All Rise...

Judge Brett Cullum finds a half dozen reasons to enjoy cutting it short.

The Charge

Short, queer, and musical.

The Case

Wolfe video has done a great job with releasing gay short films for GLBT viewers to enjoy when they can't get to a film festival. These features have been key to developing new talent and ideas for full fledged features, or telling a quick story when the need arises. All six of these are aimed at gay men, considering lesbians only appear in supporting cameo roles in two of them. The girls do get a funny musical number called "Wasted Lesbian Love" in the final short, but that's getting ahead of myself. First, I guess I should tell you a bit about each short featured on this DVD.

• "Fairies" (20 minutes)
This is the short film that became the basis for the feature Were The World Mine. It's all about a high school student named Timothy who is bullied and harassed for being gay at his private school. But while studying A Midsummer Night's Dream something magical happens, and suddenly he imagines a world where he is not so different anymore. It's a very charming musical fantasy that works well. Twin Peaks fans will appreciate the supporting role Wendy Robie plays as the English teacher.

• "Dish" (16 minutes)
Israel and Louie are teens just walking around their neighborhood and gossiping about people they know. It's a fun look at the sexual escapades of two boys growing up in East Los Angeles, and a surprising view of what it's like to be young and gay in the modern world of texting and the Internet.

• "Teddy" (13 minutes)
This story about two men and a bear comes from New Zealand. Tony tries to rekindle romance with his old boyfriend, even though he's now dating someone else. The key to everything is an old stuffed animal. The shots of the New Zealand countryside are breathtaking, and all the accents make the hot guys that much hotter.

• "Frequent Traveler" (8 minutes)
A German short about the unlikely crush on an airport security guard. How far would you go? It's a funny take on falling for somebody in a service role.

• "The Back Room" (16 minutes)
A bookstore manager helps a mysterious stranger find information on an artist who recently inspired him during a trip to Florence. As the stranger's story unfolds and the search for the elusive painting begins, these men uncover astonishing connections to the work of art and each other.

• "Boycrazy" (25 minutes)
Corey enjoys the single gay life, yet still searches for love at the gym, the beach and even in a singing chat room! When coworker Derek and ex-boyfriend Nathan pursue Corey simultaneously, a difficult decision must be made. It's yet another colorful musical-comedy, and so we have singing bookends. This one should have starred Neil Patrick Harris with Adam Lambert in a supporting role.

DVD Verdict was sent a screener by Wolfe Video, so our version had no extras or even a menu. I can't evaluate the final product on technical terms or what they might add later. The transfer looked all right though the low budgets show up a bit with grain and softness throughout. Sound is a simple stereo that works just fine. I don't think these films need extras, but it would be nice to hear more about them.

The Boycrazy collection contains six good short films that are all touching and clock in well under a half hour. There should be something for everybody—a little drama, a little sex, some Sondheim tributes, and glitter. And if you don't like one, you can always skip to the next. It's like ordering a half dozen assorted donuts minus the carbs, and safer because you won't damage your chances at a six pack watching these.

The Verdict

Not guilty of shortchanging gay film fans, Boycrazy has some really great films for people with short attention spans or not much time.

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