New Lesbian Buddy Flick To Ride "Brokeback" Success

'Humpback Hill' Tells Touching Story of Lesbian Whale Hunters

The Gay and Lesbian community is once again in the glare of the Hollywood spotlight. After Brokeback Mountain took most of the important Academy Awards a few years back (and was robbed of the Best Picture trophy in a jaw-dropping upset loss to 'Crash'), we knew it was only a matter of time before studios were quick to sign and produce copycat scripts.

The first of these is the touching and explorative 'Humpback Hill', the introspective story of two eskimo lesbian whale poachers, starring noted lesbian actresses Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossi. This is the first film to feature dual lesbian costars that are in a relationship with each other, and both have 'De' in their last names.

"I've been looking for the perfect project that would accurately reflect how I feel about being a lesbian," said DeGeneres. "I think that playing a ruthless but tender whale killer is just the role. There's something profoundly powerful in killing a whale - it's such a big fish."

DeGeneres and De Rossi at the 'Humpback' wrap party.

DeGeneres is largely regarded as one of the figureheads of the public lesbian community, along with Rosie O'Donnell, Dick Cheney's daughter and Elton John. Her tumultuous relationship and breakup with Anne Hecht was tabloid fodder for years. Hecht has since married a man and had children. "Let's just say these whales I'm killing represent asshole jerk-offs from my past," added deGeneres.

De Rossi said she took the film very seriously, and employed powerful method acting techniques. "I spent three weeks living among the A'aa'knak tribes in the Arctic Circle," De Rossi said. "Their way of life is fascinating, and I never thought I would find whale meat so tasty. [Ellen] and I are thinking of opening a whale-meat cafe in Malibu - if we can get it past the local health inspector."

The film opted for accuracy when it came to the large sea creatures, and the budget afforded three Humpback whales - which were kept teathered to an unused oil rig near the set in the north Atlantic ocean. "I don't know how they got that one past the animal rights groups," said DeGeneres. "But everyone was really great with the whales, I fed one of them baloney right out of my hand."Added DeRossi: "Those girl whales have some mighty vaginas."

The film, now in post production, will launch in L.A, New York and Provo on June 22nd.