Ben Leon Interview
Hey Guys,
I had a chance to sit down with Ben Leon, my camera man and one of the new RSS directors. Ben and I co-directed Manifesto earlier this year. This weekend we are releasing the first movie that he directed an his own. It is a Manuel Torres feature film entitled Manhattan! We sent Ben to New York to film this major new release. What follows is a short interview with Ben about this new film.
Enjoy!
Chris Ward
Chris: Where did you come up with the idea of shooting a movie about New York?
Ben: I had been thinking about directing my own movie for a while, pretty much ever since I picked up the camera. One of our biggest stars, Manuel Torres, has been tearing up the New York scene for years and we wanted to create a movie that built on all his New York exposure. The project was a good trial run for my directing skills. As Manuel Torres says in the movie "If you can't do it in New York, you're not going to be able to do it in the world."
Chris: A lot of these scenes were shot on rooftops, were you worried about shooting where someone could see you?
Ben: Everytime we shoot in a public or semi-public situation I am afraid of getting caught. I also have to be concerned about the models feeling
comfortable. Even many of the indoor scenes for Manhattan were shot in somewhat risky situations, ie shooting in front of huge windows across from a major construction sight. At one point during the shoot we did stop and move inside after a model saw a man standing on his porch watching.
Here's a hilarious story from Mr. Pam about shooting on her roof and in front of her huge windows.
Amazing story I had to share....
For the past 3 days Raging Stallion Studios has been shooting 'Manhattan' in my loft. They shot 3 really hot scenes with 2 yummy men inside by the window and on the roof (go ben & kent!).
This evening the doorbell rang, it was my neighbor in the back a few houses over. We have chatted maybe twice. I answered the door downstairs, the 51 year old gay man starts telling me that he just had a huge operation, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer
with really low survival rate, he has to have all this stuff on his cheeks, neck and armpits removed but he said...
"If I die tomorrow, I would have died a happy man because of watching all that has been going on in your loft the past few days." He said the hot boys having sex made him feel happy again... passionate... alive!
awwwww! yay! go porn! (he said all the other neighbors loved it too...doh!)
As much as it seems the world may be against us, its times like this where I know all our hard work is really making a difference in so many people lives.
Keep going everyone!
big hugs...
mr. PAM
Chris: Do you have your own directing style?
Ben: I am a product of the Raging Stallion team and specifically have learned about making high quality porn from you. On top of that, my own porn consuming habits include lots of lower end straight porn with tons of camera movement and a looser editing style with action at its core. Manhattan has given me the chance to take the skills that I have gained from Raging Stallion and combine it with a bit of my own aesthetic.
Manhattan is all shot in daylight using natural light as much as possible. The models are encouraged to have a good time, let me know any needs/desires they may have and to fuck and suck and fuck until I have what I need. I tried for a slightly more everyday kind of feel, catching glimpses of people hanging out, drinking beer, watching TV, riding the subway etc.
Chris: How did you end up working in porn?
Ben: The first time I walked into Raging Stallion Studios I walked in as an art director for an indy film, "Vanilla." (you can find it at www.tlavideo.com, At the time I was working on indy film projects and taking any work I could find. I met Kent Taylor and offered my services as a PA. Four months later I was offered a full time job working on sets, setting lights and handing out lube and condoms. I had never worked around sex before but obviously I liked it. One day I mentioned that I had learned editing in college and was interested in camera work. One thing led to another and here I am.
I had a chance to sit down with Ben Leon, my camera man and one of the new RSS directors. Ben and I co-directed Manifesto earlier this year. This weekend we are releasing the first movie that he directed an his own. It is a Manuel Torres feature film entitled Manhattan! We sent Ben to New York to film this major new release. What follows is a short interview with Ben about this new film.
Enjoy!
Chris Ward
Chris: Where did you come up with the idea of shooting a movie about New York?
Ben: I had been thinking about directing my own movie for a while, pretty much ever since I picked up the camera. One of our biggest stars, Manuel Torres, has been tearing up the New York scene for years and we wanted to create a movie that built on all his New York exposure. The project was a good trial run for my directing skills. As Manuel Torres says in the movie "If you can't do it in New York, you're not going to be able to do it in the world."
Chris: A lot of these scenes were shot on rooftops, were you worried about shooting where someone could see you?
Ben: Everytime we shoot in a public or semi-public situation I am afraid of getting caught. I also have to be concerned about the models feeling
comfortable. Even many of the indoor scenes for Manhattan were shot in somewhat risky situations, ie shooting in front of huge windows across from a major construction sight. At one point during the shoot we did stop and move inside after a model saw a man standing on his porch watching.Here's a hilarious story from Mr. Pam about shooting on her roof and in front of her huge windows.
Amazing story I had to share....
For the past 3 days Raging Stallion Studios has been shooting 'Manhattan' in my loft. They shot 3 really hot scenes with 2 yummy men inside by the window and on the roof (go ben & kent!).
This evening the doorbell rang, it was my neighbor in the back a few houses over. We have chatted maybe twice. I answered the door downstairs, the 51 year old gay man starts telling me that he just had a huge operation, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer
with really low survival rate, he has to have all this stuff on his cheeks, neck and armpits removed but he said...
"If I die tomorrow, I would have died a happy man because of watching all that has been going on in your loft the past few days." He said the hot boys having sex made him feel happy again... passionate... alive!
awwwww! yay! go porn! (he said all the other neighbors loved it too...doh!)
As much as it seems the world may be against us, its times like this where I know all our hard work is really making a difference in so many people lives.
Keep going everyone!
big hugs...
mr. PAM
Chris: Do you have your own directing style?
Ben: I am a product of the Raging Stallion team and specifically have learned about making high quality porn from you. On top of that, my own porn consuming habits include lots of lower end straight porn with tons of camera movement and a looser editing style with action at its core. Manhattan has given me the chance to take the skills that I have gained from Raging Stallion and combine it with a bit of my own aesthetic.Manhattan is all shot in daylight using natural light as much as possible. The models are encouraged to have a good time, let me know any needs/desires they may have and to fuck and suck and fuck until I have what I need. I tried for a slightly more everyday kind of feel, catching glimpses of people hanging out, drinking beer, watching TV, riding the subway etc.
Chris: How did you end up working in porn?
Ben: The first time I walked into Raging Stallion Studios I walked in as an art director for an indy film, "Vanilla." (you can find it at www.tlavideo.com, At the time I was working on indy film projects and taking any work I could find. I met Kent Taylor and offered my services as a PA. Four months later I was offered a full time job working on sets, setting lights and handing out lube and condoms. I had never worked around sex before but obviously I liked it. One day I mentioned that I had learned editing in college and was interested in camera work. One thing led to another and here I am.
posted by Chris Ward at 5:12 PM
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