Introduce Yourself : Gay war movie. by Chris Willis

Chris Willis

Gay war movie.

I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of a gay war movie, particularly one based on actual events in WWII. But I’ve written one, “Camouflage.” Logline: In 1944 a top-secret unit of American soldiers applied their artistic sensibilities to battlefield trickery and illusion, creating false truths with inflatable tank decoys, sonic misdirection, and theatric special effects. Decades before Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, many members of the 603d Camouflage Battallion were well suited to their mission of deception having lived in the shadow of false truths for most of their lives.

Heather Hale

https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/film/2011/09/23/10-great-lgbt-military-movies

https://www.imdb.com/search/keyword/?keywords=gay-soldier

Seed your hit list with those prospects.

Chris Willis

Hi, thanks for the Advocate reference. After reading the article I can appreciate the LGBT allusion and imagery in the movies I’ve seen. Never really made the connection in Platoon, but it is so blatant once pointed out. My script “Camouflage”is more about the soldiering these gay men do, their relationships with each other and a teenage war orphan, and their humanity. Their sexuality is at the same time, more and less nuanced than sucking smoke out of a gun barrel (Platoon) or a bare chested Val Kilmer playing volleyball (Top Gun). It’s about how they live in a world of false truths in the Army of 1944, how they camouflage their lives.

Chris Willis

It’s been a good fall for my screenplay “Camouflage.” Finalist standing in the Rhode Island International Film Festival and The Australian Film Industry competitions, plus a Second Round sélection in the Austin Film Festival. Most recently it was selected as a quarter finalist in the StoryProd contest. It’s a good story and unlike any other war movie.

Heather Hale

Excellent, Chris! CONGRATS!

Best of luck with it!

PS: I actually edited this War Film book: https://www.amazon.com/American-War-Film-History-Hollywood/dp/1932800107

Lauren Louna Paris

That's great, Chris, super idea exactly at the right time. Bravo and best of luck. Looking forward to seeing it.

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