|
The Adams Report |
||
Column #511 - March 17, 2005 |
I had the pleasure of a leisurely breakfast this week at EatWell in West Hollywood with the peerless Michael Brandon. He was in town on business and to update me on the goings-on at Raging Stallion Studios, home to his Monster Bang line. First, however, a few items of business: Mr. Brandon delivered the sad news that Hooboy of Male4maleescorts.com has died. "It is with extreme sadness [that] I need to announce we lost Hooboy last night," reads a note on the website. "We've lost a remarkable man, a unique resource and a friend that I feel we'll never be able to replace." Our condolences go out to his friends and family. I had only just corresponded with Hooboy one week earlier. The James Gannon/Jeff Guckert White House-prostitute-fake reporter scandal involved Hooboy's site, if on the fringes. Mr. Gannon (as "Bulldog DC") had a profile on Male4maleescorts.com. I wanted to know if Hooboy had been contacted by the media or anything like that. He dismissed the entire affair in a brief e-mailed response, telling me that the profile had been inactive for a long time. Mr. Brandon was emotional about Hooboy's passing, as he considers early positive mentions on the Web site crucial to his success as an escort. And the world grinds ever on ... Back to the business at hand, Mr. Brandon gifted a cool black T-shirt that read "Party in the Rear" (the title of his latest Monster Bang film) and a DVD of Passport to Paradise. That flick features a scorching cover photograph of star Miguel Leonn, who is the RSS Man of the Year for 2005. The two-disc set stars Mr. Leonn alongside Ivan Andros, Mario Cruz, Gerald, Carlos Morales, Pete Ross, Manuel Torres and Enrico Vega. Chris Ward directed, with music by J.D. Slater and photography by Kent Taylor. David Hempling manned the camera. "Every director has a point in his career when he reaches a turning point," writes Mr. Ward in the press release, "and for me, Passport is such an event. Passport represents an additional upgrade in the quality of the films I am making here at Raging Stallion, and I hope it is the first of a series that will take me in a new direction." The extras include a Paradise Explored behind-the-scenes documentary, various additional edits and "J.D. Slater's Romantic Music for Spanish Guitar." We've really come a long way from studios just slapping their old VHS masters onto a disc, eh? Michael Brandon was effusive about the movie and his elevation to partner at Raging Stallion. "Chris Ward has honored me by adding my name [to future films] as a producer," he explained, adding that his duties now include "anything to do with models," from casting through preproduction, filming and beyond. "That's a lot of work!" he laughed, adding that his job has an added layer of pressure because he is still active as a performer himself. "I'm sympathetic, and I know what a model wants or needs to hear, but I also have to think like a producer," he said with a reluctant sigh, "and that means butting heads sometimes." One of the goals of the newly rejiggered Raging Stallion (equity partners brought in several years back are no longer associated with the company) is to "bring fans to Raging Stallion," Mr. Brandon notes, "rather than the other way around." They are thinking ahead to the not-too-distant future when porn consumers will be downloading the latest sex scenes rather than buying entire DVDs outright. This new mission means occasional hiccups as the company grows. "We're all sacrificing for the mission, but it's coming together," he says. Passport to Paradise was filmed at a new RSS location in Sonoma, California. And as an extra PR coup, the entire June 2005 issue of Latin Inches will be devoted to the film, from model layouts to behind-the-scenes tidbits and interviews with Mr. Ward and the performers. In addition to everything else, Mr. Brandon is expanding his "toy line" to include four different versions of Monster: A vibrating or nonvibrating version, as well as ice- or flesh-colored choices. "That one's all mine," he told me. "It's my baby." I joked that Monster seems to be running the show, and Mr. Brandon agreed. "He gets his own e-mail! He's definitely more famous than I am," he laughed. "Ricky and Lucy, Laurel and Hardy. Michael Brandon and Monster!" BITS AND BOBS Supermodel of the World Rupaul continues to wax poetic about our own Owen Hawk. In Village Voice writer Michael Musto's "La Dolce Musto" column he again references the costar of Michael Lucas's Dangerous Liaisons, for which Ru and Mr. Musto cameo in the final scene: "'Owen was born to fuck,' feels Ru, a fan. 'There's no shame in his game. It doesn't seem like he's working out some childhood trauma. It's a whole new breed of porn star today. It comes with a cachet that used to be reserved for male supermodels!'" If you were watching The Insider infotainment show the Friday before Oscar Sunday, you might remember a segment on Elton John's Academy Awards afterparty. Sharon Osbourne was briefly shown with the designer Sir Elton hired to drape the entire affair in glamour. That designer was our very own Bradley Pickleshimer! Props, girl! Mr. Bradley's set design work has graced dozens of fuck flicks, many for directrix Chi Chi LaRue. I was on the set of Ms. LaRue's last Falcon Studios film, Heaven to Hell, for which Mr. Bradley lavishly went to town. It's terrific work, kids. Wait 'till you see it. Speaking of the Academy Awards, Bel Ami superstars Sebastian Bonnet, Johan Paulik and Lukas Ridgeston were flown into Los Angeles to lend some erotic glamour to various Oscar parties. While they were in Los Angeles, the Colt Studio Group, which now manages the Bel Ami line, arranged for an in-store appearance at A Different Light bookstore in West Hollywood. It was a Monday evening, typically a slow night, and as I had a previous commitment, I planned on simply popping into the store to say hello to the boys (I first met Messrs. Paulik and Ridgeston a few years ago at the GAYVNs) and then cruise on out into the night. Silly me! When I arrived at 7:15pm, 15 minutes before their scheduled appearance, there were already 50 guys waiting patiently on queue. By the time eight o'clock rolled around, the Bel Ami beauties were just sitting down at the autograph table. I had to leave, but the line had already swelled to over 100 guys, with more arriving by the minute. The very first fan in line had staked out his place two hours earlier! Now, that's dedication. Here's another mainstream mention for gay porn: Issue #54 of Blue magazine has devoted an entire layout to Colt Studio. The premiere magazine for gay male nude photography, Blue has also recently featured Michael Lucas and Jeff Stryker. Check it out. I would be remiss if I failed this week to note the passing of an erotica legend: John Klamik, known to legions of gay adult aficionados as "Sean the Artist," died January 5 in Anaheim, California. He was 69 years old. The cause is attributed to a series of strokes and other complications resulting from a lung cancer diagnosis. Sean the Artist (also spelled "Shawn," and he went by "Buckshot" early in his career) contributed editorial cartoons and erotic art to virtually every gay magazine, from The Advocate to specialized mags like Drummer and Bound & Gagged. He is survived by his partner of four decades, Jim Newberry. Leatherpage.com has memorialized him, and more information can be found at Seantheartist.com. Our condolences go to Mr. Newberry and the rest of Mr. Klamik's family and friends. Porn Star Birthdays for March 17 through March 23: David Dickens, Patric LaGrange, Chris Steele, Marc Sterling, Ron Strand, Alex Summers, Roland Therrien (March 17); Rob Kirk, Kent Larson, Brandon Lee, Jason Miller, Matheus Rocha, Vinnie Rocko, Swanson (March 18); Achille Fanyar, Tuck Johnson, Brad Michaels, Alex Petersen, Rafael Ramos (March 19); Gianfranco, Buck Phillips, Sven, Cory Taylor (March 20); Bamm, Jay Bergman, Tommy Hart, Alec Martinez, Austin Masters, Walter Soares (March 21); Eric Leneau, Caleb Stone (March 22); Rico Clayton, Tony Cole, Milos Janek, Mike Marino, Ricardo Neston, Karl Tenner, Alex Villaboas (March 23). |
- J.C. Adams |
| J.C. Adams has covered the gay adult video industry since 1995 and has served as the editor of Inside Porn Magazine and Unzipped Monthly. In addition to the "Adams Report" weekly gossip and news column, his work has appeared in Adult Video News, Gay Chicago, Genre, HX and many other print and online publications. You can reach him at: JCAdamsXXX@aol.com. |