Mike Begovich Movies
- 2006
Debuting over MyNetwork TV on September 5, 2006, Fashion House (working title: Secret Obsessions) was one of two nightly hour-long continuing dramas seen over the fledgling network during its first season on the air; both this series and its companion show Desire were inspired by the Spanish-language telenova genre, and both were filmed in San Diego. Fashion House unfolded the tale of two rival fashion designers: Maria Gianni (Bo Derek), beautiful but ruthless owner of Fashion House, and her hated rival, the wealthy Sophia Blakely (Morgan Fairchild), whose mission in life was to put Maria out of business via a hostile takeover. The sinister machinations of these two ladies were seen through the eyes of Michelle Miller (Natalie Martinez), a housewife who aspired to be a top designer, and who began pursuing that goal after discovering that her husband Lance (Mike Begovich) had cheated on her with his vixenish business assistant Gloria (Donna Feldman). For her part, Michelle entered into a torrid affair with Michelle's son Luke (Taylor Kinney), a would-be painter. Weaving and sometimes skulking through the proceedings were sinister dealmaker William Chandler (Joel Berti), who aligned himself with Sophia for the purpose of destroying Maria; and supermodel Nikki Clark (Nicole Pulliam), Michelle's best friend. Telecast on a Monday through Friday basis with a weekend recap, Fashion House was destined for a 13-week, 65-episode run, at which point MyNetwork would replace it with a new nightly soaper, Watch Over Me. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bo Derek, Morgan Fairchild, (more)
A gay man takes an experimental medication designed to make him heterosexual in this provocative independent drama. Plain-looking, unlucky in love, and approaching middle age, Tim (Jonathan Slavin) isn't very happy with the shallow hedonism of the gay world. He pines for his straight best friend Don (Mike Begovich), whose occasional willingness to accept drunken oral sex marks the closest thing to a date Tim's enjoyed in years. When news breaks of a drug trial for a miracle pill that will turn homosexual men straight, Tim jumps at the chance to enroll. His decision alienates him from Joey (Scotch Ellis Loring), his good-time-guy pal, and from Don, whose company he must shun in order to bolster the drug's effectiveness. As the treatment progresses, Tim tries out hetero sex with Sally (Susan Slome), a co-worker who's been in love with him for years. But when he spurns Sally for a better-looking new girlfriend who knows nothing of his gay past, Tim's final link to his previous life is severed. Ultimately, though, a crisis among his old friends drags Tim back into their orbit, putting his entire course of treatment in jeopardy. The debut feature from writer/director John Baumgartner, Hard Pill played the festival circuit before airing on Logo, the nascent, Viacom-owned gay cable network. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Slavin, Scotch Ellis Loring, (more)
