Cult filmmaker Tom DeSimone revisits the production of a lost gay film and resurrects youthful adventures on the California coast, but nostalgia isn’t always 20/20 vision.

Featuring rare archival footage and intimate personal photos from DeSimone’s youth, “Big Sur Gay Porn” considers themes of memory, queer aging, and the importance of LGBTQIA+ spaces.

Director Statement:

“Big Sur Gay Porn” is an ode to the queer possibilities of rural, outdoor spaces. It is a film about memory, history, and aging – as seen through one man’s stories of a very special place. The project explores rarely discussed LGBTQ+ experiences in one of America’s most popular tourist destinations, and continues inquiries about the documentary value of gay pornography begun in our previous two films, “Cruising Elsewhere” (2017) and “Raw! Uncut! Video!” (2021).

The rustic imaginary of California’s iconic Big Sur coast has long been exploited in popular culture – from the (homophobic) writings of Jack Kerouac to car commercials and television shows. Originally occupied by indigenous peoples, contemporary times have seen many others lay claim to this rugged land – homesteaders, loggers, beatniks, hippies, artists, celebrities, surfers, tourists… But, what about the queers? Why have their Big Sur stories so often been overlooked? We want to reinstate LGBTQ+ lives in historical remembrances of this region and remind viewers that the ‘wilderness’ can be a very queer place.

Extras:

Watch a Q&A with Ryan A. White and Alex Clausen recorded at the 2023 San Francisco PornFilmFestival screening of Big Sur Gay Porn.  (This video is included with purchase of the film, or a PinkLabel+ subscription.)