We found out the ID of the hot Aussie in the “It’s Time” video: wunderkind Julian Shaw!

Filmmaker/Writer/Actor Julian Shaw stars in the Australian marriage equality video, "It's Time". Photo: Alex Vaughan

(Surprise! He’s not an Aussie but a Kiwi; originally from New Zealand, but more on that in a moment…)

Like many of you, we saw and adored the very hot Australian Marriage Equality video, “It’s Time” and posted about it on the site the other day. It’s gathered a gazillion hits and made a gazillion people cry with delightful emotion and gathered a lot of support for the group behind the video, Get Up! Action for Australia with their mandate: “An independent movement to build a progressive Australia and bring participation back into our democracy.”

The video, “It’s Time” is a beautifully shot short that takes the POV of one half of a young couple; in other words, the camera is ONE partner, looking on at the other partner, a sexy young man, as they meet, date, fall in love and cope with various moments in life, both happy and sad. The “trick” is, we don’t SEE the Camera POV partner; only the adorable man in love with the unseen partner. The video ends with the revelation that the “Camera” is in fact a man as well. Cute young man #1 proposes to the Camera Young Man as their family and friends joyfully surround them. At this point, the audience is reduced to gleeful sobs of happiness and an urge to immediately find a mate and get married.

It also raises the question, “Who is that adorably cute yound Aussie?” and I like KNOWING the answers to things so I did some digging and came up with a surprising answer…

The lead actor in “It’s Time” is a rather remarkable young man named Julian Shaw who’s from New Zealand and considered a “wunderkind” in the Lands Down Under. The 25 year old is a multi-hyphenate; a filmmaker, journalist, novelist, and actor who made his first documentary as a teenager, recently completed another, and written a couple of novels as well. His first film, “Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story” focused on acclaimed South African activist and drag queen Pieter-Dirk Uys and his work educating the young of South Africa about the threat of HIV/AIDS, was completed while Shaw was in high school, features interviews with Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu and earned awards around the world. His second documentary, “Cup of Dreams” was a four year labor of love about New Zealand’s quest to win the Rugby World Cup. A huge rugby/football fan, Shaw also appeared as an actor in his short film, “All-Blacks Don’t Cry” as rugby superstar John Kirwan which focuses on the athlete’s battle with depression.

The subject of Julian Shaw's first film, South African AIDS activist Pieter-Dirk Uys.

Mr. Shaw is a remarkably talented and ambitious young man. He’s also apparently a bit of an enigma. Obviously, he’s very much involved with civil rights for the LGBTQ community and his first film focused on a gay AIDS activist yet I haven’t discovered any information on Mr. Shaw personally. Is he gay or just an amazing ally? And, does it matter? Is it ok for positive allies to go “Gay for Non-Profit Pay” when it’s for a good cause, or is it an act of hypocrisy, like political ads during election time where paid actors mouth platitudes and lies about causes championed or stigmatized by the politician seeking election? Thoughts, people?

Cutie Patootie, (but apparently straight) Julian Shaw in Australia's marriage equality video, "It's Time".

UPDATE: Comments on an Australian gay website seem to indicate he’s straight. There’s also some interesting discussions about race/class as depicted in the video with some people a bit unhappy the video seems to focus on white gay men with a bit of money. Interesting. And, judging by my review of various Ozzie gay news websites, the video seems to be more popular in the US than in Australia!

Here it is again…enjoy your tears.