Looking at the body
In 1992, Dirk Shafer was a heterosexual icon, Playgirl’s ‘Man of
the Year.’
In 1996, he’s out, and he’s starring in a mock-documentary about
his experience of pretending he’s something he’s not. He calls it
‘Man of the Year.’
By Emily Forster
Daily Bruin Contributor
ll gay people are either flamboyant or filthy-minded.
At least that’s how director, writer and actor Dirk Shafer
thinks filmmakers portray them. "I’ve seen gay people portrayed in
so many Hollywood movies," says Shafer. "We’re always portrayed as
drag queens or killers."
Tired of the stereotypes and eager to give his own portrayal of
gay men, Shafer wrote, directed and starred in his upcoming film
"Man of the Year."
"’Man of the Year’ portrays gay people of all types," says
Shafer, "but it focuses on the guy-next-door types."
Shafer’s film is based on his experiences pretending to be
straight in order to live up to the expectations placed upon him as
Playgirl’s "Man of the Year." Shafer had to "play it straight," by
convincing his best friend, Vivian Paxton, to act as his biggest
fan and later his girlfriend at public appearances.
And throughout the year, Shafer had to pretend that his lover
was his roommate. Shafer banned himself from public functions run
by the gay community just to keep his title.
Playgirl magazine currently refuses to comment on the film,
which Shafer feels is a mistake.
"I’ve talked to Playgirl about it," says Shafer, "and they like
it but they won’t publically endorse it. Considering the large gay
readership it has, I think it would be a good idea for them to say
something about the film."
"We may make a televised statement later on," says public
relations representative for Playgirl, Kathleen Giulini, "but we
are not saying anything right now for a variety of reasons."
Although Playgirl is not talking about "Man of the Year," Shafer
is hoping that the gay and straight communities will. Presented in
the form of a mock-documentary, the comedic film carries a serious
lesson that Shafer wants his audiences to learn.
"Every time someone who’s gay makes a film about coming out,
that’s a good thing for our community," says Anne Stockwell, arts
and entertainment editor of the largest national gay and lesbian
news magazine, The Advocate. "We are such different people in so
many different ways. When we have the courage to stand up and be
ourselves we give society a chance to see that we are all gay but
we are all unique individuals."
The individuals in Shafer’s film are similar to their real life
counterparts, but only his best friend, actress Vivian Paxton,
played herself. With 13 days to film the entire movie, Shafer knew
that working with the actual people his film is based on would be
too time consuming.
"With our time limit we needed to be really prepared," recalls
Shafer. "It was kind of like going to war and it would have been
too difficult to direct everybody through the scenes."
Although Shafer’s lover, Michael Ornstein, played a bit part and
helped with set designs, he did not have enough free time to play
himself during Shafer’s two weeks of shooting. "Michael is an
architect so he could not put a lot of time on the set," explains
Shafer. "Besides he wouldn’t do a big acting role just like you
wouldn’t have an actor build your house."
It was equally inconvenient for Shafer’s parents, who live in
Oklahoma, to fly out to Los Angeles and play themselves. His
parents are generally pleased with the actors who play them, but
they have mixed feelings about their son’s directorial debut.
"My mother says that she is a little more glamorous in real
life," says Shafer, "and my dad liked the message but he wished it
was about other people."
The message of the film will be appreciated by gay and straight
audiences alike – be true to yourself. It is this universal theme
and the overall humor of the film, that Shafer hopes will give "Man
of the Year" an audience with gay and straight members.
"Straight people have said to me that they can relate to it,"
says Shafer. "I always had in my mind that it was a movie for all
audiences. That’s the reason why I didn’t want any full frontal
nudity."
There are re-enactments of photo shoots that Shafer had with
Playgirl photographers, but they are tastefully discreet. Shafer is
trying to get a wider audience for a film which Stockwell feels
audiences are already eager to see.
"Movies about gays and lesbians are beginning to sell," says
Stockwell. "Conventional Hollywood stories are getting a little
stale and gay people’s lives are intriguing to the straight
community. They make for good stories and I think ‘Man of the Year’
will find an accepting audience."
By making his audience laugh, Shafer hopes to accomplish more
than entertainment, Shafer wants the comedy in his film to bridge
the gap of ignorance between the straight and gay communities.
"I want people to have a good time," says Shafer. "If we laugh
at ourselves and at each other, it will help the straight and gay
communities understand one another."
Dirk Shafer
Dirk Shafer (shown here with Phil Donahue) is a former Playgirl
"Man of the Year" who recently revealed he is not heterosexual as
he had feigned.
Dirk Shafer on location for the filming of "Man of the
Year."
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