Frank Christian Marx is the star and writer of new gay comedy Men To Kiss.
The film was released this week through TLA Releasing and is a screwball comedy about polar opposites Ernst and Tobias who are trying to navigate a relationship whilst Ernstās friend Uta tries to split them up.
We caught up with Frank to talk more about the movie, discuss gay cinema in Germany and find out what heās got coming up next.
How are you today Frank?
Iām fine. Itās early in the morning. Normally Iām at producing school now. Iāve made one film but I really have a lot to learn. Iām at school for 4 months.
Did you decide to study film production because of Men To Kiss?
Yes. In Germany you get a scholarship when you make a film and they give you four months of free lessons. I got that from the government.
Tell us about Men To Kiss. What can people expect from the film?
The film is very crazy. The situation is very screwball. I love the old screwball movies with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant like Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday. It was inspired by these movies and is about two characters that are very different from each other. They have a connection but they donāt really see it. Tobias and Ernst are perfect for each other but Ernst thinks that Tobias isnāt right for him as Ernst is too-straightlaced and a banker whereas Tobias is a performance artist. When Uta comes into the film, sheās the best friend of Ernst, she wants to break them apart and sees that thereās a chance to do that. Itās get really bitchy and crazy.
We made the film last year and it was the first gay romantic film in Germany ever without a coming out issue. In our film all the characters are out of the closet and donāt have a problem with homosexuality. That was something very special in Germany as it had never been done before.
Itās refreshing to see a gay film where there isnāt a sexuality struggleā¦
Yes, normally German movies are focused strongly on the story, dialogue-driven and nothing really happens. We wanted to turn that around and do something crazy. We wanted it to have an American or an English feel. Thereās one scene at the end in the shop thatās like Monty Python. We wanted to show all of those influences and not be so German.
You either love the film or you hate the film. Thereās nothing in-between. Ā You either go with the flow or you say āwhat is this?ā In Germany the audience loved the film and the heterosexual press loved it but the gay press questioned why there wasnāt a coming out issue or any of the usual problems.
We have read some reviews of the film and it really does seem to have divided people.Ā Some critics have said itās not realistic but thatās the point isnāt it?
We have so many heterosexual comedies that are far-fetched so why not have a gay comedy like that? So we made it.
Itās not like every straight movie you have people worrying about their heterosexualityā¦
(laughs) yeah! The one thing that people said to us is that it wasnāt gay enough. It is a gay movie but itās not about being gay. Itās about being in a relationship and being the opposite of each other. Itās about fighting for your relationship which can be gay or straight.
Do you think weāll see Ernst and Tobias again in future films?
Ah! Maybe. Weāre thinking about that. We love the characters and maybe we will do another movie with them but weāre not sure yet. Ente Kross, our German production company, is the first German production company that only develops queer stories and films. We developed a short movie The Phallometer about a gay man in the Czech Republic which is a satire. Weāre sending the film to the festivals right now. The next film weāre doing is kind of a gay Golden Girls. Itās a house full of 60-year-old gays and explores their friendship with each other. The nephew of one of the characters comes to the house and gets into trouble. Itās a much more story-based film.
It sounds really interesting. We canāt wait to see it.
Weāre shooting it next year. Our production company isnāt one of the major companies in Germany but itās incredible and wonderful the people that have already helped us.
What you should be saying is itās not one of the biggest ones yetā¦
Ah! Yes. Itās not one of the biggest ones yet. Youāre totally right.
Letās talk some more about Ente Kross which we understand means Crispy Duck in English. Why did you decide to set the company up?
I know every gay movie made out there in the world. In America they do cheesy comedy films called Eating Out which are just about joy and laughing. We wanted to create something like that. All films here Germany and TV shows want to tell coming out stories of men aged 16 or 17 and we want to change that. We want to tell the stories of older people. This is very important for me and gay life doesnāt stop at 25. Your life really starts when youāre turning 30; thatās my opinion.
At first we had a lot of people saying to us that itās not good to make the production company focus only on gay films. I wanted to do that because there isnāt a company like us in Germany. I wanted to be the first and wanted to be there for the community. I want to help them and hear their thoughts and feelings about what they want to see.
Do you have any other projects in the pipeline this year?
Yes. Iāve got a thousand projects! Next weekend on my birthday Iām filming a German TV show called SOKO and Iām playing the bad guy. Iām playing a murderer so youāll see the bad side of me. Iām getting back into my acting workshops too. I donāt want to have a production company just to give myself characters to play.
I want see people and really introduce the world to different people and characters. I want to play in different films and Iāve got two ahead of me that arenāt produced by me. Iām the bad guy in both of them which is different for me because normally Iām the nice guy.
Iāve been asked to be the creative decision maker of a company that makes films like I Want Your Love that contain stories and real sex. I have to think about that but itās really exciting and Iām making my decision next week.
Next year weāre making a film about when Germany was divided after World War II. Weāre making a story about a gay soldier during that time. We have lots and lots of ideas. Iām on the edge of a nervous breakdown (laughs).
Please donāt have a nervous breakdown!
(laughs) Iāll try.
Men To Kiss is available to buy on DVD through TLA releasing now.