Neil BakerExteriors is now available to stream on Dekkoo.
During our lives, we weave an intricate and complex web of interpersonal relationships. Some of these relationships are brief, others last a lifetime, and many leave a lasting mark on our sense of self. For those of us who call the LGBTQ+ community home, these interpersonal webs are often based around small communities, even in our big cities. That means it’s not unusual for you to find out that your best mate has also slept with someone you once had a fling with or that someone in your friendship group is randomly connected to a work colleague.
These complex connections form the heart of Writer/Director Mark Schwab’s Exteriors, as three gay men face a series of unexpected coincidences in the LGBTQ+ community they call home. One man will navigate the revelation that his best mate is now seeing his ex, while another will find healing through a case of mistaken identity and a brief meeting of souls. Meanwhile, a third will test the professional boundaries of his role as a silent desire eats away at him before an unexpected truth is revealed. Each short story explores the web we weave, from the complex emotions we hold close to the conflict between desire and distance and the random encounters that change our lives in ways we could never have imagined.
Schwab’s direction places performance and screenplay centre stage, resulting in a fascinating trilogy of diverse yet connected stories of longing, conflicted loyalty and corrupt desire. From Peter Stickles’ unethical therapist, Dr Lesh, to Julian Goza’s haunted and caring Jason and Christian Gabriel’s conflicted Wyatt, the characters Schwab and his talented cast bring to life stay with you long after the credits roll. As a result, one comes away from Exteriors hoping that this is only the start of a world-building project that will see us return in the future and further explore the repercussions and outcomes of each perfectly formed story.
