Patrik-Ian Polk: My Favorite Things
By Keith Boykin, in pop culture
Monday, October 17 2005, 12:07PM
I first met Patrik-Ian Polk at the New York premiere of his 2001 film "Punks." Although I was mostly mesmerized that night by the stunning presence of Rockmond Dunbar and Boris Kodjoe (who sat in front of me), Patrik cast a noticeable visage with his height, hat, and haute couture fashion. He was more than just the director, he was the tallest guy in the room.
A few years ago, I sat with Patrik at New York's midtown Vynl restaurant when he shared an idea he had for a new television series centered around the lives of four black gay men in Los Angeles. This Wednesday, that idea will finally become a reality when "Noah's Arc" becomes the first black gay series on television.
In the spring of 2004, I visited Los Angeles for a speech at UCLA. I called Patrik to say hello and he told me he was busy filming that day. He invited me over to The Catch One nightclub to watch, and when I arrived I got roped into a cameo appearance in a dance scene. I took off my dress shirt and moved around the dance floor in my tank top for what seemed like hours to get the scene right. That was my only role in Patrik's TV series.
Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1973, the 32-year-old director has come a long way to get to his current life in Los Angeles. I ran into Patrik at the New York premiere party for "Noah" Arc last Thursday, and he was in his element. As the second subject to be profiled in the "My Favorite Things" series, I asked Patrik to tell me his five favorite websites. (Be advised, that some of the sites listed below are sexually explicit.)
Patrik's Favorite Websites
1. Myspace.com: A great site for keeping up with friends, making new ones and even promoting your work. And the blog feature is the best way to keep your friends abreast of your latest personal dramas and life observations, and it's hella cathartic.
2. Blkrush.com: If you don't want to deal with the inconvenience or embarrassment of renting videos and DVD's, then this black gay porn site is just the ticket. It features an assortment of video clips of various brothas getting it on. Hella hot and convenient. They also have a hot sister site called Blatinoworld.com.
3. Logoonline.com: For info on my new tv show NOAH'S ARC.
4. EW.com: For the latest and silliest entertainment news.
5. Nifty.org: When you've grown tired of watching your Enrique Cruz DVD for the 1,000th time, then this amazing archive of gay erotic fiction is a free alternative. And it's conveniently broken down by categories such as interracial, athletics, authoritarian, military, incest (I never read any of those!!!), rural and more...
Comments conceal
Jeff Hobbs
October 17 2005, 2:12PM
No Comment!:) LOL
Nyah Molneaux
October 17 2005, 3:09PM
I saw him last year at HRC and my friend he was from Mississippi and was kind of stuck up.
Mark Smith
October 17 2005, 4:01PM
Hey Patrik,
I don't know you but I am excited that the show is premeiring this WEDNESDAY! Wow I have been waiting for this a long time, ever since I saw the trailer a while back. So good luck and I will hype it up for you and tell a friend to tell a friend.
Much Love,
Mark Corece Smith
jaymillionaire
October 18 2005, 2:02AM
Dayum, he's fine. Keith loves the cute ones. Keep it up Mr. Boykin.
Roger
October 18 2005, 9:52AM
I heard all of the controversy about distribution and such of PUNKS, so it seems I will never get to see it. Does anyone know if that is still true, or if its available on the net somewhere?
Patrik-Ian Polk
October 18 2005, 8:01PM
Thanks, Keith for giving my show some love. As for PUNKS, I have no idea when or even IF the movie will ever be out on DVD. I wish I controlled the rights, but I don't. There were a lot of dramas with the distribution company who released the film (Urbanworld Films). They made quite a mess of the situation, and now Edmonds Entertainment (who produced PUNKS) owns the rights. There are still many loose ends to be tied up to clear the film for DVD issue, and hopefully one day that will happen. In the meantime, we have NOAH'S ARC to delight and entertain us. LOL.
As for the gentleman who called me "stuck up", we did screenings of NOAH in 24 cities last year and I attended them all. At each of these screenings attended by thousands of people, I do my best to meet and greet as many people as possible, but unfortunately I am only one person and cannot get around to talk to everyone nor can I spend the amount of time with each individual that they might like. So you may feel free to think of me as stuck up, but I hope you won't let that keep you from enjoying NOAH'S ARC each Wednesday night at 10pm on Logo. www.logoonline.com
Thanks,
Patrik-Ian Polk
andre
October 18 2005, 8:52PM
when you guy do these promotional tours for your movies and books can u come to the ft.lauderdale/miami area thanks
emanuel xavier
October 18 2005, 10:38PM
I am thrilled to finally watch NOAH'S ARC on LOGO. I haven't seen Renoly Santiago from PUNKS in quite a while and never had the chance to personally meet and congratulate Mr. Polk at the festivals. Thanks for all you do and opening so many doors for gay men of color ;)
Roger
October 19 2005, 12:36AM
Likewise,
Much success to you Patrick. If no one else tells you, you are a sojourner, so Keep doing what your doing. Many of us are appreciative.
malik
October 19 2005, 8:37AM
We've been watching and waiting and praying and cheering and writing letters and spreading the word and loving every minute of seeing this show coming to fruition. Kudos to Patrik and his creative team for making it happen! I can't wait for the premiere tonight!
howard chambers
October 19 2005, 11:21PM
Isaw the original Noah's Arc and the Logo versiopn. both are entertaining but the Logo version seems to be a little overacted. the story doesn't follow as easily or as humorously as the original. Also the characters appear to be trying to be more effeminate in the Logo version. I will cintinue to watch but I hope the future episodes willhave a better groove. Congratulations on being a trailblazer and much success. Peace
Terence C
October 20 2005, 4:11PM
Bravo to LOGO...
Gay Black men "livin the life"... young, beautiful, bitchy and going through the madness all of us go through ...but in the real world we are not as well coiffured and polished. I watched the show with another friend. The friend saw the original movie. Although, I found it hard to relate to the lives and actions of the main characters, the revelation, is that I am seeing the lives of any young black men portrayed on national television or any other media outlet. One has to keep in mind the show is a comedy and not a documentary. Whether there are black gay men who live in that fashion or not, it gives us and the world looking in, a prospective, a different prospective.
Noah, played by Darryl Stephens, is the little lamb, navigating his way in a world of wolves or hounds (take you pick). He is so doe-like, large expressive eyes, coy, shy...one can help but want to hold his hand (or other parts)and guide him safely into the world. His friends are quite a different animal. They have been around the block, the corner, the neighborhood, the city... you get the jest of it. Always with a word of advice, always knowing what sweet Noah should do but not quite able to navigate their own way in their own lives. Just like friends to say "do as I say not as I live".
Noah is the glue of this first episode and possibly the reason to watch the series. One watched to see where he and the beautiful, seductive and dangerous Wade, played by Jensen Atwood, would end up (or whose rear end would up). Wade is the man who could "melt the drawers" off men and women just by smiling. Damn, he is PHYNE, I digress. He is man mamma warned you about... great looking, great in bed, but possibly not a great mate. One might want to re-think an involvement with a man, who invites you to his loft for the first time as well as a video vixen look a like. What was up with the lip locking between Noah and the girl. Lesbianism. Back to the meat of the story, the chemistry between Noah and Wade is electric. It is because of these two characters I will watch in the coming weeks.
Again, kudos to LOGO and Patrick- Ian Polk,the creator, and Darryl Stephens and Jensen Atwood, two new faces to watch...
Frederick Smith
October 20 2005, 5:09PM
Patrik... good job and congratulations on a job well done with Noah's Arc. It's nice to see so much hard work pay off.
fs
Kevin
October 22 2005, 11:06AM
I would like to congratulate Mr. Polk on Noah's Arc. I was in complete shock when I saw "Punks" in NYC when it was running here, because of the excellent quality of the film and the script. As a fellow artist, I understand the limitations that People of Color may have in regards to raising capital for projects of this nature and projects in general. Patrick pulled "Punks" of without a hitch and "Noah's Arc" appears to be on its way to higher heights than "Punks". The only complaint that me and my friends had was that, almost all of the main characters are extremely feminine ("Punks" had the same problem)except for Wade who we relate the most too. That one minor detail aside, we are definitely supporting "Noah's Arc" because the work put into the project speaks for itself. Unfortunately, many of my Chicago and Atlanta friends do not have access to LOGO so they have me taping all of the episodes for them. They got a hold of a bad bootleg copy of "Punks" and enjoyed your work so much that they just had to have your latest work. Not to worry, we will all purchase the 1st season DVD box set of "Noah's Arc" and the cult classic "Punks" once the issues are resolved and it comes out on DVD. Keep up the great work brotha!
One of your biggest supporters!
Kevin in Brooklyn,NY
P. S. I stopped by your Sunday Premier party in Brooklyn,and I was hoping for a bigger crowd. Just remember that if the location is not by a subway line, you may not get the crowd you want. The majority of the people here in NYC don't drive. Manhattan is the best spot for events because they have the most subway lines. And even though the bar you chose was really nice you don't have to impress the NYC brothas with "L. A. Fabulousness" (I know how you all get down in L. A. :) ) but location (even a hole in the wall club) in relation to the subway system is more key in NYC. Continued success!
Waddie G.
October 23 2005, 2:44AM
good job on the TV show, Patrick...Chicago is a large city...how come there were no promotions of Noah's Arc in Chicago, but there were some in Detroit?
Shawn
October 23 2005, 7:53PM
EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT JOB!...I LOVE THE SERIES!!
P.S.
Patrick, you need to release "Punks & Noah's Arc"
on DVD. Both are worth being in my movie collection!!