Make the Yuletide Gay (2009)

Director:

Rob Williams

Writer:

Rob Williams (written by)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Olaf "Gunn" Gunnunderson, an out-and-proud gay college student, crawls back into the closet to survive the holidays with his family...

Plot Keywords:

Boyfriend | Holiday | Gay | Parents | College

Cast

Keith Jordan	...	Olaf 'Gunn' Gunnunderson
Adamo Ruggiero	...	Nathan Stanford
Hallee Hirsh	...	Abby Mancuso
Kelly Keaton	...	Anya Gunnunderson
Derek Long	...	Sven Gunnunderson
Alison Arngrim	...	Heather Mancuso
Ian Buchanan	...	Peter Stanford
Gates McFadden	...	Martha Stanford
Steve Callahan	...	Professor Van Devere
Wyatt Fenner	...	Thomas
Massimo Quagliano	...	Diego
Kevin F. Sherry	...	Bad Sweater Guy
Jim Wharton	...	Man in Bathroom
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Doug Prinzivalli	...	Party Guest
Austin Wintory	...	Party guest
Matthew Montgomery	...	Piano Player at Party (uncredited)

Directed by
Rob Williams

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rob Williams		written by

Produced by
Rodney Johnson	....	producer
Matthew Montgomery	....	producer
Rob Williams	....	producer

Original Music by
Austin Wintory

Cinematography by
Ian McGlocklin

Film Editing by
Denise Howard

Casting by
Judy Cook

Set Decoration by
J.T. Tepnapa

Makeup Department
Ricky Flores	....	key makeup artist
Jae Lee	....	assistant makeup artist
Julie Mueller	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Drobinski	....	assistant director
Erald Sejdini	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Scott Simmons	....	product placement coordinator
Brian Winkeler	....	graphic design

Camera and Electrical Department
Rob Berrey	....	key grip
Nicholas Davidoff	....	steadicam operator
Josh Day	....	gaffer
Jeff Fry	....	additional gaffer
Paul D. Hart	....	assistant camera
David Isern	....	steadicam operator
Owen Jones	....	best boy electric
Jaxon Woods	....	first assistant camera

Music Department
Patrick Henthorn	....	christmas carol consultant
Jake Monaco	....	original songs
Austin Wintory	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Andrew Bluestone	....	pre-production intern
Craig Darr	....	production assistant
Mike Justice	....	production assistant
Ruben Jason Layvas	....	craft service
Anthony Palato	....	production assistant
Aprill Winney	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Guest House Films

Distributors

• Arti Film (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Love Films (2010) (Australia) (all media)
• Optimale (2009) (France) (all media)
• PRO-FUN media Filmverleih (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• TLA Releasing (2009) (worldwide) (all media)
• TLA Releasing (2009) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Guest House Films

Trivia:

Anya Gunnunderson's parting line to Heather Mancuso, "So Long. And thanks for all the fish" is a tribute to Doug Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The last book in that series was "So Long. And Thanks for All the Fish."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Abby is talking to Nathan in the back yard porch swing, her hands jump from being behind her back, tucked into her lap, and fists placed on hips within split seconds, then back again.

Quotes:

Abby Mancuso:Why are all the best ones gay?
Nathan Stanford:Eh, it's all part of God's plan.
Abby Mancuso:Figures!

Movie Connections:

References Snakes on a Plane (2006)

Soundtrack:

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Better than I expected

Being gay, I'm subjected to a lot of bad gay movies. It's solidarity; we know they're bad, but we watch them anyway, out of loyalty more than anything else. This is why I'm glad to report that Make the Yuletide Gay is, well, not bad. It's not great, but when I was going in expecting another cringe-worthy gay romantic "comedy", I got a pretty decent... gay romantic comedy. The writer needs a few lessons in subtlety, given the vast number of over-the-top stereotypes and often wince-inducing double entendre in the film, but the actors take the material and make it work pretty well. As a long-time fan of Degrassi: The Next Generation, I primarily was interested in Adamo Ruggiero's movie debut, and he acquits himself nicely. His character starts off as vain and somewhat obnoxious but becomes sympathetic as the film progresses, and when Ruggiero smiles that beautiful smile of his, I can't help but love him all the more. It's a fun little film, and if you can get past some of the writing, it's worth a watch.