Gallery at 129 Ossington hosted the openings of both Kate Domina and Neil Young on June 4, 2009. The two shows couldn’t be more different, but both were quite good.
Domina occupied the front half with her show, All my Friends are Imaginary, a collection of oil on canvas consisting mostly of portraits of bratty blonde children. The wit and style seemed to capture the crowd. One picture depicted a sour-faced little girl in a red polka dot dress, and in her breast pocket sits a miniature version of herself. My other favorite canvas featured another pouting child sporting antlers, with a little bird nestled atop. Hilarious, but also touching. Domina herself is a bright blonde, and clearly talented.
The back rooms were occupied by Nature and the City Abstracts, a series of resin-glossed paintings by Neil Young. His colour sense is fabulous, with the most seductive blues and greens. It’s his first show, but won’t be his last. It’s the type of art that sits comfortably in art galleries, upper class livingrooms, or gungy studios. If I had money, I’d buy one for my gungy upper class living room. Young gave up a career in architecture to become a painter. Despite the fact that he has famous name syndrome, he will probably do quite well as an artist.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Matthew Rush
He was voted the Number One Porn Star by Fab Readers! He’s big and golden and pumped up! He’s more than just a guy with a huge dick! He’s Matthew Rush, Superstar!
I was quite excited to interview Rush by phone from his Florida home. Sadly, when the call took place, he was on a tin can speakerphone. He mumbled, and I can’t be sure, but I think he was even on the treadmill at the time. He even had the TV on in the background, playing Mama’s Family or some such noisy sitcom. I could barely hear a word that he was saying. I was in a panic. I did not want to interrupt or reschedule the interview. I figured I would just ask questions blindly and hope that I could still transcribe the conversation. A big if.
Rush is promoting Brief Encounters, his first movie for a studio other than Falcon, with whom he once held a “lifetime” contract. His new studio, Pantheon Productions, specializes in daddy porn. Rush may be 36, but if he qualifies as a daddy, then I’m a granddaddy.
For the record, Matthew Rush was born in Ohio. As a young man, he had a choice between becoming a clown or becoming a body builder, so he split the difference and became a porn star. He also branched out, starring in the play Making Porn and appearing in Another Gay Movie. He’s competed as a body builder under his real name, Greg Grove. His muscles have muscles.
We spoke for about ten minutes. I strained to hear what he was saying. I soldiered on. Thankfully, when I played back the tape, I could make out about thirty per cent of what he said. I present to you now a transcript of that thirty per cent.
PB: I don’t know if anyone told you, but Fab readers chose you as their most favorite adult movie star.
MR: No way, really? I’m flattered.
PB: Are you familiar with Toronto?
MR: I love Toronto. I have friends who live there, and I’ve come for a couple of Prides.
PB: What was it like working with Pantheon Productions on Brief Encounters?
MR: It was a little different than what I was used to. Everybody was great, fun to work with. I was conditioned to Falcon’s way of doing things. I was with them for nine years. I shot it with my workout partner Tim Kelly, which was a little weird. It turned out pretty good.
PB: What was Falcon like, overall?
MR: Falcon’s a great company. They treated me like gold.
PB: What do you do when you’re not doing porn?
MR: I’m a personal trainer. I used to compete in bodybuilding competition until about four years ago.
PB: Do you think you’ll keep doing porn?
MR: I would like to move to behind the camera. I directed a video for Falcon and for Manhunt. I’d like to be able to do more of that.
PB: How did it all start?
MR: I was living in Columbus, Ohio. I was recruited at a bar by a scout. At the time I had no desire to do it. But then the gym was sold and I was out of a job. So I thought I’d do three or four and then be on my merry way. It didn’t happen that way.
PB: Do you recommend porn as a career?
MR: It’s a lot of hard work, but it can be a good time.
PB: Any last words for all your Toronto fans?
MR: If it weren’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I love you guys. I really do.
I was quite excited to interview Rush by phone from his Florida home. Sadly, when the call took place, he was on a tin can speakerphone. He mumbled, and I can’t be sure, but I think he was even on the treadmill at the time. He even had the TV on in the background, playing Mama’s Family or some such noisy sitcom. I could barely hear a word that he was saying. I was in a panic. I did not want to interrupt or reschedule the interview. I figured I would just ask questions blindly and hope that I could still transcribe the conversation. A big if.
Rush is promoting Brief Encounters, his first movie for a studio other than Falcon, with whom he once held a “lifetime” contract. His new studio, Pantheon Productions, specializes in daddy porn. Rush may be 36, but if he qualifies as a daddy, then I’m a granddaddy.
For the record, Matthew Rush was born in Ohio. As a young man, he had a choice between becoming a clown or becoming a body builder, so he split the difference and became a porn star. He also branched out, starring in the play Making Porn and appearing in Another Gay Movie. He’s competed as a body builder under his real name, Greg Grove. His muscles have muscles.
We spoke for about ten minutes. I strained to hear what he was saying. I soldiered on. Thankfully, when I played back the tape, I could make out about thirty per cent of what he said. I present to you now a transcript of that thirty per cent.
PB: I don’t know if anyone told you, but Fab readers chose you as their most favorite adult movie star.
MR: No way, really? I’m flattered.
PB: Are you familiar with Toronto?
MR: I love Toronto. I have friends who live there, and I’ve come for a couple of Prides.
PB: What was it like working with Pantheon Productions on Brief Encounters?
MR: It was a little different than what I was used to. Everybody was great, fun to work with. I was conditioned to Falcon’s way of doing things. I was with them for nine years. I shot it with my workout partner Tim Kelly, which was a little weird. It turned out pretty good.
PB: What was Falcon like, overall?
MR: Falcon’s a great company. They treated me like gold.
PB: What do you do when you’re not doing porn?
MR: I’m a personal trainer. I used to compete in bodybuilding competition until about four years ago.
PB: Do you think you’ll keep doing porn?
MR: I would like to move to behind the camera. I directed a video for Falcon and for Manhunt. I’d like to be able to do more of that.
PB: How did it all start?
MR: I was living in Columbus, Ohio. I was recruited at a bar by a scout. At the time I had no desire to do it. But then the gym was sold and I was out of a job. So I thought I’d do three or four and then be on my merry way. It didn’t happen that way.
PB: Do you recommend porn as a career?
MR: It’s a lot of hard work, but it can be a good time.
PB: Any last words for all your Toronto fans?
MR: If it weren’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I love you guys. I really do.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mr. Bullock to you
The following article appears in an edited form in issue #371 of Fab Magazine.
In 1980 a fledgling stand-up comedian named Jim J. Bullock was cast in Ted Knight’s ABC sitcom Too Close for Comfort. His character, Monroe Ficus, was the perfect comic foil for Knight, and an instant hit. After a seven year run that made Monroe a household name, Bullock went on to Hollywood Squares, Queer Duck, a talk show with Tammy Faye Baker, the stage version of Hairspray, and an atrocious Canadian tween comedy called Boogie’s Diner. Bullock is coming to town to host a version of Match Game at Maggie Cassella’s comedy fest, We’re Funny That Way, on May 7th.
Paul: Hey, Jim. Is this your first trip to Toronto?
Jim: No, I actually lived there for a year in the mid 90s doing a series called Boogie’s Diner.
P: I remember that. Your proudest achievement?
J: Yes, Paul, it’s what I want to be remembered for.
P: How do you know Maggie Cassella?
J: I met her a year ago in Palm Springs, and she asked if I would come up and do this.
P: You’ll be hosting her Match Game, which I suppose will remind you of your days on Hollywood Squares.
J: I’d blow a monkey to be back on Hollywood Squares for real right now. That was my favorite job. Apart from Boogie’s Diner, of course.
P: Was it fun making Too Close for Comfort?
J: It was hard work. I moved out to L.A. in 1977, started doing stand-up, and then got Too Close. It was the biggest thing to happen to me.
P: Monroe was this giant character. You were like Urkel.
J: Yeah, that’s a compliment.
P: What keeps you busy these days?
J: A lot of theatre. Isn’t theatre the bone yard for old TV celebrities? “Let’s remount Pippin, and Jim J. can do the Irene Ryan role. (singing) Back in my younger days …” I love working in any capacity, and theatre has opened itself up to me. I got to do Hairspray on Broadway. I’m 55, and didn’t think Broadway would ever happen, and when it did, I thought Oh my God, how amazing. Just when I thought it was over for me, a whole other dream is revealed. But now I’m back in L.A. working on a non-scripted show. You just keep kicking and something will turn up.
P: You were one of the first out gay comedians.
J: Monroe was not supposed to be gay, but it’s sort of like how Oprah’s black. You just can’t fool the public, butch as I tried to be. I had some real struggles with it. I grew up Southern Baptist, and I was not comfortable. It was not a time to be out. So I don’t feel like a pioneer in that regard. It was just the way it happened. When Hollywood Squares came along, well, I’m a big cocksucker and we all know it, so this is who I am, accept me or don’t. But that wasn’t until the late 80s. People have come up to me over the years and thanked me for being out. I had a guy call me on a radio show. He said “Jim J., I’m 48 years old and I just came out to my dad, who is 80, and my dad said Why didn’t you tell me this years ago? I said that I was afraid of his reaction, and he said, ‘Yeah but you know I like that Monroe on Too Close for Comfort’.”
P: How do other gay celebrities treat you?
J: I was at the Emmys a few years ago and all the Queer Eye guys were flipping out over meeting me. I was so honoured.
P: You tested positive early on, like 85?
J: Oh, it’s probably petrified by now. You know, I have never been ill or even had to take any therapy drugs.
P: So how do you take care of yourself?
J: Vodka. But I mix it with cranberry juice, so that’s healthy. I’m blessed beyond measure to have the health I have. I’ve got a lot of Scarlet O’Hara in me, a lot of denial going on. You know that quality where you go “Fiddle dee dee, I’ll think about it tomorrow,” that kind of thing? It has worked both for me and against me. With AIDS, I just gave it no energy. When I first found out, I just put it out of my head for a year. I just couldn’t process it, until a year later, when I went to some AIDS benefit here in L.A., and I just snapped. But only for a short time. I didn’t tell anyone for several years. I was ashamed of it, but I never thought I was going to die of AIDS, and I still don’t think I’m going to die of AIDS. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to die during this phone call of AIDS. Oh, shit, is that a pimple? I remember when my partner John was dying, and I was in the hospital room with him, and yet I had a really strong feeling that I am not going to go this way. My liver will go out first.
P: Are you in a relationship now?
J: No, I haven’t been in a loving relationship since John. That’s 15 years ago. I have a cat. Sometimes, I think maybe I’m fine with a cat.
P: Before we go, I know Fab readers would not forgive me if I didn’t ask you about what it was like to work with Tammy Faye.
J: I adored Tammy. Not to say that there weren’t times when if I had a really sharp butter knife I would have cut her throat. Working with her was a challenge, but at the same time it was an incredible delight. She really was like Pandora’s Box, you never knew what was going to come out. She was one hundred per cent genuine. She practiced what she preached, which was love and acceptance. It doesn’t get better than that.
P: Great. See you in Toronto, Jim J.
J: Thanks, Paul. Bye.
In 1980 a fledgling stand-up comedian named Jim J. Bullock was cast in Ted Knight’s ABC sitcom Too Close for Comfort. His character, Monroe Ficus, was the perfect comic foil for Knight, and an instant hit. After a seven year run that made Monroe a household name, Bullock went on to Hollywood Squares, Queer Duck, a talk show with Tammy Faye Baker, the stage version of Hairspray, and an atrocious Canadian tween comedy called Boogie’s Diner. Bullock is coming to town to host a version of Match Game at Maggie Cassella’s comedy fest, We’re Funny That Way, on May 7th.
Paul: Hey, Jim. Is this your first trip to Toronto?
Jim: No, I actually lived there for a year in the mid 90s doing a series called Boogie’s Diner.
P: I remember that. Your proudest achievement?
J: Yes, Paul, it’s what I want to be remembered for.
P: How do you know Maggie Cassella?
J: I met her a year ago in Palm Springs, and she asked if I would come up and do this.
P: You’ll be hosting her Match Game, which I suppose will remind you of your days on Hollywood Squares.
J: I’d blow a monkey to be back on Hollywood Squares for real right now. That was my favorite job. Apart from Boogie’s Diner, of course.
P: Was it fun making Too Close for Comfort?
J: It was hard work. I moved out to L.A. in 1977, started doing stand-up, and then got Too Close. It was the biggest thing to happen to me.
P: Monroe was this giant character. You were like Urkel.
J: Yeah, that’s a compliment.
P: What keeps you busy these days?
J: A lot of theatre. Isn’t theatre the bone yard for old TV celebrities? “Let’s remount Pippin, and Jim J. can do the Irene Ryan role. (singing) Back in my younger days …” I love working in any capacity, and theatre has opened itself up to me. I got to do Hairspray on Broadway. I’m 55, and didn’t think Broadway would ever happen, and when it did, I thought Oh my God, how amazing. Just when I thought it was over for me, a whole other dream is revealed. But now I’m back in L.A. working on a non-scripted show. You just keep kicking and something will turn up.
P: You were one of the first out gay comedians.
J: Monroe was not supposed to be gay, but it’s sort of like how Oprah’s black. You just can’t fool the public, butch as I tried to be. I had some real struggles with it. I grew up Southern Baptist, and I was not comfortable. It was not a time to be out. So I don’t feel like a pioneer in that regard. It was just the way it happened. When Hollywood Squares came along, well, I’m a big cocksucker and we all know it, so this is who I am, accept me or don’t. But that wasn’t until the late 80s. People have come up to me over the years and thanked me for being out. I had a guy call me on a radio show. He said “Jim J., I’m 48 years old and I just came out to my dad, who is 80, and my dad said Why didn’t you tell me this years ago? I said that I was afraid of his reaction, and he said, ‘Yeah but you know I like that Monroe on Too Close for Comfort’.”
P: How do other gay celebrities treat you?
J: I was at the Emmys a few years ago and all the Queer Eye guys were flipping out over meeting me. I was so honoured.
P: You tested positive early on, like 85?
J: Oh, it’s probably petrified by now. You know, I have never been ill or even had to take any therapy drugs.
P: So how do you take care of yourself?
J: Vodka. But I mix it with cranberry juice, so that’s healthy. I’m blessed beyond measure to have the health I have. I’ve got a lot of Scarlet O’Hara in me, a lot of denial going on. You know that quality where you go “Fiddle dee dee, I’ll think about it tomorrow,” that kind of thing? It has worked both for me and against me. With AIDS, I just gave it no energy. When I first found out, I just put it out of my head for a year. I just couldn’t process it, until a year later, when I went to some AIDS benefit here in L.A., and I just snapped. But only for a short time. I didn’t tell anyone for several years. I was ashamed of it, but I never thought I was going to die of AIDS, and I still don’t think I’m going to die of AIDS. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to die during this phone call of AIDS. Oh, shit, is that a pimple? I remember when my partner John was dying, and I was in the hospital room with him, and yet I had a really strong feeling that I am not going to go this way. My liver will go out first.
P: Are you in a relationship now?
J: No, I haven’t been in a loving relationship since John. That’s 15 years ago. I have a cat. Sometimes, I think maybe I’m fine with a cat.
P: Before we go, I know Fab readers would not forgive me if I didn’t ask you about what it was like to work with Tammy Faye.
J: I adored Tammy. Not to say that there weren’t times when if I had a really sharp butter knife I would have cut her throat. Working with her was a challenge, but at the same time it was an incredible delight. She really was like Pandora’s Box, you never knew what was going to come out. She was one hundred per cent genuine. She practiced what she preached, which was love and acceptance. It doesn’t get better than that.
P: Great. See you in Toronto, Jim J.
J: Thanks, Paul. Bye.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A Deep Compassion
A man breaks out of a correctional facility and speeds off on a motorcycle. He meets up with some accomplices, who take him to a cabin in the woods. The only occupant of the cabin is the blind brother of one of the accomplices. (The second guy completely, mysteriously disappears.) I really enjoyed watching actor David Arlen pretend to be blind. When was the last time you saw a guy in a porn movie acting blind? Never. That's because A Deep Compassion was made in 1972, when pornos were films first, smut second.
Blindy gets freaked out by the sounds of his brother blowing the Jailbird, so he goes into the woods and talks to the trees. "Can you hear me?" he asks, and a hunky Forest God materializes and puts a fatherly hand on Blindy's shoulder. Their clothes vanish and Forest God fucks Blindy's face. This film could not get any weirder.
But it does. Jailbird rapes Blindy, who proceeds to have the most hysterical, over-the-top screaming fit in the history of gay cinema. He keeps up the hysterics through the whole scene, making it rather uncomfortable to enjoy. The overdramatic music doesn't help, either. Jailbird takes a satisfied nap afterwards, while Blindy grabs a poker and bashes his skull in, set to the familiar strains of Bernard Herrman's Psycho score. Blindy runs screaming into the forest and falls off a cliff to his death, but then Forest God comes to him and their spirits go off into the sunset together.
They don't make them like this anymore.
Blindy gets freaked out by the sounds of his brother blowing the Jailbird, so he goes into the woods and talks to the trees. "Can you hear me?" he asks, and a hunky Forest God materializes and puts a fatherly hand on Blindy's shoulder. Their clothes vanish and Forest God fucks Blindy's face. This film could not get any weirder.
But it does. Jailbird rapes Blindy, who proceeds to have the most hysterical, over-the-top screaming fit in the history of gay cinema. He keeps up the hysterics through the whole scene, making it rather uncomfortable to enjoy. The overdramatic music doesn't help, either. Jailbird takes a satisfied nap afterwards, while Blindy grabs a poker and bashes his skull in, set to the familiar strains of Bernard Herrman's Psycho score. Blindy runs screaming into the forest and falls off a cliff to his death, but then Forest God comes to him and their spirits go off into the sunset together.
They don't make them like this anymore.
Latin Initiation
Fierce Dog Pictures presents Latin Initiation: Latin Interview Boys 2, in which the filmmakers went into the streets of Mexico to find hot boys. The finalists are highlighted, and each gives a long interview in Mexican. Never before have I had to read subtitles with my cock in one hand. The best moment was when this one kid, exercising while wearing knee-high embroidered cowboy boots, gets a call from his mom. I think it's interesting, too, that the word "casting" seems to be their euphemism for "have gay sex in front of a camera crew". But ultimately a porn movie is only as hot as the guys in it, and I couldn't pick many favorites out of this bunch.
Skyler's Sex Adventures
If a boring, overlong interview with a blonde twink is your idea of Heaven, then you'll love the bonus features on 18 West Studios' new Skyler's Sex Adventures. The movie consists mostly of scenes of Skyler jerking off. He also has sex with Chase Himmel and Brooke Daniels, both of who will grow up to be sexy men one day.
I hate Skyler DeVoss. His gay voice is an erection killer, and watching him frou frou up his ridiculous hair made me violent. Aren't those fucking faux hawks over already? Maybe it's just me, but I want my gay porn stars - twinks included - to act like men, not petulant girls. Horrible stuff.
I hate Skyler DeVoss. His gay voice is an erection killer, and watching him frou frou up his ridiculous hair made me violent. Aren't those fucking faux hawks over already? Maybe it's just me, but I want my gay porn stars - twinks included - to act like men, not petulant girls. Horrible stuff.
Screwed
Despite its coarse title, Jet Set's Screwed strives for seriousness. It opens with B&W footage and piano music, a sure sign of artsy ambitiousness. The story concerns a bunch of hot guys in prison. When I interviewed director Chris Steele last summer, we talked about how a lot of gay porn models end up in jail for one reason or another. Perhaps this is meant as a homage.
There are major acting scenes, and Steele gets credible performances out of his models. Screenwriter John Tegan has fun with the concept as well, as when an anal cavity search turns into a hot fingering. (The puns continue. One guy is in jail for cockfighting.) The main plot concerns a corrupt guard who sells drugs to the inmates. Expect comeuppance.
It's hard to say who's hotter - the guards, or the prisoners. Regardless, this is a terrific prison fantasy, way less gloomy and feel-bad than Oz. Although Screwed isn't likely to lead to prison reform, it does confirm what I've always expected - that incarceration is inherently homoerotic.
There are major acting scenes, and Steele gets credible performances out of his models. Screenwriter John Tegan has fun with the concept as well, as when an anal cavity search turns into a hot fingering. (The puns continue. One guy is in jail for cockfighting.) The main plot concerns a corrupt guard who sells drugs to the inmates. Expect comeuppance.
It's hard to say who's hotter - the guards, or the prisoners. Regardless, this is a terrific prison fantasy, way less gloomy and feel-bad than Oz. Although Screwed isn't likely to lead to prison reform, it does confirm what I've always expected - that incarceration is inherently homoerotic.
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