Coming of Age by Doug Tompos is a short eight-minute gay short film that delineates generational differences in understanding love, trust, and general relationships between partners.
This film, of course, raises a question about whether, in the age of easily accessible sex through online applications like Grindr, Romeo, and many others, it is possible to maintain romantic relationships at all without sacrificing sexual freedom in changing partners.
Ultimately, the heart of this is a story about two guys, Cris and Paul, whose different values regarding monogamy and connectedness create a very heartfelt, raw dialogue. Cris represents the new generation, free from conventional ideals, for whom casual relationships and non-monogamy are practical and satisfying. Paul reflects the romanticism of the older generation who fought the marriage equality fight and for whom commitment and exclusivity are the only ways to true intimacy. Their conversation exposes deep tensions between the freedom to explore and the vulnerability needed to create lasting trust.
The script shines with its raw honesty and sharp observations. Doug Tompos’ writing captures the nuances of modern relationships, asking big questions without offering easy answers. Lines like “Trust would mean knowing that if someone were to hit on you, you’d reject them and choose me again and again and again” are heartbreakingly romantic, but contrast sharply with Cris’s pragmatic response that “monogamy doesn’t work.”
Adrian Gonzalez gives a sure, nuanced performance as Cris that conveys his independence and cynicism without sacrificing that element of charm that will help an audience connect with him. He’s matched by Doug Tompos’ Paul, who roots the emotional weight in his vulnerability and idealism. Together, their chemistry emphasizes the tension and tenderness in their exchanges and the deeply personal nature of this film’s emotional stakes.
DOUG TOMPOS brings over 30 years of professional experience as an actor to his directing and writing. He began his career in New York, where his acting credits include the original Broadway production of “City of Angels” and the Off-Broadway hits “Forever Plaid” and “Jeffrey”. He has performed his original solo show “Bent to the Flame – A Night with Tennessee Williams” at theatres nationwide, and was awarded “Outstanding Solo Show” at the 2007 NY International Fringe Festival. As a founding member of the Los Angeles theatre company Workshop 360, he directed the West Coast Premiere of “Fire Eater”. Recent directing credits include “Commencing” and Patrick Marber’s “Closer” (Fugitive Productions), “Belarusian Dreams” (Global Theatre Project), and Tennessee Williams’ “Vieux Carre” (USC School of Dramatic Arts). Doug plays a leading role in the recently released supernatural thriller, DIANE. His other Film and TV appearances include roles on “NCIS:LA”, “Aquarius”, “Masters of Sex”, “Mad Men”, “Close to Home“, “The West Wing”, and “Frasier”, among others; the feature films BEING MICHAEL MADSEN, THE SLEEPWALKER KILLING, THE ULTIMATE LIE, and OCTOBER 22; and the award-winning short films ADJUST-A-DREAM, WINGED, and POSITIVE. Doug’s varied regional theatre credits include “Cassiopeia” (Theatre @ Boston Court); the title role in the solo show “R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe” (Portland Center Stage), “Angels In America – I & II” (American Conservatory Theatre, SF), “Mourning Becomes Electra” (A Noise Within), “A Doll’s House” (Ensemble Theatre Company), “Of Mice and Men” (South Coast Repertory), and “End of the World Party” (Celebration Theater – DramaLogue Award). He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Professional Actor’s Training Program and The Banff Centre of Fine Arts in Canada.
