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Description

Camp Revelation is a drama with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) themes, seen through the perspective of a heterosexual protagonist: Rex Jordan.

Rex is a Hollywood talent agent who lives in New York City. He is a social conservative who adheres to traditional views of masculinity which have been shaped by his Catholic upbringing and the culture of his mainstream Hollywood work environment. His beliefs and behavior reinforce stereotypes rather than challenge them.

Rex is forced to deal with his own intolerance when his younger brother David is outed as a homosexual and is sent to a religious camp by his parents under the misconception that he can be ‘turned’ straight. Rex takes it upon himself to save his brother from the program by pretending to be a troubled gay man and enrolling in the camp. Rex must overcome his own ignorance to find common ground with his brother and free him from the program.

Although Camp Revelation deals with the issue of religious intolerance and a family’s struggle to accept their son’s homosexuality, it is not intended solely for LGBT audiences. Rex’s struggle to come to terms with his brother’s sexual orientation serves as an example of the challenges we all face in accepting beliefs and values that differ from our own.

Creative Team

Writer’s Note

Camp Revelation is a story about acceptance in the face of socially and culturally accepted suppression. It is a story the gay community is all too familiar with and one that, unfortunately, many of us have experienced firsthand. Ultimately, though, I didn’t write Camp Revelation for gay audiences; I wrote it for straight ones.

While it is true that things have gotten better for the gay community in recent decades, especially here in the US, we’re still a long way from our goal of true equality. More than half of American citizens now support gay equality, yet nearly half still do not. The individuals in opposition still believe what their religions or their conservative ideologies tell them: they allow tradition to dictate their thoughts and their feelings rather than seeing other people for what they are: human beings deserving of fair and equal treatment. Right-wing organizations, intent on turning back the tide of progress, are doing everything in their power to remain firmly on the wrong side of history. Sometimes they lose this fight, but many times, as was the case in California with Proposition 8, they win. I believe Camp Revelation addresses this problem in two ways:

First: I do not believe socially conservative people are bad or inherently unintelligent. I believe they are misinformed. People are often mistrusting of cultures or individuals who are different from them. Yet, exposure often brings acceptance. Many individuals who were once homophobic have come to realize that they have gay neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members. Once they realize that gay people are the same as them, their fear and intolerance typically dissipates. Camp follows Rex as he learns to accept his brother for who he is, rather than who society says he should be.

Secondly: the opponents of LGBT equality can often be quite fervent in their beliefs. They protest gay and lesbian events, they vote for discriminatory laws, and they donate money to anti-gay organizations. Many members of the LGBT community struggle equally hard against them but without the aid of their straight allies, their voices are often not enough to stem the tide (particularly in elections). Unfortunately, most straight Americans, even those who are not homophobic, are simply not aware of the struggle for gay rights or aren’t willing to stand up for issues that don’t directly impact them. This is certainly the case with Rex in the film and it’s something I would love to see change in the country.

Ultimately, I want straight audiences to see this film and identify with the film’s protagonist: a straight person (just like them) who experiences homophobia and bigotry that he never considered before, and who will come to realize that he holds many of the same prejudices himself, before deciding to change. It is my hope that the film will open the eyes of straight audiences and show them the plight of gays and lesbians struggling for equality and acceptance in America, and in the rest of the world.

If I can show a few socially conservative audience members what it’s like to be hated and feared for no good reason at all, and if I can convince them to change their minds and to give acceptance a chance, then I’ve done my job and can consider all the time and effort I’ve placed into this film time very well spent.

- Jack Bryant

Director’s Note

Over the last few years, in my quest to find the "perfect" feature film to invest my all into, several feature projects have come and gone; many have lost momentum and been put on the back burner when I realized they weren’t worth sinking my teeth into. Then, along came Camp Revelation. My friend, colleague, and former film school classmate, Jack Bryant approached me with this gem of a script that he had written several years before. I was aglow with excitement at the prospect of collaborating on something so skillfully crafted with significance, profundity, and intelligence. Jack's personal experience with the issues raised in “Camp” (as we call it) made it heartbreakingly realistic. Having grown up in the South, with conservative Christian beliefs, and the unfortunate hate and bigotry which accompany them, Jack wrote a story that truly touched a chord in me as it was written from his heart.

When looking to attach a core team to "Camp," my goal was to bring on only the most passionate, dedicated, and talented professionals whose diversity and perseverance could push the film through the barriers and constraints that independent projects face today. Jack and I began by attaching entertainment legal counselor/ Producer Tiffany Gray, business advisor (and film buff) Stephane Wyper,  Producer Denise Dorado, and Director of Photography Jason Beasley. Our recent collaboration in the short film Legacy Cleaning (currently in post production) only affirmed my initial instincts: we are a great team and together we can pull off an incredibly difficult feat- make a great independent film. 

Trying to raise $50,000 might seem like a lot to ask for, but in making a feature film of this nature, we’ll be shooting on a shoe string.  We’ll work long hours and rely on the kindness and generosity of others to make this happen.  We’ll all wear multiple hats and beg our friends and families to help us out on set; but we’ll do it with grins on our faces because we’re passionate about this film and believe in its message. 

The enthusiasm, dedication, and energy for the project remains strong in our hand- picked team.  Each member has been an asset to the pre-production process and I am thrilled at the prospect of collaborating further on this timely and profound project. We have all spent several years dedicating precious time outside of paid projects to Camp Revelation because the subject and strength of this project warrants our commitment. I am grateful to have the opportunity to direct a film with such an important message of equality for all. There is no other message more important, I believe, than that of love and respect. 

- Kerstin Karlhuber

Please email us at silentgiantproductions@gmail.com for participation inquiries!

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