Fighting Spaces
Director: Patricio Matos
Email:patricio-pm34@outlook.com
Synopsis
The film follows Doc’s journey through his time in the military, boxing, and kink, and his stuggles with identity, revealing how combining the sport of boxing and the world of kink helped him define strength and masculinity on his own terms. As the founder of the New York/Northeast chapter of Onyx, a leather organization that offers membership, education, and support for Black and Brown people within the kink and BDSM community, Doc’s life is a lens through which we can gain a better understanding of the experiences of queer men of color.
Blending archival materials, intimate interviews, and vérité footage that paints a cinematic picture of past and present queer scenes. Doc's voice in the interviews is the thread that weaves this story together. There are also moments where we step into the ring and the vérité is used to amplify the erotic tension, the athleticism, and the dangers that one might experience when participating in this kink.
Trailer
About the director
Patricio is a first time Director from the Bronx, and has worked as a Producer across multiple Emmy Award-winning Vice documentary series, including Vice on HBO, Vice on Showtime, Vice news tonight, Vice investigates on Hulu, the Source on Vice TV. He has also produced content for Colombia Journalism Review.
Seven years ago, he worked as a janitor for a small maintenance company and was sent to Vice Media Group as a vendor, where he used his position as an opportunity to network with the staff and express his passion for storytelling. Vice had a very open-door-culture where anyone with an idea could pitch their story and eventualy, one of Patricio's ideas turned into a Vice on HBO segment. Patricio was able to work his way up from Production Assistant, to Associate Producer.
Fighting Spaces is the first documentary that Patricio has produced under his independent production company, PM 34 Productions, an exciting new chapter in his filmmaking career.
Filmmaker's note
I’m Patricio Matos, a queer filmmaker from the Bronx. I grew up surrounded by layered definitions of masculinity and strength, and I’m drawn to stories that challenge those expectations.
Fighting Spaces is my directorial debut — an act of gratitude and preservation, a way to give flowers to those in our community who have shaped culture, created space, and mentored the next generation while they’re still here to feel the impact.
I met Doc in 2024 when I was invited to an intimate leather event by his protege, Diesel, who is also in the film, and I spent the evening learning about leather families, the initiations that take place, and the hierarchies within those families. I also learned that even though leather, kink, and BDSM culture has existed since the 1940's, there is still a struggle for visibility, acceptance, and inclusion for Black and Brown people.
I have experience producing documentary projects but this was a story I wanted to take the lead in telling and Doc graciously agreed to collaborate.
The storytelling and production are fully completed, and we have a clear vision for the film. We are now in the final stages, focusing on color correction, sound mixing, and a few archival adjustments. Once these finishing touches are done, we’ll have a fully polished film ready for audiences.