Numerology buffs might want to consider playing 0493 in the next spin of the lottery wheel. For that's the number Tony Montana will be carrying on his back when he runs the 26-mile AIDS Marathon in Chicago this October. Looking fit, trim and gleaming, Montana's in the best shape of his life as he peddles a bike 40 miles a day during the course of his training program to become another Forrest Gump.
Montana's looking for sponsors [all tax deductible, checks made out to National AIDS Marathon Training Program] in his quest, the proceeds of which go to AIDS Project Los Angeles.
In Chicago, Montana will be running in the memory of John C. Holmes. "I'd like everybody to give me their support," Montana says. "I'm not afraid of saying I was in the X-rated industry. I'm not afraid of saying I have HIV."
Montana: "I'm not going to mention names, but I ran into someone from the industry at DMV. I went to shake his hand, he backed off with this look of terror in his face. I used to consider this guy a friend of mine. To have someone like that move his hands away from me shows me how much ignorance is still in this industry. On the other hand, his brother would hug me like I'm a long-lost relative. There's a good and bad side to this."
[On the good side, Montana's looking for donations in any amount, and geneross.com has pledge forms available to those who are interested in donating. Sez Montana, "I ran into David Brett of Passion Pictures. I told him for $250 you get a letter that you can frame and put on your wall. Right away, he wrote out a check without question."]
Montana: "This is the way everything started. I was at Wells Fargo and I saw these AIDS marathon posters. I said I got to run in this thing. I went into the whole mechanics of it. I joined, I got my running number and now I'm registered. The have marathons in LA, Chicago and Honolulu. I'm training for the Chicago Marathon and they give you a six-month training program to get ready. I've been through fitness seminars, nutritionists - they have all these people who contribute their time to get you ready for this event. Professional runners tell you how to run, nutritionists tell you how to eat. They give you brochures on what to eat, how to eat it, how to prepare yourself to finish 26 miles. About 98% of the people who have been through this program have finished the marathon.
"Looking around, I see I'm already in better shape than half the people enrolled, but I'm doing this not just to say I finished, but to really make a difference. You have to raise $2600 just to be able to run. I don't want to raise just $2600. If I can raise a $100,000, I want to do that. It's all going to AIDS research. So far, the people that have sponsored me are Joey Buttafuoco, Donald Jones, my boss [Montana now works for Jones Bros. Welding]; David Brett from Passion Pictures; Michael Johnson from Filmco, and, of course, Laurie Holmes who has been there for me from the beginning.
"I'm going to have a T-shirt made which all the sponsors sign so that people will know who are behind me. I believe this will make the industry not so much look good, but shows that we care."
Laurie Holmes says they're trying to get the whole adult industry behind this venue. "It's a good cause," she adds. "Especially running in the memory of John Holmes - we want to show that we've put a dent in the AIDS virus and we're trying to do something about it."
Montana: "The first time I went to one of these seminars, they ask you what are your reasons for doing this. I said I was a retired X-rated actor and HIV positive. The entire room went into a dead silence. Everyone turned around and looked at me, puzzled. This guy is HIV positive and has a big smile on his face. It's one of those things. I'm getting nothing but healthier. For once in my life I can say I'm 100% sober. That's what this is all about. I'm not going to let this disease end my life. I work 40-50 hours a week. It's a family-owned business and I'm trusted. That makes me feel good.
"I shot a scene at Jones Bros. Welding one time with Charley Biggs. That's how I became friends with Donald Jones. Then, when I needed a job, when I came out positive, he offered me a job. I came out positive October 7. I had a job October 20. He said as long as I want to work, I have a job with him. I've been given a full-time position with a lot of trust. It makes me feel good that somebody who didn't know me from nothing gave me employment when I needed it the most. Everybody would say, 'what can I help you with, Tony?' Well, money would be fine; a job would be okay, but I've never been one for, can I have this, can I have that?
"I can work for my money. I do structural steel, and it's not easy work. I sweat my balls off everyday. But it goes to show there is hope for others out there. It's a good feeling to know that there are people out there who are willing to give somebody a chance, especially someone who had my background."
On another subject, Montana continues to work on getting his "Positively Yours" video project off the ground - an adult feature that will star HIV performers.
Montana: "That was going to be done through Leisuretime Entertainment. It' still on the backburner. I met with Mark Carriere last week where I presented my terms and conditions on paper. I wanted X amount of dollars up front plus royalties. Leisuretime presented me with a contract which I went over, rewrote and handed back. Now Mark Carriere is making a decision after meeting with Ron Jeremy. What we're trying to do with this project is something that nobody's going to laugh at. I don't want to do a move that people are going to say, why bother with it. The post production has to be done the right way. The marketing has to be done the right way. It has to be educational and interesting in a way, but not just another fuck film. I don't know what kind of impact it will have, but, whatever it is, it's going to be controversial but we're going to get the right people to do this.
"People might try to slander it because of the Bobbitt-thing or whatever. It's not just about making money. It's about making something that the medical boards will want for whatever psychological reason, to help others - it will show that even though people are HIV positive, they're still living very healthy lives and are going from Point A to Point B. You can switch your life completely around. There's no point sitting there feeling sorry for yourself. I keep myself in great shape because there's only one thing I'm going to die from - that's old age. I don't intend to drink or do drugs because I've done that already. That was then, this is now.
"Most people have asked me, has the adult industry helped you with anything since you got sick? If it wasn't for Sharon Mitchell, I wouldn't have been with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. She cut through a bunch of red tape. Within 10 days, after I came out positive, they accepted me into a program. It's been 20 weeks since I've been with that program. Now I have to see them every two months, I'm doing that good. There are programs out there that will anybody, but, at the same time, there are people out there that instead of following the program to the letter, they still drink and do drugs. It makes it that much harder.
"The doctors have told me I've done in six months what it takes others to accomplish in two years. It makes me feel good to run into people who give me compliments, that I look healthy.
"After this marathon, there's the Honolulu Marathon. I don't know where this is taking me, but maybe I got HIV I'll make a difference. People want me to be a speaker. I was asked to be a speaker at the Youth Center for kids who are in trouble. You know me. I've had my share of trouble with the law, now they want me to be a speaker for them. Maybe some kid will say this guy did all this, he broke every rule, every law, but look how he is now. The way I talk is clear and simple. I drug doesn't get you anywhere. Crime does not fucking pay...
G. Ross: "Unless you get a book deal..."
Montana: "It might pay for a little while, but it gets you at the end. In 1990 I got arrested and almost ended up in prison for the rest of my life which was over a drug deal.
"If there are any fans out there who read AVN and want to help out, by all means," Montana says. "Channel 13 wants to do something on this. LA Weekly wants to do a story. The Spanish International Network wants to cover this to see how I'm training. I'm going to be the only guy in Chicago running with four different camera crews following him. People are going to be wondering, who is this guy? Why does he have so much media on the top of his head?"
