Through the Lens of Maurice Jamal

Ski Trip is your first film. Talk to me about it. How did it originate and how did you fund it?

The film really came about because I love the movies. And I have a confession to make. I love Julia Roberts films. I know they can be cheesy and all that, but Julia just shines that big toothy grin, and you what her to get her man. The problem is that I get tired of seeing films and having to imagine myself in them. Besides, placing my head on Julia's body just isn't pretty. So I set about writing a classic American screwball romantic comedy. The only difference is that the characters look like my friends, and me and live a life similar to the one I do.

Making the film is a story to be told in itself. I raised the funds on my own. I got some donations from friends and family, but paid for most of it out of my own pocket. My producers kept telling me we needed all this money, and I kept thinking they were crazy. There had to be a way to make a great film and not go broke doing it. So I decided to do just that. I believe the final tally was about $10 thousand bucks. And we shot in under two weeks. The whole think
was crazy. Impossible really. But hey, we did it. Although I don't think I'd do it that way again. Well. I dunno, probably not. I didn’t sleep for weeks, didn't eat, and lost a bunch of weight. Hmmm...losing weight. Well, maybe I would do it again. Summer's coming up and I need to fit into my Speedo. The story is unabashedly about my experiences: looking for love in all the wrong places; figuring out who you are; dealing with friends and family.

Not that each specific thing that occurs in the film has happened in my life, but certainly experiences that I have had made their way onscreen. But nothing I could ever get sued about. (he laughs)

So does that mean that "Corey" the lead character you play, is you?

No. Not at all. I am probably the least like Corey in real life. He's so damn whinny. Honestly, a bit of me is in each of the characters. As "the kids" say, I have been "many things" so luckily I had a lot of comedy and pathos to draw off of. But if you think this movie was something, wait until my memoirs come out. Now that will be a hoot. But I'll probably have to wait until my mom dies until I could publish that. There are some things that a mother should never have to know.

Ski Trip is one of the few films about black gay life, and what’s even rarer is that it is a comedy. Why did you decide to do a comedy?

To me comedy is freeing. There is an honesty that my characters can have being comedic in nature. They are free to say things that are funny, mean, nice, sad, and silly...and they are forgiven. Ironically, in comedy films I feel like I can be more "real" than when I work in dramas. In some twisted way, I think I view my life as a sitcom. I'm the star, naturally, and my friends are the wacky, nosey neighbors. I'm just waiting for the fine ass man to be cast as the male model, who's in love with the quirky artist character I play.

It's interesting, the film is decidedly Black and gay in tone, but it really resonates with people across gender, orientation and racial lines. I never ceased to be amazed that a straight b-boy from Brooklyn or a white woman from Vermont will come up to me and tell me how they could relate to what the characters are going through. It's a humbling experience.

When will Ski Trip be in distribution or be out on DVD?

We help launch MTV's new gay network, LOGO this summer. I am so psyched by that! To be able to show the film in living rooms across America, is amazing. I mean we are the first Black, gay film to ever be televised across the nation.

That's amazing. People keep telling me that it puts The Ski Trip in another category. More successful than "this" film, more important than "that" film. But I really just focus on the ability to reach people and make a difference.

The DVD will be out this fall. And I don’t think people are going to be ready for that. It will have an alternate ending and all types of extras. The director's commentary feature is hilarious, and the actor interviews...well, people won't believe we actually did what we did.

Now what’s up with Ski Trip 2?

There has been so much talk about this sequel. I can confirm there is a script. And it's funny. Funnier than the first probably. And there is also a prequel. But we'll see if I feel like doing the George Lucas thing and going in that direction. Several networks have also expressed interest in making it a series, but we'll see. If it's a weekly series I want the writing to be really good. I don't want people to watch just because it's Black or it's gay. There’s enough of that already, and I think it leads to even more half-assed work on TV.

In your opinion what type of entertainment is lacking in the black LGBT community?

Quality. I think there is a lack of work that really reflects what life is like if you're Black and gay in America. Most of the entertainment geared towards Black people in general is "coon-ish" in nature. There are the sitcoms and movies that are just designed to get young asses in seats and buy popcorn. We need stories. Quality stories that reflect something to us that makes us think, laugh, cry and feel. Not just vegetate on the sofa.

One thing that burns me is the current fad of having a "down low" storyline. Let's be real: it's not fun, or sexy or exciting to date or deal with anyone who's not secure with who they are. So to take that image and make it the new “mandingo" is ridiculous. Those images just reinforce the negative stereotypes of Black men as immature, irresponsible and hypersexual. I love the fact that I have been able to show Black men who love each other in a healthy relationship, and that audiences have embraced that.

In addition to being a filmmaker, you’re also a poet. Your work is featured in the new book, Bullets and Butterflies. Are you involving in promoting the book, and if so, where can people catch a reading?

Yeah. It's true. I do it all. (laughs) No seriously, I am blessed to be able to work in a variety of mediums. I love writing and am proud of this anthology. I am doing as much promotion as I can, but my current promotional schedule for the film is crazy. And then I switch gears this summer and start shooting the next film.

How does writing and performing poetry satisfy you?

What's great about it is that I can create work that isn't attached to an actor or a scene. I guess it's that "freedom thing" that I like so much.

Is there anything else you do besides write and direct?

Hello?! Act. (laughs) I love performing and acting. I have a couple of films coming up that I am actually not directing, that I will be in this year. So I'm really excited about that.

What can the black LGBT community do to support your work?

Truly be supportive. When The Ski Trip airs on LOGO JULY 17, 2005, we need people to email and write the network, telling them that they loved it and want to see it again. Host a viewing party at your house, and afterwards have everyone call the network, one by one. But seriously, one thing that people can do is log onto our website and tell us they want to support good, quality films.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 @ 03:36 PM