Gay entertainment journalist Ed Karvoski, Jr., has compiled interview excerpts from 1993 - 1998 with dozens of gay porn stars in this gossipy, easily digestible book, titled ALL-MALE: Quirky Quotes, Intimate Interviews, and Tantalizing Trivia from the Most Desired Men on Earth (Kensington Books). His subjects cover all sorts of topics: starting in the biz, how their parents have reacted to their work (some don't know, others have accepted it), to favorite co-stars, turn-ons, and behind-the-scenes gossip.
Throughout, the men all seem wonderfully candid and honest, as with Kevin Kramer's unapologetic confession: "I've been in a one-lover situation before, but now I have a lot of boyfriends - I mean, a lot! When we get together, they ask, 'What did you do at work today?' And I say, 'Let me show you.'"
Others offer different shades of revelations. Kyle Brandon admits he cries often - the movie Beaches always gets him "bawling." Shawn Justin says that turning forty - often a kiss of death in porn - hasn't hurt him; he continued performing and teaching aerobics, to boot!
All-Male has much humor as well. In a bloopers section, Dave Logan tells of a shoot being interrupted by a bee sting right on his penis. (Although there was some swelling later on, a co-worker removed the stinger with his fingernail, applied some cream, and the scene continued.)
Jackson Phillips gets off some of the most articulate quotes, explaining how after he sold his share of his ad agency, sold his house and dumped his beau, he headed for the beach and was approached by a man who said, "Those are fabulous pecs! They'd look great on video." Phillips' response was, "God, that's a really lame opening line." But it turned out that the man really was a scout from Falcon Studio.
Phillips also disses Ken Ryker ("I'll keep my husband any day. My husband looks just like Ken Ryker - except my husband can keep a hard-on!") and pseudo-straight performers ("I worked in a scene with a guy who kept stopping every five minutes to look at straight porn. Meanwhile, he's stuffing a dildo the size of a fire hydrant up his butt. Honey, you need to just figure out who and what you are!").
The author also includes more in-depth interviews with several performers, including Kyle Brandon and Rex Chandler. Brandon shares his passion for S&M and his elaborate dungeon (costing between $20,000 to $40,000, he estimates.) Chandler, interviewed after making his debut in the play Making Porn, comes across as hypocritical and badly confused. Although he claims that he never enjoyed the sex he had in his videos, and that he would never kiss a guy in any venue, he would jump at the chance to play gay again if it would advance his career.
All-Male is packed with photos (all mostly discreet)... it's highly enjoyable with some often biting ancedotes. Recommended.
All-Male really blew me away (pardon the pun) and shattered my misconceptions about the world of gay adult films and their stars. These guys are not only adorable on the exterior (or posterior, as the case may be), but many of them would be the kind of men you'd feel proud to take home to Mom.
This book is an easy read, and full of truth, beauty and soul. It's not simply a collection of quips from a bunch of hard jocks - although if that's all you're into, you won't be let down, either. The stories of their adventurous escapades - both on the set and off - make All-Male a captivating read you simply will not be able to put down until you've finished reading it. Even then, you'll be driven to read it again for the humor and the mind-boggling fantasies it will conjure up in you if you have a pulse. Should be an excellent gift this holiday season and year-round.
Imagine my delight when I opened my mailbox to find I'd received a copy of writer Ed Karvoski, Jr.'s new book, All-Male ("The Hottest Erotic Video Stars Tell All!"). I quickly skimmed through the book to find that the claims are indeed true! Karvoski dishes up a great bunch of stories, trivia and quotes on all topics - straight from the mouths of our favorite porn stars.
He covers everything from sex on camera ("Working with Jeff Stryker in Busted was very intimitading... The sex was, well, uncomfortable, a little painful" -Sean Carrera) to sex off camera ("I tend to attract people who are very expressive and very vocal. I love to hear them moaning and screaming!" -Vince Rockland).
The book is divided into two sections: "Quirky Quotes" (quips on all topics from the guys themselves) and the "Intimate Interviews," where you can read Karvoski's one-on-ones with the likes of Rex Chandler, Vince Rockland and Derek Cruise, among others.
All-Male is also filled with erotic photos of the stars, and would be the perfect addition to your porn star / porn biz library.
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