Tru Loved
Encyclopedia
Tru Loved is a 2008
independent
feature film
written and directed by Stewart Wade
.
, Tru and her mothers relocate.
When Tru first starts at her new school, teachers welcome her but a group of male football jocks and their female friends bully her and say she looks like a "dyke." One of the footballers, Lodell, changes his mind about her and they start dating, but the relationship never becomes sexual. When they attend The Marvelous Wonderettes
musical, Lodell flirts with a man. Tru's fathers suggest that Lodell is gay, and when Tru questions him he finally, reluctantly admits that he is a closeted
homosexual. She tells him that she "doesn't want to be his Katie Holmes
" but agrees to be his beard so he can continue to be accepted at school.
Tru begins to spend time with Lodell's best friend, fellow footballer Manuel, but when he bullies openly-gay classmate Walter, Tru defends Walter and they become friends. They try to establish a Gay Straight Alliance and although a conservative teacher and a closeted
English teacher refuse to support the group, the school drama teacher agrees to be the faculty sponsor. The first meeting is successful, with several people attending a long discussion on same-sex marriage in California
, but during football practice at the same time, the coach calls the players "ladies," rants that "kids can't even say prayers in class, but the fags...get their own club," and asks his team if they want to "put a little muscles into these plays or go meet [their] boyfriends at the Gay Scouts of America," to which they answer that they want to "play ball."
At the end of the Gay Straight Alliance meeting Tru meets a gay-rights supporter, hipster
-geek
senior Trevor. She initially thinks he's gay, but they quickly form an intimate relationship. Trevor, raised by his gay fiction
author uncle, is open-minded about Tru's family arrangement. Later, Tru discovers that Lodell and Walter are sexually involved, and she ends her faux-relationship with Lodell. When Lodell and his teammates destroy a Gay Straight Alliance banner, Trevor sends out a mass coming-out e-mail from Lodell's account. Tru is upset by this but eventually forgives him.
Tru's mothers have a small backyard commitment ceremony attended by teachers and other locals. Lodell arrives to announce that he has left another faux-relationship, and he has the opportunity to reconcile with Walter and meet David Kopay
. Manuel arrives with his football coach and punches Lodell for not revealing his sexuality. He refuses to accept homosexuality, but promises to continue being a friend to Lodell. Lodell performs a self-penned song, the school principical dances with Trevor's uncle, and the closeted English teacher is advised by friend and fellow teacher Jane Lynch
to be open about his sexuality. In the short final scene, Lodell comes out to his mother and grandmother and introduces Walter as his boyfriend.
on 28 February 2008 and at the Frameline Film Festival on 21 June 2008. It received 14 awards at six film festivals. The film went into limited national release on 17 October 2008.
Rotten Tomatoes
rated the film 35%. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called the film "engaging, timely and courageous" but Chicago Reader called it "worthless drivel for the gay-lesbian market". Film critic Roger Ebert
caused a controversy when his published review of the film revealed that he stopped watching after only eight minutes; he has since watched and reviewed the entire film and promised to never review a film he has not seen "in its entirety. Never. Ever."
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
written and directed by Stewart Wade
Stewart Wade
Stewart Wade is the screenwriter, producer and director of several independent short and feature films. Coffee Date was released in 2006, and deals with the intersection of the gay and straight worlds. Tru Loved was released in 2008, and deals with the founding of a school's first gay-straight...
.
Plot
Sixteen-year-old Tru has been raised in San Francisco by two lesbian mothers and two gay fathers. When one of her mothers gets a well-paid job in a multi-cultural but more conservative suburb in Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, Tru and her mothers relocate.
When Tru first starts at her new school, teachers welcome her but a group of male football jocks and their female friends bully her and say she looks like a "dyke." One of the footballers, Lodell, changes his mind about her and they start dating, but the relationship never becomes sexual. When they attend The Marvelous Wonderettes
The Marvelous Wonderettes
The Marvelous Wonderettes is a musical comedy with a book by Roger Bean. It was recently played off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre in New York. The show, which uses pop songs from the '50s and '60s as a vehicle to tell its story, pays homage to the high school Songleader squads of the 1950s...
musical, Lodell flirts with a man. Tru's fathers suggest that Lodell is gay, and when Tru questions him he finally, reluctantly admits that he is a closeted
The Closet
The Closet may refer to:* The Closet , Chinese film* The Closet , French film* The closet, referring to undisclosed homosexuality- See also :* Closet* Closet * In the closet...
homosexual. She tells him that she "doesn't want to be his Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes
Katherine Noelle "Katie" Holmes is an American actress who first achieved fame for her role as Joey Potter on The WB television teen drama Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003. Her movie roles have included the blockbuster Batman Begins along with art house films such as The Ice Storm and thrillers...
" but agrees to be his beard so he can continue to be accepted at school.
Tru begins to spend time with Lodell's best friend, fellow footballer Manuel, but when he bullies openly-gay classmate Walter, Tru defends Walter and they become friends. They try to establish a Gay Straight Alliance and although a conservative teacher and a closeted
The Closet
The Closet may refer to:* The Closet , Chinese film* The Closet , French film* The closet, referring to undisclosed homosexuality- See also :* Closet* Closet * In the closet...
English teacher refuse to support the group, the school drama teacher agrees to be the faculty sponsor. The first meeting is successful, with several people attending a long discussion on same-sex marriage in California
Same-sex marriage in California
The status of same-sex marriage in California is unique among the 50 U.S. states, in that the state formerly granted marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but has discontinued doing so...
, but during football practice at the same time, the coach calls the players "ladies," rants that "kids can't even say prayers in class, but the fags...get their own club," and asks his team if they want to "put a little muscles into these plays or go meet [their] boyfriends at the Gay Scouts of America," to which they answer that they want to "play ball."
At the end of the Gay Straight Alliance meeting Tru meets a gay-rights supporter, hipster
Hipster (contemporary subculture)
Hipsters are a subculture of young, recently settled urban middle class adults and older teenagers with musical interests mainly in alternative rock that appeared in the 1990s...
-geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
senior Trevor. She initially thinks he's gay, but they quickly form an intimate relationship. Trevor, raised by his gay fiction
LGBT literature
Gay literature is a collective term for literature produced by or for the LGBT community, or which involves characters, plot lines or themes portraying male homosexual behavior.-Subgenres:...
author uncle, is open-minded about Tru's family arrangement. Later, Tru discovers that Lodell and Walter are sexually involved, and she ends her faux-relationship with Lodell. When Lodell and his teammates destroy a Gay Straight Alliance banner, Trevor sends out a mass coming-out e-mail from Lodell's account. Tru is upset by this but eventually forgives him.
Tru's mothers have a small backyard commitment ceremony attended by teachers and other locals. Lodell arrives to announce that he has left another faux-relationship, and he has the opportunity to reconcile with Walter and meet David Kopay
David Kopay
David Marquette Kopay is a former American football running back in the National Football League who in 1975 became one of the first professional athletes to come out as gay....
. Manuel arrives with his football coach and punches Lodell for not revealing his sexuality. He refuses to accept homosexuality, but promises to continue being a friend to Lodell. Lodell performs a self-penned song, the school principical dances with Trevor's uncle, and the closeted English teacher is advised by friend and fellow teacher Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch
Jane Marie Lynch is an American comedian, actress and singer. She gained fame in Christopher Guest's improv mockumentary pictures such as Best in Show and is currently best known for playing the role of Sue Sylvester in the television series Glee...
to be open about his sexuality. In the short final scene, Lodell comes out to his mother and grandmother and introduces Walter as his boyfriend.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Najarra Townsend | Tru (Title and lead character) |
| Jake Abel Jake Abel Jacob Allen "Jake" Abel is an American actor.Abel was born in Canton, Ohio. His first break was landing a role in the Disney Channel Original Movie Go Figure as Spencer, and later had a recurring role on Threshold, and numerous guest starring roles on such shows as Cold Case and ER... |
Trevor (Tru's boyfriend) |
| Matthew Thompson | Lodell (Tru's faux boyfriend) |
| Alexandra Paul Alexandra Paul Alexandra Elizabeth Paul is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992–97. She has starred in over 60 movies and television programs.-Personal life:... |
Leslie |
| Cynda Williams Cynda Williams Cynda Williams is an American television and film actress.-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois as Cynthia Williams, she was known by her birth name of Cindy Williams until she started her film career... |
Lisa |
| Alec Mapa Alec Mapa -Personal life:Mapa, a Filipino American, was born in San Francisco and attended George Washington High School . Mapa is openly gay and lends his support to various projects supporting the gay, lesbian, and Asian American communities... |
Mr. Bushnell (closeted English teacher) |
| Bruce Vilanch Bruce Vilanch Bruce Vilanch is an American comedy writer, songwriter and actor. He is a six-time Emmy Award-winner Vilanch is best known to the public for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant; in the entertainment industry he is best known as head writer for the show... |
Uncle Daniel (Trevor's uncle and guardian) |
| Nichelle Nichols Nichelle Nichols Nichelle Nichols is an American actress, singer and voice artist. She sang with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton before turning to acting... |
Lodell's grandmother |
| Jasmine Guy Jasmine Guy Jasmine Guy is an American actress, singer and dancer. She is best known for her starring role as Whitley Gilbert in the television sitcom A Different World.-Biography:... |
Cynthia |
| Jane Lynch Jane Lynch Jane Marie Lynch is an American comedian, actress and singer. She gained fame in Christopher Guest's improv mockumentary pictures such as Best in Show and is currently best known for playing the role of Sue Sylvester in the television series Glee... |
Ms. Maple (school teacher) |
| Elaine Hendrix Elaine Hendrix Elaine Hendrix is an American actress, producer, singer, dancer, and activist. She is best known for her roles in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, Inspector Gadget 2, and the 2004 documentary What the Bleep Do We Know!?.... |
Mrs. Muller (school teacher) |
| Tye Olson Tye Olson Tye Olson is an American actor and model.Tye Olson was born to Allen and Rebecca Olson. The family moved to Hines, Minnesota near Bemidji where he attended Bemidji High School. He was an avid sportsman playing hockey for 6 years and practiced track and fields, cross country and tennis... |
Walter (Lodell's boyfriend) |
| Joseph Julian Soria Joseph Julian Soria -Filmography:... |
Manuel (Lodell's best friend) |
| Tony Brown | Principal Velasquez (school principal) |
| Vernon Wells Vernon Wells (actor) Vernon George Wells is an Australian film and television actor who has built his career around action-type films, most often cast as a villain... |
Coach Wesley (Lodell's football coach) |
| Marcia Wallace Marcia Wallace Marcia Karen Wallace is an American character actress, comedienne and game show panelist, primarily known for her roles in television situation comedies... |
Mrs. Lewis |
| Peter Bedard | Dom |
| Shani Pride | Tiffany |
| Jenn Shagrin | Adrienne |
| Thomas Saunders | Emmet |
| Ellie Gerber | Rhonda |
| Howard Booth | Joe |
| Bryan Erickson | Roberto |
| Matthew Miles Carter | Student |
| Jay Costelo | Pierced Boy (Gay Straight Alliance member) |
| Morgan Early | Punk Girl (Gay Straight Alliance member) |
| Isabelle Gunning | Voice on high school P.A. system |
| Katta Hules | Goth Girl (Gay Straight Alliance member) |
| Brad Hunter | Student |
| Cody Kennedy | Brittney |
| Derek Kokinda | Young Man |
| David Kopay David Kopay David Marquette Kopay is a former American football running back in the National Football League who in 1975 became one of the first professional athletes to come out as gay.... |
Himself |
| Scott Presley | Bell Aire |
| Jennifer Riker | Nurse Bette |
Reception
The film premiered at the Sedona Film FestivalSedona Film Festival
The Sedona International Film Festival founded in 1994 is held in Sedona, Arizona, USA each year. A workshop also accompanies the event.The Sedona Film Festival is a five-day festival that features more than 125 films, including features, documentaries, foreign films, shorts, animation and student...
on 28 February 2008 and at the Frameline Film Festival on 21 June 2008. It received 14 awards at six film festivals. The film went into limited national release on 17 October 2008.
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
rated the film 35%. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called the film "engaging, timely and courageous" but Chicago Reader called it "worthless drivel for the gay-lesbian market". Film critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
caused a controversy when his published review of the film revealed that he stopped watching after only eight minutes; he has since watched and reviewed the entire film and promised to never review a film he has not seen "in its entirety. Never. Ever."