Porn Superstar

By Eric Magyar, DC

A great deal has been written about How To Make a Porn Video, How To Becomea Male Escort, and How To Combine Porn Publicity with Escorting. This article, however, will not delve into those issues at all. On the contrary, this is about How To Be in a Porn Video as a Star.

Let me begin by explaining how I got into the porn business, my present video and escort situation, and why I am writing this piece. First of all, about three years ago, I was living happily in Europe with a boyfriend of three years. It was quite a blow to me when I found out that this loving boyfriend left me for a millionaire. I guess I was dumbfounded about the entire event. It was at this time that I met the legendary Aaron Lawrence (author of Suburban Hustler). We met online under circumstances neither of us can truly remember. After being totally wiped out by my relationship situation, I returned to the United States for a summer rest. It was at this juncture in my life when I met Aaron in person. He had been my confidant and the only person I could truly turn to. He suggested that I appear in one of his porn videos. I had known his profession and was quite curious about it, but to show my wares to the world was another question. In a way, I had hoped he would ask me. After all, it was flattering and a major boost to my now deflated ego. I never dreamed that I would actually say yes. Well, there it happened. To convince me, Aaron put on a video of some of his work. I was impressed. He had also mentioned that his videos were sold mainly on the net, thereby limiting the number of possible viewers of such material. My primary concern at the time was who would see me nude and hard right in front of their television screens. Well, after taking a bit of time to think about it, while still at his place, I agreed, a bit hesitating, but I still agreed. From that point onward, my life changed in ways I could never have imagined.

The video turned out to be a solo scene with Aaron running the camera. Yet, it was my porn debut. I did not go after such a challenge. It sort of landed in my lap. That summer, Aaron introduced me to Robert Prion, a porn producer living in Central Jersey, the same state Aaron resided in as well as where my parents home was located. When Robert learned that I had been studying in Budapest, Hungary, he and I began to converse in Magyarul or Hungarian. Robert was so impressed that he asked me to appear in his next video, Shameless. Since I had already done one, and after thinking about how it might effect me, if I would become a teacher, I decided to go for it. My life would never be the same again. Shortly thereafter, I bought my own 8 mm camera and returned to Europe to complete my last Master's Degree, taking my desire to film Eastern European guys along with me. Where did I begin to find the guys who would eventually appear in Budapest Boys and Budapest Boys II: House of Boys? Well, in clubs, bath houses, movie places, etc. Additionally, it allowed me to get a new type of exposure. I was new to all of this, but was having a great time. I did not plan on getting into any of the scenes, and most of the scenes were supposed to be jack-off videos (similar to the one I had appeared in for Aaron). Yet, when some of the actors had trouble getting it up, there was no one else to help since my cameraman was extremely shy. By joining the actors in the scene, it became a new experience once again. Now, I was not only acting and directing, but also participating in a porn sequence that would be all my own. This, would be sold through Aaron's web site, Amateur Movie Video Connection, and eventually on my own website. In fact, three years later, all my films would find their way into gay porn stores near you.

Just the other day, a gentleman from Kansas wrote to me, saying that he had just seen Budapest Boys in a local video store in Kansas City. Wow! How times have changed? So, this is how I began my porn career as an actor, director, and everything in between. It also allowed me to decidedly expose myself to the world through my website. At first, I built a free web site at Geocities and later at Pridesites. Each of these allowed me to be able to find actors for my videos. Guys would see my websites advertised all over the net, and ask me to be in a video that I would direct or even to appear with me in a scene. It was flattering to say the least.

This is why I am writing this article - to explain how you can appear in a video, albeit an amateur or pro-am version. Why amateur or pro-am? Well, unless you look incredible and live in California, one's chances are quite limited. The major studios are becoming cheaper, more people can buy professional cameras, and it is easy to get into a video for the amateur director. Why do it? Exposure, of course! If you are an escort, then you want guys to see you as a porn star and then rent your services. If you have always dreamed of becoming a porn star, then this is the answer for you.

Let's begin with the everyday guy who dreams of becoming a porn star. First, ask yourself whether you have the face and body to make it in porn. Do guys come up to you on the street or in bars? Do they find you attractive? It does not matter if you have a California muscle-bound body or a twink-style physique. As for my films, I cast based on a person's face. Most of my films involve twinks, although I have cast somewhat older guys too. If you feel that you qualify, then you have to ask yourself a few other questions. How big is your cock? Yes, we don't have to be size-queens, but if you want to be in porn, you should have somewhat of an endowment. Here too, I have gone against my own rule and cast some individuals based on their faces. Are they cute and will their faces sell my films? The general rule is that if someone is cute, if that person is less than seven inches long when hard, that person ought to be a bottom in a scene. If that person wishes to be in a solo video and has less than seven inches, I sadly say that that person ought not apply. This is not to be mean, but after all, I have to sell the video, and sometimes people don't like to see small dicks in solo scenes. Having a duo or more in a scene makes it a lot easier when someone's size is less important from the overall picture.

Does versatility help? It's not as important as you would think. I’m a top. I've always been a top, and I bottom for no man, unless he is a long-term boyfriend. Simply, it hurts! There are many guys in porn who do not bottom. Yes, it is helpful when someone can be a top and a bottom, but it's not the bottom line.

What if you do not want your face to be on film? I cannot tell you how many times I get this question. There's one answer here. Forget it!!!! If you can't handle your face on a screen, you really ought not be in porn. Of course, there are a few directors out there who will place people in masks, but the give and take is that the person will not be paid at all.

Talking about pay, what does porn pay these days? Sadly to say, the salary for porn has been declining since the late 1980s. On the West Coast, you can still get about $1000 a scene, but that scene might last a day or two. On the East Coast, you'll be lucky to get more than $375 and that usually includes pictures, a solo and a duo. In fact, I pay my own guys $150 for a scene for the first time to see audience reaction and then up to $250 if the audience clamors for more, and that's for about 2 hours of rolling in the hay. For me, making porn is not a big money maker, especially in the amateur and pro-am field. Look at it this way, the big studios like All Worlds and Falcon can afford to pay the guys more money, and even their prices are declining because of amateur directors like myself. I've got 10 films out now and am working on my 11th. Yet, the guys who usually appear in my films or any films are not really after money. They are after the exposure and the fulfillment of a fantasy.

If you are lucky enough to be approached in a club or on the street, then that's the way to go, but how do you reach out to a director on your own? When I picked up Dom Damon of Undressed for Success off the streets of Philadelphia, I knew that I had this unique ability to persuade guys to be in my films and have a grand old time. Yet, there are so many guys out there who still contact me via my website. I try to help them out as much as possible, but being that my films are taped more or less in the New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia areas, many of these guys have to get out East. That's tough to tell a guy from the Midwest or South that he'll have to fly to me in order to get low pay and that he'd have to cover the flight and hotel costs. Luckily, there are more and more porn directors appearing all over the country. One course of action is to go to http://mannet.com and go to the directory of studios there. Most studios are listed there and you can go to their individual websites. Just realize that the competition is high and they will certainly state the age-old saying, "Don't call us, we'll call you." It's all about timing and what the individual directors and studios are searching for at the time. You might just get lucky, so give it a shot.

One of my most recent endeavors is to build more and more websites that I advertise my "Seeking Models" application. I will shortly be placing an advertisement in New York's NEXT magazine as well with a 1-800 number for models to get in touch with me. Whether that works, we'll have to see in time.

A word of advice for any perspective actor - never sign an exclusive deal. Basically, there are people out there who want you just for themselves. Unless you are guaranteed in writing a certain number of videos for a certain large dollar amount, it's not worth limiting yourself. There are plenty of directors out there. You don't have to worry about not getting picked up if someone insists on exclusivity.

Always get everything in writing. If a director suggests that he'll put you on the cover, make sure you get that in writing. Trust no one's promises. Be realistic and understanding of the porn industry as deceitful. Not everyone is conniving, but then again, do you really want to take a chance?

Okay, so far I have addressed the website issues and how you should consider your own body and possible actions in a video. Now, it is time for you to act. What really irks me is when a guy sends in information about him and even a picture, but then never returns any other e-mails I would send to him as a follow-up. If you are serious about becoming a porn actor, then do it. Do not hesitate. You only have a certain amount of time you can do it in. Your window of opportunity dissolves quickly as time goes by. When it's too late, you'll be constantly asking yourself, what if? Don't ask that question! Do it! Porn is not just a way of life; it is a fantasy come true.

Eric Magyar is a porn performer and escort. Learn more about him and his writings at his site.