Page 60 - AVN November 2016

Lexington Steele (Continued from page 58)
budgets afforded to the marketing all-white product,
respectively. The direction IR marketing takes from
here will always directly reflect what society is asking
for. It is my job as a black producer to package fantasy
in a highly deliverable form.
What barriers, if any, have you encountered
working in the adult industry?
There are barriers I have encountered and moved
well beyond over the course of my career. But none
of these barriers were challenges that I have been
unwilling to undertake. Launching my first company,
Mercenary Pictures, provided a number of barriers.
These challenges were not necessarily racial, as
many would believe. Getting a buyer to take your
product had been a business issue based on money,
trends and shelf space. That is a tangible barrier to
encounter based on logic and economics.
Another tangible barrier is the lack of feature
production inclusion of black performers. The
greatest feature director of our time is Axel Braun. He
casts me in his heavily budgeted productions as often
as he can. What he has done must not go unnoticed.
Personally, I am a member of the [Screen Actors
Guild] since 2008. There have been surprisingly few
roles extended to me over my career, so I know there
are even fewer roles out there being filled by my black
male counterparts.
But as I said earlier, in many ways XXX will
always directly reflect what society is asking for.
This is a particular barrier that runs congruent with
Hollywood casting practices. But, perhaps, it is in
the writing of the feature productions. As a black
performer, director, producer and distributor, perhaps
writing my own feature production is the answer.
Getting it sold is the ONLY barrier.
FEATURE
Shane Diesel
Home State: Nevada | Age: 53 | Started in 2003 | Twitter: @Shane_Diesel
What inspired you to pursue a career in adult film?
For sure it was the opportunity to make money—that was my number one
priority. I was already laying pipe to tons of girls so I figured why not make money
doing it? Just so happened everything fell into place right when I decided to try it
out. Had no idea it would take me to the level I’m at now, becoming a household
name and having a replica line molded after my dong.
What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
I would have to say the most challenging is finding female talent that can handle
my size! It’s almost always a problem on set. You would think most female porn
stars would be able to handle my size but it’s always 50/50 if it will fit. So that can
be difficult since a lot of time is spent preparing for shoots ahead of time.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Finding female talent who can handle my size and actually enjoy it. Then getting
paid to have sex with them is the most rewarding, and of course being recognized
in public also.
Who are your biggest influences?
My father has always been the biggest influence in everything. He taught me so
much when he was alive and I still hear his words of wisdom today.
What is the most common misconception about adult?
The most common misconception is we all really have sex like that in real life
with our partners. Sure, sometimes we go over the top with it but most of the
times we are passionate and romantic with our lovers. Second would be we are all
rich and that’s so not true for most performers, unless you have a big name then
it’s possible but not always the case.
What do you think of the way IR product (black male/white female) is
marketed?
It’s fine. I feel if people are buying them, then that’s what they are looking for. I
have seen some that were just plain derogatory and uncalled for but then it’s up to
the performer to put a stop to it if he feels certain things are uncalled for.
What barriers, if any, have you encountered working in the adult
industry?
The only barrier I would have to say would be lack of creativity. I’ve suggested
many things to some of the companies I have worked for in the past and most
seem stuck on copying another company that is having success at what they are
doing. Instead of coming up with something new they will try to replicate what’s
new and hot. Other than that there has been no barriers.
Photo of Shane Diesel courtesy of Digital Sin
60 | AVN.com | 11.16