J.C. Adams: First Among Equals

(So where does one begin with the most respected chronicler of gay porn, J.C. Adams of the GayPornTimes? Nowhere and everywhere. J.C. spent a generous two hours talking with me about the state of Gay Porn, his resume, if Racism is an issue, Steve Cruz, Brent Corrigan and much, much more. And considering how - despite the torpor that is L.A. traffic and a few technical glitches on my end, J.C. was ready, as promised at our scheduled time, it makes what follows further proof that professionalism didn't get lost along the way.)

MOC:  Thank you for joining us here at MOC, J.C. It's a great privilege.

JC:  Thanks for the invite. My pleasure!

MOC:  So, you're in top form these days having built a very loyal, very important clique of followers. You make it seem so easy. But it wasn't? Or was it?

JC:  You flatter me. I have a funny story about the blog...I had burned out writing my weekly column and since I was already archiving my column online I thought it would somehow be easier to turn it into a blog and just update freely rather than once a week. I foolishly thought it would be less work.

MOC:  Well, it's appreciated. Were you like that as a child? Idealistic?

JC:  I should state that I enjoy my job tremendously. But I underestimated the work involved. As a kid I guess you could say I was a dreamer. I had wanderlust. I read everything I could find, with a focus on myths and fantasy and comic books.

MOC:  Did that shape your sexuality?

JC:  Sure, of course. My father was a high school English teacher. He had a series of books of Greek myths published early in the 20th Century that were filled with sex and violence, much different from the sanitized versions in my schoolbooks. I devoured them.

MOC:  Seems like a well adjusted childhood to me. Fuck, I was stuck with the Hardy Boys! (But I did the best I could.) Now you grew up in Pittsburgh. What was that like for you?

JC:  Pittsburgh is a wonderful city to grow up in or grow old in, because nothing ever really happens. They have a world-class museum and library and an arts culture, but people generally don't leave. I had wanderlust.

MOC:  So you headed West?

JC:  Yes.

MOC:  And you landed...?

JC:  Los Angeles, and here I remain.

MOC:  And you've had a full and complete time of it, history documents. Talk, if you would, about your background in the Adult Business. Many of your recent fans may not appreciate your toils.

JC:  I began as a reviewer for "Adult Video News" in 1995. I was conscripted into helping to produce the Gay Erotic Video Awards that same year, which were run by "Gay Video Guide" magazine. Both are now long dead. But in 1997 I became the Judging & Nominations Coordinator, which was a deeply traumatic experience. But I ended up meeting every model, producer, director and agent in the business. That's how I got into "Gay Chicago Magazine" because the late Ralph Paul Gernhardt was a GEVA judge. He was a mentor of mine and is deeply missed...I met the people at RAD Video through the GEVAs and was invited to write a column for the site because the owner wanted more original content. And I just began working my connections, hustling for work wherever I could find it.

MOC:  And now you stand as perhaps the only serious journalist to cover Gay Adult Porn. Is that fair to say?

JC:  That's for other people to determine, I suppose.

MOC:  But you're influential, nonetheless. What role is served by covering Gay Porn?

JC:  Thank you. I like to think I've carved out a niche for myself. As to your second question...

Gay and bi men have an intimate relationship with porn; far more so than straight men. It's a chronicle of our history. For many of us, it was our first exposure to real male intimacy. It deserves to be treated seriously. Even though much of it is ridiculous.

MOC:  What constitutes Gay Porn today? I mean, is it mean, or is there A LOT of sameness? I know it sounds terrible to say but they all really all do start to look the same after awhile!

JC:  My god, imagine how it feels after watching 5000 movies. There was never a time when it was fabulously diverse, I don't think. You're familiar with the clone era in the '70s? Same song. Different verse.

MOC:  Do you think Race is an issue in today's porn?

JC:  Yes.

MOC:  Okay, how?

JC:  Porn is a direct expression of our deepest desires: unfiltered. The sets and costumes are side dressing. I'm not saying its unconscious racism, but it is an expression of our culture's unease with it.

MOC:  What needs to change first, then?

JC:  I think it's worth asking why more men of color don't make more porn movies, or start their own companies. And it's worth asking why there isn't more diversity within the all-black companies, too.

MOC:  Agreed. To a degree. I mean, would there be a need for niche porn if diversity was the rule instead of the exception? I don't know. But I want to get back to your blog, though. It's unusual in a number of ways. For example, you avoided snark as a means of expression and you've not only thrived, you've grown. Was that a conscious decision? Not to get "ironic" about a business that is built on ironies?

JC:  Yes, it was absolutely a conscious choice. It's a balancing act, though. People really like personal stories and a unique perspective. I think I wandered away from that recently and I'm trying to talk about my personal experiences more regularly. I try to take it seriously and at the same time acknowledge the silliness of it. Also, I have a low tolerance for snark.

MOC:  K. Where do you see porn headed? As a business entity, as a means of cultural expression, as an increasingly prominent force among people? What's next in porn evolution?

JC:  Jinkies. Big question...We're in an era where a sex tape can make you more famous. That's interesting. Porn stars have a stigma but Paris Hilton is flown around the world to open nightclubs and Kim Kardashian is on the very mainstream "Dancing with the Stars.” Porn is so much more personal. I've told the story of a 26-year-old porn star on a set I was production managing. He was getting himself hard by flipping through photos on his phone. He'd gone out partying that weekend and convinced hot guys to drop their pants so he could take a photo. THAT was his porn! He never rented or bought DVDs, ever. That was two years ago. Jesse Santana told me last spring he never bought or rented porn. He found it all online for free or he went out and made his own.

MOC:  So the future is free? Count me in!

MOC:  Hello?

(The first of several breakdowns in Gchat.)

JC:  Ah, I think we're back. What happened? I forget what brilliant point I was making.

MOC:  Porn. Cheap or free, maybe...

JC:  Oh, right.

MOC:  Well, hooray for free porn! Sex has been free for me my whole life so it's a bit annoying to have to pay for it. But I do understand its necessity. So I mentioned early there's a couple of things that make your blog unusual. There's the lack of snark and the absence of explicit photos.

JC:  I was saying earlier, the porn biz is in the same boat as the music industry. The horse is so far out of the barn it's in the next county. The question now is to train the people who aren't serious online users, but will be soon. [And, yes] that was a specific choice to make GPTimes more of a tease. I do know nude photos are a traffic generator but I wanted to make the site more accessible, so to speak, despite the title.

MOC:  Accessible to whom?

JC:  People who might not want to see a gigantic dripping dick pop up on their computer screens. Also I think it's kind of funny to run a porn site without porn. Maybe it's perverse, but it seems to work.

MOC:  Okay, do you mind a few mundane questions?

JC:  Nope.

MOC:  How far is your job from your home?

JC:  I work from home, so not far.

MOC:  Do you have any pets?

JC:  No.

MOC:  Have you seen "Milk?" If so, did you cry?

JC:  I saw it at a SAG screening before it was released. Oy, it killed me. What struck me was how the playbook in 1978 was exactly the fucking same. Palin, Anita Bryant, same bile...I actually saw Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black during the Prop 8 protests when we were storming down Sunset Blvd. Crazy.

MOC:  And important. Now, you've directed a number of movies for top studios. And they have this 'Behind-The-Scenes' motif. Is that really where the action is

JC:  Oh, yes.

MOC:  You make is seem so! Oh, do tell.

(The second interruption.)

JC:  We were talking about BTS stuff. Did you lose that thread?

MOC:  No, have it. It's your signature. What did you see?

JC:  Wait, BTS is my signature? Is that what you're saying?

MOC:  As a theme in the movies you've made, sure.

JC:  I suppose that grew out of haunting so many dozens of porn sets over the years as a writer or publicist or whatever. But "Catch Me" was pure necessity. I shot the movie on sets that were already constructed for another All Worlds film. The soundstage owner, Bob Bouchard, another one lost, agreed to leave the sets up so I could shoot there. I couldn't afford new ones.

MOC:  Given that situation, were you pleased with the results?

JC:  You know, I am. It holds up well enough.

MOC:  What's the last good porn you've seen?

JC:  I need to think about that one. They blur together after awhile.

MOC:  Okay, what makes a good porn, than?

JC:  Passion. I don't care if they're faking it because they're good actors, but I want to really feel it the connection.

MOC:  Okay, you've been ultra gracious with your time so I won't keep you...But is what you do a full-time occupation?

JC:  Yes, happily.

MOC:  Indeed! If you were going to direct another gay porn and you make any gay porn you wanted, what would you make?

JC:  Good question...I think I'd make something like "Shortbus"...Not thematically similar, but incorporating sex into a real movie, without sex as the primary focus, but one of the components.

MOC:  If you have a scene that involves a middle-aged man falling in love with his twenty-something Latino cement mixer can I play the part?

JC:  You got it.

MOC:  Hooray for Pictures!!

JC:  Ha!

MOC:  One last thing...The Cybersockets, k?

JC:  What about them?

MOC:  Do you really believe - in your heart of hearts - that a Cybersocket win somehow would give you validation you don't already have by the respect of everyone that knows you in the business?

JC:  Oh, you're making me blush...Boy, did that blog entry about my Cybersocket loss get a lot of attention. That's what I mean about personal stories, as I was talking about earlier. I appreciate the compliment.

MOC:  Okay, one last, superduper thing, k?

JC:  Sure.

MOC:  You've worked with Mason Wyler. You've read the same reports of his crime as others have. What were your reactions to the news that he was raped in his home and the subsequent news that he may have faked it? 

JC:  I know Mason personally and so I choose to give him the benefit of the doubt. I've questioned him directly about it and I have my suspicions. But as I said, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here. I can understand why someone would feel otherwise.

MOC:  Who, in your opinion, are some of the names in Gay Porn to look out for?

JC:  You know, that's a hard question anymore because they come and go so quickly...Steve Cruz is a developing talent. He has a lot of raw talent...Thinking...Ricky Sinz is quite something. He can do masculine and glowering, but in person he's soft-spoken and kind of sweet. I'd love to see him do a romance film. He's one to watch, for sure. Brent Corrigan is the total package for his type. He works his image better than anyone in the business right now. I'll probably think of six others tonight in bed, but that's it for now.

MOC:  Good stuff, all. Seriously, J.C. It doesn't appear that you've been on the other end of the interview process quite that much. True?

JC:  No, not really. It's an unusual feeling!

MOC:  Well, I hope we can pick this up. For my readers, certainly, it's a frequently unopened window into the world of Gay Porn. And for anyone that knows you. It's an infrequent opportunity that I'm really glad I've gotten to be a part of. You'll return?

JC:  Absolutely. I follow your blog and appreciate your invitation to gab for a bit. You're carving out your own niche, which is how it's done in this impossible business.

MOC:  Bring it on! No, wait, Change we can believe in! I'm confused. Anyone, J.C., I appreciate your time. Please come back.

JC: Cheers!

Comments

[DeWayne]

Great Interview Guys I appreciate and your right who needs a Damn Cybersocket!

JC Adams is in a league of his own!

[d]

Great catch; good interviewing!!

[Damon Kruezer]

What happened to JC Adams' professionalism in his refusal to acknowledge his fellow Cybersocket Award nominee or to list his colleague on his blog roll? I'm talking about myself, Damon Kruezer and Kruezer at Night. Why didn't you ask Mr. Adams THAT question? He's never yet explained exactly what his reasons are for trying to ignore what Cybersocket calls "the industry's biggest guilty pleasure", and until Mr. Adams DOES give a coherent, reasonable and logical explanation, he looks anything but "professional" not just in my view but in the view of many of my readers - of whom there are thousands around the world. Mr. Adams is welcome to call or email me directly so that we can calmly discuss any concerns he may have, but unfortunately he hasn't done that to date, with the result that what I believe is his his gay-on-gay discrimination is not doing him or his readers any good. And did I mention that I'm the only one with the news of Adam Male and its bowing out of Bareback - which Mr. Adams as an Xbiz source doesn't yet have? So WHO is the REAL industry reporter here, with the most RELEVANT and UP TO DATE news? Or is Adams not covering the Adam Male news because he'd have to credit me as the source? Is that what a "professional" does, refuse to cover a story because he doesn't like the source - no matter how accurate or relevant the story may be? You tell me.

[will g]

Damon, you are pathetic. Why didn't you go to L.A. and walk the Red Carpet at the Cybersocket Awards, as you promised all of your tens of readers for weeks? Talk about a lack of professionalism. JC Adams wants nothing to do with you because he is the consummate professional and you are nothing but a two-bit con man and a complete fraud.

Sorry about that, MOC, this was a superb interview and I hope you get JCA back to continue it.

[elmysterio]

Damon you seem to have a little problem with your credibility. Seems that there is allot of talk about you on several websites with regards to your cybersocket nomination. Seems to be under investigation as we speak. Also you seem to think that posting a comment on this blog and then screen capping it will give your sorry website credibiity. Get over yourself I can not even underastand how you would have the nerve to come on this blog after the racist statements you made with regards to me. Maybe the moderator of this blog would like to go here and look at what is really being said about you.http://yvesmignon.blogspot.com/ oh and there is also this website that has plenty to say about you too. http://blog.gorgeousboys.com/?p=7548

Damon you will never be a journalist but you will always be a liar and a fraud.

[elmysterio]

Oh by the by I really enjoyes the interview with Mr Adams. Sorry to bring this fight with Damon Kruezer over here but we just can not allow this scurge of the internet to pollute the internet with more of his lies. Damon why don't you tell us why you lied about going to the Cybersockets award ceremony? Why don't you tell us why your name was verbotten at the ceremony, No mention of you what so ever.

As far as anybody having to explain themselves with regards to you Damon you have to be joking. You are the one who has plenty to explain yet you always try to blame your faults on others.

[elmysterio]

oh Damon you might want to rethink that claim about you being the first to report that story about
Adam Male it seems that it was reported here http://freaksfromhell.blogspot.com/2009/02/latest-news-and-reviews_12.html first.
Sucks to be you Kentie