John: Jonathan Wade-Drahos	Hector: Andre Khabbazi
Nina: Kiersten Warren	Gill: Brian Lane Green
Tad: Daniel Kucan	Louise: Nancy Allen
Bobby: Paul Lekakis	Gino: William Katt
Julian: Darryl Stephens	Director: Dirk Shafer

30 second bottom line: An insight into the party scene for gay men with a look at what can be expected from "conservative" versus "let it all hang out" behavior.

Story Line: The "Circuit" refers to the hard partying done by gay men. One-night stands have always been risky, irrespective of the sex of the partners. Although it's been a while since I've been out there in the mix, looking at how gay men can act in private, plus the orgy-like conduct in nightclubs in public, borders on being surreal. I think it's sort of like the heterosexual spring break frenzy in Florida, except it's in your own back yard, any day of the year. What the behaviors have in common is a high-risk life style.

John (Jonathan Wade-Drahos) is a police officer who lives in a small mid-western town. After learning that no one wants to be his partner because he is homosexual, he is encouraged to consider living in a community that is more accepting.

Leaving his hometown, John travels to Los Angeles and finds that he is welcomed with open arms. He meets Hector (Andre Khabbazi), a gay man, who only has sex for money. Hector's had facial surgery and is concerned that he is starting to look old for his age…about 30. He is more of a kept man (looking for a sugar daddy) than a prostitute.

Bobby (Paul Lekakis) is in love with himself (as are many in Hollywood and elsewhere) and because of his HIV diagnosis, has decided that since time is short, he might as well live life to the max. He performs at local nightclubs and gives himself injections to ensure that his penis is maximum size when the moment comes to show it on stage. Bobby is a guy who fully expects to hit the wall before long.

Nina (Kiersten Warren) and her drug-dealing husband Gino (William Katt) provide one of three key contrasts in the film; another is Gill (Brian Lane Green) and the last is Louise (Nancy Allen).

Gino takes out a life insurance and health policy for Bobby by switching his blood for the HIV testing. When Bobby's treatments indicate that he may never develop full-blown AIDS, and it appears he is not going to die, Gino decides to help speed Bobby's demise because he is the beneficiary. Gino hosts various huge, gay parties, with the big one being the White Party (they use different colors at various times) where more than 6,000 men converge in Palm Springs to have a high old time. He donates money to AIDS research, which his wife Nina correctly thinks is hypocritical since he sells drugs, which can contribute to the spread of the disease. When people are high, they often won't use their condoms.

Gill has had a long-term relationship with his lover Tad (Daniel Kucan). Tad wants to be a filmmaker and is doing a documentary within his close knit gay community. He is also conflicted about his relationship with Gill and tries to decide if he's in love with him or his new DJ friend, Julian (Darryl Stephens). Julian is also now living in Gill's house and he provides temporary shelter to John as well until he finds his own place.

Soon it's clear that Gill and John have a budding relationship that might come to fruition, if John survives his initiation into the party scene and both start thinking about the prospect of being monogamous. John slips out of his controlled behavior and is not only promiscuous but gets into the drug scene big-time.

Providing contrast to gay life is Louise, a high school friend of John's, who he meets at a club where she does a stand-up comedy routine. When John realizes she's living in her car, he invites her to stay with him for awhile in his new place. Louise provides certain levity to the film as she tries to get her own act together (on and off stage) while helping her friend John.

Tell me more about it: On the surface, for me, the film seems to be exaggerated. But when I think about what I read about gay life in a gay publication, The Chicago Free Press, along with a look at the ads, the movie is probably closer to home than I first thought.

Some gay men do focus on being Gold's Gym muscular as a means of being considered attractive. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Associates (www.apsaccoiates.com) specializes in facial rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, brow lifts, body-contouring and laser hair removal. Northstar Healthcare, located in Chicago, says in its ad, "…we are unique like you. HIV and AIDS…very real for many of us…call for a free consultation…facial filling injections...psychological counseling… nutritional evaluation…in-office infusion and chemotherapy…."

The best review of this film will probably come from a homosexual who can pick up nuances that I may have missed either because of my heterosexuality, being out of the party scene for many years or worst of all, I just don't get it. That said, there are certain common sense aspects about how one manages their life, regardless of their sexuality. This speaks to a balance between which things you risk and survive, as well as never doing some things, because like falling off the Golden Gate Bridge, you can only do it once. Risk is much more than a word.