RODNEY BUXTON

PORTRAITS

Copyright 1997

Produced, Written, Directed and Edited

by Rodney Buxton

A Synopsis

November, 1992. The constituency of Colorado ha just voted for a state amendment banning gay rights. NEWT CAMPBELL, an apolitical gay instructor at the Art Institute, and MYKEL, his activist lesbian friend and business partner, own a struggling bed and breakfast. Newt meets GEOFF CLARK, an African-American poet with AIDS, at the Danglin' Wrangler, a western bar, thus beginning a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship. Newt, slightly co-dependent, wants to be in a monogamous relationship. Geoff is less certain, using safe-sex forays outside the relationship to deal with a sense of loss of control in his life: his hustler roommate ARCHIE LABONE drains him of money and energy, his landlord attempts to evict him, and his arrest for possession of marijuana (used to bolster his loss of appetite). Mykel begins a relationship with ANTONIA BELLEDUCCI, a wealthy lawyer, when the two meet at the deli where Mykel works part time. Mykel, usually the outspoken activist, begins to soften some of her harder edges under Antonia's more relaxed influence. Right before Christmas, Newt accidentally learns about a one-night stand by Geoff and breaks off their relationship, though not before introducing him to Antonia for legal counsel. April, 1993. As Antonia prepares for Geoff's civil suit against his landlord, she suggests Newt as a character witness for her client. Though Geoff hasn't spoken to Newt in four months, he calls his ex-lover, rekindling a friendship rather than a romantic entanglement. At this time, Newt becomes involved with FELIPE SUAREZ, a closeted married man and Geoff's former one-night stand. To complicate matters, Felipe's brother-in-law is SANTARO GUTIERREZ, a staunch religious fundamentalist who supports the anti-gay rights amendment. Even as the district court places an injunction against the amendment, skinheads increase their attacks on gay men and lesbians outside various gay bars. Also, Geoff confronts Archie and kicks him out of the apartment. To momentarily escape this negative environment, Antonia, Mykel, Newt and Geoff head to the mountains for a weekend of relaxation. The trip proves exhausting for Geoff, who succumbs to pneumonia, though this is not fatal. Geoff, however, is bedridden at home. At this time, Felipe, though unwilling to tell his wife about his bisexuality, pressures Newt for a more-than-casual relationship. To achieve this, Felipe agrees, somewhat reluctantly, to help Newt take care of Geoff. However, Felipe, recognizing the weakened Geoff from the previous sexual encounter, freaks and does not contact Newt again. Despite Geoff's frailty, he convinces Newt to visit the Danglin' Wrangler for a Sunday happy hour. While there, Archie appears and tries to reconcile with Geoff. Shaken, Geoff asks Newt to leave with him. Outside the bar, skinheads attack Newt and Geoff. Geoff dies from the injuries he receives. Out of his growing anger over Geoff's death, Newt creates a series of very political mixed media collages based on religious iconography. These underline the complicitness of the fundamentalist far right's influence on hate crimes against the gay community. A showing of this work at a small gallery incites a protest by Gutierrez and his supporters. Marshaling his newfound anger, Newt challenges the fundamentalists' protest and bigotry, breaks through their picket line and enters the gallery. The show appears to be a success, but it is a bittersweet moment as Newt becomes emotionally lost in a collage that features Geoff.