RIP, Superstar Auteur Gino Colbert

It was just last week that we learned of the death of gay porn star Blue Blake in London at age 52. Now, we can confirm that legendary director Gino Colbert has also passed away. (The two men were frequent collaborators.) It’s been reported that Colbert, 58, had a heart attack at his home in Hollywood last August. This was a sad end for a man who spent many years in front of the camera as a model and then behind it as an award-winning writer, producer and director of films in the gay, straight, bisexual and trans genres.

Colbert helmed countless titles for numerous studios before starting his own Gino Pictures imprint. He had a hand in discovering Joey Stefano, the Rockland brothers and many other big-name porn stars. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Colbert started as an assistant to straight porn director Joe Sarno (subject of the 2013 documentary A Life in Dirty Pictures) in the late 1970s in New York. Eventually he made his way to Los Angeles, where he worked for VCA/HIS, Leisure Time, Metro and New Age Pictures, creating classic movies such as Three Brothers, Porn Fiction, Men in Blue, Jeff Stryker’s Underground, Night Walk and The Matinee Idol (starring Ken Ryker). And who could forget 1994’s Tijuana Toilet Tramps (featuring Stefano)!? Colbert later turned his love for theater into a stage career, touring in Ronnie Larsen plays such as Scenes From My Love Life, 10 Naked Men, All-Male Peep Show and Shooting Porn: Live On Stage. He was also involved in Larsen’s 1997 film documentary Shooting Porn.

In recent years, Colbert oversaw the annual Hall of Fame induction presentation at the now-defunct GAYVN Awards and helped Robert Van Damme (below with Gino in 2009) with the launch of his RVD Productions. He was also a guest speaker at UC Santa Barbara graduate film program, and he was honored with an annual film festival dedicated to his work at the former Tomkat Theatre in West Hollywood. While he had stepped away from the business, Colbert remained a devoted movie buff and fan. He was also one of nicest and most thoughtful guys you could ever meet—in or out of the industry. RIP, sweet man.

First Look: Muscle Gods Celebration

We teased you last week with news of a new scene from porn superstar Robert Van Damme in director Gino Colbert’s latest release, Perverts, in which he’s paired with sexy Emilio Sands. Now we have reports of a whole new movie starring the Czech hunk who has weathered some tough times. Muscle Gods Celebration is basically a best-of compilation and features a slew of Van Damme’s finest erotic offerings and some of his beefiest co-stars, including Tyler Saint, Matthew Rush, Rob Romoni, Skye Woods, Coby Mitchell, Drake Jayden and Rick Hammersmith. “I believe this will catch the attention of every muscle fan,” Van Damme exclusively tells VincentLambert.com. His only bottoming scene (with Saint from the Private Party finale) is even on here. “I am not saying no to doing another bottoming scene,” Robert adds, “but it must be for a good reason. I am currently in talks with Adam Killian about doing a flip-flop scene, but it’s far from realization.” Well, we can always hope! In the meantime, Muscle Gods Celebration and all of Van Damme’s scenes and films, including this one, are available at RobertVanDamme.net and can be viewed for one low monthly fee. Welcome back, big guy!

News: Director Gino Colbert Pervs Out

One of gay porn’s premier auteurs is back! Not that he’s really been gone. It was announced last week that award-winning director Gino Colbert is helming the first release for straight production house Devil’s Film new gay imprint, Devil’s Male. The film is titled Perverts, and it consists of four short vignettes that were written and directed by Colbert. “I have been sort of semiretired,” Colbert exclusively tells VincentLambert.com, “but I agreed to get the ball rolling for Devil’s Film because its general manager, Eric Mann, and I are old buddies. We worked together at Leisure Time, a straight company where I produced John Wayne Bobbitt: Uncut. That movie went on to become one of the highest-grossing in straight porn history.”

That’s an impressive track record, and it sounds like Devil’s Film is happy with the results of the reunion. “It was only fitting that we create a quality gay line shot here by a great director like Gino,” Devil’s Film national sales manager Steve Volponi told AVN. (Devil’s Male plans to release at least six titles per year.)

Perverts stars another industry fave who has been MIA for a bit: Robert Van Damme! It also features Adam Russo, Gianni Luca, Troy Michaels, Tristan Matthews, Jared Michaels, Emilio Sands, John Marcus and Lex Sabre. “I think there’s opportunity in the gay market for us if it’s quality enough,” Volponi added. “Gino turns in a great product. He did a really good job. If you’re gonna do it, you might as well come out swinging.” 

Perverts will street next week.

Short Takes: GAYVN Award Winners…and More

TOP PHOTO COURTESY ROLLING BLACKOUTS

Raging Stallion rages on! For the third year in a row, the San Francisco–based studio took the top prize at the GAYVN Awards, which were handed out on Friday night. Comedian Alec Mapa hosted the show at the Castro Theatre, where RSS’s big-budget Focus/Refocus epic took four of the six awards it was nominated for, including Best Feature Release, Best Director (Chris Ward, Tony Dimarco and Ben Leon in a tie with Joe Gage for Dad Takes a Fishing Trip), Best Supporting Actor (Steve Cruz) and Best Videography. But it was Channel 1 Releasing that took home the most awards (six), for its various C1R, Rascal and All Worlds Video imprints, including Best Affiliate Program, Best Live Webcam/Webshow and Best Web-Based Marketing. They also nabbed the Best-Renting Title award for Steven Daigle: XXXPOSED. Former Big Brother reality star Daigle made a splash in his GAYVN debut by wearing only a cowboy hat on-stage. Lucas Entertainment walked off with three awards, including Best-Selling Title for Men of Israel and Best Alternative Release for Men in Stockings, though company president Michael Lucas was not there to accept. On the porn star side, Logan McCree (above) won Best Actor for RSS’s The Visitor; Conner Habib was voted Best Newcomer; and Rafael Alencar took Best Cumshot for Lucas’s Wall Street. It was also a good night for the Brents, as Brent Corrigan was named Web Performer of the Year, and C1R exclusive Brent Everett got Best Porn Star Site and Overall Fan Favorite. Speaking of fans, Sister Roma edged out Chi Chi LaRue and Jason Sechrest for the fan-voted GAYVN Personality of the Year, and Wilfried Knight received the coveted Performer of the Year title. Other highlights: Best Fetish Release went to Hot House’s Skuff 4, and Best Sex Comedy was Dominic Ford’s Harry Potter satire Whorrey Potter and the Sorcerer’s Balls. Director Gino Colbert once again did the Hall of Fame inductions, this year for Ryan Block, Mike Donner, Bill Marlowe, Matthew Rush and Mickey Skee. Filmmaker Pat Rocco was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award. To see a complete list of winners, click here.…Also this weekend, Raging Stallion announced its annual Man of the Year at a party at Suite 181. Once again, one man was not enough, and president Chris Ward named exclusives D.O. and Adam Champ as this year’s co-titleholders. “The selection process was very difficult as we have a group of exclusives who are the finest actors in the business,” Ward says. “D.O. and Adam, however, rank as the top performers in our industry and I am proud to have them both as the top representatives of our company.” D.O. has already starting filming for the studio after ending a deal with Black Scorpion, and Champ recently gave up his job as a COLT Man (with hubby Carlo Masi) to make the move to RSS.…On Sunday, leather and fetish studs and their furry admirers gathered for the annual Folsom Street Fair. So basically every porn star from every other weekend event was seen, including Samuel O’Toole, Landon Mycles (killer abs!) and James Jameson (below). Congrats to all. Now go take a nap, you guys!

Short Takes: Robert Van Damme Gets New Management…and More

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Short Takes: Death of 2 Porn Stars…and More

Gay Porn Land is still reeling from the news last week of the passing of two young stars. First, porn star Dustin Michaels (top photo) died in a freak accident following a run-in with police in Bay County, Florida. The 23-year-old model, who worked for online studios such as BoundGods, CircleJerkBoys and On the Hunt and appeared in the film Cocks in Paradise for RVD Films, choked on a bag of marijuana after sheriff’s deputies Tasered him in an attempt to arrest him. In a bizarre twist, a camera crew was trailing the cops for a TruTV reality show and captured the unfortunate incident on video, which local Florida media and several Web sites picked up. Gino Colbert, who directed Michaels in Paradise, recalls that he was “quite handsome and tall. The lad showed up on time, was very professional and did a good scene.”…Later the same day, it was reported that porn star Todd Welch (second photo) passed away following a battle with a rare form of lymphoma. Welch, 29, has worked in the industry since 2007 and appeared in films such as Endless Crush for Falcon Studios and Welcome to Paradise and Auditions 18 for Lucas Entertainment. Both models will be missed by family, friends and fans.…In other less than happy news, Erik Rhodes is saying on his blog that he spent three days in the ICU unit of a hospital last week for an unnamed ailment. The Falcon exclusive, who stars in Pledgemaster: The Hazing, out this week, says it was for “reasons beyond my control.” He adds that he is out now, feeling “weak and really tired.” Rest up, stud.…On a much lighter note, Levi Johnston ain’t the only one making fun of Sarah Palin. Now superstar dragster RuPaul has done an amazingly spot-on spoof of the moron from Alaska and her best-selling (!) memoir, Going Rogue. Below you can see Ru “Going Vogue”—and it’s all in the name of some good old-fashioned self-promotion for the second season of her hit Logo series, RuPaul’s Drag Race. This “RuPalin” returns with new episodes starting February 1. Can’t wait! And speaking of spoofs, we also can’t wait to see Jet Set Men’s Getting Levi’s Johnson, featuring Mark Dalton and that star-studded cast, next year. More on that soon!…There are only a few days left, dear readers, for you to enter the annual VincentLambert.com calendar contest. This year, we have Raging Stallion Studio’s To the Last Man 12-incher, er, 12-monther, and it is already sold-out. But we have a copy, so this could be your last chance to snag one! Deadline is this Wednesday, December 23, at midnight. Click here for how to enter.

Movie Review: Private Party: The Mystery Begins!

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Sneak Peek: Dirty Muscle

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Event: Van Damme at Midtowne Spa Tonight

BOTTOM PHOTO BY VINCENT LAMBERT

Porn superstar Robert Van Damme is helping the Midtowne Spa celebrate its 37th anniversary at a party in Los Angeles tonight. The screen stud will give a special performance at 9 pm before a buffet and drinks are served at 10 pm. The Midtowne Spa is located at 615 Kohler Street. For more information, visit midtowne.com.

In other Van Damme news, the first of the six films produced by RVD Films has made its VOD debut. Private Party: The Mystery Begins is currently streaming at AEBN.com. It is the first in a three-part series that Van Damme co-directed with industry veteran Gino Colbert. The company’s latest film, which stars Van Damme and Matthew Rush, is titled Cocks in Paradise. For more information, visit RobertVanDamme.net.

News: Robert Van Damme Makes Dual Deals

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Event: Industry Moves to Eleven in Weho

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Event: Van Damme Live in Atlanta Tonight!

Porn superstar Robert Van Damme got in touch this week to let us know that he’s hitting the road for some upcoming tour dates. First up, Hotlanta (do they still call it that!?) tonight for an appearance at Blake’s on the Park (227 10th Street) at midnight, then shows in Orlando (August 8) and Milwaukee (September 4). Van Damme has been keeping busy with his RVD Productions. The studio’s new film is titled Cocks in Paradise and stars Van Damme along with Matthew Rush and is co-directed by Gino Colbert (we’re giving readers an exclusive first peek at the très tropical cover below), and Robert tells us that it’s his best yet. He says it’s even better than Private Party 3 (the movie in which he bottoms for Tyler Saint, so this has got to be good, people!). Van Damme also mentioned that he has traded scenes with Nick Capra for content that will appear on both their Web sites. “I think the scene is brilliant,” he says. “Nick bottomed for me, and he took it like a soldier! I really enjoyed the afternoon, and [director] Jett Blakk was behind the camera, so I knew it would turn out fantastic!” The muscle hunk also revealed that he is working on a secret project that would shoot in NYC in September. So stay tuned for more on that. In the meantime, go see this superstud live. He’s known for giving his all onstage and for rewarding his audience with lots of complimentary DVDs, T-shirts and assorted swag. For more information, visit RobertVanDamme.net.

Seen: Van Damme Stripping at the Bullet in L.A.

Porn superstar Robert Van Damme kicked off his new studio, RVD Productions, with a party at a North Hollywood leather bar recently. The Bullet hosted the muscular stud from the Czech Republic and more than 300 of his closest friends and fans (including a chef who came all the way from Carey, Ohio!) for an intimate barbecue. Van Damme, who has produced six movies (Private Party 1, 2 and 3; Anal Intruder; Butt Bouncers; and Cocks in Paradise) under his own company, took the stage four times throughout the evening and did a complete strip out of his leather gear (he could never get away with that in NYC) while tossing DVDs and T-shirts into the packed audience. During the last show of the night, one demanding porn fan screamed, “Show us your hole!” (he’d probably seen RVD’s bottoming debut in Private Party 3) and the accommodating Van Damme was only too happy to bend over and spread ’em wide. Now that’s the mark of a true porn star! Seen: Van Damme with Dominik Rider (we spy photographer Greg Lenzman in the background) and Gino Colbert (below); David Forest; Ryan Block; Patrick Ives; Vince Harrington; Ron Hamill; Dak King; Terry LeGrand; and Ryan Starr. For more information, visit RobertVanDamme.net.

Movie Review: Jet Set Big Dicks

BY VINCENT LAMBERT

Directors: Various.
Cast: Ken Ryker, Cody Cash, Jason Ridge, Tag Eriksson, Paolo Cortez, Gabriel Sinclair, Justin Gemini, Ricky, Helmut Muller, Evan Rochelle, Chad Driver, Adam Lee, Peter Stevens, G. Thierry, Verdo Colt, Hun Attila, Strong One, Bob.

Jet Set Men weighs in with seven classic scenes in this collector’s edition. Big Dicks is a solid compilation that is heavy on foreign fare, which was a specialty of the company several years ago. Highlights include nubile twinks Helmut Muller and Evan Rochelle getting nasty in a machine shop, and Hun Attila and Verdo Colt taking part in a five-man orgy in an army barracks. Domestically, Justin Gemini and Gabriel Sinclair start out at a photo shoot but end up fucking for the photographer. Gemini is superhung and a fine performer—hmm, wonder whatever became of him.

On the porn star side, handsome Jason Ridge makes out with Paolo Cortez in front of a big picture window. Luckily for voyeurs, Ridge takes Cortez’s thick piece before shooting perfect ropes of cum. Well done! Cortez also bangs onetime star (and current NYC real estate mogul) Tag Eriksson in a hot outdoor scene that makes one wish the big Swede had stuck around the industry a bit longer. But superstar Ken Ryker is the biggest (and we mean biggest!) star here in a great duo with Cody Cash. Directed by Gino Colbert, the scene takes place in a glamorous mansion and is a class production all the way. Cash spies Ryker washing his car from a window and attempts to lure him upstairs. Ryker flirts by hosing himself down and showing off his famous package. Once inside, Ryker feeds Cash his feet and famous bent cock. And after fucking Cash hard in the bathroom, he also feeds him a load. Amid today’s cum-eating controversies, it’s easy to forget that Colbert has always been an innovator. Jet Set Big Dicks is definitely worth collecting. (Jet Set Men)

Reprinted from GAYVN magazine (2008)

Seen: Van Damme and Friends at IML in Chicago

The pics are still coming in from the Grabby Awards and the International Mr. Leather competition in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend. Porn superstar Robert Van Damme wrote to share some recollections from his very first trip to IML. “It was a fantastic weekend for myself and RVD Films,” says Van Damme, who manned a booth for his new production company, which has produced six movies so far. He was also inducted into the Grabbys Wall of Fame for his Lifetime Achievements in porn. In a touching speech, the Czech stud thanked industry vets Gino Colbert and Blue Blake and promised to continue to give fans his best. Some of Robert’s co-stars showed up to support him throughout the weekend. Seen (from top): Van Damme giving the IML crowds a treat; Private Party 3 co-star Matthew Rush with Van Damme (and yes, that’s the film in which Van Damme bottoms for the first time…but not for Rush!); porn star and director Steve Cruz interviews hunky Tyler Saint; pornsters Tim Kelly and Bobby Clark with Rush. For more information, vist RobertVanDamme.net.

Event: Robert Van Damme Party in L.A.

PHOTO BY VINCENT LAMBERT

Porn superstar Robert Van Damme will celebrate the launch of his new studio, RVD Productions, at North Hollywood’s premier leather bar this Sunday, May 31. The Bullet Bar (10522 Burbank Blvd.) will host the event/DVD giveaway from 5 to 9 pm, which will feature surprise guest porn stars from Van Damme’s new releases, a BBQ and go-go boys.

Van Damme, who is a native of the Czech Republic, began his porn career in 2002 with director Blue Blake. Since then, he has starred in more than 25 movies as a model, and now he is starting his own studio with the help of veteran director Gino Colbert. Together, they have produced six movies (Private Party 1, 2 and 3; Anal Intruder; Butt Bouncers; and Cocks in Paradise) under his new label. (And yes, the rumors are true: Van Damme bottoms for Tyler Saint in the final installment of Private Party. We have an advance copy and it is worth the wait, guys!)

We are also hearing that Van Damme, who was a professional hockey player before he became a screen stud, will be taking the stage to strip out of his leather gear. Sounds like a night to remember! For more information, visit RobertVanDamme.net.

Short Takes: RSS’s New Visitor…and More

Director Tony Dimarco has announced his next project for Raging Stallion Studios, and the recent To the Last Man award winner has given VincentLambert.com an advance look at some images from the top-secret shoot. RSS exclusive Logan McCree (above) will star as a space alien in the sci-fi fantasy titled The Visitor. “It’s The Man Who Fell to Earth meets Wings of Desire,” Dimarco says. “I shot some really beautiful stuff. I think it’s going to be a great film.” Sounds like Dimarco and RSS are pushing the envelope once again. We’ll have more of our exclusive pics and interview with Tony tomorrow.…Another award-winning director rang up to dish on his latest project. Gino Colbert wanted us know that he was in Florida last weekend filming a new movie with screen-stud-turned-producer Robert Van Damme. Gino says that he and Robert (who also stars) put together a great cast and shot five scenes at the très gay Coral Reef Guesthouse in Fort Lauderdale. Some of that cast includes a certain superstar named Matthew Rush, plus Drake Jaden, Tim Kelly, Dustin Michaels, Dallas Reeves and newcomer Brenn Wyson, who is a tattooed prize fighter from Boston. The movie is tentatively titled Cheating in Paradise and will be released later this year.…Porn star Kirk Cummings (below) is planning to celebrate his 22nd birthday on Wednesday, May 6, by releasing his debut single, “Badass,” to iTunes and other digital music outlets. The song is the first single from his forthcoming debut album, Guilty as Charged. Cummings, who is an American Idol reject, has appeared in movies including My Brother’s Hot Friend 2 and will be in director Chi Chi LaRue’s upcoming Fuckin’ Around.

News: To the Last Man Sweeps at GAYVNs

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News: GAYVN Awards Announce Hall of Famers

GAYVN has announced its inductees into the 2009 GAYVN Hall of Fame. Veteran director and Hall of Fame member Gino Colbert will once again present the honorees with their awards during the GAYVN Awards on Saturday, March 28, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. This year’s inductees are:

Dean Phoenix (above) made his debut in 1998 and went on to become a GAYVN Award winner and an icon in the industry. Despite retiring in 2000, he made a triumphant return in the 2004 Buckshot classic BuckleRoos and has continued his hot streak with films such as Brotherhood, Forever Young and On Fire!

Michael Lucas (below) has won numerous GAYVN Awards for his many films, including Dangerous Liaisons, La Dolce Vita, The Intern and Gigolo, and has cemented his stature as an A-list director and performer with both his own studio, New York–based Lucas Entertainment, and his own distribution company, Lucas Distribution.

Chris Steele started his career as a performer for many studios before turning to writing, producing and directing (Big Dick Society). He’s a GAYVN and Grabby Award winner and is currently head honcho at Jet Set Men.

Dink Flamingo is a pioneer in amateur Web site content, filming men from nearby military bases for ActiveDuty.com. In 2007, he branched out with a new video line, Dirty Bird Pictures (The Porn Ultimatum), and recently helped Brent Corrigan launch his own studio, Prodigy Pictures (Summit).

Jack Simmons was the first African-American model to work for major studios, including Falcon (The Freshmen), Titan Media (Naked Escape) and All Worlds (Animus).

Phil St. John was the first to shoot a double-penetration scene in gay porn, the first to shoot gay porn focused on skate culture and the first to include a behind-the-scenes extra for a DVD. He is best-known for Skateboard Sliders, Getting It at the Rave, Taggers and Double Delights.

TJ Paris is a San Francisco native who got started in the biz in 1985 and discovered stars such as Paul Morgan and Rob Steele.

Colbert will also present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Roger Earl, who co-founded (with Terry LeGrand) Marathon Films and edited, wrote and directed 16 mm films before forming the Gay Producers Association of America (also with LeGrand), which presented the first gay porn awards. He worked at the Tom of Finland Foundation until he retired in 2007.

For more information, visit GAYVNAwards.com.

News: Robert Van Damme to Start New Studio

Muscle stud Robert Van Damme is following the lead of other porn stars who have moved behind the camera and is starting his own production company. The newly formed RVD Productions will release its first full-length feature, Private Party, through Marina Pacific Distributing this week.

Van Damme has appeared in numerous films, including The Hunted and The Muscle Pit, and was discovered by porn vet Blue Blake. When he decided to launch his own studio, Van Damme sought the advice of Blake and director Gino Colbert, with whom he had worked on Hungry 4 Sex 2. Colbert co-directed the debut title with Van Damme and even helped him turn it into a trilogy. So Private Party 2 and 3 are on the way—and we hear that Van Damme will bottom for the first time in the final installment. But who is the lucky top? Colbert’s not telling, but he does say that the films are all high-quality productions.

“The movies have stories, production value and filthy sex, all beautifully shot,” Colbert says. “In this difficult market, either you give them something above and beyond or you suffer the consequences. We’re going top-notch all the way.”

For more information, visit www.robertvandamme.net.