Falcon Studios & Ducati Models’ Michael Youens Talks ’90s Porn Vs Today & What Makes a True Star

It's easy to forget sometimes, but pornography is first and foremost a business. Over the decades, there have been thousands of stunning men on the screen, but the real masterminds are a precious few directors, producers, and artists who market whatever is done in front of the camera to the masses.

One person who has done this for years is Falcon Studios designer and director, Michael Youens. In addition to his work with Falcon, Michael is the co-founder of Ducati Models with superstar Trenton Ducati.

Check out the sexiest hair dresser in New York - https://t.co/iWYEQrnWHE pic.twitter.com/vLCT4r50Rz

— DUCATI MODELS (@DUCATIMODELS) March 22, 2020

In a revealing interview, Youens shared how he has been a part of almost every aspect of the behind the scenes of this crazy business, how he has kept close ties with some of the biggest talent, and his interesting takes on the business as it is now and as it was when he started.

Would you give us some general background about your role at Falcon Studios and how it came to be?
In the summer of 1990, after getting out of the US Naval Submarine Force, I started working as a clerk for Castle Boutique Novelty Store in Phoenix, Arizona. I was there for 3 years, where I eventually worked my way up to purchasing film products for three stores in all genres, mostly focusing on gay brands and high-end straight production houses like Vivid, VCA, Wicked, and Evil Angel. It was during my tenure at Castle that I was able to attend LA's first Free Speech Coalition meeting alongside Sharon Mitchell and other legendary adult film glitterati. I remember it being in a trailer/office with folding chairs and feeling like the start of something very important and something we as an industry desperately needed. In the summer of '91, I met adult film director Chi Chi LaRue in Las Vegas at the CES convention. A friendship that is still alive today began there, which led to my introduction to Chuck Holmes, the owner of Falcon Studios in 1993. Holmes moved me out to San Francisco in August of '93. I worked alongside directors Chi Chi LaRue and John Rutherford for the next 10 years, starting in customer service and on every Falcon Studios production. I learned the ins-and-outs of what it takes to make a high-quality film with the best models in the business. I picked up different roles as I moved through the departments of promotions, development, and, finally, solely into the production department. In 2003, I directed one movie for Falcon's Jocks Studios line, Getting It Straight, which was nominated for Best Comedy at the GayVN Awards.

I eventually left Falcon but maintained my close personal relationships within the adult industry and went to work at Athletic Model Guild (AMG) alongside owner Dennis Bell, who I worked with at Falcon during the '90s, and The Tim and Roma Show with NakedSword.com, and part-time graphic design and social media blogging for Hot House Entertainment. In 2013, I would be inducted into The Grabby's Hall of Fame, and that same year gay adult film performer/director Trenton Ducati and I created Ducati Models. DucatiModels.com is a boutique type adult model management company. Some of our top models were Sebastian Kross and Arad Winwin.

In 2016, I returned to work on John Rutherford’s newly acquired Colt Studios productions. I continued to be the levity via my role as the make-up artist, seeing as I was out of my Academy Art University program it seemed like the next thing to do.

In April of this 2018, I returned to Falcon Studios Group/NakedSword as a photo retoucher, graphic designer, and model recruiter bringing me full circle to where it all started 25 years ago in San Francisco, California. I believe the industry will always be in my blood. I was born to porn!

What are some of the biggest changes in the industry and Falcon since you've started, and the pros and cons of those changes?
Budgets have gotten smaller and directors are expected to do a multitude of things from casting, location scouting, editing, and photography whereas we had different departments for each thing in the '90s. The office camaraderie is gone since everyone works from home. It’s gotten very sterile. I miss interacting and having close relationships with the models. John Rutherford told me once that his biggest reason to have me on the sets was to make them feel comfortable and bring levity to their experience, and I loved being that person. I love the inclusion of more models from all walks of life. You should see some of the applicants we get from overseas. I wish things were easier for them to be able to come and work for us. It was a lot simpler in the earlier years.

Who is on your Mount Rushmore of Gay Porn Stars and why?
Chuck Holmes of course! He started Falcon 50 years ago, and it’s still a diamond in a sea of gems. Chi Chi LaRue 'cause she brought me into the fold and taught me many things over our 30 year friendship. Chase Hunter and Tom Chase, both super sweet who each had the quality and traits of stardom.

Any stars of the past who you admire? Wish you had worked with? Still in touch with?
I wish I would’ve worked with Jeff Stryker but we did see each other numerous times at industry events. Also, Kris Lord, Rex Chandler, Bill Henson, Al Parker, Jack Wrangler, Dick Fisk to name a few. I still stay in touch with Aiden Shaw, Chase Hunter, Tom Chase, Kevin Williams, Eric Hanson, Dean Phoenix, Fillippo Romano and Colby Taylor. Right now, I’m beyond thrilled to work with the most well-mannered and sweet guy, our Exclusive, Cade Maddox. This guy knows how to make a person feel like you’re the only one in the room. Others I admire are Joel Someone for being his quirky lovable self, Michael Boston and his willingness to create a friendship with me and in return keeping me young, and Beau Butler, our other Exclusive who I recently bonded with for being a real person and owning his sexuality. But mostly I admire Trenton Ducati for all his hard work and openness to feedback and his constant drive to do not only better but to be the best he possibly can in every aspect of his life. He’s the definition of a true go-getter—HANDS DOWN! Ryan Ducati has taken over Trenton’s role at Ducati Models with me. He brings and breathes new young energy into our family of models.

How do the porn stars of then compare to those of now?
Sometimes I hear models bash the studios in regards to pay and time worked when they’re told they can make their own money doing their own 4MyFans, JustForFans or OnlyFans—and that’s totally correct—but those sites don’t make stars. Falcon grooms, selects, pairs, promotes, and builds the names of the models we work with to get the following that will eventually get them higher numbers in those monetary streams. Falcon has always been a well-oiled star-maker machine. Drag Race is a great example of this. You could be doing the MOST for your drag and still only get a few coins at a time. HOWEVER, you get your drag cast on that show and you are set on an epic career as a RuGirl family member forever! Porn stars in the early years didn’t do it for those reasons. They wanted to work with Falcon because we were known for having the hottest guys with the best sex. I remember some straight guys would work with us just so they could have sex with men and then leave to go back to their lives and wives. Where as now things are becoming more fluid in sexuality and they're just fucking what they want without any hang-ups, which I love seeing. Sex is sex—if it feels right, don’t fight it! Fuck it!

 

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