Good Vibrations just picked up the highly anticipated film CHAMPION from award-winning director Shine Louise Houston. You can read cast and crew bios, see more images (NSFW) and find out more about the film on its website Champion-Movie.com, and order it at Good Vibrations!

The film’s lead, Syd Blakovich, is a local talent making big waves in the industry. We’re lucky to have gotten a moment of the busy star’s time to have this interview and get a glimpse into the world of queer porn and competitive female fighting.

Syd: Mixed Martial Arts is also popularly referred to as “Cage Fighting” or “UFC Style Fighting.” It used to be pretty much anything goes, where the fighters would start standing and can use striking (punching, kicking, elbows, knees) as well as ground fighting (wrestling, jiu jitsu, and submission wrestling which includes joint locks and manipulations and chokes). Over the years rules have been added (no head butts, groin strikes, eye gouging and small joint locks including fingers and toes). I train in Muay Thai Boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as some wrestling. MMA can be fought in a cage or a ring. In the US it is more or less done in a cage, in my international fights I have fought in rings. Cages cost a hell of a lot more money, and in the movie we do it in a ring, which Shine hand-built in one night. She is super crafty.

Photos Courtesy of Champion-Movie.com, photographer Eleanor Digby

GV: In the film, your character Jessie Eaton is faced with a lot of homophobia that she has to overcome. As a fighter in real life, is this similar to your experience? Do you have any antidotes for MMA fighters?

Syd: Oh man, you really forget what the world can be like when you live in a bubble like San Francisco. MMA has allowed me to travel domestically and internationally and it is crazy how just getting out of the city will really open your eyes to a very different culture. MMA is a hyper form of this performative neo-masculinity within the US and I find it absolutely fascinating.

I think due to the fact it involves two people of similar presented genders making physical and intimate contact, exchanging body fluid (blood and sweat), and is this public exhibition of this act there is this response to it… homophobia is such common place in the world of MMA and in my opinion a response to all these things in light that culturally we are using this form of entertainment to shape the American perceptions of the masculine identity.

I think that Americans find homosexuality a direct threat to their gender identity constructs because it so heavily relies on binaries, which it uses a lot of heteronormative standards to edify. There isn’t much room for variance in this type of construct. So short answer is yes, there is a lot of homophobia in MMA, but the great irony is that there is just as much sexism and female MMA fighters are virtually invisible anyways and a queer female MMA fighter, well you might as well be talking to people about flying unicorns.

During my first amateur MMA fight, I fought for a production that was put on by one of the first American MMA fighters who also is an outspoken, conservative religious person. I have a lot of respect for people’s religious beliefs and come from a  pretty religious family whom I love. I was treated with such little respect not only as a female fighter, but even after they had verbally PROMISED that I would be invited back, as soon as they learned I was queer and about my work, they told me I would never be invited back. The homophobia and hypocrisy was insane. It makes me incredibly sad to see people use religion as a way to propagate hate and I find it absolutely disrespectful to the religion itself. That was in California. I have had other domestic fights, where I had wonderful experiences. Oklahoma was beautiful and everyone there was so nice.

GV: What did you like best about CHAMPION and working with Shine Louise Houston of Pink & White Productions?
Syd: I love working for Pink and White and Shine, because I get to make work for, by and with members of my community whom I love and respect. It is unlike anywhere else and I am so grateful to be a part of it all. I loved making CHAMPION , partially because it was fantastic to make a film that combines my two life’s passions: porn and fighting. I think it was also wonderful to make CHAMPION , because it is also a social commentary about some of the issues female athlete’s face, making this visible is really important. Yes, some might say that it is problematic to use porn as a platform for social awareness, but I firmly back Shine’s vision and belief that is is essential for queer, females of color to seize the power of image making, especially when it is about our bodies. I think her work has so much value as a cultural vehicle for awareness, visibility and education. Her films are the great queer Trojan Horse of the 21st century. They are subversive, sexy and socially necessary.

GV: We’ve seen you in other Pink & White films and in Lesbian Life: Real Sex San Francisco, as Shawn. What films stand out as your favorites, and where else can we find your work?

Syd: Check out CrashPadSeries.com, which is an on going membership site brought to you by Pink and White Productions as well as UltimateSurrender.com which is a fetish wrestling kink site for more of my work. To date, I must day that CHAMPION is my favorite video I have been in. Getting to play the lead was a great honor.

GV: Who are your role models, both in the ring and on the porn screen?

Photos Courtesy of Champion-Movie.com, photographer Eleanor Digby

Syd: My trainer Lana who has pretty much devoted her life to build up female professional fighting. I am also a big Roxanne Modafferi fan who is an amazing fighter and should get a lot more credit than she gets. Megumi Fuji, Megumi Yabushita, Tara La Rosa, Vanessa Porto…. there are so many female fighter out there who get little to no recognition because the world of female fighting is ruled by a bunch of dudes who rather have ring girls pillow fighting in the cage than real female fighters and a lot of talented women are over looked because of this. I think this is the plight of the female athlete. It is this weird unspoken bullshit… they want a model that can fight… in my opinion these are two separate occupations and should be treated as such. Yes, it can be pointed out that I do both, but I actually am on a break right now from fighting because I am focusing on my career and know that I can’t do both right now. It should also be pointed out that female fighter make little to no money, it’s a fucking joke. If you are lucky, you’ll get %10 of what your male counterparts earn, who for the most part don’t get paid that much either,  so don’t quit your day job. It actually costs me more money to fight than it would for me not to and porn allows me to do this and not be broke.

As far as other adult stars I look up to, it would be those who are shaping the world of porn in some amazing ways. Madison Young who is a feminist pornstar and arts community builder, SIR Productions, Comstock Films and Trannywood Pictures who are expanding the cultural consciousness of porn with some great work, and of course all my lovers and friends I get to work with on screen and are a big part of this queer porno revolution.

GV: As a pornstar, what are some of your favorite toys to use on film?

Syd: Strap-ons are wonderful and of course all things Vixskin. The Hitachi is also super awesome.

GV: How do you see Good Vibrations’ involvement with the queer porn community?

Syd: Ha! Good Vibrations is like a second home for a lot of the queer porno community. Shine and I met while we were working there when it was a cooperative. Actually, I think most of our talent has or currently does work at GV. It’s like a prerequisite! I also believe Jackie Strano worked at GV before she started SIR with her partner Shar.

GV: How can fans and allies of queer porn support your work?

Syd: Buy queer porn! Pink and White’s videos include The Crash Pad, Superfreak, The Wild Search (the new name of the currently titled film In Search of the Wild Kingdom), CHAMPION , and Crash Pad Series Volume 1-3 and you can also get a membership to our website CrashPadSeries.com, but we also encourage people to support the work of our peers like NoFauxxx.com, Trannywood Pictures (Cubbyholes, Couch Surfers), and Madison Bound Productions DVDs from Bondage IT girl Madison Young because we are all part of one big community and when we support each other we are also supporting ourselves.

Being the world’s first female-to-male transsexual porn star, almost everything he does is ground-breaking, history-making and eye-opening. Undaunted by the fact that, at first, most people really didn’t know how to take him; Buck got over on a lot of skeptics by sheer determination and having faith in himself.

On the outside, Buck is a strong, muscular, sexy, tattooed, cigar-smoking butch daddy. On the inside, he has a great sense of humor, as well as the courage to be wide-open. He is accessible and kind, faced with the inevitable curiosity. You get the impression that it’s not so much about gender for Buck anymore, but more about being a whole, complete person.

Ultimately, either you get Buck or you don’t. But it seems like more and more people are recognizing his work and accomplishments. In January, he won Transsexual Performer of the Year at the AVN Awards; porn’s version of the Oscars.

Producing films through his own company, Buck Angel Entertainment, he pushes the conventions of traditional porn in every way – by taking a staunch condom-only stand, and by avoiding gratuitous extremes or a sideshow mentality.

In his latest release, “Buckback Mountain,” filmed in panoramic high desert locations, there are gorgeous shots of sunrise skies and beautiful, authentic cowboy guitar music. Plus, the sex is pretty hot, complete with lots of foreplay and kissing. Needless to say – not your typical porno.

These days, Buck is on the road a lot. At clubs, Pride celebrations and special events all over the world – just recently on a whirlwind tour of Madrid, Amsterdam, London. It’s not surprising that global domination is the next destination on Buck’s amazing journey.

He will be speaking at the San Francisco Queer Arts Festival on June 21-22, and making appearances at the Good Vibrations festival booth. Go to www.queerculturalcenter.org for more information.

Good Vibrations: You’ve experienced some amazing success and progress this year – does it seem like a dream come true? What things have happened that mean the most to you?

Buck Angel: The main thing was winning the AVN award for Transsexual Performer of the Year. It was, of course, the first time an FTM performer has been nominated (as opposed to an MTF) and winning was truly amazing and historical. It really validates my efforts in the industry and shows that my efforts are being recognized. Now THAT was a dream come true.

I also got distribution in Europe with Shots Video and they are really great. I made a movie with the Japanese, and added Canadian distribution–all things that show I’m really “going global” which is great.
I also won “Circuit Party Performer of the Year” for my performance at The Black Party in NY. It cracks me up that I won over Toni Braxton and Gloria Gaynor!

And, things have taken off so much that I actually hired a manager to help me deal with traveling and setting up shows, performances, interviews and so on. He is doing a great job, and we are keeping each other busy!

GV: What’s the best thing about the experience of being an adult performer?

BA: Getting to work with a lot of wonderful people and show that safer sex can be hot sex. And that guys like me are sexy too! More broadly, I like to show the world that the penis does not make the man, and that there are other aspects of a person that make up their gender.

GV: And the most difficult thing?

BA: Probably all the travel. It isn’t as easy as it used to be and it can be very draining to do all those body cavity searches without getting paid. (Ha-ha; But really, travel is fun but tiring!)

GV: What’s your fanbase like these days? Are you attracting a straight audience or more attention from the LGBT side?

BA: My fan base is primarily gay men and women of all sorts, including straight women. Probably the smallest category is straight men. So, yes, lots of my fans are from the LGBT community. And a big thank you to all of you who ARE Buck Angel fans!

GV: I know you had a lot of trouble being accepted in the beginning, by industry and non-industry alike – what happened to cause that to change?

BA: I guess I stuck it out long enough for people to start taking me seriously. When I was new and unheard of, they thought it was a novelty and maybe something weird, or at least really different. But, like anything else, repeated exposure helps to normalize perspectives, and as I stayed in the industry and expanded my fan base–as more and more people heard of me and liked my work, well – that speaks for itself.

GV: You’re very open about being transgendered and have been very careful about not allowing yourself to be portrayed as a freak — do you think transgendered people still feel a huge amount of stigma or does there seem to be more acceptance happening gradually? Do you think it’s important for transgendered people to be open, in order to gain more acceptance?

BA: Well, contrary to what some people think, I do not consider myself a spokesperson for the transgendered community. I represent…myself: Buck Angel. I can’t really speak for anyone else.

For me it is important to be open, and in terms of, say, taking home a potential trick or partner, I DO think it is vital to be honest. As far as whether you need to “out” yourself at your job, or everywhere you go, I can’t really say. That is very personal. I believe if you are true to yourSELF, everything else will fall into place. I believe that I am not a transsexual anymore. I think of myself as a man. I am not transitioning.
GV: Do people treat you differently in Europe, Asia, etc. than they do here in the States?

BA: I have found that people seem more “ready” for me outside of the US. It has kind of been a struggle in the States to get people to accept me or take me seriously, but that isn’t a problem at all any place else I go. As a result I’ve been focusing a lot of my efforts in Europe and elsewhere around the world.

GV: You’re first big scene was for Titan Media, in “Cirque Noir.” How did that deal come about?

BA: That wasn’t actually my first scene (I’d done a couple of movies by then) but it was my first appearance in a gay movie by a major studio! They had seen my other work, and were familiar with me and thought it would be exciting and different to include me in one of their projects. Keith Webb (co-owner of Titan) and I had been discussing a project for a while. It just had to be the perfect one.
I liked the idea of it right away, and I have to say that Titan was amazing to work with. They are totally great people and very professional to work with. I think the finished product is really incredible. That movie has certainly gotten a lot of notice and a lot of press, in part, because I was in it. That’s what I call a win/win situation.

GV: Have any of the “mainstream” adult studios approached you with potential projects yet?

BA: I have had a number of discussions with a variety of studios. I DO like doing my own movies, but you might find me here and there. Stay tuned for more info!
I am doing a documentary on my porn career right now. I am also talking to a pretty well known director about doing a part in a mainstream film. I think I will be one of the fastest porn stars to make the transition from porn to mainstream.

GV: You’re into fetish and BDSM — do you see that becoming more acceptable?

BA: I HAVE seen it becoming WAY more acceptable than it used to be. Fashionable even! I do not think that BDSM activities have the same stigma that they used to have. More people understand that it is a consensual power exchange between partners, and I feel there is a lot less harsh or negative judgment about it than before.

GV: What would you be doing if you weren’t a porn star?
BA: I’d probably be doing what I was doing before I became a porn star: working in the industry behind the camera–producing and directing porn. Or, I’d be smoking cigars by the pool at my private paradise, at home in Mexico.

GV: Your latest release is “Buckback Mountain,” what can the audience expect from that title? Who’s in it, what’s the concept behind it and what was your favorite scene?

BA: Well, Buckback Mountain is a kind of takeoff of the namesake movie, of course. It was shot on location in the California desert and the movie is much more of a feature film than any of my other work. It has great production values, a musical score and an award winning editor; in short, it rocks!

I have really hot co-stars and it is an amazing movie that I feel really proud about. So, I don’t want to tell you the whole thing, because you need to see it for yourself! Don’t miss it! Feel free to check out http://buckbackmountain.com/ for more details.

GV: Do you have a favorite sex toy?
BA: I love to fuck and get fucked by dildos of all types, but there is nothing quite like a Hitachi Magic Wand for a great screaming orgasm! I am in talks, as we speak, about my own toy being made. I am so excited about it. I think everyone is going to love it.

GV: What other projects do you have pending?
BA: I did a movie with some Japanese folks and I expect that to lead to more work in Japan. I think I’ll be going there and doing some live sex shows too. My manager has all kinds of live shows, TV shows and other things lined up for me all over the world!

Stay posted to my website: buckangel.com and my blog: buckangel.com/blog/

After Europe, I’ll be heading back to NYC to do a couple of weeks performing at the amazing new club “The Box.”

For more of Buck Angel, visit transexual-man.com and buckangel.com

Beautiful lady or poisonous flower, Belladonna is a sex star of singular status and reputation—say her name and everyone in the adult world knows exactly who you’re talking about.

One of the “slicks” (8×10 photos) that she gives out to fans is a simple black & white photo of her in an old-fashioned cotton nightshirt with a toilet for a seat. Sitting with knees hugged up to her chest, her hair is characteristically short and she smiles a girlish, gap-toothed grin for the camera. The pose is far from porn star. But Bella radiates a strange, instinctual sexuality without even having to try.

The picture says a lot about her—that she is atypical, willing to break the porno rules, has a mind of her own and is keenly aware of her own unique style. Its seeming innocence is reminiscent of a time when Bella was a new, naïve girl and not the stronger woman she is today.

“A woman with the most incredible sexual abilities I’ve ever seen,” said director John Stagliano, in 2002, when he featured her in his classic fetish epic “The Fashionistas.” Shot in 16mm with a powerhouse cast, elaborate story line and sizzling BDSM sex scenes, the movie swept the 2003 AVN Awards and created a buzz that positioned Bella as a real up-and-comer.

In 2003, she was catapulted into the spotlight with an appearance on ABC’s “Primetime” news show, when she was questioned in an infamous interview with anchorwoman Diane Sawyer. Portrayed as a little girl lost in the hardcore underworld, the starlet tried to explain her conflicted emotions and extreme behavior. Sawyer ended up, at one point, in tears, and Bella ended up with a meteoric rise into the porn star galaxy.

Since then, she’s appeared in hundreds of titles including, “Service Animals 6 & 7,” “She-Male Domination Nation,” “Back 2 Evil,” “Jenna Loves Bella,” “Weapons of Ass Destruction,” and “Fashionistas Safado: The Challenge.” Bella’s fans eagerly consume her performances for directors like Nacho Vidal, Jules Jordan and Rocco Siffredi and clamor for more, always expecting her to push sexual boundaries.

“Evil Pink,” Bella’s 2003 directorial debut for Stagliano’s Evil Angel Productions established her as a producer with enough chops and originality to bring her unique style to the extreme gonzo arena. Best sellers directed by her include “Belladonna’s Fucking Girls,” “My Ass is Haunted,” “Cock Happy,” “Belladonna’s Butthole Whores,” “No Warning,” and the “Fetish Fanatic” series.

Her latest release for Evil Angel/Belladonna Productions, “iODiNE GiRL,” hit the streets on March 28 and features herself, Lexi Love, Marie Luv, Rebecca Linares and Regan Reese.

In this email interview for Good Vibrations, the star talks about her home life, being a mom, growing into her career, fetishes and the girls she loves to play with.

Good Vibrations: Are you really a stay-at-home type?
Belladonna: Yes I am a stay-at-home type. I don’t like to party or be seen at the hot spots. I do like going outdoors and doing things that benefit me mostly.

GV: I think a lot of people would like to know what you’re really like at home. Can you tell me about what you like to do when you aren’t working?
BD: I like to do yoga, Pilates, read about natural cures, gardening, cooking, singing, aquariums and being outside.

GV: What do you and Aiden (her domestic/business partner) do for fun?
BD: We like watching good movies, going to see exhibitions on the human body, visiting the aquariums and traveling.

GV: Is it hard to have a relationship when you’re both in the industry?
BD: Not with Aiden. I have never had so much support from one person in my entire life. He’s excited to see me work and cheers me on from the sidelines.

GV: When you first started in the business, a lot of people remember you from the Diane Sawyer interview and how you were portrayed as somewhat naive. What have you learned about yourself along the way, and at what point did you start to feel comfortable with your sexuality?
BD: I have learned to be more self-confident and how to believe in myself. I used to not believe that I was as good as I am, but I recognized it and made a pro-active effort to change that. I used to be embarrassed about that interview but now I’m thankful for it. I feel that people were able to relate to me and also realized that all porn stars are not the stereotype.

GV: Are you glad you stayed in the adult industry?
BD: Yes I am. I’m so happy that I’m in control of my career and that I own all my own product.

GV: What are some of the things that changed when you became a mom?
BD: I wouldn’t say I have changed sexually but I have more concerns. I want the best for my child and I know that it may not be an easy route for the both of us. I know that I am strong and that I will raise my child in an open-minded and liberal fashion, I can only hope she will attract other people who think in the same manner.

GV: You really love women and fetish, and your reputation for combining the two is hugely popular with fans—what do you do to make sure the scenes will be hot? Do you look for a certain kind of chemistry or do you and the other girls talk about what you’d like to do?
BD: I do look for a sexually explorative type of performer and I do talk to each and every person about what they like and what they do not like so that I can get the best out of them.

GV: Who are some of your favorite performers to work with and why?
BD: I like Claire Adams because she is so experienced and always knows how to tease me and how to play with me in just the right way. I have also learned a lot form Claire sexually. Claire has introduced me to a lot of fetish sex. I also like Lorelei Lee, because she is willing to push the limits with me and has such an eagerness for sex. I cannot forget about Charlotte Stokely – she is just so smart and open-minded and also knows how to turn me on without even trying. I have yet to have sex with her but I will soon. Oh, and last but not least, the sexy Spanish Rebecca Linares who I have also yet to have sex with; she is just so cute and the sound of her accent turns me on. I love her body and one thing that makes me love her is her beautiful nose.

GV: You have been in so many popular titles—“Fashionistas,” “Belladonna’s Fucking Girls,” “Weapons of Ass Destruction,” and on and on. Is there a scene or an incident from any of your titles that stands out in your mind as really hot? Really kinky? Really fun? Really twisted?
BD: The enema fetish scene with Lorelei Lee was pretty kinky. The water was colored and we were squirting it out of our butt holes. The puppy play fetish scene with Claire Adams was so much fun!! We wore butt plugs with puppy tails and masks and little mitts on our hands and we were barking and panting. You have to see it for yourself.

GV: Do you have a favorite fetish? Favorite sex toy?
BD: I love foot fetish a lot. I love putting my feet on my lovers’ face while we fuck. My favorite sex toy would be chrome butt plugs or the glass egg that you use to exercise your Kegel muscles.

GV: What makes you so adventurous?
BD: Willingness to try new things and not judge something before I try it myself.

GV: Tell us about the Deadly Nightshade project—it says that it’s a journey to your “dark side” which sounds pretty extreme.
BD: Well that site has not had any attention for the past year because we are too busy to play with it but we do plan on doing bizarre photo shoots of myself and others to add to it and maybe in the future make a coffee table book with the photos. Aiden really loves horror films and has introduced them to me, and I just so happen to love the idea of bizarre pictures.
Good Vibrations Interview with Belladonna, image from www.myspace.com/enterbelladonna

GV: Do you have pets?
BD: Yes, I have three betta fish.

GV: Do you like to go shopping? If so, what do you like to buy?
BD: I like to shop for organic food and cleaning products and I do my best to not buy new clothes since I do not feel that I need them.

GV: You have almost a cult following among lesbian fans. Do you hear from them and what do they tell you?
BD: That is wonderful!! I hear from some of my lesbian fans but not as much as I hear from my guy fans Maybe you can change that?

GV: You have several tattoos. Do they all mean something?
BD: No. There are only a few that have a meaning the rest are for visual stimulation.

GV: Do you have a favorite?
BD: I love my “Loyal” tattoo the most because it means the world to me. I always desired a relationship where loyalty was important and I have found that.

GV: You came from a pretty conservative background and became famous for pushing the limits of your sexuality. What advice would you give to women out there that are exploring their own sexuality and sexual alternatives?
BD: Do what makes you feel good and try new things so that you can keep finding your sexual self. Try not to give yourself boundaries.

Check out Belladonna at www.enterbelladonna.com or at her MySpace page, www.myspace.com/enterbelladonna.

***

For every fifty girls at the Adult Entertainment Expo, held annually in Las Vegas, you might find one or two male performers signing for fans. With the exception of the GayVN section of the Expo, male performers on the straight side don’t get much attention – unless you’re Ron Jeremy, whose daily appearances attract long lines to the Metro Interactive booth. But at this year’s Expo, across the aisle from Metro, Kurt Lockwood was definitely holding his own. Casually perched on a chair in front of a giant blow-up for LA Vice, a movie he directed and starred in for SexZ Pictures, Lockwood is utterly confident in his role as a crown prince of porno. His image of the rocker bad-boy with a triple-X repertoire is portrayed in smoldering, sideway glances from behind his dark, Hollywood-style glasses and a knowing smile. His hair is unruly. Bare-chested under a vest and wearing a pair of worn-out jeans, his body is compact and cut, tattooed and tan. The sexual vibe coming off of him is definite and masculine; go a little deeper and you find a sense of emotional complexity.

One by one, both female and male fans ask for autographs and Lockwood knows the drill; leaning forward to talk to each fan, so that they can hear over the blaring techno music, posing for photos.

With over 400 titles to his credit, Lockwood has worked his way to recognition, first as a performer and, lately, as a director. He’s worked with the biggest names, including Belladonna in Evil Angel’s Manhandled and Cock Happy. Lockwood also appeared in Nina Hartley’s Guide to Younger Men and Older Women for Adam&Eve. At Vivid, Lockwood had a role in alt-master Eon McKai’s Neu Wave Hookers and also starred in Tristan Taormino’s Chemistry, a wildly popular flick that took the Best Gonzo Release at this year’s AVN Awards.

At SexZ, he’s honing his skills as a director and has produced a handful of releases, including his latest, Lords of Doggy-Style Town, which co-stars alt-darlings Presley Maddox, Charlotte Stokely and Riley Mason. His movies included original music composed and performed by Lockwood’s band, the Porn City Punks.

During a break from the action on the Expo floor, Lockwood sat and ate a sandwich – and talked to Good Vibrations about Elvis, hell and Henry David Thoreau.

Good Vibrations: In a previous interview you said you used to do Elvis impersonations for your family…
Kurt Lockwood: I did indeed…

GV: Have you always been a performer?
KL: Yes, in that I always craved the attention, always as a child. I’ve always loved expressing myself, be it in song – or later on, through other means. I just loved to sing when I was a kid and I really loved Elvis.

GV: It was because of your mom, right?
KL: My mom was a huge oldies fan – well, it wasn’t oldies for her. It was the music she grew up with. But I used to always hear the Everly Brothers, Righteous Brothers, all the brothers (laughing) – all the brother groups. And Peggy Lee. My mom loved all that 50s stuff, like “Leader of the Pack.” We had an old 8-track that had “Runaround Sue” on it… (lightly singing) “… Put your head on my shoulder…”

I learned all these old songs through this 8-track that she had, and then she had another one that was Elvis. I used to do Elvis impersonations to get the attention of the family, you know…

GV: Obviously, you’re very musically inclined. I was at the XFanz party [Kurt played the web site launch party in Hollywood with his band, accompanied by back-up singer/porn stars Sunny Lane and Nicki Hunter] and watched you put on a pretty rip-roaring set. Actually quite a contrast between his acoustic set Dave Navarro put on that night, compared to your full-blown rock…
KL: (Being facetious) You mean, when he opened for me?

GV: You came to LA to become a musician, so how did you end up in adult?
KL: You mean, what did you do to get in? I was touring as a guitar player with Dee Dee Ramone. Dee Dee died of a heroin overdose and I didn’t have a job anymore. We were just about to leave for Sweden. My girlfriend at the time was a dancer at Jumbo’s Clown Room, where Courtney Love danced in Hollywood. She (his girlfriend) got approached by the guy who was DJing, as a matter of fact. He was our weed dealer at the time. And he said, ‘I have some friends over at Fallen Angel – do you want to do a couple of scenes?’ We ended up working for them – we did a couple of scenes and ended up breaking up. I got a call a couple of weeks later and it was them, asking if we wanted to do another scene, and I said, ‘We’re not together anymore…’ And they said, ‘Well, what about you? Do you want to work?’ And I had already done a few scenes. I was already out there and I wasn’t seeing anybody, so I was like, ‘Yeah, sure. Why not?’ Then, the first year in the business, I made six-figures. That was 2002, I think, because this is my fifth year. So, here I am – 1200 scenes later, five years later, two AVN Awards so far…

GV: Do you see very much difference between the music industry and the adult industry?
KL: No. One’s mainstream and one’s not…

GV: That’s the obvious difference…
KL: But from that comes everything else that is different, you know what I mean?

GV: Do you think so?
KL: Well, if you’re asking the difference between a porn star and a rock star – the women are paid to fuck me in porn. They want to fuck the rock stars that they’re fans of, so… that’s one way it’s different. The money is a better for the artist, I guess, in the record business. But they’re both just as sleazy. They’re just as stab-you-in-the-back.

GV: You’ve been in the business for five years already. Are you thinking of staying in long term or are you hoping to use it as a stepping stone?
KL: Man, I’d love for it to be a stepping stone, but you’ve got to be a realist – if this is what I end up being – a director. I’ll probably perform for another couple of years. I want to have kids and I don’t want to be performing when I have kids. So, I’ll probably just perform for another couple of years and then I’ll just direct.

GV: If you had the opportunity to go back to being a professional musician, would you do that?
KL: Absolutely. Music has always been my first love. It’s totally my passion.

GV: When you confronted Stephen Baldwin, what was that like? You were at the Rainbow… did you get the impression that it was a set-up or did you kind of run into each other? [Lockwood debated religion with Baldwin in an episode of his short-lived reality show, “Brother Baldwin,” aired in March 2006.]
KL: They told me, go ahead – go have dinner. He was going to drop by so, I guess in that sense it was set-up. But we didn’t talk about what we were going to talk about before. We were just going to meet…

GV: Did you get the impression that Baldwin had any idea what he was talking about?
KL: Well, somewhere in there, he believes what he’s doing. But it seemed to me, that it just seemed an excuse to get on TV. I said to him, I challenged him and said, ‘If you’re interested in God and everything, then why are you here, talking to a porn star on the Sunset Strip, in Hollywood, instead of building a school in the Sudan or Kenya? Is it because it’s more glamorous to talk to me on Sunset Blvd? Because it makes for better TV?’ He couldn’t name the Ten Commandments. He couldn’t name the Seven Deadly Sins, and I just told him – we were having a discourse, and they were rolling their eyes and huffing and puffing. And I said, ‘You know what? Hold on – we can exchange ideas here without – we can disagree without being disagreeable.’ And I said, ‘You know, in my heaven, you guys are going to Hell for being intolerant.’ I asked him, ‘Do you think Jews are going to Hell?’ and he wouldn’t answer me. I said, ‘Do you think gays are going to Hell?’ and he wouldn’t answer me. So I said, ‘Well, that’s not following the teachings of Jesus as I read the Bible. What about the whole thing about being accepting of other people’s faiths, and live and let live?’

GV: Are you a religious person or spiritual?
KL: I’m a very spiritual person. I was raised Irish Catholic, but I’m not a practicing Catholic at all. I like the pageantry and the ritual grandeur of it all. But I think organized religion pretty much is an outdated concept. If it works for you, great. But when it gets to the point they’re using it to legislate laws, based on other people’s beliefs, then it’s going too far and getting a little scary.

GV: In terms of you being a director and performer, you’re not afraid to push limits. You had strap-on sex in “LA Vice” and you have a gay male fanbase…
KL: (Laughing) Is that who all these guys are coming up and asking for autographs?

GV: Well, the gay market is pretty under-served by straight male performers, many of whom are still unwilling to acknowledge they even have gay fans…
KL: Oh, I think they’re serving themselves just fine. I mean, are you speaking of “straight” fetish? That’s kind of an interesting fetish, isn’t it? That forbidden fruit kind of thing?

GV: Well, it’s roughly equivalent to a straight guy getting the hots for a lesbian, or even a straight girl that has a hot gay friend and fantasizes about being able to turn him. It seems like a natural fantasy for most people… when it comes to gay men, I think the mainstream industry ignores them, as well as ignoring the women’s market. How do you feel about that? Do you think that the rank-and-file of mainstream porn is really pretty vanilla and conservative?
KL: It’s an old boy network. They’ve survived the transition from video to DVD, but they’re not surviving from DVD to VOD. Women are becoming a much, much stronger force in the market share. When you take out the whole shame factor that the woman doesn’t have to go into the sleazy store with the guys in trench coats. When your sexual desires are only known between you and your credit card, it opens up a lot of markets, as far as women buying a lot more porn and the stigma is fading away. When I was a kid, the first time you saw a naked woman was in dad’s Playboy collection. Today, kids see naked women on the Internet at a much younger age. And it’s not just a naked woman – it’s every conceivable fetish that there is. From being with horses to piss, and everything else that you can see on the Internet for free at anytime. There are a lot less stigmas. It’s not as rigid as it was.

GV: Are you wanting to bring that into the work that you do?
KL: I think I’m more reflective of what’s already going on, rather than anything that I’m doing myself.

GV: What do you hear from the female fans?
KL: Go on my MySpace.

GV: Do they say what they like?
KL: They really gush. My female fans are very sweet. They write these really long fantasies about me and post them on their MySpace, sex fantasies they’ve had about me. They’re nice, very sweet and respectful. That market share – I write to them, when I reply, and tell them, ‘My industry doesn’t believe that you exist…’ But a lot of that has to do with; they don’t want to look at the guys in the business. They just want to look at us as meat sticks, puppets and necessary evils, which sort of adds to the bandwagon-esque attitude.

GV: Do you think that’s changing?
KL: Well, money changes everything and their dollar is just as green as anybody else’s. If the gay guys want to buy straight porn for their fetish or whatever they want, and if the women can get over whatever was keeping the market share from being there is the first place. I mean, 90% of my website members are gay men and 10% are women…

GV: What would be your dream project?
KL: I’d like to do something like Interview with a Vampire. Something very period, with lots of drama. I just came back from Spain and there are so many great, old, medieval streets and alleyways and it would be so great to shoot a spy story or vampire story because the location really just lends itself.

GV: What qualities do you find attractive in a woman?
KL: Smart. Funny. A good kisser. She has to have a zest for life and a curiosity for the world around her. Passion is important to me – passion for love, sex, food, wine. ‘To suck the marrow from life,’ as Henry David Thoreau put it.

For more information about Kurt Lockwood, visit his Myspace page or his official web site: www.myspace.com/kurtlockwood and www.kurtlockwood.com.

And that’s all I’m going to tell you!

Recently, I was lucky enough to interview Madison about her work, most of it involving bondage and fetish photography and film, and here is what transpired:

When did you do your first film?

I believe my very first erotic film was Good Vibrations’ G Marks the Spot, a G-spot educational erotic film. Soon after that I discovered my true nitch of the porn industry—bondage and fetish. My first bondage and fetish work was with Kink.com and then I went on to work on videos with Red Board, Bonvue, Julie Simone, Gwen Media, and House of Gord to name a few.

How did you begin? Did someone ask you to be in a film?

I run a community feminist art gallery in San Francisco and I needed to find a flexible job that would allow me the time, freedom and extra cash that I needed in order to keep the gallery afloat in it’s fledgling years. I discovered a casting call for bondage modeling online and decided to go in and try it out. I fell in love with bondage and S/M. I was hooked right away. I knew that I had found the right part-time profession. But then other producers and companies started to take notice of my work and I started traveling to NYC, Seattle, PDX, LA, Chicago, London, etc., to work for other bondage producers. Before I knew it, I had two full-time careers… and then this year I was named Best S/M Suspension Model. My bondage modeling career has managed to make for some interesting writing material. I’m currently working on my first book of bondage memoirs, and you can get a sneak peak at one of the chapters in the anthology, Baby Remember My Name: An Anthology of New Queer Girl Writing edited by Michelle Tea.

Did you tell your parents and/or family? If so, what did you tell them?

Yes, I’ve told my parents. I’ve told them that I work as a bondage model. I’ve sat down and explained to them what that means and the deep rooted meaning of bondage and S/M. At first my mother was puzzled as to how I could be a bondage model and consider myself a feminist. But I have discussed with her the empowerment that I gain through bondage experiences; the freedom to be a vessel for pain and sensation to pour into and out of, and the true joy of sexual exploration. My father doesn’t really want to talk about it and my brother just doesn’t want to accidentally pick up a video that I’m in.

Have you ever had to be sexual with a complete stranger or have you always known your co-stars?

I have only worked with one of my personal sexual partners in two of my videos and did a photo spread in On Our Backs with my last girlfriend, but most of my sex partners for other producers’ videos, magazines and web content are complete strangers. But I really think that a great way to get to know someone is by having sex with them. Often I find that my co-stars are much more communicative about their boundaries, limits, likes, dislikes, what turns them on, etc. than many of my real-life partners have been. There is something really exciting about having sex with new partners for the first time and discovering their bodies, their taste, and the way that they sound when climaxing or the way their pussy clinches around your fingers when you’re fucking them. But if I really enjoy the experience, I make sure to work with that person again. When you have great chemistry with someone, or you find someone that is just really amazing in the sack, you want to experience that again — and even better if you get paid for it. Now that I’m producing my own video line and two web sites (www.MadisonBound.com and www.tied4sex.com), I get to cast the girls that I want to fuck, or get tied up by. It’s really a true dream to be a producer.

What’s been your favorite scene or favorite part of doing a film?

I’m really enjoying the aspects of producing my own bondage videos. It’s pretty ideal to create the most erotic fantasies you can think of and then live them out with any hot porn star or bondage babe of choice. Probably my favorite scenes for other producers have been the most intense scenes. I’ve had some pretty great experiences with the House of Gord in which I was strapped to the front of a truck and fucked and vibrated with a fucking machine as we drove through the Gord estate. I was also put in really strict bondage and turned into a bar stool, in which this girl that I had a huge crush on straddled my bound face and had a seat on the stool, while I was invited to unzip the crotch of her cat suit with my teeth and eat up. James Mogul, Chanta Rose, and Claire Adams have also given me some incredible bondage orgasms. I’m also completely and utterly in love with the porn star Ariel X. I can’t get enough of her and it makes me so happy to find a girl who loves rope and pussy as much as I do. I’m casting her in my next video, Bride of Sin.

Have you ever had any bad experiences?

Very few, considering the fact that I’ve been working in this business full-time for 4 years. I really only work with producers I know or that I’ve been referred to by someone I know.

Who would be your ultimate co-star?

Hmmm… That’s hard to say. My three favorite co stars of the moment are Ariel X for her pussy eating skills, Chanta Rose for her skill of corporal implements, domination and sex-friendly rope work and Claire Adams for her wicked sadistic streak that strikes terror and a gush of wetness out of my crotch. If I could have them one right after the other that would be nice. Oh and then the videographers too. I’m always working with all of these hot ladies holding the camera and there is nothing I find sexier than a lady with a camera. I’m a total exhibitionist, so hot ladies with camera are a total turn on for me. I’d also really like to work with Sandra Romaine. She’s incredibly hot and a little crazy, which I like.

What would you never do in a film? What are your limits?

I don’t do any boy-girl videos. I don’t do anything illegal, consume anything un-vegan, and do nothing for video that would be considered obscene. I don’t do electrics due to a heart condition, and I can’t do really big or hard ball gags because I’ve developed TMJ. There are always different limits for different situations, too. I’m not going to do a suspension or be bound at the bottom of a swimming pool with someone who doesn’t know what they are doing, or if I’m not in the right headspace.

What do you think is the best thing happening in porn, generally speaking, right now?

I think the best thing happening in porn right now is that more people are taking an interest in it. There is now a larger variety of porn for everyone’s fetish so more and more people are consuming porn, and that includes women. More women are stepping behind the camera and making erotic material that is hot for all gender identities. And we just need to make sure that women actually buy the porn now so that we can continue to make hot porn catered to the taste of women. I really encourage more women to take a look at what is out there. Also, it seems that a lot of kids that graduated with fine art degrees are opting for higher-paying jobs in the porn industry over jobs at the coffee houses. As a result we are getting higher-quality, more consumable porn that has a more mass appeal rather than dirty home-video quality.

What would you change about contemporary porn if you could change something?

Hmmm… There is so much to revolutionize. Where do I start? I guess I would start with our government trying to frighten small porn businesses with obscenity charges, instating ridiculous regulations to comply with, and infringing on our freedom of sexual expression. Next, I would move onto the pleasure principle. I’d like to have women and men only taking parts in video where they actually enjoy what they are doing. Many of us enjoy what we do but a lot of people get into it simply for money and grit and bear it and that is no way to live. I think we could revolutionize porn if women were having more orgasms. I believe that I read that 30 million women in America are not having orgasms. This leads me to believe that they are not jilling off, and not consuming porn. We need for women to learn in sex-ed that when growing up, it is a natural process to touch one’s self for erotic pleasure and release. And sometimes, items such as vibrators and porn could be used in one’s personal erotic experience. If women were taught this growing up there would be more consumers of porn.

Do you watch a lot of porn? If so, has doing porn changed how you watch it?

I would say that I consume a lot of porn, yes. Doing porn hasn’t ruined the watching of porn for me. Although if I do see an interesting bondage position or something I think is really hot I’ll take note of it to use in my next shoot. But I feel like porn should always be a little bit like that, watching what you find is hot and then trying it out at home. It’s just I get to try it out on hot porn stars.

What’s your favorite personal porn flick?

I mostly get off from web sites. My favorite web site right now is www.ArielX.com. I just have a thing for her. I can’t help it. Other sites that I get off to are www.fetishnation.com, www.chantasbitches.com, www.nawashibari.com, and of course the material that I shoot for my sites www.tied4sex.com and www.MadisonBound.com. I really want to see the videos Pink and White has put out, The Crash Pad and of course there’s Superfreak. And actually the whole Alt Vivid series looks really hot. I want to check that out. I think Chanta and I are going to have a big porn watching party.

What are your future plans in porn?

Well I just released my first video from Madison Bound Productions, Bondage Boob Tube (available through Blowfish). I have two more videos on the way. Tail of a Bondage Model should be out in October and Bride of Sin should be out by December. I have a brand new web site launching, www.tied4sex.com which is hot girls engaging in rope bondage, S/M, and rough sex. I’m leaving next week for Austin and then Seattle where I’m headed out to a racetrack that the Gord’s have rented for their next video Kinkonopolis. Jeff Gord has made special fucking-machine racing cars for 6 bondage models and we will be racing them in this upcoming bondage feature. It’s very exciting. After that, I go into production for Bride of Sin and then I’m off to LA in October. Busy as ever. Now if I can just find time for my own sex life.

My co-worker, let’s call her “Syd”, has been involved in adult films and web sites for about a year. She currently is one of the wrestlers on ultimatesurrender.com — “The Ultimate Female Competitive Sexual Wrestling” site where “the winner gets to fuck the loser any way she wants.” She also appeared in The Crash Pad this year… an all-girl feature starring real queer women who make it very obvious they’re enjoying what they’re doing. (And, what they’re doing involves lots of pop shots and hard-pounding action!) The next feature, Superfreak, by the same company that produced The Crash Pad, Pink and White Productions (Porn for Pussies), is due out this fall. Syd is one of the producers of the film. She’ll also be playing an androgynous party-goer that gets possessed by Rick James and has some fun in the kitchen. Funk and roll!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Syd and ask her some questions about doing adult-film work….

When did you do your first film?
About a year ago (2005), I started working for an online company in the San Francisco.

What were the circumstances? Did someone ask you to be in a film?
I had worked for an adult print publication and done modeling and photography for them and figured the next step in working in the sex industry was to move on to film. Several of my friends were working for this online company (kink.com) and really enjoyed their experiences so I thought I’d give it a try. I sent in my application and photos to their model coordinator.

Did you tell your parents? If so, what did you tell them?
I eventually told my parents that I was modeling, after becoming a porn producer myself. I told them about my company. They are actually pretty supportive contrary to what I expected. I think they are proud that I am successful and have authority and initiative over my life.

Did you find it awkward or exciting to be in front of a camera?
I find being in porn natural. Just like any other occupation or activity, there is a degree of professionalism and conduct. It is no stranger or different for me than going into my regular nine to five job, which is in the field of commercial art. I enjoy both. I think there is a misconception about porn — that it’s this big free for all. The reality is, that it’s performance. It’s a manufactured document. It’s a product made with the intention of creating a sort of feeling and/or idea to go along with it, much like any other film, work of art, or commercial media. If all porn was about was having fun, people would be too preoccupied to actually pick up a camera and record it. I think this is the reason why I find homegrown porn so appealing. There is an air of rawness and reality about it that the high budget and finely-polished films sometimes lack. However, it is a rare gem to find an aesthetically well-done film that possesses real passion.

Have you ever had to be sexual with a complete stranger or have you always known your co-stars?
I have had several shoots with people I hadn’t met until 15 minutes before the shoot. The wonderful thing about the porn I’m involved with is that they have a lot of resources for securing talented people and screening them. There’s also a mandatory STD testing service that everyone must go through at least once a month. There’s a lot of irony around people’s presumptions of what the risks of porn are. The reality is that the people I know who are involved in porn tend to be much more proactive about their sexual health than the ones that don’t do porn. There is knowledge and disclosure in the field of porn that promotes sexual health — knowledge and pleasure in a way that I think most of our society could highly benefit from. The culture of sexual fear, suppression and guilt that permeates our society has been far more hurtful than porn could ever be. This is one of the reasons I love porn — you can have sex with a complete stranger and there is this knowledge and precaution that creates a safe space. And, in a way, no one is a “complete stranger” because their name is in the database, along with their age, status, social security number, and health records. Imagine if you got all that info about the people you dated on your first date?

What’s been your favorite scene or favorite part of doing a film?
My favorite scene hands down was in The Crash Pad, because I got to work with some of my friends, and directly with someone I love. I know the director personally and knew how amazingly talented she is, as well as my co-star, whom I am in a relationship with. The real chemistry was there, along with true artistic talent.

My favor part of working in this field is that I get paid to do something I love. It is especially rewarding if you are working with people you truly respect and love, much like any job.

What has been the worst part? Any bad experiences?
The worst part of working in porn is dealing with people who don’t know how to respect other people’s boundaries, or think they are entitled to behave poorly because of the position they hold, or because of what they think this industry is about. Again, this could be said of any job, but I think that it’s truly unfortunate when people think they can be rude or disrespectful. Porn is still a professional business and there should be a level or maturity and professionalism to it. I hate having my time wasted by people who can’t understand this.

Who would be your ultimate co-star?
Umm… well I really enjoy working with people I know, especially if previous knowledge can somehow be integrated into the scene, but I also love getting to know new people. I think I get a little bit of both, regardless.

Who has the worst tattoos in porn?
Bad tattoos are rampant, just watch any porn and you’re bound to see some. My favorites include, but are not limited to: the Playboy Bunny (a sure fire way to NEVER get into Playboy), “Pornstar” (in case you forgot?), or any dated tattoo icons — i.e., dolphins, tribal bands, butterflies on the lower back… I could go on, but I sort of do appreciate these for their kitsch value and am sure I’ll feel the same way about mine in 10 years.

What about the best tattoos?
Well again with the irony, but mainstream porn tends to frown upon skin ink. For this reason I give big props to Belladonna (I know “bebe” on her knuckles — again, kitsch) and Janine because they’ve infiltrated so to speak. Obviously you have the Suicide Girls and nofauxxx has the same appeal if you like girls with good tats. I also really appreciate Dragonlily’s tats, who is someone I’ve worked with personally and is a very sweet person.

What would you never do in a film? What are your limits?
My main limit is more about whom I am working with and less about a particular act. I refuse to work with anyone that is disrespectful and does not know how to handle themselves in a professional manner. Other than that, I am up for just about anything.

What do you think is the best thing happening in porn, generally speaking, right now?
I think the best thing happening in porn right now is the fact that it’s finding acceptance in mainstream media. When Belladonna is getting interviewed on 20/20, you know the winds of change are stirring. I also think it’s wonderful that smaller companies are starting to produce some amazing work that is refreshing in terms of content and representation. People like Tony Comstock, Nofauxxx and Madison Young are creating great films that feature real, passionate, and beautiful people. It’s a big departure from the porn factory of the Valley and its cookie-cutter product. I love San Francisco in particular, and the scene that is developing here. It’s incredibly community-based, unique, artistic, and intellectual. Everyone I know here who is involved with the sex industry is an activist, academic, artist, and intellectual. There’s a real since of support that is absolutely special. This high-quality avant-garde intellectualism is what differentiates it from traditional Hollywood “blockbusters” that are a dime a dozen.

What would you change about contemporary porn if you could change something?
I think the majority of contemporary porn is incredibly formulaic and repetitive. Much of it comes from the same place by the same people and is more about quantity than quality. However, I think the most important change I’d want regarding porn, is the way people watch and understand it. This is actually my hope for all types of media, from billboards to sitcoms. It is incredibly important to understand that porn is entertainment and not necessarily there for education or to provide role models for behavior. As viewers, we need to be able to discern a constructed performance by trained professionals from a guide for our own behavior. Also know that much like other types of media, the porn industry is predominately controlled by a certain demographic, which might account for the sameness that plagues most of the market. Due to the abundance of this certain viewpoint, it has, in a way, set a standard and perhaps a belief structure on certain aspects of our culture. We need to be critical viewers and know that the images and products presented to us are subjective and constructed points-of-view and are by no means an absolute on “how it really is.”

I believe that once this way of seeing is fully utilized, the industry will be far better off with the amount of creative freedom this will provide. Our social notions of obscenity will be restructured with the knowledge that entertainment and art will no longer act as scapegoats for irresponsible individual’s behavior, and the lack of social investment we place in education and health systems. When we finally get an adequate form of sexual education that focuses not only on health, but pleasure and responsibility, the misplaced burden of sexual education that has been put on porn’s shoulders will be rightful back in the realm of the educators. When we have the freedom to disseminate accurate sexual knowledge and health information nationally as well as globally, the ignorance, myths and misconceptions that perpetuate the spread and rise of STDs will be eliminated.

What are your future plans in porn?
We, Pink and White Production, are producing our next feature film and it should be released at the end of the summer. My ultimate goal is to have a successful business, with multiple feature contract deals, a studio, and ability to travel and shoot on location. I want Pink and White Productions to be right up there with Vivid, Falcon, and VCA. I am still looking to be in film, but I really want to focus a lot of my energy into producing.

If you had a daughter and she said, when she was 18, that she was interested in doing adult films, what would you say to her? Whatever my loved ones want to do with their lives, I will be supportive. If they have the desire, drive and authority to do something, then I want to be supportive. Porn or not, that’s how I feel.

Be sure to check out Syd in The Crash Pad… which I’m happy to say has been a best-seller since the moment it hit our shelves!

	Judi B. still hopes for an adult film to be made someday starring Aeon Flux and Lara Croft.

Beau Flex (aka Jiz Lee) may be new to professional porn, but she’s not new to showing the camera her best side! Besides being well-spoken, a bit shy and smart as whip, Beau can post a blog in mere moments, performance-art her pants off and can modern dance like a motherfu*cker. I recently sat down with Beau and asked her a few questions about her experience in the world of adult entertainment…
When did you do your first film?

Oh, I’ve starred in TONS of home porn (hi8), “produced” by my ex and now in my custody. No, I don’t loan them out, but thanks for asking. The first “professional” feature I did was Pink & White Productions’ The Crash Pad, directed by Shine Louise Houston. We shot it last August. The second film I performed in is being released… probably right this moment actually… it’s called Superfreak (coming soon to GV!) I’ve only been in three films, the third is with Madison Young, and is still in the making.
How did you begin? Did someone ask you to be in a film?

That’s a good question. I bet the majority of porn models make the first move to be in a film. In my case, I was asked to be in the film by my co-star, who I was and am still dating. We were talking about some of her erotic photography and I mentioned I’d be interested in modeling. “Would you be interested in doing porn?” was the next thing out of her mouth. I was given the director’s email address and signed on right away, especially when I found out that my co-star was her!
Did you tell your parents? If so, what did you tell them?

Uh, NO! Ok, in a perfect world, my parents would be thrilled with the idea. However, seeing how they responded to my being gay, and how long it took them to get over it…I doubt they would be very enthusiastic. It’s true that it’s easier to be candid with complete strangers than your own flesh and blood. Sure, I’ll tell them all about my crazy life in California… eventually…

Have you ever had to be sexual with a complete stranger or have you always known your co-stars?

For The Crash Pad, I did a three-way, double-penetration scene with foxy Dylan Rion. We had done an On Our Back’s spread before the filming, and we also had some mutual friends. I had seen pictures of Jo on our publicity materials before our scene. She’s hot, though our three-way was more about topping Dylan than playing with each other. I knew Madison Young from erotic art happenings here in SF. For all shoots, I felt very comfortable with my co-stars, especially Shawn in The Crash Pad and Superfreak.
What’s been your favorite scene or favorite part of doing a film?

My favorite scene was “Boi on Boi” in The Crash Pad. Isn’t it everyone’s?! (Crash Pad won a Feminist Film Award for Hottest Dyke Scene!) I know… I’m vain, but I am proud of that scene because the ‘reverse facial’ was something I had decided to do on a whim, much to the Cast and Crew’s surprise, and it turned out being one of the highlights of the entire film! It was a show-off moment and it’s cool to hear podcast talk show hosts freak out about how hot it was, or read well-known porn reviewers note the scene as the “most intense, realistic sex ever put on video” and that what I did was a “shocking cum shot that rivals anything in mainstream porn.”

My favorite part of doing a film is the excitement. Real, queer, unabashed sex, captured and recreated on film by hot, smart, fierce queer artists is, to put it mildly… exciting! As a Porn Star, I am a leading participant in revolutionizing the porn industry, bringing sexual diversity and positivity to the world. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?!
What’s up with porn star names? How did you chose yours?

I come up with a new name for every thing I do, based on the style of the film or the character/costume. The first name I created was for The Crash Pad—“Jiz Lee” which was a joke that I decided might be fun. In actuality, it’s similar to my real name. Madison had the character “Gauge” named already, so I just stepped into that one. For Superfreak, the name I made up was “Vasa”. This is because I was asked to be more “rocker grrl” and wanted a femme name to fit the part. Vasa comes from the Chicks on Speed song Kaltes Klaris Wasser which means “cold hard water” and when you see the scene you’ll see why. I don’t know what name I’ll use next. I was toying around with the name “Beau Flex”, especially if I’m going to be a stone bottom.
Have you had any bad experiences?

The only negative things I can think of are the assumptions viewers have of you after seeing a film. For example, if they see me as a bottom, they assume I’m always a bottom. If they see me getting fucked really hard, then it’s assumed I always do it to that extreme. I went out with someone who had seen me in The Crash Pad and Oh-My-God I nearly got ripped in half. There are also stereotypes about porn stars being ‘sluts’. I’m a slut regardless of whether or not I’ve done porn.
Who would be your ultimate co-star?

Already did her. Twice.
What would you never do in a film? What are your limits?

There is a line between fantasy and reality that I can’t cross. Things like incest, child molestation, bestiality, or rape … I would not do. On a smaller level, I would also not do something my body wasn’t physically ready for. I am a size queen, but I’m not about to hurt myself for the benefit of the camera. Be true to yourself and your needs, and you’ll be equally surprised by the outcome.
What do you think is the best thing happening in porn, generally speaking, right now?

Art! I love creative, clever, artistic, and honest flicks.
What would you change about contemporary porn if you could change something?

Diversity within a genre and directors (and producers) taking risks.

Do you watch a lot of porn? If so, has doing porn changed how you watch it?

I watch Syd on Ultimate Surrender, and have seen a handful of queer porn films. After having done a porn shoot, I’m more aware of the positions of the models and the camera angles. Also, this is kind of stupid, but enemas are amazing. I didn’t know this before doing porn, but now it’s all I can think about whenever I see anal.
What’s your favorite porn flick?

Hands down = The Crash Pad.

What are your future plans in porn?

I may be in a scene for No Fauxxx’s first DVD. Also, when Pink & White Productions gets going on the next film, I can’t wait to be a part of the action!

Wanna join me?.

When I found out that Dave had partaken in the erotic art of video pornography, I wanted to find out what his experiences were, in comparison to Syd’s.

What follows is our conversation about his venture into the world of boy-on-boy porn:

Did you always want to be a porn star?
It’s always been a fantasy of mine, as far back as I remember being aware of porn’s existence. Being a part of the action added to the thrill of the fantasy, even if exhibitionism wasn’t really my “thing.”

When did you do your first film?
I only did one about two years ago.

What were the circumstances? Did someone ask you to be in a film?
Believe it or not, I answered an ad on Craigslist calling for porn actors. It was in the M4M listings, and I couldn’t help clicking on it. I was single at the time, and going through a stage in my life when I was trying out new things, and being what I called “exploritational.” I sent in my pix, never thinking that they’d actually be interested. But since the concept was a faux “amateur” flick, it didn’t hurt that I was a real amateur.

Did you tell your parents? If so, what did you tell them?
Never. But that’s a funny question — I remember asking an ex of mine what his advice was, and he said, “I could never do that — what if my mother were to come across the movie at the video store?” To which I replied, “Why would your mother be looking for gay porn?” But I’d never met his mother, so…

Did you find it awkward or exciting to be in front of a camera?
Both. I was excited at the opportunity to live out this fantasy, but it was as awkward as could be. The director and crew and other “models” were all really sweet, though, and made the atmosphere as comfortable as the situation permitted. That being said, I couldn’t perform in front of the camera. Later, my best friend wanted to make a t-shirt for me that read “Failed Porn Star.” I can only laugh about it in retrospect. (And I never got the damned t-shirt).

Did you have to be sexual with a complete stranger or did you know your co-star(s)?
I didn’t know anyone on the set. I recognized one of the other actors — either from another movie, or just being in SF for 20 years — it’s a fairly small town, after all, and you never know who you know or how you know them.

What would you never do in a film? What were your limits?
The director asked me right off the bat: “Top or bottom or both?” I was only considering topping. I just couldn’t imagine being a bottom on screen — not that it’s anyone’s business what I do off camera. I couldn’t tell you what psychology there was behind this, but just that it seemed a bit too far past my boundaries. Once they realized that I couldn’t play the role I was hired to play, I was asked politely if I could switch parts, as it were, and I considered it, really just to get it over with, you know? It was all moot, though, since I was never asked back in front of the camera for the rest of the day’s shoot.

What’s your favorite porn flick of all time?
I’ll always have a place in my heart for A Porn Star is Born. Not only are the guys hot, but it follows the plot of a Judy-Garland-remade-by-Barbra-Streisand movie, AND (mostly) because it was filmed in the alley outside of my office, and the big musical number at the end took place in the bar around the corner, where we all go after work. It’s like one degree of separation.

I saw the 70’s fag porn, Kansas City Trucking Company, and it kinda scared me a little bit. Have you seen it?
I’m a bad gay man, I haven’t seen it. I didn’t really discover porn movies til the ’80s, when aesthetics were changing and video was overcoming film. I have to admit I never really went back to check out the classics. That same ex who was shocked by my doing the movie had a thing for ’70s porn, though I never did find where he stashed his collection.

Who has the biggest penis in contemporary gay boy porn? And would you “do” him?
In A Porn Star is Born, I was mesmerized by the sight of Michael Brandon’s dick being sucked on a boat directly under the Golden Gate Bridge in broad daylight. He was the stuff of fantasies for a while, even knowing it was beyond the pale. That being said, I can’t imagine ever “doing” him, to use your quaint terminology. Of course, I’m in a committed relationship now, so I can’t imagine ever “doing” anybody else besides my boyfriend.What was your favorite scene or favorite part about doing a porn film?
My favorite part was when it was over. Dorky, right? I felt a certain sense of accomplishment — even if I failed, I’d been in a porn movie, goddammit. I remember having to go to a fundraiser cocktail party immediately afterwards, so I went back to my car, changed my shoes, and headed over to this semi-swanky chic event. I just swapped naked gays for well-dressed ones.

What was the worst part?
The terribly wrong part, of course, was my lack of “screen presence.” I could never quite decide where the blame lay for my inability to perform — was it the camera? the crowd? the embarrassment? the lube brand that I just didn’t like (no names, please, it’s one of our best-sellers)? the fact that I’m really just a nice Jewish boy from the Bronx and it was never meant to be this way? Does it matter?

So, I take it you have no further plans to do porn?
You take it correctly.