17c起草社区

Breathing new life into Germany鈥檚 gay film industry with his romantic screwball comedy Men To Kiss, the uber-talented Frank Christian Marx is over the moon to attend the Sydney premiere this Tuesday night, as part of Mardi Gras Film Festival 2012.

鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful and like a dream come true. That I can come to Sydney, it鈥檚 wow. I always wanted to come, I鈥檓 so excited!鈥�

With producer, screenwriter and leading actor credits to his name, a jovial Marx spoke to the 17c起草社区 from his home in Berlin where partygoers were braving freezing conditions to celebrate the Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale.

鈥淚鈥檝e just been at the gay festival at the Berlinale, and it was really great. I think I got home at like 5 o鈥檆lock this morning,鈥� he laughed.

Men To Kiss is the first feature film by his production company, Ente Kross (Burnt Chicken) and follows the energetic tale of two gay men 鈥� serious Ernst and his opposite, the frivolous Tobias 鈥� their big city quest to find love, and each other.

Filmed amid the vivacious backdrop of Berlin鈥檚 world famous nightlife and gay scene, this deeply collaborative project features friends and notable Berlin scene artists like Nina Queer and Ades Zabel, and reveals an open-minded city steeped in history and culture. And serious parties.

鈥淥nce you see it, once you鈥檝e been here, you always want to come back,鈥� Marx said.

鈥淚鈥檝e been in Berlin for eight years, and I鈥檓 never going anywhere. That鈥檚 it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like when they say New York鈥檚 not part of America, then Berlin is not quite Germany.鈥�

Describing the film鈥檚 humour as international rather than German, Marx wonders how the subtitles will translate to an Australian audience, but remains proud that Men To Kiss has filled a gap in the German gay film market.

鈥淚鈥檓 gay and I love movies. But when I see 101 films about hetero couples, I want to see something with our people,鈥� Marx said.

鈥淚n Germany, all the movies, when they are gay-themed, involve coming out and they鈥檙e about a 17-year-old boy and his parents don鈥檛 want him to be gay, and it鈥檚 always about diseases. I think we鈥檙e the first gay romantic comedy in 10 years.

鈥淚 want to make a production company that does comedy, horror, all genres, but always with gay people 鈥� it鈥檚 not important that they are gay, they just are.鈥�

After saving the film from financial difficulties 15 days into the shoot, Marx and his co-star and business partner Udo Lutz (who plays Tobias) set up Ente Kross to finish the film with 40,000 euros and help from family and friends.

鈥淵ou know, I think we made mistakes, I mean we were thrown in the deep end. I want to correct the mistakes in the next movie. I want to be a producer and stay a producer. To make people proud to invest in me,鈥� Marx said.

With plans to tap into the English-speaking market with a new film that features six gay characters and their intertwining storylines, while trying to raise a budget of 150,000 euros, Marx is loving the transition from screenwriter and actor to producer.

鈥淚 want to experience more control of a movie, to keep the people together, make the casting, and I think I like it more,鈥� Marx said.

鈥淚 mean, I love acting. I just shot Don: The King Is Back with Shah Rukh Khan (aka King of Bollywood) and that was an incredible experience. I mean, they treat him like a god.

鈥淲hen we came from the hotel there were like 500 people shouting 鈥極h my god, there鈥檚 Shah Rukh Khan!鈥� That鈥檚 totally not my thing.鈥�

INFO: Men To Kiss is screening at Cinema Paris at EQ on Tuesday, February 21 at 7pm (Frank Christian Marx in attendance) and Monday, February 27 at 7pm. .