The Film
SKIN follows Gavin, who visits his artist boyfriend David’s house for a weekend getaway. What begins as a pleasant weekend quickly turns nightmarish when Gavin discovers that David’s famous “cow skin” art pieces are actually the preserved skin of his numerous hookups in this very house—and Gavin may be next. A deadly game of cat-and-mouse ensues, but Gavin isn't about to go down without a fight.
The Creatives
Ryan Daniel Jones - Writer/Director
Ryan Daniel Jones is an award-winning screenwriter and producer. A graduate of NYU Tisch, he debuted his play The Great Hack off-off-Broadway as part of The Fled Collective’s SERIALS. His short film MyQuin screened at the Queer Shorts Film Screening, and A Whiter Shade of Pale earned third place at the Gallatin Film Festival.
Zoe Belle Gronner - Producer
Zoe Belle Gronner made her directorial debut with Ladies Night, which premiered at the Chelsea Film Festival. She has since produced the mini-series High Functioning: A Chronicle of Chronic Ills with Executive Producer Mel Brooks and director Samantha Brooks, premiering at the Soho Film Festival. Zoe has also worked with the stage management team for the Concordia Annual Summit since 2023.
Sam Grau- Producer
Originally from Pittsburgh, Sam Grau is a producer based in NYC. With roles like Production Coordinator on Vic Mensa’s East Side Girl music video and Lead Producer on the short film Kung-Fu Cops, Sam brings a BFA in Creative Producing from DePaul University. Passionate about genre films and unconventional storytelling, Sam is eager to bring their love for genre filmmaking to SKIN.
The Objective
SKIN delves into the personification of the psychological damage that queer men can inflict on one another in sexual relationships. Central to the story is a powerful “skin” art piece, symbolizing the emotional and psychological harm queer men may cause each other while seeking physical connection without acknowledging the humanity beneath.
We aim to showcase this film at festivals, as it explores complex dynamics within queer relationships that are rarely addressed. Gavin and David, as victim and villain, represent two sides of the same coin, illustrating the nuanced, sometimes destructive ways queer people engage with each other. Using horror conventions, we aim to turn the conversation inward, focusing not on how queerness impacts society, but on the ways queer individuals may hurt each other, consciously or not.