Prop 8 Films

Feature: Rev. Byron Williams

2010-02-25T00:01:12Z

Prop 8 Films in the news!

2009-12-15T00:43:39Z

Check out who and what is being said about Prop 8 lately!

Design expert and Prop 8 Opponent Eduardo Xol had this to say on his blog:

http://www.eduardoxol.com/blog.html

The who, what, where of Hollywood backed us:

http://www.hotterinhollywood.com/original/2009/05/support-prop-8-films.html

Gay and Lesbian times announced our San Diego Fundraiser:

http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=15679

That's all for now.. we will be coming out with a trailer for our film very soon!

Fundraiser at The Abbey!

2009-05-21T23:41:31Z

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage

2009-04-09T19:48:49Z

Vermont got enough legislature votes to overturn Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill that would allow same sex marriage.

Read a full article here: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090408/NEWS11/904080323

I think it is interesting that Vermont is sort of a trailblazer state for same sex marriage advocates. Vermont was the state that originally created the Civil Union. Here they are again legalizing gay marriage. With all the Iowa and Vermont activity, do you think other states will follow suit? Do you think this will affect the California Supreme Court's decision?

Interesting.

-JC Del Barco II

voice@prop8films.org

PROP 8 FILMS 8 SECOND FILM CONTEST!

2009-03-26T20:00:15Z

Prop 8 Films presents: The 8 second film contest!

Want to help spice up the Prop 8 Films world? Fine. Here is your chance.

In 8 seconds you must say "Prop 8 Films Dot Org" in whatever unique fashion you care to. Keep it PG (maybe PG13)! Try to squeeze in your opinion of Prop 8 too (if you want)!

Upload here:
http://www.youtube.com/group/prop8filmscontest

Alot can happen in 8 seconds, so you have to be truly creative. Upload the video to this group! Contest runs until April 17th. Winner selected May 1st.

Winner gets a $50 iTunes gift card and access to Bucks Boys celebrity events, screenings, and fundraisers!

OFFICIAL RULES HERE: http://www.prop8films.org/Boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=65&sid=8c27dc2a3182f2749f132b66c7e69376

Contest runs today till April 17th.

any questions? feel free to ask.

voice@prop8films.org

-jc del barco ii

Yes on 8 Statistics

2009-03-17T20:30:45Z

Hello everybody-

Here are some statistics to think about regarding people that voted in favor of Prop 8. These facts were presented by http://www.eqca.org.

1. Political Ideology.

a. 22% of liberals voted YES

b. 82% conservatives voted YES

2. Religion

a. Those who worshipped once/week - 70% YES

b. Less than once/week - 38% YES

i. Catholic - 55% YES

ii. Protestant - 66% YES

iii. Jewish - 17% YES

iv. NO religion - 30% YES

3. Age

a. Under 65 - majority voted NO

b. 60+ - 65% YES

4. Gender

a. Women 49% YES

b. Men 54% YES

c. Men with school age children - 60% YES

5. Race

a. White - 50/50

b. African-American and Latino - 58% YES

c. Asian - 47% YES

Interesting. Pretty diverse, I'd say. I think it is interesting that less Catholics supported the measure than Protestants. Either way, it is obvious that frequent worshippers were more prone to supporting the proposition.

voice@prop8films.org

Back on the Ballot?

2009-03-12T21:42:57Z

Though the California Supreme Court has 90 days to decide Prop 8's fate after the March 5th hearing in San Fransisco, rumor has it that the court is leaning towards upholding the proposition, claiming that it cannot overrule the majority vote. Nothing is set in stone yet.

Opponents of Proposition won't go down without a fight. Wed. March 11, 2009, opponents were given the right to start collecting signatures to put a new measure on the ballot. The new measure will require the words "domestic partnership" to replace the word "marriage" in the California State Law, while upholding the same rights of marriage.

This would apply to all married couples and also repeal a provision in California's constitution that recognizes marriage to only be valid between a man and a woman.

This seems sneaky to me, but if opponents can gather around 700,000 signatures by August 6th, 2009 it will show up on the ballot. I commend them on the battle, but something tells me that this is going to anger a lot of people. It is a very unusual way to go about fighting Prop 8.

Thoughts?

Stay tuned as Prop 8 Films documents!

-jc del barco ii

Watch the Supreme Court Hearings on Prop 8 Thursday Morning

2009-03-03T20:23:18Z

Here is info on this week's big hearing!

* * * March 5th - Supreme Court Oral Argument Hearing 9am to Noon * * *

Television viewing info:
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8viewing.htm

* * * Viewing at Los Angeles City Hall * * *

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, California 90012
Council Chambers (Rm. 340)

8:00 AM: Council Chambers doors open

8:30 AM: Discussion by City officials & attorneys prior to historic
oral arguments re: Prop 8

9:00 AM-Noon: Live Broadcast of the California Supreme Court
proceedings

No RSVP required. For more info, email: sp-rsvp@lacity.org

* * * West Hollywood Auditorium * * *

Lambda Legal and other groups will sponsor a viewing at the West
Hollywood Auditorium 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood
from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)

STREET TEAM NEXT WEEK!

2009-02-28T07:58:01Z

Hello!

Now is your chance to get PHYSICALLY involved with Prop 8 Films. Next week California Supreme Court will be holding the hearing to determine the validity of prop 8. There will be a lot of activity in California form supporters and opponents of the proposition and we will be there!

We need a street team to help us promote the film next week.

Next week around Olvera St. we will be documenting the Eve of Justice demonstration.

Date: Wednesday, March 5th
Location: downtown
Time: 5:30
See more details at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=50722443794&ref=share
http://www.eveofjustice.com/

We need help handing out flyers to spread word about the film.

Second event:

Date: Wednesday, March 5th
Location: West Hollywood (Santa Monica and San vicente)
Time: TBD

We need people that are enthusiastic about the subject and are willing to connect with other people that are vested in the matter. We need to find more people that are willing to support the documentary.

I'll be there. We can grab lunch and talk more!

Interested?

shoot an email over to me @ voice@prop8films.org

-jc del barco ii

Sean Penn's Acceptance Speech.

2009-02-24T19:25:02Z

Did you enjoy the Oscars on Sunday? I thought they were a bit predictable, but the new ceremony format was fun. I'm glad about a few of the Awards, but also bothered about a couple of others. Slumdog was great, but Best Cinematography? Really?

Also, I think Mickey Rourke should have taken best actor. "Milk" was a great, great film, but Sean Penn was my second choice. Penn's performance was truly touching and real. I liked when Deniro made a crack commending Penn's brilliant performance when asking how he managed to secure so many straight roles throughout his career. Ha Ha.

Penn's speech was brief and loaded with a potent message:

"I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

Hollywood fought hard against the proposition, though it was still in the minority on election day. Lucas Films donated $100k t, Spielberg alone over $50k, and many others raised millions for the opponents of the election.

How do you feel about Penn's speech and Hollywood's involvement with the proposition? How do you feel about Penn referring to our grandchildren's shame?

Some are glad, some are upset.

-jc del barco ii

voice@prop8films.org

Please Support.

2009-02-17T21:08:20Z

For the past couple months we have been working on a documentary about the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the proposition which eliminated the legal right of same-sex couples to marry. We decided to invest our energies in this project because we believe it's a crucial issue in the story of our generation, in the story of equal rights, and a story that has implications far beyond what we can imagine. So here we are, writing to you with a clear objective, a working website (!!) and the energy to move ahead in a mission we believe in. An important note: our team is not interested in making a propaganda piece. The goal is to uncover - in the most honest, comprehensive and poignant way possible - all the elements at play so individuals can hear all sides of the argument, consider a different perspective, come to a deeper understanding.

The situation is timely - the California Supreme Court will hold opening arguments on March 5th, 2009 in an effort to invalidate proposition 8. A decision will come down in the courts 90 days later at most. We need to get moving.

While our fundraising efforts are diversified, we are asking our community to support our efforts so we can raise the initial money we need to start production. Everyone on the Prop 8 staff is working on a volunteer basis right now. We know times are hard, but we believe a large number of individual donations will be sufficient to support our efforts. We have faith that you care enough about this issue to give. Prop 8 Films is a 501c(3) registered non-profit so all donations are tax-deductible.

Please check out our site, the blog, join us on facebook, twitter, myspace, write on the message boards, be a part of our community. Visit our donation section at:

http://www.prop8films.org

Most importantly, please forward this message or a link to our site to people in your community that are vested in this issue for one reason or another. If every single one of you gives what you can give and forwards information about the project to 5-10 people in your community, our reach will be infinite and we are confident we can raise the funds we need to take this project to the next level. Because Yes, We Can too!!!!

Thanks for your time, we appreciate your help and involvement.

-prop8films.org

Mormon Filmmaker becomes friends with Gay Priest.

2009-02-13T21:32:37Z

In an attempt to practice a two-millennium old Christian principle, Mormon filmmaker Douglas Hunter, has truly reached out to love an outsider. Read full article here.

Douglas, Mormon father of three, lives in Pasadena and ventured out to examine the religious principles of homosexual individuals, a common outsider of Mormon communities.

He found lesbian Rev. Susan Russell in Pasadena, a convenient neighbor. With intentions of shooting a documentary to examine religious similarities between his own beliefs and a gay priest, Russell found a friend and began to support same sex marriage, stating that he could not deny those joys:

"If as a straight man I find the tools for strengthening my marriage in the relationships of same-sex couples and of a dear friend, can I deny them a fundamental right that I benefit from and cherish?" he asked. "The answer is no."

I'm curious to see how the Mormon community will react to the documentary which screens in a film festival in Pomona, Ca in April. Will they support it or shun it? Either way, I commend Hunter greatly on being brave.

I think this is a good demonstration of both sides hearing each other out. A strong microcosm for understanding. Prop 8 films supports bridging the gap and attempting an open understanding of all sides of the argument. Both supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 seem to have lost their ears and hearts. I'm not saying I agree with either side here, I just can't stand when people don't listen to each other. Democracy. It's built on talking and listening. LISTENING, not hearing. Hearing is a biological function, Listening is an engaged action.

Please listen to each other. Try walking in their shoes. Be like Russell and Hunter and be that brave. Cross a boundary into enemy territory and find a friend. It could help solidify your own beliefs.

-jc del barco ii

voice@prop8films.org

Hundreds of Same Sex Marraige Couples denied at NYC Marraige Bureau Today

2009-02-12T20:37:44Z

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009-

This morning hundreds of same sex couples lined up at the New York City Marriage Bureau and were turned away. Couples asked for marriage and the clerk could only offer a domestic partnership.

The couples lined up as an organized protest to advance the gay marriage rights movement during the 12th annual Freedom to Marry Week.

I appreciate the peaceful demonstration. As I mentioned last week, I think it is important to promote your political views without attacking opponents in cowardly or petty ways.

I am curious to see the effectiveness of the demonstration.

-jc del barco ii

California Supreme Court will hold a hearing March 5th.

2009-02-04T19:13:08Z

Good morning, California.

This just in from the Los Angeles Times:

The California supreme court has decided to hear the collective cases in a hearing being held in San Fransisco on March 5th, 2009 between the hours of 9AM-12PM. You can catch it live on the California public broadcast channel.

The trial will examine the constitutionality of the proposition and furthermore, evaluate whether the proposition can be retroactively applied to the 18,000 same sex marriages that were conducted during the window of time that it was legal in California. I wonder how Ellen and Portia feel about this.

Both supporters and opponents of the proposition have gained much support. There are 43 groups that seek to overturn prop 8, and 20 to withhold it. Combined, both sides have raised $83 Million in support of their efforts. This makes it the most fund raised social issue.

Another interesting detail about the case is that a federal judge has denied a request to keep supporter names anonymous due to harassment. People, please! DON'T HARASS. It's a democracy, not a war. I know it is a sensitive issue, but don't fight for your cause with petty attacks and hateful accusations. Fighting fire with fire only works on big screen action movies. Not neutral well informed documentaries!

Message board on its way. For now, comment here, or send an email to me at voice@prop8films.org

Stay tuned, California!

-jc del barco ii

Welcome!

2009-02-03T20:08:56Z

Welcome to the Prop 8 Films blog. This blog will act as a good platform for discussion on the passing of Proposition 8 in California. Along with the film makers, I believe it is important to have an open discussion that is neutral and respectful. I feel that a lot of the good points in either side of the spectrum were lost to emotion and bumper stickers.

Let's take a step back and really look at specific points of views. Whether it is race, religion, financial status, political stance, or personal bias... let's take another look at why people stand where they stand.

The documentary that is in production through Bucks Boys will serve as a neutral inspection of the matter. Learn more at prop8films.org.

Follow us on twitter too! Facebook, Myspace, etc, all to come soon. This blog and forum will be as organic and interactive as possible. If there is something you want to talk about or see, we will deliver it.

Nice meeting you,

-jc del barco ii