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Alan Motley on Muck Rack

Alan Motley

Verified
(He/Him)
Seattle
As seen in: Seattle Gay News, HuffPost, Hammer to Nail
Covers:  I cover LGBTQ+ culture, independent cinema, social issues affecting marginalized communities, and personal reflections on inclusivity and diversity.
AI Systems Strategist • Creative Technologist • Founder of Norynthe • Writer • Composer | MSc (AI), MBA
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HOLLYWOOD ON AN ISLAND FOR A WEEKEND: VIFF 2026 COMES TO A CLOSE - Hammer to Nail

HOLLYWOOD ON AN ISLAND FOR A WEEKEND: VIFF 2026 COMES TO A CLOSE - Hammer to Nail

Hammer to Nail — Before this year's Vashon Island Film Festival began, I described the experience as "Hollywood on an island for a weekend." After spending another weekend on Vashon, I think I'll stick with that. The fifth annual Vashon Island Film Festival came [...]
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LABRADOR: AUTOPSY OF SILENCE - Hammer to Nail

LABRADOR: AUTOPSY OF SILENCE - Hammer to Nail

Hammer to Nail — (The Vashon Island Film Festival ran August 13-16 for its fifth year. Check out Alan Motley's Labrador: Autopsy of Silence movie review, fresh from the fest. Seen it? Join the conversation with HtN on our Letterboxd Page.) Everyone is a suspect. That was [...]
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THE LIFE WE LEAVE - Hammer to Nail

THE LIFE WE LEAVE - Hammer to Nail

Hammer to Nail — (The Vashon Island Film Festival ran August 13-16 for its fifth year. Check out Alan Motley's The Life We Leave movie review, fresh from the fest. Seen it? Join the conversation with HtN on our Letterboxd Page.) There is a moment in The Life [...]
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AANIKOOBIJIGAN - Hammer to Nail

AANIKOOBIJIGAN - Hammer to Nail

Hammer to Nail — (The Vashon Island Film Festival runs August 13-16 for its fifth year. Check out Alan Motley's Aanikoobijigan movie review, fresh from the fest. Seen it? Join the conversation with HtN on our Letterboxd Page.) There is a point when the language used to describe [...]
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TONY - Hammer to Nail

TONY - Hammer to Nail

Hammer to Nail — (The Vashon Island Film Festival runs August 13-16 for its fifth year. Check out Alan Motley's Tonymovie review, fresh from the fest. Seen it? Join the conversation with HtN on our Letterboxd Page.) I absolutely loved Tony, so let me just get [...]
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The Vashon Island Film Festival: Hollywood on an Island for a Weekend - Hammer to Nail

The Vashon Island Film Festival: Hollywood on an Island for a Weekend - Hammer to Nail

Hammer to Nail — There are a few things I genuinely look forward to every year. Naked and painted-up bike riders rolling through Seattle. Blue Angels flying overhead. And Hollywood taking over an island for a weekend. That last one is the Vashon Island [...]
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GAMMA RAYS

GAMMA RAYS

Hammer to Nail — Gamma Rays (Les Rayons gamma), directed and co-written by Henry Bernadet, straddled the line between fiction and documentary. This dramedy followed young, non-professional actors from immigrant communities in Montreal’s Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension neighborhood, offering a portrait of youth that felt lived-in and unforced.
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SEEDS

SEEDS

Hammer to Nail — When Seeds quietly unspooled at the Vashon Theatre on Friday afternoon, the room fell into the kind of silence you can feel. Director Brittany Shyne — nominated for Best Director in this year’s Red Bicycle Awards — has crafted a film that is at once meditative and deeply urgent.
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Shuffle

Shuffle

Hammer to Nail — There’s a moment in Shuffle when the pattern snaps into view: relapse isn’t a tragedy to the system—it’s a business model. Director Benjamin Flaherty (himself in recovery) traces how a network of brokers, clinics, and sober homes cycles insured people through treatment again and again, harvesting “liquid gold” urine tests and billing codes while lives unravel. It’s not just Florida lore—it’s a nationwide playbook.
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The Short Documentaries of Vashon Island Film Festival 2025

The Short Documentaries of Vashon Island Film Festival 2025

Hammer to Nail — The short documentary block at this year’s Vashon Island Film Festival proved that powerful storytelling doesn’t require a feature-length runtime. Screening Friday morning at the Vashon Theatre, the five films in this program offered distinct perspectives and artistic approaches — from urgent calls for justice to deeply personal meditations on art, identity, and survival.
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SGN:: Back to Broadway? Seattle's Pride reckons with its roots amid sponsor retreat: With corpora...

SGN:: Back to Broadway? Seattle's Pride reckons with its roots amid sponsor retreat: With corpora...

Seattle Gay News — June is here again, and with it comes the vibrant return of Seattle's annual Pride Parade - a cornerstone of community expression, activism, and celebration.
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Time for something new on Capitol Hill: Why Seattle's LGBTQ+ nightlife needs fresh programmers an...

Time for something new on Capitol Hill: Why Seattle's LGBTQ+ nightlife needs fresh programmers an...

Seattle Gay News — Seattle's Capitol Hill has long been a nexus of Queer life and culture, a place where originality, acceptance, and community converge in electric fashion. Over the decades, this iconic neighborhood has been celebrated for its eclectic array of bars, clubs
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Where is the love?: Confronting Grindr's paradox, small-world dynamics, unrealistic expectations,...

Where is the love?: Confronting Grindr's paradox, small-world dynamics, unrealistic expectations,...

Seattle Gay News — February often arrives with heart-shaped confections and Pinterest-perfect gestures proclaiming the season of love. We see constant reminders to send flowers or buy chocolate for that special someone.
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Resolutions that build us up: Renewing LGBTQ+ community and hope in 2025

Resolutions that build us up: Renewing LGBTQ+ community and hope in 2025

Seattle Gay News — Having entered the new year, we find ourselves once again considering New Year's resolutions.
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Embrace your inner stretch pants: A season of comfort, self-care, and community

Embrace your inner stretch pants: A season of comfort, self-care, and community

Seattle Gay News — As the leaves turn vibrant shades of orange and red, and the crisp Seattle air carries the scent of rain and pine, there's a comforting call to swap out our summer wardrobes for something a bit more forgiving.
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Midori Monét: Seattle's nightlife star ready to shine at Miss International Queen USA

Midori Monét: Seattle's nightlife star ready to shine at Miss International Queen USA

Seattle Gay News — Hey, Seattle! Big news from our vibrant nightlife scene: Midori Monét, a beloved figure on Capitol Hill and a trailblazer for Transgender visibility, is gearing up to take the national stage at the Miss International Queen USA pageant.
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I went to the Wildrose so you don't have to... but maybe you should

I went to the Wildrose so you don't have to... but maybe you should

Seattle Gay News — So I decided to throw caution (and my preconceived notions) to the wind and venture into this bastion of Sapphic celebration.
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TRUST IN LOVE

TRUST IN LOVE

Hammer to Nail — Trust in Love closes its theatrical roadshow in Seattle on August 17th, with a buzz that’s hard to ignore, thanks to its impressive haul of international awards and a premise that promises a mix of comedy and drama set against the picturesque backdrop of Malibu. However, while the film certainly has its moments, it falls short of its potential in several key areas.
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The Final Days of the Vashon Island Film Festival – A Grand Finale of Cinema and Celebration

The Final Days of the Vashon Island Film Festival – A Grand Finale of Cinema and Celebration

Hammer to Nail — As the Vashon Island Film Festival rolled into its final two days, the excitement and energy only seemed to grow.
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A Journey Through the First Two Days of the Vashon Island Film Festival

A Journey Through the First Two Days of the Vashon Island Film Festival

Hammer to Nail — Arriving on Vashon Island felt like stepping into a film set, where the landscape is a perfect blend of tranquility and creativity. My journey to the Vashon Island Film Festival began with a ferry ride that was more meditative than mundane, as I crossed the waters to this secluded haven of art and storytelling. By the time I reached my Airbnb—a cozy farmhouse that could easily be the backdrop for a coming-of-age indie film — I was already in the festival’s rhythm.
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BASTARDS OF SOUL

BASTARDS OF SOUL

Hammer to Nail — Imagine standing on the precipice of greatness, with the world at your feet and a melody in your heart. That’s where Bastards of Soul found themselves in 2020, an electrifying Texas band riding high on waves of sold-out shows and a burgeoning fanbase. But life, as it often does, threw them a curveball, reminding us all that the climb to the top is fraught with unpredictable turns.
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Reel Adventures Await: Discover the Vashon Island Film Festival 2024

Reel Adventures Await: Discover the Vashon Island Film Festival 2024

Hammer to Nail — This weekend, Vashon Island will be the beating heart of the Pacific Northwest as it hosts the third annual Vashon Island Film Festival (VIFF) from August 8-11. Picture this: a charming island, a historic theater, and a community united by their love for storytelling. The Vashon Film Institute (VFI), the nonprofit engine behind this celebration of indie film, has pulled out all the stops for this year’s lineup.
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Breaking the monotony: A call for true inclusivity in Seattle's LGBTQ+ nightlife

Breaking the monotony: A call for true inclusivity in Seattle's LGBTQ+ nightlife

Seattle Gay News — A call for true inclusivity in Seattle's LGBTQ+ nightlife.
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'Streetkids, A New Musical' Shines A Light On Our Forgotten Trans Community

'Streetkids, A New Musical' Shines A Light On Our Forgotten Trans Community

HuffPost — The show delves into methods of survival, love and loss, including family dynamics.
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