Jake Shears Talks ‘Pillion’ Performing Debut & “Surprising” NSFW Scene

SPOILER ALERT: This post incorporates principal aspects about Pillion.

As Jake Shears used to be no longer too long within the past between stops in Glasgow and Bournemouth on a UK/Ireland arena tour, moviegoers were gazing his involving onscreen debut within the South of France.

Closing date caught up with the Scissor Sisters frontman following the Cannes premiere of Pillion, writer-director Harry Lighton‘s feature debut that sets a heartbreaking admire account within a uncommon BDSM biker gang, featuring a supporting performance from Shears as sexual submissive Kevin.

“I’m wiped, however I’m gay,” said Shears over Zoom from his UK dwelling, at some point soon after wrapping up the tour that reunited the band after a 13-twelve months hiatus. Meanwhile, Scissor Sisters is preparing to embark on The Titties Out Tour on July 1 in toughen of co-headliner Kesha’s album Interval.

After co-founding the pop rock community 25 years within the past and releasing solo song throughout the hiatus, Shears made his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots motivate in 2017 and no longer too long within the past performed the Emcee within the West Reside’s revival of Cabaret in 2023, paving the contrivance for his onscreen performing profession.

But nothing could put collectively him for the NSFW nature of his first movie feature, which culminates in a picnic tabletop orgy scene with Alexander Skarsgård‘s Ray, the elusive dom and romantic reverse of Harry Melling‘s unnerved sub, Colin. Although Lighton has teased extra speak photographs were left on the decreasing-room floor, audiences got an eyeful and Shears got a mouthful with Ray’s pierced prosthetic phallus.

“Effectively, my jaw used to be extra or less on the ground, studying it,” said Shears of the scene. “I comprise of couldn’t trust it, however it used to be basically exciting for me when I used to be studying the script. It’s a movie about sex and sexual dynamics and dynamics of admire. When I learn it, I used to be basically looking out ahead to it to be something unlit, and what I used to be so pleasantly shocked by is the heat and the humor that’s within the movie. And to me, that comprise of blended with the extra speak stuff within the movie. I most well-liked that aggregate when I used to be studying it. And when I learn the script for the first time, it basically made me smile, it made me sad, it’s heartbreaking. It’s got all of these a quantity of feelings in it, and it merely used to be no longer what I expected. And when I learn the orgy scene within the script, I used to be merely esteem, ‘Oh my God.’”

Although Shears’ performing debut is somewhat the unconventional feature, he takes every flow of it esteem a champ (pun entirely meant). Remark sex scenes and piercings aside, the Grammy-nominated artist seamlessly loses himself within the movie’s disturbing relationship dynamics whereas shedding light on the BDSM custom captured within the source field fabric, Adam Mars-Jones’ 2020 unusual Box Hill.

“The general guys within the movie are the accurate deal,” he eminent of the movie’s biker gang. “So I used to be studying The Leatherman’s Handbook and the general comprise of coaching and processes and the comprise of formalities which will most definitely be eager. … And I’m pretty grand-versed in faggotry (laughs) and alternative a quantity of things within the uncommon world, however instead of a second when I used to be about 19 years mature, I hadn’t basically had any experiences in this world, so it used to be attention-grabbing to uncover about it and be with the general guys.”

Before Pillion‘s world premiere at Cannes on Also can merely 18, which earned an eight-minute ovation and the Un Obvious Regard Handiest Screenplay for Lighton (as successfully as the Palm Dog for dogs supporting actor Hippo), the movie used to be obtained by A24 for US distribution rights in October.

Read on about Jake Shears’ trip making his performing debut in Pillion, as successfully as his sex scene with Skarsgård and whether his co-superstar’s piercing used to be within the script.

DEADLINE: Show me how the phase in Pillion came about.

JAKE SHEARS: I met this woman named Kahleen Crawford, who used to be the casting director for it, and she had considered me in Cabaret. We ended up assembly at a rental celebration over Christmas a couple years within the past and grew to change into acquainted and chums, and she instructed me about this movie. And then, when I done Cabaret — I’m looking out out for to rep the timeline excellent — however I used to be at my situation in New Orleans, and she called me and she’s esteem, “Are you sitting down? I basically assume that this could be a elephantine ingredient so that you can originate” that may maybe be no longer biting off extra than I’d bite, I guess, even supposing I nonetheless basically feel esteem I bit off extra than I’d bite.

DEADLINE: No pun meant.

SHEARS: No pun meant. But then I talked with Harry (Lighton), we had a elephantine conversation. That’s comprise of how I got into the mission. I’ve been conversant in Skarsgård from years sooner than, thru chums and whatnot, so I used to be basically stoked to see him. I used to be enraged, it used to be basically attention-grabbing. I basically feel esteem it used to be positively an training for me in alternative a quantity of ways.

DEADLINE: What used to be the compare esteem, as a ways as the general BDSM custom? Did I learn that you were performing with an accurate biker gang?

SHEARS: Yeah, the general guys within the movie are the accurate deal. So I used to be studying The Leatherman’s Handbook and the general comprise of coaching and processes and the comprise of formalities which will most definitely be eager. I point out, it’s alternative stuff. Which that you may maybe personal three college programs on it. It used to be a minute overwhelming, however I basically feel esteem I got a seriously better image of what that scene is, that I didn’t know sooner than. And I’m pretty grand-versed in faggotry (laughs) and alternative a quantity of things within the uncommon world, however instead of a second when I used to be about 19 years mature, I hadn’t basically had any experiences in this world, so it used to be attention-grabbing to uncover about it and be with the general guys. So it used to be both warm — the trip — and it used to be also incredibly intimidating in obvious ways, merely for me personally, no longer that anything else, no longer that somebody namely made it that contrivance. It used to be intimidating for me for for alternative a quantity of reasons, the general trip.

DEADLINE: I will have the ability to trust. Clearly, you merely did Cabaret, and also you’ve been touring, and also you’re no longer a stranger to scantily clad performance. So used to be it daunting being in equipment on camera?

SHEARS: No, I point out, the intimacy coordination used to be so thorough and so accurate. It basically used to be esteem, I discovered that stuff to be the easiest. The sex within the movie to me, that wasn’t comprise of what used to be intimidating to me. The direction of of filming and being in a movie is what I discovered to be basically jarring, and I learned a lot from it. I knew it’d be vastly a quantity of from theater, and I knew it’d be vastly a quantity of from performing on stage and and singing song. It basically used to be esteem a explicit ballgame. And I’m a big movie head; the general nonfiction I learn is de facto movie historical past, and that’s what I bask in. I gaze alternative movies, I gaze alternative mature movies, it’s merely a deep ardour of mine. So it’s basically charming for me to be on the opposite facet of it a minute and in fact seeing how a machine esteem that works, and being in front of the camera in that comprise of machine. I didn’t basically feel esteem — and this used to be my win insecurities, and this isn’t about the sex within the movie — however I merely didn’t basically feel esteem I had the instruments for it. Exact in frequent, merely the direction of of being in a movie, I used to be esteem, “I guess I’m in esteem over my head.” But I also on the identical time, I’ve constantly basically pushed myself to originate things which will most definitely be fresh, which will most definitely be no longer basically something that’s chuffed for you, and by chuffed I merely point out, as a ways as your skill situation. There’s so many facets to this direction of, and it made me personal a entire other extra or less admire for movie actors. It basically did, it’s merely so tantalizing how it all works and how of us turn it on, And to the movie and TV actors I do know, it’s merely comprise of given me esteem a grand deeper insight into what they originate. However it used to be exciting for me to be a phase of a mission that I belief used to be something basically a quantity of and taking part, and something that I’d basically be proud of being in, and being a phase of, that used to be basically exciting for me in that contrivance. So there used to be a entire bunch of feelings that I used to be merely going thru internally. Doing this movie, I basically esteem the of us I used to be doing it with. Harry used to be unprecedented, both Harrys were superior. I had a a couple scenes with Harry Melling, one of them made it into the movie. He basically used to be merely very sweet with me about my comprise of insecurities or fears about doing it. And he basically, I guess, had barely a minute of endurance with me that I basically, basically liked, that made me chuffed. And Skarsgård is somebody that I’ve already felt basically chuffed with, and merely somebody who’s de facto good to personal a snicker with. They’re both honest human beings.

DEADLINE: I enjoyed the the one scene that you had with Harry that used to be extra or less the low-key subtly bitchy alternate, and it’s droll that you’re pronouncing you were in that second because it’s esteem your personality used to be extra playing on his insecurities. So repeat me about bringing that dynamic about.

SHEARS: ‘Cause that’s no longer me, you perceive what I point out? It used to be basically no longer in my nature, so merely that scene, I needed to work on basically, basically onerous to rep the location, and I’m hoping it works. Does it work?

DEADLINE: I most well-liked it. It builds the stress leading as a lot as that entire orgy scene, after which there’s accurate emotional weight if you and Alexander Skarsgård are collectively and Harry’s merely sitting there esteem a wounded minute boy.

SHEARS: I basically feel esteem I merely needed to turn phase of my brain off and turn phase of myself off, and I discovered it incredibly stressful. You only stroll away from that, and also you merely don’t know if it works, And that’s the ingredient about movies that basically blows my mind is that, somebody could assemble a movie and also you may maybe assume it’s the most unimaginable ingredient within the arena, and also you suspect that you’ve performed the most unprecedented job within the arena, however except the general components are running collectively, you may maybe basically kill up in something that stinks. Which is a quantity of from theater because in theater, you’ve got an viewers there, you may maybe extra or less basically feel that out a minute of bit better. I basically feel esteem with movie, I merely don’t see the excellent formulation to see the woodland for the bushes. It basically is some accurate faith.

DEADLINE: Effectively, I guess it became out elephantine, to be merely. But I basically personal to keep a request to, what used to be your preliminary reaction to studying the general picnic desk scene, after which what has been the reaction from each person else because it premiered at Cannes?

SHEARS: Effectively, my jaw used to be extra or less on the ground, studying it. I comprise of couldn’t trust it, however it used to be basically exciting for me when I used to be studying the script. It’s a movie about sex and sexual dynamics= and dynamics of admire. When I learn it, I used to be basically looking out ahead to it to be something unlit, and what I used to be so pleasantly shocked by is the heat and the humor that’s within the movie. And to me, that comprise of blended with the extra speak stuff within the movie. I most well-liked that aggregate when I used to be studying it. And when I learn the script for the first time, it basically made me smile, it made me sad. It’s heartbreaking. It’s got all of these a quantity of feelings in it, and it merely used to be no longer what I expected. And when I learn the orgy scene within the script, I used to be merely esteem, “Oh my God.”

DEADLINE: Modified into the Prince Albert within the script?

SHEARS: (Laughs) No, and I didn’t uncover out about the Prince Albert till the second it used to be in front of my face. It could were within the script, however it wasn’t something that I even belief of till It used to be excellent in front of me, and it used to be so sensible that within the second, when it’s going on and being filmed, it used to be extra or less surprising in a terribly elephantine contrivance.

DEADLINE: Effectively, it’s accurate to know that used to be a accurate reaction.

SHEARS: It used to be a accurate reaction! (Laughs)

DEADLINE: However it also merely feels so excellent to his personality for some reason, esteem he’s the form of dom that he has this penis accent. It merely feels excellent to me.

SHEARS: Sure, I gotta assert that prosthetic used to be basically sensible. To me, in accurate existence, it felt very accurate. Actually and figuratively.

DEADLINE: Did you rep to win any of the equipment that you wore? Did you hold any souvenirs?

SHEARS: No, however the costumes were grand. I basically esteem what I got to keep on within the movie. I merely most well-liked the stuff that used to be made for me. There used to be that basically icy apron ingredient that used to be made for me. I merely most well-liked what I got to keep on. I belief the costumes were unprecedented. And I felt horny. It’s droll because I’d gotten out of Cabaret in esteem basically accurate shape, and because the summer season had long past on, I felt esteem I used to be getting an increasing form of out of form. And I used to be esteem, “I merely don’t know, I’m no longer feeling esteem I’m entirely, esteem, snatched. And Harry (Lighton) used to be esteem, “Please don’t. I want you to personal a extra pure body in this.” And so I comprise of needed to rep chuffed with that too, And I did basically feel horny after we were doing it, it felt horny to me. I wasn’t too insecure about that, even supposing I don’t basically feel esteem I used to be my customary stage shape or whatever, I nonetheless felt accurate doing it. And I most well-liked my hairdo. They gave me a elephantine haircut. But the trip used to be a accurate trust-opener for me. It used to be only 1 of those things in my existence that I’m basically gay that I merely took of undertaking with myself and did. I merely assume doing things which will most definitely be out of your wheelhouse could be basically accurate for you. And I guess it used to be basically accurate for me in that contrivance, and I’m very thankful to each person on the mission for being as warm and affected person and working out and fun as they were.

DEADLINE: Is there anything else rising for you onscreen or is there any extra or less feature it’s good to hold on subsequent?

SHEARS: My world has been Scissors, and it’s gonna basically be for the comfort of the summer season. We merely set aside hundreds of work into — we merely did an arena tour within the UK. And I guess it used to be the most attention-grabbing ticket we’ve ever made. It basically used to be a dream ticket, and we set aside so grand work into it. And it used to be the longest ticket we did, it used to be esteem a two-hour, it used to be a big ticket. So I’m merely basically gay with what we completed with that. We’re touring, we’re doing the Titties Out Tour — Kesha, Scissor Sisters, all summer season in general, ending it off with a ticket with the Pet Shop Boys in mid-August. And then I’m gonna hold a minute of little bit of a fracture. However it merely doesn’t kill. You perceive what I point out? I work a lot. I would esteem to positively originate extra theater, and I’d be drawn to doing extra movie, however I nonetheless basically feel esteem I’ve got a lot to learn in that regard. And I guess I positively must win building a toolkit for it, and I basically feel esteem I basically feel esteem I got a couple instruments with this movie. But I positively assume it’d be unprecedented to win building that toolkit with the coolest stuff motive I basically did revel throughout. And I’m so gay that of us seem to basically admire the movie. I’m merely basically gay how it already comprise of feels comprise of most well-liked in a contrivance. So I’m basically about that, because esteem I said sooner than, you merely never know what you’re making, if you’re making it.