The film was shot over six weeks last summer with strict COVID-19 protocols that could have shut down the production if even one castmate tested positive.
Getting “Fire Island” made during the pandemic in time for a Pride release presented Ahn with a fierce challenge. The film drops June 3 and also screens June 23 at the Castro as part of Frameline46 - the world’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival, running June 16-June 26. “Fire Island” stars and was written by Joel Kim Booster and was directed by Andrew Ahn, both out and proud gay Asian Americans. You can see that play out in Hulu’s frisky and fun rom-com “Fire Island,” a sassy gay take on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” set on the famed Long Island hot spot, where a group of mostly Asian American pals go on vacation to party, hook up, and find camaraderie and even romance. And not all of the changes are represented in those rainbow stripes and colors.įor one thing, more and more such releases are getting mainstream exposure, either on streaming services or in theaters, thanks to the success of such shows as Hulu’s “Happiest Season” and Netflix’s “Heartstopper.” Another development is that some gay-themed shows and movies are aiming for greater ethnic diversity. Pride month is here, and many of the gay-themed films and shows emerging during June and beyond show the growing breadth and depth of the LGBTQ+ community.
