Looking at the body
In 1992, Dirk Shafer was a heterosexual icon, Playgirl's 'Man of the Year.'
In 1996, he's out, and he's starring in a mock-documentary about his experience of pretending he's something he's not. He calls it 'Man of the Year.'
By Emily Forster
Daily Bruin Contributor
ll gay people are either flamboyant or filthy-minded.
At least that's how director, writer and actor Dirk Shafer thinks filmmakers portray them. "I've seen gay people portrayed in so many Hollywood movies," says Shafer. "We're always portrayed as drag queens or killers."
Tired of the stereotypes and eager to give his own portrayal of gay men, Shafer wrote, directed and starred in his upcoming film "Man of the Year."
"'Man of the Year' portrays gay people of all types," says Shafer, "but it focuses on the guy-next-door types."
Shafer's film is based on his experiences pretending to be straight in order to live up to the expectations placed upon him as Playgirl's "Man of the Year." Shafer had to "play it straight," by convincing his best friend, Vivian Paxton, to act as his biggest fan and later his girlfriend at public appearances.
And throughout the year, Shafer had to pretend that his lover was his roommate. Shafer banned himself from public functions run by the gay community just to keep his title.
Playgirl magazine currently refuses to comment on the film, which Shafer feels is a mistake.
"I've talked to Playgirl about it," says Shafer, "and they like it but they won't publically endorse it. Considering the large gay readership it has, I think it would be a good idea for them to say something about the film."
"We may make a televised statement later on," says public relations representative for Playgirl, Kathleen Giulini, "but we are not saying anything right now for a variety of reasons."
Although Playgirl is not talking about "Man of the Year," Shafer is hoping that the gay and straight communities will. Presented in the form of a mock-documentary, the comedic film carries a serious lesson that Shafer wants his audiences to learn.
"Every time someone who's gay makes a film about coming out, that's a good thing for our community," says Anne Stockwell, arts and entertainment editor of the largest national gay and lesbian news magazine, The Advocate. "We are such different people in so many different ways. When we have the courage to stand up and be ourselves we give society a chance to see that we are all gay but we are all unique individuals."
The individuals in Shafer's film are similar to their real life counterparts, but only his best friend, actress Vivian Paxton, played herself. With 13 days to film the entire movie, Shafer knew that working with the actual people his film is based on would be too time consuming.
"With our time limit we needed to be really prepared," recalls Shafer. "It was kind of like going to war and it would have been too difficult to direct everybody through the scenes."
Although Shafer's lover, Michael Ornstein, played a bit part and helped with set designs, he did not have enough free time to play himself during Shafer's two weeks of shooting. "Michael is an architect so he could not put a lot of time on the set," explains Shafer. "Besides he wouldn't do a big acting role just like you wouldn't have an actor build your house."
It was equally inconvenient for Shafer's parents, who live in Oklahoma, to fly out to Los Angeles and play themselves. His parents are generally pleased with the actors who play them, but they have mixed feelings about their son's directorial debut.
"My mother says that she is a little more glamorous in real life," says Shafer, "and my dad liked the message but he wished it was about other people."
The message of the film will be appreciated by gay and straight audiences alike - be true to yourself. It is this universal theme and the overall humor of the film, that Shafer hopes will give "Man of the Year" an audience with gay and straight members.
"Straight people have said to me that they can relate to it," says Shafer. "I always had in my mind that it was a movie for all audiences. That's the reason why I didn't want any full frontal nudity."
There are re-enactments of photo shoots that Shafer had with Playgirl photographers, but they are tastefully discreet. Shafer is trying to get a wider audience for a film which Stockwell feels audiences are already eager to see.
"Movies about gays and lesbians are beginning to sell," says Stockwell. "Conventional Hollywood stories are getting a little stale and gay people's lives are intriguing to the straight community. They make for good stories and I think 'Man of the Year' will find an accepting audience."
By making his audience laugh, Shafer hopes to accomplish more than entertainment, Shafer wants the comedy in his film to bridge the gap of ignorance between the straight and gay communities.
"I want people to have a good time," says Shafer. "If we laugh at ourselves and at each other, it will help the straight and gay communities understand one another."
Dirk Shafer
Dirk Shafer (shown here with Phil Donahue) is a former Playgirl "Man of the Year" who recently revealed he is not heterosexual as he had feigned.
Dirk Shafer on location for the filming of "Man of the Year."
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