The Queerty Interview

Eternity Beckons For Actor Barrett Crake With His New ’80s-Themed Comedy

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eternity
Myko Olivier, Barrett Crakes

If you go see the clever new musical-comedy Eternity: The Movie, you’ll relive the regrettable fashion choices, synthesized riffs and the power ballads that dominated the music scene in 1985. Actor Barrett Crake costars in the film, which is also produced, as Todd Lucas, a naive songwriter from the Midwest who befriends BJ, a brash saxophonist from The Valley, and together they form Eternity, R&B’s most mediocre duo. Queerty recently caught up with Crake and asked a few questions about the film, which is now playing in select theaters.

Queerty: How would you describe your film and why do our readers need to see it?

Barrett Crake: Our movie is completely different from anything in the movies right now. It isn’t trying to take itself too seriously. We’ve made an ’80s music-comedy, sort of like Napoleon Dynamite meets This is Spinal Tap where we are transported to a time when things were simpler. Its a fun and happy time.

TLSS 957What can you reveal about your character Todd?

Todd has just moved from Omaha, Nebraska to make it big in music. Todd seems to have it all, but the only one who doesn’t realize this is himself. Therefore he tries way too hard to impress the women he desires and therefore his heart is stomped on!  When heartbroken, the music begins to flow out of him. Fortunately, he was jammin’ in the ’80s where his literal lyrics and simple tunes were widely accepted. Todd is very much like me but turned up times 1,000: He’s naive and “blonde,” but just wants to make people smile.

IMG_2490What makes the story relevant to a contemporary audience?

I think theres something to be said for the ‘bromance’ found in Eternity: The Movie. Todd Lucas is a mess without his buddy BJ Fairchild to back him up… and BJ is the same. The two are so “made for each other” that it almost seems intentionally gay. While its amazing that this is being recognized as comedic brilliance, the flip side is that we are saying that it’s ok for two straight men to be outwardly loving towards one another. In some cultures, men hold hands, kiss each other hello and goodbye and its completely normal. In other words, our movie is helping fight homophobia and I think that is hugely relevant right now. Our straight screen-writer Joey Abi-Loutfi would agree as this story is partially based on his personal relationships. Though you’ll have to ask him if he takes baths with his buddies or not.

What did you learn about the period that surprised you?

I had to do a ton of background research for this role. For ’80s movies, the John Hughes classics Pretty in Pink and Breakfast Club were great because of their over-dramatic nature and long pauses and holds on the characters. We were also parodying ’80s music so I watched a ton of music videos from Hall & Oates to Wham! to Billy Idol for reference. I was honestly shocked at the low-budget quality of the videos of the time…and its not just because they simply look dated. This is exactly what we were going for with our movie. Low-quality, colorfully simplistic visuals with synth/sax-laden music to go along with it. I think we nailed it.

Watch the video for the film’s theme song “Make Love Not Just Sex” below.

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