Man of the Year (1995)

This film is a fictionalized account of gay Dirk Shafer's reign as Playgirl magazine's 1992 "Man of the Year". It's a mockumentary, a combination of semi-documentary, drama, and comedy that includes real people as well as actors. Aspiring film-maker and male model Shafer leaves Oklahoma to pursue his dream of fame and fortune in Hollywood. After a series of degrading film jobs, he sends his photograph to Playgirl magazine and is delighted to become a sex symbol for millions of women as "Man of the Year". His gayness is kept secret from the magazine editors, fans and chat-show hosts he encounters as Playgirl's pin-up.

The camera follows him around in documentary style, showing that the entire sex industry is built upon appearances, fantasy and illusions. His lover Mike Miller (Michael Ornstein) was initially enthusiastic at the deception, while family and friends only later discovered the truth. Win-A-Date recipient Angela Lucassey (Mary Stein) travels to New York to enjoy a night on the town with her dream companion, and the theme is Dirk should be true to himself and his boyfriend, because masking his sexuality in this way only causes stress. Peitor Angell, Barry Stich, and Eric Vetro composed the original music. Dirk Shafer wrote, directed and starred in this ironic and interesting movie.

Drift (2000)

Ryan T. Lee (Reggie Lee) is a gay Asian screenwriter from Canada working illegally in L.A. On the eve of Ryan's third anniversary with boyfriend Joel (Greyson Dane), the struggling writer meets Leo (Jonathon Roessler), a college student and aspiring novelist, at his agent's (Jerry Lentz) trendy party. Though he loves Joel, Ryan feels stifled by the relationship's stability and believes Joel doesn't appreciate his artistic temperament. Ryan confides in his straight friends, Carrie (Desi del Valle) and Matt (Sebastien Guy), then breaks up with Joel to pursue a relationship with Leo. Joel, who's less flighty than Ryan, makes an effort to remain friendly with his ex. When Ryan leaves the party, he enters three different possibilities: he and Leo fall in love, they have a one night stand, and Leo doesn't like Ryan. In any love triangle, someone winds up hurt, and in each scenario Ryan is faced with the fragility of human emotions and the dangers in searching for a soul mate.

The "what if?" gimmick makes the film unique. It's a low budget erotic relationship drama, quirky, edgy, a bit cheesy, and often funny, but sometimes sad. This film is compelling, tightly edited, and the steamy sex scenes are believable because of the realism of the emotions portrayed. But what point is Lee trying to make? Perhaps the tentative nature of the title is the key. The film is set in a town where many are in a state of flux, not really settling down after making a commitment, and forever looking for the perfect partner. Steven Pranoto composed the music, and Quentin Lee wrote the screenplay and directed.