101 Rent Boys (2000)

Interesting facts

101 Rent Boys is a 2000 documentary film that explores the lives of male prostitutes in the Los Angeles, California area. Created by film-makers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, the film depicts 101 hustlers, being paid each $50 for their time, which come from diverse ethnic, regional, and economic backgrounds. Picked up on and around Santa Monica Boulevard, the men discuss a variety of things, many referring to their personal history as well as commenting on the nature of their work.

Background and film contents

Filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey had earlier created the independent films The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Party Monster. While the two previous films covered different topics, the cinematography and general style are the same as in 101 Rent Boys. Each man interviewed is paid $50 for his time, and they were picked up on and around Santa Monica Boulevard.

The interviewees discuss a variety of aspects about the U.S. prostitution trade itself such as their individual physical selling-points, attitudes held toward customers, and sexual turn-ons/offs. Self-identity and sexual orientation come up, with several of the men being "gay for pay". Personal life challenges such as substance abuse and periods of homelessness are talked about as well.

Additional examples of subjects broached include a Latino rent boy being a former gang member, Van Darkholme who is a performance artist dressed in heavily fetishist regalia operating in the BDSM scene, and a prostitute who is transsexual. While the outfits worn and states of dress vary from person to person, nudity briefly occurring, the film itself contains no sexual activity.

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