For writer-actor Jesse Archer, the name of his larger-than-latex character, Luke – whom the Oregon native brought to life in director Casper Andreas’ debut film Slutty Summer – might as well be short for Lucrative.

Because four years after the well-traveled tramp – who’s now a Manhattan transplant – landed the promiscuous (albeit pensive) part in his moviemaker friend’s first feature, he reprises the role in the platitude-peppered follow-up, A Four Letter Word, available on DVD Aug. 19.

In a recent interview, the affable Archer – from his sparkling Alphabet City abode – loosens his lips on infiltrating Out magazine, sharing screenwriting credit on the award-winning AFLW, that pheromone-producing physique, commingling with co-star Charlie David, and where NYC’s faux-filthy go to get funky.

As if you didn’t already know, ho.

Gay & Lesbian Times: Most people know you as a columnist for Out magazine – I do, at least. Your anecdotes are charming, if not hilarious. How did you get that gig?

Jesse Archer: Thank you. I like charming and hilarious – I’ve heard much worse! Aaron Hicklin (Out editor-in-chief) knew I was a writer and had me come in to show my portfolio. He took a look at it and then I never heard back. Well, it took a few months before I heard back and when I did it turns out he thought I’d make a good columnist. Lucky me!

GLT: How do you get yourself into the oft-scandalous predicaments you write about?

JA: I take the slut approach to living; that, and I really like to push buttons.

GLT: As the old saying goes, it’s all in who you know, which must have been true for Aaron Hicklin, who has a non-speaking role in your new movie, A Four Letter Word. Did you owe him one?

JA: How did you know that? Do you know him? Aaron was a great sport. He came in and played one of my victims at the bar. I undo the button on his shirt and say one of my favorite lines: “Lose a button, make a friend …” I did owe him one – the column gig is great. Plus, since Aaron is in it, we thought he’d be more inclined to promote the film!

GLT: This isn’t your first film, and, in fact, the character you play in A Four Letter Word, Luke, originated as a bit part in director Casper Andreas’ previous film, Slutty Summer. So, I have to ask, what did you have to do to persuade Casper to write an entire movie around this character?

JA: Ha! My character – the gay cliché – is only always ever seen as a punch line. Both Casper and I wanted to show that he has his own truth to tell. You may have to read between the lines, but it’s there. He didn’t take much persuading – just a hot cattle prod.

GLT: I heard that you had a hand in writing this film. Tell me about the screenwriting process, and what influence did you have on the finished product?

JA: Oh yes, we wrote the whole film together. Collaboration is tough. We would often send drafts to each other and we’d just erase what the other person had written and write our own stuff. At one point we had to sit down and make a case for what we wanted in there and why. Ultimately, it made for a more dynamic script. We each got what we wanted most.

GLT: As with most independent films, the budget for this film was relatively meager. But, I’ve gotta say, your wardrobe was bang on. Whisper in my ear the budget for the wardrobe. Did you have a hand in Luke’s look? Did you take any of it home?

JA: I’ve got all of it! I’m sure I’ll be caught wearing that sleeveless red vest with the cursive L out at the bars when I’m 65. Luke’s wardrobe was a compilation of my clothes and my friends’ clothes. The only money spent on wardrobe in the entire film was $20, I think, for something [the character] Marilyn wore in bed.

GLT: If we’re gonna chat fashion, we must discuss the hair. I lost count how many different ways Luke wore it.

JA: Oh, that hair! I mean, it has a mind of its own! My favorite look is the one where I come into work all disheveled after an all-night “fourgy.” I look like a chicken at the state fair.

GLT: I can’t neglect mentioning that you’re in mighty fine shape in this film. What did the physical conditioning entail? And before you say a word, don’t tell me that you’re naturally built like that and that you don’t require gym time, homo. I’ll slap you.

JA: I was totally going to tell you I’m naturally built like that – don’t slap me! I do go to the gym and I run long distance. It keeps me thin, but I’m not OCD about exercise. There’s more to life.

GLT: There’s a scene in the film where you’ve just gotten out of the shower and you’re lying on the bed in a pair of blue briefs. Your tresses are tussled, and symbolically you’re meant to seem vulnerable given the context of the scene. But, frankly, I don’t care about any of that. Tell me the truth, you think you look amazing in that scene, don’t you? Because I do. And if I were you, I would totally steal the director’s cut and masturbate to myself once a week.

JA: Oh my god, that’s really funny in a scary way! Masturbating to myself? There’s a character profile for a really creepy film! The scary thing is, I think I wore those same underwear in Slutty Summer. Thanks for the compliment, but when I watch that scene all I think is, “Why am I positioned like that?” The camera is all up in my crotch.

GLT: Charlie David, best known to the queer community as the protagonist of “Dante’s Cove,” is your main squeeze throughout much of A Four Letter Word. As such, you two share some pretty explicit sex scenes that some might consider soft-corn porn. What’s it like literally baring it all on camera that way? More importantly, did you and Charlie practice beforehand?

JA: Charlie and I were boyfriends the entire shoot. I adore the guy. He’s a class act. Thanks to him, those scenes were a lot less awkward than they could have been. It may look sexy, but we were surrounded by a camera crew. The action is all choreographed, and then the make-up guy comes in and sprays you down with glycerin so you look sweaty. Hot and bothered, in all the wrong ways!

GLT: Correct me if I’m wrong, but A Four Letter Word was shot in New York City in 17 days, no? That’s a pretty tight shooting schedule. How were you able to pull it off?

JA: Yeah, super tight. A lot of the scenes, like the ones at the sex shop, were shot overnight when the store was closed. Some days we’d work all night, some days during the day. It really messes with your body chemistry. But I was really thrilled to be making this film we wrote. In the last days of shooting, I’d worry while I walked to set that I might get hit by a car and die and then it’d never get finished. One funny anecdote from set is the day we shot in Central Park. Tourists would gather and watch the scene where Charlie and I are talking on the lawn. At the end of the scene, we make out, and each time some mother would cover her child’s eyes and rush off in a huff. I loved every minute of that.

GLT: While we’re talking Manhattan, where’s your favorite place to hang out in the city?

JA: Depends on the night. I do love a dirty dive bar. Boiler Room comes to mind.

GLT: Alright, so you’ve got your second feature film under your belt. What’s next? More Out magazine? Move movies? Fill me in.

JA: More Out, more movies, more travel! I’m now developing a new story about a fag hag. I’m also one of the New York writers for a fun new site called Gay List Daily. Check out my blog at www.jesseonthebrink.com for what’s new with me. Stop by and say hi!

Who is Mikey Rox? Find him at www.mikeyrox.com.