Description

Director's Note: When I first introduced A Thing of Beauty, I stated, "It's my hope that these short films are a candle in the dark for anyone who doubts that the love between two men is anything but a thing of beauty."

But as the project progressed and took on a life of its own, it connected me with the idea of "life" and the things that make it beautiful.

For years, I had compartmentalized many parts of my "life"-- work, family, being gay, sex, and the list goes on. Often, I'd find myself exhausted from just the management and reconciliation of all my states of mind-- being something or acting some way I thought was expected of me. I finally realized I was just another hamster on the hamster wheel of life. ENOUGH!

Every day, I work hard to free myself from a way of being that caused me to live in an inauthentic state. The first thing I do every morning is speak out loud the things I am grateful for. It's a powerful inoculation to the negativity that seems to overtake our daily thoughts.

When RJ, Benny and I set out to make A Thing of Beauty, the key ingredient was Gabriel Clark. Having worked with him for the last three years has been an inspiration, a joy and a blessing. And in this film, "The Gift", you will see why.

Always,

Jake Jaxson

Description: "The Gift" is the third iteration of the A Thing of Beauty series. These short films have been a continuous exploration and tribute to the beauty within our lives -- whether it's poetry, music, nature, or the love between two men -- A Thing of Beauty explores the connections we have with the world and one another.

While the previous two installments expressed sexual intimacy through poetry, music, and imagery, "The Gift" begins with an interview with Gabriel Clark in which he talks about the scar on his head and the near-death experience that caused it. This episode evokes not just an appreciation for the things within our lives, but an appreciation for the gift of life itself. With Gabriel sharing a rare and vulnerable side to him, we're able to connect to him in a personal way that digs far deeper than just his amazing body and sexual prowess.

Starring in this episode alongside Gabriel are Colby Keller and JD Phoenix. Gabriel and Colby together make incredible sexual partners, but with JD Phoenix joining them later, the passion blurs into new territory as the three men re-appropriate the way they work together. Culminating in a sweltering double-penetration scene (a first for Colby Keller), "The Gift" showcases one of the most hardcore sexual acts in perhaps the most erotic way ever captured on film. After it's over, you might find yourself looking at all the intricacies of sex not as disposable porn scenes, but as visual documentation of gifts we all accept and implement in our day-to-day lives.