This is the final segment.

I am very proud of this film and I hope that you have enjoyed it. I wonder what has happened to Mike in the years since I shot this and I hope that he is happy, and safe… and wealthy. I barely knew him, yet, I was extremely lucky to interact with him and get this amazing glimpse into his life.

I hope that he finds this film online and contacts me. More importantly, I hope he likes what the final product has become. I have always hated the sensationalism and exploitative aspect of the TV news, and the media in general. I hope that I presented a fair, honest, and accurate portrait of who Mike was back in the summer of 2000. I hope he doesn't feel exploited or taken advantage of. If so, I have failed.

Ultimately the reason I set out to do this project was the same reason Mike did: to change the way people think about gays and to open up their minds. Hopefully we did that.

-Jeff

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This is the segment that EVERYONE loves the most. I don't know why... No-no. I DO know why. It's hilarious.

This segment is dedicated to anyone who has edited hours and hours of raw interview footage. After a while your brain just snaps and you begin to go insane. I wish I could say that I began building this section at the very start of this project but that is not the case. It was only after finishing about 80 percent of the project that I went back and found these little clips. Talk about tedious. What else... Um... :)

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Mike talks about his first kiss. I love how honest and open he is.

Mike is a great person.

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Dealing with family is hard for most teenagers. And so... here we go.

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The opening to this was Mike’s idea. ...Or maybe it was Amy’s. I’m not sure. But it’s really hilarious.

p.s. I'm sorry it took me so long to post this episode.

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And now… Mike and Amy date. Why did I cut it down to 1 miniute and 14 seconds? It was a reference to Stanley Kubrick; at the time I was worshiping his films. Looking back on it, I think I should have cut it down to one minute even. What was I thinking?

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GYM CLASS? That’s a nightmare even for straight guys! Yet again, Mike threw me for a loop.

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This was an unplanned series of questions about girls (and sterotypes.) The section about girls was something that grew out of spending the day with Mike and his friends - who knew he would like boobs so much?

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This is a short episode and all future episodes will also run 1-2 min in length.

I don’t remember shooting this section, but I do remember editing it. Obviously this section is meant to be poignant so I played with the contrast between being in love and the fear of discrimination and AIDS. Personally I feel that the moments in these interviews where everyone becomes silent and becomes careful with their word choice – those moments say the most. I would never be allowed to do that in the stuff I make for TV. ...And that is why TV is a scam.

I think that Mike really shines in this section. I was extremely lucky to have him to open up with me. He is really honest here and genuine. No matter how much I wanted play with the contrast between wanting to be loved, and the fear of discrimination for wanting gay love, ultimately it comes down to what Mikes has to say and how he says it.

Kudos.

-- Jeff Starr

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This is a really good section that came together on its own.

I was lucky enough to capture a little bit of classic high-school-dating-drama, "girltalk," and heartfelt emotions. Up until this point everyone had been sitting with me and answering classic interview questions - sort of a dry feel. Then, this little phone conversation interputed us and broke it all open; it added the water we needed to make a good sauce.

This section also cemented a filmmaking style that had previously been prevalent in my paintings: TEXT.

Watch, read & enjoy.

Thanks,
Jeff

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First, a little back story...

I had just finished my sophomore year of college and summer was approaching. As my friends and I prepared to go our separate ways we made a pact; every other week we would email “assignments” that our group would then have to interpret. Based on these topics we would then each make a sculpture or a painting or a piece of music. At the end of the summer we would bundle up our projects, go back to school, and display the artwork. Fun for all.

One of the first projects emailed out was titled “My First Girlfriend.” What was I going to make?

About a month prior to this assignment I had met a hilarious and charming kid named Mike. He was a friend (of a friend) of my girlfriend and I knew that Mike had previously dated a girl before coming out of the closet. I immediately thought to call him. His story would make for a great little documentary on the subject of "My First Girlfriend."

Because I barely knew Mike I was very nervous when I finally decided to call and ask if I could make a documentary about him. I told him how I was pro gay rights (this is before gay marriage was all over the news) and how I thought this film might be a good tool in helping to end discrimination. He liked the idea. In fact, I thought he sounded touched by the concept. Perhaps I was projecting my own feelings into his voice. Either way, the project was begun.

It was finally time to film and I knew how Mike was going to answer all of the questions I prepared. We sat down, I hit record and every thing I asked him was answered with a revelation that changed my perspective on what it is like to be young and gay. I thought that TV, movies and books had explained all that needed to be explained about homosexuality. Nope. In reality I didn’t know anything; the project became more and more fascinating with each answer.

I hope that this video podcast will help to dissolve some of the misunderstandings of homosexuality and I hope that it will help anyone who is young and questioning who they are find the courage to be themselves.

Thanks for watching,
Jeff

Download Part One

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