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 Directed by John Roecker
Nominated for Best Alternative Release is the brash and intriguing film/six week television documentary Everything You Wanted to Know About Gay Porn Stars (But Were Afraid To Ask), directed by John Roecker.
Originally airing on here! TV back in November this now award nominated film features the likes of Johnny Hazzard, Jason Ridge, Kris Anthony, Joey Milano, Nick Capra, Jason Hawke, Nick Piston, Jeremy Jordan, and the late Caleb Carter.
The start of the film begins off as a vintage, almost campy approach to the scenario of porn performers, then leaping directly into the stars of the show and what their name is. They're real name or their porn name? Not even they were sure, they candidly had to ask Roecker which one he was referring to, which then led to the next question: how they got their stage name. Roecker's take to the film is shot in a minimalist fashion, using only one light, one camera and himself - looking almost like an interrogation, Roecker was shooting for an Andy Warhol effect. The questions range from: do you watch your own movies, self-esteem issues, coming out, teen crushes, finding hookups as a young men, and any other questions that make the Porn Star that much more raw and vulnerable to the viewer.
Caleb Carter no doubt steals the movie with his candid responses and almost slapstick humor about watching his own movies and using his Porn Star experience as a catalyst to other avenues. God rest his soul, if you knew Caleb you know that he was not one to bite his tongue and it's almost touching to watch.
Weaving in and out of vintage vignettes of young men innocently talking about their penis, cruising zones for gay men and the stereotypical 'homosexual traits,' these offer up a chuckle to the preconceived notions of what it was like to be gay decades ago and the prejudices that accompany being gay.
Roecker gets to the meat of the film and probably has one of the best answers to the question of self-comfortability by a shirtless Jason Ridge.
"I don't think I've ever had low self-esteem, but the pressure that's brought upon to look [good] in this industry makes you more self-conscious." says Ridge. "I love myself. I like the way I look, but I know if I was ripped and had a bigger dick then they'd probably respect me more and say 'you're going to sell more magazines and videos', I understand that," Jason absolves what he's saying and reaffirms with no hesitation. "I get it, but this is who I am and either they accept it or they don't."
Overall this film is jaw-dropingly honest and is a fantastic work of art. Kudos to the Porn Stars, kudos to Roecker and kudos to here! Television for airing this. Guaranteed you will come away with a deeper, more knowledgeable sense of what a true Porn Star thinks.
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Reviews 
Best,
Douglas