Isaiah Washington Hits Gay Club Circuit for Unique ‘Blackbird’ Marketing Campaign

The film’s star and producer is spotted at a West Hollywood bar spreading the word about his new LGBT drama

RLJ Entertainment/TMZ

In what can best be described as an unconventional pitch to make his new movie soar, Isaiah Washington hit up a gay nightclub this past weekend to promote LGBT drama “Blackbird.”

TMZ posted video Tuesday of Washington and “Blackbird” costar Gary LeRoi Gray partying at West Hollywood hotspot Rage. Washington, who produced and co-stars in the film, was videotaped drinking, dancing, making new friends and singing “Blackbird’s” praises.

The star’s marketing effort apparently paid off. “Blackbird” opened Friday in 13 theaters, taking in $45,834 for a respectable $3,526 per screen average.

In a previous interview with TheWrap, Washington said he was drawn to the independent drama as soon as he started reading the script.

“When I got to page 13, I wanted to be a part of this journey,” he said. “I wasn’t afraid to tell the truth.”

The former “Grey’s Anatomy” actor also talked politics and blasted Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which critics said would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT customers based on religious objections.

“For the religious right to circle the wagon and think they can do that, it’s absurd,” Washington said.

“Blackbird” centers on a deeply religious high school student in a small Mississippi town who struggles with the possibility that he may be gay. It co-stars newcomer Julian Walker as conflicted teen Randy Rousseau and Mo’Nique as his mentally ill mother.

An RLJ Entertainment release, “Blackbird,” will be shown on Robert L. Johnson’s Urban Movie Channel this summer.

Watch the video of Washington’s Rage visit.

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