''Matrimonium'' is a 2005 comedy film directed by

Michael Akers Michael D. Akers (born September 5, 1970 in Ephrata, Pennsylvania) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. In 2000, he founded "United Gay Network" (UGN) with his longtime partner, Sandon Berg. Most of his films are L ...

, his second feature film after the successful '' Gone, But Not Forgotten''. Co-written and co-produced by him and

Sandon Berg Sandon Berg (born July 15, 1971) is an American film producer and screenwriter, and actor with past roles in both film and television. He co-founded United Gay Network, a film production company, with his longtime partner, Michael D. Akers. ...

, the latter appears in a lead role in the film as Spencer who is having a sham same-sex marriage with the straight character Rick Federman in the role of Malcolm to enable the latter to win the 1-million dollar prize on the nationally broadcast reality television show ''Matrimonium''. The film was featured in ''Blood Moon's Guide to Gay & Lesbian Film'', by

Darwin Porter Darwin Porter (born September 13, 1937, in Greensboro, North Carolina) is an American travel writer, producing numerous titles, mostly for the Frommer guidebook series, over a 50-year career span. In the 21st century, he became a pop culture journ ...

and Danforth Prince and published by Blood Moon Productions in 2006. In that book, ''Matrimonium'' is called a "hilarious spoof on reality television."

Synopsis

Malcolm Caufield (Rick Federman), a straight guy decides to go on a

reality show Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

called "Matrimonium" for a chance to win a million dollars. The sum comes handy after his allowance was cut off by his family. The reality show however has put a twist. Malcolm has to put a charade that he has suddenly turned "gay" and in a spoof arranged by the TV hostess (Deven Green), he is marrying the very gay Spencer Finch (Sandon Berg). All he has to do to win the prize is to convince his family (Bruce Cronander & Sondra Thieret) to attend the nationally televised same-sex wedding of their "now gay" son. Can Malcolm convince them and what are his true feelings towards his supposed TV scam partner and "lover"?

Cast

*Rick Federman as Malcolm Caufield *

as Spencer Finch *Dotty Carey as Loretta Finch Hunt *Courtney Donnelly as Barbie Finch *Mandy Kaplan as Clarissa Cobb *Joel Bryant as Bradley DuBois *Bruce Cronander as Hugh Caufield *Sondra Thieret as Hugh's wife/Malcolm's mother *Deven Green as Andre Genous - hostess *Theron Hatch as Exotic male dancer

Screenings

The film showed at a number of film festivals as an official selection: *North Carolina International Film Festival *Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *Long Island Reeling LGBT Film Festival

References

External links

''Matrimonium'' page on United Gay Network website
*{{IMDb title, id=0418872 LGBT-related comedy films 2005 films American LGBT-related films Films directed by Michael Akers 2005 comedy films 2005 LGBT-related films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films