2nd Thursday Cinema, TIGER ORANGE, Aug 13
In the small Central California town where they grew up, two estranged gay brothers struggle to reconnect after the recent death of their father. Chet (Ty Parker) exists under the radar, still living in his small town California home. Todd (played by celebrated porn star Frankie Valentie aka Johnny Hazzard), who was called a sissy by his intolerant Dad, moved the hell out as fast as he could for Los Angeles.
“One of the questions I’m asking with Tiger Orange is, as gay people, do we stand out or do we fit in? It’s a question I think everyone faces on some level but it’s intrinsically linked to the gay experience. When we meet someone new, there’s often this tiny voice inside us questioning, is this person an ally? Should I worry about what I say? Screw that, I’m gonna say whatever I want! We crave community, of course, to fit in and just be, without anything to fight for or prove. But we also want to stand out, to be loud and proud, to show ourselves, all of ourselves. Chet and Todd are on the opposite sides of this dynamic and that’s where a lot of the film’s conflict stems from. They’ve chosen very different lives for themselves yet there’s a deep bond they share as gay brothers that keeps them tethered to one another.
“Tiger Orange is a story about gay brothers and gay brotherhood. It’s about that drive in all of us to find the place in the world where we belong.”
– Wade Gasque, director