575 Castro St. Now Showing Online and at HRC Action Center & Store

Jenni Olson's acclaimed short documentary, 575 Castro St. is available to watch online now at FilmInFocus.com; the film is also being screened on a continual loop during regular business hours at the HRC Action Center & Store (at 575 Castro Street in San Francisco).


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. The film was commissioned by FilmInFocus.com to be showcased online in conjunction with the theatrical release of Milk.

Harvey Gets His Day!

Arnold was up late into the evening signing many of the bills he had threatened to veto. Thankfully Senator Mark Leno's Harvey Milk Day was in the Yes pile!

The new law designates May 22nd (Harvey's birthday) as Harvey Milk Day in the State of California.

Read more details HERE.

And we couldn't resist posting Oscar-winning MILK screenwriter Dustin Lance Black's moving testimony before the California Senate Education Committee on behalf of the bill. Click to watch it above.

Rink & Harvey Photo Show in NYC

SAN FRANCISCO: THE MAKING OF A QUEER MECCA
Early Photos by Rink Foto
(with photos by Harvey Milk)

Curated by Julia Haas
and assisted by Jonathan D. Katz

Sept. 15–Oct. 24, 2009

Check it out HERE!

The above photo is by RINK FOTO.

575 Castro St. Onstage Q&A at SF Jewish Film Fest

Courtesy of Michael Guillen — enjoy this very informative post-screening filmmaker Q&A for 575 Castro St. at the Jewish Film Festival.

Including a great pitch for everyone to get out and support Mark Leno's Harvey Milk Day bill! For more info go to EQCA.org right now.

And if you have not watched 575 Castro St. yet (shot on the empty Castro Camera Store set of Gus Van Sant's MILK) you can always go over to the Film In Focus website for your personal desktop premiere!

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!