A local filmmaker is hoping to start conversations on LGBT characters in the science-fiction genre.
Christian Grillo, founder of Potent Media, wrote and directed “Apocalypse Kiss,” a futuristic science-fiction thriller released in April through OnDemand services.
The film tells the story of the Red Harvest Killer, an infamous criminal known for artistic killings, and lesbian lovers Katia (played by Carmela Hayslett) and Gladys (played by Tammy Jean), serial killers whose crimes are mistakenly blamed on the Red Harvest Killer.
The movie was based in Philadelphia and filmed in the city and Bucks County. Production began in February 2013 and shooting took 13 days over the course of three months. The movie, Grillo’s third feature film, cost about $34,000 to make.
Grillo said most of the cast and crew were local but he did fly in out-of-town talent for the movie, including D.C. Douglas and Tom Atkins.
Grillo said the idea for the story came from Hayslett, his wife.
“Carmela plays the main con artist and she sort of had a few ideas,” he said. “I wanted to do something in the realm of science fiction. She had the idea of playing serial killers who were lesbians and so we fused two ideas together so we could both be happy.”
Hayslett said, as an actor, she wanted to branch out into a different character from her past performances.
“I told Christian that my goal was to play a serial killer and play a lesbian too. I didn’t expect the two to be coming together and when I pitched it to him, he said, ‘Game on,’” she said.
Hayslett has been acting for seven years and has 10 films under her belt.
She said the idea of playing a villain always appealed to her.
“I wanted an acting coach because I didn’t want to make any mistakes,” she said. “The acting coach told me, [I] seem the most comfortable with this role and it’s because she is a villain. I have been exposed to villains my whole life. I have always been attracted to the Mad Hatter and the Joker.”
Grillo said the film doesn’t sensationalize the fact that Gladys and Katia are a same-sex couple.
“I think it was important to make it a normal relationship and not about them being lesbians,” he said.
Hayslett agreed, and said the relationship isn’t the focal point of the story.
“The film doesn’t make it in-your-face. It is just a matter of fact,” she said.
Grillo noted that the treatment of the same-sex relationship is supposed to reflect expected societal views in the time in which the movie is set, in 2050.
“I think years from now same-sex relationships won’t be looked upon as different or unique,” he said. “It is another type of relationship in the same way people don’t look at interracial relationships the same they looked at them 20-30 years ago. It won’t seem odd.”
Grillo said he hopes “Apocalypse Kiss” motivates other science-fiction filmmakers to open the door to LGBT characters.
“Maybe I will inspire somebody else too” he said. “I think in general, the film industry is starting to open up more to those storylines but not as quickly. But we didn’t write it in there to be a major part of the story. We tried to represent every classic culture in the film and there happens to be lesbians in it.”
For more information on “Apocalypse Kiss,” visit www.potent-media.com.