WeHo passersby stopped to gawk when they saw big name gay porn stars and some mighty exotic gay celebs stepping out of a limo onto the red carpet at popular West Hollywood eatery The Abbey last Wednesday. The ones who asked learned that it was all part of the filming of the final scene of the first season of Jet Set Productions’ smash-hit gay XXX-serial, Wet Palms. The ones who didn’t will have to wait for the DVD.
In true soap opera fashion the episode, Wet Palms’ ninth, ended with a bang. Literally. A major character was shot at a crowded event — and the identity of the shooter is a secret. "It's such a secret even the cast and producers don't know," said Jet Set President Brett Drysdale. "I’m not even sure if the writers know! It's a perfect hook for the next season. It's a cliffhanger, just like 'Who shot J.R.?'." Actually, it's a double cliffhanger because in another twist another major character is unexpectedly arrested at the same function just moments before the shot rings out.
Director Matthew Moore told AVN he was glad he didn’t know the shooter’s identity. “Not knowing,” he said, “I could just film the movie without worrying that I’d be giving something away if I focused too much on a certain character — or not enough.”
From the beginning there has been nothing small about this ambitious, expensive production, all underwritten by Jet Set — huge cast, extensive shooting schedule, elaborate publicity and marketing campaign, Internet "telecast" and DVD release — and Wednesday's filming of the final scene of Episode 9 was no exception.
In addition to the entire Wet Palms cast — even the ones who don't have sex — Jet Set invited dozens of industry folk to be extras for the big party scene, and then threw a lavish wrap party at The Abbey for cast, crew, and industry to celebrate the conclusion of filming.
Though they had been filming for the last eight days, everyone looked fresh as Day One and all were excited about the finale. The filming took place in two locations: exterior, the red-carpet arrival of the celebrities (interviewed by Jason Sechrest), and interior, the party where Michael Soldier, as JettSetter Magazine publisher Simon Jett, announces the winner of the JettSetter Man of the Year award.
After director Moore positioned the extras along the red carpet and his three-camera crew (Mr. Pam, Ed Maxxx, Thor Stephans) in strategic locations, the limo pulled up and began disgorging partygoers portrayed by Jason Ridge, Ethan Marc, Gus Mattox, Rob Romoni, Rod Barry, Zak Spears, Michael Soldier, Bret Wolfe, Brad Benton, Gabriel Knight, Kelly Jacobs, Sister Roma, and additional guest stars.
Much to Moore's and producer Mark Hovanec's relief, filming of the arrivals and interviews was completed in an hour. Then everyone moved inside for the party scene, the arrest, and shooting (also completed in an hour, exactly on schedule). And then everyone moved to the bar for the wrap party.
Wet Palms is Jet Set’s biggest production — easily one of gay porn’s biggest ever — and producer Hovanec is especially pleased with the way the filming of the final third of the “season” has gone. “One to Three was good,” he said, “Four to Six was better, but Seven to Nine is one of the finest productions I've ever been involved with. I’m very proud of it. Having done six episodes, the actors and crew are like family now and these last three episodes couldn’t have gone smoother.”
Moore agreed, saying, “This was by far the best experience. Everyone gave 110 percent.”
The just-completed episodes now go to post-production for editing and music — “all original music, scored to the action. Just like Hollywood,” said Hovanec who expects the DVDs to be released in late fall.
Meanwhile the DVDs of episodes 4-6 have just been released, and a softcore version of GAYVN- and Grabby-award-winning episodes 1-3 will debut in July at the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
