1、1 SEX POSITIVE - PRESS KITGRAND JURY PRIZE WINNER L.A. Outfest*Official Selection - SXSW Film Festival - Documentary Competition*Official Selection London Film FestivalOfficial Selection Boston Ind. Film FestivalOfficial Selection Maryland Film FestivalOfficial Selection Outfest Film FestivalOfficia

2、l Selection Miami G&L Film FestivalOfficial Selection Frameline San Fran G & L Film FestOfficial Selection NewFestOfficial Selection Provincetown Film FestivalOfficial Selection Philadelphia International GLBT Film Fest*Total Running time: 76 minutesREGENT RELEASINGJohn Lambert, PresidentJonathon Au

3、bry, Vice President, MarketingHelene Nielsen Beal, Director, Theatrical Marketing and DU.S. Theatrical Distribution 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Penthouse, Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-806-4278 Press Materials Press & Exhibitors Area: about a safe sex advocate who was pilloried by the gay community during

4、 the initial outbreak of AIDS.SynopsisSEX POSITIVE explores the life of Richard Berkowitz, a revolutionary gay S&M- hustler-turned-AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has never been aptly credited. Berkowitz emerged from the epicenter of the epide

5、mic as a community leader, demanding a solution to the problem before anyone else would pay attention. However, it was not Berkowitz voice alone that sparked contention.Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, a controversial virologist and AIDS doctor, postulated that AIDS was more complicated than just a new virus.

6、With Sonnabends theory in tow, Berkowitz fought, alongside beloved activist and musician Michael Callen, for safer sex practices without giving up on sex altogether. SEX POSITIVE explores the explicit bravery of this unrecognized triumvirate, and their dire quest to save lives in the midst of unwave

7、ring dissent. Now destitute and alone, Mr. Berkowitz tells his story to a world who never wanted to listen.Through the eyes of Mr. Berkowitz, the audience is made witness to a graphic testimony of sex, death, and betrayal, while placing the invention of safe sex in a fresh and compelling context.Dir

8、ectors Statement- Daryl WeinWhen I began making this movie, I knew next to nothing about the history of safe sex. My high school sex education class in 2001 consisted of condom on banana antics generally followed by chuckles of discomfort. However, it wasnt solely discomfort that led to our teenage

9、detachment in the realm of safe sex practices. It was also a sense of invincibility. Of course I knew to wear a condom before having sex, but I also knew if I didnt, it wasnt a big deal. Sadly for my generation, the naivety of my teenage years persists far into our adult lives. Much like our complac

10、ency in all things global, we were not born of the era in which crisis forced behavioral change. I am lucky to have not contracted any STDs in my early years of sexual activity, but there is a new generation whose naivety has not spared them.It was Richard Berkowitzs book, Stayin Alive: The Inventio

11、n of Safe Sex, that forced me to face my own ignorance. Like most of my friends, I had always thought of safe sex as a government invented advocacy program, but I was enlightened to find out it was not the government at all but the tireless efforts of so many fervent activists who paved the way for

12、change.Both in the government and the gay community, the widespread silence during the early years of AIDS is absolutely shocking. What Richard taught me, among many other things, was that the most promiscuous gay men were the pioneers of the safe sex movement. It was only after years of their fight

13、 to be heard, that the government could appropriate their lessons into the bland, formulaic musings of my adolescence.3With HIV rates again on the rise, there couldnt be a more essential time to tell this story. I feel my duty as a 24 year-old is to challenge the complacency of my generation by inst

14、illing the values of those forgotten heroes, some of whom died in the fight, one of whom is still standing.Subjects Statement- Richard Berkowitz:I always hoped that my book Stayin Alive: The Invention of Safe Sex would spark interest in a new generation-I just never expected it would come from a you

15、ng guy who happens to be straight.The Bush years have been a trying time for many Americans, but for those concerned with HIV prevention, it has been a disaster. Ever since George W. Bush took office in 2001 and replaced safe sex education with abstinence programs, HIV infection rates have climbed a

16、s reported by the Centers for. Unfortunately, the past two years, 2005 and 2006 have been the worst. If anything good can come out of this tragedy, it would be that we now have ample evidence that abstinence programs do not work. The media has barely taken notice, and Im hoping that SEX POSITIVE wil

17、l sound the alarm. If the media needs a hook, heres a great one: May 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the invention of safe sex.Unfortunately, these arent good times for those involved in safe sex education. It doesnt bode well that even though everyone has heard of safe sex, hardly anyone knows w

18、here it came from. Safe sex came from activists, porn stars, sex workers and their community driven efforts. Thats what weve lost over the years and thats why Im hoping people will learn from this very timely film.In the NewsThe New York Times - January 14, 2008 EDITORIAL H.I.V. Rises Among Young Ga

19、y Men AIDS appears to be making an alarming comeback. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the incidence of H.I.V. infection among gay men is shooting up, following an encouraging period of decline. The rise of infections among younger gay men, especially black and Hispanic m

20、en, is troubling, and the study carries the clear implication that people at high risk of contracting the disease are becoming less cautious. Statistics gathered by New York City health officials show that new diagnoses of H.I.V. infection the virus that causes AIDS in gay men under age 30 rose 32 p

21、ercent between 2001 and 2006. Among black and Hispanic men, the figure was 34 percent. Most troubling, the number of new diagnoses among the youngest men in the study, those between ages 13 and 19, doubled.New York officials say increased alcohol and drug use may be partly responsible since they mak

22、e unprotected sex more likely. Other basic precautions, including finding out whether a potential partner is infected, are also apparently being ignored. 4The one bright spot in this bleak picture was the 22 percent decline in infections among men over 30 in the New York study. Awareness of the dise

23、ases devastating effects, as much as maturity, may explain the difference. A large number of these older men came of age when AIDS was all but untreatable. They may have buried friends who died after being horribly ill. When the disease was new and terrifying, the gay community helped change behavio

24、r by preaching loudly against taking sexual risks. From San Francisco to New York, bathhouses notorious for promoting casual sex changed the way they did business or closed down. Condoms were encouraged, and so was H.I.V. testing. “Silence equals death” was the motto of the day. Silence now seems to

25、 be winning the day. Nearly 6,000 gay men died of AIDS in the United States in 2005; still, many young men appear to have persuaded themselves that the infection is no longer such a big deal. It is true that antiretroviral therapy has improved the outlook for anyone who becomes infected. But the tre

26、atments are still too new to know whether they can work much beyond a decade. Public health officials need to continue to distribute condoms, encourage testing and treat those who are ill. Leaders in the hardest-hit communities need to start speaking out again. The fight against AIDS is far from ove

27、r.Film Festival raves:From Miami:It might be hard to believe that the person who invented the idea of safe sex was a dominant leather S/M hustler. Meet Richard Berkowitz, the unvarnished, no-nonsense, compassionate and charismatic hero of this not-to-be-missed new documentary. Sex and activism had a

28、lways run parallel in Richs life, but when the AIDS epidemic hit in the early 80s, the two became one. Thats when he formed an unlikely collaboration with pioneering AIDS researcher Joseph Sonnabend (interviewed here) and the late singer-activist superstar Michael Callen (featured via archival foota

29、ge). Though the former might have been better at getting headlines, it was from Richs typewriter that emerged the very first safer sex document ever written. It was explicit, realistic and thoroughly sex-positive, infused with Sonnabends insights in disease transmission. But almost everybody thought

30、 it was dangerous. The trio was vilified, surprisingly by other AIDS activists (like Larry Kramer, who is interviewed here) who were so afraid of homophobic backlash that they refused to acknowledge that sexual behavior had anything to do with how AIDS spread or affected ones health. Its a painful,

31、but beautifully-told chapter of our recent history. The story of how the gay community handled the AIDS epidemic on the pathway to acceptance and sexual freedom. But Richs telling of his own history - his hustling, his experiences with AIDS and drugs - is just as rich with insight and emotion. Rich

32、is the very definition of unsung hero, and the message he brings is just as urgent now as it was 25 years ago.From Boston:The term “safe sex” is now ubiquitous. However, we must remember that it is a recent concept, introduced as a result of a health crisis unlike any other in contemporary history.

33、Daryl Weins film SEX POSITIVE candidly profiles Richard Berkowitz, an 5outspoken activist, former S&M hustler, and writer, whoalong with virologist Dr. Joseph Sonnabend and activist/musician Michael Callenis the one of the pioneers of the safe-sex movement.In the early 1980s, as the AIDS epidemic ra

34、pidly besieged the gay community, Dr. Sonnabend posited that cultural factorsnamely promiscuityincreased ones risk of contracting the disease. Berkowitz and Callen tirelessly advocated Sonnabends controversial message, demanding the publics awareness despite an opposition that believed this informat

35、ion would only further stigmatize and marginalize the sexual liberation movement. One of these three gentlemens notable accomplishments is that they co-authored a booklet, “How to Have Sex During an Epidemic: One Approach,” which proposed ways to enjoy safer sexa more realistic and innovative option

36、 than suggesting abstention alone. This document provided the basis and vernacular for the safe-sex movement as we now know it.A fascinating and worthy subject, Richard Berkowitz speaks with powerful intelligence. He passionately and energetically discusses his personal history and work as an activi

37、st with thoughtful, disarming candor. Though he has long been an unsung hero, SEX POSITIVE pinpoints the relevance of Berkowitzs vital contributions.From San Francisco:At the forefront of the sexual revolution, New York in the late 70s seemed a mecca for gay men as they reveled in their newfound fre

38、edoms. Richard Berkowitz eagerly dove into the frenzy, quickly discovering (and cashing in on) his talents as an S&M top. But the era of guiltless pleasure crashed quickly as the AIDS epidemic began. Wild accusations flew in the media and on the streets, speculation about the diseases cause became c

39、ontentious, and the governments refusal to work towards a cure sparked protests and rallies.After contracting the illness himself, Berkowitz and a tiny group of others came to the inexorable conclusion that gay mens lifestyles were at least partially responsible for their plight. He wrote a book cha

40、rging that the cultures rampant drug use, partying and sexual promiscuity contributed heavily to the diseases spread. The backlash was swift: Berkowitz and his supporters were labeled self-hating and sex negative. Despite his continued efforts to educate on the necessity of safe sex, he was merciles

41、sly chastised, unfairly labeled an anti-pleasure crusader and, eventually, all but forgotten.Sex Positive unflinchingly tracks Berkowitzs progression from cocky S&M hustler to angry activist to broken but proud harbinger of a message too volatile, scary and true to be heard.From Albuquerque:SEX POSI

42、TIVE explores the life of Richard Berkowitz, a revolutionary gay S&M- hustler-turned-AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has never been aptly credited. Berkowitz emerged from the epicenter of the epidemic as a community leader, demanding a solutio

43、n to the problem before anyone else would pay attention. However, it was not Berkowitz voice alone that sparked contention.6Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, a controversial virologist and AIDS doctor, postulated that AIDS was more complicated than just a new virus. With Sonnabends theory in tow, Berkowitz foug

44、ht, alongside beloved activist and musician Michael Callen, for safer sex practices without giving up on sex altogether. SEX POSITIVE explores the explicit bravery of this unrecognized triumvirate, and their dire quest to save lives in the midst of unwavering dissent. Now destitute and alone, Mr. Be

45、rkowitz tells his story to a world who never wanted to listen.Through the eyes of Mr. Berkowitz, the audience is made witness to a graphic testimony of sex, death, and betrayal, while placing the invention of safe sex in a fresh and compelling context.From Maryland:One of the first and loudest voice

46、s calling for lifestyle changes that came to be called safe sex during the early years of AIDS was Richard Berkowitz. However, director Daryl Wein argues in his compelling new documentary Sex Positive, Berkowitzs name has been unjustly forgotten - and, when remembered, unfairly maligned.By calling f

47、or the gay community in New York City to reevaluate aspects of the days post-disco party culture, particularly promiscuity, Berkowitz came under fire from many, most notably writer Larry Kramer, accused of playing into straight stereotypes about the gay world. Further, by calling for condom use, the

48、n all but unheard of in the gay community, Berkowitzs point of view was colored by some as prudish or even anti-sex. Perhaps most damningly, Berkowitzs open past as a gay S+M hustler caused many to question his moral authority at a time when his message desperately needed to be heard.Sex Positive br

49、ings back all the horror, sadness, anger, and confusion of the early days of AIDS, and traces the beginnings of our scientific understanding of AIDS and AIDS-prevention and concurrent activist movements. In the process, it offers a portrait of what its like to be a messenger burned for carrying an u

50、npopular message - and offers a wake-up call to anyone who may, thanks to the medications that exist for checking and minimizing the symptoms of AIDS, once again live their sex lives as though immune, invincible, or just unconcerned.From Los Angeles:It was dominant leather S&M hustler Richard Berkow

51、itz who first brought public reevaluation of the rampant promiscuity in 1980s New York. Capturing the days of short shorts and steamy bathhouse multi-partner sex, SEX POSITIVE explores Berkowitzs efforts along with Dr. Joseph Sonnabend and musician Michael Callen urging gay men to use condoms and pr

52、otect their health. Weins documentary pays tribute to Berkowitz who fought against harsh criticism within the gay community to pioneer what is now known as safe sex.7From Philadelphia:Haunting, informative and emotional, this documentary about the early days of the AIDS epidemic and the controversia

53、l activist/S-and-M hustler Richard Berkowitz is essential in understanding our gay history.In late 70s New York City, a culture of personal and sexual exploration was raging in the gay community. This revolution would be stalled by an epidemic of fear and controversy. H.I.V., the virus that causes A

54、IDS, would change the gay community and the medical field forever. Richard Berkowitz, an S-and-M hustler, along with Michael Callen, a singer-songwriter, struggled with the question of whether sexual freedom could still exist, stating, “Our lifestyle has created the present epidemic.We have remained

55、 silent because we have been unable or unwilling to accept responsibility for the role that our own excessiveness has played in our present health crisis.” They then began the safe sex movement and advocated for government intervention in the burgeoning epidemic. Sex Positive is a lively look at the

56、se and other viewpoints on the outbreak from the perspectives of the gay community, physicians and media. CNN footage of Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, Richard Berkowitz and Michael Callen, and interviews that present their personal stories, drive this powerful documentary. Filled with medical findings and a

57、 look at governmental progression from the first discovery of H.I.V. to the present day, Sex Positive is an indispensable examination of a critical part of our gay historyInterview with Daryl Wein - by Jason Whyte “Sex Positive explores the life of Richard Berkowitz, a controversial gay S&M sex work

58、er turned AIDS activist in the 1980s, who invented the idea of safe sex. Berkowitz emerged from the epicenter of the epidemic demanding a solution to the problem long before those within and outside of the gay community would take heed. Now, destitute and alone, he tells his story to a world who nev

59、er wanted to listen.” Director Daryl Wein on his film “Sex Positive” which will be screening at this years South By Southwest Festival.Is this your first film in at SxSW? (Or the first film you have) Do you have any other festival experience?Sex Positive is my first feature film, and this is my first time showing a film at SXSW. I am very excited to experience Austin. Prior to making Sex Positive, I directed and produced a short film entitled, Unlocked, which received Official Selection at the Tribeca Film Festival and other festivals around the world. You can check it out at .Will you be com