The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me (2002)

This is a concert film of David Drake's one man stage show about growing up gay in the 1990s. Those who missed his off-Broadway smash hit that opened in 1992 can now see the very talented Drake in his largely autobiographical performance piece. From his opening monologue describing the impact playwright Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart" had on him, to his amusing story of "Why I Go to the Gym," Drake gives a brilliant multi-character performance, playing many gay characters through the show: from an innocent child, to a lovestruck teenager, to a happy man in a long term relationship. The ease with which he abruptly switches roles is startling, honest, and impressive. He plays the range of characters not only to make a statement, but to also include us in the piece as well. Sketch after sketch, you come to accept his perspective, as he speaks about politically and emotionally charged issues. The play concludes with a rather warm-hearted look at a decade into the future, which Drake envisions as fantastic. David Drake's second one-man play is a riveting, artsy, gutsy, and wonderful piece of writing and acting, sparingly enriched by sound and visuals. The DVD includes two older endings that show how our lives have changed since the play was first produced. Written as a message of hope and performed by David Drake. Directed by Tim Kirkman and filmed at the Baltimore Theatre Project.

No One Sleeps (2000)

Stefan Hein (Tom Wlaschiha) is a doctoral student from a German university who visits San Francisco to make a presentation at a university. He explains an old idea, originally adopted by his father (Ed Burke), that AIDS was created around 1978 when the US government tested varieties of sheep viruses on prisoners in return for releasing the prisoners earlier than expected. Although the reception to his presentation is impolite, Stefan is determined to spend some time in SF to see if he can find any more evidence to substantiate the theory. At the university, Stefan makes three acquaintances: friendly graduate student Sascha (Michael Lovaglia), neurologist Dr. Richard Burroghs (Richard Conti), and enigmatic bearded hunk Jeffrey Russo (Jim Thalman). A serial killer is haunting the gay bars of the city and killing HIV positive long-term survivors, and he paints the bodies of his victims with a red cross. One dead body shows up in a Presidio fortification, and Stefan's research leads him to a club kid, whose entrance is as a corpse. At both deaths, witnesses heard music from Puccini's last grand opera, "Turandot".

Homicide Detective Louise Tolliver (Irit Levi), the SFPD officer in charge of the investigation joins Stefan to investigate. Connections gradually appear between the characters. Some people hum tunes from "Turandot" and one character is on the board of the San Francisco Opera, which is currently performing the work. Stefan is very determined to meet a promising but dangerous character who works as a waiter. Is it love, lust, or research? The FBI is unusually interested in the situation. Stefan discovers that Burroughs is probably in possession of secret government lists and his influence is not confined to SF. But by this time Stefan is the hunted, just as Louise Tolliver begins to focus her investigation on him. There is a climax with an incomplete resolution.

"No One Sleeps" is an erotic thriller set against the backdrop of an AIDS conspiracy fantasy. It was filmed in English, but was produced by a German production company with a primarily German crew. The movie combines suspense, tension, drama, and romance with mediocre writing, direction, and acting. James Hardway composed the music, and the script was witten by Michael Nelson Finn, Jochen Hick, Irit Levi, and Arthur Martin. Jochen Hick directed.