an artist who worked in film. I first became aware of him at the release of EDWARD II and was transfixed, then I read his memoirs, AT YOUR OWN RISK. Derek pushed queer cinema forward, but actually he addressed social issues & simply did not shy away from confronting them with a queer sensibility. His open-ended question of filming a man in full excitement brings the issue of when does “art” become pornographic, or is it simply our narrow views that hold us back from completely embracing all artistic expressions? I confronted this issue when deciding upon the inclusion of the male partial-nude shots in the “fantasy” aspects of THE SECRET TO LOVE. I finally drew upon my influences, including Derek Jarman, to not shy away from the fact that a man thinks of the physical, as well as the romantic, when he fantasizes about love (well, I do anyway…and it was my movie) So, thank you Derek, and I hope to honor your memory & never compromise a true queer vision, always remembering what farm boi productions’ mission is: to validate ALL people’s right to express their love freely…
