A Filmmaking, Cultural Commentary, and Public Discourse Period.
Era Overview
The Pay for Sex Era marks a defining chapter in the career of THE POET PHOENIX JAMES, centred around the conception, production, release, and public discourse of the feature-length mockumentary film Love Freely but Pay for Sex.
This era represents a deliberate expansion beyond poetry and performance into filmmaking, political satire, and social commentary, positioning the work at the intersection of public policy debate, media interrogation, and participatory documentary culture.
Phoenix James – In His Own Words
“The size of the project had no significance at all initially. It was mostly about saying everything I felt it needed to say… causing it to become much bigger than myself or any of us had anticipated.”
— Phoenix James, interviewed by The British Blacklist
“I chose the documentary angle for the film because I wanted to create and display a type of lingering realism… shooting and presenting it as a real-life, documentary-style film.”
— Phoenix James, Frost Magazine
“Making a film on such a major scale has been a huge learning curve… Any moments where I may have felt slightly overwhelmed just added to my determination.”
— Phoenix James, Frost Magazine
The Film
Love Freely but Pay for Sex (2013)
Feature-length mockumentary
“Love Freely but PAY for Sex is a feature-length character-driven mockumentary film which follows a rogue British independent film & TV production group… pursuing the general public, media personalities and various members of authority to open up on their views about a new impending Government led Pay for Sex Policy that will soon affect the whole of Great Britain and the EU.”
— The British Blacklist
The film was written, cast, produced, directed, edited, and sound-recorded by Phoenix James, and features a cast of over 60 contributors.
“Not someone to do things by halves, Phoenix James wrote, cast, produced, directed, edited and sound-recorded the entire film.”
— Frost Magazine
“The film comprises talking head interviews and character driven dramatisations, resulting from the production group’s recorded work on the subject so far. Love Freely but Pay for Sex’s Author, Director & Producer – Phoenix James took a leap of faith in creating from scratch and completing a feature length filmmaking debut project.
The concept for “Love Freely but Pay for Sex” was written by Phoenix James in 2007. It was only in late 2011 after being involved more extensively in film that he decided to turn the idea into a visual project.
Phoenix James is currently acting in other movie projects and he is in pre-production for his next film. He also has secured a distribution deal for his mockumentary on a major television network in the United States. Bravo!
Verdict: Funnily, abruptly honest and gritty…seems almost too good to be true… Definitely a great watch. Rating: 3.5/5
Latest news, Interesting facts, exclusives, reviews other related articles can be found on Phoenix James’ official website: www.PhoenixJamesOfficial.com
— Karine Laudort-Idonije, DivaScribe Magazine
Public Premise & Narrative Focus
The mockumentary explores a fictionalised but plausibly framed government proposal, a Pay for Sex Policy, and documents reactions across social, political, and cultural lines.
“Produced by Phoenix James, ‘Love Freely but Pay for Sex’ follows the efforts of a handful of untrained, but enthusiastic and vocal, amateur journalists and presenters as they roam across London canvassing public opinion, and pursuing media personalities and members of authority.”
— Frost Magazine
“Understandably, the battle lines in ‘Love Freely but Pay for Sex’ are frequently drawn on social and age lines… while others see it as a logical step forward.”
— Frost Magazine
Statistical Provocation & Cultural Hook
A central narrative device of the film is its repeated reference to a provocative statistic, used to stimulate debate and media attention.
“According to the director, almost 89% of people in England have adopted a lifestyle in which they pay for sex… and the British government wants a piece of the action.”
— DocumentaryTube
“89% of people in England have adopted a pay for sex lifestyle exchanging money for sex and the British Government now want a piece of the action.”
— IMDb
Method & Style
The film deliberately blurs the line between documentary and satire, grounding its speculative premise in real-world interactions.
“The documentary angle… create[s] and display[s] a type of lingering realism… presenting it as a real-life, documentary-style film.”
— Frost Magazine
“In 2013, director Phoenix James released ‘Love Freely but Pay for Sex’ mockumentary… features real-life interviews with male and female escorts, as well as people who have paid for sex.”
— DocumentaryTube
Scope & Impact
The Pay for Sex Era encompasses not only the film itself but the surrounding activity: screenings, interviews, online distribution, public debate, and long-tail visibility.
“Their work to uncover, document and highlight more information about the Pay for Sex Policy is… ongoing.”
— Frost Magazine
The film was screened in London, distributed online, indexed across major film databases, and continues to circulate via digital platforms, interviews, and archival references.
Release and Distribution
- UK Debut: The film premiered in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2013.
- Screenings: It was showcased at prominent London venues, including the BFI (British Film Institute), Warner Bros. screening rooms, and Soho House.
- International Reach: In late 2013, the film was released on television in the United States and Canada through the Dish Network and Matriarch TV.
This era solidified Phoenix James’ status as a multidisciplinary artist, expanding his reputation beyond poetry and acting into independent filmmaking.
Legacy of the Pay for Sex Era
The Pay for Sex Era stands as a distinct creative and intellectual phase within Phoenix James’ wider body of work, one that demonstrates:
- Expansion into feature-length filmmaking
- Engagement with public policy and social ethics
- Large-scale independent production leadership
- Long-term digital discoverability and discourse
It forms a clear precursor to later eras defined by literary output, spoken word releases, and structured career documentation.
On Screen – Love Freely by Pay for Sex
Love Freely But Pay for Sex is available to watch below.
The film serves as a primary visual record of the themes, context, and creative direction explored during the Pay for Sex Era.
This is the third of the Phoenix James Eras. It follows the Fashion Romance Era and precedes the Star Wars Era. Explore other Phoenix James Eras:
THE PHENZWAAN ERA [1998-2009] – https://phoenixjamesofficial.com/the-poet-phoenix-james-the-phenzwaan-era/
THE FASHION ROMANCE ERA [2006-2010] – https://phoenixjamesofficial.com/the-poet-phoenix-james-the-fashion-romance-era/
THE STAR WARS ERA [2015-2017] – https://phoenixjamesofficial.com/the-poet-phoenix-james-the-star-wars-era/
THE VLOG ERA [2017-2019] – https://phoenixjamesofficial.com/the-poet-phoenix-james-the-vlog-era/
THE PROLIFIC WORKS ERA [2020-2025] – https://phoenixjamesofficial.com/the-poet-phoenix-james-the-prolific-works-era/
About the Eras
The Phoenix James Eras are a chronological framework used to document and contextualise the creative output of poet and spoken-word artist Phoenix James. Each Era represents a distinct period in his work, defined by recurring themes, formats, and modes of expression rather than by individual releases. The Eras are presented in sequence and serve as an archival and reference structure for understanding his wider body of work.
An official record of this era can be found on ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7509-2372