Zerophilia
Encyclopedia
Zerophilia is a 2006 romantic comedy
with speculative-fiction
elements directed by Academy of Motion Pictures' Student Academy Award winning director Martin Curland and produced by Microangelo Entertainment. It is about a young man who discovers that he has a genetic condition which causes him to change gender when he orgasms.
. Following their first full sexual experience, zerophiliacs begin to change gender after experiencing an orgasm. Luke (Taylor Handley
), a young man somewhat insecure about his masculinity, begins to exhibit zerophilia following an encounter with a woman (Kelly LeBrock
). He meets Michelle (Rebecca Mozo) and experiences partial transformations when they go out together.
He confides with his best friend Keenen (Dustin Seavey) about his partial transformations, who in turn contacts Dr. Sydney Catchadourian (Gina Bellman
). Dr. Catchadourian persuades Luke to go through a full transformation. Luke does this by masturbating and becoming female, calling herself "Luca". Luca has difficulty achieving an orgasm to change back, even with coaching from Keenan's girlfriend Janine (Alison Folland
). However, a visit by Michelle's attractive brother, Max (Kyle Schmid
), who flirts with "Luke's cousin", enables her to get sufficiently aroused to complete the transformation back.
Luke is threatened by his gender transformation, his arousal by an attractive male, and the questions of sexuality it raises; he seeks help from Sydney. She tells him that a zerophiliac can become "a-morphic" and stop changing gender only by having sex with another zerophiliac... such as herself. He relents, but discovers afterward that she wasn't telling him the full truth: an a-morphic zerophiliac can still change, but only by having sex with another zerophiliac; Dr. Catchadourian was using Luke to change herself into a man, leaving Luca as a woman in the process.
Comic tensions arise from Luke's efforts to keep Michelle at a distance, Max's defensiveness about his sister, Luca's half-hearted resistance to Max's affections, and Luke's confused aggression toward Max. When Michelle discovers that Luke had sex with Dr. Catchadourian, she feels betrayed. Hoping to find Michelle, Luca seeks out Max and reveals the depth of her/(his) affection for Michelle and how sorry he is to have betrayed her. Max is touched by her apology, and reveals that he is actually Michelle, also a zerophiliac. They make love repeatedly, both of them changing gender each time, destined to live happily, alternately as Luca and Max and Luke and Michelle.
The screenplay can be found on The International Movie Screenplay Database, http://www.imsdb.com
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
with speculative-fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
elements directed by Academy of Motion Pictures' Student Academy Award winning director Martin Curland and produced by Microangelo Entertainment. It is about a young man who discovers that he has a genetic condition which causes him to change gender when he orgasms.
Plot
"Zerophilia" is a fictional condition that affects an unknown number of people afflicted with an extra "Z" chromosomeXY sex-determination system
The XY sex-determination system is the sex-determination system found in humans, most other mammals, some insects and some plants . In this system, females have two of the same kind of sex chromosome , and are called the homogametic sex. Males have two distinct sex chromosomes , and are called...
. Following their first full sexual experience, zerophiliacs begin to change gender after experiencing an orgasm. Luke (Taylor Handley
Taylor Handley
Taylor Laurence Handley is an American actor.In 1998, Taylor played Rory Buck in the movie Jack Frost. In 2000, Handley starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie, Phantom of the Megaplex. Handley appeared in three episodes during the last season of Dawson's Creek and guest starred during an...
), a young man somewhat insecure about his masculinity, begins to exhibit zerophilia following an encounter with a woman (Kelly LeBrock
Kelly LeBrock
Kelly LeBrock is an American actress and model. Her acting debut was in The Woman in Red co-starring with comedian Gene Wilder. She also starred in the film Weird Science, directed by John Hughes.-Early life:...
). He meets Michelle (Rebecca Mozo) and experiences partial transformations when they go out together.
He confides with his best friend Keenen (Dustin Seavey) about his partial transformations, who in turn contacts Dr. Sydney Catchadourian (Gina Bellman
Gina Bellman
Gina Bellman is a New Zealand-born British actress currently starring in the series Leverage as Sophie Devereaux for which she was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in Television.-Personal life:...
). Dr. Catchadourian persuades Luke to go through a full transformation. Luke does this by masturbating and becoming female, calling herself "Luca". Luca has difficulty achieving an orgasm to change back, even with coaching from Keenan's girlfriend Janine (Alison Folland
Alison Folland
Alison Folland is an American actress.Folland was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a travel agent mother and a cardiologist father. She grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and attended high school at Buckingham Browne & Nichols, a private school in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
). However, a visit by Michelle's attractive brother, Max (Kyle Schmid
Kyle Schmid
Kyle Schmid is a Canadian actor who starred as Henry Fitzroy in Lifetime's series Blood Ties. He has also guest starred in a number of television series including Degrassi: The Next Generation, Odyssey 5, The Zack Files and CSI: Miami.In addition he has also appeared in a number of films like The...
), who flirts with "Luke's cousin", enables her to get sufficiently aroused to complete the transformation back.
Luke is threatened by his gender transformation, his arousal by an attractive male, and the questions of sexuality it raises; he seeks help from Sydney. She tells him that a zerophiliac can become "a-morphic" and stop changing gender only by having sex with another zerophiliac... such as herself. He relents, but discovers afterward that she wasn't telling him the full truth: an a-morphic zerophiliac can still change, but only by having sex with another zerophiliac; Dr. Catchadourian was using Luke to change herself into a man, leaving Luca as a woman in the process.
Comic tensions arise from Luke's efforts to keep Michelle at a distance, Max's defensiveness about his sister, Luca's half-hearted resistance to Max's affections, and Luke's confused aggression toward Max. When Michelle discovers that Luke had sex with Dr. Catchadourian, she feels betrayed. Hoping to find Michelle, Luca seeks out Max and reveals the depth of her/(his) affection for Michelle and how sorry he is to have betrayed her. Max is touched by her apology, and reveals that he is actually Michelle, also a zerophiliac. They make love repeatedly, both of them changing gender each time, destined to live happily, alternately as Luca and Max and Luke and Michelle.
Cast
- Taylor HandleyTaylor HandleyTaylor Laurence Handley is an American actor.In 1998, Taylor played Rory Buck in the movie Jack Frost. In 2000, Handley starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie, Phantom of the Megaplex. Handley appeared in three episodes during the last season of Dawson's Creek and guest starred during an...
as Luke - Dustin Seavey as Keenan
- Alison FollandAlison FollandAlison Folland is an American actress.Folland was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a travel agent mother and a cardiologist father. She grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and attended high school at Buckingham Browne & Nichols, a private school in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
as Janine - Kyle SchmidKyle SchmidKyle Schmid is a Canadian actor who starred as Henry Fitzroy in Lifetime's series Blood Ties. He has also guest starred in a number of television series including Degrassi: The Next Generation, Odyssey 5, The Zack Files and CSI: Miami.In addition he has also appeared in a number of films like The...
as Max - Rebecca Mozo as Michelle
- Adam Zolotin as Chad
- Gina BellmanGina BellmanGina Bellman is a New Zealand-born British actress currently starring in the series Leverage as Sophie Devereaux for which she was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in Television.-Personal life:...
as Dr. Sydney Catchadourian (female) - Chris MeyerChris MeyerChris Meyer , sometimes credited as Christopher Scott Meyer, is an American film and television actor.-Career:Since 2001, he has appeared in at least thirteen films and made guest appearances in six television productions including the police-procedural, dramatic television series Law & Order:...
as Jeremy - Marieh DelfinoMarieh DelfinoMarieh Delfino is an American actress.Delfino was born in Caracas, Venezuela to an entrepreneur father, and immigrated to the United States in 1984. Her sister is Majandra Delfino...
as Luca - Kelly LeBrockKelly LeBrockKelly LeBrock is an American actress and model. Her acting debut was in The Woman in Red co-starring with comedian Gene Wilder. She also starred in the film Weird Science, directed by John Hughes.-Early life:...
as Woman in RV - Rick Stear as Dr. Sydney Catchadourian (male)
Release
The film was released on October 13, 2006 in theaters in North America. It was released internationally on cable and DVD in February 2007.The screenplay can be found on The International Movie Screenplay Database, http://www.imsdb.com
External links
- REVIEW - New York Times (October 13, 2006, New York Times)
- REVIEW - Variety (November 6, 2006, VarietyVariety (magazine)Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
) - REVIEW - Slant Magazine (2006, Slant Magazine)
- REVIEW - Insight News (February 19, 2007, Insight News)