Movies by Paul Dawson

Shortbus

Shortbus

In post-9/11 New York City, an eclectic group of citizens find their lives entangled, personally, romantically, and sexually, at Shortbus, an underground Brooklyn salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.

Gifted and Challenged: The Making of 'Shortbus'

Gifted and Challenged: The Making of 'Shortbus'

A look at the unusual process used in the making of the film Shortbus (2006) featuring interviews, behind the scenes footage and clips from the feature film. Director John Cameron Mitchell starts with the concept of using real sex in a film with a positive message. The cast of unknowns is selected from homemade audition tapes and then a callback audition workshop. More acting workshops are used to develop the characters and script. The project overcomes a number of obstacles and the rest of the film's development is followed up until its pre...

Boys to Men

Boys to Men

A four-part anthology film dealing with homosexuality from the young to the old. Crush, detailing the budding relationship between two 16-year old boys, who bond over their outdoor sports. The Mountain King, details a young street hustler who makes a play for a straight man on a deserted beach one afternoon. . Lost is a look at a day in the life of a young man who is first seen engaging in unsafe sex with a random partner,. The Confession, a dying Catholic asks his partner of 35 years to send for a priest, even though the partner is grea...

The Mountain King

The Mountain King

A reserved young man meets an impulsive stranger on a secluded beach. Their brief friendship leaves each subtly changed.