WHAT HAPPENED AT THE GAYVNS--DAY 2
On Saturday morning, as I was dressing, I got a text message from still photographer ANTHONY DURAN, who wanted to know if I'd join him for brunch at the Cafe Flora. I said sure and cabbed it over there where I was joined by GEOFFREY PAINE and a friend. We chatted about the show and who we thought would win. I said Raging Stallion's TO THE LAST MAN would sweep and BRENT CORRIGAN would also do well. ENDGAME would win one award, I thought, but I didn't know which one.
We ordered food, milk and juice. The milk was whole milk, and it was good and cold. I also wanted some tomato juice, but the menu said they had blood orange juice, and of course, that intrigued me, so I got that. The color was a dark purple, and it was cloyingly sweet.
After eating, the 4 of us walked over to the Lookout for the Tim & Roma Show Brunch, which was $50/person! Fuck that. We turned and made our way along Market Street, going into shops and looking at shirts, shoes and hats. Soon, the boys wanted a Starbucks coffee, so we made our way over to one, where we ran into Mustang director/hobbit LEIF GOBO, who we chatted with for quite some time. Leif asked me about working with him on a non-porn project, and I said I'd be interested. Geoffrey and his pal left, and DREW WARNER and boyfriend ROBBIE IRELAND kept texting me, asking where I was. They were at Lookout, so we decided to go back and try to get in for free. The cowgirl doorperson told us we'd have to pay the fee, but we thought we'd try and slip in anyway. At the top of the stairs, we were grabbed by Drew and Robbie, who hugged us hard. Over Drew's shoulder I could see the ticket sellers gesturing wildly before throwing their hands up in surrender. A waiter walked past us carrying a pizza the size of a dinner plate, and I could see rows and rows of mimosas on the bar. The ticket table motioned us over, and I was about to try to tell them who we were, but they asked us if we might be on the VIP list. Anthony told them our names, and surprise! We WERE! (Although I suspect they just said we were to get us out of their sight.)
We planted our asses on bar stools and we chatted away, catching up with Drew and Robbie. On the other side of the bar, I could see NASH LAWLER, WOLF HUDSON, MASON WYLER, TOMMY D, and others being interviewed by SISTER ROMA. Videographer/directress MR. PAM walked by at one point, poking me in the gut and smiling. Bloggers extraordinaire MIKE STABILE and JACK SHAMAMA also grabbed me 'round the shoulders for squeezes.
When the show ended, everyone split up. I grabbed a taxi and headed back to my hotel for a disco nap. DINK FLAMINGO called to say that we were all meeting in the hotel lobby at 5:50pm, and that he was having a small party in his suite after the show. Apparently, a rumor had begun about this party, which was nonexistent, and when I told Dink about it, he decided to spontaneously throw one. At 4:30, the shower spray hit me in the face, and soon, I was wrestling into the outfit I wanted to wear. Now, I had originally intended to wear a sport coat, but everyone I had talked to previously said that was too formal, and they weren't wearing one. So, since it made me look like I was draped in a circus tent, I decided to forgo the jacket.
In the lobby, I met DJ, who was packed tightly into his dress blues, and DAVID, his roommate. I had worked with DJ as a cameraman on THE PORN IDENTITY, and he was a great guy. I also saw COLE and his girlfriend, both of whom were beaming with smiles. We were soon joined by several Dirty Bird personnel, as well as MIKE DONNER and his boyfriend and KAYDEN SAYLOR.
"Jett!" someone yelled. Turning, I saw the very incredibly handsome ZACKARY PIERCE, dressed in a dark suit and tie, red shirt and a pair of specks. Damn, he looked good. I hugged him hard, and we caught up quickly before Dink made his grand appearance, dressed in a black suit and hat, white shirt, pink tie and dark glasses. We hugged and then headed outside to the limos. There were two: one white and one black, and I overheard Dink on the phone to the rental company telling them that they were supposed to send 2 black ones, but it was too late now. I was instructed to get into the white one along with Mike Donner and the Dirty Bird crew. David rode up front in the passenger's seat, which I thought was a bit odd.
"Jett! Open the champagne!" Donner screeched at me, so I grabbed the bottle. "I'd open it but I'm afraid I'll put my eye out," he said. I popped the cork and poured some out for us all, passing a glass up to David. Draining that one quickly, we found another bottle and quickly sucked it down, too. Before long, we were at the Castro Theater.
It was a madhouse. The front was packed with fans, press and porn stars. Our limo pulled in first, and suddenly, I realized why David was riding in front: as soon as the car stopped, he got out, stood at attention and opened the door for us to exit. I was wearing my tiger-striped Converse hi-tops
and slid my feet out first. As I did this, I could see Mike Stabile's face through the limo's window, and a big grin spread across his face. I heaved the rest of me outside, and I could see cameras flashing all around. Almost instantly, Donner and I were nabbed by MICKEY SKEE who conducted an interview with us. I say us, but it was mostly Donner talking, as I couldn't get a word in edgewise. lol.
We milled around, and I bumped into RJ DANVERS, who seemed to recognize me. I introduced myself to him and we almost immediately began talking about comic books, of which we're both fans (although I like the honorable DC and he the hated Marvel). Everywhere I turned, I saw another porn star: RICKY SINZ, SCOTT TANNER, MICHAEL LUCAS, TOBER BRANDT in a leather kilt/gown and many others.
Stabile grabbed me by the shoulder and said "Why aren't you doing the red carpet?" Donner, within earshot of that, forced his way through the crowd over to Sister Roma, sweeping me up in the after draft. She began interviewing him while I stood off to the side. Donner talked at length about his book "How to Become a Gay Porn Star", and said he thought he might do well, except where he was in competition with "this bitch over here," gesturing to me. Mr. Pam swung her camera over to me, catching me with a bewildered look on my puss. Roma finished up with Donner, and I knew I had to get even with him.
"Hello, Jett Blakk!" Roma said. "What are you here for?"
"I'm up for 3 awards tonight," I said. "Best Director, Videographer and Screenplay. But I have to talk about something else first." I looked straight into the camera. "I just read the worst book. It's called 'How to Become a Gay Porn Star'. It's just terrible. And the author? He can't even put a sentence together."
Behind her camera, Mr. Pam was laughing, but Sister Roma seemed in shock. "Okay, well, thank you, Jett," she said, shuffling me off.
I decided to forego the red carpet and got my ticket from Dink. I entered the theater and could immediately smell the popcorn. My mouth drooled, as I hadn't had any dinner, but decided to find my seat instead. I was in the same row as Donner, and he had the aisle seat, but I asked him if I could have it, so I could have a bit more room. He graciously agreed. Dink was a bit flustered, as there was some confusion over the other seats, but soon, everything was straightened out.
Kayden was nervous. He was supposed to be one of the first ones to present an award, and he was supposed to do it with BRENT CORRIGAN, but something had happened and Brent was told not to come up. "I was only supposed to read one, now I have to read both," Kayden shook his head. "I hope I don't screw up."
The show began with the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Cheerleaders running down the aisle and onto the stage. Soon, several hunky guys in football helmets, shorts and shoulderpads joined them. Then, a marching band came down the aisles playing music. I laughed in delight to myself. They were really trying to make this special.
ALEC MAPA was introduced and in my opinion was the hit of the night. He was flat-out hysterical. Then it was time for the nominations. Kayden and Brent were introduced, and on stage, Brent said that he had been told not to come up but they read his name anyway, so here he was. The first award went out, and Brent started to sit back down, but Kayden grabbed him, telling him they had another one to give out. Finished, they both sat back down. Brent returned a few times to collect awards for his work.
The nominees were flashed on a screen behind the presenters and a voice read the categories. It all went very quickly. Soon, a city counselman was introduced to thank the industry for promoting safe sex, then he introduced a woman from a group that was anti-child pornography who thanks us for being responsible in our efforts to keep children out of porn. They left the stage, and Michael Lucas suddenly dashed up the steps and took the microphone. He said it was shameful for the GayVNs to have someone from an anti-child pornography thank us then turn around and give Brent Corrigan awards after he forged his ID documents to do porn before he was of legal age. The crowd began to boo, although I'm not so sure it was as much against Michael, for Brent or just because the incident was putting a sour spin on the show. Brent's ex-boyfriend GRANT jumped out of his seat and came halfway to the stage before stopping. A Dirty Bird team member told him to sit back down, and he did. Lucas returned to his seat, and the show continued.
JANICE DICKINSON was funny, parodying herself and the audience loved her. The halftime show was 3 drag queens dancing with glittered dildo strap-ons. Alec Mapa jumped onstage to finish the number and it was a blast.
GINO COLBERT came onstage to begin the Lifetime Achievement presentations. Dink was the first one to go up, and as he did, DJ, David, Kayden and Cole rose to their feet and applauded him. It was really touching. Dink thanked his fans and the boys and called Cole to join him on stage, which he did. The audience applauded, and Cole seemed to really be enjoying the attention. You could see his eyes shining from up on stage, and a big grin was plastered across his face. The rest of the awardees went up, although I noticed that T.J. PARIS was missing.
It was a thrill when TREVOR KNIGHT won for Best Supporting Actor for ENDGAME in a tie with SCOTT TANNER for TO THE LAST MAN. Scott gave a speech about hearing in the men's room that the show was fixed, and he scolded the naysayers for that, saying that they had worked for 16 days, spent over $200,000 and had worked their asses off, so they deserved the awards they got. Excuse me, Scott, but we worked for 6 days on ENDGAME for a fifth of that budget and 1/3 of the directing team, and I assure you, we worked our asses off, too. Hard.
MARGARET CHO was introduced to wild screams. She was funny, as always. The rest of the awards went quickly, and I was disappointed as the one award I thought I really had a chance of winning, Best Screenplay (especially after 6 judges told me at the Castro they voted for me), went to TONY DIMARCO. I swallowed the speech I had been silently rehearsing for the last two hours and let myself enjoy the rest of the show. When all was said and done, I had been right: TO THE LAST MAN swept, Brent Corrigan did very well, winning 3 or 4 and ENDGAME got one.
We got back in the limos and returned to the hotel. Alec Mapa rode up in the elevator with us, jumping out on his floor as the rest continued up to the presidential suite where Dink was staying. There were already several people there, and I was asked once again to open the champagne. There were 7 bottles already on ice. I unwrapped, unwired and uncorked bottle after bottle, playing bartender, having conversations with everyone and making sure everyone's glasses were filled. Soon, we went through all 7 bottles and Dink had 3 more brought up. I switched to red wine at this point and chatted for some time with STACY BRIDGES and MARK NAGEL about the Grabbys and how they were going to try to top the GayVNs. Somehow, a creepy guy had gotten into the party, and sensing trouble, Dink asked him to leave. He did, without incident.
I filled Brent Corrigan's glass, and he excitedly told me that he had an idea for a new movie and he wanted my help with it. I gave him my card and told him to call me when it was time to go into pre-production.
Soon, the booze ran out, and everyone began talking about going to the Afterparty. Dink said he'd go, but if it was crowded, he would leave. I told everyone that I had to go to bed, as it was 1:00am and I had to get up at 6 to head to the airport and make my plane home.
Now, Dink had invited several of us to join him at a cabin-filled campground in Big Sur after the awards. I agreed, and Dink asked me to bring CVK. Since he wasn't at the awards, and we couldn't stay the entire time the others were, I had to fly home, pick CVK up, then drive back up north to Big Sur. CVK's attendance was a bit iffy, as he had gotten food poisoning from a TV dinner, but I decided to do the drive anyway if he couldn't go.
Hugs and kisses commenced, and back in my room, I ordered some food. I really wanted the smoked turkey sandwich from room service, but they were out. I had to settle for a caesar salad, which still tasted great. I fell into bed and was out like the proverbial light.
To be continued...
JBK
Hi Jett,
I just wanted to tell you that I nominated you for Best Porn Auteur in the 1st Annual COP Blog Awards.
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thanks, Juan! Get your friends to vote for me!
JBK
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