Actor Andrés Erickson explores queer friendship in new indie feature Bad Together – News JoJo

Atlanta-based actor Andrés Erickson is the star of a new independent feature film, Bad Together, set to be released on December 5 from Dekkoo Films.

Bad Together, from filmmaker Jono Mitchell, shares the evolution of a relationship between two seemingly opposite queer friends. Over four years, Robbie (played by Andrés) and Cameron (played by Queer Niro) learn to accept and love one another and themselves.  

“I really wanted to explore the idea that a lot of the expectations we hold for ourselves, and others can lead to sadness and conflict,” Jono explains. “Fundamentally you can connect with a person on the most basic level, but ultimately that connection still needs to be built on mutual expectation.”

Robbie and Cameron are two young men who are desperate to connect with one another but have different ways of achieving the bond.  They each offer their own version of love and affection and as they chase the ideal of what each deems to be true friendship, they create a relationship that may not be healthy for either one of them. 

Mitchell explains he was inspired to write the story based on a similar friendship he experienced a few years ago. “I have an incredible friend who changed my life. He is so special to me, but circumstances within our current stages of life drove us apart,” he recalls. “When everything changed, I had to accept the version of friendship that I idealized didn’t exist anymore. What we became is just as special, but I think I’ll always grieve for what we had.” 

Filming for Bad Together took place in Atlanta, Georgia, where Jono Mitchell found the actors who would play Robbie and Cameron. Due to a familiarity with his work, Mitchell didn’t audition Andrés for the role of Robbie; he offered it to him outright.  Andrés commends Jono Mitchell on writing a script that focuses on queer friendship. “It’s not something we see a lot of in queer cinema.  There’s often a tendency to focus on the romantic aspects, when in real life things are much more complex and nuanced.”

We chatted with Andrés about the role in the new feature and got to know more about him by putting him in the hot seat for the Socialite Seven. Get to know this up-and-coming actor.

How did you get your start in acting? 
I started performing in school plays in third grade and continued through the rest of my school years. I’m honestly not sure what attracted me to theater because I was a pretty shy kid. Once early adulthood hit my love for film had also grown significantly, so I began pursuing a career as a film actor, initially dipping my toes in with college projects.

What drew you to this film?

Jono! He was a filmmaker I admired here in Atlanta and hoped to work with at some point. When he reached out to me, I said yes, I didn’t need to see a script. Thankfully it was good.

How would you describe your character?
Robbie is a caring guy with a good head on his shoulders, though a little aimless when we find him at the start. He has a tendency to overanalyze and can be a little pushy. We’re both the type of person who might say “I need a vacation” every other day, when things really aren’t so bad and all we needed to do was shut up and drink a glass of water.

Did you get to put any of yourself into the character or was that a fully fleshed-out character when you were given the script?
Robbie was pretty fleshed-out already thanks to Jono’s script, but I definitely got to sprinkle myself in as well. It’d be impossible not to since I’ve only got my own body and brain to work with. 

One thing I loved about the movie was how realistic it was. It was like you really got to know the characters and the situations and relationships were genuine. Was it important to you to show gay characters who didn’t fall into the usual stereotypes and tropes?
Absolutely. No shade to other creators, but I recently saw a clip of “The Gay Character” from Fuller House and I cringed so hard I think my bones began to crack. Not because of the actor, but because of the writing. One thing I love about Bad Together is that it’s about a realistic depiction of a rocky friendship, and it just so happens that the friends in question are gay. People come in all shapes and sizes, regardless of any labels society might give them.

What was the production process like shooting in Atlanta?

If I’m remembering correctly, we shot the entire thing in a week (minus a chunk that was filmed last fall). So, it was fast, but a lot of fun. Everyone on the cast and crew were wonderful people and I had a great time with them.

What are you hoping that audiences are going to take away from watching Bad Together?

I hope people are reminded to take care of their friendships. Maybe even more importantly, to know it’s okay to let them go when necessary. People are complicated and they change. Sometimes there’s nothing we can do about that and it’s sad, but that doesn’t always mean it’s a bad thing in the long run. I also hope they have a good time watching!

What is next for you?

Gosh, hopefully more acting work. Rent is due soon.

Andrés Erickson Answers the Socialite Seven

Who inspires you?

Lots of people! There are talented actors of course, but also my friends and family. I am fortunate to have some really great people in my life whom I love very much and inspire me often. I hope that’s not too much of a cop-out answer.  

What are three things you can’t live without?

I’m tempted to be a smartass (water, food, shelter), but I’ll go with my friends and family (I’m counting them as one), my creativity, and Oreo mint milkshakes.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

I’m a bit of a germaphobe, so I hate watching people put their hands on stair railings and rub them all the way up or down the stairs. It makes my skin crawl.

If you could wake up tomorrow with a talent you don’t already possess or a superpower, what would you want?

This is a boring answer, but I’d love to be able to fly. It’d be amazing for a million reasons.

If they made a movie of your life, who would you want to play you?

That’s a fun question. Honestly, I’m not sure. Let’s go with Josh Hutcherson for now. I just rewatched the Hunger Games series last week and I think he’s an underrated actor.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

I’m sure there’s a lot I could choose from, but right now what’s popping up in my mind is what my friend Wayne once told me: “People are going to treat you the way you treat yourself.” I’ve had a lot of self-doubt and social anxiety in my life, and I think that was something he said once when we were talking about that stuff. It’s something I wrote down and have kept in mind when being unnecessarily hard on myself. 

What are you most grateful for?

That I have some genuinely good people in my life. Not everyone is as lucky in that department.

Bad Together releases December 5 via Dekkoo Films, a subsidiary of the Dekkoo streaming platform. It will be made available for TVOD rental across numerous platforms including Apple, Amazon, Google, and many others before arriving on the Dekkoo streaming platform in 2024. For more information, visit www.dekkoo.com. Follow Andrés on Instagram.

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