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Logline

Set at the bohemian commune where famed erotic artist Tom of Finland lived and worked, House of Leather follows two queer artists from Asia and a Trans artist from Michigan, visiting for summer residencies. As these young heroes explore their creative identities in the context of gay history, the multi-generational community rallies to protect their safe place, advancing Tom’s legacy of freedom in a modern era.

Synopsis

On a quiet block in the residential neighborhood of Echo Park Los Angeles, there is a longstanding queer countercultural haven. Its history extends from Tom of Finland’s time there, where he crafted iconic and sex-positive artworks throughout the 1980s, to its ongoing support of queer artists from all over the world. Today, the art foundation and private residence is led by Durk Dehner, the same man who brought Tom of Finland into the zeitgeist so long ago.

Inspired by Tom’s spirit and with the guidance of his community, summer residents Oat, Xiaobing and Carta seek pathways toward their own liberation. Materials on site provide a bounty of references, but it’s the prideful and loving community that captivates the new generation most.

In a modern era, Tom House continues to fight against social regression, and to uplift BIPOC and Trans artists who have been excluded from the conversion. During his residency Oat grapples with Asian fetishization and finds ways to re-write a history of colonization; Xiaobing searches for absolute freedom; Carta uses pain performance to take control of her body… At the culmination of the experience, the artists contribute work and insight to the foundation, emerging with newfound confidence and sense of self.

Using textures of media to articulate the multicultural, eclectic and strange world of this community, archival footage from the 80s and 90s is woven with intimate 4k verite, along with artist works from past and present, belonging to the foundation’s exclusive collection.

Meet the Filmmakers

Jamison Rockmore – Director
A writer and filmmaker, Jamison was the first literary artist-in-residence at TOM House, where he wrote and published the erotic memoir, How to Be a Faggot in 2016. Other notable publications include: Mein Schwules Auge, GAYLETTER, EDGE Media, and LA’s Department of Cultural Affairs. In 2019, Jamison received an MFA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Jamison refuses to become an outlaw as he moves his brand of sexuality into the American zeitgeist. His unique voice: a young man from a marginalized subculture who wants his work to access the mainstream; to inform, entertain, and move profound issues into our contemporary world.

Nicolas Blanco – Producer
Nicolas Blanco is a queer filmmaker from Bogota, Colombia. He realized the importance of diverse representation on screen at an early age and became fascinated by the ability of films to create community and bring people together across cultural borders. Nicolas currently lives in Los Angeles, where he attended the American Film Institute. He has produced and directed award-winning films in both fiction and documentary. His work focuses on highlighting underrepresented voices and stories that explore the human condition and how its uniqueness makes it universal.

Don Hardy – Producer
Don Hardy is an award-winning filmmaker who has tackled such subjects as wrongful conviction (Witch Hunt), global terrorism (Love Hate Love), chemicals and their effects on human health (The Human Experiment), avant garde musicians (Theory of Obscurity) and how aid organizations meet humanitarian challenges like the 2010 Haiti earthquake (Citizen Penn). His work has premiered at major events such as the Tribeca Film Festival and been distributed in theaters and television and streaming platforms: Netflix, Hulu, Discovery+, HBO, and Amazon. Hardy’s recent projects include three seasons of the short-form documentary series The Way Home and executive producing the Disney+ documentary series Pick of the Litter based on his 2018 film of the same name. Previously, the longtime Bay Area resident was a journalist for NBC, ABC, and FOX affiliates in New York, Florida and California, during which time he was awarded six regional Emmys.

Justin Levy – Producer
Justin Levy is a filmmaker working primarily in documentary film. His recent credits as producer include the AMC series Smugshot (‘24), Snowy (Sundance ‘21, TIME, Critic’s Choice Award nominee), and Well Groomed (SXSW ‘19, HBO). He is the associate producer of 2018 Academy Award best short documentary nominee Knife Skills. His work as line producer includes Linda Perry: Let It Die Here (Tribeca ‘24), Alok (Sundance ‘24), Broadway Rising (Tribeca ‘22) and the documentary series Dear Santa (ABC/HULU ‘22). He has directed short documentaries released by The New Yorker and Vice. He was a 2022 Impact Partners Documentary Producer Fellow and is a Southern California Regional Representative of the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA). Prior to working in film, he worked as a public radio producer at NPR stations for 6 years.

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Contact

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