Necessary Outlet - HISTORY

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GAY WEB SERIES, HI

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New Season Aims

rd SEASON

of the LGBTQ

series,

HISTORY, features six half-hour episodes and follows Jack Tracy’s character, Jamie, as he discovers how the examples set by his parents framed his expressions of love and what he values most in relationships. Executive produced by Tracy, and financed through him, the story picks up a year after the close of season 2 when the gang is finally all coupled up. Jamie is with Mark, a sexually charged Brit, and they are considering the possibility of opening their relationship, eyeing Will’s ex as a possible candidate.

Meanwhile, Will is deciding whether or not to give in to his new boyfriend’s insistence they move in together while Matthew has decided to look past the gang’s objections and accept his

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ISTORY, RETURNS FOR THIRD SEASON

s to Answer the Age-Old Question: What boyfriend’s flaws. Then there’s Ted, whose own hang-ups may destroy his burgeoning relationship with a local drag queen.

“The struggles all of these 30-somethings face are a direct result of growing up gay,” explains Jack Tracy.

“They’re forced to confront complex issues such as gender roles, toxic masculinity, rejection and loyalty. In the end, we learn what love is for each individual, and whether the baggage from their past can ever be overcome.”

Nearly all of the cast from the first two seasons of HISTORY return to reprise their roles in season 3. Will Cohen stars as Will, Jacob Seidman as Matthew and Trent Stone as Ted. Samanthia Nixon takes over the role of Bianca.

Supporting actors include James Evans as Mark, Matt Kuyawa as Kevin, Kathy Biehl as Jamie’s mother Molly, Corry J. Ethridge as Elliot, Claire Kennedy as Jamie’s therapist and Haulston Mann as Brandon.

Key to HISTORY are the flashback scenes which shed

is Love?

light on where Jamie may have learned the behaviors that shape his adult life. Season three flashes all the way back to the 1980s and 1990s and viewers witness Jamie’s formative childhood moments: his father’s business failures, his mother’s depression, being caught with gay porn, coming out to his sister and his obsession with his weight and appearance. Aaron Drill plays Young Jamie and Alexandra Rey takes on the role of his mother, Young Molly.

a film production company founded and owned by Jack Tracy that produces several LGBT web series and will soon debut its first full-length film, Snowflake. Written by Jack Tracy and currently touring the festival circuit, Snowflake draws inspiration from the 2016 US election, telling the story of a group of gay men and their friends and how they deal with the election of a wannabe conservative dictator with an anti-gay bigot VP on his coattails.

Also, as is a tradition with HISTORY, the third season is accompanied by a new original song by Jack Tracy. In “You Lose,” Jack laments on a central theme to the series, singing, “If you’re scared your choice was mistaken, it never matters what road you choose.

When everything you’re given is taken. Life is a game you lose.”

“Like all of our projects, the film takes a look at the state of the world through an LGBTQ lens,” Tracy explains.

“My hope is that it inspires audiences to consider what, if anything, any of us would or will do to stop the insanity.”

HISTORY is produced and distributed by Necessary Outlet,

Many of the actors in Snowflake appear in HISTORY in supporting roles.

All three seasons of HISTORY are available worldwide on YouTube (www.youtube.com/necessaryoutlet) and Vimeo (www.vimeo.com/necessaryoutlet).

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Necessary Outlet Productions launched January 2016 with the goal of uniting New York City artists across multiple disciplines to produce content aimed at the LGBT community. Proceeds from the first two seasons of History were donated to the Ali Forney Center.

Our productions include three seasons of the critically acclaimed and award winning web series History, the short film Snap and the sold out cabaret more. Look out for our comedy series, Millennial Memoir, coming soon.

Executive Producer, Jack Tracy

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Writer, singer, producer, directing, film editor, and actor… you do so much. can you describe what interested you about each: Writer/screenplay I think this is my biggest talent. I really wanted to create worlds and characters that I wanted to see portrayed. While we are now finally in a golden age of television, over the last 20 years there have just been so many terrible shows with superficial characters and my god is gay content sometimes just the worst. I wanted to make a gay stories with quality and care.

Producer/Directing/Film editor I’m a control freak so I want to make sure my stories are told a certain way. Also you don’t have to pay yourself. :)

Singer I was a big singer in high school and originally went to college for it. It was a huge part of my upbringing so I always knew I wanted to come back to it one day.

Acting There is nothing like the rush of playing a scene with someone that you are truly vibing with and feeding off of. When it works, it’s magic. There are so many scenes, especially in seasons 2 and 3, where we really got there in History and there are few better highs.

Tell us about Necessary Outlet?

What does the studio mean to you? It is just that, a necessary creative outlet for me. My income comes from being an attorney and while I like it and am fulfilled by it, creative projects are what wake me up in the morning and make me excited about life. Well that and my dog Maxi.

What are the future goals of Necessary Outlet? To sell something to a studio or become selffinancing. If I can get to the point where revenue from one project allows me to produce another, that would be heaven.

What are the criteria or guidelines Necessary Outlet follows to choose a topic or screenplay to create? Do you make all the decisions or is there a committee that makes a choice?

Until about a month ago Necessary Outlet was one person--me. I have a laundry list of stories I want to tell and a ton of platforms I want to try and test. I’ve done series, movies, podcasts, music and stage shows. I’m trying to get into theater at some point and I also wrote a book.

The key is that the characters must always be LGBTQ but the stories must not be wholly about their LGBTQ-ness. It must be a gay lens on a universal story and it has to have a message or strong point of view. Authenticity is also important to me, so I never write anything I don’t believe. For instance, while I consider myself a very sexual person, I’m so uninterested in oversexualized gay web content, so I save

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that for my music. I feel like it’s also more dangerous to be a sexually explicit gay cis man in a song, and that intrigues me.

Watching your music videos and seeing you play characters, there is such a difference. what do you like doing better? what is more fulfilling to you?

Well I’ll take that as a compliment in my shapeshifting ability! I love it all. It depends on the day. Some days I want nothing more than to sing and dance, sometimes I want to write, sometimes I want to get lost in editing...I fill my plate with so many different projects so that I’m never unproductive.

So when I don’t “feel” like doing one thing, I can work on the thing I feel like doing. So everything is always moving forward, even if I have to take a “break” from something.

I binged all 3 seasons and saw the change and evolution of Jamie.

Are you Jamie?

If yes, tell us about how much this is you and how much is fiction? I would say 70% me and my life, 30% hyperbole and creative license.

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Tells us a little about each character in “one-word” and the describe the reason Jack Tracy

William Cohen

Jamie

William

Lonely - he can’t pinpoint want’s important to him.

James Evans

Mark

Matt Kuyawa

Kevin

Manipulative - he is insecure.

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Vulnerable - he follows his heart.

Deceptive- his charm hides a lack of substance.

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Jacob Seidm

Matthew

Insightful - he has Haulston

Brandon

Insecure - he see through his se

man

Kathy Biehl

Corry J. Ethridge

Molly

s no filter.

Mann

eks validation ex appeal.

Elliot

Poison - she hasn’t healed herself.

Obnoxious - he’s never been challenged.

Trent Stone

Samanthia Nixon

Bianca

Ted

Love - she does so unconditionally.

Cursed -he is smart enough to realize his own flaws but often powerless to fix them.

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a psychiatrist more like a physician than a nutritionist. It’s someone I go to with a problem or for an annual checkup, not something that I need every week. It’s also MAD expensive.

What does your family mean to you?

Several times, you look at yourself in the mirror and pinch areas that may have more fat than others. Why? To be honest, you are a super hot guy that seems to get anyone he wants. why are you so self-conscious?

Were that only the case. First, gay men are notoriously critical about their bodies. Even the hottest guy you have ever seen has probably pinched himself in the mirror, lamented about the size of his calves, wished he had a bigger butt, worried about dark circles. It shows vulnerability and relatability in Jamie I think. And it’s true to myself. I have hated my body for most of my life, mostly patterning off of my mother’s hate for her body growing up, and it has only been within the last few years that I feel remotely comfortable taking my shirt off in a picture or at the beach.

I’m a top that hates bottoming. Why do you have a problem being a top?

If you polled Astoria NY at the

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moment they would tell you I have no problem being a top.

You are a huge Trekkie.

Which one is your favorite?

Original Star Trek, Next Generation, Enterprise, Deep Space 9, Voyager, or the Movies? If movies, name your favorite. Star Trek The Next Generation was the most formative television show of my youth. Captain Jean-Luc Picard was my father figure/ role model and the rest of that crew were my friends. I love DS9 and like Discovery. The others...hits and misses. My favorite movie might actually be The Undiscovered Country because of the overall story.

But, despite its issues, I have a great fondness for Generations considering that it was the only time we got to see the TV uniforms and sets on the big screen and lit cinematically.

Why did it take so long for you to see a psychiatrist again?

Going to couples counseling is not the same... I look at

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I have a superficial relationship with my family these days. The most important moment of my adult life was realizing that these people who have been constants in your life and are given these titles of mother, father, sister, brother...they’re just people. And they may just be around due to societal obligation. I’m more interested in people who choose to be around you because they see and like something in you and make you your best self. If they don’t make you your best self, they shouldn’t be around you, regardless of their moniker.

As your story evolved, did you see yourself more as rating guys on sex than to something else or what were the criteria and how did that change?

I’ve had a complicated relationship with sex. I’ve always been an incredibly sexual person but taught by my family and society that this was a shameful, bad and extremely embarrassing quality. My family’s relationship to sex was “my god that’s so gross ew how embarrassing.” My views on sex have kept me in loveless,

sexless relationships for far too long. So I’ve had to spend now 20 years of my life deprogramming what sex means to me.

To me, sex is the ultimate intimacy, the ultimate connection. It can be deceiving, it can be intoxicating, but I have learned, often the hard way, that I must have an extremely erotic sexual connection with anyone I choose to have as a partner that makes me feel safe, connected, powerful and alive. And I have no shame being very upfront about that these days.

Back to Jack: In the first season, we learned about Jamie’s story and watched as he found his new life. Was there more to the season that I may have missed?

Oh of course. But those stories are saved up for use in future tales. :)

realize what he was looking for was always with him. Without giving away spoilers, how would you describe season three to the viewers?

Season three is, to date, my masterpiece. The theme of the series is defining what “love” is, how it is experienced, by different people, and hypothesizing that we learn this by modeling after our parents. So while the first two seasons showed how Jamie’s relationships in his 20s formed his thought patterns in his 30s, season three shows how his youth formed the core of his being and his understanding of what it is to love and be loved.

In Season two, I saw it as Jamie’s struggle with his past and trying to navigate his new How does it feel to have been life without doing the same things over again. Am I close recognized and won so many awards to what you wanted to portray for “History”? to viewers?

It’s certainly very nice, but the festival/ Exactly. With Jamie being such award circuit is more of a game than a competition of merit when you’re not a victim in the first season, talking about the big dogs (and even and the fact that I play him, then). What means much more to I really wanted to make him me is the level of fan outreach. The the villain in season two. I letters, the instagram followers, the wanted the audience to watch Patreon supporters...people who him fuck up all over the place really connect to the show. That is and want to shake him. It the greatest reward of all. was important to me that the character not be immune from I want to know and I am afraid criticism. If season one was to ask… is there going to be a about identifying and breaking patterns, season two was about 4th season? Part of me wants to see what happens and if they live falling into them. happily ever after. The other part does not want to know because I Season Three, all I can say F#$@. You put Jamie through fear things may fall apart and the whole cycle will start over again. I the wringer before he saw the light! I can see where the want this to be the fairy tale ending where the prince finds his prince. name “History” came from.

Was that the intent of this If a 4th can you hint or tease us what season? I saw and felt Jamie we can see? learn and like an anvil falling from the heavens, I saw him A fourth season is completely reliant on

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outside funding (did I mention Patreon? lol). But if it would happen, my idea is a “Sliding Doors” type season where there is an inciting incident that splits the screen into two stories, showing two possible consequences of the action.

If this is the end, please share why you chose to end it like this? he fans. It was very clear that the fans wanted Jamie to end up with his prince at the end so, going into season three, I knew I had to make that happen for them. They funded the season, so I wanted to give them exactly what they wanted. But I had to make sure it was still a surprise, and still put you through all the feelings before we got there.

I like to end each season knowing that if it’s the end, we ended nicely. I think you could stop after either of the seasons and feel complete. But there’s always more stories to be told.

You used some of your music in the show Did you write the music for the show first?

The first season of History we needed a cabaret song that hit Jamie hard, and I wrote that, called “Take It All Away”, which gets a nice callback in season 2. I also wrote original songs for seasons 2 and 3,

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“Together” and “You Lose” to be able to use that as scoring throughout the season. As for the electronic music, originally I hired a music supervisor to source songs for season 1 of History (background club music, etc). The person was not very reliable and the music choices were...not great. So for the second season I decided I needed to learn how to make my own beats. And once I did, I really liked some of them, and then used them for my own album.

If you used past music you wrote, what was the process of choosing what went with what part of the show?

All custom made for the show my friend.

Have you written music for others or just for yourself? If for yourself, tell us why?

My songs, like my stories, tend to be very personal so I’d have a hard time giving them up. Also, I have no interest in writing a song to hand over for someone to sing and interpret.

What I’d be interested in is working with someone who has something they want to say and needs help bringing it to life.

Authenticity is important to me and I’d rather people sing their thoughts/views/feelings with specificity.

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Can you tell us briefly about Community: Community is an audio drama available on all podcast platforms. It is a retelling of a Pulse-like nightclub shooting that shows how the LGBTQ community comes together and puts aside its internal divisions when attacked from the outside. Heavy trigger warning on this one, it’s brutal.

Big Law: Big Law was my first comedic series, telling the story of a gay paralegal entering the world of white shoe law firms--which is a journey I took. It explores certain aspects of working as “staff” in a professional world, how gays can become “pets” for powerful straight women, and the professional world’s fumbling of trans issues.

Millennial Memoir: This was one inspired by the actor who portrayed Gio in Season 2 of History. This character isn’t too far from the actor’s general demeanor which I thought was comic cold--he always had me cracking up. So here we have a former gay dating show reality contestant deciding that 26 is the perfect time to write his memoir. He gets a ghost writer and...well, they don’t quite understand each other.

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Snap: (This really freaked me out) This is the only thing I produced that I didn’t write or direct. One of my actors asked if I’d help bring his short film to life. It deals with his personal story of overcoming shame.

Your part in “Snowflake”: So Snowflake is my first film. I wrote, directed, produced and have a supporting role in the film. Snowflake, which will be available to stream this summer, is an LGBTQ political thriller dealing with a group of gay friends’ reaction to a conservative swing and a Trump/ Pence like election. It explores what radicalization from an LGBTQ standpoint might look like.

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What advice would you give anyone who is doing something they like but do not love?

We are not all fortunate enough to be financially or otherwise able to pursue the things we love. I am not so arrogant as to tell someone to quit their day job and pursue their dreams because it’s always going to work out. What I will say is find a way to express yourself, find a sustainable means of exploring what you love so that what you “like” becomes the fuel for the engine in doing what you “love.” And with hard work and a hell of a lot of luck, maybe that thing you love will take off on its own.

Are you taking screenplays for people and producing them or guiding people through the process but not producing them under Necessary Outlet?

I produced the short film SNAP for an actor as compensation for his appearance in History but otherwise I’ve been mostly focused on my own work. But I’m definitely open to collaboration.

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Snowflake, A New Fictional Film that Dramatizes Modern Day Political Divides in the LGBTQ Community, Streaming NOW

*The 10-year anniversary of the overturning of California’s ban on same-sex marriage

Snowflake is available for pre-order now at https://vimeo.com 24

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Snowflake, a new film that evokes the sense of panic half of America experienced in 2016 when the presidential election was called for Donald Trump, will begin streaming on Vimeo on August 4, the tenyear anniversary of the historic overturn of California’s ban on same-sex marriage. “The repeal of Prop 8 is a reminder of the importance of citizens fighting for our rights,” says the film’s writer and director, Jack Tracy. “This November will be the most consequential election any of us have ever voted in, and we must all do our part to put an end to the nightmare that has been the last four years under this administration.”

Snowflake is a fictional story that depicts the fear of a nation when a dictatorial politician is suddenly thrust into the White House. While most of the characters in the film are gay, Snowflake shows how their other identities - age, race, and their economic status - shape their individual views.

At the center is Ethan, played

by JJ Bozeman, a young Filipino gay man whose fear of the new administration’s threatened rollbacks on gay civil rights hits a fever pitch. Ethan’s increasing panic ultimately causes friction with his friends, specifically when Ethan boldly proclaims that he feels no pity for the victims of a recent mass shooting at a gathering

of conservatives, calling it karma. “I’m tired of always being afraid, let them be afraid for once,” he tells his friends. (clip: https://youtu.be/YxYM_ w3MGWQ) Ethan’s friend Owen, a black man in his early thirties played

by Matthew Johnson Harris, believes that racism lies at the heart of the shocking election, and questions how much Ethan’s boyfriend Ryan, a white, gay but heteropassable executive, played

by Jack Tracy, would sacrifice for his community. He argues that a “rich, white dude is not going to protest a system that benefits him.” (clip: https:// youtu.be/qyt4Kvth7KA) Paul, played by Bill Morton, is an older gay friend who lived through the AIDS crisis. He urges for activism, reminding Ethan that progress has never been linear but more of a pendulum. (clip: https://youtu. be/skc-nP91vg8) The movie reaches its climax when happenstance—or divine intervention—puts the Vice President and Ethan in the same room at a fundraising event and Ethan is forced to choose the best way to protect his friends and community from the threat of the new administration.

Michael Warren Anderson plays Vice President Andrew

Price and Claire Kennedy plays his wife. (clip: https://youtu. be/JhR32DgZcX4) Ella Mora rounds out the principal cast as a conservative TV personality and Connor Lounsbury plays the gay public relations aid to Price.

Following its August release on Vimeo, Snowflake will be available on Amazon on September 4 (honoring the day in 2012 when samesex marriage was publicly supported on a national platform at the Democratic National Convention) and then begin streaming on Dekoo on October 27.

“While I am overjoyed that the nation is finally beginning to grapple with the hard truths of systemic racism and police brutality, it is still shocking to me just how much we as a nation have numbed to the outrageous fraud and corruption of the Trump administration,” reflects Jack Tracy. “It has been normalized.

I hope when people watch Snowflake, the emotional spiral that I and so many other Americans felt in the days following Trump’s election will resurface and a new fire will be lit. We need a massive turnout in 2020 that gets our current president the hell out of office, keeps the House of Representatives and puts the Senate in democratic control.”

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He’s All Mann Haulston Mann Packs a Punch in the New Season of the LGBTQ web series, History

By George Nelson History is the popular LGBTQ series that chronicles the struggles many thirty-something gay men face as a result of growing up in a hetero world.

Each episode confronts complex issues such as gender roles, toxic masculinity, rejection, loyalty, and whether baggage from our past can ever be overcome.

In its third season, now streaming on Youtube and at Necessaryoutlet.com, we meet muscle stud Haulston Mann.

He plays Brandon, the cocky game-player looking to wheedle his way into Jamie and Mark’s up-until-now monogamous relationship. Is three company or is it a crowd? Tune in to find out.

We spoke with Haulston about landing the role in History and what it took to get that all-Mann body.

It’s our fitness issue so, first thing first, how did you acquire that body?

Haulston Mann: Massive amounts of self-loathing.

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Kidding! Mostly. I have always enjoyed physical challenges and when I really got into doing workout programs, I’d daydream I was an action movie hero or in an edgy new production of Macbeth or something like that.

I find that when you find a way to have fun while working out, you can take it to the next level.

Do you give yourself a cheat day?

Haulston Mann: I used to count every single macronutrient I took in every day. That lead to a lot of anxiety. Now I eat more instinctively and trust what my body is telling me.

What’s your favorite part on your body?

Haulston Mann: I try to see my body as a whole. I don’t find it very helpful to compartmentalize it into better or worse parts.

Is there a part you like working out most?

Haulston Mann: My preference is more in how I work out.

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I’m a big fan of old school bodybuilding programs, especially powerlifting. I like to focus on mind-muscle connection and how small changes can hit muscles at different angles or impact blood flow. That kind of stuff is really exciting to me. The one thing I don’t enjoy is high intensity cardio focused workouts because they don’t make me feel strong or connected to my body.

What are your favorite exercises?

Haulston Mann: High cable curls, the dumbbell Scott Press for my shoulders, pull ups (I like to play with different grips and tempos), rock climbing, and lately I’ve been practicing handstands. It’s actually been a fun way to develop a sense for where my body is in space and finding my center of gravity.

Do your muscles hurt or help your acting career?

Haulston Mann: They totally help when it’s written into the

character like it was for Brandon in History. Other than that, I don’t think they’ve hindered me much. When I don’t book a gig, I don’t blame my physique. I believe it’s because my energy didn’t fit what casting had in mind.

How did you land the role in History?

Haulston Mann: I submitted my headshot, resume and reel. I think we did two rounds of taped auditions. Then I met Jack Tracy, the director, in person and read a few scenes.

We clicked and the next thing I knew, I was offered the role.

What do you think about your character?

Haulston Mann: Brandon is a charming guy. Who doesn’t like a little charm now and then? But he doesn’t know what it means to have a deep and meaningful connection with someone.

How are you similar to him?

Haulston Mann: We’re both playful people, but Brandon is more focused on momentary pleasure and excitement. True connections are the meat of life for me.

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What would surprise fans of the show most about you?

Haulston Mann: As a side hustle, I teach people how to shoot a bow and throw knives and hatchets.

You make out with Jack Tracy in the show. Between us, is he a good kisser?

Haulston Mann: I’m a southern gentleman! I don’t kiss and tell.

New episodes of History at Necessaryoutlet.com.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a Scorpio, I’m a morning person, I’m double-jointed, and I have a doctoral knowledge of all “Real Housewives” past and present.

Did you know about “History” and Jack Tracy before you read for the part?

I wasn’t initially familiar with “History”, but when I was called in to audition, I did my homework and was really impressed with Jack’s output - multiple seasons of several shows, movies, and music videos - and the devoted following that he had accrued.

Did you know you were trying out for Mark?

Mark was specified as British in the initial casting notice so I thought I’d play to my strengths and try out for him. Playing American is always fun, but sometimes it’s nice to focus on just the performance without worrying about getting the accent right.

What did you like about being Mark?

I’m very dull in real life and extremely vanilla, so it was refreshing to play someone who was so sexually liberated and confident. If Mark wants something he has no problem going out and getting it, regardless of the consequences. I also happen to be a terrible liar, so playing someone

who could be so duplicitous was also a fun flight of fancy.

Is the accent real?

It is very much real and has served me very well in life. I’ve gotten away with a lot with this accent.

Q&A for MarkWhat was your opinion of Jamie when you first met him?

Oh my goodness, this guy has an opinion about everything! In all seriousness, he was very chatty and enlightened, but at the same time I had a sense that there was a lot in his past that he wasn’t ready to discuss - which is always intriguing.

What attracts you to Jamie?

I am always attracted to people who keep me on my toes. For Jamie, it is his intelligence. He’s very quick and witty and I like the repartee that we have.

Knowing how Jamie is and how he reacts, did you really intend on manipulating him or was it an accident?

Not at all, I think it was just a series of unfortunate events that very

quickly snowballed and became something bigger than it needed to be. I do regret it and in retrospect it wasn’t worth pursuing, but I think at the time I was just justifying a lot of little white lies to save Jamie having his feelings hurt.

What attracted you to Brandon?

Brandon said it best himself when he said that he was too handsome, made too much money and that his dick was too big.

If you had not met Brandon, do you think you might have been content having a monogamous life with Jamie?

If I’m honest, I don’t think so. It would be flattering Brandon to say that he was the only one capable of coming between me and Jamie.

Jamie and I have some significant differences when it comes to our respective attitudes to sex and dating, so the relationship was always going to have a limited lifespan. Brandon just happened to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

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Tell us about yourself.

I say I live on the bridge between intuition and the rational mind. I am a screen and stage actress, professional astrologer, lawyer and writer. I spent much of my life in Texas and was heavily involved in Houston’s LGBTQ community, as one of the earliest volunteer lawyers for PWAs, counsel to the Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston (and honorary member), and attorney for same-sex couples wanting to approximate the legal and economic rights of marriage. I came to NYC 20 years ago after impersonating Margaret Dumont (the dowager character) in a video that put the Marx Brothers on the deck of the Starship Enterprise. I later played the dowager role in the first-ever revival of their first Broadway musical, I’ll Say She Is. After years on the NJ stage, I now appear primarily in film and video.

Did you know about “History” and Jack Tracy before you read for the part?

I knew nothing at all about it!

Did you know you were trying out for Molly?

Yes. Her last long conversation with her son was the audition monologue. And btw -- that monologue won me over completely. Not just because it’s terrifically writing (I think Jack does a superb job with all of this!) but because I’m a trained medium. Made all the sense in the world that Molly would be talking to her son under those

circumstances, and in that way. Jack wrote and Jamie played the scene as talking to his mother in his mind. My thinking left open the possibility that maybe, just maybe a little more was happening.

Regardless, Jamie got the resolution and closure he needed.

What did you like about being Molly?

She so wanted to be pals with her son. It felt like type of connection otherwise missing from her life.

Also his life struck her as glamorous and exciting compared to hers.

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Q&A for MollyDo you prefer when Jamie visits you or when you visit him in New York?

Oh, that’s a hard one. He spoils me when I visit him in New York (and also pays, which is a plus).

And New York is so exciting. But there’s something so right about his visiting me. I like it when he eats my cooking; I feel like there’s a reason to be alive. And I’m happier when my sons are at home.

Jamie was a smart and driven kid in high school...did that make you proud or intimidate you?

Oh, I was proud of him.

Did you really have a favorite child?

Oh, that’s not fair. From this perspective now each one of my kids has a special place in my heart. Though my daughter sure can be a piece of work...

Kidding! Well, maybe not...

Was it easier to handle Jamie being gay after he moved away from home?

You know, I always knew on some level. My husband had a harder time with it, at first. So

dealing with my husband on the issue was easier once Jamie moved away.

Did you have a problem with Jamie’s friend when you visited Jamie in New York?

At the luncheon and throughout the trip, you seemed to want to jab at him verbally...

It wasn’t with him specifically. I got so invested in his friends. They became like a part of me, and a part of the family. A big, big family. That’s why I was so fond of Bianca. No way I wanted to expose myself to pain and abandonment

until I knew this new friend was going to stick around.

Jamie never revealed the problem that caused you to lie about his brother’s action.

Why did you lie?

Lie? About Mack’s action? You mean about Mack being so tired and all? Oh, I was scared.

Scared Mack had the same inner troubles that beset me.

Scared he was spiraling down.

I did not want to see it. Did not want to admit it. If I’d done that, that would have made it real.

If you had the chance to re-do raising Jamie and his sibling, would you change anything about the way you treated them? Jamie will always love you but I think he wonders if you love him?

I’m not sure I could have raised them differently, given who I was. I did the best I could. I fought for him and protected him -- especially from myself, after I realized that I was acting as dangerously angry as my father had. I’m proud of catching myself at that... I guess it might have helped if I’d said “I love you” more often. But I thought my actions showed that.

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Tell us about yourself.

My name is Jacob Seidman. I’m an actor, writer, and producer. I lived in NY for many years, which is where I involved with “History”. Now I’m based in LA, creating a lot of my own content. I currently have a short film tha opposite Antonio Marziale (Altered Carbon, Alex Strangelove) called “Fall to Fame”, that is (will continue to be featured in festivals around the country. And currently creating a quarantine web series for IGTV, @searching Just a fun, comedic way to stay creative during these times.

Did you know about “History” and Jack Tracy before you read for the part?

I did not know Jack prior to “History”. I responded to Jack’s casting notice on Backstage.

Did you know you were trying out for Matthew?

I did not originally audition for Matthew. I read for a small role, a character with one scene (in episode 4 I think?)…and if I remember the story correctly I was actually Jack’s last choice/ plan B audition for that part…

During my audition Jack and I had a nice connection, and he asked me about reading on the spot for a different character that he was still looking to cast.

I have a lot in common, and very naturally related to Matthew. So it was a role, even in a cold read, that I was able to connect to.

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What did you like about being Matthew?

What I love about Matthew is that he has no filter. He’s honest and he says what is on his mind. And as an actor it’s a lot of fun to make those moments as honest, and hopefully funny, as I can. What drew me to the role immediately, was that even though Matthew is the goofy and comedic friend of the bunch, he also is the moral center Jamie turns to when he needs an honest reflection. My favorites scenes to work on, are when Matthew is having a truly honest moment-whether about himself or someone elseand he dips in and out of brutal honesty and ridiculous humor.

If there is a season 4, what direction would you like your character to take?

I have so many thought!! Jack are you reading this?!…

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In season 2 we saw Matthew work through the fear of never having someone love you the way you want to be loved.

And at the end of season 3, he chooses is boyfriend over his friends. Even though I (personally) think he knew choosing Elliot was not the right choice, but he stuck with it, because he didn’t want to be alone.

In SEASON 4 If we pick up where we left off? Matthew was in kind of a precarious place with the group. I think either Jamie has to accept Elliot warts and all, (although knowing Jamie I don’t think that’s likely). Or Matthew has to hit rock bottom. I would love to see Matthew explore being single (and okay with it!), confronting his fears, and learning to put himself first. Maybe I’m just being a selfish actor who wants meaty moments- but I would love for Matthew to have to earn

met Jack and became at I wrote and star in e after quarantine) being gforjoshbrolin on Instagram.

his way out of the dog house within the friend group. The end of season 3 left us with Jamie and Will’s relationship taking on a new turn, and I really hard personal moment for Jamie. I don’t want Matthew to miss out on those moments, I want him to make up with the guys.

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Q&A for MatthewMathew, when you first saw Jamie ,what was your opinion of him?

When I first met Jamie, I felt like Dorothy Gale had just been dropped into gay Oz and she needed a gorgeous fairy Godmother to guide her.

Now that you know, Jamie, have you changed your opinion of him?

Nope! She’s still a ho!…Kidding! If you ever need a knight in shining armor call Jamie. No other emergency contact needed.

No matter what is thrown at you, you seem to keep a positive outlook on life.

What is your secret?

Life’s short! Drink (a lot), laugh, and don’t take it too seriously.

What is the thing about saying “Tilapia?”

It’s tilapia!

It’s very cute but why do you call several of your friends “Mommy?”

To constantly remind them all that I am the YOUNGEST of the group!

Do you really have feelings for Elliot?

Yes. I think so...

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Tell us about yourself.

Hi there! I’m an NYC-based actress, born and raised right in Hell’s Kitchen. Both of my parents are in the industry - my mom is an actress and my dad, a film editor, so it was a natural progression for me to fall in love with acting. When I’m not working, I love to bake -- I’m currently looking up recipes for chocolate chip banana bread to make later today -- take my border collie rescue for long walks, and watch shows about people pursuing their dreams. My newest obsessions are Amazon’s Making the Cut and NBC’s Songland.

Did you know about “History” and Jack Tracy before you read for the part?

I met Jack when I auditioned for another one of his projects called Big Law. Lucky for me, I booked the role in that and absolutely loved working with him. He brings ease to set that allows the actors to be as free and creative as possible and gives direction in a very gentle, simple way that just works. He is one of my favorite directors/ writers/actors/producers/editors to work with. And yes, he really does do it all! As soon as he told me he was gearing up to film Season 3 of History and was interested in casting me, I was already in, regardless of the role.

Did you know you were trying out for young Molly?

I did! Jack reached out to ask if I’d be interested in young Molly. All I knew was that she was the main character’s mother in flashbacks so I was excited to see how she would be portrayed in the script. The role did not disappoint. Jack’s

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great at creating well-rounded, complex characters so I knew I was in good hands. I had never played a mother before but I’d been a nanny and worked with kids prior to that so I was eager to bring my experiences to the role What did you like about being young Molly?

Everything. She was written so beautifully and we got to see a real arc in her journey. She is a woman who had hopes and dreams of her own and never really got to pursue them because she got married and had children at a young age. Of course, she wanted the best for her kids and encouraged them to make more of themselves than she ever could for herself, which is a difficult thing to come to terms with. Since Jamie was the eldest child, she was extremely protective over him and on the other side of that, expected a lot from him. This oftentimes created a rift, but ultimately Jamie, along with her other children were her pride and joys and she was doing as best as she could with the

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circumstances at hand. It was also really fun to play her! The scene in the principal’s office was one of my favorites to film because Molly put the principal in his place. She is so not what she presents as. She can come off one way but is actually really tough and ballsy, especially when it came to protecting her children.

You really portrayed a mother with some insecurities about her son and struggling with mental problems. What was your motivation to create this type of person?Besides your age, do you think it was easier being young Molly? If they had aged you, would you have preferred playing old Molly?

Honestly, it was all on the page already. My motivation as an actress is to find the truth to the characters written in the script. It might not be pretty but it’s honest and if that can

help anyone feel less alone in their lives, then I feel like I’ve done my job. I think it’s important to show multi-dimensional human beings because that’s what we are in life.

While Molly had a “picture-perfect” life - house, husband, three kids - she was struggling and it often manifested physically, with her horrible migraines. She was constantly grappling with trying to make ends meet, letting her kids down, helping her husband, and handling her own temper. At the root of it all, she has a big heart and situationally, things may get in the way of that, but I wanted to show that she was doing the best she knew how.

Would I have preferred playing Molly, presently?

I don’t think so because I feel grateful to have played young Molly. I connected to her at that point in her life and the actress who played Molly in present times, Kathy Biehl, did a wonderful job. I think our experiences and choices made a lot of sense and came together beautifully for the story Jack wanted to tell.

Q&A for MollyIt looks like you had your hands full with young Jamie.

Tell us what it was like dealing with him?

Let me start off by saying, every mother has her struggles. Jamie was my first-born and I had him when I was very young which led to us sometimes blurring the lines between parent and friend.

That was confusing for me and Jamie at times because we didn’t know which role to play and when. No parent wants to see their child struggle and that was really hard for me because I didn’t know how to fix it. I tried my damnedest -- I stormed into the Principal’s office to get him on that school trip

-- but I couldn’t be there all the time and that broke my heart. I hated letting him down but I also needed some understanding on his end.

How did you feel when you found out Jamie was gay?

I felt betrayed. Not because he was gay because I love him no matter what but because he lied to me. I straight out asked him if he was gay after a bullying incident at school and he said no. I gave him the opportunity to tell me so I could protect him

and he didn’t feel like he could be honest with me. I was hurt that he felt like he had to hide this from me because I have never been anything but transparent with him. I always thought we were close in a different way because we kind of grew up together so it just felt like a slap in the face that he didn’t come to me during what was presumably, a difficult time for

him.

You struggled not to be the same type of parent as your parents… what exactly were you trying to avoid?

My father had a bad temper.

It wasn’t fun or easy for me and my sister growing up in that household. To

be frank, it was like walking on eggshells all the time. We didn’t know what would set him off or when and he had such a short fuse. Sadly, my mom wasn’t able to protect us because she was struggling with him in her own way. I never wanted to put my kids through that. I wanted to allow them to just be kids because we know how hard life can be at times. I hoped to be the type of mother that her kids could come to and trust in to protect them. I never wanted my kids to be scared of me. I told Jamie when he was little that I vowed to never lose my temper with my children as my dad so often did. There was one time where I snapped at Jamie when he was around five years old and it made both of us feel horrible.

I apologized but I realized I would have to fight hard against my upbringing to be a good mom.

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How did you feel when Jamie went away to college?

Oh, man. I was so proud of him. I knew my Jamie would do big things and I encouraged him to show everybody how amazing he is. Of course, I missed my buddy, ya know?

I missed spending time with him every day and I missed having him in the house but he wanted to find his own way and I respected that. I’m nothing but proud of my son and all of his accomplishments. I must have done something right.

If you could speak with the future Molly, what would tell her not to do?

I would tell her not to take it all so personally and to let go more. It’s caused a lot of heartache for me trying to decipher people’s actions and trying to force unwanted help onto those around me. I hope I’ve grown up a little and am doing less of that. I would also tell her to not be so hard on the kids because I know I raised them as best as I could and I should trust that they have the tools to find success on their own.

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Talking to the LGBTQQIP2SAA world one publication at a time.

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