''Judas Kiss'' is a 2011 U.S. drama film directed by J.T. Tepnapa and written by Tepnapa and Carlos Pedraza. It stars
Charlie David
Charles David Lubiniecki (born August 9, 1980), better known as Charlie David, is a Canadian actor, writer, director and producer, best known for the male lead in the LGBT horror series ''Dante's Cove''. He has also worked as a TV host on a numb ...
,
Richard Harmon
Richard Scott Harmon is a Canadian actor. His roles on television include John Murphy in The CW's ''The 100'', Jasper Ames in '' The Killing'' and Julian Randol on ''Continuum''. Harmon received critical praise for his role in the movie ''If I H ...
,
Sean Paul Lockhart
Sean Paul Lockhart (born October 31, 1986) is an American film actor and director, known for ''Milk'' (2008), '' Judas Kiss'' (2011), and ''Triple Crossed'' (2013).
Lockhart started his career as a gay pornographic film actor mostly using the ...
, and
Timo Descamps
Timo Descamps (born 27 May 1986) is a Belgian actor and singer best known for his former roles on the soap operas '' Spring'' and ''Familie''. In 2007, Descamps released his first music single, "Phonecall", which rose to 36J.T. Tepnapa, who has won many international awards for his short films, including the multiple award-winning parody of 1950s teen health films.
Plot
Failed filmmaker Zach Wells is asked by his friend and hotshot director, Topher Shadoe, to take his place as judge in the annual Keystone Film Festival, held in Zach's alma mater, Keystone Summit University. Zach is initially reluctant, as it brings memories of the festival defining his life for the worse: he won the festival 15 years ago, which convinced him to drop out of college and move to Hollywood, where his career struggled. The night before the judging, Zach goes to a gay bar where he has sex with a younger patron.
To his shock, Zach finds out that the patron is a participant in the festival. Even more puzzling, he is named Danny Reyes, Zach's birth name, and submits ''Judas Kiss'', the same film Zach submitted years ago. Zach suspects it as Topher's elaborate joke, but it becomes more and more real as the headmistress, Mrs. Blossom, dismisses his misgivings about Danny's identity. Zach is approached by Welds, the school's elderly security guard. Welds seems to understand the situation and tips him that Danny, with the help of his friend Abbey Park, cheats in order to increase his chance of winning the competition. He tells Zach that the latter's future depends on whether Danny wins or not.
Danny strikes a relationship with Chris Wachowsky, the winner of the previous year's festival. As he is preparing for the big day, he is approached by Shane Lyons, the son of famous Hollywood producers and self-proclaimed "emperor" of the college. Shane takes an interest in Danny and has sex with him, asking him to move to his residence regardless if he wins the festival or not. Chris warns Danny that Shane is only interested in him because he is a potential winner and will dump him – just as he did to Chris a year ago – if his parents disapprove his film. However, Danny is insistent about Shane's involvement as his abusive father, Daniel Sr., threatened to cut him off if he shows the film, straining his relationship with Chris and Abbey.
On the day of the awards ceremony, Zach presents evidence of Danny's deception to Daniel Sr., who in turn gives it to Mrs. Blossom. He tries to convince Danny to quit the festival, but the latter brushes him off. Welds appears one last time to Zach and reveals that he is actually Danny – and by extension Zach – as an old man. Danny's fraud costs him the award, but the other judges' assertions win him chance to play ''Judas Kiss'', an autobiography of Danny's abusive life after his mother died. He is given special recognition, but this ends his friendship with Chris and Abbey for good. Danny visits Zach in his compartments and shares his fears. Zach tells him that what already happened cannot change, encouraging him to craft a better life.
After the festival, Zach is working on his project while sitting on a roof, like he did in the beginning. Topher returns from his business and joins him. It is revealed that Topher is really Chris, having reconciled with Zach after the latter failed to break into Hollywood.
Cast
*
Charlie David
Charles David Lubiniecki (born August 9, 1980), better known as Charlie David, is a Canadian actor, writer, director and producer, best known for the male lead in the LGBT horror series ''Dante's Cove''. He has also worked as a TV host on a numb ...
as Zachary "Zach" Wells
*
Richard Harmon
Richard Scott Harmon is a Canadian actor. His roles on television include John Murphy in The CW's ''The 100'', Jasper Ames in '' The Killing'' and Julian Randol on ''Continuum''. Harmon received critical praise for his role in the movie ''If I H ...
as Daniel "Danny" Reyes, Jr.
*
Sean Paul Lockhart
Sean Paul Lockhart (born October 31, 1986) is an American film actor and director, known for ''Milk'' (2008), '' Judas Kiss'' (2011), and ''Triple Crossed'' (2013).
Lockhart started his career as a gay pornographic film actor mostly using the ...
as Chris Wachowsky
*
Timo Descamps
Timo Descamps (born 27 May 1986) is a Belgian actor and singer best known for his former roles on the soap operas '' Spring'' and ''Familie''. In 2007, Descamps released his first music single, "Phonecall", which rose to 36Julia Morizawa
Julia Morizawa is an American actress of Japanese origin, writer and producer. She has performed in over 100 film, television, theatre, and internet productions throughout her career.
as Abbey Park
* Ron Boyd as Ralph Garlington
* Troy Fischnaller as Topher Shadoe
* Samantha Rund as Rebecca Lynn
* Ronee Collins as Kimberly Reyes
* Laura Kenny as Mrs. Blossom
* Dale Bowers as Old Man Welds
* Vince Valenzuela as Daniel Reyes, Sr.
* Matt Smith as Jude
* Tim Foutch as Tommy
* Julian LeBlanc as Nate
*
Genevieve Buechner
Genevieve Sterling Buechner (born November 10, 1991) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her television roles such as Tamara Adama on the Syfy series '' Caprica'', Fox on The CW series ''The 100'', and Madison on the Lifetime series ''UnRE ...
as Samantha
Production
The film is produced by Blue Seraph Productions, a
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
company headed by Tepnapa and Pedraza. Their previous work has been featured in ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'',
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
, ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
Today Show
''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'' or informally, ''NBC News Today'') is an American news and talk morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It w ...
,
MSNBC
MSNBC (originally the Microsoft National Broadcasting Company) is an American news-based pay television cable channel. It is owned by NBCUniversala subsidiary of Comcast. Headquartered in New York City, it provides news coverage and political ...
, and other international news outlets.
The film, which was shot in the summer of 2010 in
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, has already attracted attention for casting former ''
Dante's Cove
''Dante's Cove'' is an American LGBT-oriented supernatural soap opera which aired on here! from October 7, 2005 through December 21, 2007. Created and written by Michael Costanza and directed by Sam Irvin, the series combines elements of the ho ...
'' star
Charlie David
Charles David Lubiniecki (born August 9, 1980), better known as Charlie David, is a Canadian actor, writer, director and producer, best known for the male lead in the LGBT horror series ''Dante's Cove''. He has also worked as a TV host on a numb ...
. Also cast is adult film star
Brent Corrigan
Sean Paul Lockhart (born October 31, 1986) is an American film actor and director, known for ''Milk'' (2008), '' Judas Kiss'' (2011), and ''Triple Crossed'' (2013).
Lockhart started his career as a gay pornographic film actor mostly using the ...
(credited as
Sean Paul Lockhart
Sean Paul Lockhart (born October 31, 1986) is an American film actor and director, known for ''Milk'' (2008), '' Judas Kiss'' (2011), and ''Triple Crossed'' (2013).
Lockhart started his career as a gay pornographic film actor mostly using the ...
), who appeared in 2008's Oscar-winning ''
Milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. Immune factors and immune ...
'' and the comedy '' Another Gay Sequel''.
The Campus of the University of Washington was used as the Keystone Summit University.
Casting
Lockhart impressed the director with his acting in ''In the Closet''. David is well known at the gay box office. Richard Harmon won the role over more than 1,000 Los Angeles actors when his video taped audition impressed the producers.
Belgian actor
Timo Descamps
Timo Descamps (born 27 May 1986) is a Belgian actor and singer best known for his former roles on the soap operas '' Spring'' and ''Familie''. In 2007, Descamps released his first music single, "Phonecall", which rose to 36The Advocates Hot Sheet, the top 10 entertainment highlights by Brandon Voss. Entertainment Focus named ''Judas Kiss'' to list Top 10 Gay Films of 2011.
''
QX Magazine
''QX Magazine'' was a free LGBTQ weekly magazine distributed at most LGBTQ spaces across London and the UK.
The magazine was based in London. As a free magazine, it hads a high proportion of advertising space for revenue. Although the magazin ...
'' rated ''Judas Kiss'' 7 out of 10, praising the film's nicely breezy tone. The review makes note of the film's "darker story elements,
hich
Ij ( fa, ايج, also Romanized as Īj; also known as Hich and Īch) is a village in Golabar Rural District, in the Central District of Ijrud County, Zanjan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also ...
make us wonder how our lives would look to our younger selves."
''Edge'' magazine named ''Judas Kiss'' among the "12 Great Gay Indies That Will (Hopefully) Make it to a Theater Near You."
''
ATV Today
''ATV Today'' was a regional television news and current affairs programme, produced by ATV, serving the English Midlands.
The programme aired from 5 October 1964 until 31 December 1981 – the final day of broadcasting from ATV before the co ...
'' gave a positive review and said "A refreshingly different film with its genre mixing feel – time travel, fantasy, romance – and is at times dark but compelling, too".
The revitalized GLBT news blog,
Queerty
''Queerty'' is an online magazine and newspaper covering gay-oriented lifestyle and news, founded in 2005 by David Hauslaib. As of June 2015, the site had more than five million monthly unique visitors.
History
''Queerty'' was founded by David ...
, put ''Judas Kiss'' at the top of its list of 10 recommended films to see at this year's.
Helge Janssen of Artslink praised the "flawless ensemble acting", calling it the “primary satisfying energy that carries this film.” Queer.de weighed in on the film, calling it "a touching love story, beautifully photographed and filled with magnificent, gorgeous-looking actors." The review credits J.T. Tepnapa's direction, discusses the breakout performance by
Sean Paul Lockhart
Sean Paul Lockhart (born October 31, 1986) is an American film actor and director, known for ''Milk'' (2008), '' Judas Kiss'' (2011), and ''Triple Crossed'' (2013).
Lockhart started his career as a gay pornographic film actor mostly using the ...
in his dramatic role and notes the acclaim the film has received in film festivals all this year. ''
Xtra!
''Xtra Magazine'' (formerly ''DailyXtra'' and ''Xtra!'') is an LGBTQ-focused digital publication and former print newspaper published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The publication is a continuation of the company's former pr ...
'' describes the film as a "spiritual journey of destiny, paths missed and second chances," which "emphasizes healing from your past." The Cinemanía blog in Spain calls ''Judas Kiss'' "so strange it's impossible not to love it." New York Cool said "Suspenseful. Spellbinding, with sexual swagger."
Awards
Sean Paul Lockhart won
QFest
QFest, formerly known as the Houston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (HGLFF), is a nonprofit organization based in Houston, Texas, dedicated to promoting the media arts as a tool for communication and cooperation among diverse communities by presentin ...
's Rising Star Award in recognition of his transition to mainstream roles.