Laid Bare: Jason Caceres on Vulnerability, Queer Storytelling, and Letting It All Hang Out

You've done three projects with OUTtv now. How has that relationship evolved?

Jason Caceres: It feels like coming home. When I first started working with OUTtv, I was more hesitant. The roles I play are bold, there’s a lot of skin, and I wondered if I was making the right choices career-wise. Now, I feel much more comfortable. There’s a freedom to explore, to play, and to really discover characters without fear. That comfort has made a huge difference.

What drew you to Laid Bare specifically?

Jason: This one was different because I’ve been part of it since the very beginning. Tim O’Leary is one of my closest friends. He cast me in Demon Hunter years ago, and he came to me with the idea for Laid Bare about three years ago. He actually wrote my character, Cassidy, specifically for me.

I was involved in table reads for years before the show even got made. Actors usually aren’t part of a project from conception to production, so it felt like I had a real stake in it. Tim is a true collaborator. He listens, he’s open, and that made me feel protective of the show in a really meaningful way.

Is this something you'd do again — being involved from the creative side?

Jason: I’m of two minds about it. Being involved creatively is incredibly fulfilling, but it’s also emotionally brutal. You get a lot of rejection, a lot of doors slammed in your face, and when it’s your passion project, that hurts.

That said, once something finally gets made, the payoff is huge. I could see myself doing it again — but maybe once every five years. It’s a rollercoaster.

Tell me about Cassidy. How does he differ from the other characters you've played?

Jason: Cassidy is tough and very guarded. He doesn’t let his emotions show easily, but he’s deeply emotional underneath. He’s impulsive, driven, and resilient. I hope audiences connect with that resilience, and also remember that this is still a campy, fun murder mystery. It’s not meant to be taken too seriously.

The title is Laid Bare. When did you feel most exposed during filming?

Jason: We were all exposed, literally, but it went way beyond that. We filmed nine 12-hour days in Palm Springs in 112-degree heat. And on top of that, we were all waking up three hours early to work out every day.

Physically, emotionally, mentally, it was draining. But that exhaustion actually helped. The characters are exhausted too. Bodies are dropping, no one’s sleeping, tensions are high. I think that shared vulnerability really shows on screen.

What will surprise fans who know you from Boy Culture and Open To It?

Jason: I’m not the comedic relief this time. Cassidy is more grounded, darker, and emotionally intense. There’s a deeper emotional toll with him that my other characters didn’t have. It’s still campy, but it’s definitely a different side of me.

What does it mean to you to be part of unapologetically queer projects right now?

Jason: It’s everything. We’re seeing fewer queer shows actually get the space to grow. They’re cancelled too quickly. And so many queer stories are still framed around trauma. Those stories matter, but we’re more than just trauma. We can be campy, joyful, messy, sexy. We can even be murderers in a fictional whodunit. Shows like Laid Bare remind people that queer life doesn’t stop at coming out. There’s so much more to tell.

What do you hope audiences learn from Laid Bare?

Jason: It’s not the size of the boat — it’s the motion of the ocean.

(Laughs)

Last question — on screen or off screen, which feels more vulnerable?

Jason: Off-screen, 100%. On camera, you’re given permission to be vulnerable — that’s the job. In real life, vulnerability makes people uncomfortable. When you say the wrong thing off-screen, that’s just you. There’s no character to hide behind.