Harvey Milk Postage Stamp?

"An online effort is under way to honor slain LGBT rights hero Harvey Milk with a U.S. postage stamp in time with what would have been his 80th birthday on May 22, 2010."

Read more at the Bay Area Reporter website.

Harvey Milk Day Bill Redux

California State Senator Mark Leno announced today the re-introduction of his bill to proclaim May 22nd (Harvey Milk's Birthday) a day of recognition for the slain gay rights leader's contributions to the State of California. Senate Bill 572 would specifically encourage public schools across the State to: "conduct suitable commemorative exercises on Harvey Milk's life and his contributions to the state." The special day would not be a paid holiday and would have no fiscal impact on the California State budget. A similar bill was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last year, with the Governor's main argument against the holiday being that Milk was only a local San Francisco hero, not a statewide hero.

Actor Sean Penn was on hand for today's press conference announcing the Bill and calling attention to the fact that Harvey Milk was not only a San Francisco hero, not only a California hero but also an American hero — deserving of this recognition at last.

Get MILK on DVD!

Director Gus Van Sant's riveting biopic about slain gay rights activist and San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk comes to DVD at last in this handsome must-own edition that’s packed with extras.

Based on the politically resonant and thoroughly timely screenplay of Dustin Lance Black, Van Sant follows the arc of Milk's political awakening, from closeted Brooklyn insurance executive to doyen of San Francisco's Castro district's burgeoning gay mecca in the 1970s. Sean Penn portrays the film's hero, melting into the role with an affable flamboyance that is both spirited and eminently engaging. James Franco plays opposite Penn as Milk's supportive and easygoing boyfriend, Scott Smith. The couple's cheerful and loving rapport lends buoyancy to the film's overall message of hope as Milk ascends from grassroots community organizer to a galvanizing figurehead in the push for gay civil liberties.

CLICK TO ORDER NOW from WolfeVideo.com: Your queer-owned community source for LGBT DVDs since 1985!

Keeping Up with MILK News?

Yikes! I have been completely remiss in my duties as purveyor of Harvey Milk Movie News. And I hereby confess that I can't possibly live up to the claim of my masthead: "YOUR SOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST ON ALL THE HARVEY MILK MOVIES ALL THE TIME!" So, I hereby direct you to the FilmInFocus.com website which will report every little squeak of news you could possibly need to know about Milk. Also, I am guest blogging there so please come read what I have to say when you have a moment.

My short film: 575 Castro St.

575 Castro St. from FilmInFocus on Vimeo.

a film by Jenni Olson
(2008) USA 7 mins. HD

575 Castro St. reveals the play of light and shadow upon the walls of the Castro Camera Store set for Gus Van Sant’s film Milk. These mundane shots are almost bereft of movement and sound. So quiet, so still. All the better to showcase the range of emotions evoked by Harvey Milk’s words on the soundtrack. The audio track is an edited down version of the 13-minute audio cassette that Harvey Milk recorded in his camera shop on the evening of Friday, November 18, 1977 (a few weeks after his election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors which made him one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States). Labeled simply: “In-Case” the tape was to be played, “in the event of my death by assassination.”

The sensibility of 575 Castro St. hearkens back to the style of the dozens of Super 8 gay short films of the ‘70s that passed through Harvey Milk’s hands to be processed and developed at the Castro Camera Store.

575 Castro St. is now available for viewing on the Focus Features Milk Website (please go watch and be generous with your comments).

And look for 575 Castro St. coming soon to a film festival near you (hopefully). I'll be posting screening info and such on my 575 Castro St. blogsite very soon.

World Premiere at the Castro

It was a star-studded, politico-packed evening at San Francisco's Castro Theatre last night for the World Premiere of Milk.

In a scene that would have made Harvey Milk proud, the street outside the theater was lined with hundreds of No on Prop 8 activists (placards in hand) who provided a fitting, powerful backdrop to the red carpet scene — with their steady "Vote No on 8" chants providing the backdrop for all the media coverage outside the event.

The film's star, Sean Penn (pictured above) invigorated the already boisterous crowd by shaking hands and showing his support for the cause — echoing his portrayal of Milk in the film, the ever-gregarious community leader.

Following the Hollywood-style arrivals, the sell-out crowd was greeted by SF Mayor Gavin Newsom who gave an electrifying introduction proclaiming: "San Francisco doesn't just tolerate diversity, we celebrate it!"

There was not a dry eye in the house as the lights came up two hours later and the crowd headed off for a festive celebration at City Hall. Fittingly, the very last Thank You of the film's credits went to local filmmaker Rob Epstein for his Academy Award winning 1983 documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk.

MILK production designer on the sets

Bill Groom on "Milk" from FilmInFocus on Vimeo.

This is a nice little piece that gives some background on the production design of MILK. It is particularly exciting to see all the stuff about the interior of Castro Camera!