February 20, 2014 | Arts / Entertainment

Short film 'Chaser' explores men looking to become HIV+

The short film called 'Chaser' - about a man actively looking to be infected with HIV - has been released online, after touring the film festival circuit the past few years. It has been heavily criticized for not taking a harsher stand against the act of 'chasing.'

"'Bug chasing' is a subject most people either don't know about, don't want to admit is happening, or just don't want to talk about," explained director Sal Bardo. "We're not interested in condemning or condoning anyone's behavior. Instead, our goal with this narrative short is to start a dialogue and ask one simple question: Why?"

The 15 minute video follows a young, gay schoolteacher who seeks solace in New York's barebacking scene as a way to break free from his conservative Jewish family and community.

"I had encountered young men...who were seeking to have unprotected sex with the objective of being infected with HIV," Bardo recently said. "So it was something I was simultaneously intrigued by and a little disturbed by."

Star Max Rhyser was responsible for suggesting that the main character, Zach, should be a gay schoolteacher.

"I thought it was really interesting to take a character, somebody who's around our children every day, [and give him] this darker side," Rhyser said. "It was really important for me to explore the dark and the light."

You can watch the full film for free here.