New Indie Film Takes Shelter at here! Networks and here! Films

Jonah Markowitz's Feature Directing Debut Shelter Will Be the First Project Showcased Under Network's Indie Film Initiative

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 11, 2007 - here!, America's premium gay television network, is pleased to announce it has finished production on the original film Shelter, written and directed by emerging filmmaker Jonah Markowitz and marking the first in a series of independent scripted projects here! will be producing. In addition, here! Films, the theatrical distribution and worldwide sales division of here! Networks, has secured worldwide distribution rights to the project, which marks the feature writing and directing debut of Markowitz.

"Partnering with talented emerging filmmakers like Jonah Markowitz continues here!'s commitment to bringing quality independent LGBT scripted programming to homes and theaters nationwide," said Paul Colichman, here!'s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Shelter centers on a young man, Zach, in San Pedro, Calif., who gives up on his dream of art school in order to provide for his family, consisting of his aging father and his young nephew Cody, whose mother Jeanne has decided her priorities lie elsewhere. When his best friend's brother Shaun returns to town, Zach finds in him a friend and confidante. As Zach becomes increasingly attracted to Shaun, their casual surfing relationship turns into much more, setting off a chain of events forcing Zach to choose between continuing to put others first or fighting for what he wants for himself.

The cast of this romantic drama includes indie film favorite Brad Rowe, known for his role in Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, Body Shots, and Full Frontal, among others, as well as Tina Holmes, who recently found fame for her roles on the TV series Six Feet Under and Vanished and built an indie following for roles in Edge of Seventeen and 2006's Half Nelson. Shelter also introduces newcomer Trevor Wright as Zach. Wright has been seen on George Lopez and recently starred in the feature films Special Ed and Air Buddies.

"here! is thrilled to be working with Jonah Markowitz on his debut project," noted here!'s Vice President of Original Programming Meredith Kadlec. "As a talented and visionary director, Jonah shares in here!'s commitment to bringing authentic stories to the LGBT community." Writer-director Markowitz has worked in the art department on several high-profile films, including Rocky Balboa, Accepted, and Meet the Fockers. He also wrote and directed the short film Hung Up and directed the short I Left Me.

With Shelter, here! continues its commitment to bringing quality independent LGBT scripted programming to the both the big and small screens. Visit here! Video at heretv.com/videoplayer for a wide array of here!'s content, including clips from the here! original series Dante's Cove, Lesbian Sex and Sexuality, and the Donald Strachey Mystery series, as well as here! Films titles such as Queens, Poster Boy, and HellBent. Recent and upcoming here! original films, series and specials include: The DL Chronicles, an award-winning series focusing on the diverse stories of men of color who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles; Dante's Cove, ranked "Best Soap of the Year" by The Advocate; the critically acclaimed Shock To The System: A Donald Strachey Mystery, the second installment in the series of original films starring Chad Allen as a gay private investigator; and the provocative six-part docu-series Lesbian Sex and Sexuality, an unblinking look inside the world of lesbian culture from award-winning producer Katherine Linton.