Palm Springs, March 2000. I was cast in Ronnie Larsen's new play, Shooting Porn—not to be confused with his hit play Making Porn. Shooting Porn is the stage version of his award-winning documentary, also called Shooting Porn. Ronnie may have some good ideas, but the well runs dry when it comes to titles! This play had opened a few months earlier in LA, and Ronnie asked me to take over the role of the narrator when it moved to Palm Springs with most of the original cast.
While I'm sure there was drama ( there always is ), I look back on this experience quite nostalgically. And now, almost 17 years later, Shooting Porn is playing at the Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Although I wasn't available to reprise my role, I was able to help out during the rehearsal period. It's been fun working with Kyle Garcia, who plays my part and makes it his own. Watching Ronnie once again transform into the Chi Chi La Rue of the 1990s is nothing short of staggering. The talented and attractive cast is enhanced ( in more ways than one ) by actor and DNA fitness model Adam Davenport—he's as nice as he is stunning. The first week was completely sold out, and I predict a healthy run through March 12. What few tickets are left can be purchased at RonnieLarsen.com .
Whenever we get complacent about the strides the LGBT community has made, we only have to turn on the news to remember that we have miles to go. Someone ( or some people ) spray-painted "Fuck Trannies" and "Fuck all yall" on the side of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The wall was repainted in a matter of hours. Surveillance footage is being reviewed in hopes of catching the perpetrators—who are perhaps in need of a dictionary.
A French-Cuban gay porn star recently ran into trouble at Ben Gurian Airport in Israel. Ibrahim Moreno ( no relation to Rita ) flew to Tel Aviv to "perform" in a club. Moreno claims that he was targeted when entering the country because of his Muslim name. "Believed the worst would have happened but, no...it was only a sign of what would come later." When it was time to fly home, Ibrahim was detained for close to three hours and interrogated by four customs officials. His luggage was thoroughly examined, many of his toiletries were discarded and he was strip-searched! Israel's version of TSA says it did nothing unusual and that "items that are prohibited on flights in hand luggage are confiscated as is the norm all over the world."
Melania Trump has filed a $150-million lawsuit against The Daily Mail for repeating a rumor that she may have once been an escort. What I find interesting is the wording of the suit. It is alleged that Trump was poised to embark on a "unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model, brand spokesperson and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world." I took special note of the term "could have". I also wonder how the reporting of this rumor thwarted such an opportunity. Kim Kardashian was videotaped being banged around like a human pinata, and it made her a star!
In short order, little Garrett Clayton appeared as Brent Corrigan in King Cobra and headlined NBC's live presentation of Hairspray. Now he's sharing the stage with Judith Light and Al Pacino! The Pasadena Playhouse is hosting a developmental run of a new play about Tennessee Williams called God Looked Away. Pacino, naturally, is playing Tenn and Clayton has been cast as his rental companion. Needless to say, while costumes are not necessarily mandatory, acting chops are. We hear that Clayton gets to flex his thespianistic muscles while showing off some of his more superficial ones—and does so with aplomb. The play runs through March 19, but you can get a glimpse of him in action on BillyMasters.com .
Yet another perfect segue into an "Ask Billy" question. Patrick in Texas writes, "Whatever happened to that James Franco movie about XY magazine? That hot boy from 'Teen Wolf' was in it. Did it ever come out??"
I Am Michael played a few film festivals and got a little buzz. But, like most James Franco movies, it was considered too uneven and artsy. It turned up OnDemand a week or two ago, so you can check it out there. I suspect most of you will be specifically interested in the three-way scene between Franco, Zachary Quinto and Charlie Carver. Since it's worth seeing, I'll post it on BillyMasters.com .
When three isn't a crowd, it's time to end yet another column. I hate to toot my own horn, but it's time for a little celebration. It's once again Billy's birthday. And you can join in the festivities on www.BillyMasters.com—the site that doesn't look its age. Feel free to send your best wishes along to me at Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Garrett Clayton appears in his first Ronnie Larsen production! So, until next time, remember: One man's filth is another man's bible.
