Comedy – Page 40 – Discover great gay stories.

Bringing Season 2 of “Interested In” to Life

Upon the release of season one of Interested In, the world fell in love with Parker, his hookup antics, and his parade of beautifully queer friends. Whether it was the hot guys or the heart of the show that got you hooked, it’s safe to say that we’re all interested in a second season. We got the chance to once again sit down with Michael Witkes—the creator of the show and the actor playing Parker—to talk about all things Interested In and how he’s gearing up for a fierce follow up.

Hi, Michael! It’s nice to talk to you again! How have you been since we last spoke?

Amazing! Interested In got it’s big release on Dekkoo! It’s been my gay little dream to be on a queer streaming site, and here we are. This project has been a huge labor of love. It’s been so validating to hear from the queer people who’ve shared their coming-of-age stories with me. I created this series because I was confused after I came out. At the time, I couldn’t find any media or entertainment that depicted my story. So it’s heartwarming to hear that other people from all over the world also find validation in Parker’s journey.

What’s been your favorite reaction?

After our world premiere at Cinema Diverse in Palm Springs, I talked at length about the series with an older man who was a part of the Black Cat riots in Los Angeles in the ‘60s. He was incredibly complimentary and was impressed with the unapologetic depiction of queer sex. We discussed the differences between dating now and when he was my age. He wasn’t even allowed to hold hands with another man in public! What an amazing opportunity it was to thank someone for creating a world where I’m allowed to create Interested In.

What was your favorite part of creating season one of Interested In?

It was probably filming. I love the bustle of an indie film set, and it was amazing seeing my vision come to life. We had such an amazing team working on the series, so filming was an absolute joy.

How did you feel after the series was released?

Since I couldn’t be there in the room with everyone as they watched the series, I had no idea how people were reacting at first. It’s been so nice to connect with people online. Also, every screening has been a joy. It’s sometimes hard for me to watch myself on screen—especially in awkward sexual situations—but hearing the audience react positively has been exhilarating.

You’re jumping right back into the ring for the second season. How long have you been working on this second chapter of this story?

It’s been five years in the making! I wrote the first draft during my junior year of college. I initially wrote the series as a play that performed at two different theaters, but I thought that it would work much better as a series. So, the first half of the play was made into season one, and the second half is getting made into season two! I’m very much ready to get the second act out there!

Can you tell us a little bit about the journey that Parker will be going on in season two?

I don’t want to give too much away, but we definitely see Parker coming into his identity and gaining confidence. Of course, there will be some major roadblocks along the way. I think people are really going to love this season.

Will we see some of the same beloved characters we saw in season one?

The upcoming season is ultimately about queer friendship, so Parker’s bestie, Danny, is definitely coming back and will play a bigger role. Also, the thing about queer dating and Grindr culture is that you can have these amazingly vulnerable, intimate moments with someone you just met and then never see them again. So, season two will remain true to that, but you might see a few more familiar faces along the way, too.

What do you think is going to be the biggest difference between the first and second seasons?

Season one was very much about building Parker’s world and seeing him be incredibly uncomfortable in his own skin. In season two, Parker delves much deeper into his identity and touches on issues of femininity, consent, sexual assault, and queer identity. Just like the first season, season two will be steamy (but still awkward, of course). We also might have some amazing cameos this time around, so stay tuned for that!

For those interested in learning more about season two and how they can help bring the vision to life, where can we go?

We’re currently running a crowdfunding campaign to bring season two to life! We’re approaching the finish line and getting closer to our $15K goal! We have to reach 80% of our goal to receive any of the funds, so if you want to see what happens to Parker in season two, your support is crucial to making that happen!

To help us out, you can make a pledge and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and on our Seed&Spark page! Oh, and don’t forget to spread the love and share the series and our fundraiser with your friends and family! We’re so incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make season one a success, and your continued support will allow us to make season two a reality!

Is there anything else you’d like your fans to know?

Thank you so much for watching the series and for your amazing messages! You’re the reason we’re making season two! I hope you enjoy it as much as we’re enjoying making it!

While you help bring season two of Interested In to life, why not give season one a rewatch! You can view it here, only on Dekkoo!

Make yourself a fourth wheel with the sexy new gay series The Third

A sexy and provocative new Dekkoo Original Series from creator Matthew Lynn, The Third follows the story of Jason Height (Sean McBride), a young man recently displaced on the West Coast. During his conquests and adventures as a twenty-nine-year-old gay man in Palm Springs, he stumbles into a triad relationship with Carl and David (Corey Page and Ryland Shelton), an attractive, gay couple who are on the outs after thirteen years of marriage.

Thinking that a third person might spice up their relationship, Carl and David agree to move forward with Jason. What starts as a fling soon turns pretty series. The trip soon learn, however, that relationship issues only become more apparent once someone steps in to fill the gaps. What ensues is a tumultuous experience as everyone tries to figure the true definition of love… and whether or not it can be maintained in a three-person relationship.

Watch the full trailer for The Third below and don’t miss this addictive new series – available now, exclusively on Dekkoo!

New This Week – 11/1/19

When eight friends travel to a remote cabin to celebrate graduation the lines between their sexuality begin to blur. ‘These Peculiar Days’ is an unabashedly erotic look at modern sexual fluidity between young adults.

When an oversexed party boy finds himself at odds with his quiet neighbor in the days leading up to Halloween, he discovers that their miscommunication may have deadly consequences when he accidentally invites the wrong man home for the night. Dekkoo Films presents ‘A Halloween Trick’ streaming now!

In ‘The Latent Image’ a young writer retreats to an isolated cabin to work on a mystery thriller. One night, a mysterious stranger arrives at his door needing help. Has he found the perfect inspiration for his story or is he about to find his darkest fantasies coming to life? Watch ‘The Latent Image’ now on Dekkoo!

What happens when a horny ghost haunts your apartment? Stream ‘The More the Scarier’ now on Dekkoo!

Philippines, although a predominantly Catholic country, has openly embraced many LGBTQ members in their film, entertainment, politics, and business communities; however, tolerance differs from true equality. 25 years have passed since the first pride march took place in Manila, yet equal rights advancement is still a long journey to go for the LGBTQ community in the Philippines. Stream ‘Queer Asia – Philippines’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: “A “modern fairy tale” in two senses — it’s an exercise in make-believe, yes, but the “fairies” here are also very male and quite physical with one another.” – Variety

A Guide on Adding “The Third” into your Queer Entertainment Relationship

Anyone who’s ever said that monogamy is hard has never been in a triad. Jason (Sean McBride) realizes this firsthand after finding himself entangled in the relationship of two older gay men, Carl and David (Corey Page and Ryland Shelton). From the outside, they’re a picturesque married couple that has it all: the brand new house equipped with a sparkling pool in the backyard and a fabulous parade of friends to attend their Palm Springs parties. But despite their seemingly perfect lives, they find themselves lacking in the romance department, and they think Jason could be just the thing to keep the embers of their relationship burning. But that’s the thing about fire—when you start a flame, you run the risk of being burned. And where this wild flame will go is just one of the many alluring aspects this series stirs up.

The show’s creator, Matthew Lynn, keeps viewers on their toes from the first episode’s enticing intro, delicately balancing between the lines of titillation and suspense, comedy and drama, love and hate. Similar in tone and cinematography to HBO mega hits like Big Little Lies and Looking, The Third is a grounded series drama that brings a powerful visual punch to queer entertainment. Lynn’s picturesque cinematography finds a new foothold in the gritty atmosphere of dark comedy, elevating both the genre and the expectations of its audience in the sweep of a single season. Although this series is by no means restricted to the queer genre, it’s in many ways a giant step for queer entertainment that will no doubt create a ripple effect in future endeavors.

In a world where queer shows (and, let’s be honest, queer people themselves) are still marginalized, Lynn takes representation to a new level, and it’s thanks to his own personal experiences that this revolutionary look into polyamory is now reaching a global audience. After Lynn’s family disowned him when he came out at the age of 23, a gay Palm-Springs couple took him under their wing. It was under their roof that he began exploring his sexuality and eventually entered into his first triad. In the queer mecca of Palm Springs that Lynn considers “the gayest place on earth,” he grew into the man—and filmmaker—that he is today.

After attending grad school at AFI, Lynn worked as a cinematographer on various projects and eventually formed his own team, Bridge the Divide Media. After expressing interest in bringing his own triad experience to the screen, he and his writing partner began their work. During the process, Lynn found himself in yet another triad, further priming him to bring one of the most honest portrayals of polyamory to queer entertainment.

After speaking with Lynn about the series, it was evident that his main goal was to forge a new path to acceptance for those who don’t fit the mold of society’s expectations. He said, “I want to bring empathy and awareness to a different perspective on life. When we set out to make the show, I wanted middle-American people to understand exactly what a polyamorous relationship is and that gay people are far beyond just gay. They’re real people with real feelings and lives.” Filled with visceral emotions, The Third succeeds in that by connecting audiences to the people behind the polyamory and giving those pushed to the perimeters of society the spotlight.

Dekkoo is proud to showcase such a revolutionary show amongst its ranks of queer entertainment, and Lynn and his team are just as thrilled to be there. Through this global platform, Lynn is excited to “offer awareness to the gay community and give hope to anyone that wants to pursue a [polyamorous relationship].” In addition to advocating for #teamtriad, Lynn urges people to share their own stories. When asked if he had any advice for aspiring storytellers, he said, “If you’re willing to speak your truth and be you, then you’re going to help other people. Your story is important, and it’s worth the struggle to tell it.”

For those interested in keeping up with the inspiring work that Lynn and his team are doing, you can check out his website here and the production team’s website here. You’ll want to stay up to date on his upcoming project, Legacy, in addition to future installments of The Third and more! Until then, you can enjoy the first season of The Third here—only on Dekkoo!

Dekkoo offers up three special Halloween treats!

Every Wednesday, Dekkoo adds a new short film for your viewing pleasure. On October 30th, however, we will be offering up THREE extra-special seasonal treats to get you in the Halloween spirit!

You can check out some info from each of the films below and make sure to visit Dekkoo on October 30th to start bingeing these brand-new Halloween-ready shorts!

A Halloween Trick

When an oversexed party boy (Ben Baur) finds himself at odds with his stressed-out and sleep-deprived neighbor (Tiffany Shepis) in the days leading up to Halloween, he discovers that their miscommunication may have deadly consequences when he accidentally invites the wrong man home for the night.

A Dekkoo Original, this 13-minute short, writer-director Michael Varrati uses humor, horror and a killer ‘80s/John Carpenter-inspired soundtrack to tell a modern gay variation on “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”

Leads Ben Baur and Tiffany Shepis have a terrific, easy chemistry – even when they’re being extremely bitchy to one another. This is A Halloween Trick you won’t soon forget.

The Latent Image

Art imitates life and vice versa in The Latent Image, a tense 21-minute short from co-writer-director Alexander Birrell.

A young writer (Joshua Tonks) retreats to an isolated cabin to work on a mystery thriller. One night, a mysterious stranger (Jay Clift) arrives at his door needing help. Has he found the perfect inspiration for his story or is he about to find his darkest fantasies coming to life?

Featuring terrific performances from the two leads, there’s some delicious ambiguity in The Latent Image. Not only are we never fully sure if this alluring stranger is a real-life danger or a figment of the writer’s imagination, but every scene feels like it could turn into a psycho-thriller or softcore erotica at any given moment.

The More the Scarier

What happens when a horny ghost haunts your apartment? That’s the question posed by The More the Scarier, a new 5-minute short from Brandon Kirby, the creator of the Dekkoo Original Series I’m Fine.

Looking for a little action, an attractive young gay man (Velizar Ionikov) takes to Grindr and invites over a kink-friendly date (Antoine Perry). In all the excitement, however, he hasn’t noticed the strange things happening around his apartment – signs of another horny participant from a different realm (Clint Keller).

Shooting in black and white, Kirby adds an audio track to the proceedings that makes it feel as if his short is playing out in front of a live studio audience. The mix of dark visuals, sexual subject matter and cheesy sitcom tropes gives The More the Scarier an uneasy feeling even before the blood starts flying.

Three couples get more than they bargained for during a weekend away in That’s Not Us

Now available on Dekkoo, writer-director William Sullivan’s That’s Not Us is an intimate portrait of three twenty-something couples.

James and Spencer (Mark Berger and David Rysdahl), Alex and Jackie (Sarah Wharton and Nicole Pursell) and Liz and Dougie (Elizabeth Gray and Tommy Nelms) travel to a beach house to enjoy the last days of summer. But what should be a fun and carefree weekend becomes an exploration of what it takes to sustain a healthy relationship and make love last in what is now being called the “gayest generation.”

Through each of the three couples – one gay, one lesbian, and one straight – That’s Not Us explores sex and relationships with a fresh perspective, finding that while sexuality and gender may vary, the struggles to keep love alive do not.

Watch the trailer for That’s Not Us below.

New This Week – 10/18/19

What starts out as a sexual relationship of convenience for Gabriel and Juan, two male colleagues, soon develops into a tender and intimate relationship, as sweet as it is heartbreaking. Don’t miss this critically-acclaimed new romance from prolific writer-director Marco Berger. Stream ‘The Blonde One’ now exclusively on Dekkoo!

A single, gay man schemes creative ways to have a hunky repairman continue to have to come back to his house to ﬁx things, but suddenly the fantasies become more than either of them expected. ‘The Handyman’ is now available on Dekkoo!

After a violent incident involving their abusive, homophobic father, teen siblings Robson and Marcelo are sent away to live with their elderly grandmother on the outskirts of the city. This colorful new coming-of-age series captures the lives and loves of today’s teens in Brazil. Binge-watch the first season of ‘I Am Love’ now on Dekkoo!

Boyfriends Alex and Hugo have been together for a little over six months. One Friday night at Alex’s apartment, the two of them begin discussing their sexual roles. What begins as a simple conversation soon exposes important issues that have been hiding just under the surface of their relationship. ‘Versatile’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: The new Dekkoo-original series, The Third!

Gerontophilia shows that controversial director Bruce LaBruce is romantic at heart

“My films, no matter how extreme or pornographic, have always had an intense strain of romanticism running through them. Whether it’s the relationship between a hairdresser and a skinhead, or a hustler and a john, the attachments are emotional and romantic, even when there is a very specific and sometimes extreme and taboo fetish involved. So I’ve always played somewhat ironically with rom-com conventions.” – Bruce LaBruce

In this wry “reverse Lolita” tale, an eighteen-year-old named Lake (Pier-Gabriel Lajoie) discovers he has an unusual attraction for the elderly. Fate lands him a job at an assisted-living facility where he develops an intimate relationship with Mr. Peabody (Walter Borden).

Upon discovering that the clients are being over-medicated to make them more manageable, Lake weans Mr. Peabody off his medication and helps him escape, resulting in a road trip that deepens their bond.

Always-provocative, Bruce LaBruce – the artist behind films like No Skin Off My Ass (1991), Hustler White (1996), Skin Flick (2000), The Raspberry Reich (2004) and L.A. Zombie (2010) – has built a prolific career out of pushing buttons and subverting expectations. Gerontophilia ranks among his best. This is a delicately perverse romantic comedy that is both darkly humorous and emotionally heartfelt.

Watch the trailer for Gerontophilia below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 9/27/19

Ramin is a young gay man in his 30s who fled the repression in Iran and arrived to Veracruz after traveling clandestinely on a boat from Turkey. While coping with the distance that he has taken with his loved-ones, he begins to discover a freer life here, far from Iran. Watch ‘Fireflies’ exclusively on Dekkoo!

The critically acclaimed ‘Mala Mala’ explores the intimate moments, performances, friendships and activism of trans identifying people, drag queens and others who defy typical gender identities in Puerto Rico. ‘Mala Mala’ is available now on Dekkoo!

Randy has a huge crush on hunky co-worker Jack, but Ray can’t figure out if Jack is gay – until Jack discovers a GAYDAR gun that could change everything. Watch ‘Gaydar’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: ANOTHER brand new gay film arrives exclusively on Dekkoo!

Watch the trailer for the sexy new Dekkoo Original Series The Third!

A sexy and provocative new Dekkoo Original Series from creator Matthew Lynn, The Third follows the story of Jason Height (Sean McBride), a young man recently displaced on the West Coast. During his conquests and adventures as a twenty-nine-year-old gay man in Palm Springs, he stumbles into a triad relationship with Carl and David (Corey Page and Ryland Shelton), an attractive, gay couple who are on the outs after thirteen years of marriage.

Watch the full trailer for The Third below. Don’t miss this addictive new series when it debuts on October 24th – exclusively on Dekkoo!