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When asked about the inspiration for Jordan, Lo says, “It's safe to say he's based on someone from my past.  He was a guy who was very different from me and probably that was the reason I was so drawn to him. He was the jumping off point for the Jordan character but eventually Jordan began taking on a life of his own, especially his fixation with Jack Kerouac and Walt Whitman poetry. My friend and script consultant Ethan Solli suggested those authors as touchstones for Jordan's character and I'm proud of how we worked them into the film.”

Although just a beginner, actor Nick Bartzen comes off like a seasoned professional. He delivers a very convincing performance of a guy who may either be straight or gay or somewhere between.

When it came to casting Jordan, Lo explains, “James Dean was in the character breakdown--we wanted a James Dean-type who could charm anyone with his attitude and good looks and Nick just fit the bill.  Nick was the first person who read for the role and we all thought he was perfect for it. I'm sorry to disappoint the gay readers out there, but Nick happens to be straight in real life and he recently got married.  He was the utmost professional though and if he was having any reservations about doing the role, he never showed it.  He had a great attitude everyday, threw himself into the role and did a fantastic job.”

Many gay men had their first same-sex experience and felt their first budding pangs of same-sex love while in high school. Odds are they will feel a special kinship, and more than a touch of nostalgia, in seeing The Conrad Boys.

The sex/romance scenes between Jordan and Charlie brim with sweet youthful innocence and are one of the nicest touches in The Conrad Boys. Yet one can imagine the many mixed emotions Lo must have experienced while shooting them.

“Shooting the sex scenes was definitely most nerve-wracking for me during the production,” says Lo. “I'm actually a pretty shy person, so I really had to get over myself and just go for it. Also, my real-life boyfriend who was helping on the film was on-set during these scenes, which upped the surreal and awkward factor even more. As a director filming myself in these scenes, I put a lot of trust in certain key crew members who were watching to make sure everything looked authentic”.

Young gay artists like Justin Lo bring a refreshing individualistic perspective and an intriguing naive quality to their filmmaking. These are welcome additions to current trends in gay cinema.

“I am a firm believer in 'to each their own'”, says Lo. “So I think all filmmakers should be encouraged to make the types of films that move and inspire them. Personally, I enjoy films--whether they be gay films or mainstream films--that have some substance to them and have something to say. It takes an amazing amount of work and heart to make any film, so if you're going to do it, I would say, make sure it's going to mean something--make sure it makes a statement about how you feel about the world.”

As for future projects, Lo is currently involved in the initial stages of several new films. Right now, however, he is most excited about The Conrad Boys DVD: Director's Signature Edition coming out on August 22. 

“There's lots of on-set secrets and indie movie-making tricks in the Director's Commentary, and you'll be able to find it on our website in August.”

Get more info at TheConradBoys.com

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