MTV Documentary Films’ Gay Chorus Deep South, a timely and inspiring celebration of hope, acceptance and love directed by David Charles Rodrigues and produced by Bud Johnston and Jesse Moss, will make its broadcast premiere Sunday, December 20 at 9:00PM ET/PT on Pop and Logo.
The critically-acclaimed film, which marks Rodrigues’ feature documentary debut, tells the story of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus as they embark on a tour of the American Deep South in response to a wave of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ laws and the divisive 2016 election.
Led by Gay Chorus Conductor Dr. Tim Seelig and joined by The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; the tour brings a message of music, love and acceptance to communities and individuals confronting intolerance. Over 300 singers travelled from Mississippi to Tennessee through the Carolinas and over the bridge in Selma. They performed in churches, community centers and concert halls in hopes of uniting Americans in a time of difference. The journey also challenged Seelig and other Chorus members who fled the South to confront their own fears, pain and prejudices on a journey towards reconciliation. The conversations and connections that emerge offer a glimpse of a less divided America, where the things that divide us—faith, politics, sexual identity—are set aside by the soaring power of music, humanity and a little drag.
Gay Chorus Deep South made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the Documentary Audience Award. The film also won the Audience Award for Documentary Feature at the Berkshire International Film Festival; the Lost Weekend Audience Favorite Award; the Audience Awards for Best Overall Choice and Best Music Documentary at the Northwest Fest; the Audience Awards for Best Documentary Feature and Best of the Fest at the Palm Springs International Film Festival; the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Pink Apple Awards; the John Schlesinger Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival; the Best Documentary Feature Award at the Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and the Audience Award for Best Shout Film at the Sidewalk Film Festival.
The film is produced by Johnston and Moss and executive produced by James Goode and Tony Högqvist.
About David Charles Rodrigues
David is a Greek-American-Brazilian filmmaker and equal rights activist. He’s a Sundance New Frontier and Doc lab fellow. His work leverages art, music and cinematic narratives to trojan-horse challenging messages into people’s hearts and minds. Rodrigues’ short films and commercials have garnered over 1 billion views online and were featured at MOCA Los Angeles, MOCA Tei Pei, The San Jose New Media Biennial, Skirball Cultural Center, The Art Directors Club, Cannes Lions and Art Basel. Gay Chorus Deep South is his feature doc debut.
About Bud Johnston
Bud is a proud native of the San Francisco Bay Area and an award winning producer of commercial and short films working alongside some of the worlds biggest brands. As a musician and filmmaker Bud hopes to craft stories that connect and inspire audiences through the power of music. Gay Chorus Deep South is his feature doc debut.
About Jesse Moss
Jesse is a director, producer and cinematographer. His films include The Overnighters (Sundance Special Jury Prize), The Bandit, Full Battle Rattle and Speedo. For Netflix, he directed one episode of Dirty Money and recently completed The Family.
