Queer as Folk's Peter Paige leaves Emmett behind with a controversial new indie film.

By Ken Knox

For five seasons, Peter Paige portrayed the likeably flamboyant Emmett Honeycutt on Showtime's often-controversial Queer as Folk, earning a place for himself in the rather small pantheon of actors who have portrayed gay roles who were open about their own homosexuality. On the show, Emmett sought out gay conversion therapy, spent some time as the boy toy of a rich older man, fell in love with and had his heart broken by his best friend, became a weathercaster, and had a wild, passionate affair with a closeted football player. None of that, however, prepared Paige for his latest role—that of writer, director and star of the upcoming indie drama Say Uncle.

Say Uncle is the story of a soft-spoken young gay man named Paul (Paige) whose world is turned upside-down when his best friends relocate to Japan, taking Paul's beloved godchild with them. Suffering from a psychological disorder called cognitive dissonance, Paul goes into severe denial, eventually causing an uproar when he begins showing up in a local playground looking to play with children who can fill the void in his heart.

Partly inspired by Paige's relationship with his own two godchildren, the movie shines a light on a topic not often dealt with in gay cinema. “I know lots of gay people who have really profound relationships with children, whether they're their own or they're godchildren or nieces and nephews, or students,” Paige says. “But I think it's a really scary topic for some people—the issue of gay men and their relationships with children. There are some people who are very open and honest and engaged in this conversation, and there are some people who are not willing to have it at all.”

Paige started the script several years ago, but set it aside to focus on QAF. During the hiatus between seasons three and four, however, he pulled the script out of the drawer and—inspired by all that he'd learned by shadowing QAF's production crew—decided to finish it and get it made. After hooking up with producer Christopher Racster, they solicited several financers (“I put some of my own money in it, because I wasn't comfortable asking people for theirs without [taking a risk myself],” Paige says). Paige then approached Showtime, who agreed to produce under their Showtime Films moniker.

When it was time to cast the project, Paige immediately approached Kathy Najimy, who he'd had in mind while writing the part of Maggie, a concerned mother who ignites a local hysteria after lobbying other mothers to help keep Paul out of their kids' playground. Najimy, who took the role because the film's short shooting schedule allowed her to stay close to home with her own daughter, says she was flattered that Paige thought of her, and even more interested in playing Maggie as a three-dimensional character. “As a mother, it felt personal to me to play her because I wanted to make sure she wasn't a villain, because she's not,” Najimy explains. “I really felt like she had a good point of view and basis for her hysteria.”

Paige says that the decision to make Paul a flawed character whose actions are often extremely suspect was very important to him. “Overall the audience response has been pretty overwhelmingly positive, but some people are uncomfortable that I'm doing a story about a gay man who likes children who is imperfect,” he posits. “We're so often given movie heroes that are pretty damn close to being perfect, and I think there's something more interesting about people who are flawed like you and me.” Adds Najimy, “It's not like Paul is good. He's certainly not a child molester, and his sexuality has nothing to do with his actions, but some of his choices are wrong. Especially in a gay film, you usually see a character that is perfect, which is a response to the rampant homophobia in this country, so I think that Peter made the choice to make [Paul] really flawed was cool.”

While he is aware that critical response to the film has been somewhat mixed, Paige says that he's received praise of the highest form from festival audiences who connected to the film's message of family values. “I can't tell you the number of people who have come up to me after screenings and said, 'Oh, my God, I want to adopt' or 'Oh, my God, I'm a teacher and this happened to me.'” Support from some of Emmett's fans helped as well. “There's no way I would have gotten this movie made [without Queer as Folk],” he says. “Because no matter what else I have, at least I have a really loyal fan base who will be there, and that means the world to me.”

Najimy says it was a joy to work with Paige. “It's very nice to work with a director who has such a strong vision. It's a good sign that he was confident and knew what he wanted. He wasn't wishy-washy. He was really fun and funny, and we argued on the set—and it was great. And he's got pretty blue eyes.”

With two film projects in development right now, Paige is enjoying a bit of a downtime, but says he is excited to get behind the camera again. “I describe making [Say Uncle] as the easiest hardest thing I've ever done, because it took an incredible amount of focus and discipline and energy,” he confesses. “But it all really made sense to me. I can't wait to do it again!”