Page 22 - AVN July 2017

WHO’S WHO
MILESTONES | By Sherri L. Shaulis
TRANS-FORMER
Buck Angel talks about new showcase, other career moves
the release of the Buck-Off in a smaller size well as accessory-type products.
“Steve [Callow, founder and CEO of Perfect Fit Brand] is so amazing,” Angel said. “He gave me
the OK to do a whole line, and really gave me the freedom to be creative. It’s been such an amazing
opportunity to work with him and Perfect Fit to create these toys.”
But it’s not just pleasure products that Buck has been working to create: He also partnered
with DNS Distribution, the company behind Man Fuel supplements, to create the Buck Up Sexual
Enhancement Drink. Scheduled to debut in summer 2017, the drink “works for all people, but
mostly for those with penises,” Angel said.
“There is nothing harmful in this drink, except for maybe some sugar,” Angel said with a laugh.
“Every ingredient is natural and the combination is meant to enhance a person’s sexual drive and
their confidence. Everyone has issues at times with their confidence. When you can boost your
confidence, it helps you feel sexier and it makes it easier to connect with and enjoy your sexuality
and sex in general.”
Aside from tangible goods, Buck is still working at creating content as well. In addition to his
recent showcase for TransSensual, he is helping others to create content and make a living in the adult
industry. By creating TransSnaps.com, Angel said he hopes to increase the number of trans performers in the
industry, particularly FTM performers.
Entering his 15th year in the adult entertainment
“The site uses the same platform as SnapChat and it works through CeeSnaps.com, which allows for adult
industry, Buck Angel is still blazing trails.
content,” Angel said. “Trans people, both FTM and MTF, and can post their content and get paid for it. I want
Angel made his mark as one of the first female-to-male
this to be a way to create jobs. So often trans people have a hard time making a living, earning money.
trans porn performers back in 2004, and has not stopped
“It can be hard, and demoralizing,” Angel continued. “This is a site where they can recruit followers to
since. And Angel reached another milestone when his
their social media accounts, be themselves and get paid for creating the content they want. I want this to be
first title for TransSensual came out June 21. Distributed
a way that we get more trans people into the adult industry. I want there to be 100 million trans men in the
by Mile High Media and directed by Dana Vespoli, Buck
industry!”
Angel Superstar presents the FTM performer in four
hardcore encounters with TS stars Aubrey Kate, Chanel
Santini, Tori Mayes and Mandy Mitchell.
intimate portrait of Angel, exploring not only his sexual
SPEAKER, AND I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT I AM BEING GIVEN
encounters as a famed TS personality but also the ways in
which his fame has shaped his emotional life.
performer and an amazing human being, period. I had the
opportunity to make something unique and original—
something that didn’t follow in the pattern of a typical
EI TRY TO BE A MOTIVATIONAL
But more important, the movie is a revealing and
Director Vespoli said, “Buck Angel is an amazing
OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE
REINVENTED MYSELF AS A SPEAKER.
—BUCK ANGEL
studio title theme, so I decided to focus on something
unique to Buck.
“One thing that stood out to me, since I follow Buck
on social media, is the extent of his traveling,” Vespoli
explained. “He is constantly traveling to do public
speaking engagements, and he travels all over the world.
If he is not in Japan he is in Israel, or Australia, or
Amsterdam—it goes on and on. Buck is a celebrity—an
icon who transcends his genre. I thought about what it
means to be a celebrity, and to represent so much to other
people. I am fascinated by the irony of being lonely in
a crowded room and the feeling of isolation that comes
from being wanted by so many people.”
While these days most of his efforts are concentrated
more on activism than performing, Angel has also
managed to branch out into other areas of adult.
Most recently, Angel has been working on creating
pleasure products to follow up on the award-winning
Buck-Off that he and Perfect Fit Brand released last year.
“Working with Perfect Fit on the Buck-Off just opened
a gigantic door,” Angel said. “Now, we are working to
make more toys for people with vaginas … all types of
people with vaginas. We have a whole new generation of
people who are gender queer, or fluid, and more. I want
to help create items that will help them connect with
their vaginas and their sexualities. I want to help create
items that cater to people who are not currently being
serve by the industry.”
To that end, Buck and Perfect Fit Brand are planning
Already, there are dozens of models on TransSnaps.com, and Buck is confident the site’s roster will only
continue to grow.
Angel also has partnered with Danny Zeeman from ZBucks to develop FTMPorn.com. Angel said he has
owned the domain for close to 15 years—he purchased it shortly after he entered the industry—but is finally
in a place where he can make it what he wants.
“There have been a few good sites featuring FTM performers through the years, and some really
impressive performers,” Angel said. “But they all seem to have come and gone now. With this site, I want
to start trying to get more models involved, possibly even updating their own content. I want it to grow
organically over time.
“I don’t want the site to be all about Buck Angel; I’ve never wanted it to be just that,” he continued. “I
want this site to be about everyone.”
The site features not just scenes, but also interviews with performers, photo sets and more.
In addition to his hard work and effort in various segments of the industry, Angel has also seen demand
for his time and talent increase in the mainstream world. Angel has become an in-demand speaker at college
campuses and other institutions worldwide.
“I usually visit these places to talk about my transition, and what I went through, and answer questions
from people curious about me or the process, or from those who are thinking about or who have started
transitioning,” he said. “I try to be a motivational speaker, and I am just so grateful that I am being given
opportunities to have reinvented myself as a speaker.”
Angel said depending on the venues and the audience, his talks can cover everything from his personal
transition, his vagina and even his career.
“I will never turn my back on the adult community, ever,” Angel said. “I’ve been told to leave, to stop …
to stop talking about the sex work I’ve done and do. I’ve been told that if I want to move up and have more
opportunities in mainstream, I just need to ‘shut up’ and not talk about pornography or the industry.
“But I can never stop talking about it, and never turn away from it. The adult industry is the whole reason
I am who I am and the reason why I am here at this point in my life. It’s the whole reason I am here.”
For sales of Buck Angel Superstar, email wilma@mile-high-media.com or call (800) 363-0133.
22 | AVN.com | 7.17