One of the very special films selected to screen at this year's prestigious Palm Springs International Short Film festival was New York filmmaker Jim Jermanok's film 'Homophonia' (2014), an ironic comedy about America's seemingly endless debate on gay marriage rights. This is certainly a topic every American holds an opinion about, and this film tackles it from an East Coast and down to earth humane perspective. I recently asked Jim to say a few words about his film:

JIM: “I am absolutely astonished that in the year 2014 there is any controversy or debate over the issue of Gay Marriage Rights or Gay Equality in the Workplace. I believe these are essential human rights. I also have trouble digesting that there are millions of Americans who still think there are people who choose to be or become gay as opposed to being born gay as one is born with a blue eyes or freckles. I do hope our humble film will reflect our strong support for worldwide gay rights and gay people--and comically engage them and those still in the dark. I am very grateful to my very talented Co-Writer and Co-Producer, Mary Niederkorn, our wonderful star, Albert M. Chan, and our very gifted editor, Anthony Arkin.”

JIM cont'd: “It was a great pleasure for our film “Homophonia: A Comic Take on Gay Marriage” to premiere at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, which was a joy to attend. The Executive Directors of this festival, Darryl Macdonald and Kathleen McInnis are two of the top film festival executives in the world and this festival rocks! I had the great pleasure of previously presenting my feature "Em" at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The experience of meeting with filmmakers from Australia, England, Russia, China, Korea, Azerbaijan, Egypt and many other countries will always be a cherished memory. To watch their superb films was also inspiring, moving and illuminating. Of course, to see an audience of 500 laugh uproariously at our humble film 'Homophonia' was exciting and very, very satisfying.

View trailer for 'Homophonia: A Comic Take on Gay Marriage': 

The film recently screened at The Manhattan Film Festival and will soon appear at the Woods Hole Film Festival and the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Jim Jermanok is an award-winning writer, director and producer, creative success expert, consultant and speaker. Jim wrote and produced the sophisticated romantic comedy, 'Passionada,' which was released by Columbia Tri Star in over 150 countries. His latest film 'Em' recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Criterion International Inspiration Award. It was released last year by Vanguard Cinema and SnagFilms. He is also active in theater, TV and New Media. Jermanok is a former ICM Agent who helped to represent Arthur Miller, Shirley MacLaine, Dudley Moore, Helen Hayes, Alan Arkin and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, among others. Jim also speaks and conducts workshops worldwide on the subject of his upcoming book, BEYOND THE CRAFT: What You Need to Know to Make A Living Creatively, as well as Successful Film Producing and Financing and The Art and Business of Screenwriting.  He is in the process of producing "The Why Factor," a dark romantic comedy, which he hopes to direct in the fall of 2014.

Jim Jermanok

Edited by Vanessa McMahon