Sunday, May 07, 2006
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The Adams Report by J.C. Adams
May 1 - 7, 2006
This week we've got details on the stunning acquisition of All Worlds Video by rival studio Channel 1 Releasing. Also, Chad Savage quits the biz (again), Ray Dragon lands a new gig and the late Austin Black's life is celebrated. Plus, news about the surprising shutdown of CocoDorm.com by Chicago health department officials. Come on in, the water's fine!
CHANNEL 1 ACQUIRES AWV
So the gigantor news this week was the revelation that distributor Channel 1 Releasing has purchased rival studio All Worlds Video. Although rumors had begun to surface here and there, news of the acquisition caught pretty much everyone by surprise along the lines of how the merger of UPN and The WB into a new TV network knocked everyone in Hollywood sideways earlier this year.
The acquisition was announced on GAYVN.com which notes that Channel 1 Releasing is now "the largest gay-owned and -operated gay-adult entertainment company in the world." Channel 1 Releasing was formed in 1998 and is the home of Chi Chi LaRue's Rascal Video, as well as LiveandRaw.com. All Worlds Video was founded in 1985 by Rick Ford who will now step back from the daily operations of the studio, although "he will continue to be a strong influence in the All Worlds Video line with the Dirk Yates titles and online with DirkYatesLive.com."
I've got an interview with Rick Ford lined up and spoke with Ms. LaRue at length about the news. Here's a taste: The acquisition has been "in the works for about six months," Ms. LaRue says. "What Rick Ford was looking for was someone that was gonna take his company and keep the integrity of All Worlds and not demolish or diminish or get rid of the All Worlds name. I believe that All Worlds is a huge part of the gay adult business. It's a huge company. Nothing can beat Dirk Yates."
The absorption of All Worlds Video into Channel 1 Releasing continues a dramatic shakeup of the gay porn landscape. It was only a few months ago that industry founders Scott Masters and John Travis sold off their Studio 2000 (although they remain with the company). Director/producers Jack Fritscher and Bob Wingate last year closed down Palm Drive Video and Bound & Gagged Video, respectively, and MSR Videos was dissolved following founder Tony Alizzi's death and the sale of their catalog of titles to Titan Media. What's next?
COCODORM.COM: SHUT DOWN
The "Chicago Free Press" newspaper has a late-breaking story headlined as follows: "Local Gay Internet Site Believed Linked to the Spread of HIV/STDs." That "local site" was CocoDorm.com, which operated out of an apartment in Lakeview. A cease-and-desist order was delivered on April 20th by the Chicago Department of Public Health to the private residence where various models for CocoDorm.com were filmed for broadcast on the internet. Per the article, "concerns were raised about cases of HIV and other STDs tied to the site's models" following "credible evidence [that the models] were engaging in unsafe sex practices and were spreading HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea through contact with individuals outside the business."
At press time CocoDorm.com was still live. The site's owner, Jakson Robinson, denied any charges to the "Chicago Free Press" in a phone interview. "There's no one HIV-positive in our dorm, so that's untrue. The models also engage in safe sexual practices." He contends the city shut down the website because he did not have the proper business licenses. The article also details "unusual labor contracts" for the CocoDorm.com models which "bordered on illegal servitude" according to the paper's source. Robinson is now looking for a new location outside Chicago to reopen the site. Stay tuned on how this will all shake out.
CHAD SAVAGE: SAYONARA
The bodaciously sexy Chad Savage has apparently bid farewell to the porno biz for the second time. He's taken his rock-hard abs, stiff poker, pillowy bum and chiseled chin to greener pastures, says an industry insider. Hopefully someone is staying in touch with the handsome pup, an All Worlds Video Exclusive, now that the studio is under the Channel 1 Releasing umbrella and studio founder Rick Ford is stepping back from the spotlight. Mr. Savage racked up a handful of excellent flicks from 1998-2002 and then quit, returning three years later looking better than ever. His latest tour of duty includes CAPTURED, DESPERATE HUSBANDS, LITTLE BROTHER'S BIG SECRET and a few others, plus the co-lead in WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS 2. I gotta say, the sight of Marcos Pirelli hungrily diving into Mr. Savage's plush, muscular globes in the middle of a pool in CAPTURED (a threeway with Kevin Brown) is one of my favorite porn moments from the past year.
TITAN TO DRAGON: WELCOME
Legendary performer and director Ray Dragon has been snapped up by Titan Media and will helm their ManPlay line. The first will be BOOT CAMP: MANPLAY 24 (co-directed with Brian Mills) for release in the U.S. and Europe in late June.
Mr. Dragon's career stretches back sixteen years and includes a famed stint with COLT Studio back in the day, then a long retirement from the biz (during which he had his own clothing stores, remember?) He founded Dragon Media in 2001 and then returned to performing the following year with Titan's GORGE. He's also steadily racking up credits behind the scenes as a cameraman; I worked with him on a series of flicks for MSR Videos, including HELL ROOM (in which he has a nonsex cameo as the sinister "Gatekeeper"), and we really hit it off. During the 2005 Folsom Street festivities in San Francisco, it was utterly charming to watch newly hatched gaybois and their daddy-husbands approach Mr. Dragon with reverence and tell him how much they loved his work. TitanMen.com has the specifics on the hire. And, by the way, Mr. Dragon has just published a book of his photography titled "Real Men" available at RayDragon.com.
RIP: AUSTIN BLACK
The performer Austin Black passed away unexpectedly March 9th (the exact cause is being kept under wraps but I'm told it was complications related to liver cancer), and a memorial service celebrating him was held Monday, April 24th at the Metropolitan Community Church in West Hollywood. He was 43 years old. It was a lovely, sweet service attended by his sister and a small group of Mr. Black's friends and colleagues. Among them were performers Randy Summers, Cameron Cruise and Anthony DeAngelo, all of whom were close with Mr. Black. Other industry colleagues remembering him were performer/editor Andrew Addams, Video 10's Freddie Bercovitz and performer Vince Harrington (a/k/a dragstress Lana Luster).
One friend described how Austin Black, on location for a project, came upon a spider in the back yard and took the time to point it out and examine it closely. "No one else would have done that but Austin," the friend recalled. "No one else would have even noticed the spider." Randy Summers laughingly described Mr. Black as "an arguer. You could tell him something was beige and he'd spend three hours arguing with you that it was brown." Mr. Black's sister told me she was touched that his industry colleagues took the time to publicly memorialize him. It was clear during the brief service that he will be missed and fondly remembered.
Porn Star Birthdays for May 1 through May 7: Alex Berlin, Mitch Fitz, Zaire Masters, Gino Romero, Elec Voughn (May 1); Ren Adams, Tony Monroe, Christian Olsen, Derek Steel (May 2); Sebastian Bonnet, Sam Chamberlain, Kris De Ferr, Mauro Pelle, Leonardo Santangelo, Sam Sun, Anthony Torrez, Cedrick York (May 3); Andre Bolla, Yuri Breshnev, Dean Clarke, Jerek, Geoff Powell, Rick Rogue, Diogo Silva (May 4); Andreas Harris, Derrick Mills, Julian Pierce, Duncan Starr (May 5); Mike Cesar, 'Big' Pete Dixon, Creed Harley, Joe Montreal, Ralf Vernier, Antonio York (May 6); Erik Kapena, John Ferage, Tim MacKenzie, Chip Noll, Rafael Perez, Jack Radcliffe, Zachery Scott, Bill Stetson (May 7).
J.C. Adams has covered the gay adult entertainment industry since 1995, and has served as the editor of "Inside Porn Magazine" and "Unzipped Monthly." In addition to the "Adams Report" weekly gossip and news column, his work has appeared in "Adult Video News," "Gay Chicago," "Genre," "HX" and many other print and online publications. You can reach him at JCAdamsXXX@aol.com
500 Turtles Productions © 2002 - 2006
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The Adams Report by J.C. Adams
May 1 - 7, 2006
This week we've got details on the stunning acquisition of All Worlds Video by rival studio Channel 1 Releasing. Also, Chad Savage quits the biz (again), Ray Dragon lands a new gig and the late Austin Black's life is celebrated. Plus, news about the surprising shutdown of CocoDorm.com by Chicago health department officials. Come on in, the water's fine!
CHANNEL 1 ACQUIRES AWV
So the gigantor news this week was the revelation that distributor Channel 1 Releasing has purchased rival studio All Worlds Video. Although rumors had begun to surface here and there, news of the acquisition caught pretty much everyone by surprise along the lines of how the merger of UPN and The WB into a new TV network knocked everyone in Hollywood sideways earlier this year.
The acquisition was announced on GAYVN.com which notes that Channel 1 Releasing is now "the largest gay-owned and -operated gay-adult entertainment company in the world." Channel 1 Releasing was formed in 1998 and is the home of Chi Chi LaRue's Rascal Video, as well as LiveandRaw.com. All Worlds Video was founded in 1985 by Rick Ford who will now step back from the daily operations of the studio, although "he will continue to be a strong influence in the All Worlds Video line with the Dirk Yates titles and online with DirkYatesLive.com."
I've got an interview with Rick Ford lined up and spoke with Ms. LaRue at length about the news. Here's a taste: The acquisition has been "in the works for about six months," Ms. LaRue says. "What Rick Ford was looking for was someone that was gonna take his company and keep the integrity of All Worlds and not demolish or diminish or get rid of the All Worlds name. I believe that All Worlds is a huge part of the gay adult business. It's a huge company. Nothing can beat Dirk Yates."
The absorption of All Worlds Video into Channel 1 Releasing continues a dramatic shakeup of the gay porn landscape. It was only a few months ago that industry founders Scott Masters and John Travis sold off their Studio 2000 (although they remain with the company). Director/producers Jack Fritscher and Bob Wingate last year closed down Palm Drive Video and Bound & Gagged Video, respectively, and MSR Videos was dissolved following founder Tony Alizzi's death and the sale of their catalog of titles to Titan Media. What's next?
COCODORM.COM: SHUT DOWN
The "Chicago Free Press" newspaper has a late-breaking story headlined as follows: "Local Gay Internet Site Believed Linked to the Spread of HIV/STDs." That "local site" was CocoDorm.com, which operated out of an apartment in Lakeview. A cease-and-desist order was delivered on April 20th by the Chicago Department of Public Health to the private residence where various models for CocoDorm.com were filmed for broadcast on the internet. Per the article, "concerns were raised about cases of HIV and other STDs tied to the site's models" following "credible evidence [that the models] were engaging in unsafe sex practices and were spreading HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea through contact with individuals outside the business."
At press time CocoDorm.com was still live. The site's owner, Jakson Robinson, denied any charges to the "Chicago Free Press" in a phone interview. "There's no one HIV-positive in our dorm, so that's untrue. The models also engage in safe sexual practices." He contends the city shut down the website because he did not have the proper business licenses. The article also details "unusual labor contracts" for the CocoDorm.com models which "bordered on illegal servitude" according to the paper's source. Robinson is now looking for a new location outside Chicago to reopen the site. Stay tuned on how this will all shake out.
CHAD SAVAGE: SAYONARA
The bodaciously sexy Chad Savage has apparently bid farewell to the porno biz for the second time. He's taken his rock-hard abs, stiff poker, pillowy bum and chiseled chin to greener pastures, says an industry insider. Hopefully someone is staying in touch with the handsome pup, an All Worlds Video Exclusive, now that the studio is under the Channel 1 Releasing umbrella and studio founder Rick Ford is stepping back from the spotlight. Mr. Savage racked up a handful of excellent flicks from 1998-2002 and then quit, returning three years later looking better than ever. His latest tour of duty includes CAPTURED, DESPERATE HUSBANDS, LITTLE BROTHER'S BIG SECRET and a few others, plus the co-lead in WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS 2. I gotta say, the sight of Marcos Pirelli hungrily diving into Mr. Savage's plush, muscular globes in the middle of a pool in CAPTURED (a threeway with Kevin Brown) is one of my favorite porn moments from the past year.
TITAN TO DRAGON: WELCOME
Legendary performer and director Ray Dragon has been snapped up by Titan Media and will helm their ManPlay line. The first will be BOOT CAMP: MANPLAY 24 (co-directed with Brian Mills) for release in the U.S. and Europe in late June.
Mr. Dragon's career stretches back sixteen years and includes a famed stint with COLT Studio back in the day, then a long retirement from the biz (during which he had his own clothing stores, remember?) He founded Dragon Media in 2001 and then returned to performing the following year with Titan's GORGE. He's also steadily racking up credits behind the scenes as a cameraman; I worked with him on a series of flicks for MSR Videos, including HELL ROOM (in which he has a nonsex cameo as the sinister "Gatekeeper"), and we really hit it off. During the 2005 Folsom Street festivities in San Francisco, it was utterly charming to watch newly hatched gaybois and their daddy-husbands approach Mr. Dragon with reverence and tell him how much they loved his work. TitanMen.com has the specifics on the hire. And, by the way, Mr. Dragon has just published a book of his photography titled "Real Men" available at RayDragon.com.
RIP: AUSTIN BLACK
The performer Austin Black passed away unexpectedly March 9th (the exact cause is being kept under wraps but I'm told it was complications related to liver cancer), and a memorial service celebrating him was held Monday, April 24th at the Metropolitan Community Church in West Hollywood. He was 43 years old. It was a lovely, sweet service attended by his sister and a small group of Mr. Black's friends and colleagues. Among them were performers Randy Summers, Cameron Cruise and Anthony DeAngelo, all of whom were close with Mr. Black. Other industry colleagues remembering him were performer/editor Andrew Addams, Video 10's Freddie Bercovitz and performer Vince Harrington (a/k/a dragstress Lana Luster).
One friend described how Austin Black, on location for a project, came upon a spider in the back yard and took the time to point it out and examine it closely. "No one else would have done that but Austin," the friend recalled. "No one else would have even noticed the spider." Randy Summers laughingly described Mr. Black as "an arguer. You could tell him something was beige and he'd spend three hours arguing with you that it was brown." Mr. Black's sister told me she was touched that his industry colleagues took the time to publicly memorialize him. It was clear during the brief service that he will be missed and fondly remembered.
Porn Star Birthdays for May 1 through May 7: Alex Berlin, Mitch Fitz, Zaire Masters, Gino Romero, Elec Voughn (May 1); Ren Adams, Tony Monroe, Christian Olsen, Derek Steel (May 2); Sebastian Bonnet, Sam Chamberlain, Kris De Ferr, Mauro Pelle, Leonardo Santangelo, Sam Sun, Anthony Torrez, Cedrick York (May 3); Andre Bolla, Yuri Breshnev, Dean Clarke, Jerek, Geoff Powell, Rick Rogue, Diogo Silva (May 4); Andreas Harris, Derrick Mills, Julian Pierce, Duncan Starr (May 5); Mike Cesar, 'Big' Pete Dixon, Creed Harley, Joe Montreal, Ralf Vernier, Antonio York (May 6); Erik Kapena, John Ferage, Tim MacKenzie, Chip Noll, Rafael Perez, Jack Radcliffe, Zachery Scott, Bill Stetson (May 7).
J.C. Adams has covered the gay adult entertainment industry since 1995, and has served as the editor of "Inside Porn Magazine" and "Unzipped Monthly." In addition to the "Adams Report" weekly gossip and news column, his work has appeared in "Adult Video News," "Gay Chicago," "Genre," "HX" and many other print and online publications. You can reach him at JCAdamsXXX@aol.com
500 Turtles Productions © 2002 - 2006
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