Phto Credit: for GLAAD

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBT-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.

1) The new film Other People, written and directed by out SNL writer Chris Kelly, opens in theaters today. The movie follows a struggling comedy writer who has just broken up with his boyfriend and moved from New York back to Sacramento to care for his sick mother. Other People premiered at Sundance earlier this year and has received rave reviews. Check out the trailer below and find a screening near you.

2) The Royal Road, another film which premiered at this year’s Sundance, is out now on DVD and on demand. This documentary from queer film maker Jenni Olson “offers up a primer on the Spanish colonization of California and the Mexican American War alongside intimate reflections on nostalgia, butch identity and Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.” Watch the trailer below.

3) Out power producer Greg Berlanti is in talks to direct a film adaptation of the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. The book centers on Simon, a closeted high school junior who is being blackmailed with the threat of outing both Simon and his mysterious online boyfriend by the class clown who is interested in Simon’s best friend. The story follows Simon’s journey to come out in his own way to family and friends, while he is also trying to solve the mystery of his new love interest’s identity. Berlanti also this week sold his newest show Black Lightning to FOX who have given the series a pilot order.

4) In other television news, TV Land has given a pilot order to a reboot of the 1980s dark comedy film Heathers. In the series, one of the three Heathers will be a lesbian character (Heather McNamara, originally played by Lisanne Falk) and another “is a male who identifies as gender-queer whose real name is Heath” (Heather Duke, Shannen Doherty). Netflix has added the 2014 Danish series I Am the Ambassador which follows the professional and personal life of Rufus Gifford, the out U.S. Ambassador to Denmark.

5) Online series Carmilla returns for the first batch of episodes of its third and final season next week. The series is framed as a video blog from Silas University journalism student Laura Hollis whose roommate suddenly goes missing, spurring Laura to begin investigating the mysterious disappearance of several female students from campus. Laura becomes romantically involved with her new roommate Carmilla as the two, aided by their friends, continue to unravel the mysterious happenings at Silas. Carmilla’s third season will be told in three waves; Act I premieres September 15, Act II September 29, and the finale Act III drops October 13. Catch up on the previous seasons over on YouTube now.

6) Out singer Sia has released a new track this week, “The Greatest,” which features a verse from rapper Kendrick Lamar. The video is a tribute to the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Out Pentatonix singers Scott Hoying and Mitch Grassi teamed with Mary Lambert and others for a cover of Katy Perry’s “Rise” dedicated to the LGBTQ community. Lady Gaga dropped her new track “Perfect Illusion” this week, the song is the first single from her upcoming album.

7) Out country singer Chely Wright has released a new album, I Am the Rain. This is her first album in over five years and was partly funded by her record-breaking Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Wright will soon be announcing tour dates and unveiling special behind the scenes videos of her recording process, keep up to date with her at Facebook.

8) Steven Universe show creator Rebecca Sugar has released a children’s book, The Answer, this week which follows the love story of gems Ruby and Sapphire and how they formed the character Garnet when the two fused. The book expands on the series episode of the same name. Sugar sat down with PBS Newshour this week and spoke about the importance of including LGBTQ stories in all ages media. The Answer is available at Amazon and other book retailers.