Noam Ash's rise to fame as an actor and writer is deeply rooted in his personal experiences, including a tumultuous breakup with his then-boyfriend that ultimately led him to write "Bookends", a romantic comedy that premiered on February 9th at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
In an interview, Ash shared that he had just broken up with his boyfriend when he found out he was having an affair with their spin instructor. With nowhere else to go, Ash moved in with his grandparents, where he met his future co-star Charlie Barnett's character's love interest. "I lived with them for over a year," Ash revealed. "It was the best year, but honestly, I was so mortified and embarrassed by the whole thing."
Ash credits his manager for encouraging him to write about the experience. The resulting film follows Nate, an aspiring novelist who finds romance with his grandparents' doctor when he moves in with them after discovering his boyfriend's infidelity.
Authentic casting was crucial to Ash and director Mike Doyle, who deliberately chose actors of different ethnicities to reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. "That was something Mike and I discussed a lot," Ash said. "We also wanted to show that Jews come in all different shades, shapes and sizes." Barnett's character is Jewish, despite Ash not being raised Jewish.
With an upswing in political attacks aimed at the queer community, Ash initially worried about the film's reception. However, the release of the hit series "Heated Rivalry" provided a silver lining. "I think they proved that in the absolute biggest way that you can have the steamiest, gayest, most homoerotic show probably ever made for television, and it could also have huge mainstream success," Ash said.
The film's premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is just the beginning of what promises to be a groundbreaking career for Noam Ash.
In an interview, Ash shared that he had just broken up with his boyfriend when he found out he was having an affair with their spin instructor. With nowhere else to go, Ash moved in with his grandparents, where he met his future co-star Charlie Barnett's character's love interest. "I lived with them for over a year," Ash revealed. "It was the best year, but honestly, I was so mortified and embarrassed by the whole thing."
Ash credits his manager for encouraging him to write about the experience. The resulting film follows Nate, an aspiring novelist who finds romance with his grandparents' doctor when he moves in with them after discovering his boyfriend's infidelity.
Authentic casting was crucial to Ash and director Mike Doyle, who deliberately chose actors of different ethnicities to reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. "That was something Mike and I discussed a lot," Ash said. "We also wanted to show that Jews come in all different shades, shapes and sizes." Barnett's character is Jewish, despite Ash not being raised Jewish.
With an upswing in political attacks aimed at the queer community, Ash initially worried about the film's reception. However, the release of the hit series "Heated Rivalry" provided a silver lining. "I think they proved that in the absolute biggest way that you can have the steamiest, gayest, most homoerotic show probably ever made for television, and it could also have huge mainstream success," Ash said.
The film's premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is just the beginning of what promises to be a groundbreaking career for Noam Ash.
I'm so down for more movies like "Bookends"! It's dope that Noam Ash used his personal struggles to create something so genuine and funny 
. I love how he and Mike Doyle prioritized authenticity in casting, it makes the film feel super relatable 
. Can't wait to see what's next for this talented actor 
I'm so hyped for this new movie! The way Noam Ash turned his personal struggles into something beautiful and funny is truly inspiring. 
I love how he was encouraged by his manager to write about the experience, it's like a reminder that our flaws can be our strengths too 
. And can we talk about the casting? It's amazing to see diversity reflected on screen 
Charlie Barnett's character being Jewish despite Ash not being raised in that faith is so cool 
. I'm all for showcasing different shades and sizes of the LGBTQ+ community 
!
. The fact that he was willing to take that risk and share his story with the world is something we should all admire 
. With Ash's talent and Mike Doyle's direction, I'm definitely keeping an eye on what he does next 
the fact that he drew inspiration from his own super messy breakup and living with his grandparents is EVERYTHING 
and can we talk about the timing of this movie's release? The whole "Heated Rivalry" series came out and now we've got another amazing show on our hands 
I'm literally counting down the days until I can watch this movie!!!
. I'm rooting for Noam Ash and his future projects – he's got this! 
anyway, i love that he didn't let the haters bring him down & created something so positive & celebratory. casting w/ diff ethnicities was def a great move & shows we're gettin closer to equality 
he literally went through hell and came out with this amazing film that's all about self-love and acceptance 
and yaaas charlie barnett deserves some recognition for his role 
can't wait to see what noam does next 
. And yeah, giving more representation to the LGBTQ+ community is super important - we need more stories like this! 
. And that he's got some major Hollywood connections now? Game on 
!
I think its kinda cool how Noam Ash used his personal experiences to write a rom-com about an guy who moves in with his grandparents after his boyfriend cheats on him 
. It's like he took something that could've been super embarrassing and turned it into a movie that promotes acceptance and diversity 
. The fact that the film has authentic casting is a major win, especially for the LGBTQ+ community 
. And I love how Ash is not afraid to talk about his own struggles with anxiety and self-doubt 
. All in all, I'm stoked to see Noam Ash killing it as an actor and writer 
. I mean, an openly gay actor from a Jewish background playing a character from a different ethnic group? That's some bold representation right there 
. And let's be real, the fact that he found success with this film after a tumultuous breakup and personal scandal is like, the ultimate underdog story 
. It just goes to show that with hard work and determination (and a little bit of vulnerability), we can overcome even the toughest obstacles 
... well, let's just say Ash's film is proof that we're not going down without a fight 
. So here's to Noam Ash - may his career continue to be a beacon of hope and authenticity in the entertainment industry 
At the same time, I'm all about representation and authenticity, so maybe that's just me being crazy today? 
