Sydney James Harcourt – I’m Not Gay A Musical

By starrymag | April 25, 2023

By: Kelly Kearney

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for the film I’m Not Gay A Musical.

A) An obsessive-compulsive MMA fighter moves to Fire Island and pretends he’s gay to buy the house of his dreams and heal from his past trauma. But trying to keep the gay fantasy life he’s living on the island separate from his fighting life and his girlfriend in the city is not as easy as he thinks…

Q) You play the lead, Misha, the MMA fighter tormented by his past and struggling with who he is in the present. How did this project land in your lap?

A) Good question!  Our writer/director Scott Semer told me at our wrap party that he had the casting director reach out to me after seeing some of the crazy videos on my YouTube channel, believe it or not!  For me, my introduction to the project was my audition – which initially was singing the song “The Mess Inside.” It was one of those songs I felt I must be the first to originate, and I knew then (without having read the script) that I wanted the part.  Lucky for me, they liked the way I sang it.

Q) What was your initial reaction to the script?

A) I was shocked, honestly.  When I first began reading it, I was taken aback by how dark and painful the story was.  But I read a little further and the comedy, heart, and fantasy of it all became clear.  When I was laughing out loud on my first read through, I knew it was for me.  I’m only interested in telling new stories, especially those that highlight the struggles of the POC and Queer communities and portray them as heroes, not victims or stereotypes.  This hit all the marks for me.

Q) You and Alan Mingo Jr., who plays the Trans character in this film, worked so seamlessly together that it felt like a well-oiled machine. Both of your styles played so well off of each other, and the chemistry was off the charts! Did the two of you spend much time together prior to filming to develop that connection?

A) Alan and I didn’t meet until the day we filmed!  The entire cast had previously done a read/sing through of the script via zoom, so I knew he was FIERCE already, but nothing could have prepared me for the kind of chemistry we experienced on set.  Alan is one of those actors that disappears into the character and creates such a strong sense of realism that the work doesn’t feel like acting; it feels like living.  We shot all of the therapy sessions in one long day – it was intense to say the least.  Alan made it feel effortless.  He and I made each other laugh between takes all day, and he really provided me with a safe space in which to be vulnerable about Misha’s trauma and darkness.  I can’t speak highly enough about the incredible artist and professional that he is.  He’s a star.

Q) Stage and screen acting are two totally different beasts, and each comes with its own challenges, what were the more challenging aspects of making this film for you?

A) The biggest difference for me was the amount of rehearsal time.  In stage work, you get to rehearse a scene for weeks, if not months.  With screen work you show up to set, you get your pages (which may or may not be the same as what you tried to memorize), do a quick rehearsal, and then you shoot it.  Then, you rehearse the next scene, and you shoot it.  Wash and repeat.  Same with the musical numbers, but more daunting because now you’re learning choreography and spacing it on a set, you’re seeing it for the first time.  You get about thirty minutes and then the shot is up and you’re on; ready or not.  The craziest part of it all is that when you’ve finished, you will never touch that scene or song again.  On Broadway, there are a thousand chances to get it right.  There are no do-overs in a movie.

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film for the movie or ones you thought turned out exceptionally when watching the film, yourself?

A) There’s too many to choose from!  As far as musical numbers, working with George Dvorsky and singing our duet “Here in this House” is one of my favorites.  I have such a passion for gay culture and for the history of those who fought the battles over the years for acceptance so that I could be talking to you about this queer film today. “Here in This House’ honors the queer struggle that gave us these freedoms that we, unfortunately, continue to fight for today.  I also loved filming “Beautiful Gays” because I just had to sit there and watch the incredible Brad Bradley, Manny Herrera and Nick Silverio shoot it over and over again!  It was so hard to keep a straight face in scenes with them.  Let’s just say in all of their appearances they take ridiculousness to a new level – but somehow give it heart and meaning.  They’re also naked a lot.

Q) It seems like now is the perfect time for a movie like this. The Trans community is currently under attack and in some states in the U.S., having their entire identities ripped from them. This film gives the community a chance to see themselves celebrated and empowered on screen. It’s also a vehicle for communities of color–all of whom are reflected in the majority of the cast. What sort of mark are you hoping this film leaves on both marginalized communities and the film industry as a whole?

A) Representation is everything.  My hope is that the marginalized communities that are represented in I’M NOT GAY will see their beauty and their strength, and their resilience reflected in this story.  Ours is a community of acceptance and celebration.  It can be difficult in this world to walk around in your authenticity with your held high as a queer minority, even in places where you are supposedly safe.  You’re often punished for it.  I experienced both homophobia and racism in Hamilton, The Lion King, American Idiot, and on Broadway in general – just for trying to be myself.  Working with the cast of this film was a breath of fresh air.  What you see on screen was actually reflected in the working environment.  No one was saying “Love is love” for the publicity it might garner them – they actually meant it.  There was nothing but love and support for one another.  The more we normalize these stories in films, TV shows and on stage, the more we create the fertile ground for acceptance and understanding that we need in this country and in the world.  The success of this story will hopefully show the film industry that there are new stories to tell, with more representation, and less business as usual.  I mean, how many white hetero clones are we willing to accept as leading men?  I’m bored.

Q) The rate of Trans Americans murdered between 2017-2020 nearly doubled and those numbers are still rising according to data gathered by Everytown For Gun Safety. Thirteen percent of those victims were Black. We’ve seen a quick and brutal regression in civil rights in the United States and it often feels like we are losing more ground than we are gaining. What are your thoughts on media opening minds and hearts because now more than ever we could use both pouring out kindness? Can a movie like this inspire people who are maybe unmoved or unconcerned with what’s happening in these communities?

A) The beauty of this film is that there’s a way in for everyone.  Misha identifies as a straight male.  He has a young daughter that he’s raising with his ex, who is a cis gendered female.  It’s not JUST a movie about the LGBTQIA+2S community.  It’s a movie about life.  A movie about everyone.  With all of the letters and symbols we keep adding to the moniker of our community it’s clear that there’s room for everyone here.  That’s what our movie is about. It’s a human film, and if we could just stop and see each other as humans in this country instead of viewing the world through the haze of our nonsensical tribal mentality we might have a chance at peace, at progress, at living.  I’ve had too many friends die from overdose, disease and violence in my life – trying to cope with a world that doesn’t care about them.  My hope is that this movie helps our national consciousness take another step toward kindness and caring. The progress may seem slow at times, but there’s hope.  As a little boy in Detroit, I was so terrified of anyone knowing I was gay that I vowed I would get married and have children and never tell anyone.  There was no representation in the media for me to find strength in.  Now I’m the star of a queer movie musical.  Apparently, it does get better.

Q) This might be a small-budget indie film, but it has a big-budget award-winning soundtrack that musical fans will want to hear more of. I know the single “Keep Your Story Straight” has been released to the streamers. What tracks have the fans been sharing that have personal significance for them and when can they expect to be able to snag a copy of the soundtrack as a whole?

A) First of all, if you don’t know about the composer Ben Velez, join the fan club now because he’s about to blow up.  His incredible music is what drew me to the project and there’s not a bad song in the score. It’s fresh, sometimes familiar and it pushes the musical genre forward towards the contemporary sound that most shows try and fail at presenting.  Yes, a lot of fans have already mentioned “Keep Your Story Straight” as a favorite of theirs, but who can resist the charismatic young voice of Gracie Bryant?  I’ve also had many people tell me that “Can’t Take the Light Away” has deep personal meaning for them, and it doesn’t hurt that it sounds like a 90’s Mariah [Carey] power ballad.  You already know that I love “Here in This House” and I’m fully ready for the house remix.  (If there are any DJ’s out there that want to try, I’ll get you the a cappella vocals).  And, of course, once you’ve seen and heard “Beautiful Gays” it’s an instant hilarious classic.  I can’t wait for the TikTok covers to begin.

Q) What’s next for you, Sydney? Are you looking ahead to any projects we can watch out for?

A) This fall you can catch me starring in the return of Netflix’s flagship animé “Castlevania: Nocturne.” I’m playing Edouard, an opera singer and vampire hunter set against the backdrop of the French Revolution.  Not only is my character gay AND mixed race, but I also sing loads of classical repertoire as a soprano, tenor and baritone in English, Latin, French and Italian.  Like I’M NOT GAY, the series is chock full of queer and POC representation. Oh, and gay vampire sex.  What more could you ask for?

I’ve just finished work on a documentary style animated music film titled Rhapsody on The Outlaw Ocean, based on the bestseller by the New York Times investigative journalist Ian Urbina.  It documents the human rights abuses and rampant crime on the high seas, and it’s all told through rap, pop, and hip-hop.  There are quite a few Hamilton cast members involved and it will be starting its film festival circuit in May.

Besides that, you can catch me in concert appearances around the country with the American Pops Orchestra.  I just filmed a concert with them – “Black Broadway” (with my amazing drag mom, Peppermint), which is currently streaming on PBS.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans or even the communities you hope this film touches?

A) I would love for people to watch this film with an open heart and mind and, hopefully, feel the love with which it was made.  It’s an uphill climb to be an underdog queer indie musical that, in many ways, defies genre.  Scott L. Semer has really done something new here.  The support of the community would mean everything to this beautiful cast and crew that poured their heart and soul into this film.  There is nothing I’d love more than for this to be a queer cult hit, and to travel to Pride festivals around the world performing these amazing songs for our beautiful tribe.

 

 

 

 

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