Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss

Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss

Year: 1998

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Tommy O'Haver

ComedyRomance

Billy Collier, a gay photographer, creates a series reenacting iconic movie kisses with drag queens as the women. He hires Gabriel, a young waiter, as his male model and soon develops a serious crush. Gabriel insists he’s straight and mentions a girlfriend, but as they work closely, Billy begins to doubt his claim.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998)

Trace every key event in Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Billy's idea for Hollywood Screen Kiss

Billy Collier, a Midwest-born aspiring photographer in Los Angeles, sketches out recreating iconic screen kisses after a coffee with his roommate Georgiana. The concept is meant to showcase cinema's romance while jump-starting his stalled artistic career. This moment sets the film's central project in motion.

early afternoon Los Angeles
2

Perry funds the project at a party

At a party, Billy's friend Perry offers to finance the 'Hollywood Screen Kiss' project, giving Billy an opportunity to pursue his artistic dream. The injection of money and ambition changes the stakes and invites new professional dynamics. The moment marks the project moving from idea to production.

party night Los Angeles
3

Gabriel enters as the model

Billy runs into Gabriel, the coffee shop waiter, and recruits him to model for the kiss recreations. Gabriel's presence brings a real, living subject into Billy's plan and stirs Billy's romantic interest. The recruitment sets Billy on a path of both artistic discovery and personal longing.

that night Los Angeles
4

Gabriel's ambiguity and Natalie

Gabriel tells Billy he has a girlfriend in San Francisco, but he signals uncertainty about his sexual orientation. Billy wrestles with his feelings, unsure whether Gabriel shares his attraction. A phone call with Natalie interrupts their growing closeness.

shortly after recruitment Los Angeles
5

Rex Webster's exhibit and Catalina offer

At Perry's invitation they attend photographer Rex Webster's exhibit, where Webster tries to lure Gabriel away as a model and possible romantic conquest. He even offers an underwear shoot on Catalina Island, fueling Billy's jealousy and anxiety about competition. Location-based tension starts to mount.

evening Los Angeles
6

First shoot: ET beach kiss recreation

Billy shoots his first setup, recreating Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr's From Here to Eternity kiss on a beach with Gabriel as the subject. The shot marks a formalizing of Billy's artistic project and tests his chemistry with Gabriel. The mood blends romance with professional ambition.

soon after the exhibit Beaches of Los Angeles
7

Gabriel ends relationship with Natalie

Following the shoot, Gabriel tells Billy his relationship with Natalie is over, heightening Billy's hope and confusion. The moment deepens Billy's emotional investment in Gabriel and complicates their dynamic. It also clears a path for a potentially closer relationship.

after the shoot Gabriel's space
8

Kinsey scale talk and bed invitation

Billy, opening up about his coming out, references the Kinsey scale, describing himself as a 'perfect six.' Gabriel admits uncertainty about where he falls on that spectrum. At Billy's suggestion, Gabriel sleeps in Billy's bed, but their tentative closeness stalls as Gabriel pulls away.

that night Billy's apartment
9

Catalina island job and Georgiana's rebound

Gabriel lands the Catalina underwear modeling job, and Billy follows after him with Georgiana, who is on the rebound from Andrew. On the island, Georgiana hooks up with the drug-addled resident Gundy, creating a tangled dynamic. The trip heightens jealousy and jealousy-driven actions.

shortly after previous night Catalina Island
10

Billy crashes Rex's shoot and finds Gabriel

Billy crashes Rex Webster's underwear shoot on Catalina in search of Gabriel, but can't locate him immediately. He later finds Gabriel at Rex's party and they share a tense, intimate talk on the beach. The encounter forces Billy to confront the reality of Gabriel's ties to others.

late night Catalina Island
11

Billy's coming-out reflection and revelation

Billy opens up about his past coming out and his desire to be there for someone, only to discover Gabriel is involved with another male model. The revelation leaves Billy humiliated as Gabriel's relationship appears to be ongoing. Gabriel tries to soften the blow, but Billy accuses him of using him to advance his modeling career and storms off.

late night Rex's beach / Catalina Island
12

Perry's consolation and twist

Perry consoles Billy and reveals that he, too, fell for someone who didn't return his affections—Billy was the one Perry loved. The confession reframes Billy's heartbreak and adds bittersweet humor to the aftermath.

the morning after Perry's place, Los Angeles
13

Morning after and return home

Georgiana dumps Gundy, and she and Billy head back home together, signaling a return to everyday life. The quiet moment contrasts with the emotional turmoil of the last weeks and hints at possible healing.

the morning after Los Angeles
14

Hollywood Screen Kiss opens: success

A few months later, Billy's 'Hollywood Screen Kiss' exhibition opens in Los Angeles, featuring his photos of Gabriel. The show is a notable success, earning congratulations from visitors and signaling Billy's artistic breakthrough. The event redefines his life trajectory.

a few months later Los Angeles
15

Magazine tease and Joshua's arrival

Perry shows Billy a magazine featuring Gabriel in an underwear ad and suggests he should call him, but Billy declines to pursue that path. Later, Billy meets Joshua, a handsome admirer who seems to recognize potential romance and hints at new happiness on the horizon.

end of night Los Angeles

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:03

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Quirky artistic romances like Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss

Hopeful and whimsical love stories set against a backdrop of artistic passion.If you liked the charming blend of art and romance in Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss, explore more movies where love blossoms amidst creative projects. These films capture a similarly whimsical and hopeful mood, with steady pacing and a focus on emotional yearning and playful relationship dynamics.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a protagonist, often an artist or dreamer, whose personal life becomes entangled with their creative work. A new romantic interest enters their world, sparking both inspiration and emotional confusion. The story unfolds through a series of hopeful, sometimes awkward, and ultimately heartwarming encounters, leading to personal growth and a satisfying, happy ending.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a specific romantic and artistic sensibility. They balance lighthearted comedy with genuine emotional yearning, maintain a steady, character-driven pace, and create a charming world where love and art are inextricably linked.

Movies with a 'maybe-gay' crush dynamic like Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss

Stories centered on the bittersweet hope and frustration of a potentially unrequited crush.Fans of Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss who enjoyed the central dynamic of Billy's crush on the possibly-straight Gabriel will find more films here. These stories capture the playful tension, hopeful yearning, and gentle emotional rollercoaster of falling for someone who sends mixed signals about their romantic availability.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist clearly pining for a specific person who is送 mixed messages about their interest or orientation. The story is driven by moments of connection that foster hope, contrasted with setbacks or mentions of other partners that create doubt. This creates a steady pacing of rising and falling anticipation, culminating in a resolution that provides emotional closure, often happy or hopeful.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core narrative engine built on romantic uncertainty and yearning. They excel at capturing a light-to-medium intensity emotional journey defined by playful tension, introspection, and the universal experience of hoping your crush feels the same way.

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Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss Summary

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Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss

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