Wasn’t it The Lovin’ Spoonful who long ago posed the musical question: “Did you ever have to make up your mind?” Now, director Rob Williams and Guest House Films tackle that same intimate conundrum, giving it a whole new slant in The Men Next Door, which makes its way onto DVD this month from Wolfe Video.
In the film, viewers are introduced to Doug, a 40-year-old gay man who suddenly finds himself dating two very different, but equally desirable men: Jacob, a mature 50-year-old who has recently come out, and Colton, an adventurous 30-year-old who wasn’t initially looking for a relationship. What Doug doesn’t find out right away is that the two men are, in fact, father and son — and they share the house right next door!
Williams takes a setup that, in a lesser artist’s hands, could have come off as the plot of another outlandish porn flick and instead presents it as a logical, if emotionally complex, situation. Ultimately a choice is made, but his conclusion offers his audience a kind of cinematic Rorschach test. What they get out of it (or whether they agree with who is chosen) largely depends on the viewpoint they bring with them.
Williams cast Benjamin Lutz as Colton, the hot young neighbor and Michael Nicklin as Jacob, Colton’s father, who is temporarily staying with him.
Lutz was born and raised near Dallas, and his first memory of acting in front of an audience was during a kindergarten Christmas play.
“I played some sort of ‘Merry Baker’ that baked gingerbread Christmas cookies,” he said, laughing.
Nicklin, too, remembers catching the acting bug early on. “My first memory of performing was staging a puppet show in my backyard and selling tickets to my sympathetic neighbors,” he said.
Growing up as an only child in Santa Barbara, Calif., he spent plenty of time alone, but this inspired the creative spirit that would serve him so well. “Living inside my own head so much as a child nurtured my imagination,” he said. “That, coupled with my passion for storytelling, has helped a great deal with my acting career.”
Men Next Door spotlights several themes. The first is the changing and often challenging nature of relationships, and the second concerns the heightened awareness of ageism these days — especially within the LGBT community as more people come out later in life.
“One of the things that attracted me to this role was the addressing of ageism in Rob’s script,” Nicklin said. “Studies have shown that men generally are faced with a great deal more of it than in the past, relative to work life -- and looks have mattered in the dating world since the beginning of time.”
He points to what he calls the “aesthetic archetypes” that many (if not most) gay men use today. “That raises the bar of expectation and judgment,” Nicklin said, “Even such descriptive categories as ‘twink’ and ‘bear’ all refer to age as well as physical type.”
The film also delves into gay parenting, and Nicklin also found this element particularly intriguing.
“Two of the most dominant traits that Rob wrote for Jacob are that he came out after being married for decades, and that he was a loving father to Colton,” he said. “I have had neither of those experiences in my own life, which gave me license to create an emotional reality for Jacob unencumbered by those actual experiences.”
Ironically, Nicklin said, this ability to approach the story free from preconceptions enabled him to be more effective in the role. “Odd as it may sound, that actually helped me in finding a balance that hopefully made Jacob likable in perhaps an unlikable situation — competing with his son for the love of another.”
For his part, Lutz also found that his differences from his character brought him greater insight.
“I have met a lot of people in L.A. exactly like Colton,” he said with a chuckle, “but they don’t know that they’re like that!”
He sees Colton as a kind of carefree “Hollywood A-Gay”— that rare breed of younger individuals who, although likable enough, don’t always realize just how good their situation is. It’s this mindset that he based his approach on.
“Colton has rented his own house. He seems to have this fantastic job. He seems to be stretching forward,” Lutz said. “I think it takes someone from outside of that sphere to really get into that psyche. I see how they work, so I could analyze exactly what makes Colton tick even better and how he changes throughout the film — how he goes from a kind of fun playboy to someone with a lot of heart.”
Everyone involved in this offbeat love triangle engages in some pretty eccentric behavior, but do these guys personally feel they’re more romantic or real in their own approaches to amour?
“I have done some pretty wild and spontaneous things to initiate relationships,” Nicklin confesses, “but I feel that relationships require both honesty and work to keep them alive and thriving. So in the big picture, I work at it to nurture them.”
Likewise, Lutz allows, “although I’m more of a realist, I got turned on by the fact that Colton is such a romantic.” He said it was Colton’s starry-eyed impulsiveness that largely attracted him to the role.
“My favorite thing about playing him is how he just goes for it,” the actor said. “They talk about him living in the moment, and that’s the one thing I wish I did more of.”
The Men Next Door is available on DVD at stores everywhere. For more information, visit www.guesthousefilms.com or www.facebook.com/themennextdoor, or follow “Guest House Films” on Twitter (@guesthousefilms).
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.