Outfest 2012: “Gayby” stars real-life best friends

I’m quite sure there won’t be a seat left empty at DGA 1 tonight for the Outfest screening of the romantic comedy Gayby.

It is writer-director Jonathan Lisecki’s debut feature and it tells the story of Jenn and Matt, a pair of single 30-somethings who set out to have a baby together.

The fact that they are played by real-life BFFs Jenn Harris and Matthew Wilkas. Both are so good in their roles which they originated in the short film of the same name that played in more than 100 festivals a few years ago.

‘People loved them and wanted to see more of them,’ Lisecki says of the film’s stars. ‘It was fairly easy to write for them because I know their voices.

Lisecki is not only the film’s writer and director, he also wrote an absolutely hilarious supporting role for himself as Matt’s friend and adviser who’s seen it all and has something to say about all of it – the character – and Lisecki himself – seem to have no filter and pretty much everything that comes out of his mouth is hilarious.

‘I have some sass and it’s easily accessible but I can put it on the sass shelf if I need to,’ he insists.

Lisecki’s character in the film is horrified that Matt and Jenn try and conceive by actually having sex. Their attempts result in some of the movie’s funniest scenes since Matt is gay.

‘The idea [for the film] comes directly from a friend of mine in college who I had this pact with but she had a baby with another dude,’ Lisecki explains. ‘This was a woman I had sex with in college. In college it was a few cocktails and whatever!’

The film made its debut at the South By Southwest Film Festival and Lisecki is pleased that it has been appealing to both gay and straight audiences.

‘I put ‘Gay’ in the title to cock block anybody who would have a problem,’ he says. ‘I’ve been really lucky so far to play at festivals that are general interest and LGBT festivals.’

Gayby screens tonight in DGA 1 at 9:45 p.m.