THE MOVIES: 'Eating Out' serves up two new courses



The cast of "Eating Out" on location at the Triangle Inn in Palm Springs, Ca.
 (photographer Michael Green)

 The other night I walked into the middle of what I imagine to be many gay men's fantasy.

I'm standing poolside as the sun is going down and a group of young men and a girl stands chatting at the other end. They look to be in their 20s.

Then the tall, tan, beautiful brunette boy in the black Speedo trips and stumbles into the waifish blond boy wearing a T-shirt and shorts. He smiles, pretending to be drunk. I know where a smile like that leads.

On the other side of the pool two guys in tiny swimsuits stand mere inches apart as they caress one another and look into each other's eyes. The photographer recording the encounter must've snapped the money shot, because the boys part and head for the warmth of a hotel room.

A woman approaches the first group from a nearby room and drapes a towel over the brunette's shoulders.

The spell is broken as the scene rehearsal and the photo shoot end. The cast of the fifth "Eating Out" film takes a break while the crew sets up for a night shoot at the Triangle Inn in Palm Springs, Ca.

The real fun begins as the producer, director and actors share with me how they got involved with the fourth and fifth installments of what they all describe as the gay "American Pie," "Porky's" or "Meatballs."

The series started with film student Q. Allan Brocka's classroom ploy to get a sexy boy to say exactly what he wanted to hear.

"I just wanted to write something funny," he said. "There was this hot straight guy in class and I wanted to make him read a long gay sex scene."

Sound familiar?

The scenario inspired and ended up in the first "Eating Out" movie, which Michael Shoel produced and distributed in 2003 through Ariztical Entertainment.

The film was so popular that Allan followed it with two sequels, which he also directed. All three films regularly air on the Logo cable channel.

"We've become the gay franchise," Michael said. "They're sexy, they're funny and they have their message."

The next film, "Eating Out #4: Drama Camp," explores a couple's efforts to repair their relationship during a two-week stint at a drama camp in the mountains.

In "Eating Out #5: The Open Weekend," a group of gay men learns while having "a wild vacation" in Palm Springs that because of a legislative loophole same-sex couples can legally marry during one hour.

Allan co-wrote the newest installments, which are being filmed simultaneously, with Phillip J. Bartell.

"As funny and as light as [the movies] are, we always try to bring the heart back," Michael said.

The heart of the story is evident between Jerry and Bernard, a mature couple played by Ralph Cole Jr. and Geoffrey Dwyer. They decide to marry.

"Despite all the hooking up, it's all still about people wanting to find their soulmate, their significant other," Ralph said.

For Geoffrey, a major part of the project's appeal was having a wise and experienced couple in the script.

Allan also included this time a transgender character "who's treated just like everyone else." She's portrayed by up-and-coming actress Harmony Santana.

And diehard fans will see plenty of what they've come to expect and love from "Eating Out."

"We're promising new hotties that people haven't seen before," Michael said.

Among the hotties are Aaron Milo and William Brown.

William portrays Mitch, the brunette in the black Speedo mentioned earlier. He describes his character as a party animal who is "a lot of fun to play" and "Eating Out" as a part of the interesting journey he's been on since he moved to LA almost two years ago to pursue acting.

Aaron's role as Benji is his first acting gig. A week before he got the part he was working at Saks in Beverly Hills. He appreciates that his first experience is with Allan, whom he describes as an actor's director -- patient and open to answering questions.

Both actors have their theories about why the films continue to resonate with audiences.

William attributes their popularity to filling a void in entertainment. "No one's really hitting this niche," he said. "It's kind of revolutionary."

Many fans just love the risque humor.

As Aaron said, "We're offensive but we do it in a fun way."