Shelter (2007 film)

Plot

Zach is an aspiring young artist living in San Pedro, California. He has put off his dreams of going to art school in order to work and help his older sister Jeanne, his disabled father, and his five-year-old nephew Cody, whom he cares for most of the time as the irresponsible Jeanne spends her time partying. Working as a short-order cook to make ends meet, Zach uses his free time to paint, surf, and hang out with his on/off girlfriend Tori and his best friend Gabe.

When Gabe’s older brother Shaun comes back home from Los Angeles for a few weeks, Zach and Shaun develop a close friendship as they go surfing together. Shaun, who is a published writer, encourages Zach to take control of his life and pursue his ambition of going to CalArts, a large arts university. One night after drinking, Zach and Shaun kiss. However, Zach is not prepared to give in to his feelings immediately and struggles with whether or not he may be gay. Soon, however, he makes love with Shaun. Following this, Jeanne reveals her boyfriend Alan is heading to Portland for a job interview and she wants to go with him for the weekend so she needs Zach to look after Cody. Zach is reluctant, but agrees. When Shaun invites him over, he tells him to bring Cody along and the three have a great time together. Zach and Shaun's relationship begins to blossom, while at the same time Shaun builds a strong bond with Cody.

Zach feels uncomfortable when both Gabe and Jeanne learn about his relationship with Shaun. Although Gabe is supportive, Jeanne reveals her homophobic opinions and tells Zach that she does not want Cody hanging around Shaun because he is gay. She insists that since Cody's father is no longer in the picture, she needs Zach to be a positive influence and role model for Cody. At a party later that night, Zach becomes conflicted and ends things with Shaun, reasoning that he is not like him and is new to being in a gay relationship. Shaun tells him that it is obvious it is what he wants and calls him a coward for being too afraid to deal with it.

Shaun secretly submits Zach's art school application and Zach is eventually accepted on full scholarship. When Alan gets the job in Portland, Jeanne wants to move there with him permanently but doesn't want to take Cody as Alan doesn't like having him around. She wants to leave Cody with Zach for the time being. Zach is again forced to decide between putting others first and neglecting his own dreams, as he has always done. Later, he tries to tell Tori about his relationship with Shaun, only to find out she already knows and is supportive. After Zach finally decides to finally move forward with his art career, he goes to see Shaun and confesses that he had been accepted into the school in the past, but put it off to look after his family after his mother died. Now determined to finally go for what he wants in life, he re-affirms his love for Shaun and the two reconcile, making plans to move in together near the school.

He then goes to see Jeanne who is preparing to leave with Alan. Zach boldly walks up to her, hand in hand with Shaun, and gives Jeanne an ultimatum. If she wants to leave Cody with him then she will have to accept that he will be living with him and Shaun. Jeanne tries to guilt Zach, but he reminds her that she is the one who is abandoning her son, not him. He tells her that Shaun is a good guy who cares about him and Cody and that a life with them is what is best for Cody. He tells her that he plans on finally making the life he really wants for himself. Jeanne relents, accepting what is truly best for Cody, and leaves him in the care of Zach and Shaun as she goes off to Portland with Alan. The film ends with Zach, Shaun and Cody happily playing on the beach together as a family.

Cast

Production

Shelter was filmed in 21 days, primarily in San Pedro and Laguna Beach, California, with additional shooting in Bel Air and Malibu, California. A visual focal point throughout the film is the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles Harbor.

The artwork depicted in the film was the work of L.A. artist Ryan Graeff, whose street art appears across the region and is profiled on his blog Restitution Press.

The motion picture soundtrack features original music by Grammy Award Winning singer/songwriter Shane McAnally (credited to Shane Mack).

Release

Shelter debuted at the 31st Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco on June 16, 2007 and ran in theaters through July 24, 2008. It played at over 100 film festivals worldwide and won 27 "Best Of" awards. The film was released on DVD on May 27, 2008 in the United States. The DVD includes production commentary by writer/director Jonah Markowitz and actors Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe.

The film was released on DVD in the UK on August 11, 2008, though the UK release does not include the commentary track. The film was released on Blu-ray in the UK in October 2011.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack album, Shelter: Music from the Motion Picture, was released in 2008.

1. "Goin' Home" (written and performed by Bill Ferguson)
2. "I Like That" (written and performed by Shane Mack)
3. "No Way Home" (written and performed by Matt Pavolaitis and Brett Cookingham)
4. "Pirate Sounds" (written by Ariel Rechtshald, Josh Kessler, Marc Ferrari, and Lewis Pesacov, performed by Matthew Popieluch)
5. "Teenage Romanticide" (written by Jen Mitz, Nina Martinez, and Susan Gale, performed by Dance Yourself to Death)
6. "Look for Love" (written and performed by Tony Valenzuela)
7. "Darkness Descends" (written by Ariel Rechtshald, Josh Kessler, Marc Ferrari, and Lewis Pesacov, performed by Matthew Popieluch)
8. "Vaporizer" (written and performed by Nicholas Viterelli)
9. "What Do You Believe In" (written by Jeffrey S. Haycock; arranged by Christopher J Welsh & Scott "SkooB" Wilson; performed by The Vengers)
10. "Trying" (written by Ariel Rechtshald, Josh Kessler, and Matthew Popieluch, performed by Matthew Popieluch)
11. "Gimmie Clam" (written and performed by Nicholas Viterelli)
12. "Break" (written and performed by Shane Mack)
13. "Reflection" (written and performed by Todd Hannigan)
14. "Lie to Me" (written and performed by Shane Mack)
15. "Time to Time" (written by Stewart Lewis and Reed Foehl, performed by Stewart Lewis)
16. "More Than This" (written and performed by Shane Mack)
17. "Long Way Home" (written and performed by Shane Mack)
18. "Remember to Forget" (written and performed by Shane Mack)
19. "Cool of Morning" (written and performed by Matt Pavolaitis and Brett Cookingham)

Critical reception

For the last seven years, Shelter has been in the top three on Logo's NewNowNext's yearly reader poll "The Top 100 Greatest Gay Movies" and has been #1 twice. Sid Smith from the Chicago Tribune said that Shelter '"captures the beauty, thrill and ache of young love and extracts a casual joy out of the process." Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B+ rating, and Out Magazine called it "an instant classic". The Seattle Times writes, "What could have been a standard-issue coming-out, coming-of-age movie develops a remarkable intimacy. It’s a star-making, multilayered role, and Wright makes it his own. He connects with the character’s passion and mischief, as well as his secretive and sometimes cowardly side."

Albert Williams from the Chicago Reader wrote “What might have been a routine coming-out story is enriched by Trevor Wright‘s accomplished and honest performance, Jonah Markowitz’s straightforward dialogue, and Joseph White’s cinematography of the majestic surf and melancholy sunsets off Malibu.” Elizabeth Weitzman from the New York Daily News wrote “Actors Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe are good enough to turn a formulaic coming-out tale into a sweet romance.”

In praise of the film, David Weigand from the San Francisco Chronicle singled out "a superb performance by Trevor Wright in the lead role, a strong supporting cast, very good cinematography and, most of all, emotional authenticity", noting in particular Trevor Wright's "restrained and delicately balanced performance" as "the beating heart of the film from the start".

Awards