LOS ANGELES—While he has no intention of slowing down, Ben Rush has in many ways come full circle with the release of Bred & Breakfast: All the Way Inn. The sequel comes almost exactly two years after The Come Inn, which holds a special place in the wrier/director’s heart.
“I love these B&B movies like they’re my children,” he shares. “The Come Inn will always be special to me for many reasons, most notably because it was the first film I directed for NakedSword Originals.”
In 2022, Rush had recently completed a handful of movies for Masqulin—including multi-GayVN Award nominee What’s Gotten Into Him?—but wasn’t sure he wanted to pursue more production work.
“Then, just at the right moment, I met Falcon | NakedSword President and CEO Tim Valenti and saw all the possibilities of working with such an innovative and enthusiastic studio chief on legendary brands. My first script for the company was the GayVN-winning Raging Stallion series Ride or Die, and I was lucky enough to be able to produce the film with iconic director Tony Dimarco,” says Rush. “After being on set with Tony and seeing first-hand the studio’s commitment to quality, I asked Tim if I could develop the Bred & Breakfast concept as a potential franchise, and a wonderful partnership was born.”
Filmed in Los Angeles with an all-star cast, The Come Inn shoot remains one of Rush’s favorite memories.
“It was a joyful experience. It truly felt like we were all away at summer camp, and no one wanted to go home. I don’t have one negative memory from that shoot, and I was really happy to see that the on-set vibe translated so well to film. It looks like everyone was into it—both the sex and the cheeky dialogue—because they were, and you can’t beat chemistry and camaraderie when it comes to movie-making.”
A sequel was inevitable, and Rush notes he always intended to expand the series. But other projects—including Overdrive, the 2024 GayVN Award winner for Best Feature—took priority.
“Tim and I have had this cooking for some time, but it was a matter of fitting it into the production schedule. So it was just about finding the right moment, the right cast, and the right location.”
That cast includes Falcon | NakedSword exclusives Drew Valentino and Beau Butler, who check in for the second time. They are joined by even more all-stars: Derek Kage, Heath Halo, Sean Xavier, Damian Night, Sumner Blayne, Hazel Hoffman, Ty Santana and Carter Collins.
“There truly isn’t a weak link,” says Rush. “The stars aligned with schedules, and I was able to get my dream cast on the days I needed them. Sumner was actually shooting his new Tubi reality series, House of Heat, when Bred & Breakfast: All The Way Inn began principal photography, and we were able to steal him for the time necessary to complete our movie. It was all meant to be.”
The sequel beautifully captures the whimsical fun of the first installment and ups the ante, proving there are never too many (very big) cocks in the kitchen. All the Way Inn expertly satisfies the hunger we have for hot men and humor, improving the recipe that the original cooked up to perfection.
“We had such a blast making All The Way Inn. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time,” says Rush. “Our location was one of the most special and charming places I’ve seen in Venice Beach. And it was a very musical set; at any given moment, someone was breaking out into song. Whether it was Derek and Heath paying tribute to Reba with a rendition of ‘Fancy’ or Hazel and Sean performing ‘Tomorrow’ from Annie, there was always a music and dance routine happening in one corner or another. I love my sets to have a comfortable, ‘home away from home’ atmosphere—good food and snacks, smiles, lots of laughs, and friendships made—where everyone is free to be themselves.”
That freedom fosters creativity for both Rush and the cast, who—much like in the original—got very creative with their bodies (and what went into and on them).
“I love the idea of finding pleasure in unexpected places or with unexpected toys and objects. Obviously, safety is the first consideration; but for me, there’s eroticism in the unusual. For example, I get so many messages about Dean Young taking an entire industrial metal chain into his ass in Fist First. There’s something really sexy about his desire for that sensation and his willingness to go all in, as it were.”
The Come Inn had an infamous moment with Isaac X, Colton Reece and a “pool noodle.” For the sequel, some large dildos and wooden kitchen tools are among the implements of choice, along with a very memorable watersports opening that immediately sets the tone.
“In All The Way Inn, Heath Halo takes larger toys than he ever has on camera—one with Derek Kage’s cock at the same time. And yes, there are some watersports. Derek and Heath were so into each other that I had to make them promise not to have any sexual contact prior to the shoot. So, I think they just wanted to be intimate in any and every way possible. At one point, I jokingly asked them if I should leave the room,” Rush says.
“Heath is sexy as hell, game for anything, and is the consummate professional. He’s also a great actor who always knows his lines, and he takes direction really well. Heath brought some of his own toys because I wanted him to be really comfortable, so what you’re seeing in Bred & Breakfast: All The Way Inn is what turns him on off-camera, too. He handled it all like the sexual dynamo that he is.”
And in the final scene, one end of a wooden spatula finds its way into Hoffman’s ass (“He had fun with it; I even let him keep it after we wrapped. We’ll have to ask him if they still have a close relationship!”), while the other end slaps Xavier’s sac. “My kitchen spoons have seen a lot,” smiles Rush. “And they’re happiest in the middle of a nice, warm cake.”
It all contributes to the fun and fresh atmosphere that is a signature of the Bred & Breakfast films, the perfect contrast to the more serious films in Rush’s repertoire.
“NakedSword is a unique brand for many reasons, but one in particular is the breadth of stories they tell. I can make something with an edgy grit, or I can create something bouncy and fun. The Bred & Breakfast series, starting with the titles themselves, are written with a wink-wink, double-entendre playfulness. Sex should be fun, should be playful, and should be hot—and those elements are not mutually exclusive. This series marries all of it, and I love to write the scenes.”
Rush also champions Dimarco and Sal Genoa, both of whom were cinematographers on the project, with helping to achieve the film’s look and vibe. “I like my movies to be as authentic as possible, and I often find that the details are what draw people in. If I'm able to bring the situations to life in a way that makes viewers feel like they’re having a shared experience with the models, I’ve done my job.”
The GayVN Award-winner has come a long way in just two years at the studio, and credits fellow directors like Dimarco, Steve Cruz and Alter Sin as great examples of how to do it well.
“Over the last couple of years, I think I’ve grown as a filmmaker in that I’ve become much more familiar with both the freedoms and limitations of creating adult content. I come from a mainstream film and television background, which is by no means better—but it is different. The entire team at Falcon | NakedSword has been patient and extremely nurturing while I adapted to this style of production,” Rush says.
“I could not have imagined the success I’ve seen with Falcon | NakedSword. They’ve been very open to my ideas and suggestions, and have been willing to take chances on genres and styles that have paid off handsomely.”
And Rush is already brewing another B&B blend.
“The Bred & Breakfast kitchen will be serving some tea very soon, I hope. Tim and I have been talking about a third film, and I’ve already found some foods, utensils and baking products that will fit perfectly between a man’s cheeks—both sets of them.”
Photography courtesy of NakedSword Originals
