Sinema Club: sex-pos & LGBTQ+ film club: Zazel with special guest James Avalon

House of Scorpio

presents

Sinema Club: Zazel with special guest James Avalon

Wed September 18*, 7-11:30pm, 21+ (25+ suggested), open to all

Main space: movie night, $0-$10 sep on membership level

Bar & lounge: HoS Clubhouse, $FREE***

Gemini & Scorpio Loft, 267 Douglass St, 3rd fl (ADA accessible)

Official info & house rules: http://www.houseofscorpio.com/events.html

Memberships & tix: http://www.houseofscorpio.com/membership.html (log in to buy)

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/1047499443522593

FL: https://fetlife.com/events/1582891

PL: https://plra.io/m/sinema-club-sex-pos-and-lgbtq-film-club-tbd

Socials: @houseof_scorpio [producer] @gemini_scorpio [venue] #houseofscorpio

The body's largest sex organ is the brain. Sinema Club stimulates yours with films that are explicitly erotic, homo-romantic, or gender-exploring -- and always thought-provoking. A rousing discussion follows; drinking is encouraged throughout, and mingling happens before, during and after: the bar remains open for socializing, while the film plays in the main space. Plus: free popcorn from our vintage cart. Order dinner in, and make it dinner and a movie.

This months screening: 90s nouveau adult cinema classic, Zazel: The Scent of Love (1997).

It isn’t often that you hear of an adult movie being compared with fine art, but that’s a compliment Zazel has received over and over. It was directed by Philip Mond, whose fashion photography background is a clear influence here (he also did the camera work and designed the costumes and special make-up). The film is famous for its visually elaborate set pieces; extravagant costuming, make-up and body painting; and expensive filming techniques, such as underwater photography. 

The plot of Zazel revolves around the titular perfumier as she attempts to craft "the most sensually arousing fragrance ever", but the real stars are the veteran adult film stars and Penthouse models (Sasha Vinni, Gina LaMarca, Nikie St. Gilles) playing mystical creatures who enjoy all kinds of revelry, and Mond’s skilled eye.

Our screening of Zazel: The Scent of Love will be followed by a talkback with James Avalon, who edited the film as well as directed more than 370 credits over the course of his career. Avalon won the 1998 Best Editing AVN award for Zazel (the film also won six other awards, including Best Film).

Sinema Club is curated and hosted by Phil Guie-Ng (@thatphilguymovies): an inquisitive, ardent longtime film critic who is dying to tell you about movies you haven't heard of yet. As a reviewer at the website Film-Forward, his self-appointed mission was covering documentaries and features about subjects who challenged conventional attitudes about gender, masculinity, and more. When Phil isn't writing about movies, you can find him in Brooklyn taking part in protests on behalf of basic human rights.

*Sinema Club happens on the third Wednesday of every month

***Plus: House of Scorpio Clubhouse. Whatever your membership level, you are invited to use our space as your own for the night...as your clubhouse. While the ticketed activities will take place on the stage side of the room, the bar and lounge will remain open 7pm-11pm (12am if enough people are lounging). Just like with regular events, if you're Friend level and above, you can bring up to two friends with you. Order in dinner, have a few drinks, run a friendly board game, or just read a book on the comfy couch. This is not a mixer -- just us opening our doors for our members. It's up to you how much you socialize, if at all, and with whom.

COVID safety: HoS requires proof of vaccination on file; masks encouraged; two hospital grade UV air purifiers will cycle the air.