Circuit (2001)

John, a gay Illinois small town cop moves to Los Angeles, hoping to fit into a place more welcoming of his sexuality. He soon discovers the "circuit," where he meets an insecure hustler, who draws John into drug abuse and illicit sex.

Director:

Dirk Shafer

Writers:

Gregory Hinton, Dirk Shafer

Stars:

Jonathan Wade-Drahos, Andre Khabbazi, Brian Lane Green

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jonathan Wade-Drahos	...	John (as Jonathan Wade Drahos)
Andre Khabbazi	...	Hector
Brian Lane Green	...	Gill
Kiersten Warren	...	Nina
Daniel Kucan	...	Tad
Jim J. Bullock	...	Mark
Darryl Stephens	...	Julian
Bruce Vilanch	...	Theater Stage Manager
Randal Kleiser	...	Doctor
Paul Lekakis	...	Bobby
William Katt	...	Gino
Nancy Allen	...	Louise
Stanton Schnepp	...	Andy
Michael Bailey Smith	...	Mike
Brian Beacock	...	Suspect / Drag Queen

Storyline

John (Jonathan Wade-Drahos) finds himself regaining consciousness in a public bathroom at The Red Party. As he contemplates his image in the mirror, he flashes back to when he was a small-town Illinois cop, whose captain suggests a move to Los Angeles, in order for John to discover a more sympathetic environment. John packs up his truck, drives cross country, and moves in with his cousin Tad (Daniel Kucan), who's now living with his ex, Gill (Brian Lane Green) and Tad's new boy toy, DJ Julian (Darryl Stephens). Tad is making a documentary about the gay circuit and the party culture, while Julian is a circuit party DJ. Gill invites John to a Hollywood Hills party, where John meets Hector (Andre Khabbazi), a male prostitute, who's battling his personal demons of looks and age. John and Hector form a budding friendship as John experiences a downward spiral into the sex and drug-fueled world of the gay circuit party scene. Will John survive?

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Plot Keywords:

party | sex | illinois | red party | truck | 

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Taglines:

Party Hard!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive strong sexual and drug content, and for language

Details

Official Sites:

Circuit, LLC

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Party boys

Filming Locations:

Hudson Backstage Theater, 6539 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$40,888 (USA) (26 April 2002)

Gross:

$235,087 (USA) (23 August 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sneak Preview Entertainment, MJR Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several small role or background actors later starred in their own gay films or TV series. Darryl Stephens, who played Julian, starred in Boy Culture, appeared in Another Gay Movie, and starred in the cable films and TV series Noah's Arc, Noah's Arc, and Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom. Craig Chester, in a bit role as White Party Customer in this film, later wrote, directed, and starred in Adam & Steve. Nicholas Downs, who later played the lead in Is It Just Me?, had the small part of an Overdosing Circuit Boy. Several extras have full-frontal nudity scenes. None of the main actors though.

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Goofs

When Tad (Daniel Kucan) is video interviewing Bobby Ross (Paul Lekakis) in Bobby's dressing room, there is a shot of someone, with his face partially obscured, presumably Tad (since he is making a documentary), holding the camera and asking a question through a brass latticework screen. However, it is clear that it is not Tad who is holding the camera and speaking, but John Webster (Jonathan Wade-Drahos). Then Bobby answers, and when the person holding the camera moves to another angle, out from behind the screen, now it is clearly Tad who is speaking and holding the camera. Only two people are supposed to be in the scene.

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Quotes

Hector Ray: I don't like women - or ugly men.

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Crazy Credits

Special Performance by Stephanie Swift (as China Cat) & Jeremy Hirst

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Connections

Spoofed in Another Gay Movie (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Been to the Mountain"
Performed by Francesca
Written by Kodie Salter, Jeff Kane
Published by Courtesy of 'Centaur Music Productions [us]' (as Centaur Entertainment, Inc.)
© 2000 'Centaur Music Productions [us]' (as Centaur Entertainment, Inc.)

User Reviews

a powerful film

I saw this at the Reel Pride festival last November (2001), and couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterward. While it's been called a "wake-up call" to some members of the gay community it doesn't come off as didactic as it could. Instead you find yourself caring about the characters and wondering what will happen to them after the movie ends.

The only thing wrong with the film is the intended main character, i.e., the cop who leaves the repressive and hostile smalltown life for the wildlife of West Hollywood. While his character is not a static one, the changes that take place in his life seem to come as a result of his passivity rather than any active move on his part. This isn't helped by the bland and vanilla acting of Jonathan Wade-Drahos. Andre Khabbazi as the jaded Hector on the other hand brings much to his character, and so Hector becomes the one your heart goes out to. Wade-Drahos acting aside, this is a well-told story, and one that merits a wide release. Check it out as soon as you can. As for me, I can't wait for the video.