Tag Archives: Italians

Journey to Italy: the production diary p. 3

Back in the US, we began editing on the AVID Media Composer. Yes, Journey is the first gay porn edited non-linearly (by a pro film editor) –something I’m proud of. Processors at the time weren’t as fast as today’s: we had to import the footage at a low rez (AVR 5, in tech lingo) and re-import the final edit at full rez. With the inevitable artifacts. Men of Odyssey mounted a lavish campaign –including rich press kits and an exclusive event in Weho: everyone attended, porn stars, directors, producers, agents, critics, fans… and legendary Jeff Stryker –in a rare public appearance. Hard to believe the many expectations and the incredible buzz a porn release would build then (to be continued…)

Journey to italy: the production diary p. 2

What went wrong?, you ask. Thom Barron fired –with no replacement. Tuscany flooded for 10 days in a row (and I mean flooded: thunderstorms, hale, you name it). All outdoor locations lost (carefully scouted in the months prior). The truck down on the freeway. Derek on the verge of a nervous breakdown and the rest of the cast/crew not far behind… More? How about newcomer Dario cumming into his condom? Or my mobile lost in the fields? “Journey” wasn’t meant to be, not in Catholic Italy. And yet we got to the finishing line (…to be continued. Pictured here Derek Cameron)

Journey to Italy’s 15th: the production

We began filming in May ’97, flew Derek Cameron from LA (our American star) and mixed a few European pros with the many Italian newcomers: Erik Kovak (on loan from BelAmi), Wolff (from Germany) and Thom Barron (the Men of Odyssey executive producer didn’t like him and sent him back home. Big mistake: Thom went on to become the Thom Barron everyone knows and one of Europe’s all time fave). Well, everything went wrong that could go wrong. Talk about a baptism by fire… (to be continued. Pictured here newcomer Davide Solari)

15 years of Italian gay porn

JOURNEY TO ITALY is 15 years old today. It all started with a simple bet: what kind of applicants would we attract, if published a few casting ads in Italy? Hundreds of applications poured in –most inadequate (what were they thinking?), many others promising. I held public auditions in Rome and shopped the project around with the biggest porn companies of the time. I wanted (needed?) a big budget, lush locations, a long production schedule, an American star..: there were only a few studios that could afford this much. Men of Odyssey had released “Idol in the Sky” (starring Ryan Idol) and was looking for the next blockbuster. They called me in for a meeting… More postings, tidbits, background stories throughout this month. Celebrating 15 years of Italian gay porn. And more to come.