A new LGBT-themed film company is screening is first feature-film release this month in Bucks County.
Moving Forward Pictures is screening “American Hate Crime,” a drama with a lot of twists, about a group of bullies who use social-media apps to lure and attack gay people.
Ian Liberatore, a Bucks County native who wrote and directed the film, said he was inspired by recent news headlines to create the movie.
“I went to film school 10 years ago and hadn’t done anything with it,” Liberatore said. “I was looking for a movie to get me back into the field and finally start my possible film career. This story is the first draft I wrote in under a week. I know it’s a horrible incident [in the movie], but it was interesting for me to write. But basically, the local news media inspired me to write it.”
The story unfolds from the perspective of one of the bullies and one of the victims.
“I think there are two sides to every story,” he said. “Some people are homophobic because they are pushed into it by friends and family.”
Liberatore said he hopes to get into a broader range of stories with the next set of films he’s planning.
“The next one will be more of a thriller and fun. Then my third film idea will be a comedy-drama. I want to explore different genres and not just do dark, deep, depressing stuff. I feel like there hasn’t been a lot of widespread films based on LGBT characters and themes.”
He also hopes to broaden the appeal of Moving Forward’s output beyond the gay, male-oriented stories the first two films are focused on.
“ I plan to get more into the L, the B and the T part of the LGBT. Right now, I’m writing what I know. I would like to bring on someone who is lesbian, bi or transgender to maybe cowrite something with me.”
“American Hate Crime” will be screened 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Newtown Theater, 120 N. State St., Newtown. For more information or tickets to a screening, visit https://www.movingforwardfilms.com/.