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Logline

Based on a true story, this erotic psychological thriller follows the romance of gay lovers Rhett, a young dreamer navigating ’70s and ’80s Hollywood, and Sebastian, a mesmerizing male model whose beauty conceals a dangerous darkness. As Sebastian’s career soars, his hidden compulsions and violent entanglements follow him from NYC to Paris to Atlanta, leaving Rhett an unwitting accessory from afar and forcing him to confront the emotional cost of loving someone shaped by secrets.

Synopsis

A Flaw in the Sapphires is an erotic psychological thriller set between 1979 and 1989 across Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Atlanta. Based on true events, it follows Rhett Judice, a Louisiana-born musician and designer, whose entanglement with Sebastian Gardner — a ravishingly handsome, Georgia-born model (portrayed under a fictionalized name) — draws him into a relationship as intoxicating as it is destructive.

United by their Southern roots, the two transplants cling to each other while navigating the seductive extremes of their new world in the City of Angels. Rhett arrives in Hollywood wide-eyed and idealistic; Sebastian, magnetic and seemingly destined for stardom. Their romance burns fast and bright in a city of dreams — until Sebastian’s career and darker compulsions spiral out of control.

Told through a non-linear structure, the film moves between timelines and cities, peeling back layers of desire, trauma, and deception. One timeline follows Rhett’s awakening to Sebastian’s unraveling; the other exposes the cracks beneath Sebastian’s charm. The story converges in a haunting revelation of love, obsession, and consequence.

Exploring power, self-destruction, and the fragility of intimacy built on secrecy, A Flaw in the Sapphires captures how beauty can mask danger — and how love can become both salvation and ruin. The film blends the tension of a psychological thriller with the emotional depth of a character-driven drama, tracing an arc from innocence to awareness, from seduction to reckoning, and from intoxicating love to self-liberation.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Rhett Judice — Screenwriter/Producer
Rhett is a multidisciplinary artist, screenwriter, composer, and playwright whose work spans film, theater, fine art, and music. He wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the original stage musical A Piece of Tin, which premiered at Hollywood’s Lyric Theatre to critical acclaim. His compositions include multiple choral works and two complete Mass settings. His visual and spatial design expertise has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Traditional Building Magazine, Australian Vogue, and Los Angeles Magazine’s “Best of L.A.” issue. Drawing from lived experience, Rhett brings authenticity, depth, and aesthetic sensitivity to A Flaw in the Sapphires.

Matt Aaron Krinsky — Director/Producer
Matt is an entrepreneurial director, producer, and writer whose two-decade career spans film, theater, and large-scale live events. As the founder of Mogul Productions, he develops narrative and unscripted projects across film, television, and animation. His feature directorial debut – All Saints Day (2025) – secured worldwide distribution after years of producing festival-screened short films and staging theatrical work, including an Off-Broadway premiere. He began his career as a production assistant at A Band Apart for producer Lawrence Bender, then sharpened his creative instincts and business sensibility while working in corporate communications at The Walt Disney Company. Known for his character-driven stories, attention to detail, and ability to navigate the intersection of artistic ambition and commercial viability, Matt thrives on crafting bold, emotionally resonant productions. He brings the discipline, versatility, and collaborative leadership to helm A Flaw in the Sapphires – a film that draws on his refined instincts, producing expertise, and commitment to inclusive storytelling.

Nicole Pascarelli O’Brien — Co-Producer
Nicole is a New England Emmy®-nominated producer with a two-decade career spanning television production, operations leadership, and arts education program management. She recently served as producer on All Saints Day alongside Matt Aaron Krinsky, and previously earned her Emmy® nomination for work in broadcast television. Nicole also played a key role in launching the Disney Musicals in Schools program across Boston Public Schools. As a producer with Mogul Productions, she brings operational expertise, creative collaboration experience, and disciplined execution — all essential to delivering A Flaw in the Sapphires at the highest level.

Sam Krueger — Director of Photography/Editor
Sam is an Emmy® Award–winning cinematographer whose work spans acclaimed documentaries and major studio films. He received an Emmy® for his cinematography and editing on PBS’s Orchard House: Home of Little Women and contributed to Oscar®-winning films including The Departed, Inside Job, and Little Women. As DP and Co-Producer on All Saints Day, he partnered with Matt Aaron Krinsky to craft a distinct visual language — a partnership he brings again to A Flaw in the Sapphires. His expertise in textured, emotionally resonant imagery will be central to capturing the film’s psychological intensity and period detail.

Ece Muniroglu — Composer
Ece is an award-winning composer whose work spans drama, thriller, and animated television. A classically trained pianist from Istanbul, she earned her degree in composition and music production from Berklee College of Music. Her scores have enriched acclaimed short films, and she has collaborated with leading composers on high-profile projects. Ece previously partnered with Matt Aaron Krinsky on All Saints Day, and her emotionally rich, texturally layered style will be central to shaping the sound and atmosphere of A Flaw in the Sapphires. She is also a member of the Television Academy.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.