Could John Cameron Mitchell’s gleefully sexual 2006 film 'Shortbus' get made today? MarkHarrisNYC writes
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Alex has started to pee. “It’s so exciting meeting all these people,” he says. “I feel bad that we’re in a competition, but I guess we are.”“You can ask me whatever you want!” he says. “I love being interviewed while I’m tugging my cock.” “Why do I want to do this? John. Mostly John. I believe in him and the way he talks about this. And because of him, I think this is going to be an amazing journey for everyone who gets to take it.”“I don’t know.
John had asked me to come to a café on Perry Street near his apartment to see if he felt comfortable, and if I did. We got together for coffee on a cold March afternoon. Here’s what I wrote right afterwards, on the subway home: John had created a website ad announcing the project and inviting people to put themselves on tape for whatever kind of audition they felt like offering. It yielded about 400 videotaped responses — an extraordinary number in the pre-phone-cam era.
I start to feel shy — not an ideal characteristic for a reporter — shortly after I introduce myself to a genial-looking guy , and he replies, “Cool, I’m a sex slave.” For no reason, I start thinking about my wedding, which is six weeks away. I picture my family and my husband’s family watching me work. It’s not useful.
Time for me to go. “Can I ask you something?” a young man says as I make my way to the door. He looks worried. “What do I do if the party ends and the subway doesn’t … does the subway run all night? This is my first time in New York and I don’t know how to get around. I didn’t think this was going to be so …”
“Maybe we could lower the lights a little,” he says, seeing a couple of the newest arrivals wince under the glare.If the day goes well, it is largely because of the sensitivity with which John shifts between his roles as den mother, dad, host, boss, matchmaker, and psychologist, making himself available to anyone who needs a moment in private or a bit of bolstering. “There’s one guy who doesn’t want to show his tape at all,” he tells me.
The printed-out forms are passed around. They have slots for I’d Never, Curious, Possibly — Need to Know More, I Think So, and Definitely. John’s hope is to put the Definitelys together after the watch-athon and see if anything sparks. By 6 p.m., everybody seems overexposed and exhausted, even John. He asks the actors to leave the next three nights free; he and his producers are going to look at the comments and attempt to pair some people off for unmonitored dates that they hope will generate some chemistry. Later in the week, a series of callbacks will be scheduled during which John will work with the actors he has selected individually and in pairs .
John doesn’t yet know what he’s going to find. “The comment sheets were helpful,” he tells me just before the workday starts. “Some of the women have expressed disappointment that the group is so predominantly gay men, and I get that. I wish there were more straight men too, but that’s who auditioned. And the dates … I feel like some of these people have already found boyfriends!”
“I know I didn’t get it,” Darryl tells me afterwards. “I’m not ready. I just wish I had one more day to try again before I go home.” Overall, though, the unconventional audition has been a success.
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