Marc MacNamara: A Filmmaker’s Perspective

Marc MacNamara: A Filmmaker's Perspective

Almost all discussions about the adult industry seem to be (understandably) about the performers on screen. However, it is only with a handful of master filmmakers working behind the camera that the most exciting content can come to fruition. There are a precious few of these filmmakers who have become celebrities in their own right. One such filmmaker is writer/director Marc MacNamara. Though he is beloved for his sexy and hilarious podcast and though he has a gorgeous body of his own that could easily make him an onscreen star, Marc is first and foremost a serious filmmaker. The proof is in the pudding as Marc's films for Falcon, NakedSword, and the other major studios are some of the most popular in the entire industry. In his first one-on-one interview with Cybersocket/Fleshbot, Marc gives us a look at his background and the writing and directing process that has made him one of the most respected names in the adult entertainment industry.

 

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So what is the latest with filmmaker Marc MacNamara?

It is very kind of you to call them films. But seriously, I'm full of gratitude right now. Summer is always a very busy time for me - making a movie every month for Falcon NakedSword, recording our podcast Discretion Advised and the spin-off show Uncut with Diego Sans, I have my live show in Fire Island "Fame Games" and am about to start filming a show with producers from MTV and Bravo called "Marc Manali's Hot Tub Games" which combines my loves of pop culture, porn and tomfoolery.

Could you share some of your background and history with us? Where are you from? How did you become a filmmaker?

I grew up a Sicilian fisherman's son on a small island in Florida called Anna Maria. I always had a camera in my hand as a kid and when I was 17 I made a music video for a high school project. I sent the video to MTV and they aired it. That set up the idea of making my hobby a career instead of the medical academy I was enrolled in. I then went to the University of Hawaii and Florida State University and interned in NYC every summer for production companies. After I graduated I started working as a PA on movies like "Lord Of War" and the VH1 show " The Agency". I was also ghostwriting articles for Genre and Out and a porn company asked if I would write a script for them. The rest is tears, cheers, and queers. I first consider myself a writer and a visualizer. I like to create the idea but as I do I imagine how it is to be presented and captured.

 

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Could you share your filmmaking process with us? What is it like being on one of your sets?

I really need to be interested in the story we are telling. Just like when I was in school, if there was a subject I had no interest in then I would put minimal effort into it and keep it moving. So I'm picky about what the movies are that we are making and why we are making them. Even in porn, you have an audience, so first be grateful for that and then consider what you can add to the genre and what you can offer the viewers. This is why I write all my own stuff - I really don't connect with directing a story I didn't write myself.

What do you want most from your performers? From your crew?

Being on one of our sets is very fast-moving. Because I do all the photography, videography, and directing - I depend on a very talented team that most importantly keeps the vibe light and funny. When shooting porn, the stars are being asked to be extremely vulnerable - they are having sex on camera - so you must provide an environment that is respectful, understanding and helps them to feel comfortable to perform. That's when magic happens - when people are confident and secure.

 

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Do MacNamara films have a specific distinction? How would you describe them? Your Global Entry series, The Swords, etc.

In recent years my favorite series are The Swords and Global Entry. For The Swords - my inspiration was the models. I have met so many fantastic performers with personalities and talents you don't always get to see in adult movies. I loved how the series explored the models playing themselves but an often comical or exaggerated version of their personas. For Global Entry, the idea came as I was on my 40th bday trip with my friend Bianca Del Rio and they were performing in these sold-out theaters in South Africa and I looked around and saw a beautiful gay community filling the seats. So I told Falcon NakedSword CEO Tim Valenti - let's go around the world and explore the gay community and bring us all together in our common love of gay sex. Tim is an absolutely brilliant leader - his appreciation and respect for models and this art form is unmatched.

What are some of your thoughts on the adult industry in general? What do you think of these changing times with creator platforms etc?

I think a lot of people thought studio porn would die once fan sites came out. But having worked for both studios and the fan sites I don't see either going anywhere. I think of the fan sites as reality TV where you get a personal look at the performers and studio movies as the blockbuster, polished movies in theaters. Both genres exist in mainstream just fine and I think that translates to the adult world too. Both are fantastic venues to showcase performances.

What about you, yourself? Who is the real Marc? Interests? Hobbies? Passions? Beliefs?

I'm an activities person. I love activities - love being outdoors, exploring and having new experiences. I think that's why a lot of my movies are more action-packed and outdoors, location-driven. Give me a cliff, a shark-filled lagoon, and bring on the hard ons!

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