Uncle David is an unsettling tale of an uncle and his nephew, set in and around a windswept caravan park on the Isle of Sheppey. It’s performance artist, David Hoyle’s, feature debut and in it porn star Ashley Ryder plays his nephew. Things become disturbing, however, when we realise that, not only are the two involved in a sexual relationship, but there’s also a sinister reason for the holiday. QXMEN had a one-2-one with Ashley Ryder to find out more…
QXMEN: We hear you’ve not been too well… How are you feeling now?
Ashley Ryder: I’m feeling good… It’s nice to be out of hospital.
We know you (and have lusted over you) for your work in porn. Does your role in Uncle David mean you’re moving away from porn movies and becoming a serious actor?
I still want to be part of the porn world. There’s a few porn actors I’m gagging to work with. For example I would love to do a three-way with Harley Everett and Wilfried Knight. I still haven’t worked for some European companies and I’m going to speak with them next year, as I definitely feel there are few more films left in me. I just really enjoy doing porn. As for serious acting I have a few projects lined up. We have the musical version of the film Uncle David being developed at the moment. It will be exciting to be all singing and acting on the stage. Getting the job as a news presenter on pinksixtynews.tv is great too. I love it, even if it’s a challenge some mornings to read that auto-queue.
Can you sum up Uncle David in one sentence?
A comedy, love story that will change your life – Ibsen would have loved it.
The film centres around some pretty disturbing subjects, yet it’s billed as a black comedy… How have you and David brought comedy into it?
The comedy is about how you see things. Your perceptions of its setting and action. We all believe that there is a strong comedy element throughout the film – it just depends if you pick up on it. Sometimes it’s more obvious and others it remains a background item. But none of it was written to be ‘ha ha’ funny. We didn’t think, ‘Well, let’s do this – it’ll get a laugh… It’s not that sort of comedy… It’s the comedy of life and banality.
Have your parents watched the film?
Yes, my parents flew out to Paris when Uncle David was screened as part of the LGBT Film Festival a year ago. They loved it. Though my mother said the character of Uncle David is ‘every mothers worst nightmare’. She hasn’t met David Hoyle yet as he was unable to come that screening. But soon she will, I hope.
Why should QXMEN readers watch Uncle David?
One, it shows a different side to me. Two, we have all seen too much of Mary Poppins at Christmas, so what better than to put Uncle David on on Christmas Day instead… It’ll take out the boredom of Christmas.
We understand that you and David improvised your lines? Would you say that this was a help or a hindrance?
Neither, although the lines were improvised… We spent six months plus in character, prior to the film. Whenever we would be together we were in character, and so if I called him it would be in character. It even filtered down into texts as well. We lived these characters 24/7. For us it wasn’t acting; we were living the film as we filmed it. This made it easy for David and I to walk on set and deliver the dialogue.
And is it right that the whole film was shot in just three days with no second takes?
It was shot in sequence and shot on two cameras. Everything is one take. And the filming took three and a half days. The naturalistic elements to the film were amazing. We couldn’t have asked Mother Nature to do anything more. I almost feel she needs a credit at the end of the movie as well – ‘Mother Nature as Herself’.
How has the film been received?
Amazingly. Everywhere we go, people just seem to connect with the movie. Like I said, it resonates different feelings in people. It changes from country to country. But overall it’s been amazing… More than we ever expected.
We’ve not read any bad reviews, but all films get some good and some bad… Now, we doubt that you’ve ever had a bad review for any of your porn films so, if you were to get a bad one for Uncle David, how would you take it?
There have been elements of reviews that were not so good, but then I don’t think the person who wrote it got what we were trying to do. Someone wrote, “the story which doesn’t make sense”. He obviously didn’t get it… Bad or good, a review is a review, and with the film having such an individual response with everyone, I’m not worried if there are some, what some people might call, ‘bad reviews’.
Do you have any plans to work with David on any other film projects?
There are many more films – that’s all I can say for now. I love working with Mr Hoyle. He’s been a great mentor and an amazing friend and I hope to work with him forever.
A lot of guys will remember your run of very successful shows with David at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern… Are any more of these planned?
Yes. David has just started his Winter Warmer nights at the RVT every Thursday up until the 22nd of December, when I’ll join him. I’m working on something fun for the show on the 22nd so you will have to come and see… I don’t really want to give too much away, but a Christmas tree may be involved. If you haven’t been to see David Hoyle yet, you have to go. It’s a weekly group therapy session that everyone is invited to.
Where can we order the DVD Uncle David?
It’s available on www.amazon.co.uk from December 4th – Just in time for Christmas!
• Uncle David is distributed through Peccadillo Pictures.
WIN! We’ve got a DVD of Uncle David up for grabs. For your chance to win it just send an email to [email protected] placing Uncle David Competition in the subject field, along with your name and contact details, or post your answer to QXMEN, Uncle David Competition, 23 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8NH. The closing date is Saturday December 31st 2011 when the winner will be drawn at random… Sorry guys, but the competition’s open to UK residents only.