From what you want to archive I’m not sure I understand why you need a new template for that? A category seems to me suffiecient for your needs?!
Anyway, maybe your query is misbuild?
Try to add:
(?php $args[‘cat’] = ‘31,53’; ?)
before the query, whereas ’31’ and ’53’ are the categories you want to see. A “-” before a category number excludes it. You might also jeopardize the portfolio with your procedure, but that’s another story.
Cheers,
Alexander @ http://www.mouseclick.com