“We can have nice things.” – Chriso, Love is the Slug
Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Fruit Fly the musical/comedy/drama by local filmmaker H.P. Mendoza. It follows the story of Bethesda, a Filipina performance artist, in a nuanced, charming portrayal by L.A. Renigen, who moves to San Francisco to try to stage a work-in-progress version of her one woman show. She moves into a communal house [...]
“Fruit Fly caused quite a buzz in The Castro!” -Sister Dana Van Iquity, San Francisco Bay Times
By Sister Dana Van Iquity Published: August 19, 2010 Are you among those who long for the golden age of MGM movies when people would suddenly break into song and dance at the least credible moments? Or do you secretly wish your life could have a cast of singers and dancers to interpret and provide [...]
“The theatre was thundering with laughter.” – Ameya Bahulekar, Dear Cinema
A report from the Mumbai International Queer Film Festival http://dearcinema.com/article/festival-diary-kashish-mumbai-international-queer-film-fest-2010
“One of those films that, at the risk of sounding cheesy and cliched, fills you with pure unadulterated joy.” – Ada Tseng/Brian Hu, Asia Pacific Arts
“Fruit Fly reminds us that the setbacks, explorations, and digressions are just as important as the end products.” Read more here: Best of 2009
“Refreshing! Nuanced enough to fuel master’s thesis.” – Jason Sanders, Filmmaker Magazine
H.P. Mendoza, the composer and co-star of festival hit Colma: The Musical (SDAFF ’06) returns with a solo directorial debut that aims his poisoned pen and catchy Casio keyboards toward that never-dead city San Francisco. Here we discover Bethesda (a radiant L.A. Renigen of Colma fame), newly arrived from Maryland and Manila, eager to succeed in the [...]
“Utterly filthy! The songs all display a grand helping of wit, though Mendoza’s predilection toward perversion can grow a bit wearisome.” – Dean Carrico, Honolulu Weekly
Fruit Fly, playing Sun 10/18 and Mon, 10/19 at Dole Cannery, uses its songs as pure whimsy, and the playfulness comes through from the opening credits in H.P. Mendoza’s opening score. This is the second musical for the screenwriter, who starred in 2006’s Colma: The Musical, and like that film, Casio keyboards ought to be sending [...]
“Gutsy! This is the musical to see.” – Fresno Bee
“Grade: A Smart, funny, gutsy, endearing, creative, insightful, wildly unpredictable. This is the musical to see.” Read more: Reel Pride sports strong lineup
Video piece done by Street Talkin’, asking audience members about Fruit Fly.
I love listening to what audience members had to say! The street team behind this was super cool and were very supportive. http://phillycommunity.streettalkin.com/_QFEST-Philadelphia-Fruit-Fly-Viewer-Review/video/726387/47496.html
“Witty! A homespun musical” – Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
“Also screening in “Four in Focus” is H.P. Mendoza’s witty, homespun musical “Fruit Fly,” a story of aspiring young artists, which opens with a number extolling the virtues of San Francisco’s public transit system.” Read more: At Outfest, Redefining Gay Film
!["The catchy tunes...[are] nearly a synth popera" - Shaun Brady, Philadelphia Citypaper](http://hpmendoza.com/fruitflyfilm/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/review06-270x150.jpg)
“The catchy tunes…[are] nearly a synth popera” – Shaun Brady, Philadelphia Citypaper
“Screen- and songwriter H.P. Mendoza follows up his slacker musical Colma with his directorial debut, following another cast of young artsy types bemoaning their rainy dispositions in sunny California.” Read more: QFest movie shorts – Philadelphia City Paper
!["Gorgeous! A winning musical that begs to be seen [and] deserves to be." - Prince Gomolvilas, The Bilerico Project](http://hpmendoza.com/fruitflyfilm/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/review07-270x150.jpg)
“Gorgeous! A winning musical that begs to be seen [and] deserves to be.” – Prince Gomolvilas, The Bilerico Project
“The movie is gorgeous to look at, moves along at a bouncy clip, and features some imaginative visual effects. (Mendoza takes the helm as director here, while Richard Wong, who directed Colma, is smartly kept on as cinematographer.) Once again, Medoza’s songs soar, but his lyrics are even sharper and funnier this time out.” Read [...]
!["[Fruit Fly] will delight even those who normally steer clear of song and dance films." - Gary Kramer, Philadelphia Gay News](http://hpmendoza.com/fruitflyfilm/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/review08-270x150.jpg)
“[Fruit Fly] will delight even those who normally steer clear of song and dance films.” – Gary Kramer, Philadelphia Gay News
“From his fabulous credit sequence and equally wonderful opening number to the amusing lyrics he sings during the closing crawl, Mendoza’s film is an enjoyable low-budget musical.” Read more here: Four films worthy of a festival – Gary Kramer, Philadelphia Gay News
!["Refreshing! Critiques gay culture [with] hilarity and perspicacity." -Kevin Langson, Edge Boston](http://hpmendoza.com/fruitflyfilm/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/review09-270x150.jpg)
“Refreshing! Critiques gay culture [with] hilarity and perspicacity.” -Kevin Langson, Edge Boston
Wow, what an awesome review by Kevin Langson of EDGE. “Fruit Fly is brimming with keen humor and a keen sense of San Francisco. This new gay comedic musical by local director/writer/actor/musician H.P. Mendoza shares a low budget ingenuity with the successful “Colma: The Musical,” which Mendoza wrote and performed in a few years back. [...]
“Irresistible! If only life were like an H.P. Mendoza musical.” -G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
If only life could be like an H.P. Mendoza musical – you’d be eternally young, live in a colorful San Francisco world and as you sing along with your friends, your problems would seem eminently surmountable. And yet, over an early dinner recently at a Thai restaurant near downtown, Mendoza confesses, “This is my last [...]
