Filmmaking | Interviews

Home Movies

1 Jul , 2005  

Written by Andrea Maxwell | Posted by:

Filmmakers Jason Plourde and Sean West screen their epic look at gay life in the 20th century, 'Harold's Home Movies' at the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival this month.

For more than 70 years, Harold O’Neal documented his life in San Francisco. Along with historic events, such as rubber and aluminum recycling drives during WWII, Japanese citizens being rounded up for internment. But he also captured the playful side of gay culture back when such gatherings were often considered anxious and fearful affairs. These personal archives are a revelation, an unprecedented and epic look at gay life in the 20th Century.

One of two creators of the "Harold’s Home Movies," Bristol native Jason Plourde, became involved in the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival about a decade ago, eventually serving as co-director for two years. From there he moved to Seattle and became involved in the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, serving as Programming Director for the past four years. It was at this second film festival where he met Sean West, who would be his co-creator of the new film "Harold’s Home Movies."  Now the story comes full circle, as "Harold’s Home Movies" screens this month at the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. 

In a recent interview the two men shared their thoughts on filmmaking.

Andrea Maxwell: Describe the experience of making "Harold’s Home Movies."

Jason Plourde: "Harold’s Home Movies" is the first feature length documentary I’ve done, and it evolved from a screening that Sean saw in San Francesco.  The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society compiled an hour long screening of 8mm films that were restored with a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation.  The movies were amateur short films that spanned the years from 1939 to 1978, and there was no formal soundtrack, just music that was played along while they were projected.   All of the films were from a collection of hundreds made by Harold "Hal" O’Neal that he had donated to the Historical Society. Sean was amazed at the footage and immediately called me to say, "You must see this."  He met Hal and his partner George, who were at the screening, and found out that years ago they had moved to Washington State — just an hour or so south of Seattle.  So we went to visit them and became friends, and both realized that we needed to use their stories, along with the films, to document their lives.

Sean West: "Harold’s Home Movies" is my first collaborative project. Jason and I have been working on this project for over two years.  I think it would be a challenge if it were only my film or Jason’s film.  Hal and Torg were private people and I think it made the difference to have both of us there building their trust and the bond necessary to show them how important it was to document their stories and lives.  Since we both have full-time jobs to pay the bills, it’s been the ultimate blessing for Jason and I to split the task and deadlines involved to get the film completed and out on the festival circuit.

AM: What do you hope to accomplish through "Harold’s Home Movies?"

Plourde: First and foremost is sharing Harold’s films with a wide audience, as well as the stories that he and George tell throughout the film.  There’s so much to be gained from these historical images, and I’m glad that we’ve helped preserve them.  We’d also like to raise money to transfer and restore the rest of Hal’s films that are currently in the archives.  And finally, I hope we create awareness of the important preservation work that’s being done — by the GLBT Historical Society and other archives.

West: "Harold’s Home Movies" is truly an extraordinary testament to the life one can have as a gay man.  Hal and Torg are such a unique couple, given they were together for over 50 years, throughout most of the 20th century, which according to our history and images on gay life at that time, were all oppressive, in the closet and ultimately led to suicide.  Hal and Torg represent the life we all want to have, regardless of sexual preference.  They stuck together through the rough and turbulent times.  We are so fortunate to have this small portion of Hal’s films restored — they show a life perspective rarely seen in our American history. Personally, I would love to see Hal’s work integrated into an education curriculum. Regardless of your gender or sexual preference, everyone has something to learn from these amazing films.

AM: Do you portray your own views in each film?  Has your mind ever changed in the course of making one?  What changed for you in the making of "Harold’s Home Movies?

West: For documentaries, I’ve learned the hard way that I can only work on projects that I have an investment in or message to get out.  If that drive isn’t there, it’s a struggle to stay involved. When I first saw these films, my ultimate goal was to get the program screened in Seattle. Once that happened, we received feedback on how great it would be to have Hal and Torg’s stories included with the footage.  Jason and I pondered the idea, assessed the challenges, and decided to make it happen. Suddenly, this simple two-month process to curate a film program turned into producing and directing and entirely new version of the project.  When you make that decision this is what you need to do, there is no turning back.   As the scope of this project changed, I found myself becoming closer with Hal and Torg. In some ways, they became the gay grandfathers I never had.

Plourde: "Harold’s Home Movies" was the first major film I completed, and I learned a lot from the experience.  It was important to both Sean and myself to try and stay out of the story as much as possible — the only voices you hear are Hal’s and George’s and the film editing is almost entirely Hal’s original cuts.  However, I think it’s impossible to stay completely out of a film — we needed to make the final decisions as to how the narration would play throughout the film, selected appropriate music and ultimately determined how the story was told.  It helped to know that Hal and George trusted us to do that.

I think what changed the most for me was my perception of gay life pre-Stonewall (1969).  The majority of stories and images I knew from that era, were of sad, depressed individuals who skulked around in dark bars. I don’t want to trivialize how difficult life was for GLBT people during that time, but it was a revelation to see that even then folks were happy and enjoying life — and that of course they were vibrant, productive members of society.

AM: Do you think it is important to use your own experiences in your work? Have you ever made a film that was totally unrelated to your life or your beliefs?

West:  Absolutely.  In fact, that is the only way to make a film — from the perspective you know.  We all are human and experience the same wide range of emotions. Once I figure out the story I want to know, I will figure out the questions I need answered.  I’m usually attracted to exploring the things I don’t know or have assumptions.  Inevitably, you will get answers you don’t want to hear or you didn’t expect. They can’t be ignored.  If your subject holds an opposing viewpoint to your own, you know there will be an audience that feels the same way.  Whether good or bad, it’s up to the filmmaker to explore why someone would have these beliefs, rather than omit them because they don’t reflect the filmmaker’s opinions.

Plourde: I think you can’t help bring your own experiences to your work.  I doubt it’s possible for any filmmaker to be completely objective.  And while I think it’s an interesting challenge to make a film that’s totally unrelated to my life or beliefs, I’d much rather try to continue to educate or share with an audience things that I want to bring to light or that I have been taught by others.

AM: What do you think the responsibilities of a filmmaker are?

Plourde: I think a filmmaker has a responsibility to present a story as honestly as possible, while trying to inform, educate and entertain the audience.

West: Simple: Filmmakers need to tell a story, and tell it the best way possible.  But of course, this is easier said than done.  Filmmaking is the most challenging art form to tackle because of the many external factors involved (budget, directors, actors, editors, etc.) and the original idea can be easily compromised.  But, if you have a solid story, it’s easier to make all those elements align.  When I first saw Hal’s movies, I knew there were stories waiting to be told.  He was an amazing filmmaker (both as shooter and an editor).  Yet, he was a very shy, humble and private person.  Jason and I were faced with the task of getting him and Torg to share their stories, and present them in a way that represented them as well as captured the respect and admiration we felt for both of them.  Before we could show this film to any audience, we needed their approval.  Unfortunately, Hal passed away before we finished the final cut.  Torg watched it on their behalf and felt it was the best tribute ever given to Hal.  With that emotional buy-off, we knew we could proceed in showing the finished work to audiences.

AM: What motivates you to make a movie on gay and lesbian rights as opposed to another subject or genre?

West:  It really depends on the topic and issues at hand.  I love film and television.  It is truly the most powerful entertainment and educational medium in our society and dictates how we want to see ourselves and live our lives.  I don’t feel propelled to make exclusive gay/lesbian content, however in all my work, I like to weave in subtle ways to show the normalcy of gay life.

Plourde: My own experience and identity as a gay man makes it important to me to help create and show films on that subject.  There is so much hatred and ignorance in our society — it’s vital that a variety of work on GLBT individuals and issues are made so that people can talk openly to find compromise and understanding.

‘Harold’s Home Movies’ will screen on Friday, June 10 at 7:30pm as part of the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. For more information, visit http://www.ctglff.org/.


'Harold’s Home Movies' will screen on Friday, June 10 at 7:30pm as part of the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. For more information, visit http://www.ctglff.org/.

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