Thanks Queer Lisboa!

"Bob and Jack's 52-Adventure" apparently screened to a full house last week at Portugal's premiere gay event: Queer Lisboa, Lisbon's LGBT Film Festival. While we could not go, and while we LOVE those beautiful Portuguese men (see below) , director Stu Maddux and producer Joe Applebaum attended. They report that it was not more fun that your average festival but that everyone was quite classy. They couldn't seem to stop talking about how kind and professional the organizers were. Stu says he had hoped that everyone would laugh at all MY funny lines, but he's not surprised that the audience was more quiet because of the language difference. We could not afford to offer them Portuguese subtitled version so I'm just so glad that it was as successful as it was. "Inspirational", is what most called us during the Q&A session. Can't beat that!

Pictures are at http://bobandjack.org/festpics.html

Hi Guys, it's Stu. I just posted pics from the Portugal fest...

Just wanted you to know that they are at: http://bobandjack.org/festpics.html

I saw your film

Hey guys,
I saw your film at the NC Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the opportunity to speak with Stu, as well. I loved your story and the film was one of my favorite at the festival. It definitely was my favorite documentary. You're an inspiration to the gay and lesbian community, myself included, who want a lifetime relationship.

I hope you two are doing really well.

Best wishes,
Gordon

Portugal loves Bob and Jack

Hi Bob and Jack it's Joe (producer):
We got in last night and are still on Lisbon time but I wanted to tell you that the festival was just great and we seemed to make a lot of headway with the program directors at other festivals in Europe. Besides, the crowd loved you guys and it was a packed room. STU DID NOT read the little opening comments that he had crafted because it didn't seem appropriate once we got on the ground there. It would have come across kind of self-serving, he thought. We'll let you know here when the pictures are posted.

Hi Bob and Jack. We are leaving for Lisbon this morning

I thought you and Jack would get a kick out of this. Here's a pic of friend Bill Haugse (editor of Hoop Dreams, Sunset Story) helping me write a few words to say in Portuguese when our film screens next Wednesday night at Queer Lisboa. Bill speaks the language very well because his ex-wife is Brazilian. Whether I can pull off the pronunciation or not is making me nervous. I know that speaking Portuguese is not necessary but it is respectful. My attempt last night was so dubious that we've packed a video camera at the last minute to get the audiences reaction! I'll post it for you here next week. I hope you guys will look for other updates here too. It will probably be too expensive to call from overseas.

Stu Maddux (director)

ps- Do you know where we were 1 year ago today? Fresno Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

Why marriage? Why on a federal level?

My first passport 1948


Why? Just read this letter I got last night and it will be crystal clear: (names deleted)

hi guys
i am from brazil, and i loved your story, i am 48 y.o, and i have a lover that lives in fortlauderdale i just come back from there, he is 71 y.o, we have been together for the last 4 years, i was living ther for 40 months together, but now my visa expired and i had to come back but he always come to see me, and i spent the last 3 months there, we love each other v ery much, i never loved any man or woman like that, i hope god we become together forever like you guys, you are a inspiration for me in this lonely times that i have to come back, god bless you guys, love always.

More moving emails

Another letter that really made my day. Thank you so much for writing it. I took your name out only because I thought you might prefer it that way- Bob


Dearest Bob and Jack,

I feel like I know you.
I just finished watching your film at the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Durham. I found it to be wonderful and heartwarming. You two have lead a courageous life which has paved the way for people
like me and my girlfriend. Things will be even better, I hope, for the
young kids just coming into adulthood.

Bob reminds me so much of my girlfriend's father. Sadly, though, his
life has been much different from yours. He lived his life in the
closet. He just came out a couple of years ago, in his 70s, separated
from his wife and now lives in California. They are both much
happier.

Thank you for allowing the movie to be made and for sharing your
stories with us.

Amazing letters lately

We have gotten some of the most wonderful letters yet since our screening in North Carolina. They have made me feel so much better after the Marine who threatened to 'cut my balls off' (see below)) and showed how very thoughtful and intelligent people there really are.
I want to share a few examples over the next few days but I'll take out their names. By the way, you can hear the NPR interview that led to many of these letters here.

Greetings to Jack & Bob,

I am a straight, single woman who works with many of the Gay & Lesbian community in my job for a wonderful organization called Replacements Ltd., in Greensboro North Carolina.

I listened to your interview on the NC Public Radio, August 23, 2007, around noon. I was immediately caught up in your story, your voices, your courage to be true to yourselves and to each other. You have a very important story to tell. Each of us has a story to tell. When Bob I believe said they were leaving to go to Washington and he went to say goodbye to his Mother and he said Mother please pray for us, and she said to him pray for yourself. It took my breath away. I was so glad to hear he had reconciled with her before she passed.

I have a father who has abondoned me, and so did his family, I loved a man for 12 years who was killed by a drunk driver and could never bring himself to be faithful or committed to me, and I gave up a pregnancy because of his selfishness. And somewhere along the line, I don't know that I've ever been true to myself, during this short life. So I want you to know how lucky you are to have each other, and how important it is to tell it to those who will listen and share in the beauty that this life has to offer.

You are an inspiration and you are special human beings in my book. I just want you to know that you are making a difference in peoples lives not just the Gay and Lesbian community. For it is when we are true to ourselves, that then we can share our gifts and our essence of who we are with the world, and isn't that why we are all here?

If never we meet, consider us this........Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for some thereby have met Angels unawares. Hebrews 13.2

Peace Be With You Your Friend in Reids-Vegas