The straight definitely became the minority at a cheesy bar, dimly lit in pink, in downtown Beijing Friday night, where the shooting of the Heart of Crystal, China's first ever grassroots gay film was heralded to the mostly gay 100-odd audience.

The alternative tearjerker tells of the bittersweet romance between a pair of gay men, inspired by the 42-year-old Beijing-based gay illustrator Mao Zhiyong, also the director.

Due out for online screening by the end of the year, the small budget movie, based on Mao's personal experience, aims to show the true-life picture of China's millions of gay men and strive for more social tolerance for the community.

Like crystal, love between gay men is usually fragile, while more importantly, transparent and pure, Mao said.

"So we named it that way."

The film tells the story of Jia Ning, a gay men in his 30s and with special blessing on art, fell at the first sight for Xiao Dong, an art student at college. The two break up over misunderstandings.

As Jia Ning woke up to the truth that Xiao Dong pursues love rather than money together with him, he moved to Beijing to find Xiao Dong to resume the relationship.

Without seeing the one he loved, Jia Ning is caught in chaos because one night stands and a decadent lifestyle in the local gay community.

Determined to move away from that lifestyle, he tries to break into the fashion industry and finally succeeds, with fame, wealth, and confidence. And finally he meets Xiao Dong, who will go abroad with his new boyfriend shortly.

"It's not like the conventional gay story with heroes usually socially and economically marginalized." Mao said. "I want to infuse hope into gay life with my story that there is true love, even if not bearing fruit finally, and that through hard work, lit by ambition, life can be as wonderful as that of the straight."

Hong Yiping, straight and 26, said he felt comfortable to play Jia Ning despite a short period of struggle before deciding.

"I have to play against Collin, a real gay, and in some explicit scenarios in the movie, at first frightened me." Hong, a second line entertainer, told China Daily.

Collin, a muscular gay, who plays Xiao Dong, said he first took the role just for fun as he only worked half a day as a coach in a Beijing fitness club, but later found the role to be significant work supported by many people.

"A self-made and true-to-love man, Jia Ning moves me a lot, so I decided to join and do my share, as a straight, to help them with more support through their voice heard from the movie."

Edward Russell, a US journalist said: "It's a huge progress and the Chinese society is more open".

(China Daily August 11, 2007)