New Film "Desert Migration"

Filmmakers Daniel Cardone and Marc Smolowitz about their new documentary "Desert Migration" for The HIV Story Project with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Since HIV treatments have improved, many HIV positive men ages 50+ from all over the US decided that Palm Springs seemed like a viable place to retire where health services are great, housing is affordable and it’s always sunny. Filmmakers Cardone and Smolowitz who are both HIV positive are telling these men’s stories in their new documentary “Desert Migration.” We talked to Daniel and Marc about their relevant new film and their spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what their personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Cardone stated, “My personal commitment to LGBT civil rights is just to live an open and affirmative life where I’m not apologetic for who I am and be proud and active and engaged and interested and I think that is key. You don’t necessarily have to be in a march or a rally or something like that but you do have to be interested and I do think you have to be engaged in your community and know and be informed. That’s what I try and do; I just try to know what’s going on. I don’t want to be a clueless person and just say ‘my little corner is just fine, so I’m fine’. I think everything I do comes through I can’t hide under a bushel. I have to be out and I have to be gay and pride is something I had to earn. For a long time I was not proud to be gay. I didn’t understand the concept of gay pride and I think as I’ve gotten older now I know why we do this.” Smolowitz added, “When I think about my personal commitment I feel like that it is a lifelong commitment. I think with each new phase of my life and my work whether I’m talking about my work as a filmmaker or how I envision the world as an activist or as a person who is committed to social change, I’m consistently learning and relearning how to move through the world as an LGBT person. I feel very committed to making films about LGBT issues. The vast majority of my work touches the lives of LGBT communities and stories and today we’re talking about a film that has to do with HIV and AIDS. So when I talk about LGBT civil rights, when I talk about HIV and AIDS, I’m talking about the same thing and that’s how I bring those commitments together.”

Director/Producer Daniel F. Cardone was born in Australia and worked in production on critically-acclaimed films such as “The Home Song Stories”, “Animal Kingdom” and the HBO mini-series “The Pacific”. Daniel was also an Associate Producer on the groundbreaking Australian sitcom “Outland”. Marc Smolowitz is an Academy Award® nominated film, TV & new media producer of “The Weather Underground”, “Trembling Before G-d”, director of “The Power of Two” and executive producer of “Still Around” and The HIV Story Project with over twenty years of experience across all aspects of the entertainment and media business.
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