Read very closely - Sha-hid Mann-ing affectionately called "Manning" is President and CEO of Blue Horizon Entertainment, LLC ("BHE"). This name is very important because him and his comrades are about to do something innovative serious Alexander Gram Bellish, something we've all been waiting for, give voice to a community that has existed in silence - the multi-cultural world of gay men. BHE is dedicated to developing and distributing high quality, lifestyle entertainment.

"Lifestyle" means the gay lifestyle. The overall intent of Manning is to normalize - rather than marginalize - the lifestyle as simply one of many. According to a study by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), gay or transgender lead or supporting characters are declining on network television. There were a mere seven gay characters spread out among 5 shows - six of which appeared on the ABC network.

"While we acknowledge there have been improvements made in how we are seen on the broadcast networks, most notably on ABC, our declining representation clearly indicates a failure to inclusively reflect the audience watching television," GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano said of the 2006- 2007 season.

Conversely, the GLAAD stats show the number of gay characters is actually rising on the cable networks - which featured at least 40 gay characters as 'regulars' this past season. "Everyone is curious. It's a natural progression of Television content," says Manning.

What About The Gay Man?

The past decade has softened the American viewer into an expanded acceptance of the gay community, but with the narrow view of the effeminate male, as seen on shows like Wil and Grace or Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Still there has been little seen about the multicultural gay man.

Shahid believes that LOGOS' - recently cancelled - Noah's Arc opened an important dialogue for men regarding sexuality. But, it's perpetuation of the 'sissy' image within the gay community reduced its impact. Many men didn't identify with the characters and relationships. Manning says, "The most compelling and provocative relations within the lifestyle community are those maintained by men that fall outside societies stereotypes of the gay man. Most gay men even the feminine at heart focus on their masculinity in some cases on being hyper-masculine in an effort to mask their sexuality in other social circles. The Lifestyle is complex and dynamic the surface hasn't begun to be scratched". That's a powerful statement.

The Whole Truth About The Gay Lifestyle

This writer is excited from what I've read on www.myspace.com/bluehorizonentertainment, Manning's programming genius offers a unique perspective, his programming debunks the myths of the lifestyle and celebrates and respects the strengths, masculinity, love, hardships, etc that gay men experience daily - experiences that directly affects the women in their lives; as a straight women, I anxiously awaiting to gaze at the world through Manning's eyes. "Really good drama is based on real life," says Manning, who has many projects ready to roll into production. For Example:

Depicts the Hollywood Lifestyle - a dirty little secrete everyone knows but doesn't want exposed - a fast paced, illusive, yet glamorous world with extremely high stakes a world Chris Mann's, one of Hollywood's hottest new rising stars, and his entourage are all to familiar.

The Beam Is a light hearted comedic Lifestyle sitcom starring comedian Harmonica Sunbeam, who Manning describes as "the funniest comic on earth." Harmonica has been featured on shows such as Law and Order SVU, Third Watch, Johnny Zero and 100 Center Street. Her film credits include Honey, with Jessica Alba, Uptown Girls, with Brittany Murphy and Olive Stone's, World Trade Center.

"It is exciting to see main stream producers like Bill Duke's get involved in creating lifestyle content", says Manning, "Bill's project "Cover" focuses on the risks of passing on HIV/AIDS to an unsuspecting female partner although an issue it is one of many we need to move a way from this notion of gay and disease". Manning believes the focus on disease in the gay community is far to prevailing, he says "there are an infinite number of other exciting, dramatic and serious issues that need to be shared with the world through the magic of TV and Film".

A New Partnership

Manning has partnered with other key players in entertainment their goal to rival the major film companies and harness the full scope of quality Lifestyle content in the process. Mr. Manning says, "It's a huge undertaking many roadblocks" but he has assembled a highly skilled team that will succeed.

Manning will not allow me to reveal who he's partnered with to blaze this new frontier, but I can say its four dynamic CEO's working together to revolutionize and pioneer how lifestyle content will be viewed around the world.

Photography by: JL Blue Photograghy 310.529.1601

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© 2008 Sheila J. Hardy is a journalist and award-winning author, in Hollywood, CA.