April 12, 2002

Clive (Kett Turton) and Gypsy (Sara Rue) pause in an Ohio graveyard on their way from Sandusky to New York City.

A picture worth 1,000 Stevies

Filmmakers seek help getting their latest on the screen

by Anthony Glassman

Edge of 17 presented a not-so-tender look at coming of age as a young gay man in Sandusky, Ohio in the early '80s. The 1998 film got wide acclaim and has become a must-see for gay North Coasters.

Now, the people who gave that film to the world are back with Gypsy 83, and are seeking help to release the film.

Gypsy 83 stars Sara Rue (WB's Popular) as Gypsy Vale, an overweight Goth girl obsessed with Stevie Nicks, and Kett Turton (WB's Dead Last) as Clive Webb, the gay Goth boy who tries to fulfill his quest for true love. He goes to New York with Gypsy to attend the "Night of 1,000 Stevies," the Nicks equivalent of Wigstock.

They start their trip in Sandusky, traveling in a '79 Trans Am through northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York until they reach Gotham.

Along the way, Gypsy meets Bambi LeBleau (Karen Black), a lounge singer who is both a kindred spirit to Gypsy and a dark omen of what she might become. Later on, Clive finally consummates his longing for other men with delicious fraternity boy Troy (Paulo Costanzo, Road Trip, 40 Days and 40 Nights), although Clive's dreams of perfect romance are not fulfilled in the tryst.

Whose ever are? The film should be worth it solely for a gay sex scene involving Paulo Costanzo.

Finally arriving in New York, they face the end of their journey, and the beginning of their adult lives.

Here's where the filmmakers need help: The sound track originally had a lot of Stevie Nicks songs, and the filmmakers were in talks with her people to get clearance for them. However, Nicks' management thought that the material might damage her reputation and refused to allow her songs to be used. Only one Stevie Nicks song remains, because someone else owns the rights to it.

The other songs were replaced with ones by '80s goth staples The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees, among others. Most of the clearances are bought and paid for, but a few remain to be settled. The company that bought the distribution rights for Gypsy 83 won't pay them off, and that's where the audience comes in.

The filmmakers, including Ohio natives Todd Stephens, the writer, director and co-producer; Karen Jaroneski, co-producer; director of photography Gina DeGirolamo and production designer Nancy Arons, are screening Gypsy 83 in Sandusky and Cleveland one night each. This will raise the funds to pay off the remaining music clearances so it can be released.

So, in exchange for paying $10 in ad-

vance, $12 day of show, patrons get to have a hand in releasing a film by a localboy-done-good and will see the movie before it gets released. Pretty nifty.

Gypsy 83 will be shown on Saturday, April 20 at 8 pm at the Sandusky State Theatre, 107 Columbus Drive, Sandusky. Call 419-626-1950 or toll-free 877378-2150 for tickets and information.

The film will then have two showings at the Cedar-Lee Theater at 2163 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights on Sunday, April 21. Showings are at 5 pm and 7:30 pm, and tickets are available in advance by calling 440-717-4696..

Come out and enjoy what should be a delightful film before the rest of the world can, and know that you're supporting the arts all at the same time.

consumates

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE