DADDY

US, 2015, 89 minutes, Colour.
Gerald Mc Cullouch, Dan Viaime Cepero, Tamlyn Tomita, John Rubenstein, Richard Riehle, Mackenzie Astin, Leslie Easterbrook, Jay Jackson.
Directed by Gerald Mc Cullouch.

The title seems rather flip. And the film begins in this way, with sexual relationships and the offhand remark “who’s your daddy?�. Later, with a completely unexpected twist, the title of the film becomes much more serious.

The film is based on a play, written by Dan Via, who plays Stewart in the film. It has been adapted for the screen and opened out. Gerald McCullouch?, who plays the central character, is also the director of the film.

This is a gay film with gay sensibilities – but it is a gay film which is open to the wider public.

Gerald Mc Cullouch plays Colin, a television personality, extroverted and cheerful, rather promiscuous in his relationships. Dan Via is his very serious friend from college days, also a gay man, but very reserved in his relationships. The third central character is a young man, Tee, Jaime Cepero, who is an intern at the television station, is attracted to Colin, initiates a relationship.

There are complications when Stewart receives an opportunity to go to teach in California. The crisis comes when a Reverend comes to the television station to be interviewed in his campaign against gay marriage. Tee collapses, Stewart investigates his file and discovers that Colin is his father, and wanted an acknowledgement, to have the experience of the father, but uses sexuality as a means of attraction.

The film shows the effect on Colin, overturning a lot of presuppositions of a 40-year-old man, his drinking and his being sacked. Stewart, on the other hand, is much more reliable. Ultimately, Colin goes to California where Tee is undergoing therapy…

1. The title? The phrase ‘whose the daddy?’? The more serious undertones of the title?

2. The city of Pittsburgh, the range of vistas, river, buildings, hills, cable car…? The musical score?

3. A play, transferred to film? The author, appearing as Stewart? The director and his involvement, appearing as Colin? The musical score?

4. The media background, Colin, his personality, his program on television, perspectives of the left and the right? His relationship with the producer? Fans stopping him and acclaiming him? The program, research? The issue of gay marriage? The condemnations by the Reverend? Wanting him on the show, to undermine and expose him? The interns, Tee and his looking at him, employing him, the job, his response to Tee.

5. Colin, his life, day by day, going for the run, the work? His friendship with Stewart, the past, their long friendship, studies together? Collin and his emotions? Stewart and his reserve? The possibility of his going to California, going for the interview, coming back, disgruntled, finally receiving the offer and going?

6. Colin and Tee, going out, meals, the young man and the seeming adulation, the attraction, in the street, the sudden sexual behaviour, at home in bed, Tee sitting on the floor? His age, his background, from North Carolina, his story about his parents, being brought up by his grandparents? Intense, nervy, taking the pills? Colin calling him “Babe�, the development of the relationship? The intimacy?

7. Stewart returning, wary, finding Tee, the meal, the clashes?

8. The buildup to the program, Tee and his research, failing, getting extra information, illegally? In the studio, the Reverend arriving, Tee and his collapse?

9. Stewart, the search of the room, finding the folder, the information? The denunciation by his grandfather, the Reverend?

10. The document with Colin as Tee’s father? The effect on him? And his being sacked from his job?

11. Stewart, trying to be helpful, looking after Tee?

12. Colin, drinking, running, no job? Going to California? Meeting Tee, Tee and his therapy?

13. Colin and Stewart, the continued friendship? Stewart and his having a close friend in Los Angeles?

14. The effect on Tee, his sexual behaviour, wanting his father, wanting his father to like him? His future? Colin and his future?