“A group of New Yorkers caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.”

This is how John Cameron Mitchell’s film Shortbus is described in a tagline on the Internet Movie Database; the reviews and previews from various sources promise a movie that is shocking in its numerous unsimulated sex scenes. The first time I heard of the project was when my friends Hunter and Damon told me–forgive the poor paraphrasing–”Hey, we’re going to be extras in John Cameron Mitchell’s new film! …Yeah, we’re having sex on-screen as part of a big orgy.” I was pretty shocked, but as time passed and the film was delayed again and again, I have to admit the whole thing faded to the back of my mind, brought back sporadically by certain discussions, such as the one I had on Myspace with singer-songwriter (and one of the stars of the movie) Jay Brannan, who filmed a scene during which he sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” while sucking a huge cock.

From what I hear, the movie was partly–or more than partly–based on the CineSalon parties thrown weekly by the fabulous Stephen Kent Jusick, starting in 2001 and continuing three years onward. Those parties preceded my move to New York, but the event came back in full-force last night and it was my privilege to be in attendance this time. Sarit Michaeli, the other force responsible for the CineSalon behemoth, came back to New York for two weeks from Tel Aviv, and she picked a fabulous Greatest Hits screening of queer and political (and politically queer) films.

It was a beautiful evening. There were a few bad apples there, moochers and ingrates, but for the most part it was a very communal experience, people being very friendly, sharing food and good conversation. Almost everyone was very free-spirited and interesting, full of stories and love. Two of the filmmakers were in attendance, and the Q&A sessions were insightful.

As for the sex, it wasn’t wall-to-wall nudity and craziness, but I do know that the night stretched into morning with six naked bodies entangled in an orgasmic heap. No Shortbus, but it was an interesting way to see the night end, an homage to the days of the famous salons, and a specter of hope that they will return.