SAN FRANCISCO—NakedSword has just added another indie short film to the NakedSword Film Works library, which now has 20 shorts and features. Mitchell Marion's short film G O'Clock dramatizes the complexities surrounding the issue of drug use and sex in the gay community. The film, which recently made its premiere on NakedSword as part of the NakedSword Film Works line (films that blur the lines between porn and indie film), tells a true-to-life story of an ambulance worker named Alex (Phillip Weddell) who regularly saves the lives of gay men who OD on GHB, but who also attends chemsex parties ("chillouts") and enjoys taking the drug himself. When he meets a man at a sex party whose friend's life he recently saved, the two hit it off and Alex becomes the man's guardian angel, giving him "safe" amounts of G and looking after him—or so he thinks. He soon discovers his caring instincts comes with a dangerous price.
G O'Clock features strong acting, full-frontal nudity and some of the hottest guys in the UK (including some porn stars). G O'Clock is designed to both excite and provoke conversation. For director Mitchell Marion, there doesn't seem to be a right answer or a solution, and he takes special care not to present a morality play. It's this complex treatment of a delicate subject that earned him acclaim at dozens of major LGBT film festivals last year, including BFI Flare in London, Outfest, Barcelona, and the prestigious Iris Prize Festival in Cardiff, Wales. By not moralizing or crafting something heavy-handed, Marion's film actually can reach the men it's trying to, without alienating people who need, at the very least, to have a conversation about their drug habits.
In Europe, the topic of "chemsex" has become something of a buzzword amongst gay men trying to determine how to stay healthy and enjoy themselves responsibly. GHB or "G" has been around for years, but it seems to have taken on new life recently, with more and more people using it as a stay-up-late and go-all-night drug or as a tool to enhance group sex experiences. Take the right amount, and you're good, users say. But take the wrong amount, and the downside might be overdose and death. The question then becomes, given the risks, is it worth it?
Tim Valenti, President of Falcon Studio Group and the NakedSword Network said of the new short, "It's a great addition to the NakedSword Film Works library and fits in perfectly with the diverse films already being showcased. I think it's important that the NSFW catalog represents and touches on various facets of gay life, both good and bad, but always with a certain sexual overtone and allure. Our viewers love the variety as witnessed by G O'Clock already hitting the number most watched spot on NakedSword since its debut last week."
Those interested may watch this thought-provoking yet sexy short, G O'Clock, now playing on "the Netflix of gay porn," NakedSword.com.
