Camp (film)

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Camp
Film poster
Directed by	Todd Graff
Produced by	Danny DeVito Pamela Koffler Katie Roumel Michael Shamberg Stacey Sher Christine Vachon Jonathan Weisgal
Written by	Todd Graff
Starring	Daniel Letterle Joanna Chilcoat Robin de Jesus Tiffany Taylor Don Dixon Sasha Allen
Music by	Stephen Trask Jon Lind (song "I Believe in Us") Victoria Williams (song "Century Plant")
Cinematography	Kip Bogdahn
Editing by	Myron I. Kerstein
Distributed by	IFC Films
Release date(s)	2003
Running time	114 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

Camp is a 2003 independent film, written and directed by Todd Graff, about an upstate New York performing arts summer camp. The film is based on Graff's own experiences at a similar camp called Stagedoor Manor.

[edit] Plot

Camp focuses on the formation of a love triangle between campers Vlad, Ellen, and Michael. Michael and Ellen have been to the camp before; Vlad is a first-timer. Vlad is one of the few male campers who identifies as heterosexual, he's more interested in roots-rock style music than Broadway show tunes, and he's interested in sports. Vlad ends up rooming with Michael, a gay youth who – after being gay bashed for wearing a dress to his junior prom – is estranged from his parents. Michael quickly develops a crush on Vlad, who enjoys the attention but doesn't reciprocate the emotion. Vlad, initially "seeing" Jill, ends up instead involved with Ellen after they're cast in a play together.

Throughout the summer, the campers put on productions of various plays and musicals, including Midnight Sun, Buried Child, Dreamgirls, Promises, Promises, and Company. Bert Hanley comes to the camp as a special guest counselor. Bert wrote one hit musical, The Children's Crusade, but was never able to repeat that success. As a result, he has developed a drinking problem.

Jill, a prima donna, picks up a devoted follower in the person of Fritzi. Initially borderline sycophantic, in an All About Eve-style move Fritzi slips Woolite into Jill's Snapple, sabotaging her appearance in Company and stepping into her role.

Also featured is Jenna, an overweight girl whose father has had her jaws wired shut to induce her to lose weight.

Michael reaches out to his parents, inviting them to see him play Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. When he sees they haven't come for the show, he launches into Maria's final speech from West Side Story and flees the stage. Vlad comforts him and Michael's feelings for him deepen.

After the campers throw Michael a drag-themed birthday party, head counselor Glen, concerned that the kids won't develop normally, restricts rehearsals to three hours per day. Bert convinces him to relent, noting that while the campers are "freaks," the more they try to make them "normal" the more isolated they will feel.

Following an alcohol-fueled tantrum from Bert, Vlad goes to Bert's room to confront him. There he finds a number of songs Bert wrote following The Children's Crusade in a number of styles. Vlad convinces the other campers to do a revue of Bert's songs for the camp's annual benefit. During the first rehearsal, Bert walks into them singing the uplifting "Century Plant". At first upset, Bert quickly is touched by the campers and joins the rehearsal enthusiastically and agrees to direct the benefit.

Michael, increasingly frustrated with his unrequited crush on Vlad, has sex with Dee, Ellen's roommate. He tells Vlad, who doesn't believe him and goes to ask Dee. She tells him that Michael talked about Vlad most of the time. Dee teasingly questions Vlad's sexuality and to prove he's straight he kisses her. They start making out, but Ellen walks in on them.

As Vlad, Michael, Ellen, and Dee get ready for the benefit, Vlad's girlfriend Julie shows up, exasperating the other three. The feud between Jill and Fritzi continues, with Fritzi sabotaging Jill's makeup and Jill attacking Fritzi and breaking several bones. Bert and Glen turn to Jenna to perform. They cut her jaws loose and she sings "Here's Where I Stand". Her parents are in the audience; her father hears the lyrics and understands the message to him, silently acknowledging that he will accept her as she is.

Following the benefit, Vlad tries to make amends with Michael, offering himself sexually. Michael turns him down. Vlad admits to being an "attention junkie" and teases Michael playfully and Michael forgives him.

Ellen happens upon them and learns that Julie broke up with Vlad. She forgives him also and agrees to go out with them when they all return home.

[edit] Nominations

The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, and Anna Kendrick was nominated for Best Debut Performance at the 2004 Independent Spirit Awards.