I just ordered Dick Ho : Asian Male Porn Star… directed by Jeffery Lei. (http://www.idontcarefilms.com/dickho/)
It arrived in the mail the day before yesterday, however I want to watch it with Shawn.
There are a number of Asian porn actors in gay male films, but virtually zero in heterosexual porn. This movie is based on this fact. I say “virtually zero” because I literally don’t even know if there is a single actor out there. (Helllloooooo helllloooooo…. hellloooooo… echooooo) Are You Out There?
For me, I’m curious because I don’t identify entirely as female. Nor do I male, however sometimes I feel more male than female. Definitely genderqueer. I know of some dyke and trans amateur porn stars out there, many of whom are Hapa (mixed race). Some female actresses are quite famous and are mixed. Tera Patrick is probably the biggest of these names. However in terms of gender, Pink & White Productions probably has the most queerest of the Asian and mixed Asian stars around.
I’m just musing around ideas for a deeper conversation I want to start about why it is that it is so rare to see Asian men on camera, and how this influences trans or genderqueer stars who identify on the masculine spectrum. Is it that there are so few role models? Does my involvement make me a role model? Ten years ago, there was a director by the name of Christoper Lee. I found in a sale bin at Good Vibrations, a VHS tape called Sex Flesh in Blood. It featured all performers of color, as well as the director himself, a trans asian male. Lee gave a voice — a strong sexual and visual voice showing trans guys sucking off, and fucking hardcore both femaled-bodied stars, themselves, and biologically born males, and really set the stage for a future of pornographers.
However, does our community remember him? This was in the late 90′s, where is Christopher today?
I wonder if he would team up with Shine? More questions… I’ll let you know what I thought of Dick Ho as soon as I can wrangle my viewing buddy to join me. In the meantime, enjoy this trailer.
13 comments
A says:
Apr 9, 2008
Whoa I just posted about this in my journal monday…
I have no idea why there aren’t more straight asian men in porn there is a market for it. In my search for it i’ve discovered a lot of people who would love to see it. It’s hot!
Jiz Lee says:
Apr 9, 2008
So true! What is it with the industry that thinks they don’t exist — both the producers, and the potential talent themselves?
As alternative porn begins to trump mainstream aesthetics, and queer porn and with “real couples” starts to grow in demand, I hope to see a larger talent pool take the stage. And when they do, they’ll have a hungry audience to feed!
One of my crushes, Sasha Grey, speaks to the absense of Asian Male performers… she is right on in questioning the absense of Asian males as sex symbols in Hollywood, and of considering a more ridged tie to traditional cultural morals. Perhaps the same little voice that says, “Be a Lawyer” is saying “Don’t be an actor, and especially not a porn actor”… ?
nerdpunkcub says:
Apr 10, 2008
Christopher is around. We often name him in our genealogy along with Morty Diamond and Luke Woodward.
I believe his is still in the SF area, but I haven’t bumped into him since Pride last year.
I often get requests from fans for info on Sex Flesh in Blood. At least Alley of the Trannyboys is available from Good For Her. I’ve never scene Sex Flesh in Blood but have heard excellent things about it.
Jiz Lee says:
Apr 11, 2008
I LOVE Sex, Flesh in Blood!
It was one of the first times I had seen a trans performer in porn, and oooooooohhh was it hot!! I have a romanticized hard on for goth — “I’d go gay for goth!” And seeing it portrayed through Asian-American stars was so important, I don’t even have words for it yet.
Unfortunately the film’s not online — I’m hoping it will make its way to the internet someday!
I’d let you borrow it the film if I still had access to it; it was a present for my ex and he still has it. *sigh*
Cand86 says:
Apr 11, 2008
I absolutely agree. I went to Japan and came back with a hunger to see more of those darling boys and handsome men, and they were plentiful . . . in gay porn. Not a big problem- still quite hot- but where are the straight Japanese (or even just Asian) boys in porn? And, for that matter, even in Hollywood.
It still bugs me to no end that I could probably find professional-quality midget clown scuba porn out there somewhere, but trying to find some of the most normal things is impossible, even in just amateur websites and videos.
Oh yes, and I’ve looked hard for “Sex, Flesh in Blood”, too . . . I hear such wonderful things but it seems to be like a mirage in the desert, always out of reach.
Great, thought-provoking blog. I don’t know why Asian men aren’t prevalent in porn, but I’m definitely pondering it now.
Jiz Lee says:
Apr 15, 2008
I finally got around to watching Dick Ho: Asian Male Porn Star, and it was great! Jeffery Lei interviewed a slew of porn actresses — from Annie Sprinkle, to Mika Tan (who is frickin’ adorable — will you marry me??!) and to completely charming Sharon Mitchell.
It was comedic — for porn lovers out there, there were no explicit scenes. I would HIGHLY recommend showing this film in an Asian American Cinema class. One that is open enough for an honest discussion about pornography that is.
I’m going to write more, I swear… I may email Jeffery and pick his brain a bit. Stay tuned…
shawn says:
Apr 15, 2008
I heart Mika Tan…. check out what she’s doing:
“I am trying to dispel the rumors that all Asian men are small. I need large-cocked Asian men for this project. I have received many e-mails with attachments, but hesitate to hire on sent attachments alone. I want 2 full hours of hardcore sex with Asians, Blondes, and a Redhead. I am seeking Asian men.
YOTC scenes were filmed on Monday, May 30 and Wednesday, June 1, 2005.”
http://www.generasianxxx.com/
Jiz Lee says:
Apr 15, 2008
OMG. Talk about rocking my world. Year of the COCK! Rad. Check out what Mika says on the site:
http://www.generasianxxx.com/
And so smart… http://www.asian-sirens.com/blog/comments.php?id=1055_0_1_0_C
Cand86 says:
Apr 17, 2008
I know it’s a bit old, but I just found out about Darrell Hamamoto- a university professor who wrote a thesis paper on the absence of Asian men in porn (titled “The Joy Fuck Club”) and then went on to produce his own Asian-Asian porn film, called “Skin To Skin”. Pretty cool.
Here’s the Daily Show’s take on it (poking a little fun, but hey, that is what they do):
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=108161&title=they-so-horny
Jiz Lee says:
Apr 17, 2008
Oh Cand86, how could I have lived without you?
… and google! The Joy Fuck Club
“The Joy Fuck Club” is included in Countervisions: Asian American Film Criticism
edited by Darrell Y. Hamamoto and Sandra Liu
A review of the book:
A review of Hamamoto’s Skin on Skin (good god there’s a lot of other pornos with that same title):
http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=8844
The day will come. Mika’s working on Year of the Cock, and just look at the rise of Asian sex symbols in my favorite TV show, LOST. If Daniel Dae Kim and Naveen Andrews are any indication… I’m gonna like this new trend!
My not-quite-final thought is to support people who are doing great things. And, if there’s no one out there for you to support, for yourself to be the change you want to see in the world. Don’t just sit on your ass and complain, or even worse, please refrain from gossiping about people or companies who are trying to do it… so counterproductive, and that only makes it harder!
I’m realizing that I am also interested in this subject because it parallels the once absent queer porn, which now Pink & White Productions is bringing to the forefront — studios once thought that there’d be no market for butch or boyish lesbians, not to mention Transmen… and… look at us now. Taking power into our own hands has it’s privileges. Literally.
Jeffrey says:
Apr 20, 2008
Thanks for the post, Jiz! Interesting to see what will happen with Mika’s ‘Year of the Cock’. It seems she started casting shortly after I interviewed her for ‘Dick Ho’. Hopefully, we can promote change in the industry for the presence of straight Asian men.
will says:
Jul 17, 2008
I happened upon your blog while looking up some stuff on Dick Ho. I’ve been wanting to see it for ages. As a straight Asian male, there are definately a lack of Asian male representation in American porn. I’ve stumbled upon a couple guys out there, but not being a big porn guy, I have no idea who they are. I’ve read excerpts of Hamamoto’s paper and heard about the Mika Tan video, but have never followed up on it. It’s nice to see the outreach though. I hope you enjoyed the movie. You might also want to check out “Finishing the Game” by Justin Lin. It follows a similar vein, but explores a different aspect of mainstream cinema.
I find the reference to Eric Byler interesting because I met him at a small symposium where he was presenting and he’s kind of a prick with identity issues. Not to mention that he’s dismissive in regards to Southeast Asian issues and rude to a few members of the audience while pushing his political agendas and promoting his “progressive” and “empowering” non-profit that happens to be more of a political fundraising tank.
Cheers!
Good Vibes Magazine says:
Aug 13, 2008
[...] the blog I wrote back in… April… about the lack of Asian Men (and to be specific, straight Asian American men) in porn? Well, [...]