Award-winning director Ben Rush has reflected on the use of ordinary household objects in his filmography, a practice he describes as "assfection." This trend, which began six years ago with a lollipop in the Masqulin film What’s Gotten Into Him?, has become a signature element in his work for Falcon | NakedSword, culminating in the recently released climatic scene of Eat the Rich.

The Evolution of a Signature

Ben Rush, Co-Chief Content Officer & Chief Creative Marketing Officer at Falcon | NakedSword, noted that the creative use of a lollipop in What’s Gotten Into Him? was "Patient Zero" for this trend. He initially viewed it as a "visual gag" that was "startlingly nasty" and did not anticipate it would become a recurring element in his films. Over time, audience and peer feedback led him to recognize it as a "signature."

Rush stated that the inspiration for these objects comes from his "sense of humor and love of visual storytelling," rather than personal experiences. He enjoys "taking something completely ordinary and changing the way the viewer sees it," finding humor in "an innocent household object suddenly becoming the star of an adult movie." This "melding of the mundane and the outrageous" appeals to him, and he now considers the "cinematic potential" of items encountered in everyday settings like kitchens or hardware stores.

The director emphasized the importance of performer consent in these scenes. He engages in conversations with performers to discuss scene ideas, comfort levels, and practicalities. Performers "can absolutely say ‘no’," and their reactions often "improve the idea." Rush stated that "consent is not an obstacle to creativity; it’s part of making the scene work."

A Dozen Derrière Delights

Rush has incorporated a variety of objects into his films, each serving a distinct purpose:

  • Rosary: Featured in Eat the Rich, where priest Derek Kage has a tryst with escort Luca Zae. Kage described it as "controversial and shocking," intended to hold "a mirror up" to conservative and religious figures.
  • Family Values Award: Also in Eat the Rich, used with Paul Wagner, who plays a "corrupt and closeted politician." Wagner noted the "subversive" nature of turning a "symbol of respectability" into "something totally different."
  • Pool Noodle: Appeared in the first installment of the Bred & Breakfast series, with Isaac X and Colton Reece. Isaac X recalled the scene as "very special," having "never thought about sticking one of those things inside of me." Rush described it as "huge, bendy and fundamentally undignified," representing "the purest expression of my filmmaking philosophy."
  • Swirled Lollipop: The initial object in What’s Gotten Into Him?, involving Dante Colle and Colby Tucker. Rush called it his "gateway drug to inappropriate props."
  • Candy Cane Double Feature: Featured in Cumming Home For Christmas with Taylor Reign and Cade Maddox, using "oversized canes." A glass candy cane was later used in Bred & Breakfast: The Push It Inn with Sir Peter and Derek Kage.
  • Hanukkah Candle: Included in Bred & Breakfast: The Push It Inn, with Paul Wagner and Sir Peter. Sir Peter highlighted the "trust" Rush builds with performers, while Wagner noted Rush's ability to see cinematic potential in ordinary objects.
  • Churro: Seen in The Way to a Man’s Heart, involving Heath Halo, Rocky Unleashed, and Ian Sterling. Rush described it as "soft, ridiculous, and covered in sugar," and the "only item on this list that doubles as a dessert."
  • Apple: Also in The Way to a Man’s Heart, with Tim James and Brogan. Rush found humor in the "wholesome and familiar" apple becoming "more than just a piece of fruit."
  • Wooden Spoon: Featured in the finale of Bred & Breakfast: All The Way Inn, with Hazel Hoffman, Sean Xavier, and Heath Halo. Hoffman described it as "so funny," though she questioned if she would use one again.
  • Flashlight: Used in Wild Game, the 2026 GayVN Best Feature winner, with Blain O’Connor and Miles Fallon. Rush noted the contrast between the "intimidating" appearance of such objects and the actual production process, emphasizing performer comfort.
  • Soda Bottle: Appeared in Tongue in Cheek, with André Bedford and Danny Starr. Rush appreciated the "completely mundane" nature of the object.
  • Socket Wrench: Also in Tongue in Cheek, with Greg Dixxon and Derek Kage. Kage, who has been on both the giving and receiving end of Rush's scenes, noted that these objects "create a striking visual impact."

Beyond the Gag: Narrative Integration

With Eat the Rich, Rush aimed to integrate the objects into the "actual language of the story," moving beyond a simple "recurring gag." He finds it "much more interesting" when an object can function "simultaneously as a spectacle and as a metaphor." While acknowledging that "sometimes, a churro should just be a churro," he is interested in "pushing that further" when the story allows for moments that comment on themes like "class, power, excess."

Looking ahead, Rush stated he would not reveal future objects, as "half the fun is having the audience suddenly recognize an innocent object and think, ‘Oh no, Ben…’" He is increasingly drawn to objects that "make narrative sense first and become outrageous second," focusing on finding "the one object that could only appear in that movie."

Key Facts

  • Ben Rush is an award-winning director and Co-Chief Content Officer & Chief Creative Marketing Officer at Falcon | NakedSword.
  • The use of household objects in his films began six years ago with a lollipop in the Masqulin film What’s Gotten Into Him?.
  • His recent film, Eat the Rich from NakedSword Originals, features objects like a rosary and a "Family Values Award."
  • Rush emphasizes performer consent, stating that "consent is not an obstacle to creativity."
  • Notable objects used include a pool noodle, candy canes, a Hanukkah candle, a churro, an apple, a wooden spoon, a flashlight, a soda bottle, and a socket wrench.
  • Rush aims for objects to serve both as spectacle and metaphor, integrating them into the narrative of his films.