Devon Hunter

And these will be some of the consequences within 24-36 hours of that happening:

1. You will start getting prank phone calls on your private cell number
2. You will hear of friends/family with private phone numbers being called by “journalists” from the AP
3. You will receive hate-ridden messages on a variety of media from crazy people
4. You will be recognized while driving and degraded by strangers
5. You will find less important people in your life distancing themselves from you

I cannot stress it enough: You should NOT work for Sean Cody. They do not respect you or your private information. You are nothing to them but a meat sack with some money in it. In making this decision to “out” me, they have caused me a few inconveniences; however, I genuinely hope that people will realize that in trying to defend themselves from the truth in my account that they have damaged themselves so deeply that their brand is completely tainted.

If I find that there are unfamiliar activities on my credit report I am going to not only dispute those potential inaccuracies, I am going to lay the blame squarely on Sean Cody and pursue legal action against those who defraud me. Sean Cody was my former employer, and if they disrespect my Social Security Number in the same manner as they have my name (and by extension many other aspects of my privacy), I will be certain to tell all of you all about it.

If any further incidents happen, I may also publish the phone numbers/email address/names/aim chat names I have of the staff at Sean Cody (and publish the name of this anonymous Vice President who wrote the initial press release that used my legal name), so that you can call and tell them personally whether or not you think their actions have been appropriate. And while you have them on the phone, you can also ask them if it is particularly savvy on their part to respond to my review of their process of making porn by doing everything in their power to prove everything I said about them is correct?

At some point Sean Cody may release an email I sent to them a year ago. In it I am thanking them for allowing me to work with them, commending them for being supportive on set, saying I wanted to work with them again, apologizing if I held up the process of filming, or came across as bitchy. Yes. I definitely wrote it. I remember writing it. AND I WROTE IT, SO THAT I COULD GET MORE WORK OUT OF AN EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT THAT HAD NO GUARANTEE FOR FURTHER WORK. Kissing your boss’s ass is part of doing business. I said what I needed to say to get the most out of a bad situation.

But before you dismiss me as a liar for having written that email (which I will include below), keep in mind that when they asked me to come back for a third movie, I turned it down. At that time I already preferred going on a trip with a potential boyfriend and losing money, rather than working with Sean Cody again to make money. I decided to go to Biltmore for the trip I’d already paid for, losing $500 - $1,000 in the process, rather than skipping on the trip and going to San Diego to make $3,500. I apologize for what may look like an inconsistency, but it is not. I would also point out that I wrote to them from my DEVON HUNTER email account - if they had a problem with me being an exotic dancer prior to working with them why didn’t they ask me about this alias under whose name I had been writing to them for an entire year? If necessary I will post the ENTIRE conversation I had by email to demonstrate that I always wrote to them from my DEVON HUNTER account.

“From: Devon Hunter [mailto:devonhunter1814@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 11:33 AM
To: NAME REMOVED TO PROTECT THIS PERSON’S PRIVACY
Subject: Scene with “Fuller”

I sent you a text, but I wanted to send an email as well. Thanks for booking me to do a scene with (FULLER’S LEGAL NAME)/”Fuller.” He was really awesome to work with - he was very friendly and personable. So were the crew members. They were all very patient and supportive of me towards the end: By the fifth pose I was really exhausted/desensitized and getting more than a tad cranky, and I wanted to apologize to them if they thought I was difficult, or if I slowed the process down for everyone. If (INSERT CAMERA MAN’S NAME) or anyone else has any feedback for how I can do better next time, please pass this on to me. I look forward to working with you guys again soon!”

I have been asked repeatedly how I decided to use the name Devon Hunter, and in the aftermath of the Sean Cody discussion I should finally tell this story. You see, someone has decided (in a fit of revenge) to release my legal name to the public. I have been waiting for someone to finally expose my personal business to the world, without consideration for my safety (and all because I have dared to describe the ways in which gay-for-pay pornography is destructive to gay men). Shame on you, sir. Shame on you. You are my gay brother, but I am ashamed of you.

Fine.

My name is Jack Kirven. My entire family knows about my career, as do almost all of my friends. I chose the name Devon, because I knew a man by that name who was beautiful but humble; I chose Hunter, because I knew one who was not particularly handsome, but confident nonetheless; and I thought putting them together in one person would be the ideal for which I would strive. So, now if you want to waste your time looking all my private information up, you can knowing that internalized homophobia has put me at the center of the target, but that I’m still here and I won’t stop blogging about my experiences in the adult entertainment industry.

I do not back down from intimidation.

I don’t have anything to hide. Shame on you, sir. Shame on you. I hope this decision you have made will further illustrate why models should NOT work for your homophobic company.

Click here to see how Sean Cody may try to hurt you if you speak about their homophobic practices.

For those who have been here a while, you will know that I am a spiritual person. And the season is about to change yet again. Here we are! Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, and it couldn’t have come any sooner (given some of the dark and stormy moods I’ve been in these last few days). To celebrate this fresh, new summer I have decided to post a video that I really love. Natasha Bedingfield is a fabulous singer and song writer - the mood and theme of “Unwritten” are so absolutely perfect for my current situation, and it seems like an obvious summer anthem. I also celebrated today by having some incredible chocolates, which I will describe for you after these sunny moments with Natasha:

Remember: We create our own realities, so choose happiness! YAY!

Okay, now to the important bidnizz at hand: CHOCOLATE.

While the rest of the gay porn microcosm is slashing its face open over my comments about gay-for-pay videos, I have been out walking in the breezy sunhine in San Francisco. I had a beautiful lunch at my 5-star hotel, walked the two peaceful labyrinths at Grace Cathedral, and then stumbled upon a little gem of a boutique. It’s called Christopher Elbow: Artisanal Chocolate. I knew the Goddess loved me: She guided me to heaven.

Located at 401 Hayes Street, the store is set up like a trendy cafe or bar. The handmade treats are served on beautiful dishes, and there are hot drinks to choose from as well. But let’s not get distracted by all the frills, what matters here is the chocolate. I had already had tiramisu for dessert at lunch, but fuck it. THESE ARE HANDMADE (plus the tiramisu was artisanal too, so it’s good for the soul, especially these last couple days). I chose four flavors that I’d not tried before, and I was moved to write about each of them (click to enlarge):

The first chocolate I put in my mouth was Jasmine Tea. High-quality chocolate should nearly immediately revert to a thick liquid when you start chewing it. This one melted beautifully, and the earthiness of the chocolate was lightened by the floral tea and flower aromas. I found that letting this one rest in the mouth overly long cancelled out the delicate nature of the Jasmine, so, if you try one, I suggest swallowing it before the high notes are subsumed again by the chocolate.

Next I sampled the Venezuelan Spice, because I thought it would be a dramatic shift from the Jasmine Tea. Boy, was I ever spot on!! The richness of this flavor builds extremely slowly. In addition to the chile oil, there is also spice (I want to say cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove). Immediately there is the richness of the chocolate blending with what tastes a bit like pumpkin pie; however, when you savor this one it builds in volume and gets more complex. Gradually the chile begins to be released and over several moments you get not only flavor but temperature. It is subtle, so you don’t have to fear being scalded, but after I swallowed this chocolate it aggressively kept playing its song. I had to wait several minutes before my palate was ready to move on. The chile and spice lingers even longer than the chocolate, which is fine, since it all so well balanced.

I knew I needed another total aboutface, so I went with a flavor I’d never even considered as a possibility before: Lemongrass. My experience with lemongrass is taking it as a rather revolting shooter along with protein shakes. It tastes like mushed up green dirt when it comes out of the pressing machine, so I was interested to see how this would work. And you know what?? THIS IS WHAT SUMMER TASTES LIKE. OMG! It was like the sun had come up in my mouth. There is dawn in this bonbon! The chocolate itself was brightened from a deep tone to a medium, and the lemongrass floated on top like a greenish yellow light. Just magnificent. It made me break into a smile. This is happiness. HAPPY SOLSTICE!

Okay, I had saved what I thought would be the most evocative (or at least most interesting) for last, but after Lemongrass I was wondering how that would work. I have to say: My instinct is always right. Despite how wonderful the first three were, Caramel Rosemary was definitely both the most interesting and the most unexpectedly satisfying. Honestly, I thought it was going to be rather disgusting, yet curiously artistic and thus acceptable enough as a flavor experiment. Oh, no, no, no, no… This can’t be real: The shell of chocolate imploded unexpectedly as the LIQUID carmel exploded outward in a rush of rosemary and buttery sugar. I thought it was going to be a chew, not a gush! Before I was ready, my mouth was full of salty sweet yummy stuff (stop being a pervert), and all these discordant separate flavors quickly started assembling themselves in a perfect chord. It was like a symphony warming up and then playing the first note. I was laughing out loud. Just marvelous. The caramel sustains the flavor profile beyond what the rosemary would have done on its own, and the chocolate provides a consistent bass/base for the herbed sweetness to dance on top of. Just marvelous. I would do a whole box of those. Anytime, anyplace. Bring it, baby. I ain’t askeered…

NOTE: Sean Cody revealed my legal name, and they may release yours too!

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This is a three-part blog entry that will give background information about adult video projects and how they operate, so that others will have candid information before they decide that videos are the choice for them or not. I will be honest, and this means it will not be possible for me to sound completely unbiased in some instances. It isn’t my intent necessarily to besmirch anyone, but rather to describe events, so that possibilities aren’t overlooked (e.g. if it happened to me, it’s possible it will happen in a similar manner to you). In part 1, I am going to go line by line and describe the ins and outs of my experience with Sean Cody. In part 2, I am going to compare and contrast my experiences at the four houses for which I have worked thus far. In part 3, I am going to give some practical advice and talk about the advantages of working through an agency.

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Before you make any choices you can’t undo, ask yourself these questions:

1. Why do I want to do porn?
2. What will I gain by doing so, and how will I use this to my advantage?
3. How will it affect my life once I eventually retire?
4. Am I making any choices out of desparation?
5. Who can help me along the path?

Why porn?

There are a variety of answers. Tucker Vaughn knew when he was 16 that he wanted to do it - he was called to it. I don’t know whether he can articulate yet what this calling entailed, but he told me as soon as he saw porn that he knew it was what he wanted to do. As soon as he was of age he started, and he’s been a very busy boy ever since.

I have heard someone say he wanted to be preserved for posterity while he was at the peak of his fitness and male beauty.

I use porn as a free, ongoing form of advertising that I get paid to create. I am not a porn model who sometimes escorts. I am an escort who has done some porn modeling. That difference underlies the reason why I am free to speak so freely and honestly about my experience in the video industry: The threats that I “will never do videos again after that Sean Cody essay” fall flat, because I am doing more videos (tomorrow in fact), and I also don’t consider myself a “porn star.” If I do happen to go on to become a recognized persona in video, awesome. If not, okay.

Every man has his reason for going into the video industry. Know what yours is, and come to peace with it. Own your reason: You won’t be able to avoid telling people forever (if at all), and living with shame is not living.

To what advantage?

This question grows out of the first. Alright, you have decided that you have a reason that can be reconciled with your personal life (even after you stop doing video work): You are going to do adult video. Fine. Once you have identified why you want to do it, you should now consider what you gain from doing so. Let’s look more closely at the three examples from above under the “Why porn?” section.

Are you like Tucker? Do you plan to possibly make an extended career in the video industry? Will doing the porn pay for an education you otherwise couldn’t get, or will it help you understand later how to produce video projects of your own? I don’t know that this is Tucker’s plan, but that is what Christian Owen is doing. It has worked for others in this way, including Kristofer Weston. We are all attracted to our careers for reasons we don’t always understand at first. Do you just need to do porn? If so, know that you can use it in several ways, especially later for a career in production (which can last far longer than a modeling career).

It sounds like a relatively poorly considered reason to me, but doing porn to capture yourself at your prime is valid, I suppose. Couldn’t you just take a Polaroid? But it isn’t my place to judge. If this is your motivation, then pornography essentially forces you to remain in shape for as long as possible. If you are a body builder, does doing porn get you other gigs that help you maintain your life as a (semi-)professional exerciser? I don’t know. I can’t answer this, but I present it here, because I heard it touted as a reason to do porn.

Are you in my position, perhaps? It’s a very common scenario. A significant portion of the escorts I have seen in ads mention that they are also porn models. And let me clarify something while I’m thinking about it: I lose money (in the short term) by doing the shoots. I am paid for them, so the time isn’t lost; however, looking at a strictly dollars:effort ratio… Porn is definitely not my primary concern; however, I understand that the more I stand out, the better I may fare when it is time to connect with clients. But do not fool yourself: Porn (unless you have a series of contracts guaranteeing some regular gigs, paid at generous rates) generally will not support you as easily as a successful escorting practice.

And after?

There is no way to undo porn. Once you finish your video career you will have left behind you the proof of your profession. Before you go into this segment of the industry, you will need to consider what you will do later. Consider where your interests lie, and have a sense of direction when you begin the video career.

Pornography is a vehicle, if you steer it properly; however, there are some roads that will be closed to you. Which route will you navigate then?

Do not lose heart: Pornography is becoming more and more mainstream, and there are many people who simply don’t care if you are/were an adult entertainer. Between the liberalization of our culture and the bad economy, most people will probably end up saying, “Hey, you did what you had to.” You will probably not be able to run for governor (unless the current state of affairs amongst South Carolina’s governor and gubanatorial candidates becomes the norm everywhere).

So, you can forget about the careers where conservative appearances matter, but there are so many other options. I would also make another point: If you are entrepreneurial enough to be in adult entertainment, then you are probably possessed of stout enough heart to continue being independent later. What business would you like to start? I know porn models who have gone on to be landscape designers, accountants, lead mechanics, lawyers, and highly sought after tutors (though these latter two options seem a bit riskier to me, in terms of conflicts of interest).

I love being my own employer. I was miserable as an educator, office worker, and executive assistant. Although I do not have the security of a paycheck coming from a boss, I have so much more control over my destiny that it’s worth the exchange (since I have learned to tolerate the endless adventure). It is deeply satisfying to mold your efforts into your own visions, whatever they might be. Perhaps THAT is the answer to your “Why porn?” question: Use the money to set yourself up in a business as your own boss. When you do the background check on your past employment, you can just overlook the adult entertainment stuff.

Are you desparate?

If you are considering porn simply for fast cash… Well, honestly… You should probably not do it at all. I blogged quite a while back that you should never do anything that causes you guilt, grief, pain, sorrow, regret, or embarrassment. That is still true now.

Who can help you?

You need allies in this business. You need people who are on your side, who care where you are, and who will look out for your best interests. This career is not a choice for the squemish or undecided. Once you jump into this pool, little fishy, the wet footprints will follow you after you’re done swimming.

I want to reiterate what I said in part 2: You should NOT make any agreements or arrangements with recruiters who come looking for you through social networking and/or modeling sites. If someone approaches you, find out if they are recruiting FOR a particular house, of if they are recruiting FROM a particular house. Freelancers, to be frank, are often pirhannas. They do not care about you. They care only about their commissions. And why not? They’ve never met or spoken to you. Why and how should they give a damn if you are okay?

If you do accept work through a site like Model Mayhem (which is how I came to Sean Cody), be very certain that you have accepted work from a representative of the house itself. If you do not, you may find yourself owing a finder’s fee to a recruiter who has done no work, and who may try to claim 10-20% of your pay from every assignment you do at that house (and possibly other houses as well). If you accept an offer from the house directly, you do not have to worry about the recruiter, though you will still be on your own to figure out the contracts. Again, I suggest a reputable agent: An agent would have pointed out the intricacies of my Sean Cody contract.

Yes, there are horror stories about agents who have not done their jobs, and who have ended up cheating or hurting their models. There are agents who don’t call, agents who lie, and others who are flakes. And so I do not come to you saying, “You should get an agent,” and then NOT have one to whom I can refer you.

Without a doubt (and for very good reasons) the staff at Fabscout are easily among the most respected booking agents in gay porn. They have arranged all the assignments I have done since my Sean Cody contract expired, and they have made everything very easy. If you cannot work through Fabscout, then look for an agent who will do everything Fabscout does for me:

1. Contacts you regularly with work - this means the agent is well-connected and proactive.
2. Offers you assignments without pressuring you to take work you do not want - avoid people who try to coerce you to do anything you do not know you are willing to do.
3. Shields you from bareback porn companies - although you can go from condom to bareback, you very often cannot go from bareback to condom. Aside from exposing yourself to risk, you may cut your nose off to spite your face by doing bareback porn.
4. Acts promptly and responsibly on all project details, including transportation, lodging, wardrobe requirements, general appearance guidelines, and fees.
5. Works only with video companies they know to be safe - report problems to your agent, so that they can help you, if needed.
6. Checks to make sure you are en route - this establishes that you are safe, and lets the house know you are definitely on your way.
7. Calls or texts while you are on set to be certain you are happy - this gives you the security of knowing that someone knows where you are, and it holds the house accountable for your comfort and safety.
8. Negotiates with the house and communicates with you about the fee schedule - you should know up front how much you will be paid and what will be required for you to receive your check.
9. Charges a reasonable rate - Fabscout charges me 20%, and I am happy to give it to them. Fabscout is rather like the AAA of gay porn. I don’t mind paying them, because when I need them they are there. Do not pay 20% to an agency that doesn’t match all this effort. Expect to pay more toward 10-15%/project if you sign an on-going contract, rather than working shoot to shoot.
10. Sends an invoice in writing and keeps accurate records - this ensures that everyone knows how much is owed and paid.

Conclusion

Writing this series has been quite the wild ride. I have no regrets. But I do not believe in regret. There are only lessons learned. As you go forward in your Adult Entertainment career, it is imperative that you pay attention. You must take care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean you have to victimize others to protect your interests. I suggest you work sober, treat your appointments, club bookings, and/or shoots with an ethic that will defy the stereotypes associated with the industry, and live from a position of as much transparency as possible. Own your choices, and do not be afraid to speak out when you know you have experienced something that others should be warned against. Even if I have never met you, I want you to know that you can email me, if you need an empathetic response to a question pertaining to your experiences as a purveyor of fantasy and pleasure.

NOTE: Sean Cody revealed my legal name, and they may release yours too!

———————————————-

This is a three-part blog entry that will give background information about adult video projects and how they operate, so that others will have candid information before they decide that videos are the choice for them or not. I will be honest, and this means it will not be possible for me to sound completely unbiased in some instances. It isn’t my intent necessarily to besmirch anyone, but rather to describe events, so that possibilities aren’t overlooked (e.g. if it happened to me, it’s possible it will happen in a similar manner to you). In part 1, I am going to go line by line and describe the ins and outs of my experience with Sean Cody. In part 2, I am going to compare and contrast my experiences at the four houses for which I have worked thus far. In part 3, I am going to give some practical advice and talk about the advantages of working through an agency.

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There are people who want to dismiss me, because I’m ”just a whore.” I would point out that I have a Mission Statement, and I am writing this particular three-part entry FOR POTENTIAL PORN MODELS.

The extreme (but not unexpected) backlash I am getting from Sean Cody/gay-for-pay supporters boils down to this: Our desires are very intimate, and they reside in a place very close the core of our identities. My whistle blowing isn’t the problem, in and of itself. The problem for them is that I have done something that undermines their fantasy that these straight men ENJOY gay sex. But that is impossible. Straight men cannot enjoy gay sex any more than gay men can enjoy straight sex. If you enjoy both, then you are bisexual. This gay-for-pay “ideal” isn’t tenable when you really scrutinize it. My showing that their fear is true (that the models do it for the money only) attacks their fantasy, and they take it as a personal criticism (which on some levels it is). I think it would not only be healthier, but also more pragmatic, to desire the people who are capable of giving you as much as you give them.

I have found that if my intuition tells me something, I should listen to it. You have to treat your fantasy life with as much care as your reality, because they are interconnected. If you are conflicted, address the conflict.

I wrote the first portion of this blog knowing that it would upset some people. But this is how change happens. In some tiny way, I hope that I am contributing to the eventual withering of gay-for-pay options in the LGBTQ Adult Entertainment community. There are a great many people saying a great many hurtful comments (and making assertions based on being acquainted with me through +3 degrees of separation and speaking as if they know me), but I know that my truth is as valuable as anyone else’s.

(A side note to people who now “hate” me: Your hatred will never silence me. Ever. The tone of this blog will not be changed by your conscious and purposeful dedication to ignorance of how gay-for-pay pornography undermines you as a gay man. I’m sorry, but that’s what spinach tastes like to children.)

Now, this entry will compare and contrast (for the benefit of models considering which, if any, companies to choose) the shooting styles and on-set cultures of Sean Cody (SC), COLT/Buckshot (CB), Falcon (F), and HotHouse (HH). I am going to look at Recruitment Issues, Travel/Accommodations, Shooting, On-Set Culture, and Gay-Affirmative Attitudes (whether in the presence of gay-for-pay models or not).

Recruitment

Most video companies will have a link somewhere on their pages that is called “Become a Model,” or something to that effect. Before you click it, please consider waiting until I have written part 3 of this blog (The Advantages of an Agent). There’s a lot going on in the background before you even arrive, and you have to be certain you are ready. I cannot suggest strongly enough that you NOT work with anonymous recruiters who approach you randomly on sites like Model Mayhem. NEVER AGREE TO ANYTHING WITH SOMEONE YOU HAVE NOT MET OR CONVERSED WITH AT LENGTH, ESPECIALLY NOT IN WRITING/EMAIL. BE YOUR OWN AGENT OR HIRE A PROFESSIONAL.

If you decide to contact the site directly, you should completely and honestly fill out all the information they request. You will do yourself no favors in being dishonest. Do not misrepresent yourself. If you are not willing to participate in various activities, then do not say you are (e.g. Saying you will allow yourself to be fucked and then refusing to do so is a waste of time, money, and energy for everyone involved and could result in your developing a reputation as being difficult to work with). For my part, I will kiss, exchange oral, and exchange anal (with condoms). I am very specific that I will not do heavy bondage, fisting, and other fetishes. Tell them who you are and what you can do.

You should be prepared with pictures to submit. They do not have to be professional, and probably should NOT be professional. The houses want to know what YOU look like, not what you look like after Photoshop. Most sites will want some or all of the following to accompany your application: Shots of your upper body from the front, left, right, and back. Shots of your lower body (nude usually) from the front, left, right, and back. They may or may not request pictures of your penis (usually erect, when requested at all), and you should include pics from the front, left, and right. They will probably request photographs of your ass, so make sure you get left, right, and back. Make sure the images are well-lighted, or you will have to repeat this process until you send photographs they can actually see. Sending dark pictures implies you are trying to hide blemishes.

To ensure success, approach the sites that use models who are similar to you. You will be discouraged, perhaps unnecessarily, by rejection from sites that do not use your look. Get in where you fit in.

Travel/Accommodations

It is routine for the house in question to pay the cost of your travel. You should expect the company to purchase your travel, cover your hotel, and provide a per diem for food (usually about $20/day). They should also cover any transportation you need to and from the airport, to and from the shoot location, and to and from the hotel when you are traveling for the purposes of the shoot itself.

Different companies go to different lengths in this regard. SC picked me up in a limousine and put me up in a 5-star resort hotel. SC also provided continental breakfast that included a very impressive buffet, and they also took me to very nice restaurants (of my choice) after the shoots were completed. CB, F, and HH sent drivers in their personal cars (which were all safe and comfortable), provided hotel accommodation, and paid per diems.

DO NOT WORK FOR A COMPANY WHICH EXPECTS YOU TO PAY FOR TRAVEL/ACCOMMODATION OR SEEKS TO REIMBURSE THEMSELVES FOR IT FROM YOUR FEE.

Shooting

Each company is pretty distinct from the others in this regard. Before you apply to a company to be a model, watch some of their videos and learn what you can about their processes. In particular, pay attention to how often the camera changes angles. Every time the angle changes there is the possibility that a take ended. The more often the angle changes, the more takes are required, the more staging will be necessary, and the more likely the chance for exhaustion.

SC duos require 6-8 hours, and the number of takes is rather staggering. This is reflected in the way the cameras bounce from spot to spot throughout the film. If you are going to be the receptive partner for a SC video, do so knowing that it will be long day. The product itself will be highly polished, and it will be delivered to a huge audience; however, SC pays far more than other houses, likely because their shooting days are long. Expect each take to last between 15 seconds and 2 minutes (with breaks in between).

CB has a variety of aesthetics. For the scene in which I participated, shooting lasted an hour or two, and we used only one or two condoms. The camera operators walked around us, and there were additional cameras on stands. Our takes lasted considerably longer, some of them lasting several minutes. Expect a very high production value from CB (SC work is beautifully produced, too). COLT is one of the premier producers of gay erotica, and there is a reason for it: They make stunning work.

(A side note: Although I have never worked with Randy Blue, I did my CB scene with Topher Dimaggio who has. He told me that at Randy Blue he never experienced a shoot that lasted longer than 3 hours. This included the time necessary for taking still shots.)

Falcon is another top-notch team with whom I enjoyed working. If you work with F you can also count on a very polished product. They make gorgeous movies. The scene I shot with them took about two to three hours to complete, required approximately 10 condoms, and was accompanied by a great deal more shooting of introductory material. Although there were more separate penetrations for this scene, Benjamin Bradley was so adept as an insertive partner that I was never uncomfortable.  SC required very little introductory material. CB recorded only a few moments of Topher and I hugging as an introductory image to our scene, but F created a scenario in which I was cruising Benjamin at the beach and started a conversation as a means of introducing our scene.

HH was a great deal of fun, and they produce high quality videos. Their movies are just plain HAWT. Their live show I shot didn’t intimidate me, because I’d done so much cam modeling prior to the scene with Lucas Knowles. If you are going to do the Backroom for HH, you will probably be asked to do a live cam show and one or two pre-recorded scenes for later distribution. I suggest practicing your live skills with a webcam in a chat room. It will make it easier to absorb the idea that there are many eyes watching you. The takes for HH were similar to those of F. They didn’t last as long as the CB takes, but they were longer than those for SC. My scene with Conner O’Reilly took about three to four hours.

On-Set Culture

At SC, I got the distinct sense from beginning to end that the staff was overworked and burned out. Everything felt routine, as if they were all saturated by the cut-and-dry nature of the process. Everyone seemed tired before we began, and people seemed short-tempered. I felt more tension at SC than at the other houses. Another peculiarity I experienced at SC that I did not observe at the other houses: For the solo shoots, the staff leave the room where the scene is taking place as you fluff yourself, and then come running in with their cameras once you holler out that you are ready with an erection. At the other houses you simply fluff yourself while people wait to begin again.

The shoot for CB required more set up, because it was out on location. SC sets are mostly pre-assembled (and thus used repeatedly - you should recognize all the “rooms” by now on the SC site). Whereas SC generally uses one of a few sets that are always ready, CB, F, and HH may or may not venture out into new locations. While the CB shoot took longer to set up, the shoots themselves were shorter than at SC. Overall the length of the days was about the same as a result.

For the F shoot we were also on location, and so, like CB, there was more set up than with SC; however, just as with CB, there was a sense that the production crew ENJOYED working with each other. There was a great deal of levity on the F set, as there was at CB (both sets were decidedly warm and friendly). John Bruno of F laughs and jokes a great deal, and the other staff were fun and courteous as well. If you ever get the chance to work with Kristofer Weston or John Rutherford of CB, I can tell you that they are simply delightful.

The scene at HH felt as close to a hook up as any shoot I’ve done yet, partly because Conner O’Reilly is so easy to work with (very cute!), but also because Christian Owen and his staff were organized without being jaded. They use the same sets repeatedly (in addition to constructing sets for special projects), just as SC does. The HH shoot took a bit longer than we’d originally anticipated, but there was never any sense that anyone at HH was losing patience.

Expect each of these four houses to take time for solo photography to use as promotional materials. When you negotiate your fee (see part 3), understand that all of these houses will cover your travel and accommodation, and that the fee will probably include one or two 2 to 4 hour-photo shoots, as well as the scene(s) in which you will be participating. All four houses take exceptionally good still shots, and take great pains with lighting and composition. SC and HH required less time for the still shots, because they occurred on familiar sets.

Gay-Affirmative Attitudes

I have made clear my experience with SC in this regard.

On the remaining shoots I have done, there was never any expression of concern that I, or anyone else, was “too gay.” If you work for CB, F, or HH you probably won’t have to worry about anyone obsessing that you might accidentally be seen as gay-for-real, rather than gay-for-pay. These houses also work with gay-for-pay models, but their attitude toward LGBTQ people isn’t negative at all. In fact, CB used a transgender MTF to do our hair and makeup. I fear; however, that my experience with SC may have infected me with some homophobia, because on the shoots for CB, F, and HH I was worried the whole time that my sounds were ridiculous. I have to unlearn that.

Conclusion

Regardless of the house(s) with which you work, you should acquaint yourself with their videos. Do you want to be portrayed in the manner and style for which the company is known? I prefer the idea of doing higher-budget projects, thus I have politely rejected work from companies whose work looks amateur. I have also made the personal choice not to participate in productions in which a “straight” man is “tricked” into having gay sex, so I have also politely declined work from those companies who feature it. Consider your brand and image, and do not dilute them by doing scenes which are not consistent with them.

With the issues of brand, and more importantly, health in mind, I cannot state it strongly enough: Avoid doing bareback porn. Politely decline every request you get. There are many obvious (and subtle) pitfalls to doing bareback porn, and there is no need to ennumerate them all. Do not do raw porn! EVER! NO no no no no no no no no no no no, no no no no no no no. NO! Do not do it!

One last suggestion: If you want to work with SC, work with them FIRST. They will not generally use models who have already gotten exposure on other sites. They want “virgins.” SC offers the highest pay, as they should, given the length of their shoots, the exclusive contracts (which do not include guarantees for further work), and the limitations the exclusive contract will place on any other adult themed projects you may wish to persue.