Earlier this year, Milwaukee filmmaker Tess Gallun premiered her documentary, "Out of Respect: A Story of Five."
The film follows five homeless LGBTQ Milwaukeeans as they try to find not just permanent homes and jobs, but also a path through the emotional – as well as the economic – struggles they face.
Originally 90 minutes long, a new 65-minute cut, which Gallun says will "help keep audiences more fully engaged," screens Thursday, Nov. 10 at The Times Cinema on 59th and Vliet Streets.
Why, you may ask, is Gallun still tinkering with a film that debuted nearly a year ago now? It's because she views this film more as a beginning than an end.
"In the past, when I finish a film, I typically feel 'complete' when the edit was done, and the client or subjects are finding ways to use the resource," she says. "For this one, once the edit was over, my job and journey felt like it had just begun. I've made the commitment to use this documentary, and the national interest and momentum it has created, to launch an educational outreach campaign.
"My mission is to help advance a national movement to reduce homelessness and increase acceptance of LGBTQ youth. The current plan is to submit to film festivals, host community screenings and create an accompanying discussion guide."
Gallun, a lecturer in UWM's journalism department, says that she hopes the film will raise public awareness of the issue of homelessness, abandonment and abuse faced by LGBTQ youths and help support and increase the support available to them.
The film is a powerful one and all the more so because these are stories of our neighbors; fellow Milwaukeeans who – as you can see in "Out of Respect" – walk the same streets and experience the same places we do. But their experiences are clearly different.
Gallun says she relied on folks who work with these youths on a daily basis when creating the film. She got help from groups like Children's Service Society of Wisconsin, Lad Lake, Pathfinders and Q-Blok housing program, among others.
"I was trying to find a mix of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender perspectives, and diverse ethnic backgrounds. There was a young transgender male originally involved at the start, but he went missing after a month of filming.
"I quickly recognized how common instability is with this population. The recurring cycles of bad relationships, poor judgments and disconnected cell phones created problems staying in touch. Josiah disappeared near the end – before we had the chance to do a final interview."
Overall, Gallun says, her subjects were eager to participate but some were nervous.
"They wanted to help other homeless gay youth not feel like they were alone," she says. "Or they felt that by sharing their stories, they could have an impact on raising awareness about the lack services and support for gay youth. One subject's skepticism came from fear of being recognized on film, and then harassed or killed. Most of them assumed I'd stop showing up – like most adults, family (and) support in their lives – or the story wouldn't get finished."
The film was, in fact, completed, as we know, and the response has been great, so far. In addition to a sold out crowd at the February screening and positive reviews in the local media, the film has led to offers of money and mentoring and apprenticeship offers.
One of the people in the film was offered an apprenticeship with State Farm and is currently studying for the exam to become an insurance agent.
Gallun and her film were also featured on Oprah Radio in April.
The Nov. 10 screening starts at 7 p.m. and admission is $10. A talkback with Gallun follows the film.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
