The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

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The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:21pm

After viewing the RENT trailer, I felt as if I didn't belong, as if I was being sidelined into the shadows, as if the words "gay male" were dirty words in liberal circles. For those who haven't seen it, the trailer is full of images of men kissing women, men nuzzling women, men hugging women etc etc. And yet the gay male relationship, which is an important part of the production, gets short shrift with barely any air time.

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:24pm

This movie is being made, primarily, to turn a profit. They don't want to risk turning viewers away with the previews. They want as many people to see this as possible. I don't think of it as homophobia. It's simply marketing.

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:27pm

Agreed. Zoran said it all.

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:31pm

Make that simply marketing to homophobia.

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:32pm

I think it's sad that anyone would justify the exclusion of gays on the basis that there's a profit to be made and that "we mustn't offend middle America". That's the sort of response I would expect from someone like Jerry Falwell. The simple fact is that the gay male relationship is an important part of the production and deserves to get proportional and representative air-time in the trailer.

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:36pm

Actually, there is a quick shot of idina kissing Tracy...

And homophobic? That is ludicrous. Angel is shown plenty of times. Do we really have to see two men cuddling and kissing??? Hell, their relationship isn't even THAT graphic in the show.

Before you go on making ridiculous statements, look up the definition of HOMOPHOBIC...(Check out Dictionary.com, you won't even have to get up!) Because for someone to insinuate that a show/movie that is about SEVERAL different relationships is homophobic, clearly this someone has issues!

"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive. "Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot." "No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one." Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:37pm

I didn't notice - I was too busy watching Idina kiss Tracie

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:39pm

P.S. The show is NOT about homosexuality.

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:40pm

"the trailer is full of images of men kissing women, men nuzzling women, men hugging women etc etc."

It also has lesbians kissing and gay men holding hands (not to mention gay men embracing in a dance and stuff).

http://www.forget-regret.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=37&pos=61

http://www.forget-regret.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=37&pos=116

http://www.forget-regret.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=37&pos=64

And the trailer shows a man removing a wig that makes him look like a woman.

http://www.forget-regret.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=37&pos=102

AND, if you've seen the poster, Maureen and Joanne are in a box together embracing and, from the looks of it, grabbing each other's butts.

As Zoran said, they're trying to turn a profit. They don't want to alienate viewers by the trailer. I seem to recall that The Birdcage really tried to hide that homosexuality was a huge issue in it when IT advertised, and it was a bigger issue in that then it is in RENT (don't forget that Roger and Mimi ARE The main characters). RENT hasn't really been hiding it, if you really think about all the above, but it hasn't been shouting it from the rooftops. And that's b/c they don't want to alienate viewers.

"I mean, how many of us could honestly say that at one time or another he hasn't set fire to some great public building?"

#10

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:40pm

To clarify, I haven't even seen the trailer. I was just responding to the statement that it's better marketing to downplay the gay presence in the film.

#11

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:41pm

Oh, so it's OK to show two women kissing but not two men? This is the sort of double standard that exemplifies the hypocrisy of those who claim to be on the side of gay people. We all know how the libido liberals love the sight of two women kissing but deplore the sight of two men kissing.

The bottom line is that the gay male relationship is an important part of the RENT production. The trailer should give it the respect it deserves.

#12

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:46pm

A trailer is designed to lure people into the theatre. I don't think that the film has compromised the appearances of Angel and Collins or Maureen and Joanne at all. As long as the film is intact, I'm fine. A trailer is just a trailer.

#13

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:46pm

I think the marketing people got together and said "now let's play up the lesbian angle in our images so that we can appeal to the sleazy straight guy fantasy". But when it came to the gay male side of things, I suspect the attitude was along the lines of "eewww, we don't want to show that". Typical sleazy double standards....

#14

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:48pm

Angel and Collins are shown dancing and hugging in the trailer. And you see Angel take the wig off during the trailer, so you know he's a drag queen. Watch it again and calm down.

#15

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:49pm

Art,
You are very wrong. Angel and Collins relationship is not defined by homosexuality - it is a display of love and affection, yet, Have you SEEn the show? Collins and Angel kiss ONE time, during a song...and for all you know, maybe the better shot was of the two women kissing. Sounds like a bitter young gay man who is so hooked on his pride that he is actually lost on the meaning of what this show really is about.

Seriously, you're fighting an issue that is not even there.

#16

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:49pm

As, Justice said, RENT is not the show (or movie) "about gay people." They chose what they wanted to feature in the trailer and Collins and Angel kissing was not a part of those clips. Big deal.

CCM '10!

Updated On: 8/10/05 at 08:49 PM

#17

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:51pm

The notion that the RENT trailer should be designed to "lure" fans into the cinema is ridiculous and a form of pandering. What about giving respect to the content of the production? What about giving respect to the validity and love between the two gay male characters? All of this apparently isn't important according to some.

Can you imagine a trailer for Will Smith's Hitch that didn't show Will Smith on account of the fact that there are some members of the public who don't like black people? I wouldn't stand for it and neither should any fair-minded person stand for it.

#18

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:53pm

Why don't you just boycott the film, because those same sleazy producers are obviously against homosexuality, yet, they still kept in the characters of Angel and Collins...Those Damn straight men!
You make no sense.

#19

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:56pm

There is no use in you trying to convince me that I am wrong about the purpose of a trailer. I'm 100% correct and I know it. Your argument is invalid.

I am sorry that the lack of gay action in the trailer depresses you. The truth is that homosexuality is not a huge component of the play. I believe that the trailer represents well the overlying theme of love in the play. Love. That's what RENT is about. Not gay love, but all love.

#20

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:58pm

Oh, PLEASE. Give me a break. You've seriously got to be joking.

"Can you imagine a trailer for Will Smith's Hitch that didn't show Will Smith on account of the fact that there are some members of the public who don't like black people? I wouldn't stand for it and neither should any fair-minded person stand for it. "

Incase you didn't notice, Will Smith was the STAR of Hitch, and he is a big movie name that will, yes, LURE people to the movie. Do you really not know that? On the other hand, Angel and Collins are NOT the stars of RENT, and as Justice said, they only kiss once in the stage production. There is plenty of them shown dancing together, there are clips of Angel taking of his wig and Angel in drag. They DO give respect to the content of the production.

#21

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 8:58pm

It's a simple case of comparison and contrast. The heterosexual relationships virtually hog the trailer, the homosexual ones are marginalized or ignored. The heterosexual ones get the full treatment, the homosexual ones are shown very briefly with the barest of physical contact. Moreover, the homosexual male relationship is further marginalized compared to the homosexual female relationship, with no kiss between the men but one between the women. This is sleazy marketing, folks.

#22

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 9:00pm

Then boycott the film. Honestly. I am not joking at all. If you are so sure that these producers are sleazy and homophobic, stand up for your rights and boycott the film!

I personally think you're an idiot, but whatever floats your boat.

#23

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 9:07pm

Zoran,

You refer disparagingly to my concern for the "lack of gay action". The simple fact is that the gay male love is an important part of the production. It is there and you can't deny it. But the trailer seems to want to deny it, and you seem to be excusing it.

As for the notion that removing a wig and dancing is sufficient gay representation, give me a break. That sort of ornamental gayness is an insult to gay men if that is all they are permitted to do. Can I remind you that gay men also hug and kiss each other to express their love for each other? If such displays of affection annoy you then that is an issue you'll have to deal with.

#24

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 9:10pm

Art, although there are 8 principal characters, most would agree that Roger and Mimi are the central couple. They showed Collins and Angel hugging and running down the street. They also show Maureen and Joanne kissing. You just seem to be oblivious to that. You decided to block out the fact that they DO show Angel and Collins and focus on the fact that they showed Roger and Mimi. Really, it's pointless to think that. Either way, whether you believe the trailer shows it or not, there are gay couples in the movie. They will be there, so it's not like they won't be in the movie. They are. So, the trailer really isn't as important as the actual movie.

#25

re: The RENT movie trailer appears to be homophobic

Posted: 8/10/05 at 9:11pm

Clearly Art2 you dont have much of an argument. Just admit what you really want to see.... 2 hotties getting it on.

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