BY Ra SHAWN CHISOLM
During the middle of the spring, many fans flocked to the video stores to buy “Dreamgirls” and “Bringing Sexy Back” making them both number one in it’s first week of release, and while Jennifer Hudson was inspiring viewers to pursue their careers, Bobby Blaze, the star of the latter film had fans turned on with his muscular physique and the way he sexed his co-stars in the bedroom, making them have fantasies of hiring him as their personal trainer. Since entering the industry, Blaze has worked with directors Tyson Cane and Marvin Jones and starred in the films “Harold Episode Larry," "Kronic: Renee’s Story,“ “Thug Mug Shot,“ and the Lil’ Homies sequels, but there’s more to him than the sizes of his muscles and genitals; he’s an extremely well-rounded person who has a good head on his shoulder which has helped him maintain a successful career in the porn and music industry for the past couple of years. I had the opportunity to speak with him at his job about his career and the importance of mataining a professional and respectable attitude in the work place.
Q: Your film “Bringing Sexy Back” is hot. What is the theme and concept behind the film?
A: The theme of the film is that; bringing sexy back. A lot of people think I’m young, but I’m a little bit older than I look. It was just something for guys over thirty, middle age guys and guys hitting thirty and a little past thirty to know that they still got it.
Q: How did you become involved in the porn industry?
A: I was one of those who said ‘I wouldn’t do that’ and there was a time I fell on hard times and I had to survive and my way to survive was that. Actually I have no bad out look on it because it made me the person I am today.
Q: What was the first film you starred in?
A: It wasn’t a film, it was the internet. Street Life; the first film that came from that was Street Life 101, 111 and 112 was the following one.
Q: How did you become involved with Chocolate Cream Productions?
A: Through one of my best friends. He was doing some work at Chocolate Cream and hadn’t heard of that line at that time. He introduced me to Marvin and Marvin said he wanted me to do some work with him. Marvin being the CEO and owner of Chocolate Cream and BC productions wanted to work with me and I’ve been working with him.
Q: How do manage to manage working a regular job while working in the porn industry?
A: The industry job was first. I was working with some fellas and I was introduced to a guy who ran a temp agency and he said I was professional looking and he said should come to an interview. I look at my nine-to-five as my bread and butter because that’s what pays my bills, pays my rent and help to live and survive. The porn industry, it helps me, but it’s recreational money for clothing and going to parties.
Q: In addition to working with Marvin, you’ve also worked with Tyson Cane. What was it like working with both of them?
A: It was interesting. Different from the norm. Tyson’s fully into making movies. He goes from head to toe with the production as far as the lighting, sound, make up. Everything. Everyone else I worked with, you came as you were, and you worked. Tyson tries to make it good. Working with Marvin Jones has been the best experience I ever had with doing porn. He’s a very self conscious type of person to as he makes sure you think about yourself before doing anything. He makes sure you have a good head on your shoulder before he works with you, so I’ve learned a lot from him and that’s why I’m going into producing and directing part because he was like you got a good job and you don’t need to be continuously be in front of the camera.
Q: I know that you and the other models from Chocolate Cream have been appearing at Langston’s Lounge to promote your movies. How long has that been going on?
A: Actually it just started. The first one was for the “Bringing Sexy Back” release on March 29th. That’s something I believe Marvin is gonna be doing in the long run.
Q: Do you have any plans to do other things outside of adult entertainment?
A: I do a lot of different things. I do product management for artists. I also do artist development for up young up and coming artists. I do a lot of volunteer work. I’m well-rounded so there’s no telling where I would end up at.
Q: You brought up an interesting point about middle age people. In the Gay lifestyle most media sends messages that you have to be young to be accepted and if you’re above the age of 30, you can’t be sexy, attractive and intelligent. What is your take on that?
A: I think that’s bullshit! Reason being that your life is what you make of it. Your looks are what you make of it, and looks don’t last forever. Just because you’re sexy to 10 and 15 people doesn’t mean you’re sexy to everyone else in the room. Everybody has their own taste and what they want and what they’re looking for and there’s someone out there for everyone. Even if you’re 40 or 45, it’s the way you feel inside that’s gonna tell you if you’re the young person or old person.
Q: In the past most gay men and porn stars were labeled based on their looks, but in this generation, are not buying into labels and stigmas. What do you think of that?
A: I think that’s actually good. Labels are not bad. There are some people who fit one hundred percent top. Some people who fit one hundred percent bottom. Some people are one hundred percent versatile who don’t know what they want until they get it. I think the new era of deleting labels is kind of good because then you have the stigma of if you’re a top you have to masculine. You have to be hard. If you’re a bottom, you have to be feminine. When you delete that out, it actually gives equality to everybody because you can like what you like and act how you want to act.
Q: How do you manage to maintain a private life away from the porn industry?
A: I don’t mix the two. When I go to shoots and if I know the model, we’ll coincide, but I try not to fraternize too much with getting to know the models within the industry because I’ve had bad experiences with trying to build relationships, friendships and the two don’t mix so I keep my private life private.
Q: What do you think about the misconceptions that people have about the adult entertainment industry?
A: I think that some of it has some truth to it. Because it’s on how the person carries themselves and you have people who carry themselves on certain levels to have people talk about them. If you’re gonna be in the adult industry or the record industry and you’re gonna be seen by different people, you should present yourself in an orderly fashion. If someone comes up to you and ask ‘are you such and such,’ don’t tell them no because you’re stuck up because that might be the person who buys your movies. People put the stigma on themselves because you have people in it for drugs. You have people in it because they’re stone cold freaks and I happen to be one of them (both laughs). And you have some people who are in it for basic lifestyle needs and necessities, and you have those out there making the bad names for us. If you fit the mode of the bad ones, accept the ridicule.
If you fit the mode of ones who knows what you're in this for, and you do it professioally and respect all your fans. Not just some of them and not just the ones who are cute and slim, then you're get a good vibe.
Q: How did you become involved with artist development?
A: I was working with a company called Safire entertainment; the owner is one of my good friends. I went on the Funk Feast tour; that was the first tour I went on and that was in 2000 and she hired me from then to do artist development. I’m young acting but I’m actually older than the young people I work with and I have the character to pull on young people and it was basically my job to school them ‘you can’t become too big headed with this. It’s your life, it’s a job and you have to take this seriously. That was my way coming in because I knew somebody.
Q: What Advice would you give to those wanting to pursue careers in both the adult entertainment and recording industry?
A: For the adult industry, I would say really think and reconsider your decision because it’s not for any and everyone, and you do have to remember once you come into the industry, you have to have thick skin, cause some people are gonna like you, some people are not gonna like you. Some people will appreciate you, some people are gonna turn their nose down on what you do. My advice is to evaluate, do your research. Just because its porn doesn’t mean it’s not serious. A lot of people get paid off this industry and survive off it. If you take it seriously you take out what you put in to it. Just think real hard before you get into it. Music industry, I would say be true to yourself; that’s the main thing cause it’s a very shrewd and evil industry, and the ones that’s the closest to you will rob you and swallow you up. You have to be very cautious and true to yourself.
Ra SHAWN-DA-PROFESSOR
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
HONORING A FLAVA WORKS ANGEL
BY Ra SHAWN CHISOLM
On July 14, Dekenric Daniel Wiley, former porn star and office manager of Flava Works productions had passed away from pneumonia, and like many who knew him, I was shocked and sadden by his untimely passing. I gotten to know Devin as he was known by family, friends and fans while requesting to conduct interviews with cast of Flava Works and Coco Dorm for an article I was writing for an online magazine that has yet to be published, and when he contacted me, he also asked if he could be interviewed, and I accepted his request. Before, during and after the interview, I got to know Devin, and I saw that he was a cool, professional, down to earth person with a great heart and sense of humor, which made the interview fun and smooth.
Born and raised in Texas, Wiley a who originally worked in real estate, became involved with the company by starring in the films Dorm Life 7 and 9 and Chino’s Dorm, which received an nomination for an Adult Industry Award. Wanting to have a post porn career, Devin became the office manager of the company where he worked on promotions, licensing and grooming the models on professionalism, which made the companies and models very popular and though he’s no longer here in the flesh, his legacy will continue to live in the hearts and memories of those he’s touched and since he was gracious enough to participate in the interview, I decided to published it to show my gratitude and to keep his memory alive. This interview was conducted via telephone in April 2007 shortly after he returned from a promotion tour in Atlanta and before heading back to Texas to attend his family reunion.
Q: How did you become involved in the porn industry?
A: Perhaps by accident. I had a web cam at home and I would be on cam any way with other guys doing whatever it is that we were doing and I decided that if a lot of people were logging on to see me do whatever for free that I can get paid for it.
Q: How did you become involved with Flava Works?
A: I was contacted. A friend suggested I apply with them and I was contacted by Lucas and they flew me down to Chicago. I didn’t actually apply. A friend applied for me.
Q: What was it like filming for the first time?
A: It’s a blur. My first scene was a group scene. When I made it to Chicago, I unpacked, took a shower and I prepared for my first scene. It happened so quickly, I didn’t have time to think about anything. The thing that was disturbing was the fact the lights were so hot that I was sweating like a pig in an electric chair.
Q: Now you’re working behind the scenes. What made you decide work away from the camera?
A: I was a bit older than a lot of the guys coming in the dorm. (I think that) my mind set was (much) different. Most guys coming in they want the glitz and glam sometimes and they don’t think about the future. I was thinking about making more money within the industry cause this industry has so much to offer. You have to get what you can when you can.
Q: What are you duties as office manager?
A: Running operations for Flava Works. Pretty much everything. I went from modeling, to filming to promoting the magazine when Flava Men magazine was being developed. I traveled to promote the magazine. All the licensing agreements. This all I had to learn and now we’re self distributing.
Q: Do you miss being in front of the camera?
A: No, not really. There are times when I be like ‘it’s time for me to come out of retirement’ because they’re be a model who I would be attracted to (both laugh). Anyone who knows me in the company pretty much knows that it wasn’t really about being in front of the camera.
Q: You brought up an interesting point about having a plan after porn. How important is it for those entering the industry to have a back-up plan?
A: It’s extremely important because in porn, you’re as good as your performance and if your performance starts to falter, then of course your popularity starts to falter. If you’re making five grand a month for doing scenes, then the next month you can make a thousand dollars because no one’s going to work with you if you’re not pulling the performances.
Q: You mentioned another interesting topic about the number of models being younger entering the industry. Why do you think that there are more models under the age of 21 entering the industry?
A: I think that the new guys are freakier than we were back in the days. At that age, we weren’t thinking about doing porn. We were thinking about sneaking and buying some (both laugh). There days, these boys are coming out the wood works.
Q: From you perspective, what makes the models and company so popular with consumers?
A: To tell the truth, I couldn’t tell you. Coco Dorm appeals to the voyisem in people. Just like seeing reality. That’s why reality TV is so popular. People like seeing things when they happen.
I know in the years I've been here, it's gone from a steady pace to overwhelming and it's because of the demand.
Q: What plans do you have in the future?
A: I really have not idea. Before starting here, I was working in real estate, and I thought that was something I would be doing forever and forever, but I have this fluctuating taste in life and once I started working in porn, I was like ‘I’m not doing real estate anymore’ I could always go back and get recertified. My focus right now is to help build up Flava Works to the point where someone else can run it.
Q: What advice would you give to those wanting to pursue a career in this industry?
A: Make sure it’s something you can handle. Not everybody has the will strong enough to handle whenever you’re put on display like that. People have to realize that even though people are looking at you crazy and calling you different names, they’re still purchasing you.
Devin was creamted and a public memorial was held in Miami on August 3, 2007
On July 14, Dekenric Daniel Wiley, former porn star and office manager of Flava Works productions had passed away from pneumonia, and like many who knew him, I was shocked and sadden by his untimely passing. I gotten to know Devin as he was known by family, friends and fans while requesting to conduct interviews with cast of Flava Works and Coco Dorm for an article I was writing for an online magazine that has yet to be published, and when he contacted me, he also asked if he could be interviewed, and I accepted his request. Before, during and after the interview, I got to know Devin, and I saw that he was a cool, professional, down to earth person with a great heart and sense of humor, which made the interview fun and smooth.
Born and raised in Texas, Wiley a who originally worked in real estate, became involved with the company by starring in the films Dorm Life 7 and 9 and Chino’s Dorm, which received an nomination for an Adult Industry Award. Wanting to have a post porn career, Devin became the office manager of the company where he worked on promotions, licensing and grooming the models on professionalism, which made the companies and models very popular and though he’s no longer here in the flesh, his legacy will continue to live in the hearts and memories of those he’s touched and since he was gracious enough to participate in the interview, I decided to published it to show my gratitude and to keep his memory alive. This interview was conducted via telephone in April 2007 shortly after he returned from a promotion tour in Atlanta and before heading back to Texas to attend his family reunion.
Q: How did you become involved in the porn industry?
A: Perhaps by accident. I had a web cam at home and I would be on cam any way with other guys doing whatever it is that we were doing and I decided that if a lot of people were logging on to see me do whatever for free that I can get paid for it.
Q: How did you become involved with Flava Works?
A: I was contacted. A friend suggested I apply with them and I was contacted by Lucas and they flew me down to Chicago. I didn’t actually apply. A friend applied for me.
Q: What was it like filming for the first time?
A: It’s a blur. My first scene was a group scene. When I made it to Chicago, I unpacked, took a shower and I prepared for my first scene. It happened so quickly, I didn’t have time to think about anything. The thing that was disturbing was the fact the lights were so hot that I was sweating like a pig in an electric chair.
Q: Now you’re working behind the scenes. What made you decide work away from the camera?
A: I was a bit older than a lot of the guys coming in the dorm. (I think that) my mind set was (much) different. Most guys coming in they want the glitz and glam sometimes and they don’t think about the future. I was thinking about making more money within the industry cause this industry has so much to offer. You have to get what you can when you can.
Q: What are you duties as office manager?
A: Running operations for Flava Works. Pretty much everything. I went from modeling, to filming to promoting the magazine when Flava Men magazine was being developed. I traveled to promote the magazine. All the licensing agreements. This all I had to learn and now we’re self distributing.
Q: Do you miss being in front of the camera?
A: No, not really. There are times when I be like ‘it’s time for me to come out of retirement’ because they’re be a model who I would be attracted to (both laugh). Anyone who knows me in the company pretty much knows that it wasn’t really about being in front of the camera.
Q: You brought up an interesting point about having a plan after porn. How important is it for those entering the industry to have a back-up plan?
A: It’s extremely important because in porn, you’re as good as your performance and if your performance starts to falter, then of course your popularity starts to falter. If you’re making five grand a month for doing scenes, then the next month you can make a thousand dollars because no one’s going to work with you if you’re not pulling the performances.
Q: You mentioned another interesting topic about the number of models being younger entering the industry. Why do you think that there are more models under the age of 21 entering the industry?
A: I think that the new guys are freakier than we were back in the days. At that age, we weren’t thinking about doing porn. We were thinking about sneaking and buying some (both laugh). There days, these boys are coming out the wood works.
Q: From you perspective, what makes the models and company so popular with consumers?
A: To tell the truth, I couldn’t tell you. Coco Dorm appeals to the voyisem in people. Just like seeing reality. That’s why reality TV is so popular. People like seeing things when they happen.
I know in the years I've been here, it's gone from a steady pace to overwhelming and it's because of the demand.
Q: What plans do you have in the future?
A: I really have not idea. Before starting here, I was working in real estate, and I thought that was something I would be doing forever and forever, but I have this fluctuating taste in life and once I started working in porn, I was like ‘I’m not doing real estate anymore’ I could always go back and get recertified. My focus right now is to help build up Flava Works to the point where someone else can run it.
Q: What advice would you give to those wanting to pursue a career in this industry?
A: Make sure it’s something you can handle. Not everybody has the will strong enough to handle whenever you’re put on display like that. People have to realize that even though people are looking at you crazy and calling you different names, they’re still purchasing you.
Devin was creamted and a public memorial was held in Miami on August 3, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
LEGENDARY SONGSTRESS CAPTURES FANS WITH SWEET LOVE SONGS AT BROOKLYN CONCERT
BY Ra SHAWN CHISOLM
Singer/songwriter Anita Baker had the crowd at Brooklyn’s Wingate Field under her musical and magical spell this past week. Known for her smooth and soulful jazzy voice phrasing and classic love songs, Baker became one of the top selling female artists of the 1980's, selling millions of records and winning numerous awards, and she showed the crowd that she still has what it takes to work a crowd.
Her set began with DJ Vaughn Harper from WBLS introducing the Grammy Award winning legend, who draped in a black sequenced gown, walked around her fabulously decorated stage blowing kisses to the crowd who in turn, shared their loved before she performed her singles “Mystery” and “Sweet Love” which had the crowd out their seats and applauding wildly. Baker so touched by the crowd’s positive reaction that she had them sing the chorus of the latter song before she began performing her breakthrough classic.
After expressing her love to the crowd, and telling them to have fun, she launched into “365 Days (Same Ole Love)," "No One in The World" and “Just Because” which had members of the audience hugging their loved ones. She later displayed her scatting skills while performing “Missing You Baby” and “Caught Up In The Rapture” where featured a nice call and response between her and the background vocalists and a hot solo by her saxophonist Rodney Taylor who received a wild round of applause. Before performing a Jazzy rendition of her classic “Giving You The Best That I Got,” Baker explained why she was constantly ad-libbing and scatting in between songs; ‘It’s to show you that there is no tape recorder” she told the crowd who showed her love for the remark in reference to many of today’s artist who lip-synch during their concerts. She then performed “Fairy Tales” and “You Bring Me Joy” and returned for the encore performance of her solo debut single “Angel” which she told the crowd they had to help her sing. “Fairy Tales" is usually the encore, but since I performed it earlier, you have to help me on this one” she told the audience.
Anita Baker’s concert was fabulous. Not only was the fans entertained by her music, the crowd loved her set, sense of humor, sassiness (especially when she told them that her show will always be a family show) and her voice, and though it would be nice for her to add her singles “Good Love,” “I Apologize” and “My Funny Valentine” to her repertoire, she still has the magic to capture fans with her rapture of timeless love songs.
Anita Baker will also be appearing at Seabreeze near Coney Island Thursday, August 16. Showtime is at 7:30 PM
Price $10.00 or you can bring your own chair.
For further informaion check out www.brooklynconcerts.com
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
MY INTRODUCTION
Good evening.
I hope all is good. I like to take this time to introduce myself
My name is Ra Shawn (easy and great pronouncation is Ray-Shaun). I'm residing in Brooklyn via Harlem, and I'm a graduate of BMCC & Brooklyn College where I majored in Communications, Journalism and TV/Radio and now I will be taking two courses at the New School where I will be learning how to improve my writing skills.
I decided to create my blog to showcase my writing and to write about various topics that are dear to me including music, and issues surrounding the Gay/SGL Community, and my goal is to not only showcase my skills, but to also help myself and others though my writing
I hope all is good. I like to take this time to introduce myself
My name is Ra Shawn (easy and great pronouncation is Ray-Shaun). I'm residing in Brooklyn via Harlem, and I'm a graduate of BMCC & Brooklyn College where I majored in Communications, Journalism and TV/Radio and now I will be taking two courses at the New School where I will be learning how to improve my writing skills.
I decided to create my blog to showcase my writing and to write about various topics that are dear to me including music, and issues surrounding the Gay/SGL Community, and my goal is to not only showcase my skills, but to also help myself and others though my writing
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