最后的直男

Two best friends – one straight, one bisexual/gay – hook up just before the straight guy gets married. It’s the start of a decade long affair where the guys meet for one night a year to have sex, catch up and let loose. However what should be a secret but simple bit of fun soon becomes something more complicated for both of them.

That’s the set-up for writer/director Mark Bessenger’s The Last Straight Man, which shows us five of the mens’trysts over a 12-year period. With the film coming to DVD (it’s out this week in both the US and UK), we took the opportunity to chat to Bessenger about his movie, how the actors dealt with the sex and nudity, and whether gay people have a double standard about ‘straight’ men having same sex affairs.

Where did the idea for The Last Straight Man come from?
I wish I could say it was autobiographical, but it actually sprang from the budget. I knew my next feature would have to keep costs down, so I began to wonder if I could set a movie in one location and keep it interesting for ninety minutes. From there, it just built itself up: a hotel suite…one night every year afforded the opportunity to let characters grow…two men…best friends…one straight and one gay would provide the drama…unrequited love and sexual curiosity would provide the conflict…and there it was.

Have you ever fallen for a straight friend yourself?
I’ve had some pretty hard crushes on some of my straight guy friends, but yes, there was one that I was on the verge of falling in love with. Thank goodness it never happened. He was married with kids and it would have been a disaster. But, if he had been gay, it would have been glorious. We got along so well.

How did the main actors, Mark Cirillo and Scott Sell, get involved?
Scott was the first actor cast. When I was writing the script, I happened to see Scott in an episode of a local web show from Detroit, Michigan. It was a horror series, and Scott was great and had the perfect look for the Cooper character. I contacted him on Facebook, struck up a conversation and when the script was completed, I sent it to him to see if there was any interest. He wanted to try out, and I video auditioned him. He did a great job, and that was that.

Another actor had initially been cast as Lewis, the gay guy, but a month before the start of production, he backed out—a director’s nightmare. Several other good actors were contacted, including some who had originally auditioned for the part, but they turned it down, mostly because of the nudity and sex. One turned it down because of the “dirty bottom” joke! Producer Benjamin Lutz suggested I auditioned Mark Cirillo. They were friends because they had both been in another movie together (The Men Next Door), and Mark had done comedy and nudity in that film. So we brought Mark in, and he was great, so the two leads were complete.

Is it true that you initially thought about having different actors playing the two main characters at each of their meetings? Why was that scrapped?
Yes. Originally, I thought it would be fun to have different actors play the same characters every time they met. Maybe even actors of diverse races. It would give me the opportunity to work with more good people and add an interesting spin to the film, but the producers discussed it with me, and we ultimately decided it was too gimmicky an idea. The audience would have to get acquainted with the characters anew each time which would make it harder to build upon their story arcs. Plus, each concurrent set of actors would have to work within ever-tightening parameters, as they could only perform within the boundaries set by the preceding actors, which wouldn’t be as much fun. So we scrapped the idea.

Due to the setup of showing us some of the men’s yearly meeting, there’s a fair amount of nudity and sexual situations. Was that difficult to handle on set? Were the actors concerned about it at first?
Mark Cirillo had done nudity in previous films so it wasn’t a big deal to him (although now that the movie is done, he has told me he’s amazed at how much skin and sex there is in it), and when we were recording the audio commentary for the DVD, Scott revealed that ‘those’ scenes had almost prevented him from accepting the role. Both actors were very brave, but I have to give special props to Scott, who basically flew across the country to meet a group of people he didn’t know and get comfortable enough around us to take off his clothes and show butt and peen.

We rehearsed the scenes (clothed) extensively before we began filming, so the actors were relaxed and familiar with each other’s bodies, so I think that made it easier for them. And while we shot with a small crew, it was still difficult to get people to work on the film, due to the fact that it was GAY sex and MALE nudity. Even the women on the shoot were, I was told, uncomfortable. But I am always about challenging boundaries, so I take that as a badge of honor. And everyone behaved professionally. Even the telling of dirty jokes on set was practically nonexistent.

How much of a challenge was writing the script? You want us to get to know these men, but you are seeing them in quite limited periods. Was it difficult to keep it natural but still fully flesh out the characters?
Not at all. It was probably one of the easiest scripts I’ve ever written. Once I knew who these two guys were, and what I wanted each annual reunion to be about, the creation of the script just flew. I believe once the outline was done, I wrote it in a week. There was a very minimal rewrite after I let a few friends read it.

The film deals with the complexities of sexuality. It can often be a tangled thing with many people having different ideas about how peoples’ sexuality works and how/whether it can change. As the movie deals with people whose sexuality is being challenged or changing (at least in their own minds), how did you ensure that felt real?
I think a person’s sexuality is pretty much set at a young age with fuzzy borders. When I was a kid, I knew I didn’t feel the same way about girls as I did about boys, but I still thought I would get married to a woman some day and have kids. This was the ‘Barbie Dream House’ fantasy, and I didn’t realize it was really a gay fantasy. In high school and college, I became convinced I was bisexual and even bedded several women in an attempt to prove it to myself, but it was never as satisfying as it was when I had sex with men. Finally, I decided to just admit the truth to myself and came out as gay. So, did my sexuality change? No. Just my own interpretation (or frantic attempt at labelings) of what I thought I was, not what I really was.

And I believe this is true for a lot of people. One ‘straight’ male friend and fuck buddy told me that he considered himself totally heterosexual…he just liked to suck dick once in a while. To me, that is not straight, but to HIM, it absolutely is. So was his sexuality changing? I don’t think so. I think he was bisexual with a preference for women, but if he had come to this realization, his sexuality wouldn’t change, just his interpretation of it. And I found this fascinating and tried to incorporate this into Cooper’s character to help give him that authenticity.



I was also interested in how the guys’ meetings are supposed to be about escape and fun for both of them, but it quickly becomes apparent that there’s more to it than that. Do you think people can have ‘friends with benefits’ relationships that don’t get more complicated?
I really don’t. Sex, even if it’s originally just for fun, implies a certain amount of intimacy between the people involved. Now, I’m talking about ongoing sexual relationship, not going to a bathhouse or a sex club. When we have sex, we are revealing ourselves to another person in many ways. We are exposing our bodies, our pleasures, our fetishes, our psyches…everything that makes us who we are. I don’t think you can expose those aspects of ourselves to each other and not have it emotionally take hold somewhere.

It’s often difficult to get gay-themed films made. How did you go about getting financing the film?
I wish I could say I sold my body for a night to an Arabian prince and raised the entire budget by morning, but in actuality, we approached distributors, friends and investors but no one wanted to bite. Even a couple of porn companies. My biggest surprise was how many ‘out and proud’ homosexual men were actually afraid to put money into a gay production because their families and friends might disapprove. We tried an IndieGoGo campaign that failed miserably. Ultimately, a production company came through for us after reading the script and thinking it was great. Who was I to disagree?

I’m often intrigued when watching movies in which married men have an affair with another guy, whether the ‘cheating’ character would seem as sympathetic if he was having an affair with a woman. Do you think that’s true and that perhaps gay-themed cinema has a bit of a double-standard on that issue?
It is a double-standard, because cheating on a committed partner IS cheating. But I think we are more apt to forgive a married man sleeping with a gay man because men cheat to fulfill something they’re not getting in their normal relationships. If he’s having hetero sex at home and seeks out other hetero sex, it’s harder to forgive, because he’s looking for more of what he’s already getting. But if a married man is seeking out gay sex, we believe (or often WANT to believe) that it’s because he’s searching for something more than just sex. He’s looking to fulfill some part of his makeup that his wife, or any woman for that matter, isn’t satisfying. And so he finds it with other men. For a lot of gay men, we understand that search, since so many of us have experienced it ourselves, and so, we’re more willing to forgive that transgression. But if we were to see a movie about a married gay couple in a committed relationship and one of them cheats on his spouse with another gay man, I don’t think it would be as well-received.

The film seems to have had a great reaction at film festivals. Are you pleased with how audiences have reacted to the movie?
Yes. I was surprised at how few GLBT festivals in the U.S. wouldn’t take the film. When you’re rejected, you don’t get an explanation. But I was always told that it could be for any reason: too long of a running time, not funny enough, a festival programmer was feeling particularly unattractive that day and didn’t want to book a film where someone else found love…anything. But I always had a feeling the sexual frankness of the film scared some of them off. Even GLBT fests in the Bible Belt can be pretty conservative.

Are you a fan of gay-themed cinema yourself? What are some of your favourites?
Yes, I love gay cinema. I love movies in general, but gay cinema feels like it speaks more to me than other genres (except horror, but that’s an essay in itself) because it’s easier to see myself on the screen. I could name several films, but I’m going to restrict myself to two, both by the same director: Joseph Graham. This guy is such a good filmmaker, it hurts. His first film, Strapped, is a character study of people living in an apartment building as they encounter a male escort who has just had a client and cannot find the exit. After working his way through the literal and figurative maze-like hallways, he learns something about himself. It’s a beautiful piece of work. Now, Joe has a new film coming out called Beautiful Something. He’s putting the finishing touches on it right now. He graciously asked me to watch it…and it’s simply brilliant. It’s about our relationship with art and how that effects all aspects of our lives. It’s gorgeous, sexy, amazingly directed and the acting is devastatingly wonderful. Keep an eye out for that one. It’s flat-out my favorite gay film to date.

Are you working on anything new. Is there anything you can tell us about it?
Oh yes, things have been very busy at the Bessenger film factory. Currently, an older feature I directed and was thought lost has been rediscovered. It’s called Rhapsody and is available for streaming and download on amazon.com, or for purchase on Blu-ray on eBay. It was my first gay feature, shot in Chicago in 1994. When it was found, we remastered the footage, re-scored the music and re-edited the picture. There were a LOT of montages. A LOT, lol. Anyway, it’s recently been made available.

The very first feature film I ever directed, a horror/comedy/action/martial arts film called Ninja Zombie may be finally seeing the light of day next year. I was told it was too ‘mean-spirited’ by a distributor and so let it collect dust in my garage until recently someone came calling for it. Look for that one early in 2016.

And currently, I am in the middle of production on a new project called Confession. It’s a 16-scene anthology made up of gay male monologues in which each character confesses a secret to someone; sometimes a friend, sometimes directly to us. Each piece differs from the rest in tone or genre. One is a comedy, one is horror, one is romantic, one is disturbing, a few are erotic, there is a concert film, dancing and puppets; some are dark, some are light…I hope all are entertaining. And yes, there’s sex and nudity, lol.

We should finish post by the end of April and will be making the film festival circuit this year while seeking distribution.

I hope these films will appeal to ‘our’ audience, and that your readers will seek them out and enjoy them!

一开始就抱着烂片心态往下看的，刚开始GV似的配乐也是很醉。再后来越来越神，全程对白完全不腻啊，我倒觉得演员表演的都很到位。话不多说直接列这片戳我心的三个点：

1) "You can't find love in a locked room, Louis, you can read about life, or you can live it."
俩人slow dance之后坐下来louis细细道来祖母的帽子和爱情小说，撩汉指数五颗星，哲理指数四星半

2)"I've tried to do the right thing but, then I talked to you and suddenly YOU are the right thing."
phone sex之后cooper算是完全认识到了真爱，看似cliché的cheesy line一点也不腻歪戳中内心🌚

3)"Remember you told me about your dad leaving, how he made you feel? Why would you do that to them? Soul mate or not, they are your family. They love you. That's more important than us."
还记得谷阿莫讲断背山的时候说究竟Jack和Ennis明明结婚出轨还一副我追求真爱我无敌的样子是不是贱货的问题，这部结局可以说完美啊，家庭美满基友在侧，还甜。

【你在锁着的房间里面是找不到爱情的，你可以阅读人生或者你也可以潇洒的活着，记住一定要快乐】


“最后的直男”——这是一部充满惊喜的电影。这是关于每年的一个夜晚，持续12年。我必须承认，在影片的前几分钟，我开始在心里给它默默打上了”烂片“的标签，渐渐看下去我开始懊恼了，故事在朝一个与我所期望的完全不同的方向发展。居然就感觉这电影或许还真的挺不错。。

12年之久的一夜情，似断背山一样的情节实则却加入更多思考，编剧兼导演对于台词很用心的处理，演员的无拘束演绎。最终就效果上来看是完全超出预期的走心！那这绝对称得上低成本电影的典范！

电影开始在库珀的单身派对，看到大房间里一群庆祝派对的汉子”享受“着雇佣脱衣舞娘的异国情调舞蹈，但也也注意到了，一个客人不参与其中。于是镜头偏重到另一位主角刘易斯。随后酒店套房刘易斯和库珀他们在收拾残局时开始谈论库珀结婚后的生活以及玩笑于双方性经历，刘易斯对库珀的祝福是“你的头发永远不会掉，你的屌会一直坚挺，你的儿子不会对你姐夫叫爸爸”。他们的语言，是糊涂又沉默男人作为一个物种早已经都掌握了的，为了保存刻板阳刚的形象的限制性代码，是用来掩盖任何一方可能的真实感受。
他们并不深知喝着几杯龙舌兰酒这么玩“三个问题”的游戏，这是很重要的线索，然后事情它就这么发生了。
当晚的交流中刘易斯坦言他是双性恋，他这样做是在回答三个问题之后。也是因为他讲述的那件难忘性事导致了之后事情第一次的发生，他们互相口交了。据库柏所说这不会再发生，但其实他们也意识到他们的关系注定是要围绕库珀婚姻情况发展了。于是两人同意安排一年一次一夜情，让它在接下一个十二年的同一天（库珀结婚纪念日的前一天）上演着，花样翻新，愈演愈烈。

这十二年的十一次（有一次库珀没有能赴约）中，导演重点展示了四个难忘的夜晚，描绘了两人的成长和他们的友谊的变化。伴随他们成熟和年龄的增长，刘易斯成为了一个写风花雪月文字的作家，而库珀一直是粗糙的劳工。第四年库珀如愿以偿的成为了一个父亲，而刘易斯仍然是一个孤独的一人生活，鲜有感情交往对象。这几年间似乎是有一定的规则般，不要接吻，不能刘易斯作Top。他们会在每年的这一天带着酒，雪茄，避孕套和润滑油来同一个酒店的同一间套房。
第四年刘易斯向库珀承认自己是同性恋，第一次相拥慢舞后他们盘坐地上，他向库珀讲述了祖母的帽子和书的故事，故事的最后祖母在去世前把她所有的帽子都烧掉了，只在她梳妆台上粘着一张她拿着她最爱的那本书的照片，他说她看起来很悲伤。在那张照片背面写着：你在锁着的房间里面是找不到爱情的，你可以阅读人生或者你也可以潇洒的活着，记住一定要快乐。
那晚刘易斯在对嘴饮酒的游戏中得到了四年来的第一个吻和算得上尴尬的初次Top体验。其中穿插了库珀作为一个已婚男人的牢骚，他说爱他的妻子，也由衷的为即将降生的孩子而心生喜悦，只是抱怨但她并不能他称作另一半，抱怨她很少和他有一种感觉，这一切没有达到他婚前对于灵魂伴侣的预期。


这五个夜晚（包括结婚前的那次），一场场的彻夜交流中可以看到两个男人一起度过的情感状态和他们的关系的变化。性永远是一个复杂的主题，在这部电影中你看到的是如此的真实。这是作为电影提出双性恋者却只看到他们的行为对他们的同性恋欲望的疑问。刘易斯说”是我太了解你“。事实上，正如库珀一直所说的，他是直男，他是无法想象和除刘易斯之外男人要怎么发生关系，刘易斯也绝不是泄欲的工具，他将这归结是因为他们是彼此最好的朋友。他们之间不过是找些乐子，那些沉重的话题就留在真实的世界吧！
两人决定在同一个酒店秘密见面，是在要同一天晚上赶上他们各自日常生活的借口，但他们实际上也在这样的生活里进一步探索自己的性欲望。在过去的十二年中，通过友谊关系的变化带来的这一切的改变。有浪漫也有情色！
这部电影的美在于什么不必说。刘易斯和库珀是深深爱着，他们的非言语交流都意味深长。他们刻意的笑话总是失败的，因为每当他们接近他们的真实感情就会迫使一个或两个改变话题。

在八年的那晚，库珀面对和刘易斯的性关系时仍”就像建筑工人领工资一样兴奋“，而刘易斯却性致索然，原来是刘易斯说他走入了一段感情生活——交了男朋友。那晚欢交过后在床上他们又玩起了”三个问题“的游戏，但这过程进行并不愉快。刘易斯说：”因为我知道你与你父亲不一样，所以不管是不是你的灵魂伴侣，她们都是你的家人，她们爱你，而这比我们在一起更重要！“刘易斯并不是没有想过，也不是没有希望过库珀能选择和他在一起生活，他绝口不提，如今时过境迁，也该释然了！”人是会变的，我该变得不再那么需要你了。“

在这样一个视觉拼贴形式的电影中，刻意跳过几个的生活阶段事件，使男性的演变随着时间的推移持续发生。随着年龄增长和生活经验的积累，他们的爱情，亲情和对彼此的了解都翻天覆地的改变。
刘易斯意识到，他要成为更好的人和库珀的家庭的利益无关，做正确的事。这样的无私让刘易斯有一个讨人喜欢的性格。似乎他总是理智的，甚至你可能会有错觉，刘易斯是单方面遭受心痛和暗恋的。然而，太多的徘徊是有由库珀对于谁是他的家人的困扰和他发现真正的迟来的灵魂伴侣的迷茫。作为观众，他们在卧室里交流情感的过程中，你不能参与帮助，但你能感觉到他们内部的纠葛——他们都曾面临困境。

“最后的直男”是一个讲述快乐的电影，创作者认真对待故事，会为你留下很多潜在的主题处理，告诉你人表达自己的方式和应该怎样思考看待对方。而不知道如何表达真实感情的生活，必然是会造成一个长期和不可逆转的后果。