clubsters fought back, leading to a landmark lawsuit.
June 15th at 11:15pm
Wigstock: The Movie (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Barry Shils. New York's reigning outdoor drag ball - a joyous extravaganza of music, performance and sky-high wigs - hits the big screen. Performers include Lypsinka, Deee-Lite and the Dueling Bankheads, performing "Born to Be Wild" as only Talullah(s) can.
June 21st at 9:00pm
Our House: A Very Real Documentary About Kids of Gay and Lesbian Parents (Sundance Channel Premiere) - Directed by Meema Spadola. A frank examination of what it means to grow up with gay or lesbian parents, Our House profiles children in five families who are facing the usual ups and downs of family life while encountering varied reactions from extended family, classmates, teachers, neighbors, and public officials.
June 21st at 10:00pm
No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by Joan Biren. Known as the founders of the modern lesbian civil rights movement, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon launched the first public organization for lesbians in 1955. The film chronicles the lives of these two women, who have been both partners in love and political activism for 50 years.
June 28th at 9:00pm
Yves St. Laurent: 5 Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris (U.S. Television Premiere) - Directed by David Teboul. Offering a fascinating glimpse of what goes on behind the closed doors of an haute couture house, Teboul chronicles the creation of the final women's collection by the legendary fashion designer Yves St. Laurent.
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel brings television viewers daring and engaging feature films, shorts, documentaries, world cinema and animation, shown uncut and with no commercials. Through its original programs, Sundance Channel connects viewers with filmmakers, the creative process, and the world of independent film. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture between Robert Redford, Showtime Networks Inc., and Universal Studios. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of supporting independent artists and providing them with wider opportunities to present their work to audiences. Sundance Channel's website address is www.sundancechannel.com.