Trent 2 Rent, 2006

Photo Josephine Pryde

The blind leading the blind – a 21st century urban allegory.

Trent Button, a Buddhist martial artist played by Dan Cade, moves in with his old college friend Joey, played by Ashley Rolfe. But it doesn’t take long before Trent’s curiosity is fired when he comes to realize that Joey’s lifestyle is mysterious and very unusual indeed.

This controversial story about one young man’s struggle to survive was inspired by excerpts from journalist Diane Taylor’s pioneering research into London’s male prostitution scene that appeared in the Big Issue in January 2005. Trent 2 Rent received its world premiere at the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival on 5 April 2008.

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MUSIC

Photos Josephine Pryde

Above left, Trent (Dan Cade) and Joey (Ashley Rolfe) on the Swag Records location in Croydon. Scenes with live performances by Victim, above centre, (Brutal Secret) and Ping Pong Bitches, above right, (Crazy Faze) were filmed at the Barfly Club, Camden Town.

Miguel Mera’s score counterpoints songs from an eclectic range of genres. The intention was to create a kaleidoscopic musical backdrop. The soundtrack features music produced in Croydon including underground dance tracks from Sound of the Suburbs courtesy of Paul ‘Homer’ Stubbs and Liz Edwards of Swag Records alongside Hiawatha’s Overture by Samuel Coleridge Taylor (1875-1912). It also weaves in the slow movements from Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 and Mahler’s Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6, contemporary jazz by Bernardo Sassetti, ambient New Age music by Red Sun, Hip Hop by S.L.I.K.A, and Mark Moore’s 21st Century Love (with David Motion and UltraViva) and Theme From S’Express.

Photos Josephine Pryde

TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST

“Trent 2 Rent is a progressive film as it is about a young heterosexual man choosing sex work as a career move. A growing and significant number of males who identify as straight feel able to sell sex to men. They often use a pseudonym to create a second identity for themselves. Some might invest their money wisely in property, education and other types of work. Others see it as ‘dirty money’ and find they have little to show for it but for the good times.

“When the Metropolitan Police asked us to attend Trent 2 Rent screenings at New Scotland Yard with various police units as part of their training and awareness, the film provoked much discussion about many of its themes – particularly the legalities around selling sex. In the UK the law is complex and is currently under review.” Del Campbell of SW5 – part of the Terrence Higgins Trust. Extracts from NFT Programme Notes, Spring, 2008.

Photos Josephine Pryde

CAST

Etta Bell (Maid), Dan Cade (Trent), Michael Culkin (Broken Arm Trick), Renata Danobeitia (Mrs Sky), Nic Dawkes (Joey’s Pal), Alex Dower (Rubber Fetish Trick), Geno Lechner (Doctor), Anna Malmkjaer (Helen), Yale Melville-Rogers (Dog Owner), Nicholas Obileye (Used Car Salesman), Anna-Lucinda Pitsilides (Felicity), Roberto Purvis (Mr Sky), Diana Quick (Nanna), Ashley Rolfe (Joey), Dean Settle (Drunk Driver), Matthew Sim (Alphabet Guy), Nick Vanelli (Dodgy Punter), Ajax the Dog.

CREW

A Zoom Films presentation in association with Everyman Media. Produced by Cassius Matthias. Executive Producers, Daniel Broch, Martin Katz. Associate Producers, Alex Dower, Ravi Ajit Chopra.

Directed by Cassius Matthias. Screenplay, Cassius Matthias. Camera, Jon Thompson; editor, Julius Gladwell; supervising editor, Valerio Bonelli; additional editor, Susannah Reid; music, Miguel Mera; production designer, Hauke Richter; art director, Gareth Thomas; costume designer, Grace Barone; hair designer, Lisa Lipscomb; make-up designer, Nawshika Ganegama; sound, Paul Sheeky; sound editor, Graham Headicar; re-recording sound mixer, Martin Jensen; visual special effects producer, Val Wardlaw; visual effects supervisor, Donal Nolan; line producer, Daniel Jewel; unit production manager, Aidan Elliott.

PRODUCTION NOTES

Filming dates 2-9, 17 December 2005
Camera, Sony Z1, Mini DV
Running time, 27min
Colour by Technicolor
Edited on Avid
Format, 35mm
Dolby 5.1
Aspect Ratio, 2.35:1
Shot on location in Croydon, Holloway Road and Camden
Town, London
DI and Grade, Midnight Transfer and MPC, London
Country of Origin, UK