STREAMING FILM
Adult Stars On Ice
Five actors from the industry talk life under the lockdown
BY GARY M. KRAMER
The new documentary
“Pornstar Pandemic” is
decidedly all talk and no
action. Conceived by director
Edward James, this genial
fi lm consists of interviews with fi ve
adult fi lm actors about their lives
under lockdown.
Newcomer Jack Loft — frustrated
by the fact that he was about
to break into adult fi lms when productions
shut down — chats with
veterans Dante Colle, Pierce Paris,
DeAngelo Jackson, and fellow newbie
Elijah Wilde about their life and
work and their observations about
the industry.
The fi lm is revealing at times, as
the men are seen in their homes,
working out, showering, and discussing
topics from sexuality to fi -
nances as well as how they are coping
during this uncertain time.
Gay City News chatted separately
with actors Pierce Paris and
Dante Colle about their lives during
COVID and making “Pornstar
Pandemic.”
GARY KRAMER: How have
your lives changes since the pandemic?
PIERCE PARIS: It provided a
new routine. I moved into a new
apartment. I fostered two kittens,
and I defi nitely have a different exercise
routine. More calisthenics
and stretching, yoga, and Pilates.
I’ve also had consistency with my
diet and cooking. Saving money is
another positive aspect. Not many
negatives. I wasn’t going out to
clubs in LA and Hollywood even
before quarantine.
DANTE COLLE: I was normally
doing 10 to 15 scenes a month plus
personal content and studio work.
I did three to four scenes in June,
but restrictions are tricky. In California,
they announced that things
are closing back down, so the porn
industry does not know what they
will do. It’s a weird transitional
phase, but I took advantage of the
quarantine and I tried to make it
as good as possible with content
stuff.
Dante Colle.
KRAMER: What can you say
about your maintaining your onlyfans
sites?
PARIS: Three months in, I’m
not fi lming much because I think,
“I’ve shot this already.” I need to get
more creative. I wasn’t a big content
performer, doing creative videos,
before COVID.
COLLE: In the beginning, I was
motivated. I’ve fallen off and started
working my way back in.
KRAMER: What projects, if any,
are you tackling that you have
been putting off until the lockdown
gave you the opportunity or inspiration?
PARIS: Most people are like,
“There are all these things I want
to do but didn’t have time for,” but
having all this time is making me
unproductive. Right before quarantine,
I signed a directing and
producing contract. I wrote three
adult features. We are ready to
make them when the industry gets
back up and going.
COLLE: The onlyfans thing was
my project. I’ve had it for a while
and didn’t do anything with it.
I took the time to make money. I
needed to do it, and it’s a good
back-up.
BREAKING GLASS PICTURES
KRAMER: Have you become
more refl ective under isolation?
How are you combating depression
or loneliness during the lockdown?
PARIS: I’m a pretty independent
person. Before I got into porn, I did
jobs where I was isolated, like working
an oil rig. I didn’t really have a
social life. My routine was being
productive for myself. It’s made me
focused during quarantine.
COLLE: I didn’t have to deal
with that. I have 15 other people
living here, so it wasn’t an issue.
I have a good check on my mental
stability, and I know I’m feeling
down and nip it in the bud and
work around that. I became busier
during this than I was before.
Boredom leads to bad things. So, I
was never bored.
KRAMER: Why do you think
people are so interested in the personal
lives of celebrities in general
— and porn stars in particular?
You come across as very ordinary,
down-to-earth guys in this documentary.
PARIS: To me it’s another business,
not a lifestyle or something
recreational. I came into the industry
without needing money or
being desperate. My challenge is
being a better performer. When
people are drawn to how porn
stars are in real life, it is because
they connect on a physical or emotional
level, especially if they are
lonely. More so than with mainstream
fi lm. Porn is intimate. That
draws people closer to the person
they watch. They piece together
fantasies if they are attracted to a
person.
COLLE: I’m not a celebrity, and
people see celebrities and know
that millions know who they are
and everything about them. They
are acting and playing Iron Man,
but they are not Iron Man in real
life. Porn stars — they see them
having sex and think that’s who
they are. When they get a glimpse
that there is more to them or that’s
not who they are, they want to
know more.
KRAMER: What is something
fans would be surprised to learn
about you?
PARIS: I’m really good at fi xing
thing. I’m a big nerd. I can take a
computer apart. I built a Mercedes
van with a camera that runs off solar
energy.
COLLE: I put everything out
there. I’ve done talks explaining
my life. I don’t hold back or hide.
KRAMER: What are you most
looking forward to when we return
to normal?
PARIS: Filming. Exploring more
as director/ producer. I’ve directed
and produced “What’s Gotten into
Him” and “Social Pressure.” And
I’m having a house built in Las Vegas,
so I’m moving in September.
COLLE: I am excited to get back
to work. There were a couple things
about to happen before COVID, so
it would be nice to get back to porn
features. But realistically, things
are so weird right now. Everyone is
so on edge. I want folks to be less
on edge.
PORNSTAR PANDEMIC | Directed
by Edward James | Breaking Glass
Pictures | Available on VOD and
DVD Jul. 28 | bgpics.com
July 30 - August 12, 2 24 020 | GayCityNews.com
/bgpics.com
/GayCityNews.com
