The six-episode dramatic series explores the nuances and challenges of queer love, examining identity and finding empowerment through community. Alter Boys was filmed in Winnipeg and features a predominantly Manitoba-based cast and crew. With additional support from the Indigenous Screen Office, the team is launching a campaign with never-before-seen videos to promote the must-watch series just in time for the holidays.
In Alter Boys, a group of young men recover in a northern Manitoba hospital after being rescued from a forest fire that tore through an isolated conversion therapy camp, only to discover they haven’t yet escaped. They must relive the summer’s haunting interplay of hope and ruin when a camp casualty has authorities asking questions about the program. We follow the men as they reflect on a summer of adversity and all the beauty they found amidst protest. The haunting, emotional and beautifully shot series celebrates queer connection, friendship and resilience.
“This was always a story of beauty. Alter Boys reminds us that the freedom to explore identities of love, gender expression, and sexuality is all so intrinsic to existing, but it is also a privilege to do so without threat to personal autonomy or even safety,” says Lawrence. “We are thrilled to be launching a campaign to invite audiences to join us on the Alter Boys journey.”
Jonathan Lawrence is a queer filmmaker of Cree and mixed European ancestry who has produced several award-winning short and feature films. He is a professionally trained actor with an honours degree from the University of Winnipeg Department of Theatre & Film; he has been selected for Telefilm’s Talent to Watch Program, the CFC/Netflix Project Development Accelerator, the Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative and was one of six Canadian creators to attend the Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship at the Whistler Film Festival.
Lawrence directs, writes and stars in Alter Boys; the series is produced by Ryan Cooper (Aberdeen), executive produced by Al Magee (Trailer Park Boys, Little Mosque on the Prairie) and Kyle Bornais (The Swearing Jar), with cinematography by Jordan Popowich (Querencia), and the series is produced by Farpoint Films. Alter Boys showcases the immense talents of writer/director and star Jonathan Lawrence (When the World Was Flat), Keishon Joseph (Ordinary Angels), Justin Otto (This is Why We Fight), Matthew Lupu (Don’t Even), Dakota Nickels (Aberdeen), Arne MacPherson (The Ice Road), Gabriel Daniels (Acting Good) and Duncan Cox (First Person Shooter)
The series Alter Boys, which garnered generous support from the ISO, Telefilm, and CBC, is based on a short film of the same name that won numerous awards, including ACTRA Manitoba’s inaugural Diversity Short Film Competition, the Audience Choice Best Short award at the 2020 Reel Pride Film Festival, and Best Manitoba Film at the 2020 Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival.
The Winnipeg-filmed series Alter Boys from writer/director and actor Jonathan Lawrence is now streaming on CBC Gem in Canada.
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