Page 78 - AVN Men 2020

“Just seeing and hearing all these other guys
coming in, and the way that they’re coming in—
they’re more open and more honest. … I’m a
cheerleader for them all.”
Rizzo spent 2019 shooting with a variety of studios, from Noir and Icon
to Gentleman’s Closet and Dominic Pacifico. He also did some work with
ManyVids, which flew him to Montreal: “That was a great experience, the
shoot and having a podcast where you got to talk to people that were like-
minded in the industry, and just showcasing the triviality of what we go
through.”
But the performer has also learned to enjoy the ride more than he did
before.
“Before, I was constantly busy, constantly saying yes to everything. Since
high school, it’s been go, go, go—and I haven’t stopped since I got out of
the military. But I’m finding myself in a place now where it’s like, all right, you
need to have a normal life. You live in fucking San Diego! You’re very lucky
to be living in such an incredible place, so enjoy it. Slow down, make friends
and have a life. So that’s what’s happened, just this better balance of work
and at-home life.”
And it warms his heart to know that as he reaches his seven-year
anniversary in the industry, he can serve as the inspiration he was searching
for many years ago.
“Just seeing and hearing all these other guys coming in, and the way that
they’re coming in—they’re more open and more honest. It warms me, seeing
the reaction from people and how they build themselves. It just shows that I
went through what I went through for a reason. I’m a cheerleader for them all.
Seeing it makes me happy,” he says, adding that the plight for men of color
in the industry has made strides—but isn’t quite there yet.
“We’re definitely seeing some change, and it’s great … I’m loving it.
But there’s always room for improvement, there’s always room to do more.
We definitely need more men of color directors out there. I don’t think we
have enough. And I know that there’s a lot of directors out there who don’t
necessarily shoot for big major studios who just aren’t recognized. I feel that
would help, just having men of color in every position within the industry …
just even being included in the conversation, in the movement.”
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