Page 39 - AVN March 2018

understand or respect—but they surely love to be
entertained by us, don’t they? But know that you’re
all fabulous, and dedicated to your craft. And I am
your ally. Your friend. Your fan.”
The night also featured the induction of an icon
into the GayVN Hall of Fame, a return to form for one
of the industry’s most respected directors, a four-
win night for an increasing surprised winner and the
coronation of the “Queen of Porn.”
“I’m speechless,” said Tony Rios immediately after
the festivities wrapped. The CEO of AVN Media
Network made it his personal mission to
bring back the show, which was last held in 2010
and this year made its Las Vegas debut as part of
GayVN@Internext, the trade show within a trade
show at Internext Expo. “I’ve overwhelmed with
joy with how the show went. I have to thank all my
amazing and talented staff and everyone we worked
with, I’m in awe with what happened. It just makes
me feel really, really good inside that what we’re
doing here is the right thing.”
He wasn’t the only one beaming at the end of the
night. Leaving the auditorium, Blake Mitchell was
literally all smiles—but struggling to find his footing
as he tried to balance his four awards. “I need another
suitcase … I can’t take this all home!”
Mitchell grabbed his first statue in a tie for Best
Twink Scene, his Helix effort in Boys Night alongside
Logan Cross, Colton James and Sean Ford, sharing the
hardware with Bel Ami’s Summer Break orgy (featuring
Jeff Mirren, Helmut Huxley, Roald Ekberg and Marcel
Gassion, who weren’t in attendance). But Mitchell
had virtually no time to catch his breath doing
winner’s circle photos and press backstage when his
name was called again, this time as part of Best Group
Above, clockwise from left, GayVN Awards host Shangela; Chi Chi LaRue and Falcon Studios Group president Tim Valenti; Boomer Banks, Sister Roma and Ashton
Summers. Below, presenters Danny Gunn, Brent Corrigan and Osiris Blade. Photos by JFK/FUBARWebmasters.com
AND COMMUNITY
Scene winner from Helix’s Lifeguards: Summer
I was really hoping to win, it’s very, very
Session (shared with Kyle Ross, Max Carter,
validating to me after … I’m sorry,” he said,
Joey Mills, Tyler Hill and Evan Parker). “Oh
pausing as he searched for the words and let
shit!” he smiled as he hurried back to accept
the moment sink in, taking a deep breath
it, his smile wider as he headed backstage
before continuing. “It’s really validating
again: “I wasn’t sure if I was gonna win a
after four years of being in this industry,
single award, so to do two back to back is
after getting my start in webcam, to win this
really, really exciting.”
award. I’m literally shaking right now, I can’t
But his night wasn’t nearly done: Mitchell
believe I’ve won one award, much less three.
later won two Fan Awards for Favorite
It’s been a wonderful night, and GayVN has
Cam Guy and Favorite Body, the former
done an amazing event—I cannot overstate
award giving him particular satisfaction.
that.”
“I got my start in this industry four years
He wasn’t the only one fighting to get the
ago on Chaturbate doing webcam, and it’s
words out through watery eyes. The night
always been really close to my heart. It’s
began with Colton Grey’s Best Supporting
always been really important to me—I feel
Actor win for Secrets and Lies (NakedSword/
like it’s one of my favorite ways to interact
Rock Candy), the performer clearly
with everybody, get to interact with all the
surprised as he took the stage.
fans. It’s a platform that I think has a lot of
“I don’t know what to say,” he uttered.
potential; there’s a lot of great performers
“Thank you to (mr.) Pam, and everybody
who come out of cam, and sometimes I
who worked on this movie…I have tears
think it’s a little forgotten in this industry—
in my eyes, it’s just crazy. Thank you for
and it’s very rewarding to be part of that
everybody here, you inspire me to keep
industry and this one.”
working…and jack off to your videos some
The emotion of the moment began to
more.”
sink in even more backstage: “I’m totally
Later that night, Grey reflected on the
shocked, this is really the one award that
moment: “It was shocking to win, it was
GayVN Performer
of the Year
Sean Zevran:
‘Tonight, in this room,
there is power’
3.18 | AVN.com | 39