“BOLDLY GO” By Christopher Cosgrove

A geeky sci-fi fan faces rejection by a 'straight-acting' guy, but not for the reason you might think. Starring Nicolai Lafayette and Adam Sollis. OFFICIAL SELECTION BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival 2020 Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival 2020 Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival 2020 Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2020 Reeling Chicago LGBT+ International Film Festival 2019 Leeds International Film Festival 2019 ALSO WATCH Filmmaker Christopher Cosgrove discuss his personal journey with Crohn's Disease and his creative intention for Boldly Go: https://vimeo.com/ccfilm/makingboldlygo DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT 2007 was a big year for me. I turned 21, I came out to my friends and family, and I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. Three years later the disease caused my large intestine to perforate. I was rushed to hospital and had an emergency ileectomy (the removal of part of my bowel). I awoke the next day in ICU with an unexpected addition to my body – a colostomy bag. I was still a virgin. How would I find a boyfriend looking like this? My film, Boldly Go, tells the story of a young gay man who is hiding an embarrassing secret about his body. When a long-term crush begins to seduce him at a party, he is forced to confront his shame and expose the truth, or risk losing the boy of his dreams. Boldly Go is a coming-of-age love story that examines the emotional transition from shame to acceptance. Shame is a burden frequently shared by those in both the queer and differently-abled communities. It is the toxic manifestation of a society that frequently tells us we are either unwanted or insufficient. Overcoming shame requires an individual to accept themselves for who they truly are, and to share that person honestly and openly with others. I believe this is an important story to tell as there are very few screen stories that explore the challenges of living with an ostomy. There are approximately 44,000 people currently living with an ostomy in Australia and an estimated half a million in the United States of America. CAST Werewolf - Nicolai Lafayette Doctor - Adam Sollis KEY CREATIVES Writer / Director / Producer - Christopher Cosgrove - www.christophercosgrove.com Director of Photography - James Anderson - www.oijimmyboy.com Production Designer / Artwork - Ethan Waghorn - www.ethanwaghornart.com Makeup Artist - Lindsey Chapman - au.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-chapman-a3a7071a Editor - Sam Grammer - au.linkedin.com/in/sam-grammer-08067565 Composer - Jenna Pratt - https://www.jennapratt.com Post Sound - Jennifer Leonforte - au.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-leonforte-2764b4b4 WEBSITE www.boldlygofilm.com --- The filmmakers acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land where this film was created, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have never ceded sovereignty. We recognise their strength and enduring connection to land and culture. --- Tags: Short film, drama, colostomy bag, Ileostomy bag, ostomy, stoma, Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Ileitis, Bowel Cancer, invisible illness, chronic illness, disability, sex and disability, queer, LGBTIQ+, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ, gay, halloween

Synopsis

A geeky sci-fi fan faces rejection by a 'straight-acting' guy, but not for the reason you might think.

Directors statement

2007 was a big year for me. I turned 21, I came out to my friends and family, and I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. Three years later the disease caused my large intestine to perforate. I was rushed to hospital and had an emergency ileectomy (the removal of part of my bowel). I awoke the next day in ICU with an unexpected addition to my body – a colostomy bag. I was still a virgin. How would I find a boyfriend looking like this?

Boldly Go is a coming-of-age love story that examines the emotional transition from shame to acceptance. Shame is a burden frequently shared by those in both the queer and differently-abled communities. It is the toxic manifestation of a society that frequently tells us we are either unwanted or insufficient. Overcoming shame requires an individual to accept themselves for who they truly are, and to share that person honestly and openly with others.

I believe this is an important story to tell as there are very few screen stories that explore the challenges of living with an ostomy. There are approximately 44,000 people currently living with an ostomy in Australia and an estimated half a million in the United States of America.

Boldly Go was written, directed and produced in 2018 as part of my Graduate Certificate in Directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, in Sydney, Australia.

Writer and director Christopher Cosgrove discusses his personal journey with Crohn's Disease and his creative intention behind the short film Boldly Go. Watch the film here: https://vimeo.com/ccfilm/boldlygo Learn more about Boldly Go here: https://www.christophercosgrove.com/#/boldlygo/ --- The filmmakers acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land where this film was created, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have never ceded sovereignty. We recognise their strength and enduring connection to land and culture. --- Tags: Short film, drama, making of, behind the scenes, AFTRS, colostomy bag, Ileostomy bag, ostomy, stoma, Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Ileitis, Bowel Cancer, invisible illness, chronic illness, disability, sex and disability, queer, LGBTIQ+, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ, gay, halloween

Credits

Starring:
Nicolai Lafayette & Adam Sollis

Writer, Director, Producer: Christopher Cosgrove
Director of Photography: James Anderson
Production Designer, Artwork: Ethan Waghorn
Makeup Artist: Lindsey Chapman
Editor: Sam Grammer
Composer: Jenna Pratt
Post Sound: Jennifer Leonforte

The filmmakers acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land where this film was created, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have never ceded sovereignty. We recognise their strength and enduring connection to land and culture.

“BOLDLY GO” was submitted to us by Christopher Cosgrove. Have a film of your own you’d like us to check out? Click here!