MAN OF THE YEAR
US, 1986, 87 minutes, Colour.
Dirk Shafer.
Directed by Dirk Shafer.
Man of the Year is a mock documentary, a mockumentary. It was the idea of its writer-director and star, Dirk Shafer. Shafer had spent some time in Hollywood as a screenwriter and was a Playgirl centrefold in 1992, unexpectedly winning the Man of the Year award. He himself was gay and was in two minds about whether he should accept the award. However, he went along with Playgirl and this mock documentary is an interpretation, imaginatively developed, of what the experience was like.
Shafer comes across as very agreeable and talented and thoughtful. He has an excellent supporting cast who portray various characters, especially those associated with Playgirl and some of the fans. They offer some very credible caricatures.
The film might have been expected to be of the leering prurient kind. However, though there is some frankness in the dialogue and a few glimpses of Playgirl's centrefolds, the film seems remarkably sanitised and comes across as a very entertaining comedy.
1.A mock documentary? Its impact? The background of the truth? The fictionalising? The plausibility of the characters and events?
2.Small budget? Black and white photography, colour, use of actual TV footage, especially of the talk programs? The drama, the interviews, the date with Angela? Editing and pace? The range of the songs and their comment on the action? Moods?
3.Dirk Shafer and his background, his experience in the movie world, writing? His identity? His interaction with the media? His film - and the quality of his writing and direction?
4.The documentary as an expose on the media: the role of the popular magazines, their readership, the glossy style, the photos, the stereotypes? The PR people, the editors and their double-talk? The focus on the talk shows, their hosts, the banality of the comments, the contests, the fans? Donahue and the real comperes, Joan Rivers? The acted comperes? The real fans and the performances to characterise fans?
5.An expose on sex and American attitudes? The male pin up, the macho style, the comments on the feminine side of the male? The visual ideal, the stereotype? Heterosexual and homosexuals? The perceptions of heterosexuals and understanding Dirk? The film as non judgmental?
6.Dirk and his talent, the quality of the writing, his own performance, the acting, the interviews? His direction? His perspective?
7.Playgirl and its readers, the response, the competitions, the photos, the layout, the photographer and his po-faced comments on creativity and Dirk not interfering? The publication of 911 numbers and the fans talking with Dirk on the phone? The editor and her appearance, comments, deceived or not? The PR woman and her vivacity, energy, arranging talk shows, outings? The fans and their fanaticism? The ethos of Playgirl - and the expose?
8.Dirk and his character: his appearance, what came across in interviews? In himself, the memories of his boyhood, scrawny, the dancing, the dance competitions, the gym and building himself up? The interviews with his parents? His mother and her love for her son, broadminded? The father and his serious comments? The sister (his real sister) and her comments about his preferences and leaving him alone? Vivienne (as herself) and her contribution to the film, technically, portraying his friend, the interviews and her perspective? Her performance as the fanatical fan on the TV show? Michael and his relationship with Dirk, the relationship, going out, the influence of the media? Their living together? His dilemma as to whether to tell the truth or not, becoming committed to the project? The talk shows and his interventions? The outing with Angela, Michael in the bathroom, the discussions, Betty and her fiance, the truth from Angela? The background of his own private life - and the country and western ending?
9.The character of Vivienne, her contribution to the film, her points of view, humour, friendship, the exaggerated performance as his number 1 fan on TV?
10.The irony of the humorous captions about the characters?
11.Lady as the number 1 fan, her striptease background, the interview in the bar, her growing obsessiveness, her devices to meet Dirk, the phone calls, the letters? Her presumption about his heterosexuality and her anger at the end? The story of Vivienne and the pregnancy?
12.Betty and the PR, the humour of the enthusiastic woman, the expose - and the macho attitudes of her boyfriend and his final comments about Dirk being gay?
13.The editor, the glamour, the platitudes? The irony of the revelation?
14.Angela, her background, the competition, coming to New York, her being groomed, her hair being done, her embarrassment? Meeting Dirk, the meal, the theatre piece - and the irony of the play being about the feminine side of the male? Her enjoyment, Betty's boyfriend and his despising it? Her realisation of the truth, the final serious discussions with Dirk?
15.Michael, his professional background, the attraction to Dirk, the relationship, hiding in the bathroom, the interviews and the explanation to the interviewers? Living together, becoming exasperated?
16.The Act Up members and their wanting to out the gays, their reaction to Dirk, at the studio, watching him, their explanation of his evasiveness about his sexual identity on the television?
17.The producer and her demanding the truth from Dirk, his hesitation? The host and her later comments about the revelations?
18.Donahue, Joan Rivers and the authentic talk shows and their response to Dirk?
19.The satirical tone of the film, its comedy, wit? Its truth?
