Industry Stars Look Back at 2008

Performer Dempsey Stearns:
One of the best achievements for me was obtaining a cabin up in the Sierra Nevadas in northern California. I moved into it just a few months ago part-time. I can retreat to it anytime I like when I feel overpressured or just want to get back in touch with nature. These past several months I finally got a chance to get reacquainted with and closer to some of my oldest friends. Friends I have not seen in ages since I haven't really been around home for a while.

 

Jet Set Men's Chris Steele:
I would say that Jet Set Men releasing SLIDE on Blu-ray is a defining moment for our studio. Blu-ray is an experience you cannot get on the Internet. The pop-up menus are superior, and so are the picture and sound quality. Also the release marks the first movie Jet Set Men has released with a new look and a new company logo. Moving forward all Jet Set Men movies will have this new look.

 

Titan's Keith Webb:
The presidential election will define 2008 for me. I have never been more involved, donated more money or been more personally inspired by a presidential election. 2008 is about taking back our country and moving it forward in a new spirit of optimism and hope. 2008 will be seen as the year the country stood up and finally said...ENOUGH!

 

Director Chi Chi LaRue:
The event that will most define 2008 for me will be the opening of our store, Chi Chi LaRue's, in West Hollywood. We've spent the past year working on it and it is a culmination of my work in this industry and my own company.

 

Performer Tiger Tyson:
Won Lotto (joke), taught my pit bull how to sit and stay (not), and finished filming Take 'Em Down 3 (for real)!

 

COLT's John Rutherford:
What defines 2008 for me is change. And not just change in our country's leadership, which seems to be an overused moniker right now. What I am talking about is the change we are all experiencing in our industry. For the first time in my over 20 years in this business we are feeling the effects of the global economy, the impact of a more gentrified attitude in our end consumer and the pressures of an ever-increasing need to be on the forefront of innovation. I take solace in the fact that our company has continued to evolve for 41 years, and that this ability to change with the times, and with the needs of our customers, will help us continue to exceed our goals in the coming new year.

 

Director Paul Barresi:
I had a good run directing for Falcon Studios' Mustang line while it lasted. I feel I did the best work in my entire porn career for Falcon. And after 40 years of working in the adult entertainment business, that says something.

 

Athletic Model Guild's Christopher Trout:
There are two moments that really made the year for me. The first was AMG's win at the GAYVNs for Best Ethnic Film - Latin, and the second was the release of Taschen's Big Penis Book, which debuted a selection of rare color photos from the AMG archives. It was the first time that Bob Mizer's great use of color really reached a global market, and the first time my name appeared in a book about massive dongs. I know it was the Year of the Rat for everyone else, but for me, 2008 was the Year of the Cock.

 

Fabscout Entertainment's Howard Andrew:
Wow. There are so many things that have defined 2008 for me. Obviously in porn, FabScout's acquisition of David Forest Entertainment was a big deal for me, and in the non-porn world, the elections this year are very much like riding a merry-go-round. The businessman in me wanted me to vote for McCain, the human and gay part of me wanted Obama. And Sarah Palin - wow, Sarah Palin. One surprise party away from being president. I think not....

 

Porno Bingo's Will Clark:
I guess resilience has been the watchword for the year. My Outlook system went all wonky and I found a great solution in Topica. My Web guy retired from the site after a decade so I changed the site to being only a blog and I love the format so much I wonder why I didn't do it years ago. The location where we hold Porno Bingo closed due to a rent increase and we got picked up by a better place and we've been doing gangbusters business.... So staying strong during the many changes in my personal/professional lives as well as getting through the troubles with the economy and trying not to lose my mind during the election, it's certainly been a trial and I, for one, am looking for 2009 to be a year of fun and frivolity. I think we could all use it! Now if I could just find a new location for a Bad Boys Pool Party, I'd be all set!