The Cast of ‘Fire Island’ on Queer Family and Telling Our Own Stories
Some of the cast members of the new gay romantic comedy “Fire Island” have known each other for years, while others met each other for the first time once they were part of the ensemble. Director Andrew Ahn knew it was vital to believe the chosen family at the center of the film and brought his team together with an eye on that.
“Fire Island” - which premiered on Hulu June 3 – has a script from Joel Kim Booster, in which he parallels gay culture with none other than Jane Austen and her “Pride and Prejudice.” Booster stars as Noah, who joins his best friend Howie (Bowen Yang) on a summer outing to the New York gay mecca with fellow friends Luke (Matt Rogers), Keegan (Tomas Matos) and Max (Torian Miller). The group stay annually at the home of lesbian Erin (Margaret Cho) and this year Noah makes its his mission to help Howie find some summer love.
Other gay actors in the cast include Conrad Ricamora (“How to Get Away With Murder”) and James Scully as potential suitors and Nick Adams and Zane Phillips as fellow vacationers whose paths cross with the others. The “Fire Island” team re-assembled again recently to promote the new film.
Yang, Booster and Rogers all knew each other beforehand. Rogers and Yang met in college and have remained friends. “We’ve worked together in every configuration of a show biz circumstance except for being in a film together and I think this was the perfect first dip in the waters of how fun this could be,” Yang says. “To be in an all-queer rom com with our other friends -- what a beautiful reverie of a time.”
Rogers jokes that he and Yang feel like twins born in different parts of the world on different days. “It’s really nice to be able to experience all these firsts together,” he says.
When Miller – who has family in Atlanta -- first got cast, he thought he’d be coming into an established group of friends. A lot of the cast members are based out of New York and he is from Los Angeles. “But literally from day one everyone was so open hearted, so kind, down to be around each other,” Miller says. “We had long shoot days and even between takes when we were in our trailers, we wanted to be around each other. I think that says so much about the camaraderie I was blessed enough to work with. It’s not always like that. To want to be around each other during hectic situations was so special and I feel everyone here is a member of my extended family.”
Matos feels they are getting over a transitional period in their career life, coming from a dance background, and getting into more film and TV. The prospect could be scary, they admit, but they were a bit surprised the more veteran actors took them under their wings so easily. Matos left the shoot with what they call some new uncles and aunties.
“Fire Island” has an all-gay cast, as well as an out director. That was a particular appeal to Ricamora. “I feel like no one else gets our stories like we get our stories,” Ricamora says. “We should be telling our stories and we are (here). It’s one of the reasons (this film) has so much heart.”
When he read the script, he knew it would be a special project, but he had even more appreciation after seeing the finished product. Especially for his co-stars. “Everyone has known Joel and Bowen and Matt from their comedy careers but to see everyone move through with integrity and such grounded performances as well, and not just jokes on jokes on jokes - I was not expecting it to feel so profound in the way that it is.”
The film is also a heck of a calling card for the allure of Fire Island. “Not everybody gets to go (there),” says Ricamora. “We take that for granted when we live in New York so I am excited for (the film) to gather up everyone and tell them to check out this place. It can be a magical escape and it’s a place to go with your chosen family.”
“Fire Island” is streaming now on Hulu.
Archive
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- October 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- June 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015