Acting and pornography have always had a tumultuous relationship. Viewers have almost never expected to see the kind of noteworthy performances in porn that they see in mainstream Hollywood movies, and with the rise of gonzo, line reads and method acting have been all but pushed to the margins of the adult industry.
However, this year’s crop of AVN Award nominees for the Best Actress — Film and Best Actor — Film categories prove that thespian ambitions have not altogether left the industry. The five nominees in each category bring passion to their characters, as well as their sexual performances.
Rocco Siffredi and Janine Linemulder both received nominations for their leading roles in Paul Thomas’ epic film Emperor (Vivid Entertainment). Ironically, Rocco called the project his “biggest disappointment in many years” due to a behind-the-scenes conflict with Janine. The on-set controversy stemmed from Siffredi’s deliberate tampering with condoms against his co-star’s wishes. Given the volatile circumstances, the onscreen relationship between the two is all the more impressive as an acting exercise.
“Janine is so good," Thomas told AVN.com. "She just doesn’t miss a beat. She has so much range and color. I think once Emperor gets around to the third act and the movie calls for her to chow a lot of emotion, she did an amazing job.
“It’s tougher for Rocco to dig deep," the director continued, "but when he’s called on for something like that, he comes through. He’s a powerful guy, and I think there’s a different rhythm to Europeans in general, and when put against Americans, they’re less flighty, less given into hysterics.”
Brad Armstrong’s Manhunters (Wicked Pictures) grabbed nods in both categories, with exceptional performances from Randy Spears and Jessica Drake. Starring Wicked contract girls Drake, Kirsten Price and Carmen Hart, along with brunette starlet Exotica, the movie tells the story of four bounty hunters on the trail of hardboiled fugitives who will stop at nothing to elude the law.
Armstrong and his cast went to great lengths to bring realism to the story, inspired by real-life bounty hunters. Armstrong, the director of such acclaimed titles as Eternity, Sold and The Collector, sent the four lead starlets to paramilitary boot camp to prepare for the stunts that the action scenes demanded. In addition to cardio and heavy weightlifting workouts, the ladies spent several days learning the proper use of handcuffs and restraints, how to conduct a search on a building, how to apprehend a fugitive, how to conduct a search with weapons, and how to fire a gun with accuracy.
“From the start, I ate, slept, and breathed that movie,” Drake said of her role in Manhunters. “I became a Certified Fugitive Recovery Agent. I wore the vest, guns, handcuffs and holsters at home. I [also] took a six-week acting class.
“I think the most important thing I learned was that the set does not end just because there is lighting equipment in the way or craft services in the next room,” continued Drake. “You have to know that your character's world is just as big as your own, that there really is something on the other side of that door that pertains to the storyline- it's not just the makeup room.”
“Some of the scripts we get are fairly wordy,” said Spears, who plays Jack, the owner of Jack’s Bail Bonds and the starlets’ boss. “And so I like to get them a couple of days early…go over the lines, and try to develop the character. Brad is especially good at communicating with his performers and trying to paint a picture of each character, letting you know the kind of person he has in mind, and listening to your input.
“I’ve been in the game for awhile,” continued Spears, “so a lot of the directors at Wicked just let me run with it."
When asked how he combines his sexual performances with his acting performances, Spears said it’s a difficult process. “When I start to do the deed, and I’m playing some goofy guy from Texas, for example, it’s pretty tough to bring that character through. Am I supposed to moan with an accent?” Spears laughed. “I usually just try to throw a few lines in there that keep me in that character.”
“I love it when people have sex in character,” added Drake. “For me, there's nothing worse than a beautiful period piece with great wardrobe, then when the sex comes, it's exactly the same as the every other scene those people have done. When you stay in character — when you add that whole other level of believability — it really shatters people's stereotypes about porn with bad acting, and dialogue that gets fast-forwarded.
“Direction is so very important to my performances,” said Drake. “A terrific script can be ruined by a bad director, or one who just doesn't care about anything but collecting that check. I think it's all about knowing what someone is capable of, getting them to that point, and then pushing them just beyond it. Obviously, everyone is different. Some performers respond to pressure and heavy demands. Others seem like they need to be coddled. I'm the girl that will do anything…I mean, if I need to have sex outdoors on a rock under a rain machine at 3 a.m. out in Palmdale, for the right director, I'll do it.
“I'm sure many people would agree with me when I say that [Brad Armstrong] has got one of the most creative minds and such an artistic vision. I think it also helps that he really knows how to do everything- from writing, to directing, the wardrobe, art direction, you name it. He's been responsible for my best movies out there- and has really encouraged me to love my job and push my own boundaries- and he makes me feel comfortable while I'm doing it.”
Veteran director Paul Thomas’ film, To Die For, received an impressive three nominations between the two categories, as the Vivid feature grabbed nods for Tommy Gunn, Austin Kincaid and Monique Alexander.
“I consider Paul Thomas a really incredible director, and he’s a huge help when it comes to the acting aspect of his films,” Gunn told AVN.com. “He’s great about telling me exactly what he needs…letting me know if wants something else, or letting me know if I’m really in the zone with a particular performance.”
Thomas’ To Die For interweaves three stories of failed love: the wedding that never was, a broken marriage that keeps destroying the people around it, and a tale of long, lost love. “It’s a bit more commercial,” Thomas said of the film. “The actors are just fantastic…they all gave really good, personal and moving performances.”
Gunn, who is currently acting in another character-driven Thomas film for Vivid called Heaven, said he tried to remain in character throughout all of To Die For, even throughout his sex scenes. “I wanted to keep the character completely accurate,” Gunn remarked.
“I got the script a few days before we started shooting, and so I went over it a number of times and tried to get into that character…Paul was a big help with that too. It wasn’t that difficult, because I feel like there were a lot of similarities between the character I was playing and myself…it wasn’t a huge stretch.
“I love the acting [aspect of porn],” continued Gunn. “Of course, the sex is great, too, but the acting is a challenge and I really look forward to it. I hope to be in this business a long time, and take on a lot more roles that challenge me in the future.”
Veteran performer Buck Adams was nominated as both Best Actor and Best Director for his big-budget film Uninhibited (Antigua). Antigua President Todd Blatt said, “It’s exciting to see Buck get recognized for this award, and it’s been exciting watching this movie make the transition from the mainstream to porn.”
Uninhibited was originally shot in early 1995. HBO picked the film up after its initial release, editing the hardcore scenes to secure an “R” rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. Subsequently, the USA channel edited the feature even more and aired it.
The movie follows the dangerous life of Adams’ character Gun, a homicide cop who has fallen from grace with the police force. After his partner is shot down, Gun is put on a drug cartel case. He then enters a world of sin as an undercover vice officer.
“It’s great to see Buck get recognition for his acting ability, especially after all of these years,” continued Blatt. “He worked really hard on this film.”
Thomas pops up again with two other Vivid films, Fade to Black 2 and Janine’s Been Black Maled, both grabbing nominations for Ava Vincent and Julian, respectively.
“Ava is wonderful,” said Thomas. “She’s fantastic…every action that she does and every word that she says is centered. She has a lot of range, and needs very little coaching.”
Thomas, himself, calls Fade to Black 2 an authentic, original screenplay, derived from the director’s experiences in the adult business. “I think it’s the most authentic piece that I’ve ever done,” he said. “It carries on the same theme as the first one, and that is how a director has to almost play tricks on the talent in order to get them to forget all of the problems of their personal lives and give 100 percent to the camera. It’s all about how to get people to be spontaneous and honest and real.”
Julian plays starlet Janine Lindemulder’s suspicious husband in Janine’s Been Black Maled. He hires private detective Evan Stone to investigate Janine’s dirty deeds. The title also boasts the uber-blonde’s first interracial scene, a steamy threeway with Sean Michaels and Mr. Marcus.
Julian plays a fine match for the super-starlet as he turns the tables on his cheating spouse in a reversal of domination.
“Without sounding trite, I must say that Paul Thomas is a legend,” said Vivid Entertainment national sales manager, Howard Levine. “His scripts are great, and he pulls a lot out of his performers, in terms of acting. He’s the only director that, year in and year out, puts out award-winning films. Everyone is amazing in Janine’s Been Black Maled.”
“My function as a director is to keep things entertaining and exciting without people fucking,” continued Thomas. “Fucking is a highly overrated form of entertainment…once you get there, you can basically just go in and out. But if that fucking comes after some great dramatic foreplay, I have done my job. Once the sex starts, it’s all up to the performers.”
The actors and actresses have stepped up their game for this year’s excellent crop of films, now viewers will just have to wait and see which two performers walk the trophies off stage.
The 24th annual AVN Awards Show will be held the night of Jan. 13 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. For tickets, call (818) 718-5788 ext. 117, or log onto www.avnawards.com and ticketmaster.com.
