Judas Kiss (2011 film)

Plot

Failed filmmaker Zachary Wells is convinced by his best friend and hotshot director Topher into replacing him as a judge in their film school's annual festival. Zach's one-night stand with a student backfires when that student walks into an interview the next morning calling himself Danny Reyes, the name Zach went by when he attended the school. And Danny's film, Judas Kiss, is a finalist in the competition Zach is judging. Zach's film, also Judas Kiss, won the festival years before. Zach scrambles for answers. A mysterious, chain-smoking campus tour guide, counsels him: "Change the kid's past, change your future." But how? Zach comes to believe he can mend his life by disqualifying Danny from competition, putting Danny and Zach on a path different from the one he has followed. Will Zach's plan work?

Production

The film is produced by Blue Seraph Productions, a Los Angeles company headed by Tepnapa and Pedraza. Their previous work has been featured in the New York Times, BBC, Variety, Frontiers, Fab, the Today Show, MSNBC, and other international news outlets.

The film, which was shot in the summer of 2010 in Seattle, has already attracted attention for casting former Dante's Cove star Charlie David. Also cast is adult film star Brent Corrigan (credited as Sean Paul Lockhart), who appeared in 2008's Oscar-winning Milk and the comedy Another Gay Sequel.

The Campus of the University of Washington was used as the Keystone Summit University.

Casting

Lockhart impressed the director with his acting in In the Closet. David is well known at the gay box office. Richard Harmon won the role over more than 1,000 Los Angeles actors when his video taped audition impressed the producers.

Belgian actor Timo Descamps approached the project's producers after seeing a casting notice on-line. In addition to the acting, he saw the film as an opportunity to feature his musical talents to a new audience. Patti Carns Kalles was hired to handle the Seattle, Washington casting.

Soundtrack

The 'Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for Judas Kiss featuring selections from the score by Seattle composer Brad Anthony Laina, the album also showcases independent artists who contributed their work to the film’s soundtrack.

1. Crash, by Brian Lam
2. Analog Girl, by Oak & Gorski
3. Stereotype, by Mayda
4. Like It Rough, by Timo Descamps
5. Confrontation, by Brad Anthony Laina
6. Stimulate, by Ikonik
7. Zach’s Lament, by David Yancey
8. Who Am I?, by Brad Anthony Laina
9. Key to the Future, Brad Anthony Laina
10. Judas Kiss, Brad Anthony Laina
11. If I Fall (Cast Recording, featuring Brian Lam and Brad Anthony Laina), by Brian Lam
12. If I Fall (Original Artist), by Brian Lam

Reception

In its first week of release on DVD in the United States and Canada, the "bewitching Judas Kiss" made No. 1 on The Advocate’s Hot Sheet, the top 10 entertainment highlights by Brandon Voss. Entertainment Focus named Judas Kiss to list Top 10 Gay Films of 2011.

QX Magazine rated Judas Kiss 7 out of 10, praising the film's nicely breezy tone. The review makes note of the film's "darker story elements, [which] make us wonder how our lives would look to our younger selves."

Edge magazine named Judas Kiss among the "12 Great Gay Indies That Will (Hopefully) Make it to a Theater Near You."

ATV Today gave a positive review and said "A refreshingly different film with its genre mixing feel – time travel, fantasy, romance – and is at times dark but compelling, too".

The revitalized GLBT news blog, Queerty, put Judas Kiss at the top of its list of 10 recommended films to see at this year's.

Helge Janssen of Artslink praised the "flawless ensemble acting", calling it the “primary satisfying energy that carries this film.” Queer.de weighed in on the film, calling it "a touching love story, beautifully photographed and filled with magnificent, gorgeous-looking actors." The review credits J.T. Tepnapa's direction, discusses the breakout performance by Sean Paul Lockhart in his dramatic role and notes the acclaim the film has received in film festivals all this year. Xtra! describes the film as a "spiritual journey of destiny, paths missed and second chances," which "emphasizes healing from your past." The Cinemanía blog in Spain calls Judas Kiss "so strange it’s impossible not to love it." New York Cool said "Suspenseful. Spellbinding, with sexual swagger."

Awards

Sean Paul Lockhart won QFest's Rising Star Award in recognition of his transition to mainstream roles.