PHOENIX - When the publisher of X-Factor announced last fall that he intended to cease production of the 18-year-old publication, founder and editor Ken Furtado began making plans for its continuation. With the pledged support of most of its freelance writers, X-Factor recently became XX-Factor.
Like its predecessor, XX-Factor focuses on gay adult entertainment: book, magazine, DVD and website reviews; celebrity interviews; salacious WhoroscopesTM; a sexy fitness column; the popular "Naked Traveler" column; and other special features. A completely redesigned website launched in March adding an interactive graphic interface, new search features and embedded Flash videos.
On April 22, the 14th Annual Hard Choice Awards will be announced on the new XX-Factor website. The winners are chosen by film reviewer and critic Onan the Vulgarian and co-reviewer Harley Shadow. All gay adult films released in 2007 and reviewed in X-Factor were eligible for consideration.
Onan inaugurated the Hard Choice Awards in January 1995. Although they may not get the attention of other porn awards, the Hard Choice Awards are the second-oldest continuously running gay porn awards.
"It's that time of year when everyone with something to say puts it in a list," Onan wrote when announcing the first contest. "Here's my list. No fanfare, no shindig, no porn stars, no statuettes. No lifetime achievement awards, no drag queens, no envelopes, no acceptance speeches. Just the year's best in all-male porno. Guaranteed to keep you hard."
Other publications and organizations have their own awards, but unlike those other porn awards, the Hard Choice Awards are determined by a single person who has seen every film submitted for review.
"The Hard Choice Awards are equal opportunity," Onan said. "Whether domestic or foreign, major studio or little guy, if a film deserves merit, it will get noticed. When I watch a film, I listen to the dialog and the music. I pay attention to the lighting, continuity, editing and camerawork. I try to figure out what the director is trying to achieve and how well he or she achieved it. I'm not locked in to categories, so if something floors me, I may create an award for it on the spot - even if I never use that category again."
If you produce or distribute gay/bi adult material and would like to have it featured in XX-Factor, or to inquire about advertising opportunities, email the editor.
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