WWW- In the late ’80s, Glenn Soukesian went by the name Glenn Street, a falsetto-voiced jazz and pop singer whose career never quite took off. In 2001, he accompanied his boyfriend, porn star Blake Harper, who was shooting a new video in Palm Springs.
When they were short a performer, Glenn stepped in and made his debut as Colton Ford. A hunky daddy, Ford instantly became a top-billed, box-cover star. He made a dozen videos in a 10-month period. And once a porn star, always a porn star, right?
“Naked Fame,” a documentary that was recently released on video ($24.99, TLA Video) and currently being broadcast on Here TV, traces Ford’s path as he tries to parlay his erotic notoriety into a legitimate singing career.
The documentary doesn’t focus on Ford’s vocal talent. It’s primarily about his frustrations of shopping a demo track, trying to get a foothold in the music biz. The film also examines how Ford and Harper (who were then still earning money as erotic Internet models) try to balance their relationship as they both try to quit the porn biz.
Director Chi Chi LaRue and joke writer Bruce Vilanche offer insight about the slim chances of crossover success. But Ford’s parents, Donna and Ken, are surprisingly supportive of their son, although they don’t quite understand his thirst for stardom.
This week Ford, who’s recording, writing and rehearsing new material in New York, recently answered some questions via e-mail about his current status as a gay celebrity.
You’ve worked in gay porn, dance music and now, a documentary where you’re the subject. Have you ever felt exploited?
Colton Ford: The nature of the business is to exploit the entertainer. As a performer, you need to be out there and visible to sell product. I don’t look at it so much as exploitative, but rather part and parcel of the marketing and promotion of the product, which oftentimes is me.
Does one branch of the showbiz industry feel more corrupt than another? Music is much more corrupted. There’s so much more at stake in that industry – so much money and thus more power. A hell of a lot more people want to be pops stars than porn stars, so the people with influence in the music business wield more power.Do you feel famous? I can’t answer that question.
Are you and Blake Harper still boyfriends? If so, has your relationship evolved since the making of “Naked Fame?” Yes, we’re still together. The nature of the relationship is on a continuum of evolution. We’re in a more evolved place than we were when we did the film.
Your parents seem quite supportive of your erotica career. Was that something that took a while for them to get used to? They were cool with it from the get-go, really.
Will you ever make a comeback in the porn world? No.
What’s new with the recording career? I’m working on a full-length album that’s due to hit the streets in early 2006. I’m currently working with some great producers, such as Quentin Harris, Mac Quayle, Josh Harris and Hani. We should have a new single out by the end of the year. As soon as it’s confirmed, the exact schedule and release dates will be posted on ColtonFordMusic.com.
Has the documentary helped or hindered your music career? Through press, promotion and appearances, the documentary has provided me with a unique platform to draw attention to my music.”Naked Fame” is available on Here TV as a Comcast InDemand title.