I welcome your additions to this list, comments, critiques, slams…whatever…
Rog
While porn today is dominated by plot-free, all-sex movies, there are still a handful of features being made. The directors who make these movies are a diverse lot with unique visions and distinct styles. No one in their right mind would compare even the best porn feature to a movie to “The Godfather,” however the parallels are often drawn by porn critics and fans when discussing their favorites. It’s as inevitable a conversation as “Elvis vs. The Beetles” or “Mays vs.Aaron.”
When AVN’s editor Tim Connelly made a recent appearance on Tech TV’s “Screwed” he was asked a number of questions. Among them, “Who is the Feleini of porn?” Connelly chose Thomas Zupko, citing the controversial director’s eclectic vision and on the edge style. In response to a follow-up question, Connelly named Paul Thomas as the Ron Howard of porn. This brief portion of the interview has sparked some great water cooler chat around porn and has spawned a number of interesting chat threads. Were Connelly’s mainstream comparisons fair and accurate? If so, then what about other porn notables?
Zupko’s style is nearly impossible to describe and is certainly unique enough to earn him porn-comparisons to the master. One might also note that Zupko’s layered visual style has an Oliver Stone circa “Natural Born Killers” feel to it. Still others might point to his quirky, manic personality during interviews and make the inevitable Quinton Tarantino comparison.
Thomas as Ron Howard might seem like a stretch at first glace, but the comparison holds up nicely. Like Howard, Thomas started off as a performer and earned his share of praise over the years in front of the camera. Both began directing by making light-hearted comedies and gradually worked up to meatier projects. Though still known to dabble in the lighter stuff, Thomas is best known for gripping sexual dramas like “Bad Wives.” (His “Beautiful Mind” in this comparison.)
What about some of the other well-known porn directors? I ran this one through the conversation group that congregates at the local sports bar. With no baseball to talk about, we had quite a field day with this topic. I’m not sure if it will replace “6 Degrees of Ron Jeremy” as porn’s top parlor game, but here goes.
Jim Holiday: Best known for shooting huge all-star lesbian orgies, Holiday would probably compare to Robert Altman (M*A*S*H*, Short Cuts) who shoots lengthy flicks with all star casts.
Michael Ninn- Always on the cutting edge of technology and how it can add to his movies, Ninn might best be compared to James Cameron (Terminator, Aliens, Titanic).
John Leslie: With his mastery of nearly every kind of porn, Leslie would compare favorably to a number of directors, but let’s pencil him in as the Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Good Fellas)
John Stagliano: Comparing Stagliano to anyone in mainstream is tough. I think of Hitchcock based on his influence on the industry as a whole. Fill in whoever you consider to be the best director in mainstream I guess. I’ll go with Stephen Spielberg (Raider of the Lost Ark, Schindler’s List, Jaws) because of his dominance and because it took him a long time to really win the critical acclaim that he deserved.
Antonio Passolini: Few people in porn can match Passolini’s visual style or his sense of humor. It’s a stretch, but Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas) comes to mind. He’s unique and half the time, people enjoy his movies without really getting the joke.
Pierre Woodman: Without pulling the name of some European director out of the air, let’s go with George Lucas (Star Wars) or Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) because Woodman is the master of the trilogy.
Brad Armstrong: Like Armstrong, Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves) and Mel Gibson (Braveheart) had solid careers in front of the camera before winning awards behind it. It would be easier if I could think of a mainstream director who went from actor to music video director and then to more serious pieces. Let’s go with Costner on this one.
Veronica Hart: Though her movies are not always as bouncy as Nora Ephron’s (Sleepless in Seattle). Ms. Hart is big on dialog-driven movies for women and couples. Penny Marshall (League of their Own) also comes to mind because she made the transition from performer to director.
Jonathan Morgan: The reigning King of comedy, Morgan could be compared to Woody Allen or even Rob Reiner (The Sure Thing, When Harry Met Sally), but Mel Brooks (Young Frankenstein, Spacceballs) is probably the best comparison. (Especially after Morgan’s “Spacenuts.”)
Michael Raven: I hesitate to compare anyone to Ridley Scott (Thema & Louise, Gladiator, Alien), but Raven would probably fit into this slot. He’s been diverse and successful in a number of different genres.
Jim Powers: The master of the low-budget porn feature, Powers is equal parts Ed Wood, Roger Corman and the Farrelly Brothers (There’s Something About Mary) with a dash of Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) thrown in for good measure.
Max Hardcore: There is no way one can play this little game, drink a few beers and not at least joking make the comparison between Max and Roman Polanski.
Ed Powers: Known for creating his own sort of ‘reality’ movie where an annoying guy mugs for the camera and tries to make us believe things that aren’t true, Ed is the Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) of porn.
Rob Black: Even before his rather long hiatus, Black’s complex imagery and controversial nature reminded me of Oliver Stone (Natural Born Killers, JFK). If only Black were a full-blown conspiracy nut or Stone were a wrestling fan.
Slain Wayne: For his ability to do something great with very little and his penchant for horror flicks, Wayne gets the nod as porn’s Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream).
Andre Madness: I would list Madness as Michael Bay (Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor) with a dash of McG (Charlie’s Angels) thrown in for good measure. I can’t always say why I like his movies, but I know that they look good and leave feeling satisfied.
Greg Dark: Though he has been away from adult for a long time, Dark has always reminded me of John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Cry Baby). His originality is unmatched and his sense of humor is just off-center enough to make the comparison stick.
Nic Andrews: Since both like to blow things up in their movies and both made their mark with vampire movies early in their careers, Tony Scott (The Hunger, True Romance) is the first name to come to mind.
Robbie D: A relative newcomer to the feature game, D reminds me of McG for his visual style, but get the nod as porn’s Jan De Bont (Speed, Tomb Raider 2) for his high-energy, high gloss movies.
Luis Cypher: It’s been a while since Cypher has made any movies, but his tendency towards overwrought, bloody flicks that were pure porn brilliance earns him favorable comparison’s to Quinton Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction)
David Aaron Clark: Hard to pin down, Clark sometimes strikes me (unfavorably) like David Cronenberg (Crash), but I think I like Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, My Own Private Idaho) better. Clark’s work has matured from niche-appeal to well done movies that most everyone can dig.
Alex Ladd: The way Ladd always made something great out of limited funds and for the sense of humor he brought to his features, Kevin Smith (Clerks, Dogma) comes to mind when I think of Ladd.
Paul Thomas: With Ron Howard already used, I’ll pencil PT in as Rob Reiner (Stand by Me, The Sure Thing). He’s always dependable and every once in a while pulls something great out of his hat.
Thomas Zupko: Though Connelly hit in on the head with Fellni, I’m going to say that Zupko reminds me of David Lynch (The Elephant Man, Twin Peaks). No one else can match his odd-ball style. After Zupko’s first movie, I would have compared him to Cronenberg, but recent efforts have saved him from that sort of condemnation.
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