By: Olga Amraie

Post-production has begun on Gigolo, a provocative new short film exploring the collision between desire, ego, and trauma in contemporary Los Angeles. The project stars Bryan James (Youthful Daze, Bloodbath, and the recently released Fatal Attraction reimagining Reckless) in the lead role.

The film has been described by the creative team as a cross between a male version of Sex and the City and a modern-day Boogie Nights nightmare. Set against the contrasting backdrops of Los Angeles’ luxury interiors and its lonely underbelly, Gigolo examines how performance, validation, and self-deception shape a generation of men navigating identity in an era defined by exposure.

A Modern Morality Tale 

The film follows Jeremy Gordon (James), a young man who unexpectedly stumbles into sex work as a means of escaping unresolved family pain. What begins as avoidance quickly becomes a descent into a world of erotic commerce and male ego — a morality tale set in a city where temptation is currency and intimacy is transactional.

“Gigolo is a story about what happens when people mistake validation for connection,” James says. “It explores how men run from their pain and, in doing so, become their pain — how ego becomes armor, and what’s left when the performance ends.”

Joining James in the ensemble cast are Eliott Nazarian as Edward, a kind-hearted confidant whose bravado hides a fragile core; Jack Rasmussen as Greg, a tightly wound romantic battling guilt and repression; John Godoy III as Doug, the outspoken friend with a darkly comic edge; and Garth Sodetani as Hank, a soul-weary escort who serves as both mentor and tragic warning.

Through these characters, the film explores a spectrum of modern masculinity. Edward provides warmth and optimism that curdles into heartbreak; Greg embodies repression and the pressure of appearances; Doug masks fear with humor and blunt honesty; and Hank, the most world-weary, acts as the story’s conscience as he grapples with escaping the life he’s built for himself.

James says he was drawn to the role of Jeremy because of its raw honesty. “Jeremy is the guy who’s trying to fill a void he doesn’t understand,” he explains. “He finds agency in morally complex circumstances. I’ve seen men — myself included — chase hedonistic experiences publicly and privately for validation, clout or attention. Jeremy embodies that. He’s the worst part of every man — the part people hide unless they’re under the influence. He builds his identity around transgression, until it consumes him. He’s also the worst part of Los Angeles culture: charming on the surface, hollow underneath.”

A Gritty Los Angeles Canvas

Production is currently underway across Los Angeles, utilizing a mix of soundstages and real locations. James describes the visual approach as capturing “the city’s spiritual schizophrenia — equal parts beauty and rot.”

Visually, the film draws inspiration from the color-saturated decadence of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights and the raw intimacy of Euphoria. Cinematography, led by David Sorafine, blends stylized sensuality with grounded emotional realism, contrasting neon-lit indulgence with stark moments of isolation.

“Los Angeles felt like the only place this story could live,” James adds. “It’s a city that sells dreams and bodies in equal measure — a place where desire itself is the product.”

Themes of Ego, Avoidance, and Consequence

Though Gigolo revolves around sex work, the film positions itself as a cautionary tale about emotional avoidance and the commodification of self-image.

“It’s not just about sex work,” James says. “It’s about what we turn into when we refuse to process pain. I’ve seen good men become unrecognizable in this city. Gigolo is a morality tale about the emotional and psychological traps modern men face.”

James, represented by Infinity Artists and Top Priority Group, takes on one of his most emotionally charged roles to date. His portrayal of Jeremy oscillates between predator and victim — between control and collapse — as avoidance leads to indulgence and, ultimately, destruction.

“This isn’t a porn film,” James emphasizes. “It’s a traditional character-driven narrative that becomes a narcissistic nightmare. In a time when OnlyFans has normalized a certain kind of titillation, what drew me to this story was the chance to explore how sex and ego can be used as weapons — and to examine the human behavior underneath it.”

Release Plans

Following production wrap later this year, Gigolo is slated for a digital release on Valentine’s Day 2026, exclusively via www.gigolo2026.com. The intentionally ironic release date mirrors the film’s themes of misplaced affection, the commodification of love, and the glorification of sex on a holiday that celebrates both intimacy and commercialization.