Melissa Manchester a muse for Reel Pride film

Singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester's music has never been incorporated in the way director Abe Sylvia used it in "Dirty Girl," the opening-night film for the 22nd annual Reel Pride Film 2011.

"Dirty Girl" is the story of a promiscuous high school student (Juno Temple) who meets Clarke (Jeremy Dozier) -- a gay, fat youth -- in a special education class. The pair end up on a road trip to Los Angeles to find the girl's birth father. William H. Macy, Tim McGraw and Mary Steenburgen also star.

"This script came out of nowhere to my manager's office at the time. I started to read it, and I realized my music had been written into the character's psyche," Manchester says. "I wrote an original song for the movie. And the rest is history unfolding."

"Dirty Girl" is one of 25 long- and short-form movies that will be shown Wednesday through Sunday at either the Tower Theatre, 815 East Olive Ave., or Starline Lounge, 833 E. Fern Ave., as part of the annual gay and lesbian film festival. Many of the events will include cast and crew of the productions, such as Manchester's appearance Wednesday night.

Sylvia picked a performer with plenty of material as his movie muse. Manchester's hits include "Midnight Blue," "Just You and I," "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "You Should Hear How She Talks About You." In 1980, she had two tunes nominated for an Oscar -- "Through The Eyes Of Love" and "The Promise" -- and she won a Grammy Award in 1982.

Manchester says every song she's written reflects her life at the time. She's never knows how people will react to her work, but she holds out hope that it moves the listener's heart.

Along with Manchester's musical library, "Dirty Girl" includes the original song "Rainbird" that plays over the closing credits. Manchester co-wrote the song with Steenburgen, who she praises for her lyrics.

Manchester continues to write, finding more inspiration on some days than others. When she's not working on her music, she teaches a class in vocal performance at the University of Southern California or works on a musical with Rupert Holmes. She's also plans to go back on the road.

"I quit touring so I could have kids," Manchester says. "Now that they're wonderful young adults I will be able to get back to my music career," she says. "I love what I do and still have a hunger for it. What people are doing to the right or left of me isn't important. I just have to stay focused and hope that my music resonates with people."

She's never performed in Fresno, but Manchester says she might return during a future tour.