''Morgan'' is a 2012

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...

film directed by

Michael Akers Michael D. Akers (born September 5, 1970, in Ephrata, Pennsylvania) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and film editor. In 2000, he founded "United Gay Network" (UGN) with his longtime partner, Sandon Berg. Most of his films ...

, produced by Michael D. Akers,

Sandon Berg Sandon Berg (born July 15, 1971) is an American film producer and screenwriter, and actor with past roles in both film and television. He co-founded United Gay Network, a film production company, with his longtime partner, Michael D. Akers. ...

and Israel Ehrisman, and starring Leo Minaya as Morgan Oliver and

Jack Kesy Jack Kesy () is an American actor. On television, he has portrayed Gabriel Bolivar on the FX (TV channel), FX horror drama ''The Strain (TV series), The Strain'' (2014–2016) and Roller Husser on the TNT (American TV channel), TNT dark comedy ' ...

as Dean Kagen.

Plot

A young, paralyzed, gay athlete attempts to live his life in a situation far from desirable. After an accident leaves him paralyzed from the waist down, Morgan Oliver (played by Leo Minaya), is first seen wallowing in a state of depression, drowning his sorrows in beer as he watches bicycle racing (the sport that at once defined his sense of purpose and drove him to his catalytic accident) on television. He meets Dean Kagan (played by Jack Kesy) who helps him through the way and a romantic relationship develops between the two. Once Morgan knows about the New York Haven Cycle Race, he decides to take part in the race with the help of Kagan and sponsorship from Tread Bike Shop.

Cast

* Leo Minaya as Morgan Oliver *

as Dean Kagen * Ben Budd as Wesley *Theodore Bouloukos as Dr. Thomas *Darra Boyd as Lane Williams *Madalyn McKay as Peg Oliver

Production

Akers and Berg planned on writing a story about a

paraplegic Paraplegia, or paraparesis, is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek () "half-stricken". It is usually caused by spinal cord injury or a congenital condition that affects the neura ...

while casting for an earlier film ''Phoenix''. A young, handsome wheelchair-using paraplegic actor had submitted his portfolio for a possible role in a film. Although the screenplay for ''Phoenix'' had been written and no role was envisioned for a paraplegic acting role, they were intrigued enough by him personally, they decided to write a screenplay around a paraplegic athlete. After many interviews with other wheelchair-using gay men, their collection of stories became the basis for the film ''Morgan''.

Reception

One

film review Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scholars, who study the composition of film theory and publish their findin ...

er wrote: "Morgan is not a sophisticated film, but it is a very human one. Morgan has an abundance of heart and speaks to the travails of the disabled in a way that is rarely addressed in cinema, queer or otherwise. Well Done."

Soundtrack

Music is by Ryan Rapsys. The film also includes original music by *Diamond Underground *Molly Mguire *Ben Darwish *David Raleigh *Miles the Band *Nicholas Wells

Screenings

The film was screened at many festivals including *Official selection at

Outfest Outfest is an LGBTQ-oriented nonprofit that produces two film festivals, operates a movie streaming platform, and runs educational services for filmmakers in Los Angeles. Outfest is one of the key partners, alongside the Frameline Film Festival ...

, Los Angeles *Official selection at

Cleveland International Film Festival The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) is an annual film festival based in Cleveland, Ohio. CIFF is the largest film festival in Ohio and among the longest-running in the United States. The festival is held at Playhouse Square, the lar ...

*Official selection at

Frameline The Frameline Film Festival (also known as San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival and formerly known as San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival; San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival) is an annual event that ...

, San Francisco *Kansas City Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *Reeling Chicago Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *San Diego Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *Filmfest homochrom, Cologne & Dortmund,

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

(European premiere)

Awards

"Audience Award" at: *Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *San Diego Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
"Jury Prize" at: *QCinema, Ft. Worth Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *Kansas City Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *Reeling, Chicago Gay & Lesbian Film Festival *Tucson "Out in the Desert" Film Festival

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 1943765
Official Page on United Gay Network websiteReview of the Film in PINK PAGES, India's national gay and lesbian magazine
2012 films American LGBTQ-related films LGBTQ-related sports drama films Films about people with paraplegia or tetraplegia Films directed by Michael Akers 2012 LGBTQ-related films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films American sports drama films 2010s sports drama films English-language sports drama films