Porn valley- As we suspected, Guy Capo's remarks on KSEX, www.ksexradio.com this week http://adultfyi.com/read.aspx?ID=5786 about talent not directing, etc. have prompted a nuclear chain reaction on Adult DVD Talk.com.
Kevin Moore comments: So I'm just curious... this would mean John Leslie should not have directed because he was once talent? Or that Joey Silvera should never have directed either? Or that Jules Jordan shouldn't perform in his own movies?
Ironic that one of the first lessons Joey taught me about shooting was to be there for every edit of every frame because it would make me a stronger shooter and he was 110% right... but I guess that doesn't matter because he was once talent and talent shouldn't direct.
Renee posts: A quick look on iafd.com showed that Joey Silvera worked as a performer for 20 years before he started directing. For John Leslie, it was 13 years. Jules Jordan is primarily a director, who only performs in his own films.
I suspect Guy Capo wasn't referring to people like the three above, but to those performers, male or female, who've only been working in movies for 2-5 years, than get a directing contract. Some of these performers even say in interviews or here on ADT, they don't spend much if any time in the editing bay; they give the raw footage to some editor, and let him deal with it. Rather different from Silvera's advice to sit in and watch every frame and every edit of your film.
But then, of course, these performers can't do that, they're too busy performing in between the directing stints. Some of them brag about how many movies they're in. They sure don't brag about their camera work. It's not even clear who's holding the camera, and really directing the scenes; it seems some of these director/performers are very dependent on having an experienced cameraperson around, from what I've seen watching BTS footage.
I actually wish some of the better male performers would direct less, and perform more, and perform for a wider range of studios, not just their home company. There's a bit too much inbreeding in some studios' offerings, when you see the same guys paired up over and over again.
Tricia Deveraux writes: Actually, I believe some of the best directors in the business are ex-performers who ALSO studied editing and lighting.
Some of these ex-performers turned directors are Joey Silvera, John Leslie, John Stagliano, Brad Armstrong, Jonathon Morgan, Paul Thomas and Veronica Hart.
I'm a little disturbed by people (and it's not just talent, mind you) who think that just because they know where the on button is on a camera, they can make a porn movie. But I'm equally disturbed by the people who think that just because they know how to make a movie, they know how to make a porn movie. Porn is about sex, at least in my opinion. When a pornographer can figure out how to capture sex in an interesting way that pleases his/her fans, then that's the kind of porn I'm excited to see.
I hate to say this, but 6 days out of 7, I'd rather see great sex with questionable production values than questionable sex with great production values.
Chico Wang writes: I think sometimes Guy Capo can seem very conceited and pretentious at times.
I agree that the best directors generally tend to be people with an editing mentality. Or people who study the craft and make videos that they would jerk off to.
But after having seen two of Guy's movies, American Gunk and Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll over the weekend, it simply doesn't surprise me this form of behavior to get attention. I now understand what Dave Gallegos, salesman at Evolution, was saying to people. Guy's movies simply does not move.
When you think you're a feature director, and directing Hollywood type movies (on a porno budget) with very standard sex scenes attached to them, this is the wrong business.
Maybe I'm wrong but for a Guy who makes lousy videos (and I'm sure he feels the same way about my videos) which sell piss poor among distributors, to come out with something like Talent should NOT direct is such a pathetic statement from a newbie director, it's bizarre. I mean, what's the point of statements like these when your own videos don't get accolades he so desperately wants among your own industry? I'm aware he thinks he knows everything, that's evident in his comments, but you have to back it up with stunning videos to make these type of comments. It's amazing the inflated egos in this business without anything to back it up.
The only thing I saw different were Oliver Stone ala Natural Born Killer cuts like Slain Wayne (done poorly) using a Panasonic 24P and overly used Final Cut Pro filters.
Again, I'll say it over and over again and tell me if I'm wrong. Tell me if I'm being pretentious.
This is pornography. If a guy can't jerk to the sex scenes and pop on his belly, it is worthless pornography.
Chico
Guy Capo replies: WOOF! This got outta' hand in a hurry...Time for damage control...I don't know where to begin, but CHICO, I'll get to you, personally, last...
1) There are exceptions to every rule...all the names that defy my diatribe have been named...In fact, the big names know who they are, and I believe exempted themselves when reading such statements, probably because they know that, in general, what I said actually has a fair amount of merit to it, but doesn't apply to everyone.
2) Maybe I should have clarified something in advance...If you've been bangin' away in front of the camera for 20 years, you probably learned a thing or two, and moved on to become a great director. What I don't agree with is trying to be the driving force behind the camera and a strong presence in front of it at the same time . Very, VERY few people can do it. Again, there are exemptions...but verrrryyyyy feeeeeeewwwwwwwwww. Jules didn't feel the need to address what I said. Neither did Joey Silvera, or Michael Stefano, or Brandon Iron, or Erik Everhard, or Mike John. They understand there are exceptions, and they fall within that fold.
3) I have the utmost respect for what talent does to make a living. I could not do it myself. Anyone who has worked with me knows I exhude this repect with every breath. I never demand my actors to do anything they don't want to do. I actually STOP at the first sign of anal bleeding. I try and work around them as much as possible. I'm not a professional sex instructor, and I acknowledge when I am working with people who can direct the sex better than myself, if I just let them go on their own...that is, after all, their area of expertise. The only thing I DEMAND out of my talent is that they follow my direction to the letter when it comes to set-up and delivery. This is why every company owner I have worked with wants me to do more and more scenario driven set-ups...not that it is my preference, but because they are amazed at the results I can acheive when coaching people who are not trained actors. We each have our own areas of expertise, and I do not expect, nor obviosuly approve of, much overlap. Either be in front of the camera or behind it, based on your area of expertise.
4) Allright, Chico...I'm gonna' leave the gloves on , because I need my hands to start GOTHSEND 2 tomorrow. But let's verbally get few fuckin' things staright...First, I warned you in advance, ON THIS WEBSITE, that the films of mine you were going to watch were the first two efforts of mine, while still working for Evolution, and that tremendous growth has occurred since then.
Second, you seem to believe that I made such statements to "get attention". It's obvious now that we have in fact never met, and you don't know me at all. I seek attention through raising the creative bar on everyone...not by stating my rather worthless personal opinion on KSEX Radio. If you think what I do is crap, that's cool...I know most people will not be moderate capo fans...They either totally dig what I do, or they hate it...so be it. My intention is not to come off as conceited or arrogant or better than everybody else. My intention is to instigate change.
As I have said before, the change I speak of does not mean everybody being more like me...that's the LAST thing I want to happen. But I don't think anyone can deny that this industry has been cruising in a comfort zone for over a decade, and, artistically and creatively speaking, not many risks are being taken to expand our horizons (exceptions, everyone...). Growth gets further railroaded when talent with no production experience starts "directing" while they fuck. Would you want your anesthesiologist hitting the gas mask while he oversees your state of conciousness? I paralell the two because I view what I do as a surgical process...not a cookie cutter process. We should be an industry of nothing but sex scene surgeons...as void of chopping block butchers as possible.
Next...Chico, quoting Dave Gallegos as proof positive that what I do is unwanted and unappreciated makes me laugh. I love Dave as a person, but we differ, TREMENDOUSLY, on what porn should or should not be. Which is why I declined his offer to be the lead director to jumpstart his post-Evolution ventures. See, Dave knew that I made the movies Evolution asked me to make...set-up, scenario driven, quasi-storyline porn...which he HATES. How can you effectively sell a product you personally detest?
It's interesting, however, that amongst my non-jerkable crap that doesn't sell, lurks projects like the TEEN MEAT series (directed under the name Timothy Tyler Thomas), which is hands-down one of the best teen series available...ask anyone from Adam Film World to Adult FYI to ADT to fucking anyone who has seen it. Since then, Timothy Tyler Thomas has in fact been de-capo-tated, and the line will never be the same again, but it was well on it's way to being Award-Winning. So I beg to differ with you and Dave both. If my product is totally unsellable crap, the same product I shopped to other producers, why are reputable and respected company owners investing in me? Must be something they see in the capo-vision to address the NEXT porn movement, not the current one.
Lastly, THANK YOU to all the people who have spent even two minutes in my presence, defended me in this thread, and know in their heart of hearts that I did not come to Porn Valley to make enemies. I speak in harsh tones, yes...but initiating drastic change sometimes requires drastic statements. For the most part, however, although not misquoted at all, my sentiments may have been misunderstood.
Just please...let's all stick to our areas of expertise before overlapping and further deminishing the quality of porn as a whole...that was the point...nothing more...If you've been in 10,000 fuck scenes and you are ready to go to the next level, kudos to you...just stick to one or the other, lest both aspects start to suffer.
- graciously,guy capo
