Gypsy 83 (2001)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Todd Stephens

Writers:

Tim Kaltenecker (story)
Todd Stephens (screenplay)
(more)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Some of us were never meant to fit in.

Plot:

Two young misfits head for New York City to celebrate their idol and muse, Stevie Nicks, at The Night of 1,000 Stevies...

Plot Keywords:

Karaoke | Gay Teenager | Coming Of Age | Father Daughter Relationship | Homosexual Teenager

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sara Rue	...	Gypsy Vale
Kett Turton	...	Clive Webb
Karen Black	...	Bambi LeBleau
John Doe	...	Ray Vale
Anson Scoville	...	Zechariah Peachey
Paulo Costanzo	...	Troy
Carolyn Baeumler	...	Lois
Stephanie McVay	...	Polly Pearl
Amanda Talbot	...	Connie
Vera Beren	...	Empress Chi Chi Valenti
Eileen Letchworth	...	Mrs. Larson
Andersen Gabrych	...	Banning
Michael Cavadias	...	Hazleton
Heather Litteer	...	Kitty Boots
Matthew Faust	...	Fraternity Pledge
Tyler Morgan	...	Fraternity Pledge
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nancy Arons	...	Trailer Trash Mommie
James K. Baylis	...	Empress Chi Chi's Attendant
Velma J. Bowen	...	Twirling Stevie
Michael Buckley	...	Empress Chi Chi's Attendant
Casey Dickerson	...	Empress Chi Chi's Attendant
Bear Sheppard	...	Twirling Stevie
Chris Slone	...	Club Patron
Jesse Thompson-Adams	...	Very Butch Doorman (as Jesse Adams)
Marlene Wallace	...	Velvet Vale
Stanley Wall	...	Ash
Susan Childs	...	Stevie extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Todd Stephens

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tim Kaltenecker		story
Todd Stephens		screenplay
Todd Stephens		story

Produced by
Todd Calvin	....	associate producer
Karen Jaroneski	....	producer
Christine McAndrews	....	line producer
Todd Stephens	....	producer
Michael Wolfson	....	executive producer
Judith Zarin	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Marty Beller

Cinematography by
Gina Degirolamo
Mai Iskander

Film Editing by
Annette Davey

Casting by
Eve Battaglia

Production Design by
Nancy Arons

Costume Design by
Kitty Boots

Makeup Department
Stephanie McVay	....	hair stylist
Trish Seeney	....	key makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dana Greenblatt	....	second second assistant director
Sam Lobel	....	first assistant director
Meryl Stavitz	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Dawn Mountain	....	set dresser (as Dawn Mountain Jannett)
Antonia Sheppard	....	art assistant
John Sicoransa	....	computer graphics

Sound Department
Shelley Batista	....	assistant sound editor
Patty Boom Boom	....	additional boom operator
Jim Emswiller	....	sound mixer
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Esther Regelson	....	dialog editor
Tony Volante	....	sound re-recording mixer
Damian Volpe	....	supervising sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Evin Lowe	....	best boy electric
Tim McNulty	....	assistant camera

Casting Department
Amanda Ahmad	....	extras casting: Pennsylvania

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bear Sheppard	....	costume supplier

Editorial Department
Brian A. Kates	....	additional editor

Music Department
Gerry Gershman	....	music supervisor
Athan Maroulis	....	assistant music supervisor

Other crew
Kathleen Beall	....	co-location manager
Kathleen Beall	....	location manager: Pennsylvania
Greg Conroy	....	key production assistant
Chris Lehman	....	production assistant
Teresa Reilly	....	production coordinator
Antonia Sheppard	....	production assistant
Dashiel St. Damien	....	location manager
Holly Unterberger	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Luna Pictures
• Staccato Films
• Velvet Films

Distributors

• Hart Sharp Video
• Palisades Pictures (2004) (USA) (all media)
• Small Planet Pictures (2004) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

Luna Pictures

Quotes:

Clive: I don't think I ever want to have sex.
Gypsy: Mm-hmm
Clive: I'm serious.
Gypsy: Ok.
Clive: I just want someone to kiss, with big, soft, delicious lips. He'd have to smother me in old-school romance. I mean, candles and incense, Moët and Chandon, but only in a deserted castle in the south of France.
Gypsy: [releases pent-up laughter] Oh my god. You are so much more of a girl than I am.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Another Gay Movie (2006)

Soundtrack:

Eccentricity

"What some people will do to belong...."

"Gypsy 83" is a very small film that I might have missed altogether if it hadn't been for a friend who suggested I rent it. I'm so glad I did, because it has since turned into one of my very favorite movies, if not my favorite of all-time.

It struck a few chords in me because I grew up in Fowlerville, MI which is a very small town not too far from Sandusky, OH where the characters, Clive and Gypsy, are from in the story. My friend in High School was named Jessica and she was actually a goth, so the story resonated with me for that reason, too. I kept seeing myself in the gay character of Clive, who was always looking for acceptance and having his dreams broken. There were quite a few times in the course of the film when I found myself crying, if not for the moving story itself then for the gorgeous, moody soundtrack.

Needless to say, Gypsy 83 impressed me beyond words. It is, as another reviewer has said, a little movie with a big heart. Sarah Rue, whom I remember chiefly from her role in the TV-series "Popular," is a gifted, beautiful young actress. There are times in the movie when you think she must be the best actress you've ever seen, or heard (considering her angelic voice, in which she uses to sing a great Stevie Nicks song, and an original song). Kett Turton made me fall in love with his character, Clive, who is one of the few gay characters in film that I have been able to relate to or empathize with. He brings a tenderness and his big heart to the role, which is truly brilliant.

Best part of the movie, though, besides the music, and the wonderful performances of the two young stars, is the plot. Two young people in a small town where they don't fit in, because they are goth or because of their sexuality, where they long to find love and acceptance. They think they will find it in New York, at the "Night of 1000 Stevies" (a tribute to Stevie Nicks). They take a road trip, and along the way many things happen and many dreams are broken, and tears shed.

In one town they stop at a bar and meet a washed-up singer-turned-karaoke artist, Bambi LeBleu (played brilliantly by Karen Black). Karen Black is probably best remembered for her parts in such landmark 1970s films as "The Day of the Locust" and "The Great Gatsby." She has a tendency to play characters that don't quite fit in with the rest of the world, and had their dreams broken, which makes her the perfect choice for the role in Gypsy 83. In the film, she also sings two songs (beautifully), and has a touching scene when Gypsy and Clive leave her behind, dashing her hopes for a comeback in NY. I cried during that scene.

The ending of the film will be in your mind a long time after you see it. There is a special poignancy that this film was made in 2001. It was just before everything collapsed in America and there is kind of a tragic sadness lingering in the air. You can just feel it. When Gypsy goes to the graveyard with Clive, one last time before they part at the end of the film, there is a beautiful shot of lush green trees, the cemetery, and the twin towers in the grey NY skyline off in the distance. Clive and Gypsy say their goodbyes, and the last, heartbreaking image of the film is Gypsy twirling with the twin towers behind her.

Gypsy 83 is a film that deserves to be remembered. As a small film, it has everything that the bigger studio movies lack: genuine characters and a big heart.