Jordan Firstman's Club Kid Explores Gay Club Culture and Fatherhood

Jordan Firstman explores the friction between nightlife and fatherhood in ‘Club Kid’

Filmmaker and actor Jordan Firstman is using his latest project to reflect on his past experiences in the club scene. In a recent interview, Firstman discussed his new film, Club Kid, a project that draws from his experiences in the club scene.

The film follows Peter, a gay club promoter in his 30s, who is blindsided by the discovery that he has a son, Arlo, resulting from a drug-fueled encounter a decade prior. As Arlo’s mother has passed away, Peter finds himself as the boy’s sole remaining family, forcing a confrontation between his destructive, solitary lifestyle and the requirements of parenthood. For Firstman, the narrative serves as a “delayed coming-of-age film” for men entering their 30s.

The stakes of the film are deeply personal. Firstman, who wrote, directed, and stars in the movie, has been candid about the period of his life that inspired the script. He described his time spent in the Berlin club scene as dark and disorienting, noting that his lifestyle often involved intense cycles of substance use followed by heavy emotional and physical lows.

Jordan Firstman speaks about his new film 'Club Kid'

“I was doing drugs from Thursday to Monday when I was in Berlin… Then it becomes Monday morning somehow. Monday and Tuesday, you spend in bed wanting to kill yourself,” Firstman said.

The high-risk culture of the queer underground

Firstman’s work aims to provide a nuanced look at a community that often operates on the fringes of mainstream social structures. He noted that for gay men specifically, there is a tendency toward “high-risk and high-reward” behaviors—a drive to live and love intensely that often carries a significant personal cost.

While the film captures the aesthetic and communal joy of the scene, it does not shy away from the darker realities. To maintain authenticity, Firstman sought out real members of the New York City queer rave scene to populate the film. He noted that the community’s participation was rooted in a sense of trust, believing the production would offer an honest rather than exploitative depiction of their world.

CLUB KID with Jordan Firstman | TIFF 2026

The production also leaned heavily into a specific sense of place, utilizing the textures of “old New York” to ground the story. By filming in neighborhoods like Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and certain streets in SoHo, the crew attempted to capture a nostalgic atmosphere that Firstman suggests may no longer exist in the modern city. The production even prioritized filming on streets without cars to preserve this historical feel.

From club scenes to biological fatherhood

While the film depicts the fictional Peter grappling with unexpected fatherhood, Firstman experienced a real-world version of this transition last year. He became an “Uncle-Daddy” after donating sperm to his sister’s wife, with the baby arriving the same week he wrapped production on Club Kid and saw his HBO comedy series, I Love LA, premiere.

Santa monica california usa february jordan firstman attends the film independent spirit awards on february in santa monica c

Club Kid was awarded Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Before finding success as a director and actor, Firstman worked as a photobooth operator for celebrity events between the ages of 21 and 23. He recalled the stark social hierarchies of Hollywood, noting that many individuals who were dismissive or “mean” during his early years in Los Angeles have since reached out to him as his own profile has risen.