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Logline

Days in the Dark: The Life of Vito Russo is a biographical film about the famed Gay Rights leader whose affinity for cinema sparked a life of writing, romance, and activism.

Synopsis

The film opens at the 1973 Gay Pride Gala in New York City, where tens of thousands marched into Washington Square Park demanding gay rights and the freedom to love openly. Rising through the ranks of the Gay Activists Alliance, Vito Russo was chosen to emcee the event. While the march was peaceful, the rally fractured as ideological divisions erupted onstage, with competing visions of liberation clashing under the leadership of Sylvia Rivera and Jane O’Leary. The chaos was unexpectedly defused when Vito’s close friend Bette Midler took the stage and united the crowd with her song “Friends.” Despite its power, the Gala marked the movement’s peak, as the Gay Activists Alliance soon dissolved and political momentum faded.

Disillusioned, Vito retreated from activism and returned to his first love, cinema. Believing that film shaped how society viewed homosexuality, he developed a groundbreaking lecture analyzing queer representation in Hollywood. The lecture gained national attention and led to his seminal book The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies. The work launched Vito into international prominence as a cultural critic and journalist, forging close friendships, including one with Lily Tomlin.

Despite professional success, Vito longed for love. He found it in San Francisco with Jeff Sevcik, a gentle young man he met atop the Castro Theatre marquee. Their happiness was short lived as a mysterious illness, later known as AIDS, devastated the gay community. Jeff died, and soon after, Vito was diagnosed.

Facing his mortality, Vito returned to the front lines. Alongside longtime rival Larry Kramer, he helped form ACT UP and GLAAD, dedicating his final years to protest, education, and fighting government indifference.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Kenneth Lott — Director
After graduating from the School of Visual Arts Masters in Directing Program, his debut short film The Fling debuted at the DGA Theater in New York City, garnering several nominations for Best Short and Best actress, and one win for Best Cinematography. His debut feature film CITY premiered at the San Francisco Black Film Festival and has since been selected to over a dozen film festivals, taking home wins for Best Feature and Best Soundtrack at the Hip Hop Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature at the San Antonio Black Film Festival, as well as many other nominations.

Terrence Greco — Writer
Terrence has always had a knack for creativity and entertainment, regardless of the medium. As a teenager, he became particularly fond of the culinary arts. It was a platform that allowed originality to come to the forefront. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and a few years in to being a professional chef, Terrence decided he wanted to add to his passion. With this in mind, he studied Mass Communications at the State University of New York College at Oneonta, where he unexpectedly found the love for screenwriting. Since graduation, Terrence has completed three feature-length screenplays including the award winning indie film CITY. He looks to build a life long career of storytelling built off his passion to create and entertain.

Michael Urie — Vito Russo
Michael Urie currently stars as Brian alongside Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed series Shrinking, earning him his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, winning the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and receiving a SAG Award nomination as part of the show’s ensemble cast.

Most recently on Broadway, Urie starred as Mary’s Teacher in the smash hit Oh, Mary! alongside Jinkx Monsoon. The Tony Award-winning play became the first show in the Lyceum Theatre’s 121-year history to gross more than $1 million in a single week. This fall, he stars as Richard in Red Bull Theater’s radical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard II, set in 1980s Manhattan at the historic Astor Place Theatre. His recent Broadway credits include Prince Dauntless opposite Sutton Foster in Once Upon a Mattress and the revival of Spamalot.

Josh Folan — Producer
Josh Folan is a producer/writer/director/editor/actor/Ohioan expat/pug baby daddy – though not necessarily in that order – that began professionally making things people watch on screens in 2005, prior to which he studied finance at The Ohio State University. Some filmmaking highlights since founding NYEH Entertainment in 2008 include 2022 Austin audience award winner Dance Dads, 2022 SXSW selection Bitch Ass, 2020 SF Indie Shorts Best U.S. Comedy winner Two Wizards, One Staff, 2018 Hamptons/Woodstock/Napa selection Ask For Jane, 2017 SXSW audience award winner The Light of the Moon, 2015 Slamdance selection BODY, and 2015 Raindance selection The Lives of Hamilton Fish.

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Contact

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