Recently, the San Pedro Film Festival was held in one of the most beautiful and majestic art deco old movie theaters in the whole of the Los Angeles area. Built in the 1930’s, the Warner Grand Theater, funded by the Hollywood mogul Jack Warner way back in the day, is located in the port city of San Pedro. San Pedro feels like an isolated area of Los Angeles as it sits far from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and Los Angeles itself. But it continues to remain a thriving and very diverse community. Once a year, it features a film festival for short films of diverse backgrounds. This year one of the more interesting BLs for 2023 was chosen to be honored. That was “STAY”, which stars Sebastian Castro as Andre and Ellis Gage as Joshua in a contemporary and perhaps distinctive love story, yet all too common for a city like Los Angeles. I reviewed this series and enjoyed it considerably when it came out. But there is something still so magical about seeing films on a big screen with the booming sound, and forgive me, eating popcorn.
Tag Archives: Stay The Series
“Stay” Series Review (Ep.3 to 7)
This seven episode joint venture between the Filipino and American community in the form of a bicultural series follows the Pinoy screenwriter, Andre (Sebastian Castro) who traveling to Los Angeles for an award acceptance ceremony. Making less than favorable life choices, he ends up rooming with Joshua (Ellis Gage), a hardworking American of Korean descent. Although their relationship stars as tenant and landlord but as the two learn more about each other, things change.
“Stay The Series” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 3)
Two men meeting by happenstance would be an ordinary thing to happen, if not for the whipsmart writing and amazing chemistry between characters Joshua (Ellis Gage) and Andre (Sebastian Castro) in “Stay The Series”. The show is 7 episodes long and details Andre’s time in America. The bilingual Sebastian Castro articulates Andre’s naïveté quite well as the series focuses on him. Beside him is the cynical Joshua, who can be described as prickly. Andre navigates the city of Los Angeles, debuting his powerful short film and winning an award for it. The set for the award ceremony was shot using clever angles, so it gives the impression that there is more to it, as well as more people in attendance. Attention to details like that make or break the image before the viewer’s eye and fortunately that is taken into account in every scene of this show.
Continue reading “Stay The Series” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 3)
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