The cinematic debut of singer-songwriter Omar Apollo in "Queer," which he presented alongside director Luca Guadagnino, has made headlines worldwide following its premiere this week at the Venice Film Festival, especially for a sensual scene he shares with the lead actor, Daniel Craig.
The openly gay Latino artist took a break from his "God Said No Tour" to attend the film's premiere, which received a nine-minute standing ovation after its screening. "It was an incredible feeling," the Latino music artist told the media after the event.
Omar Apollo has been actively involved in the promotional efforts for "Queer," including a conversational interview published in Interview Magazine, where the Mexican-American artist spoke with Drew Starkey, who co-stars in the film alongside Craig.
During the interview, Omar Apollo revealed that he had an erotic scene with Craig and that, as part of his preparation, he decided to lose almost 20 pounds. When reading the script, he noticed that his character was described as someone with a flat, tanned stomach and made the decision.
"I had to go on a soup diet. Luca (the director) didn't tell me to lose weight, but when you're about to do a sex scene with Daniel Craig, you think, 'Hey, I can't be looking away,'" said the artist, who was nominated for a Grammy and a Latin Grammy in 2022 for his debut album 'Ivory.'
He added, "I thought, damn, I'm actually not flat right now. I had to step up my game while on tour with SZA. Luckily, I didn't have many lines."
Omar Apollo's Cinematic Debut Alongside Big Names
Due to its daring portrayal of relationships and exploration of themes of identity and desire, Guadagnino's film "Queer," which he also directed for "Call Me By Your Name" and "Challengers," has generated a lot of anticipation, particularly among the LGBTQ+ community.
The film is based on William S. Burroughs's 1985 novel of the same name and is set against the vibrant backdrop of 1950s Mexico City. The plot follows Craig's character, Lee, as he engages in a string of sexual encounters that propel him into a turbulent obsession with Drew Starkey's portrayal of a young ex-sailor.
In addition to Apollo's involvement, 'Queer' features a stellar cast and an impressive production team, including cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom and composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, known for their work on films such as 'The Social Network,' 'Gone Girl,' and 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.'
Omar Apollo Back on Tour
The artist resumes his "God Said No Tour" this weekend. Here are the dates:
- 9/10 – Cincinnati, OH @ The ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park
- 9/11 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
- 9/13 – Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
- 9/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
- 9/16 – Miami, FL @ FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park
- 9/17 – Orlando, FL @ Orlando Amphitheater
- 9/19 – Houston, TX @ The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
- 9/21 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
- 9/22 – Irving (Dallas), TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
- 9/24 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary *
- 9/26 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- 9/29 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
- 10/1 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
- 10/2 – Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield *
- 10/4 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre *
- 10/5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
- 10/8 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl *
- 10/10 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre
- 10/11 – San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
The tour continues with multiple stops across North America, showcasing Omar Apollo's unique style and musical prowess.
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