Career Porn Stars

To create a stable, long-lasting career in porn, stars must periodically re-invent themselves.

    Looks rarely last. As a result, neither do most porn careers. To create a stable, long-lasting career in porn, stars must periodically re-invent themselves. At first, the reinventions can simply be aesthetic as a model evolves from twink into jock and then into stud and finally “sexy older man.” It’s a process which can often last a decade or more when models live healthy lives and take good care of themselves (which can be tough in an industry filled with temptation and uncertainty.) But even if a model makes it that far, then what? And what do you do when you need to go on hiatus for six months in order to avoid over-exposure? Although some models maintain day jobs, many turn to escorting to avoid the rat race. However, there are other options within the industry such as directing, editing, camera work, or talent management. Ambitious porn stars are increasingly thinking ahead and developing some of these skill sets.
    Hundreds of the wanna-be gay porns stars who break into porn each year eventually face the reality that it’s hard to make a decent living from porn roles. Consumer preferences are often fickle and ephemeral, and when it comes to porn the Internet has only exacerbated the issue.
    It used to be the case that one strong feature or gimmick such as a big dick could ensure a decent future, but today’s consumer attention spans have been eroded to almost nothing – and the porn world has become glutted with performers who all offer perfect physiques, great faces, and big dicks. In addition, people now have access to more and more free Internet porn and we’ve also seen a proliferation of homemade erotica – all of which have combined to create a fiercely competitive job market.
    Don’t let our nay-saying kill your dream if you want to be a porn star, though. There are always exceptions – but it does mean you have to work really hard and keep a level head. If you can do those two things, we’ve actually got some good news. A lot of gay porn stars today are parlaying their notoriously fleeting moments in the porn spotlight into solid, sometimes amazing careers. These guys are literally working their asses off to build a long and prosperous future in porn. One of our favorite success stories began back in 1994. That year, Bel Ami’s Johan Paulik and Lukas Ridgeston both debuted at newly-founded Bel Ami in the Slovak Republic. They each started out as idyllic twinks and helped to define a signature aesthetic that still dominates today. Fifteen years later, these two are still going strong and still with Bel Ami. Lukas is now an accomplished cameraman, editor, and director and still makes occasional appearances in front of the camera – much to the delight of fans around the world. Johan still charms the fans, too – but as of 2002 he had been named as Bel Ami’s general manager.
    Another man who beat all of the porn odds and then systematically built up a porn empire is Russian emigré Michael Lucas who rose from escort to porn star to entrepreneur in the space of less than a decade. He then became founder and CEO of Lucas Entertainment, the largest and most important gay adult film company in New York. He is one of the most influential gay icons of his time (he long ago transcended the title of just “porn icon”) and he has already beguncrossing over into the world of mainstream celebrity. A popular fixture on New York’s social scene and a refreshingly honest and outspoken political and social commentator, he is often sought out for quotes and interviews in hip, mainstream news and entertainment publications around the world. Still only in his late 30s, Lucas is physically in his prime – but he has already created a body of work that will be rememberd for decades.
    Another famous porn celebrity named Michael got his start as a Raging Stallion exclusive. Since 1999, Michael Brandon has appeared in nearly 200 films. He’s only in his midforties, but he has built a career as a porn star and director (and now co-studio owner) who now spends much of his time working as a community activist. The sub-division of Raging Stallion owned by Michael is called Monster Bang (named after his legendary cock) and it has produced a stream of excellent titles.
    Other famous porn stars who are laying the groundwork for long careers in front of (and behind) the camera include former porn star Doug Jeffries, who primarily directs for Channel 1 Releasing now, as well as real-life partners Steve Cruz (https://cybersocket.com/link/gdyrn) and Bruno Bond of Raging Stallion, who have recently begun directing for their new amateur pornwebsite, Hard Friction. You’ll often find Steve and Bruno making guest appearances on their site, so it’s well worth a look.
    Rob Romoni is probably best known as the guy who topped power top Matthew Rush for the first time in Taking Flight 2. But when he’s not serving up his cock to first-time bottoms, Romoni now serves as production coordinator for Ridgeline Films – a production company he helped to launch with beloved veteran porn star Jason Ridge.
    The list goes on and on, and that’s a really good thing. When porn stars can truly understand from day one that youth is fleeting and that careers in front of the camera are finite, they can make the most effective use of their time and build careers that have no limits on success – and we should all want no less for the brave people who give so much of themselves in order to bring our fantasies to life.