What is a Porn Star?

[Paul Revere]

I thought about this topic when reading and responding to the $500 per/hour thread.

 

Is someone a porn "star" because they appeared in one low budget porn film. It seems that anyone who was ever filmed having sex considers himself to be a porn "star". Please.

 

Although there are some very popular Porn Stars, and some who escort, not everyone who has been in a porno film is a star. Some are just drugged-out hustlers. Many guys just make porn films for a fix. That does not equate to stardom in my book. More correct billing would be porn "actor" or they should just say "made porn"

 

Any thoughts from others. Any suggestions of names of those you consider to be real porn "stars", or names of those who are just guys who did porn.

[Boston Guy]

Oh, I agree completely. I'd much rather hire a nice guy who isn't so full of attitude and who will actually try to make me feel good than some "star."

 

The more I read about the attitude the "stars" carry with them and the prices they charge, the less interest I have. Someone needs to tell these boys that being cast in a porn video is not the same as appearing in the latest Hollywood epic.

 

I've also found that the escorts who care about their clients and work at pleasing them definitely hone their skills through practice. I suspect many of them are far more skilled than the "stars" who want to posture and pose.

[+ honcho]

The question was asked to give examples of "Stars" and "Not Stars". It isn't going to be feasible to give a complete census, but here are some that I can think of off hand (and this is not to suggest that all of them 'scorted):

 

Stars: Al Parker, Dick Fisk, Zack Spears, Cliff Parker, Adriano Marquez, Brad Michaels, Will Clark, Ken Ryker, Joey Stefano, Joshua Scott and Al Parker's lover (I forget whether he went by Justin Cade or Joe Cade, but I did rent Cade; Parker had passed away by then).

 

Not Stars: A guy from my gym - He was in the Colt Annual Calendar about 10 years ago, and was talked into a comeback for "Powerfist" (the other whiteguy on the cover besides Chris Ward). Me - (I don't 'scort; I'm a renter). I was on the cover of Honcho once, inside two other times, had a large spread in Drummer, was in one major budget flick - Fallen Angel I), was listed on the box cover but my picture wasn't. (And believe me, I have a really difficult time picking up guys in bars)

 

I think it is entirely analogous to who are *Hollywood* stars and who aren't. There are no hard and fast rules, and it's a matter of degree. Just because somebody appears in a single big budget film doesn't automatically make them a star. It's a question of how many films, which films, to what degree somebody would be recognized just walking down the street . . . etc., etc., etc.

[Guest Skeptic]

Any escort who anxiously lists the two or three videos he's appeared in knows full well he isn't a porn star; he's just doing what he can to outshine the competition and/or justify a higher-than-normal fee. A real porn star, on the other hand, needs no video credits in his ad. He has already achieved name-recognition.

 

As for Paul's query about appropriate descriptors for the wannabes, why not revive the charmingly tacky word Hollywood coined in the late 30s but apparently no longer uses? As in 'porn starlet.'

 

While no escort would ever want that label put on him, I'm pretty sure I applied it once to someone familiar to everyone here. (I don't dare name him now, lest EscortProtector come charging back on his white horse to defend the beleaguered moppet. But you can read 10--count 'em, 10--rave reviews about him in today's lineup, making him a star in the Hooboy heavens anyway.)

 

But back to ad copy!

 

How about: 'viewable on video' or 'porn-tested,'--or even some humbly oblique phrase such as 'Nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the 1999 NGLVA Awards (or whatever they're called)'?

 

Come on, fans, let's have some more!

[Guest Skeptic]

Make that 8 reviews!

 

Sorry for my error: the starlet I mentioned actually has 8 reviews, not 10. This time I forced myself to read them, and after gazing on that shot of him holding his 8-inch dick (!!!) and getting through Hooboy's own extraordinary review, it was pretty tough going. I considered it a duty, though. . .

[CT Dick]

How's this for a test: If those of us who view porn haven't heard of him, he's no star!?!

[Guest OuterSider]

As someone somewhat affilliated with the business of porn here's what makes a porn star. When a customer starts asking for videos with a certain star in it. The designation isn't from the star but from the customer who purchases. If they see someone in a video they want to see more of they become the "star".

 

There are a lot of porn star want-a-be's making films but the test is whether they actually cause someone to pick up the video.

 

Then there are the "Super Stars" of Porn who make a name for themselves doing something outside of performing in porn be it bad ( Ryan Idol's & Jeff Stryker are good examples ) or good ( Will Clark is a stand out example ). This title is thrust on them because of things outside the mainstream of of porn.

 

 

 

Too Much Talk and a Lot More Action...

Toby Keith or was that Chi Chi LaRue to her newest "star".