LOS ANGELES—It’s hard to believe that in his storied career, Rhyheim Shabazz still had some “firsts” to cross off of his gay porn bucket list. But with the recently released The Barcelona Job—the first ever NakedSword X Voyr collaboration—the two-time GayVN Performer of the Year finally did something he never had before.
“This is my first try at acting during my career. It’s a good thing that I love and trust everyone that worked on this project, because I was so intimidated by it all,” he says. “I’m always paranoid about looking silly in scripted content, but Wes Matthews came up with a script that gave me more than enough confidence to attempt this.”
And Shabazz wasn’t the only one itching to try something new. The project—a sensational Spanish escapade that sparkles with sexual intensity—is co-directed by Alter Sin and Alternativa. It features Voyr performers Andy Rodrigues, Caio Rodrigues, Gabriel Coimbra, Randhy Junior, Markin Wolf and Hiuri Cruz.
“I’ve always respected the production value that Falcon | NakedSword delivers, along with the team that they have to make it possible. Alter Sin is a legend in the industry, one of the best at his craft, and a person that I immediately fell in love with when I met him,” Shabazz says. “The guys that I work with and I have always wanted to do a full-length film. It was like the perfect storm when we came together and collectively said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
The action thriller is headlined by Sir Peter as an expert jewel thief orchestrating a heist of the famous NakedSword Diamond. Rounding out the all-star cast are Allen King, Heath Halo and Bastian Karim, all of them winners at this year’s GayVN Awards.
“Last year, Rhyheim told me about this idea he had—another box he wanted to check off from the long list of things he already does incredibly well,” shares Sir Peter. “This time, it was acting in a scripted movie. What makes this project unique is that nobody expected this group of people to deliver such strong performances—especially when it comes to acting. Rhyheim and I have talked about this before: If you're not an American actor living in the U.S., you have to work 100 times harder just to be seen as deserving. The only thing that separates us from American performers is opportunity.”
Opportunity Knocks
Shabazz launched Voyr in late 2023, merging studio-quality content with performers best known for their presence on social media and fan-site platforms. This January, the label picked up its first GayVN Award (for Best Group Sex Scene).
“This is Voyr’s first story-based project. We’ve been working with the NakedSword team—shout out to Tim Valenti, Trenton Ducati and Sister Roma—for a while now. They and Alter Sin shared so much knowledge and wisdom while producing this thing. Credit to them. However, a special shout out to MrArchangel Adam, a member of Voyr and a rock for me for pretty much facilitating all of this,” Shabazz says. “For us, it’s simply a new and motivating challenge. Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to show our skills and potential. I hope for this to only be the beginning for us when it comes to projects like this.”
It was also a beginning for writer Mathews.
“The Barcelona Job is actually Wes’ first time writing an adult film script,” shares Shabazz. “He’s a Black screenwriter based in L.A. and had been on my radar for a minute. So when we started looking for writers for the project, I thought of him right away. This was also my first time doing a fully scripted film, so I wanted to go big. Wes has that blockbuster mentality. Having him write for some of the hottest stars in the game just felt like a win-win. He knows how to build a big cinematic world and still keep it kinky and sexy.”
An Anticipated Reunion
Unlike Shabazz, Sir Peter is familiar with scripted projects. He has been nominated for Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor at the GayVNs for the past four years, including a nom in each category this year.
“I have been acting since I was 12, from amateur to professional. That background made me jump at this opportunity even faster. Right now, performing is my ‘main’ job, but being able to act—to bring these incredible characters to life—is a real gift,” he says. “A lot of people are still surprised that I can act—or even that I'm fluent in English! But I have to say: This role was a blessing. I'm truly grateful, and this year, I have several projects coming out that will prove to fans just how hard I've been working for that one thing we all chase: an opportunity.”
Bringing Sir Peter and Rhyheim together again was kismet for the Falcon | NakedSword team. The dynamic duo—without question two of the most popular and iconic stars the industry has ever seen—won Best Duo Scene at the year’s GayVN Awards for their incendiary two-part “The Main Event” pairing. Their new scene together—a fourway with King and Cruz—released this week, cementing the film as a must-see event.
“We're two very different individuals, each facing our own challenges and carving out our own paths. But maybe because we're both Libras, we end up thinking the same way 90% of the time,” says Sir Peter. “Rhyheim is an incredible man. I can talk to him, learn from him—and yeah, have amazing sex, too, because he's very hot (and he knows it). But when we work together, it's because we believe in what we're doing. There's meaning, a story, a vision we want to share—even if the audience doesn't fully realize it right away. So yes, we work together—but when we're on set, it doesn't feel like work. And I'm beyond grateful that we won my first-ever GayVN together. Honestly, without him, I don't think I would've won.”
That last assertion is one Shabazz would dispute. What he doesn’t dispute is the magic the two have together.
“Sir Peter is one of those performers that’s so well-rounded that I’m always wondering how no one’s put a ring on his finger yet. He’s an amazingly sexy and good performer. But even more importantly, he’s just one of the most decent human beings I’ve ever met. When we get together, it just clicks. So working with him is always a gift.”
And not just for Shabazz, but for any director that comes into the duo’s orbit.
“Working with Sir Peter and Rhyheim is a real gift. Who wouldn’t want to work with the best?” says Sin. “Both professionally and personally, they’re people with a special DNA. Everything becomes easier when you have people like that around. I can say only wonderful things about them: they’re committed, hardworking, professional—but above all, good people. The entire cast was amazing. Each one gave their best and made the experience smooth. Even when language barriers came into play, we always managed to understand each other. If you asked me who I’d like to shoot with again, I’d say everyone.”
The Alter Boys
That feeling of admiration is mutual. Sir Peter credits Sin—who won multiple GayVN Awards this year—as having a profound impact on his career.
“Alter Sin—I've said it many times—is an incredibly kind man. Not only is he talented in his craft—which is evident in everything we see from him—but he's also a remarkable human being. He's kind, caring, and honestly, sometimes too good for his own sake,” Sir Peter says.
“We don't talk every day, and we don't need to. I know how much he loves and respects me, and he knows it’s mutual. If I ever need him, he'll pick up the phone at any time. He believed in me and gave me an opportunity early on—and that played a huge role in my career. There are only three men in my life I trust and know truly love me: my papis and Alter Sin.”
Shabazz also praises the men behind the lens, including the other Alter.
“Both are masters at their craft. I’ve had a long relationship, both professionally and personally, with Alternativa. He is a brother to me at this point. He’s evolving so fast, and I’m excited to see where the future takes him,” he says. “To see Alter Sin—a person that Alternativa has long admired and the director in this industry—treat everyone that worked on this project with so much patience and care only made me respect and appreciate him more. Watching them do what they did was a marvel.”
Sin shares that the moment he met Alternativa a year ago, it was professional love at first sight.
“We both felt a mutual admiration and respect. For him, this was a completely new experience working on this type of film, but we complemented each other perfectly. He has an incredible freshness and eagerness to work. I’m sure he will achieve great things in this industry—he has a lot of talent,” Sin says. “Also, the fact that he’s Brazilian and already knew many of the actors was a great help in communicating with the cast. Working hand-in-hand was a real pleasure. The only tough moment was when everything ended, and we had to say goodbye.”
City of Artistic Spirit
All of that passion showed in front of the camera. The Barcelona Job is noteworthy not just for its sex and cast, but for the look of everything that surrounds them.
“The aesthetic was fundamental to me in this project. I wanted, with the time and resources we had, to achieve a look as close as possible to a mainstream film. That’s why I paid special attention to post-production and to the lighting on set,” says Sin. “To accomplish this, the preparation work was key: I drew inspiration from the aesthetics of certain films, we limited the number of locations, and we chose to work with a very small team to be agile and efficient.”
Sin shares that pre-production was a joint effort between the Falcon | NakedSword and Voyr teams, and most decisions were made collaboratively.
“My contribution during that phase was more technical and logistical. During the shoot, the bond we had built earlier really came to life. From minute one, everyone was absolutely flawless. Some actors were understandably a bit nervous on the first day since they hadn’t faced this type of project before, but the excitement and eagerness to do something great made everything flow naturally,” he says, noting that the area he spent the most time in was post-production. “I tried to squeeze the most out of everything we filmed, carefully attending to every detail so that everyone involved could feel proud of what we achieved.”
And it was extra special to Sin: Barcelona is his hometown, and where he currently lives. “This city means a lot to me, so being able to shoot a project like this here was truly a gift.”
It was also a full-circle moment for Shabazz.
“Barcelona is where I decided to become a content creator (shout out to Andy Star), Barcelona is where I shot my first studio scene (shout out to Timtales), and now it’s the city where I shot my first full-length movie,” he says. “It’s a city full of culture and beauty. It’s also home to a sexual freedom unlike any other place I’ve been.”
