Television host, videographer James Terra desperately wants to help his friend Detective Rivas find the killer of 3 of Los Angele’s leading artists, but his personal situation, limited experience, and extreme social pressures place formidable challenges and difficult choices for him to overcome. He is joined in this compelling endeavor by his married lover Nicole. Each murder increases the pressure on their personal lives, James’ livelihood and on the lives of his friends, Nicole and himself.
What starts as a routine case for detective Francisco Rivas quickly turns into a case of intrigue, vicious jealousy and obsession against a dazzling backdrop of talent, wealth and fun in sunny schizophrenic Los Angeles. All of the murdered artists are found in their own studios coated with paint and with a brush jammed down their throat. Cisco ask for James’ help in navigating his way through LAs eccentric art community. While sleuthing to aid Cisco, James and Nicole meet psychologist Dr. Brian Mazor and his troubled young wife Camille and all hell breaks out so Cisco wants them off the case, but James has an overwhelming need to help his friend and find the killer of his fellow artists.
A leading art collector is attacked, and his art collection is set on fire. Other collectors, gallery dealers and artists are frightened that they could be next. Cisco is under pressure from his boss, the mayor and influential cultural leaders so he reluctantly continues to follow leads James provides. Camille is up to her pretty neck in sex and drugs while struggling to make sense of her life and get away from the mayhem of paint, blood and brushes with death. James continues to secretly romance Nicole, wife of one of the city’s most important art collectors, while she sleuths with him to ferret out the killer and they both aid Camille in her desire to bolt from her controlling husband Dr. Mazor, so they seek guidance from aging social maven Nellie Meyerhoff.
Cisco looks into the accidental death of Nellie’s adult son and discovers an exotic new drug from Asia that is being used by all the suspects including a stealthy porn star. The list of suspects grows as it comes into sharp focus. While striving to nourish his desire for Nicole, James continues to host a CALog TV program, complete paintings in his own studio, secretly sleuth for Cisco, and keep everyone from knowing that his own health is somewhat precarious.
Enticing socialites, wealthy astute businessmen, and zany artists meld in this neo-noir thriller. In an art world obsessed with money, fame and hype, how does an artist driven by justice and his insatiable love for a married woman find satisfaction? BRUSHED OFF is the heart-warming tale of today’s art world seen from the inside. At once a portrait of voracious obsession and resentfulness in a quintessential Los Angeles story, BRUSHED OFF is as energetic, humorous, humanistic and unapologetically straight forward as the uncompromising trio at its center: James, Nicole and Cisco.
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