When we saw Ashley Bell was headlining a movie called Love & Air Sex, we had to get the scoop. Given the flexibility she displayed in The Last Exorcism’s practical scares, imagine what she could do in an air sex competition! Well, Bell is not the one doing air sex in the movie. She’s in the romantic portion where her long distance ex-boyfriend comes to Austin while she is visiting hoping to rekindle their romance. While they are missing each other, his friend competes in an air sex championship under the name Fuckasaurus Sex. It was still nice to catch up with Bell and the movie is now available on VOD, and in theaters Friday.
CraveOnline: So you signed up to do a movie called The Bounceback, and here we are with Love and Air Sex.
Ashley Bell: [Laughs] That’s right.
How did you feel about that?
I love it. I love that the title changed. That’s exactly what this film [is]. It is love, and air sex. The story is a wonderful, not a love triangle, it’s a love hexagon that takes place over a weekend in Austin about breakup and finding new love and couples getting back together, and through all of that is an incredible story of air sex, which is this phenomenon in Japan. It’s a mix of karaoke and air guitar and pantomime sex. It could not be a more fitting title.
There was this incredible feeling at South by Southwest at the premiere screening of it. It was my first time ever seeing the film and it is such a funny film. This air sex story that [writer/director] Bryan [Poyser] has so beautifully woven throughout it all, it sounds so bizarre but it literally makes so much sense, I think it’s really catchy and I think it tells the fun nature of the film and will make people want to see it.
Would you have done the air sex had it been your character?
My character does not do any air sex in the film, but I can do a mean Marcel Marceau walking against the wind.
Because we know your legendary flexibility from the Last Exorcism movies, I figured you’d have some moves.
I know, I think my back was broken by then. [Laughs] I got to cheer air sex on. Sara Paxton does one of the funniest air sex routines that she choreographed, and Zach Cregger, the stuff they were doing on stage was so funny. I think people will get a kick when they see it, and the names that they came up with are hilarious.
After doing so many intense roles, was it a bit of a fight to be seen in a romantic comedy context?
I’d been dying to do a romantic comedy for so long. My mom is one of the founding members of The Groundlings and I had been looking to do improv or comedy or something along those lines, so when I read this script, I began the fight to be a part of it. I love the character of Cathy. I love what she goes through in the story. She’s getting over a breakup with Stan, played by Michael [Stahl-David], and she’s looking for love and going through this whole back and forth world in Austin. She takes the leap to find new love, so I love story.
Do they actually do air sex competitions at the Alamo Ritz?
Yes, they do. That’s where they have the world championships, in Austin.
I was not aware of that, but I certainly recognized the location. I’ve seen a lot of movies there.
I think regional bouts happen in L.A, New York and Las Vegas and then it’s the showdown. I think what was so funny was that it’s not necessarily as graphic as it gets, but what’s meant to be focused on is the story. You must stick to the story, you must have a strong narrative of your pantomime and that’s what wins you the championship apparently.
Of all the Austin locations you shot in, did you also shoot in Austin airport?
We definitely did.
You were in the food court.
I was in the food court area, yeah, and we also filmed the last scene which I won’t spoil. We filmed the last scene first on the first day. [People] were just checking their e-mail and waiting for their flight to go home and we were just yapping up a storm.
How accommodating is Austin airport for filmmakers?
I thought it was wonderful. That’s what was so incredible to film in Austin was there’s such a huge film community, and Bryan is such an integral part of that. He is Austin film and it was exciting to be on this project that he had such a strong vision for. Austin, at least with the coverage he was getting and where we were going, it felt like it just opened up its doors. It was so accommodating, everybody was so kind and we really got a feel for it.
One of the scenes I loved doing was that dancing scene where we’re actually line dancing. We went to an actual dance hall where that’s the only dance you do and we did it all night long. It was great. It felt tried and true and genuine to that city.
Do you want to see Nell again?
I think she’s been exorcized. I think Nell’s been exorcized. Right now I’m currently doing Machinal on Broadway which I’m so excited to be a part of. It’s an incredible show. If you’re in New York check it out. Rebecca Hall is starring in it. I also just launched an IndieGogo for a project I’m directing called Love & Bananas about rescuing Asian elephants in the jungle. I’m trying to help Asian elephants get through their horrors. Enough horrors for me. [Laughs]
Fred Topel is a staff writer at CraveOnline and the man behind Best Episode Ever and The Shelf Space Awards. Follow him on Twitter at @FredTopel.
