Jody Latham and Liam from Skins hook up in new gay short film

The BFI Flare LGBT Festival kicks off tomorrow with the UK premiere of I Am Michael, starring Zachary Quinto and James Franco. But the one-week filmfest also showcases works by a number of independent British LGBT directors and writers.

One is Mirrors, a 12-minute film written and directed by Neil Ely, which tells the story of a pair of ‘straight’ guys who discuss their feelings in the cramped confines of a gay club toilet cubicle. We caught up with Neil and his actors – Shameless star Jody Latham,Liam Boyle from Skins and Anthony Kavanagh (yes, that’s pop star turned Celebrity Big Brother survivor Kavana) – to discuss their film.

So, Neil, what inspired the storyline?

Neil: I met a guy in a club a few years back; we talked a lot about sexuality he said he didn’t know what box he was in or what label to give himself. I assumed he was bi, and then all got a bit messy… I wondered for a while about boxes and why people feel the need to be in one, why I really wanted him to be in one. The initial idea came from that and then it just evolved into the film it is now.

The two guys in the film appear to be straight but sound as though they may be open to another lifestyle. Are they gay or not?

Neil: After we had read over the script, we decided to leave it behind and improvise the scenes, to give it a feeling of a ‘moment in time’. We didn’t discuss the sexuality of the two characters that much. We workshopped a lot before we started filming.

Jody: Isn’t that the whole point of the film? Leaving the audience to make up their own mind?

Liam: The characters represent the questions we ask ourselves. being ‘straight’ is what they feel they supposed to be. I think it explorers the grey areas of sexuality.

Do you think these days boys are more open to ambiguous sexuality?

Neil: I don’t know, really. I’d like to hope society is becoming more accepting – that people feel they can be who they want to be, love who they want to love. I think it’s harder for men to be open to being ambiguous.

Liam: There are loads of people who feel strongly about their sexuality without having to be either/or. It depends on the person and a willingness to understand. That’s when it becomes ambiguous.

Girls can get away with kissing each other and no one thinks they’re lesbian – look at Madonna and Britney – but for boys to do this would be a different matter. Why do you think that is?

Neil: That was a hot kiss! I think that also has something to do with sexualisation of women, by men. Now men have found themselves in a box.

Jody: Say Justin and Justin [Timberlake and Bieber] did the same thing, I don’t think society would have the same response. Crazy really. Sad!

Liam: I’ve never understood that, I feel happy seeing boys kiss, it’s a beautiful way of showing affection, be it a friend, lover or a stranger. It’s all love man!

Have you ever had a boy on boy kiss?

Liam: Well, Jody is definitely in my top ten. Good kisser.

Jody: Thanks Liam, I’m flattered.

The whole scenario in the short film comes about because of drugs…

Liam: The drugs enable them… I don’t think the film would be the same without it.

Neil: From my experience,  drugs can lower inhibitions. I think they can make you feel at ease to talk about things that you may not have without drugs or alcohol that can have the same effect.

Jody: The drugs in the film allow the guys to feel at ease with each other.

Newsnight’s Evan Davis recently said the he thought gay men are more likely to do drugs because of their lack of responsibilities. What do you think about that? 

Neil: Maybe he hasn’t got a lot of responsibility, but I have. I’m always concerned when people lump everyone together. Drugs are becoming more and more recreational regardless of sexuality.

Kav: I don’t think that responsibility or sexuality has anything to do with it. I think it’s a bit of a cliché to say that.

What do you want people to take away from the film? 

Jody: I’d like any one who has experienced something similar – straight, gay, bi – to know that its okay to talk about sexuality.

Liam: I’d like for people not to rush to put people in boxes so quickly.

Neil: I’d like people to be intrigued as to what may have happened after the boys left the club. They can make their own mind up, I guess.

Kavana, you play a great drag queen – you ever done that before?

Kav: I’ve never done it before… I cherished every minute of it! C’mon, it’s not everyday you get to dress up as Madonna. My scene with Sarah Byrne (Shameless) was the last to be filmed so we had a laugh. We made up our own story called Desperately Seeking Cindy.

Mirrors is being shown as part of the BFI Flare Festival on March 20 at 4pm and March 21 at 11.50am.