[ebar.com]- Having written and directed over 200 gay and bisexual adult videos and garnered awards for many, Mike Donner, dubbed the “Frank Capra of gay porn,” knows a thing or two about the gay adult-film industry.

He parlays his years of experience into an addictive, impressively polished self-published book that is fun, straightforward, informative, and written with a lighthearted quality that, while delivering useful information, thankfully doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Donner recruited three long-time industry experts (Rod Barry, Dean Phoenix, and Justin Wells) to be his “porn panel,” imparting their own personal knowledge and know-how in chapters about douching, dildos, prime positioning, directors and producers, and the performer’s risk of exposure to friends and family. The best advice comes from Wells, who warns, “Just because you think you can do it doesn’t mean you can.” Barry opines, “Don’t start unless you have a regular job. It’s not a career!”

Donner’s step-by-step guide starts at the beginning of the process, where the initial contact by the potential actor is made (flattering, smiling photos work best), an interview with a studio casting honcho is arranged (flexible, relaxed personality is key; “the only thing stiff they want to see is your dick”), and, with the luck of the porn gods, a stage name is created (“keep it sexy, not stupid”). Never dull or tedious, the remaining chapters cover everything from a first day on the set to the use of Imodium before a bottoming scene, good bodily hygiene, and script dialogue advice (“remove the penis from your mouth before enunciating”). Donner has done his homework and made his book accessible even to those readers with the shortest attention span. Skimmers know who you are.

The author conveys some hard truths: an adult-video actor’s tenure tends to be short-lived; don’t do porn if you desire a “real” life in the public eye, if you’re an overly private person or looking for a boyfriend, or shy in the slightest bit. The simplest bit of advice Donner offers is “do it for fun, not for fame.” And he’s right. It’s not Hollywood, there’s no glitz, no glamour, and no red carpets (except at the AVN Awards). In rare cases, sure, it can bring you fame and a decent amount of money, but understand that it’s your naked ass on film having sex with another dude, not a pivotal scene from Milk.

Surprising for a book on the porn industry, the photos included aren’t sexy, but rather whimsical parodies of shirtless young boys in silly poses. A few hot, humpy shots wouldn’t have hurt.

The author himself has had his share of calamities while working in the industry, and he shares a lot of personal memories here. But most of what he offers is common sense, applying not only to douching, condoms, nail-trimming, “dick size and ass depth” and remembering to breathe, but to everyday life as well.

Donner’s book skirts the kind of gritty, hardcore hearsay found in recent porn-star tell-alls, and opts for the dos and don’ts of breaking into the industry. Curious porn fans will enjoy his blunt-jokey delivery of facts and insider details, while those considering taking the plunge into porndom can rest easy knowing that Donner has paved the way with a fun and insightful approach to getting laid on camera.