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8/13/01
RICK & STEVE WINS IN PALM
SPRINGS...AGAIN!
PALM SPRINGS, August 13, 2001 - Q. Allan Brocka's animated series RICK & STEVE
THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD won a jury award at the 2001 Palm Springs
International Short Film Festival. All three new episodes won coveted slots at this year's
prestigious festival, the largest of its kind in the world. Episode #03 "Potty
Mouth Training," in which a gender-inspecific baby learns a naughty word, was awarded
the second place jury prize for best animated film. The award comes with $500 and 1,000
feet of Kodak film. Episode #01 "Cum & Quiche" screened at the 2000 festival
and won an audience award.
7/11/01
RICK & STEVE FEATURED IN VARIETY
Be sure to check out today's Variety (page A4), it's the special Gay
Hollywood issue, and I'm "on the Gaydar." Yeah, they spelled my name wrong,
but it's cool nonetheless. For those of you who can't (or won't) pick one up today,
I've attached the internet version for you.
Reposted from VARIETY
| The randy, liberated characters in Q. Alan Brocka's popular Hypnotic series
"Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World" get to misbehave, say
all kinds of dirty things to each other and be as politically incorrect as they want to
be. Of course, the fact that they're animated Lego toys plays a big part in how much they
can get away with. |
Brocka |
"When I was a
kid, I used to make a lot of stop-motion films using my Lego toys," says the
28-year-old Brocka, who came up with "Rick and Steve" as a student project at
CalArts two years ago.
After the eight-minute short
won the audience award at Outfest in 1999, Brocka transferred his short to film and took
it the Sundance Film Festival, where it also got a warm reception. This year, the short is
back as part of a special animation selection (Friday, DGA 2 at 9:45 p.m.), and all four
episodes of the raunchy toon are available on Hypnotic.com.
"I think the appeal of 'Rick and Steve' is that it includes a
lot of things that may be mean, nasty and stereotypical, but they're also true,"
notes Brocka, who says he's very close to getting a TV deal. "I use a real old
technology, but capturing toys in stop-motion has the same appeal as using Flash
animation. It's amazingly simple, and a good script works with the technology instead of
working against it."
Brocka is hoping the "Rick and Steve" notoriety will
raise interest in his other projects, "Roberta Loved," a 24-minute short about a
350-pound secretary and her relationship with an over-the-hill bisexual hustler (with
Chris Bradley, Vickie Rabjohn and Mink Stole) as well as "Beauty and The
Brains," a feature about a trailer park-dwelling single mom. And no, no well-known
Lego parts have been signed for the major roles in the film.
-Ramin Zahed
7/01/01
RICK & STEVE OUTFEST SCREENING SOLD
OUT, SCREENING ADDED
LOS ANGELES, July 1, 2001 - All four episodes of Q. Allan Brocka's RICK & STEVE
THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD will be screening out Outfest. The July 13,
9:45pm screening has sold out! There will still be some tickets available at the rush line
for this screening. The good news is, they've added a screening: Friday July 20,
2:00 PM. Of course there are a limited number of tickets again, so be sure to get
them as soon as possible by calling the Outfest ticket line at (323) 960-0636. The
screenings in San Francisco, Toronto, and New York all sold out, so get them while you
can.
Outfest Los Angeles Screenings:
Program "Let Me Animate You"
Friday July 13, 9:45PM DGA
Friday July 20, 2:00PM Village
6/11/01
RICK & STEVE WINS NY AUDIENCE AWARD
NEW YORK, June 11, 2001 - Q. Allan Brocka's animated series
RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD won the audience award for best
short last night at the conclusion of the New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
This was the New York premiere for the three new episodes. The same week, episode
#01 was selected to screen at the New York Anthology Film Archives as one of the Ten Best
Short Films of 2000.
All four episodes will screen at the San Francisco Lesbian
and Gay Film Festival on June 19 and at Outfest the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film
Festival July 13. Brocka will be attending both screenings. Limited numbers of
tickets are still available for both screenings. To order call: (323) 960-0636 (Los
Angeles) or (925) 275-9490 (San Francisco).
1/4/01
THREE NEW RICK & STEVE EPISODES AVAILABLE TO FILM FESTIVALS
LOS ANGELES - Three new episodes of RICK & STEVE THE
HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD are now available for festival screenings. Each
episode runs 8 minutes. All of the original cast has returned along with special guest
appearances by Guinivere Turner and RuPaul Charles.
EPISODE #01: "Cum & Quiche" Rick & Steve entertain Dana
& Kirsten's dinner party request.
[NEW] EPISODE #02: "Scary Straight People" Steve's parents make
a suprise visit and get the wrong idea about Rick while Evan gets lost in a straight
neighborhood.
[NEW] EPISODE #03: "Potty Mouth Training" Dana & Kirsten
borrow another lesbian couple's baby for a weekend and make the mistake of leaving it
alone with Steve.
[NEW] EPISODE #04: "Menage a Twat" Rick & Steve attempt to
coordinate a three-way at a circuit party.
The new episodes have only been availble beginning today, so they have not yet had any
screenings.
11/16/00
RICK & STEVE EPISODE #02 PREMIERES
LOS ANGELES, November 17, 2000 - The long awaited second episode of Q. Allan
Brocka's animated series RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD debuts
today on Hypnotic. The episode "Scary Straight People" follows the
familiar cast of quibbling characters as they are confronted with their greatest fear--
heterosexuals. Actress Guinevere Turner (American Psycho, Go Fish) makes a guest
appearance as the voice of Chastity Bono.
Brocka is currently directing two more episodes for Hypnotic, scheduled to be released
monthly. The series is the first for Hypnotic since their
parntership with Universal Pictures.
RICK & STEVE... episode #01 "Cum & Quiche" played at over 100 film
festivals this year including the Sundance Film Festival and picked up over a dozen
audience and jury prizes. Within a week of its online premiere at Hypnotic last
month, it became the most viewed film on the site ever.
Watch episdoe #02 now at http://www.hypnotic.com/rickandsteve.asp
10/15/00
RICK & STEVE DEBUTS ON THE WEB
LOS ANGELES, October 10, 2000 - RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE
WORLD (Episode #01 "Cum & Quiche) is making its web debut today on hypnotic.com
(the new reelshort.com).
Today's debut marks the first in a series of four episodes coming out this year.
Dialog for the upcoming episodes has already been recorded and they
are in the midst of animation right now. The new adventures will include all of the
original cast as well as guest appearances by RuPaul Charles and Guinevere Turner.
RICK & STEVE chronicles the adventures of a domestically euphoric gay couple who
donate their sperm to some local lesbians. The short became notorious
for dealing with touchy subjects in an irreverent manner and earned screenings at more
than 90 film festivals worldwide (yes, the number keeps growing). The new episodes
continue in this vein examining babysitting, circuit parties, recreational drugs, the gay
ghetto, candlelight vigils, lesbian retreats and three-ways.
Click the link below to view episode #01!
http://www.hypnotic.com/films.asp?ID=264
8/16/00
REELSHORT ANNOUNCES FIRST EPISODIC DEAL "RICK & STEVE THE
HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD" TO DEBUT IN SEPTEMBER
NEW YORK, August 15, 2000 – reelshort.com announced its first episodic deal
with the award winning Los Angeles based filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka. Brocka’s original
short film entitled "Rick & Steve The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World –
Episode #01" which has been lauded at film festivals worldwide will make its web
debut exclusively on reelshort.com in September. The deal with Brocka includes plans for
three subsequent short films (Episodes #02, #03 and #04 of the series) will premiere on
the site beginning in October.
"We are proud to be debuting Allan Brocka’s award winning original
short film on the web," says Jeremy Bernard, CEO\Founder of reelshort.com. "But
more importantly, we want to support the work of emerging filmmakers like Allan with the
production of subsequent episodes which will allow him to extend his vision of the
characters", says Bernard.
The first episode of "Rick & Steve…", which runs 8 minutes in
length, premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. Since
then, it has received numerous awards and has been the official selection at more than 70
prestigious international film festivals including: the Seattle International Film
Festival, the Sydney Film Festival, Outfest in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Lesbian and
Gay Film Festival, and the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival.
"I am thrilled to be reelshort’s first original series and I am
honored by their confidence in my work", says Allan Brocka. "reelshort has
demonstrated a clear commitment to young filmmakers and has been very enthusiastic in
supporting my vision."
The film chronicles the adventures of Rick and Steve and what happens when their
friends Dana and Kirsten approach them about fathering their child. Steve is jealous when
they choose Rick over him and makes his own plan… with a little help from Rick and
Steve’s pet cat, Pussy. Brocka, who is a graduate film student at Cal Arts, wrote,
directed and produced the film.
""Rick & Steve…" is one the funniest short films
we’ve seen all year and we anticipate the series will be even better. Allan’s
brand of humor is smart, risky and very irreverent," says Gene Klein, Vice President
of Content for reelshort. "Allan Brocka is a young writer/director with a great
career ahead of him and we are pleased to be able to showcase his work."
reelshort.com is a privately held digital entertainment company based in
downtown New York City – independent film capital of the world. The company is
focused on forging close relationships with new filmmakers and working with them to reach
new levels of creative and professional development. reelshort.com has recently formed the
first partnership with a major studio, Universal Pictures, designed to encourage and
develop innovative filmmaking and build exposure for talented new filmmakers.
8/15/00
RICK & STEVE WINS GRAND PRIZE AT RHODE ISLAND INTL FILM
FESTIVAL
RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD was awarded the Grand
Prize for best Animation at the RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. Rick &
Steve continues its world tour of more than 75 international film festivals, this week
playing at the VANCOUVER GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL, CINEMAFEST 2000 in Los Angeles,
and the SAO PAULO INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL.
8/7/00
RICK & STEVE WINS SEVERAL MORE AWARDS
RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD was recently awarded the
Emerging Filmmaker Award at the NORTH CAROLINA GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL. Also,
at its closing last week, the PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
announced RICK & STEVE as the short film Audience Award Winner. Plus, RICK &
STEVE picked up an Audience Favorite prize at the PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
FESTIVAL, where the it was the highest rated animated film in the festival.
7/11/00
RICK & STEVE SELECTED TO SCREEN IN THE "FESTIVAL OF
FESTIVALS"
RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD has been officially
selected to screen in competition at this year's prestigious FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS to be
held in Aarhus, Denmark. RICK & STEVE has been selected to screen in over 60
international film festivals since its premiere film screening at the Sundance Film
Festival in January.
Programmers for the Festival of Festivals scour the most
prestigious international and short film festivals for only a handful of short films to be
showcased in the four day October festival.
7/9/00
BROCKA TO MAKE GUEST APPEARANCE AT KOREAN FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL
RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD will be an official
selection at this year's PUCHON FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL in Puchon, Korea. Director
Q. Allan Brocka has been invited to present the film. Brocka will attend the
festival from July 18-21. The festival focuses on Science Fiction, Animation and
Horror. Brocka's offbeat animated piece caught the attenion of the Korean festival
programmers at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where he was among the very first
official guests invited to the festival.
7/2/00
DIRECTOR Q. ALLAN BROCKA TO SPEAK ON OUTFEST PANEL
Filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka (Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the
World) has been invited to participate on a panel at this week's Los Angeles Outfest. The
panel discussion "Demistifying the Dot-Coms" will also include representatives
from several internet companies and will focus on issues of short films and their place on
the internet.
Brocka's wildly popular film Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World is
a pilot for an internet series to be debuting on the web this year. Since his film
premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, Brocka has met with and researched
virtually every virtual player in the market place. He says, "I've learned a lot in
the past six months, and I hope I can share it other filmmakers just falling into
this."
"Demistifying the Dot-Coms" takes place Saturday, July 8 at 4:45PM at the
Director's Guild of America in Los Angeles.
6/11/00
RICK & STEVE HONORED AT SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Q. Allan Brocka's film RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD
was honored today as the audience awards were announced at the closing ceremonies for the
Seattle International Film Festival. After a riotous screening earlier this week audiences
voted RICK & STEVE in its competition category for best short film.
5/24/00
DIRECTOR OF "RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL
THE WORLD" TO ATTEND SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Q. Allan Brocka, Washington native and director of the notorious short film RICK
& STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD which had crowds roaring at this
year's SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, will be attending its screening at the SEATTLE
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL on June 5. The critically-acclaimed film has already been
selected for over 50 international film festivals and is picking up top honors for the
young director-writer-producer along the way.
Originally from Seattle, Brocka moved to Los Angeles a year and a half ago to attend
graduate film school at California Institute of the Arts. He created RICK & STEVE
during his first year in the program. Brocka is thrilled to be returning to his home town
with a film in his "favorite film fest in all the world."
Brocka states that the characters in RICK & STEVE are largely based upon his
experiences while living in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle. RICK & STEVE tells
the story of a gay couple who are approached by lesbians Dana & Kirsten to father
their child, Steve gets jealous that they prefer Rick's sperm and makes up his own plan--
with a little help from Pussy the cat.
Everything in the film is built from plastic bricks and animated by stop-motion technique.
Brocka first opted for plastic bricks simply because he did not yet know any actors.
However, the jerky animation and perfect plastic world ended up providing an apt political
commentary and a certain charm, so Brocka
stuck with the idea.
The hit film has been picked up by the SPIKE & MIKE Festival of Animation for an
extensive nationwide tour beginning this summer. Because the opening credits indicate this
is episode one, the ultra-racy film has numerous dot-com companies, and even cable
networks, bidding for the series rights-- or anything showcasing Brocka's uniquely witty
dialogue and twisted vision.
Brocka will be in Seattle June 2-6. The film will screen at the prestigious Egyptian
Theatre (located appropriately in Capitol Hill) on Monday June 5 at 9:30 PM. To arrange
interviews or for further information, contact publicist Rachael Sadheart-Waller at (323)
634-9304 or email
poshpictures@mindspring.com The film's
official website: http://www.members.tripod.com/poshpictures/
5/15/00
SPONSOR YOUR OWN RICK & STEVE PRINT
The hit Sundance short RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD is
having a bit of a problem. A good one, but a problem nonetheless. Due to the film's
immense popularity, film festivals around the world are clamoring to include it in their
line-ups, particularly gay and lesbian festivals. For example, in the first two weeks of
June, RICK & STEVE is schedule to appear in 13 film festivals. This is wonderful news.
Unfortunately, there are only three film prints to go around.
Because the festival circuit doesn't really make any financial return to filmmakers, it's
come to the point where we may have to begin declining festival invitations, but rather
than doing that, we've come up with a solution: an opportunity for RICK & STEVE
supporters to sponsor their own film print, allowing the film to continue to reach,
entertain, and educate wider audiences.
For example, RICK & STEVE was one of only ten American films invited to compete in
last week's prestigious Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, where it was then
chosen to participate in an educational workshop for furthering awareness in German
schools. Your support is vital in continuing such outreach.
A 16mm color print of the 8 minute animated film costs about $75 to order. We are inviting
donors to "sponsor" their own film print. With a donation of only $75, we will
strike a print of the film to be sent out onto the festival circuit. We'll keep track of
all the places your print has been, and when Rick & Steve's festival run is over, the
print is yours to keep! Or if you prefer, we will gladly donate the print in your name to
a gay & lesbian film archive/festival, educational institution, or other organization
of your choice! In the meantime, you will receive your own VHS copy of the film.
To become a sponsor or for more information, please contact the film's producer/director
Q. Allan Brocka at (323) 634-9304 or email poshpictures@mindspring.com
Festivals we are scheduled to appear at in June include: Seattle International Film
Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Nashville Independent Film Festival, Florida Film
Festival, Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Milano Gay & Lesbian Film
Festival, Bologna Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, New York Gay & Lesbian Film
Festival, Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, San Francisco Gay & Lesbian
Film Festival, Fairy Tales Calgary, Olso Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and New Zealand
Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
[see our sponsors and
other donors]
3/31/00
SPIKE & MIKE PICK UP SUNDANCE HIT RICK & STEVE
The happiest gay couple in all the world are joining the happiest animation couple
for a tour beginning as soon as this summer. In a recent deal with the SPIKE & MIKE
FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION, writer/director Q. ALLAN BROCKA granted the company non-exclusive
theatrical and home video distribution rights to his notorious short film RICK & STEVE
THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD.
The internet distribution rights for the film are currently in negotiations. The recent
acquisition by Spike & Mike has fueled the demand by web-based distributors, raising
the stakes even higher. The added promise of a series based on the short has caused a
virtual frenzy. "There's a lot of competition for the internet [rights]," says
Brocka, "there are so many good dot-com companies, it's hard to tell which ones will
be around for the long haul, but I'm hoping we'll work out a deal soon."
Brocka's RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD has also been in big
demand on the world festival circuit since winning the audience award at last summer's
L.A. OUTFEST and screening at this year's SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL. It is scheduled to
appear at more than 20 festivals worldwide in the next few months, including London,
Miami, Oberhausen, Seattle, Tokyo, Turin and Jerusalem. The film will have its New York
City premiere at the Anthology Film Archives on April 3 and play in Los Angeles at the
American Cinematheque on April 20 (Brocka will be present at this screening).
The colorfully vibrant, yet bleakly comic stop-motion film tells the story of Rick &
Steve, a young gay couple, who are approached by lesbians, Dana & Kirsten, to father
their child. Steve is jealous that the they prefer Rick's sperm, and makes up an alternate
plan--- with the help of Pussy the cat. Everything in the film is built with plastic
bricks.
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Brocka moved to Los Angeles to study film at the
California Institute of the Arts. RICK & STEVE is his first work on film and was
created during his first year of school.
For the past twenty years, the Spike & Mike animation program has earned a reputation
for presenting the finest in animated shorts to audiences around the globe. Because of its
edgy adult content, RICK & STEVE will be presented as part of the "Sick &
Twisted Animation" program. The Sick & Twisted program has helped ignite the
popularity of cult animation such as REN & STIMPY, BEAVIS & BUTT-HEAD, and SOUTH
PARK'S THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. Spike & Mike will supervise a print blow-up to 35mm
for exhibition. Previously, the film was available only on 16mm.
2/28/00
"RICK & STEVE" WINS AT THE BOSTON UNDERGROUND FILM
FESTIVAL
Q. Allan Brocka's animated short film RICK & STEVE THE HAPPIEST GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE
WORLD, screened this past weekend at the Boston Underground Film Festival, where it took
home the trophy for Best Animated Film. Since screening at the Sundance Film Festival in
January, the popularity and demand of the 8 minute short has grown immensely.
It's next stop will be the New York Anthology Film Archives on April 3. It's also
scheduled to open the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival with the feature film PUNKS on
April 11. RICK & STEVE will make their European premiere on April 8 at the London
Lesbian Gay Film Festival in the short program called "Cum & Quiche" (a
title taken from RICK & STEVE episode #01). On April 20, they'll be featured at the
American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, a screening which Q. Allan Brocka will attend
personally and be available for Q&A.
Future confirmed screenings include the Seattle International Film Festival, Turin
International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and Boston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Rick & Steve, a young gay couple, who are approached by
Dana & Kirsten to father their child. Steve is jealous that the lesbians prefer Rick's
sperm, and makes up an alternate plan--- with the help of Pussy the cat.
12/1/99 - note how informal these things were in the
beginning...
RICK & STEVE ARE GOING TO SUNDANCE!
Just got notified today that my film RICK AND STEVE THE HAPPIEST
GAY COUPLE IN ALL THE WORLD will be showing at the Sundance Film Festival! Keep an eye out
for it in January 2000. I'm soooooooo excited! Thanks again to those of you who
helped to make it. But now I have to transfer it to film. There goes a few grand I
don't have, but being on film should open a few more doors for us.
7/19/99
RICK & STEVE WINS AT L.A. OUTFEST
Just an update. Outfest is finally over. The awards ceremony was tonight. Rick
& Steve won the audience award!!! It was an AMAZING feeling. The ceremony was at the
beautiful Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood, which was packed with industry folks and rich
fags and dykes. When they announced my name, my jaw dropped. I was NOT expecting this
(there were tons of entries). I got all a light-headed and floated to the front. It's all
a blur from there.
I got this awesome looking statuette, it's all clear and engraved (it's called an
"Outie" award). They whisked me back stage where the press snapped photos of me
standing next to and getting hugged by all sorts of people, then they snapped my statuette
away. I guess I get it back after the engraving.
Woohoo!!! What a night!!! Thank you so much everyone who contributed their time. I really
wish all you actors coulda been there. You guys really earned it. It looks like Rick &
Steve will go far. Programmers from film fests all over the world have been contacting me
asking to show it. I even started getting fan mail, which is really freaking me out. Now
if I can just get some sort of paycheck...
6/26/99
RICK & STEVE: EPISODE 01 COMPLETE - PREMIERING AT OUTFEST
"Cum & Quiche" the first episode is finally COMPLETE! I just got the master
from the post house last night. It looks and sounds beautiful. ENORMOUS thanks to everyone
who helped out (in every way imaginable). It's quite a wild ride. For those who don't know
or weren't inundated with my multiple screenings of the crappy Hi-8 trailer, Rick &
Steve is a stop-motion animated short where everything is made from plastic bricks. Very
gay and hopefully offensive (even to breeders).
They used a clip from the Rick & Steve in the Outfest trailer, which I got to see
today.
You are invited to the official world premiere at OUTFEST 99 (woohoo). I really hope you
can be there. Bring as many friends as possible. And any gay or lesbian persons you may be
aware of or suspecting. Let's pack the place. Tix are available at the Outfest ticket
office at 323-960-2330. Or check out the Outfest site at
http://www.outfest.com/festival/index.html they've got a pic on there somewhere (even tho
the running time is listed incorrectly).
It will be screening:
Sunday July 11, 8:30PM
Friday July 16, 5:00 PM
Both screenings will be held in Hollywood at the Director's Guild of America on Sunset
Blvd and Fairfax Ave. I'll be at both screenings looking for you.
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