The new movie Retake ( now out on VOD and DVD ) takes on issues involving memories and obsession as a handsome businessman ( played by Tuc Watkins ) hires a male hustler ( portrayed by Devon Graye ) to role-play as his long-lost love.
Watkins has an extensive background. Many were introduced to the openly gay actor when he played David Vickers on the daytime serial One Life to Live, but he has been in all sorts of projects, ranging from TV shows like Desperate Housewives ( as neighbor Bob Hunter ) and Major Crimes to the web series Where the Bears Are.
Windy City Times: Hi, Tuc. One Life to LiveI remember skipping classes to see that show.
Tuc Watkins: [Laughs] Yeah, it was a juggernaut.
WCT: And, of course, you got to work with the late [creator] Agnes Nixon. What was she like?
TW: In a word, elegant.
I rememberduring what I think was the Emmys one year, in Las Vegasthat some of us had lunch with her. There was this really weird juxtaposition between the Sin City feel of Vegas and the elegance of Agnes Nixon; they really didn't go together. She was this lovely item out of its proper place, in a way. She was really cool.
There was another time in New York, when we were shooting in the studio. There was a really bad thunderstorm and no one wanted to leave the building. She gathered us around and told us stories about the old days.
WCT: Switching gears, Retake kept me on my toes.
TW: Thanks. I describe Retake as a suspenseful love story, and we don't see a lot of that; there are suspense movies and there are love stories, but there's [a mix] here.
WCT: Yes; there's an air of uncertainty that permeates the entire movie.
TW: It starts off kind of dangerously, doesn't it? It's, like, "What's this guy going to do? Is the young guy safe?" I like playing those notes.
WCT: Was the idea of two people essentially carrying the movie a special challenge or something that attracted you?
TW: Two-handers [productions for two actors]whether they're movies or playsare in a class unto themselves. They're a lot of fun to work on, because you really have something to chew on. You take a journey with one other performer; it's a special kind of performance.
WCT: And the love scenes are intense. I hear actors say that filming those is awkward. Would you agree with that?
TW: Yes. Shooting sex scenes is never sexy. You've got a bunch of people around you with microphones, cameras and props. And you feel a little self-conscious; you wonder, "Gosh, do I look weird doing this? Does it look sexy, because it doesn't feel sexy?"especially when you're having sex with a hustler while wearing khakis. [Both laugh.]
WCT: Yeah, I can see how that would be tough to pull off.
TW: It's easier in a two-hander like thisno pun intendedbecause it's much more intimate. That kind of intimacy makes for an easier chore.
WCT: And I also appreciated the scenes with the interracial couple.
TW: They're [Sydelle Noel and Andrew Asper] great. In Shakespeare, you have the comic relief; not that they're strictly comical, but they allow the audience to breathe when they show up. It's a nice break.
WCT: They definitely add to the story.
TW: They're kind of the audience's voice, aren't they? They give voice to the viewer.
WCT: You have an intriguing body of work. I've seen you on everything from Desperate Housewives to Where the Bears Are. What is working on [Bears] like?
TW: My friend from college, Ben Zook, and his husband, Joe Dietl ( whom I've known for over 25 years ) created it. They called me one day and asked, "Heydo you want to play this part?" They told me the premise and I said, "Absolutelyif I can wear a mustache." They said, "Sure."
Then, Brooke Dillman ( my friend since I was 4 years old ) and I got to do some really funny things in it.
WCT: And the commentary is even more hilarious. Sometimes there's so much laughter you can't even make out what they're saying.
TW: [Laughs] Well, it's a very fun seta very silly set, as you can imagine. It's a very relaxed atmosphere.
WCT: So, doing what you have done, is there any genre you'd like to tackle?
TW: I was invited to do a production of Mamma Mia, and I said, "Absolutely not. I don't sing." They said, "We'll train you."
We're supposed to do the things that scare us, but I don't know if I'll do that. I think a paying audience deserves better than that. However, I'd really like to do farce. Farce done on stage, like Noises Off, is the funniest kind of comedy, I think. Even some of the great television comedies, like Seinfeld, was farce. In the first 10 minutes, they set up the jokes that will pay off.
WCT: I appreciate shows like Veep.
TW: Yesthat kind of tone and sensibility are my favorite to watch and perform.
WCT: I really think you should do a musical. Have you seen La La Land?
TW: I haven't seen it. My fear stems from grade school. I was in the boys choir at my church, and the choirmaster asked who'd like to sing a solo on Christmas Eve. I raised my hand and no one didthe choirmaster asked, "Anyone else?"
WCT: Oh, no...
TW: So he allowed it. I practiced my solobut in the 11th hour, he added Robbie Clark to my solo and it destroyed me. Unfortunately, I have carried that for a lifetime. [Laughs]
WCT: Well, you are a parent [to twins]. If your kids wanted to go into show business, what advice would you give them?
TW: Well, the only thing I would explicitly forbid my kids to do is play football. Other than that, I feel I'm open to anything they're interested in doing or becoming.
If they wanted to go into show business, I'm not sure what advice I'd give. My parents supported me 100 percent; my father paid for my college education. When he found out I was interested in TV and theater, he said, "Major in anything you want but maybe you consider a practical [field], and spend your spare time doing theater." I thought that was very smart, so I majored in telecommunications and spent all my time in the theaterso I think I'd pass that mentality down to my kids. But they're only 4 years old right now, so right now they're deciding between karate and Chinese-language lessons; I'm behind both of those.
WCT: Things have definitely changed since I was in school. They certainly didn't have gay-straight alliances.
TW: Right. In fact, last night, I volunteered for this program in Kansas City through the Coterie Theatre, a kid's theater. It's called Project Pride and it reaches out to the GSAs [gay-straight alliances] in the Kansas City area; students can discuss issues they're dealing with, and they do improvised sketches on them. I was so impressed by these students who would say, "I'm interested in that" and who have the self-awareness to discuss their sexuality; that's not something we did when I was young.
WCT: Lastly, a lot of people talked about Meryl Streep's recent speech at the Golden Globes. Do you feel that actors have a right to use an award show as a platform to make a political statement?
TW: It's amazing that Meryl Streep saw such a disservice occurring in our current environment that she spent her lifetime-achievement moment calling out the atrocity that she witnessed.
I think we all have the right to state our views. That's where great art comes from, anywaythat's why people like plays, TV shows and movies; I don't think you can separate the two. I don't think you just have to thank the producers and your loved ones when what's affecting you is what you want to talk about.
The administration is something that needs a watchdog, at least.