It's hard to believe on the face of it but Devon Hunter, porn performer, escort, social activist, dancer, humanitarian, intellectual and, okay, all-around cutie pie and I have a lot in common. For example, we're both from the South, we both have cats and we both have these amazingly athletic, ripped bodies we are both passionate, sensitive individuals who love to write.
When we last spoke, Devon and I had a deep (albeit all-too-brief) conversation on a whole range of issues and I decided to revisit my good friend and see what was up with one of the busiest non-porn-performing porn performers.
It was less an interview than a chat between two people who've watched each other grow over the last twelve-plus-months and I'm sorry to say that Devon isn't ready to announce our marriage plans yet. (But he's cautious and we need to respect that.)
But he's still the same fiery, engaged chocolate-loving individual who, pry as I may, is about to announce a large-scale project he's been working on for the last two years. So let's joing in, shall we, and see what all the fuss is about...
Victor: Welcome back to MOC Blog
Devon Hunter: Thank you so much!
Victor: So much has happened since our last chat I honestly don't know where to begin.
DH: As the Catapillar says, "Start at the beginning… and when you get to the end… stop." ;)
Victor: Okay, let's bring my readers up to date since our last conversation. What have you been up to? (You know it's been almost exactly a year since we last spoke.)
DH: Well, it has been a busy time for sure. I ended up doing 20 videos for other houses, and I released a personal video on a social video site that generated a great deal of buzz back in December of 2010. It was called "Morning Wood," and oddly enough, I think it's the most popular scene I've done (and we did it ourselves in DavidSF's bedroom at 8:00 one random morning). LOL
Victor: I noticed, too, that you haven't been blogging recently. What's up with that?
DH: I have been working for two and a half years on a large scale project, and it has been coming into fruition in the last six months. That has been taking up a great deal of the time I would have used for blogging or keeping up with social networking. I also still have a dance company, and I had been traveling almost every weekend to see clients. Between all that, the blog had to take a backseat for a while (but I still intend to blog once I get caught up on everything). In fact, I have not been able to blog, because of the need for discretion. I blog about what I'm thinking/experiencing, so if I can't talk about that, then I can't blog.
Victor: So, a large-scale project, huh? Like the Hoover Dam?
DH: Bigger. (;-P) To me it's bigger, anyway.
Victor: You know me and you know I'm not going to leave well enough alone, Devon. Do tell.
DH: Well, to put it bluntly: I'm trying to change everything about the way adult media is created, distributed, and consumed. I'm young enough to have the energy, idealistic enough to think it can/should be done, and arrogant enough to presume it will happen. LOL
Victor: Thank God. This industry, from my vantage point anyway, seems to withering on the vine. Yet it manages, however wounded, to ample on. Why, given all the formidable challenges the industry faces, do you think the gay porn industry has failed to change much? Or do you disagree?
DH: Well, what incentive is there to change? Although profits have been hit hard by pirating, people are still buying (to some lesser degree) what they're peddling. But that is what is at stake for me: I don't like what's available for sale.
Victor: Neither, apparently, does the next generation of porn consumers. Whenever I run across someone from the Millenial generation - gay or straight - they all say the same thing: Nobody pays for porn anymore. How do you plan to overcome that?
DH: That is part of a wider stategy that will be implemented over the course of several iterations on the site itself. But yes, I have conceived of an adult media company that (if it works out in reality the way it does in my mind) can eventually survive without charging for explicit content and without relying on ads or affiliate programs.
Victor: Okay, sSo let's switch gears just a bit. When we last spoke, we discussed the rampant racism that exists in the industry. When I realized they - the studios and sites - weren't going to change, I did. (You do know the definition of "insanity.") Do you feel from your own personal experience that much has changed for men of color in this industry? From your own personal, inside view?
DH: I have seen that scenes with models of color have become more common, but I don't feel that they are any better than having no scenes at all. Far too many of them focus on truly bigoted imagery. There's one site in particular where white models go out "hunting" for "ghetto ass," and then accost some "random" black dude on the street. They then procede to go through some gay-for-pay crap, but sub in a thug instead of a surfer dude. I don't know that copious amount of that is an improvement. This is your answer to there not being enough men of color in video?? Really? This is really bad… I think it's just another iteration of exploitation, only this time is gay porn's turn to participate in some kind of belated Blacksploitation movement.
Victor: Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've noticed your last paid acting gig in porn was back in January, correct?
DH: That I can think of, yes. Since then I have turned down about 12 - 15 scenes.
Victor: And you've managed to remain relevant. (With all due respect.) Why do you think that is? In this day and age, it's out of sight, out of mind.
DH: Am I relevant? That's interesting… I hadn't considered that I would still be relevant as a porn model. You're nice to say that, but I'm not entirely sure it's true. If it is true, then it's because I've remained outspoken about what I feel is wrong with various scenarios. Everything from LGBT domestic violence to gay men acting like misogynists. I'm an activist in every facet of my life, including my adult entertainment career. Also, I think I'm a bit of a loose cannon, which is always good for shock value. I'm a model who is still active in the biz who has consistently criticized the very industry that I work within. Most people don't have the ego to do that until after they retire. Nope, not me. I'm the Honey Badger of gay porn, and #HBDC ;)
Victor: Gay men acting like misogynists? That can't be good.
DH: Absolutely not. It's beyond hypocrisy.
Victor: Are you referring to the flare-up with Spencer Reed? I suppose in general.
DH: Yes, that specifically; however, I would have taken that stance (which I wrote about on my blog) regardless of the stock characters involved.
Victor: Switching gears again, I know dancing is a huge passion of yours. Where are you now with that?
DH: We just performed last night and the night before here in Charlotte, NC. We do an annual autumnal production for Samhain. It's our scary, multimedia deconstruction of "Little Red Riding Hood." We examine the intersection of desire and violence in a great portion of our repertoire, and that particular piece reveals gradually what the fairy tale is actually about: Rape and murder. We also regularly participate in activism protests that are organized to push back against Duke Energy, which is becoming quite a menacing corporation. We are active with Greenpeace, and we do our own independent street theatre happenings to raise public awareness about the destruction Duke Energy is perpetrating on the economy and the environment. I was just on the cover of the Charlotte Observer last week, actually. It was fun. We raise a lot of hell. LOL
Victor: Has anyone every said to you: "Devon, loved that Pas de Deux but what was it like being sucked off by (insert scene partner) in (insert porn scene)?
DH: LMFAO! Yes, actually… (insert blush)
Victor: Really?? That's great that someone recognized you from your *cough* work. How did you handle it?
DH: I handled it like a dancer: With grace and a wry smile. ;) It's hard to make me blush anymore. Also, and sadly, I'm no longer ticklish in most places.
Victor: I know this next question might come off a little patronizing - therefore the disclaimer - but you seem..very at peace with yourself since our last talk. Am I onto something?
DH: The truth ain't patronizing, babe. I am in a much better place, for sure.
Victor: How do you feel one gets to that place? Obviously, believing in yourself is probably a good start.
DH: For me it has been a process of intention. I know that will sound hokey to some people, but how many times and in how many places have you read/heard something along the following: "If you can dream it, you can do it." I firmly believe that seeing your goals as already accomplished (and acting as if they are already realized) sets up the circumstances that allow your thoughts to become things. I have given up on the who/when/where/how and focused only on the what/why. That has given me everything I needed thus far.
Victor: Are you still escorting? I have a couple of snack-sized Snickers
DH: I am, but I am not actively pursuing it as I have been for the past two years. And I'm hungry for a snack, so bring them treats over here and we can make shit happen. LOL Seriously: I am still escorting, but I cannot travel again until at least January/February 2012, because I'm building the Hoover Dam of gay porn, and even Wonder Woman needed vacation days.
Victor: No more clues? Not even a hint?
DH: Oh, fine, fine… Twist my arm (OW!). I am going to focus on the aspect of this that I think will be of most interest to your particular audience: Men of color (and the people who admire them). As I have made clear already: We are not interested in perpetrating stereotypes. We want our models to be healthy, happy, out, GAY men. And we want people of color to be represented consistently and frequently on our site. I don't want horse-hung thugs, I don't want cholo muthafuckas, and I don't want rice queens. I want to work not only with Caucasian gay models, but also gay models of other ethnic backgrounds who are comfortable with themselves as they are.
Victor: Hello? Finally! Although, admittedly, when my friend Roy from PapiThugz.com sends me preview pics, I occasionally post them. I know I've lost some of my audience for that but other than the name (which I'm sure is intended for effect) there isn't much thug-iness to what I'm seeing. On the flip side, when I ask to interview some of his models (and others who perform in this genre), I'm usually met with blank stares. "Oh, he's not much of a talker." I'm sort of conflicted on this one.
DH: No, that won't work on our site: We believe strongly in interviews before and during the recruitment process. In fact, the models have to get through two or three emails before they are recruited, and then they are interviewed each time they come shoot with us for a weekend. They have to be able to speak. I need to know that this person, of whatever racial persuasion, has the intellectual capacity to understand what he is agreeing to do. Videos cannot be undone. I generally will not use a model who has never had Adult Entertainment experience and/or video experience prior to seeing us. I am not interested in churning out fresh meat. I want to get to know the models, and I want to know that they understand the choices they are making by committing themselves to video content, and that they have well-rounded lives off-camera.
Victor: Do they have to speak English? If not, I have the find of the century for you.
DH: No, I speak French and can get by in broken Spanish or Italian. My German is more grunts than anything else (but I'm convinced that's all German is anyway).
Victor: You're a prolific writer. Have you considered writing a book, whether it be about your porn adventures or something entirely unrelated?
DH: Yes, many times. But I get started hot and heavy, with all guns blazing, write an incredible intro and then… oh, look: A flutterby… LOL
Victor: They're calling that ADD now.
DH: Oh. Right… lol
Victor: Or, as a friend once told me: ADOS, Attention Deficit Oh Look, Shiny!
DH: LMFAO!!! YES!!! I LOVE SHINY!!
Victor: Well, you certainly shine and I alway value - however brief - our time together. That said, I want to thank you for making time for me and my viewers. I also want to extend an invitation to you to place a a not-ad ad on MOC when you're project is up an running.
DH: OH, that is wonderful! Thank you for that. We will need all the help we can get! But it really is an amazing project. I have treated it like a serious business, and it is all extremely well thought out. We're not going for an innovation. We don't even want to forge a paradigm shift. Ultimately, we want to recreate the entire matrix (and force others to follow suit). Here's to the power of intention!!
Victor: Forging a paradigm shift? Matrices? I'm getting hot in a Battlestar Galatica sort of way.
DH: Good, because you'll be in spandex in no time on our site. Also, and let me make this as a final statement before we part company: I know that there is a great deal of negatvity that I will have to endure from haters/doubters/etc. But this is my attitude: One should follow the advice of only those people who are in a position that you yourself would want to be in. With that in mind, Steve Jobs said, "Stay hungry. Stay crazy. Do waht you love." I think I'll take that over all the "You'll never succeed" comments I'm likely to receive. Just remember that when I don't get deterred. xoxoxo
© 2011, Victor Hoff. All rights reserved. Menofcolor.blogs.com
Yes. I'd like to be in the same position as Steve Jobs: a rotting corpse dead from cancer.
Posted by: wedwq | October 27, 2011 at 01:37 PM
I know this is a late post, but I'd just like to comment. I hope that Devon Hunter and people like him aren't using "stereotypes" as a valid excuse to exclude men of color from their productions. All too often men of color are either portrayed as stereotypes or excluded entirely. I know that times are changing and I hope that Devon is being sincere.
Posted by: Olasa | November 26, 2011 at 08:18 AM
We have already created six videos with Bobby Drake (Black), six with Spencer Williams (Asian), and three with Dale Cooper (Larino). Does that count as a start? We plan to work with these and many other models of color consistently. Have faith, Olasa.
Posted by: Devon Hunter | November 27, 2011 at 04:28 PM