LOS ANGELES—Award-winning director Ben Rush is no stranger to putting performers through the wringer. Just ask Heath Halo. In less than two years, their unforgettable Falcon | NakedSword collaborations have piled up so quickly, there’s enough for a Greatest Hits collection.
“Ben and I’s working relationship is so amazing because we both look at every potential aspect of a feature and say, ‘Why the fuck not?’” Halo says. “If we keep going like this, who knows what will end up in my ass. On the flipside, we are friends, and I know he wants the best for me.”
To wit: In the Bred & Breakfast series, Halo was pissed on, and double penetrated by Derek Kage and a dildo; then he was DP-ed while precariously perched atop a kitchen island. In Wild Game, he was on the receiving end of watersports again before Paul Wagner literally pounded him into the dirt. And, perhaps most memorably, Halo was penetrated by a cayenne pepper churro (when he wasn’t getting spit roasted by Rocky Unleashed and Ian Sterling) in The Way to a Man’s Heart.
“Heath is creatively fearless,” Rush says. “He’s very open to exploring big concepts and pushing himself as a performer. But it’s never reckless. We talk through everything ahead of time and make sure everyone is on the same page. One of the things that’s great about Heath is that, once he commits to an idea, he really goes all in.”
Now Halo trust falls his way into his first ever gangbang as a bottom, with Rush behind the camera to capture it all as the performer gets manhandled by eight tops.
“When you work with someone multiple times, there’s a shorthand that develops. Heath and I have built a lot of trust over the years, so, by the time we got to this project, we already understood each other creatively,” Rush says. “He knows that I’m going to push for something memorable, and I know he’s the kind of performer who can rise to that challenge. That kind of trust lets you take bigger swings.”
NakedSword released the second and concluding installment of Ten Out of Ten: Heath’s First Gonzo Gangbang this week, the most aggressive effort yet between the two GayVN Award-winners.
“Heath is one of those rare performers who has both a great attitude with a really strong sense of professionalism. On camera he’s incredibly present, he connects with the moment and with the other guys in a way that feels very authentic,” Rush says. “Off camera, he’s funny, easygoing, and very collaborative. He shows up ready to work but also ready to have fun, which is exactly what you want when you’re doing a scene this ambitious.”
The project also stars Kage, Alex Kof, Tony Genius, Brogan, Miles Fallon, Ty Santana, Colt Spence and Dio Ferrero—who collectively DP, spit roast and generally ravage Halo in various combinations. If there was a hole open, Rush made sure the tops knew to stick a dick, finger or hand in it to ensure the energy never dropped.
“That awareness keeps the scene feeling intense and constantly in motion. A scene like this requires a lot of endurance—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Heath approached it like an athlete preparing for a big event. He paced himself, stayed focused, and kept the energy consistent throughout the shoot. What impressed me most was how engaged he stayed with everyone involved from start to finish.”
Halo says it was a challenge that pushed his limits. But it helped that the cast was comprised of great friends, including performers he’s known his entire career.
“Seeing a gangbang on a screen is much different than being in one; the stamina and cooperation required by all parties is crazy! Such a cool thing to be a part of…I feel like such an overachiever,” Halo laughs. “The camaraderie was amazing. So many experienced guys in one place. It was awesome to hear all the ideas coming from this group because they were all good and, of course, someone like Ben knows how to synthesize all that energy into pure sex.”
The project was a unique role reversal for the performer. The Ten Out of Ten series debuted last month with Kage as bottom—and Halo one of nine tops having their way with him.
“It went from, ‘How can I get my dick in?’ to ‘How many dicks can I get in?’” Halo smiles. “Derek is special to me. Few people are as real. I think we’ve both had a positive impact on each other’s careers, and it’s been awesome working with him throughout this journey.”
Rush says that the first Ten Out of Ten was a proving ground for how to structure something that intense—while still keeping it fun and watchable.
“The biggest lesson was pacing. With a project like this, it’s not just about throwing a bunch of guys into a room and letting chaos happen. It’s about building momentum, so the audience feels the escalation,” he says. “We also learned a lot about how to keep the energy high for the performers while making sure the star of the scene still feels supported and comfortable.”
The director adds that part of the fun was seeing the two performers step into very different roles: Halo embraced the challenge of taking center stage in a totally new way, while Kage was excited to flip the dynamic from his scene.
“It kept things fresh and gave the series a sense of development and evolution. Derek brings more of a bossy-bottom, dominant energy to a scene, while Heath tends to lean a little more submissive. That difference in their natural styles really shapes the tone of the performances and how the chemistry unfolds on screen. It ends up creating two very distinct and very hot experiences for the audience,” Rush says.
“Every performer has their own rhythm and comfort zone, and part of directing is recognizing that. Derek thrives on a very spontaneous energy, while Heath likes to understand the structure of the scene and where it’s going. Neither approach is better; they’re just different. My job is to adapt so that each performer feels supported and can give their best.”
Like the first installment, Halo’s Ten Out of Ten will feature a Fist First Edition that fans can catch exclusively on FistingCentral.com at the end of March. And it undoubtedly won’t be the last.
“The idea behind the series is always to raise the bar: bigger concepts, stronger performances, and scenes that fans will remember,” Rush says. “We’re already talking about new ways to evolve Ten Out of Ten and highlight different kinds of performers. If this installment proved anything, it’s that audiences are excited to see us keep pushing the envelope.”
