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Show i. The Salt Lake Tribune ARTS Sunday, June 28, 1998 D7 It's Not Film Noir, But Utah Teen’s Story Is a Hit at Festival BY CHRISTOPHER OSSANA SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE SAN FRANCISCO — Earlyone morning last year, documentary filmmaker Jeff Dupre was driv- ing down Castro Street when he saw a theater marquee proclaiming “Out of the Past.” He nearly wreckedhis car. Dupre had begun production that day on hisfirstfilm, alsotitled “Out of the Past.” He wasrelieved to learn that the movie at the Castro Theatre was the 1947 film-noir classic starring Robert Mitchum, and not likely to be con fused with his documentary: the story of Utah teen-agerKeili Pe. Kelli Peterson addressesa ral ly at Utah State Capitol terson and her widely publicized attempts to form a Gay-Straight Alliance at Salt Lake City’s East High School in 1996. quests and his sexual desire Last Monday night Dupre into the unexpected and unwant for lesbian and gayrights Whether speaking before a son handles her suddenpolitical andcelebrity status with an integrity that belies her age. Thrust be- fore fistfuls of microphones and a national press army, she calmly but emphatically defends her reaShestates that the group was formed to end hate, intolerance and fear; to end the misery and isolation of being gayandlesbian in high school; and to end teen- agesuicide. “I don’t know of any again from a car window at the Castro Theatre and saw “Out of the Past’ again emblazoned molesters and an abomination before God It did not make me have been mistaken as every San wantto be oneof them.”” Dupreusesa well-fitted patchwork of sepia-toned, archival ing the screeningof his film atthe 22ndSanFranciscoInternational film, along with black-and-white photos and videotape, to move amongseveral stories: Peterson’s the 30-year “Boston marriage” of was moments away from attendLesbian and Gay Film Festival world premiere in January at the “Out of the Past” received its nie AdamsFields and novelist Sa- 19th-century philanthropist An- Sundance Film Festival in Park City, where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. rah Orne Jewett; Henry Gerber’s foundingin 1924 in Chicagoof the first American gay-rights organi. zation; Bayard Rustin, a trusted adviser to Martin Luther King Jr., who was forced out of that posi- The film links Peterson's ordeal at East High to the struggles of five other lesbian and gay histori- cal figures from “out of the past.” tion by unfounded rumors about Early in the film, the camera pansin close-up across Peterson's handwriting as she reads from a journal entry: “How canI tell my mother she has a queer for a the nature of their association. and BarbaraGittings, a '60s activ- ist credited for the removal in 1973 of homosexuality from the American Psychological Associa- daughter?” tion’s list of mentalillnesses The ink marks dissolve into those written 300 yearsearlier by 17th-century Puritan clerk Michael Wigglesworth. The quill script in his journal documents Wigglesworth’s torment over the tension between hisreligious con- Though Dupre gives nearly equal timeto each of the six sto- ries, at Monday night's festival premiere Peterson's story was clearly the favorite. No wonder. The film documents how sheis catapulted, almost overnight, tional tool and entertainment Dupreattributedthe quality of Peter- the audience following those his first filmto his years working with documentaryfilmmaker Ken Burns, an experience he deemed better than any film school he might have attended. He also praised those who supported the The cheers and applause from statements shook the 70-year-old Castro Theatre with what could project Franciscan’s greatest fear Manyof them workedforfree. Gwyneth Paltrow [who lent her voice to the ‘Boston marriage’ segment] refused to bepaid, and Linda Hunt [the narrator] sentthe check back Several festivalgoers were curious about Peterson, and won dered whereshe is today. At the mention of her name,the producers smiled “Kelli’s going to school now” said Eliza Starr Byard, “‘and staying putin Salt Lake. I teased her on the phonelast week, saying ‘So when are you moving to San Francisco? When are you moving to New York?’ Shesaid, ‘Are you kidding? I'm staying herein Utah This is where I belong. This is whereI'm needed.’ ” Thefilm is expectedto play al Salt Lake City's Tower Theatrein thefall andair nationally on PBS Oct. 15. The audience was not as kind to other members of the Utah com munity represented in Dupre’s hourlong film. In a live broadcast from Utah's Capitol Hill, Rod Deckerurgently delivers his “this Just breaking on the gay club” re- port with tremendous concern in his voice. The inflection became satirical and absurd when met with howls of laughter from the Castro crowd. The audience also hissed, as if engrossed in a melo- drama, when an unidentified, anti-gay mother was shownstand. ing before legislators and warning that “It is the tendencyof all clubs to recruit and expand their mem bership.” Perhaps the most deeply felt moment Monday night came in the final three frames, which read: “Tn 1996, the Utah State Legislature ruled that any group can rent space in a public building East High Schoolis a public building. The Gay-Straight Alliance aad EAN Lecce Rte CaAaad commentedon the recent success and future of “Out of the Past.” Since Sundance, the film has beenscreened in Brazil, Austral ia, England and Spain. On June 16, it waspartof thefirst celebration of Lesbian and Gay Pride month at the White House. Lumpkin attributedthe film's success in part to its dual ability as an educa sons for founding a gay-straight alliance. The film thencuts back to Pe terson: “The [Mormon] church across the art-deco facade. This time there was no chance of a wreck. Duprewasnotdriving. He ing, Dupre, along with co-producer Eliza Starr Bayard, associate producer Kevin Jenningsand fes tival director Michael Lumpkin ture or the national press, Peter. other club that does that,” son said MICHAEL BOLTON maAAONY sion immediately after thescreen school board, the Utah Legisla. found himself looking up once taught me that gays were child now meets every Thursday at 3 pm The audience leaped to its feet and cheered In a question-and-answer ses from her life as an unknown teen ed role of national spokesperson THE VOICES TOUR JUNE 29 ¢ E CENTER Ue Tickets at all Smith’s Tix outlets. the E Center box office or charge by phone: 1-800-888-8499 sic: 467-8499 bet UALia ie) Christopher Ossana, a graduate of East High School, is a writ er living in San Francisco OAD — THIS WEEK! — DateofShow EventName 06/18-07/03 Saturday's 06/2408) OnSale Date Warrior On Sale Now, Manion 07/07-07/12 O72 O7/4 O76 OnSale Now! 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