Ski Trip!

The Saga Continue...

Ski Trip

By Nevin Jefferson

My movie of choice for this year's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival was the Ski Trip, which is written, directed and starring, Maurice Jamal. The Ski Trip is the an outstanding movie in this year's film festival. It's superbly written, directed, and has the 'talent' that Jamal was casting for when he set out to create a stellar cast. He was seeking an "OUT" Black Gay man who knows the perils of hell that goes on in Hollywierd. He asked the typical Gay questions during auditions that only a Gay man would know. He wasn't out to discriminate against others because he doesn't like to be discriminated against himself. He ended up with a 50/50 split of Gay and straight.



The movie opens with close-ups of Corey's close friends as they leave their joyful and cute birthday messages for the, now, 30-year-old Corey. One caller is a man who got Corey's phone number off the bathroom wall. Corey awakens recently dumped, unemployed, and riddled with guilt about not going to the gym for a year. The story is narrated by Corey as he leads us into his world. Terry (Daren Fleming) calls Cory to bring him into the first day of making 30 along with the snide remarks and cute comments that only a true drag queen can say. Corey tries to escape the from the 'dish' by hanging up on Terry. Terry, an over the top part-time drag queen who performs under the name of "Grenadine Ross" - full of aspiration - continues to call back. This leads the audience into the first stint of comedy after Cory's mother calls with Cory thinking that the call was from the persistence Terry. He quickly finds out that it's his mother! The voices of Corey's mother and her boyfriend (who's called Uncle by Corey) are done in the sounds of "blah-blah" and horn sounds (i.e. like in the Charlie Brown cartoons).


The next person we meet is Nikki (Cassandra Cruz), an on the prowl for the 'Drawers' Butch Lesbian who's one of the boys. Her mouth motions and mannerisms along with Lesbian commentary will thrill the Lesbian audience. We quickly learn that Corey, Nikki, and Terry go way back to the 90's when they were straight. This is why they're able to come over whenever the mood strikes them because, they have key's to Corey's apartment. Upon seeing the broken framed picture of Marcus (William Blagrove), Corey's ex on the floor of the apartment, Terry and Nikki begin their plans to cheer Corey up. It's the friend in need who gets the help indeed. Terry comes up with the idea of a party at their favorite bar, then begins calling people to invite them.


We get an introduction to the cast as they're called by Terry who invites them to the celebration. Byron (Nathan Hale), is a Bitchy Queen with a serious attitude. When he finds out that Corey and Nikki are listening to the conversation on a speaker phone he calls Terry a "Bitch" for doing this ploy. The three in return call him a "Bitch" after the call ends in a hang up by all parties. Later on in the day, we meet Omar (John Rankin) who has a oblivious crush big time on Corey, who could care less about Omar. Not only does Omar come over to Corey's small apartment with a cake, he gives Corey a action figure of one of the cartoon characters in Corey's comic book. The one that Corey has given up on.


At the bar we meet Carlos (Emanuel Xavier) where he's a bartender with high hopes of becoming a music producer. Carlos serves 'cocktails' in the bathroom to the hot numbers he scores - complete with condoms. This is how he became friends with Terry, Corey, and Byron, whom he had sex with after being called a "HO" by Terry and Corey. Carlos defends himself by confessing to being a slut which, he says, is different. Every bar has it's sexy and muscular studs with looks that stop time and start lustful fantasies from those looking on. Tyson (Haaz) is this same described Stud who blows everyone in the bar away. One scene becomes hilarious after Terry lures Tyson over to Corey, then, he bails out on the two.


Corey says and behaves in a way you're not supposed to when trying to make an impression. Byron ends up stealing Tyson away from Corey by doing the 'booty' dance. Corey explodes from humiliation - after becoming a human bomb - while attempting to score the man of his and everyone else's dream. The Ski Trip takes off after Nikki suggests that they go on a ski trip to get away. For entertainment, Terry is prepared to do a Talent Show as Cassandra Cruz who spends most of the time cruising. The Ski Trip delivers from the setup of characters who go on a road trip that becomes one adventure after another. Terry Fed-Ex's his clothes to the house where they're staying for the weekend after learning that there's no room in the trunk of the very small compact car that Omar rents as their transportation.

Most Blacks and Hispanics don't ski because putting two sticks on your feet, then, sliding down hills isn't something that they desire to do in their lives. Neither do these characters who we observe packing, driving, lodging, dressing, drinking, and having a snowball fight. We see Terry going into a masculine mannerism after getting hit with a snowball. This gives commentary to the fact that Black LGBT ski weekends draw as many non-skiers as skiers. The avalanche falls on the webs weaved by the characters as they play 'tell a story, then, drink.' The claws come out with fur flying as secrets are exposed center stage and placed in the spotlight. I'm not going to spoil it by telling you how the 'snow' hit the fan - complete with a Blizzard that traps them for a couple of more days. The friend in need adage blow's up in the faces of Corey, Terry, and Nikki after learning that Cory's love affair reality is really a lonely Gay man's fantasy .


The Ski Trip does have a happy ending. This is a combination of comedy and drama; with drama being in bold print. Ski Trip tells the tale about a Black and Latino community that explores our relationships for what they really are, rather than what we would fantasize them to be. As well as how Blacks and Latinos are real and true to themselves without being a stereo-type. The Ski Trip was the winner of the "Best New Feature Film" award at the 2004 Oakland Black Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Jamal worked in advertising and is currently the writer, director, and star in the Don Chappelle Show.

The end production is a extremely well packaged film complete with fantastic editing, directing, and acting. The Ski Trip was made on a budget of $10 thousand smack-a-roos that screens like a $100,000 dollar production. The soundtrack of the movies is simply the best. Ski Trip has been picked up by Logo, the new Gay station on Direct TV and Comcast. His next production will be on a bigger budget with Loretta Divine and Sherly Lee Ralph starring. After the preview, Jamal spoke to the audience where he shared his woes with the movie, because most festivals had a hard time with a Black movie with Gay characters. Black Festivals, who had a hard time with a Gay movie that stars a Black cast. With gifted talent like his, Jamal has nothing to worry about. The Ski Trip is a delight to watch and a must for your DVD collection.