Kit Williamson, is one of those queer triple-threats: he’s an actor, writer, and director of the fabulous webseries, Eastsiders (out now at www.eastsiderstheseries.com; on DVD and digital platforms beginning November 3). The show, which just began its second season, depicts the romantic trials and tribulations of a handful of LGBT characters in Los Angeles’ Silverlake district.
They include Cal (Willamson) and Thom (Van Hansis), a couple opening up their relationship to threesomes; Ian (John Halbach, Williamson’s real life fiancé), a straight guy throwing himself
into a rebound relationship after breaking up with Kathy (Constance Wu); Quincy (a scene-stealing Stephen Guarino) who hangs out with drag diva Douglas (William Belli); as well as Jeremy (Matthew McKelligon) who is out of work and into a sex buddy; Cal’s sister Hillary (Brianna Brown), and a lesbian couple Bri (Brea Grant) and Vera (Vera Maio).
Eastsiders offers humor and insight about dating and relationships as its often self-sabotaging characters get drunk, sleep around, and make a mess of their lives. One of the best episodes in the season has two characters visiting an STD clinic.
Williamson seems to have things pretty much together when he chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times via Skype about Eastsiders.
Gary M. Kramer: What prompted you to come up with the show and the characters and their situations?
Kit Williamson: Originally I had really modest goals. I wanted to create characters I could relate to. I was frustrated by how stock gay characters are. I wanted to afford Cal and Thom to have the same opportunities to mess up their lives as straight characters do in their stories. I never had the opportunity
to play a gay character. I was never cast as gay. As a birthday present to myself, I self-financed the first two episodes, and called in every favor I could call in. The cast and crew worked for free; through crowdfunding, it kept getting bigger and bigger.
Gary M. Kramer: Season Two opens with Cal and Thom in a threesome, which is only one of several awkward personal connections depicted in the series. Why do you choose to explore relationships in the way that you do?
Kit Williamson: I am really fascinated by self-sabotage. I think that there’s not a person I know who doesn’t fall victim to it. It’s essential to the human condition, and relatable. You’ll be disappointed if you come to this show looking for anything other than flawed, messed-up characters ruining their lives. It’s why the characters are drunk all the time. Being drunk leads smart people to do stupid things, which is what is so interesting. Some of the most interesting people I know have gone through intense phases of being horrible to themselves and others. There is something at the core that makes them feel they don’t deserve love or happiness.
Gary M. Kramer: What decisions did you (or the actors) make in developing the roles and their situations and relationships?
Kit Williamson: I’m really interested in the ways in which the characters are grappling with their broader place in society. We explore masculinity and gender expression with Quincy wanting Douglas to tone down some of his self-expression, to not really wanting to be the perfect lesbian married couple. All of the characters are rubbing up against archetypes and stereotypes and rejecting them.
Gary M. Kramer: Did you feel a need for Eastsiders to have positive gay role models?
Kit Williamson: I don’t think there’s anything wrong with promiscuity as long as everyone is communicating and safe and considerate with others—and not doing it for the wrong reasons. I’m sex positive. Anything can be self-destructive. Monogamy can be if you’re hiding from the world in your relationship. The show is not an argument for any kind of lifestyle; it’s not for or against open relationships.
Gary M. Kramer: Have you had any negative response about how you depict the LGBT community?
Kit Williamson: Mean gay men can be fascinating. The absolute nastiest infighting is between gay men. We cannibalize our own. The most backlash we have gotten is about the characters being flawed, slutty, drunks, and that has been from gay men. I don’t know what causes it; I’m sure it’s different for every person. Anyone who lashes out that way must have something they are working through.
Gary M. Kramer: You feature very little nudity in the show. Was that a deliberate decision?
Kit Williamson: Yes, I didn’t want to rely on that. I don’t have a problem with nudity if it adds to the story, and provides greater intimacy. For the scenes I’ve written, nudity isn’t required, and would distract from what’s happening in the dialogue. If you want a storyline that leads to gratuitous sex and nudity, you can find it, and it’s available. I didn’t need to scratch that itch. Sex scenes are every bit as awkward as people say they are.
© 2015 Gary M. Kramer
Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer
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