Hunky Ronnie Kroell talks new film, his penchant for full frontal nudity and getting bloody

Ronnie Kroell may be familiar to his gay fanbase from his appearance on Bravo’s Make Me a Supermodel or from his nude Playgirl spread. But this smart and sexy hunk is now taking roles in independent queer cinema projects. His starring turn in Into the Lion’s Den, now out on DVD, has Kroell playing Michael, a heartbroken Los Angeles gay guy stuck in Pennsylvania’s Amish country.  Travelling with two queer pals, the guys run afoul of the homophobic locals. Kroell, on the phone from Los Angeles, spoke about his work on the film, his penchant for full frontal nudity, having sex with women, and getting bloody.

Let’s start out as the characters in the film do, playing “Never Have I Ever.”  Never have I ever seen your Bravo show or Playgirl spread. But I did catch you in Eating Out Drama Camp and now Into the Lion’s Den. What can you say about your budding acting career?
Being a model since I was 15, and following that dream to New York, and Making a Supermodel, I wanted to dig deeper and find new emotional and intellectual honesty. The model wanted to speak, and start telling stories. And Eating Out Drama Camp presented itself. I enjoyed them and that was fun to do. Fortunately, Jesse [Archer, Into the Lion’s Den co-star] was working on another film and I auditioned and got a lead. It was really trial by fire for me. I had some acting training and classes. I’m preparing now for pilot season. I want to be considered a legitimate actor after doing a reality show. I have no regrets at all with Supermodel, but with anything in life, it comes with pros/cons, and there’s a challenge to gain respect with my peers. So I’m working on my craft.

You also have a rather interesting nude scenes in Den, one of which involves a needle. Can you discuss that?
Our director/producer knows his stuff. He’s into blood and gore and props and he found an incredible needle that makes it look real. It pricked my prick a bit, but it’s not real.

You seem to enjoy showing your penis in your films and photospreads. Are you an exhibitionist?
I’m comfortable in my own skin. I don’t think that I did anything gratuitous. I had creative control for the Playgirl spread.

Your character is described as “quiet, mysterious,” but also easy to coerce. Is that how you are in real life?
I’m probably one of the most extraverted introverts you’ll meet. I don’t need to be the center of attention. I have a subtler approach—I gauge the temperature of the room and listen. I want to make sure I’m educating myself about people, from their body language, etc. before I comment. I enjoy learning about others and see what makes them passionate and what excites them.

Michael is heartbroken and looking for a new start. What’s your relationship status?
I’m single. Heartbroken, but not necessarily looking for a new start. I’m a serial monogamous. I’m learning to date me. It’s important to not need to be with someone. It’s nice to be loved, and have someone to bear witness and support you, and I want that relationship when it happens. I’m interested in dating, but it’s nice not to rush into it, and I’m learning more about myself, and what I deserve and have to offer.

The three gay guys are real fish out of water in Amish country. What experiences have you had where you’re out of your element? How did you handle them?
When I was at Roosevelt University, I was into Vocal Jazz. A guy said if you wanted to learn how to sing, come to my church in the South Side of Chicago. This place was outside of my comfort zone, and took the adventure. I went to this huge church and was the only white person there, and felt out of my element until this one couple came and introduced me, and welcomed me. I wonder if my church would have been welcoming the odd person out.

How did you bond with you co-stars?
In the movie our characters were on a road trip, but as actors, we were too. We stayed in the hotel together, and we incorporated that into the storyline. We shot quickly—in about 10 days—so anything you can do to get to know your fellow cast mates helps. We got to know one another well when not shooting.

What about the film’s depiction of gays in the film? The character are described as “different,” “eccentric,” even “Californian”—everyone knows they are gay, but tries to talk around it. Do you think Michael and his friends are gay clichés/stereotypes?
Not necessarily a stereotype…The first draft, there was language that we felt was perhaps hating on heteros (e.g., breeders). We didn’t want to hate; lead by example. We also wanted to show that the stereotype isn’t the only thing that people should know about gay people.

One of the characters has to disclose his HIV status in the film. What are your thoughts on that situation?
The character has to deal with and disclose it and figure out what it means. Even today where we’re living with HIV, it’s important to have this message that it still exists, we have to be aware of it, and de-stigmatize it and have conversation about it. It’s important it is to still talk about it; dealing with the darkness and the awareness of appreciating life. It’s not the end of the word. You see two opposite reactions [to the disclosure], a loving caring one, and a very different reaction from another character. It reminds us how much more work needs to be done to educate people.

What can you say about your drunk scene(s)?
[Laughs]. Oh my God. It was kind of ri-donk-ulous. I was really drinking. I had a couple of shots to loosen me up. They are difficult to play. There are a lot of different ways to do it. But for Michael, he was having so much fun drinking, and since he always is the responsible one, he lets loose. It’s a pivotal moment of him letting go in the arc of his story—he says, “I’m gonna live a little bit!” He’s a real Debbie Downer in the first half of the movie, so to see him open up is important.

You have a notable sex scene in the film—not just because you’re with a woman, but because you’re tied up at the time. How was that to film?
I’m a gold star gay—I’ve never had sex with a woman—and this was the closest I got. It was dark and very twisted. It was very musty and claustrophobic. There was nothing I could do. I had to take deep breaths, but [the actress] gave me a lot to work off of.

The film certainly plays on fears—what is your biggest fear?
I think my biggest fear is spiders. Because I was bitten by a spider when I was on Supermodel, and I didn’t know until a week later when I couldn’t feel my arm and had a 104 degree temperature. Every time I see a spider now, I scream like a little girl.

Michael is both hunted and a hunter. What can you say about those scenes of him running shirtless through a field and the kill, wound, or-be-killed action?
Again, as far as the character, it’s exciting to watch him grow. In life, fear is a huge element, and a lot of us allow fear dictate us. Watching Michael go from scared to angry is huge for his story and overcoming his limits. In reality if we could all could stand up to our fears, they wouldn’t be as scary. Playing Michael in those scenes, running in the field half naked, I was allergic to the brush, and broke out all over and had to stop and put on cream. Then I found out I got chiggers, which are mini-spiders! And no combat pay!  It’s challenging doing those physical scenes. It’s a good tired at the end of the day.

Is it fun or disgusting to be covered in blood?
It’s actually kind of fun.

You have a pretty sexy shower scene in the film.  Do you need another shower?
Absolutely. I like to shower.