Wash Westmoreland Movies

Alex Loynaz stars as earnest Real World cast-member Pedro Zamora in this intimate biopic tracing the HIV-positive immigrant's rise from humble roots to becoming one of the most instantly recognizable HIV/AIDS activists in the United States as a result of his high profile role on MTV's pioneering reality television series. In 1992, The Real World made its debut on MTV, forever altering the definition of the term "celebrity," and providing a sympathetic face to the growing AIDS crisis for the millions of Americans who had yet to meet someone suffering from the devastating autoimmune disorder. Born the youngest child in a close-knit Cuban family, Zamora arrived in the United States as part of the 1980 Mariel boatlift. His mother died when he was just thirteen, the pain of the loss prompting the already promising student to hit the books even harder. Three short years and numerous bouts of unprotected sex later, Zamora discovered that he was HIV-positive after donating blood to the Red Cross. It was a crushing blow to the ambitious young student, though one that would unexpectedly give his life new meaning as well. As an activist and educator, Zamora longed to get his message to as many people as possible - and what better medium to do so than television? The producers were quick to recognize Zamora's eagerness to participate in the Real World as well as his openness when it came to discussing his illness, and quickly invited him to join the cast. Not many folks have the opportunity to shine in the spotlight, though Zamora made the most of his fifteen minutes of fame by using it to enlighten and inform those who were still ignorant to the threat posed by the increasingly indiscriminate disease that was once thought only to affect only homosexuals. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The 2004 presidential election left Log Cabin, the gay republican organization, in a state of extreme turmoil. President Bush had taken an open stand against gay marriage, effectively forcing the members of Log Cabin to chose what was more important to each of them: being gay or being republican. This documentary examines this difficult process and what it meant to many of the people involved. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Bruce LaBruce produced, co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in this satiric black sex comedy about gay hustlers and their customers in Santa Monica, California. Monti Ward (Tony Ward), a male prostitute, is dead, floating face down in a Jacuzzi as the story begins, and in voice over, Monti describes the circumstances that led him to this cruel fate. Jurgen Anger (Bruce LaBruce), a writer from Europe, is in California researching a book on prostitution, and when he sees Monti, he decides that this is the man he wants to be his tour guide. Jurgen offers Monti $1,000 to tell him stories about "work" (which is more profitable and less taxing than what most of his clients put him through), and Monti agrees. However, Monti is no male whore with a heart of gold; earlier the same day, he stole a car and ran over the foot of Eigil Vesti (Kevin P. Scott), another hustler (though after his foot has to be taken off, Eigil discovers a lucrative sideline working with amputation fetishists). As Monti regales Jurgen with tales about johns who like knives, duct tape, or any number of other strange and disgusting things, the writer finds himself developing a serious crush on his hustler. Leading man Tony Ward previously worked as a model and appeared in several videos with Madonna, including "Justify My Love" and "Cherish." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi