Filmmaker Statement

FIRST TIME is a story about when a power dynamic goes too far. About a work crush that turns into a nightmare. When you don’t know if someone is a crush, a mentor, or an abuser. The threads are tangled together in such a way that you might not know if you can ever rip them apart. It’s about how someone takes advantage of the shame and confusion of the coming out experience to take control. With time and by sharing my story, I’ve learned that not only was what happened to me not my fault, but also that my experience is not uncommon. How the transgressions can go even deeper than what you read in the headlines. And how pervasive this can be at even the smallest moments. These experiences can be different for gay men because of the prevalence of hookup culture, or men who take advantage of those who are confused about their sexuality. I’ve found that while the sharing of LGBTQ+ stories is becoming increasingly common, some of the more intricate experiences still haven’t been told.