Movies | October 28, 2008 | 46 comments

Milk: Sean Penn's new gay drama avoiding publicity

source: http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20081028/122518710600.html

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Pericles_Lewnes
The opening of "Milk," director Gus Van Sant's account of California's first openly gay politician, is four weeks away. Yet you wouldn't know it.

Unlike the hoopla over Focus Features' previous gay-themed awards magnet, "Brokeback Mountain," which was drawing calls of agenda-pushing from right-wingers months before it opened in 2005, there's been hardly a peep in editorial pages or on talk radio.

Admittedly, the election is a major distraction. But Focus also is doing something deliberate: It's eschewing publicity for the Sean Penn vehicle, keeping it out of the high-profile fall film festivals and heavily restricting media screenings.

"The best way to help this film win over a mainstream audience is to avoid partisanship, and the best way to avoid partisanship is to let people find out about the film from the film itself," said one person involved with the film.

Giving up word-of-mouth to avoid hot air is not a typical trade-off -- notice how Lionsgate effectively flogged politically charged movies like Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic "W." and the Bill Maher documentary "Religulous" -- but it's one Focus is willing to make.

Not that it will last. The political football will be kicked off when the movie premieres Tuesday night in San Francisco and then put in play after the November 4 election. And when that happens, the studio will face a marketing dilemma: how to accommodate the gay-rights angle the core audience expects while appealing to mainstream filmgoers who might not be immediately moved to see a movie about the subject.

One example of those filmgoers: At a recent Vegas test-screening for a middle-class, straight audience, several senior citizens tried to leave after a gay love scene in the early moments but couldn't because they were trapped in the middle of a row (near Focus production chief John Lyons, in fact). The seniors eventually said they were happy that they stayed, but, like independent voters in an election contest, these are the viewers Focus must woo.

Like its initial phase of playing keep-away from cable news, the post-election phase will also involve staying above politics. Focus plans on selling "Milk" in part as a story of hope and change (Harvey Milk, a member of San Francisco's Board of Superviors until his assassination in 1978, won equal-rights battles against great odds), just as it sold "Brokeback" as a love story.

The ploy was logical with "Brokeback." It's less so here.

Like "Brokeback," "Milk" features a gay romance. But unlike "Brokeback," "Milk" is made by gay filmmakers, features the polarizing Penn and puts itself squarely in a political context. Milk's fight against California's anti-gay-rights Proposition 6 -- a drama the movie deals with in great detail -- spookily parallels the current California fight over Proposition 8, a measure that would ban gay marriage.

Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said that "since this movie is about a beloved politician who was killed, it won't be easy for our adversaries to fight us on it." Focus and its Oscar handlers should get the weaponry ready anyway.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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46 comments // Milk: Sean Penn's new gay drama avoiding publicity

  • Ednas_SmartC
  • RCS
    • 0
      RCS  

    • Mr. Minkus,
      Yes, "smart yourself" is rather good. However, I am afraid that I am rather old-fashioned, and I still use apostrophes in ways that are contrary to modern usage. I learned that acronyms and symbols required an apostrophe, and I still stick to it. So, it's CD's, DVD's and &'s. I, also, learned that if it ended with an "s" or if the end sounded like an "s," use an apostrophe. I cringe every time I see an abomination such as James's or princess's. By the way, I stuck this at the bottom here, as the reply section wouldn't accept and show properly--you got it--apostrophes.

    • 4 years ago
  • RCS
    • 0
      RCS  

    • No_Ballads_Mike
      And straight people don't wear their sexuality on their sleeve? As for most people not caring about gays, I don't know where you've been. Most gays and lesbians I know have families and friends, many, if not most, who are straight, who care about them. As for your thinking that you have some monopoly on procreation, I, also, have known plenty of gays and lesbians with children. So, obviously, you have no monopoly there either. Gays and lesbians are not asking for any sort of special priviliges; they are simply asking for the same equal rights that everyone else has and that they deserve to have.

    • 4 years ago
  • RCS
    • 0
      RCS  

    • Ednas_SmartC,
      What a very nice post. I'm pleased that you made the premiere and that you enjoyed the film. This sounds like a good movie to make time to see. Your last line makes a very timely and important point.

    • 4 years ago
  • Ednas_SmartC
    • 0
      Ednas_SmartC  

    • I was at the premier of this film this week. I grew up watching these events on he news in late 1970. It was a wonderful tribute to a Supervisor Harvey Milk.

      This movie does not show sexual scenes that are uncomfortable to the masses. The story is about a man who lost four boyfriends due to suicide, which was a result of the times and the oppression that occurred just thirty years ago. Harvey was passionate about the civil rights of gays, all races and seniors in the San Francisco community.

      Harvey was a symbol for those like me that were teenagers at the time that thought we would not be free to live in the world free; who at that time were sent to insane asylums because they said we were not normal.

      The Harvey Milk story is an important part of history that needs to be heard by all, so we do not forget that we all deserve to live on this earth, free from oppression.

    • 4 years ago
  • RCS
    • 0
      RCS  

    • Maybe this will turn out to be a good marketing strategy, and maybe it won't. Let's see how it works. The strategy for "Brokeback Mountain" seemed to work. People I have known who have never seen another gay movie went to see "Brokeback Mountain" and liked it.
      The best romance movie, gay or straight, that I have seen this past year was Jonas Markowitz' "Shelter." It's quite appropriate at the moment for it's set in Southern California amongst the surfing community, and it confronts some of the issues that people are talking about right now. A friend who works in a video store recommended this movie to a woman customer who wasn't sure if she really wanted to see it or not. She finally decided to take it out and when she returned it, she said, "I watched it six times."
      Back to the movie on Harvey Milk, it seems that it would not only be a fitting tribute to him and his work to turn out to see this film, but one could continue his work by contributing to Equality California at www.eqca.org and by voting "No" on Proposition 8. Those would be perfect ways to honour and remember him.

    • 4 years ago
  • outtheinside
    • 0
      outtheinside  

    • I never saw Brokeback Mountain as it is not entirely fitting to my Texan perspective of how cowboy movies should be, i.e. Tombstone. I will see Milk due the political aspects just as I saw Philadelphia.

      equal rights for all. lets not downplay the corrosion of morals and values that ignorance causes.

    • 4 years ago
  • Taigster
  • Pericles_Lewnes
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  

    • I was surprised that they haven't mentioned the "Twinkie Defense" in any of the publicity for the movie. Do they even cover that part in it?

      Even Stephen Colbert downplayed the gay theme when he reviewed it on his show.

    • 4 years ago
  • NO_BALLADS_MIKE
    • 0
      NO_BALLADS_MIKE  

    • Why must gays wear thier sexuality on thier sleeve? Yes you have the right to persue happiness, but keep in mind it is an alternative lifestyle and I,conversly, have the right to say DISGUSTING! DON'T ASK! DON'T TELL!
      Im sure this movie will flop because for the most part nobody really cares about gays except for the gays themselves!
      i hope you get your civil unions so i can stop hearing about the legitimacy of gays already! Im tired of it!!
      PROUD TO BE STRAIGHT! PROUD TO PROCREATE!

    • 4 years ago
  • seanalyn
  • rainbowryan420
    • 0
      rainbowryan420  
    • NO_BALLADS_MIKE:

      not all gay people fit that stereotype

      but there are a lot who do

      personally I don't really tell people I'm gay unless it comes up in conversation

      my sexuality isn't the main feature of my life

      so i honestly don't know whether i should agree or be offended

    • 4 years ago
  • Commentor
    • 0
      Commentor  
    • NO_BALLADS_MIKE:

      NO_BALLADS_MIKE

      Its just as "Discusting" to other folks to have to see public displaies of Heterosexual affection. Just because you see that as normal isn't an excuse.

      Any movie with a sex scene in it that is part of the story and not just gratitutious doesn't turn an R or PG-13 movie to an X just because the scene isn't a hetrosexual one.

      Besides the 6-12yo crowed probably will be less anoyed by it than you

    • 4 years ago
  • rainbowryan420
    • 0
      rainbowryan420  

    • honestly, brokeback mountain sucked
      (pun not intended)

      that was one of the worst films i have ever seen

      oh my god the main characters are two guys who f*ck on a mountain who cares

      i am glad this movie isn't over hyped because it can suck and it wont be a big deal

    • 4 years ago
  • trig1007
  • J_Jammer
  • uroborus8
    • 0
      uroborus8  

    • Why do we have to tip toe around celebrating one of the bravest American figures in history? Milk was not just a gay activist, he was an activist for every underdog in the country. Shame on focus for being so shy. Live like Milk did and come out loud and proud!

    • 4 years ago
  • ansleypansley
    • 0
      ansleypansley  

    • It is so unfortunate that Focus is having to delay and dilute its promotion because of the political makeup. I saw the trailer and I saw it as a movie about rights and about confronting those who don't realize (or do) their ignorant prejudices. If they are holding the promotion, though, to make sure that Proposition 6 does not pass because of a radicalized citizenry (see item: US Election 2004) - then they had better wait on it. We cannot let homophobics rule the booths and let Proposition 6 pass.

      But really, this is California - aren't yall all liberals over there?

      If it helps, I was raised in a conservative Southern Baptist Church, and they generally think you Californians are devil and 'homo-sex' loving anti-christs. (Not kidding. ... Fun childhood.) So I don't think Focus should worry about attracting those viewers.

    • 4 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • I thought he died via the trailer. I was not going to read up on it until after I saw the film. I was trying to avoid actually knowing....mainly because I like not knowing even it it's historical. Can't know everything.

      I saw Brokeback and didn't like it that much. It was rather boring. Though the best part was the end. So much emotion without words.....better than most of the film that had emotion with words.

      I'll see this because of everyone but Sean Penn. I don't particularly like him. His too seriousness is weird.

    • 4 years ago
  • mako2424
  • MrMinkus
  • seanalyn
  • Commentor
    • 0
      Commentor  
    • MrMinkus:

      yeah ... apostrophies get used very strangely these days

      I think its because of the green grocer's use of them when pricing items you often see things like

      cuke's 4#/$1 etc

    • 4 years ago
  • seanalyn
  • Kanut
    • Kanut [removed]  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • Humdrum
    • 0
      Humdrum  
    • Kanut:

      What the fuck are you talking about?
      It's not "your" theatre.
      Plenty of hyper-violent, hyper-sexual stuff gets played at "heterosexual" theatres already. People don't take their 6-year-olds to see it, because it's rated R.
      If you don't want to see a movie with homosexual themes, then don't buy the damned ticket.

      Use some common sense, please.

    • 4 years ago
  • jennaskarzenski
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  
    • Kanut:

      Wow, that is one of the most illogical statement Ive ever heard Kanut (and also incredibly hard to follow, you had an epic run on sentence and it seems like you left out some words).

      Would you see a 6 year old in a heterosexual theater? Doubtful. So, with your logic all films depicting heterosexual sex should be removed from theaters right? Well, there goes the movie industry!

    • 4 years ago
  • outtheinside
  • rainbowryan420
    • 0
      rainbowryan420  
    • Kanut:

      every freaking movie has a 10 minute sex scene but, when breeders f*ck it isn't porn?

      you are totally acting like a closet case

      I'm not saying you are
      just saying you are acting like one

    • 4 years ago
  • simplytaty
    • 0
      simplytaty  
    • Kanut:

      Wow, it's in discussions like this that one realizes how backwards this supposed "civilized, first world" country really is. When discussions like sexual preference and race are still an issue... We are still so close to the middle ages it's shameful. Grow up people. Learn a little about the things you are so afraid of, actually talk to people who are going through it and you might realize there is nothing to be afraid of, no matter what some hateful narrow minded leader might have told you.
      And yes, I am heterosexual, for those of you unimaginative enough to try to use this as an excuse.

    • 4 years ago
  • jennaskarzenski
  • mako2424
  • xunzx
  • Kanut
    • Kanut [removed]  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • jogglef
  • Pericles_Lewnes
  • daledrops
  • furryjenn
    • 0
      furryjenn  

    • i can't wait to watch this flick.
      c'mon ...two hot guys (sean penna & james franco) who are leading actors getting it on...its bound to be a success for girls and boys

    • 4 years ago
  • extblues
    • 0
      extblues  
    • Image

    • Harvey Milk was the kind of person that inspired people from all walks of life, and his story deseves to be told to a much wider audience. If you can't make it to the film, or your local megaplex isn't going to show it (...for whatever reason), check out this excellent documentary.

    • 4 years ago
  • pokesmot
  • daledrops
  • borymp
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