shots Unsigned: Biko Julian Voigts

Director Biko Julian Voigts, student at the Filmakademie Baden Württemberg has directed a great take on the trials and tribulations of sex work, revolving around the main character Ionel and his journey through Berlin.

In the short film BOYS CLUB, we see a story of Ionel, a male prostitute as he moves through the underworld of Berlin. We follow him as he reflects on the different facets of his profession on a night out with a client and a colleague. While engulfed in the night’s atmosphere and his reflection he starts to see clearly where his path is going. Through this, he develops a longing for his wife and starts to question why he chose this path and how he can find back to his wife without losing himself in the depth of Berlin’s hedonistic party world.

Did you study filmmaking? How did you learn your craft?

I started with music videos, documentary films, and writing stories firstly. I also founded a production house during University which grew fast, but then applied at the Filmakademie and by god's grace got accepted in. I mean my main craft is storytelling at first, and in Germany as a POC, it's difficult to find open ears, so you become creative to make the audience listen. Once you find your voice, you can start telling different stories like BOYS CLUB, stories from Berlin, from Schöneberg, a place we call BEAUTY HILL.

in Germany as a POC, it's difficult to find open ears, so you become creative to make the audience listen.

How did you discover Ionel?

Ionel’s story, with all it's complexities is really what a lot of the men from this world go through. The idea for the project came through research when I stumbled upon a bar in my home district BEAUTY HILL, where male sex workers operate. Once the world was there I knew I had to portray it, I feel deeply for the life of these sex workers. 

They are proud men who are labeled as macho, which when you look foreign you get labeled a lot as a man. Within their practice lies a conflict, they are proud men, and provide for their family, and yet their means conflict with their self-image of a proud traditional man. 

This conflict of interest, to me, says a lot about society and how multi-layered disadvantages work within it. At the end of the day, Money always wins. The space in between Ionel's toughness and vulnerability allowed BOYS CLUB to be written.

What made you want to tell his story and others like him? 

When I interviewed the men at the bar I asked them what I should say, talking about their world. Their answer was straightforward, ''They don't want to do this job'' they said: ''Show how f'd up this work is, and don't hold back''. Although I know this world, I shy away from sad or criminal content to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and uplift our people. With BOYS CLUB an angle opened up that was different, it is also about the image of men in our society. 

The world of shady dealings, where none of the involved individuals truly want to be part of it, yet prefer it, over the desperation of begging. Now that felt different, weirdly in a good way, not forced or fake, because I know this type of mentality from my upbringing. Also the backstory to these Roma Men from little villages in Romania, and how they end up in these bars, is very fascinating, but I'll save that one for the series.

It has also shed light on the often-overlooked world of male sex workers, making people rethink their assumptions

What has the reaction to the film been like?

The response to the film has been touching. People are moved by it and many are asking for more of Ionel's story. Audiences connected with the human aspects and the portrayal of the sex worker's lives. The film has sparked conversations about masculinity, societal expectations, and the drive to support loved ones, even in tough situations within its audience. It has also shed light on the often-overlooked world of male sex workers, making people rethink their assumptions. Because of this beautiful reaction, I’m currently writing the script to continue Ionel's story and pitching it to production houses, trying to get a big enough budget behind this series, to tell this story the right way.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in pulling this project together?

Funding the film myself, but that’s always a challenge. But the biggest challenge is to find the right team, I am very lucky to have an amazing team around me who put their blood sweat and tears in projects like BOYS CLUB. All the miles we went together have been challenging, and I thank god for connecting me to these amazing people.

How long was the shoot and what was the most challenging aspect of the project?

Finding the right team, financing it myself and telling the story the right way. The shoot took place over six days, most of it shot in BEAUTY HILL. The most challenging aspect was capturing the raw experiences of Ionel while ensuring the film's authenticity and integrity amidst time constraints, you can't fake it, yet you have to create the setting for it to happen organically. Also, it was the first time I shot a sex work sex scene , where one partner bought the other partner's love, so it was tricky to create a room that was intimate, and respectful and still showed what Ionel was going through.

We had an AD on set who did intimacy training with the actors, which helped a lot, she did an amazing job. Also much love to Panamono who jumped on the project last minute and produced it.

The most challenging aspect was capturing the raw, authentic experiences of the sex workers while ensuring the film's authenticity and integrity

What have you learned during the process of making the film?

Throughout the filmmaking process, I learned the importance of empathy and vulnerability for how we experience life and in storytelling. The project rebirthed my belief in the power of film, to shape culture and perspectives. It also highlighted the need for research and genuine connection with your subject. BOYS CLUB and the Filmakademie is bringing me closer to my dreams, telling real stories and shedding light to uplift us as a people.

Would you say you have a directing style? How did you arrive at it?

My style focuses on human connections, that's what we need as a whole. We are starting to becoem comfertably numb, So I try to evoke emotions, making you laugh or cry and everything that happens in between. Film, to me, is a powerful way to foster understanding by sharing our stories and listening to one another. 

Film and culture uplift us, funnily I see food in the same way though, film and food, and maybe fashion, have a magical way of bringing people together as a genuine expression of love that crosses boundaries and fosters understanding. Even if the subject matter is tough like in BOYS CLUB, the motivation is love. I want the world to heal and come together as a people. So I show the beauty we all hold within and the beauty which lies in our struggles.