The Escort

  • Director

    Joshua Michael Payne

  • Country, Year, Length

    United States, 2025, 14:56

  • Category

    Narrative Short

  • Format

    Digital

  • Festival Year

    2025

Synopsis

A troubled young man, Tommy, hires an escort, Lucy, to keep him company. While Tommy is all thumbs, Lucy goes about business like a pro. But what Tommy has in store for Lucy may test the limits of her professionalism.

Film Screening & Ticket Information

When & Where to See this Film!

…COMING SOON…

Film Information

From the Director

Director Statement

The Escort always felt like the right fit. When producer Blake Merriman first approached me about directing the piece, I was thrilled. It struck me as a fresh and meaningful way to explore the complicated psychological terrain of intimacy, family, and relationships, which is something I’ve always been drawn to as a filmmaker. I knew the script was strong, and I had complete faith in Blake’s talent as an actor, so I felt confident that if we could find the right person to play Lucy, we’d be 90% of the way there. With Candi Boyd, we didn’t just find the right actor… we found someone who brought incredible depth and nuance to the role. From beginning to end, the entire team was deeply committed to the project, and that energy made the process a complete joy. Now, I couldn’t be more excited to see The Escort resonate with audiences.

Director Biography

Growing up as the son of a gay preacher in rural Pennsylvania, director Joshua Michael Payne developed an early fascination with the complexities of the human condition. As a teenager, he moved to New York City to study acting and filmmaking, where he began creating award-winning short films exploring the intersection of spirituality and sexuality. His work, including the festival favorite Doesn’t Fall Far, has since been seen by thousands around the world. Today, Joshua shares story-driven travel content with millions of viewers on YouTube under the name “Josh Payne!”

Credits

    • Joshua Michael Payne
      Director
      Doesn’t Fall Far (featuring Eric Roberts)
    • Blake Merriman
      Writer
      Drinking Games
    • Sam Katz
      Producer
    • Blake Merriman
      Producer
      Drinking Games
    • Blake Merriman
      Key Cast
      “Tommy”
      The Equalizer, Manifest, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Crashing, Drinking Games, The Graduates
    • Candi Boyd
      Key Cast
      “Lucy”
      Law & Order, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Quantico
    • Ben Enke
      Director of Photography
    • Victoria Bruce
      1st AC
    • Forest Erwin
      Gaffer
    • Jared Diaw
      Key Grip
    • Maddie Jones
      Production Designer
      The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, City on a Hill, The Other Two
    • Michael Spencer
      Sound
    • Catalina Rodriguez
      Production Assistant
    • Darren Singh
      Production Assistant
    • Colin Mason
      Editor
    • Chris Beardslee
      Colorist