A Gay American Success Story
Victor Cody, a successful commercial model, cover-worthy art and fashion photographer and respected journalist who covered gay celebrities, icons, advocates and issues, was living in Kansas when an epic, category four tornado lifted his home into oblivion, just like Dorothy. With death and destruction surrounding him, and only 18 cents in his pocket, he left that life behind and relocated to Fort Lauderdale. There he combined all of his talents and became a major figure in the adult film industry and started his own company, Studio Cody.
Producer and director Cody allows an interesting twist to Studio Cody, in that the company supports many gay issues and gay rights. It also consists of many models that are regular, everyday people—lawyers, fireman, accountants, etc.—who have always desired to appear in an adult film. Aside from that, unlike many other adult entertainment groups, Cody believes in “pro- gay,” not “pro-porn.”
Truly an American success story, Cody claims that although he came out late in life, he came out fast! I found him to be brilliant, sweet, candid and sensitive. I guess it also didn’t hurt that he was handsome and sexy as well.
Who’s the biggest celebrity that you’ve ever interviewed?Celine Dion. Then I got to photograph her to go along with it when she was in town.
I don’t know a lot about you, because each time I try to research you on the computer your pictures got in the way.
Yeah, that could be one of the problems there.
So you were a writer, photographer and model. What prompted you to become interested in the porn industry?
I never really was interested in the porn industry.
So what, did you just fall into it?
Whenever someone asks me how I got into it, I tell them I fell into it through the back door, literally. I had been modeling. Then I was offered a job through a friend. Then I did some television commercials, and that got me recognized by some of the Internet photographers that photograph these girls on the Internet. One of them contacted me that he had several websites with the most popular girls. They hired me to work with a specific model who had never worked with a guy. That kind of got me started. That instantly made me popular. I didn’t even really know how to pose at that time. At first I wouldn’t even do nudes. Then I would do nudes, but not show my privates. Then it was like, “Oh, what the hell.” I ended up at a party, and the only porn star I ever knew was there. Let’s just say we gave a great show to the rest of the guests. I guess I just found some of the exhibition in myself.
So at that point you were still straight?
I ended up going back to Kansas City, where I was from. I had been separated from my wife for over a year at that point, and somehow it just happened. I decided I was going to give it a try. It had always been there. I had always denied myself of it. I had my first encounter with a guy two weeks before my 30th birthday. I came out very, very quickly.
So you began filming adult movies after you were a photographer?
I worked for a magazine until I heard that they couldn’t afford to pay photographers what they were paying, because they couldn’t keep up with the Internet. As the magazine started pulling back, I wondered how I was going to make a living. I either had to go backwards or forwards. So all I did was pick up a video camera and started filming what I was already photographing, just putting a little action to it. And we got it. Literally, that’s how I started. It was just taking what I already had and doing the most with it. I do consider myself an artist above everything else.
Victor do you actually make movies?
Yes. My fifth DVD is in production now.
So what happens when someone comes up to you and they want to be in a movie, but they aren’t well endowed? How do you tell them no?
I used to just say, “My client won’t approve you,” but now I have to be a little more brutally honest. I have an eye for being able to sum guys up. What I do is rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. I’ll give them a 3 for their face, or 3 for the body, a 3 for their butt. If all that is gorgeous, they get that extra point to make them a perfect 10. If they have two out of the three, I can work with them. If they have a great butt and they are hung like a horse, I don’t care what their face looks like. If you’re not greatly endowed but have a great butt and face, I can work with it.
Do you get emotionally attached to your models?
Absolutely, oh yeah. I’ve always invested in my models. Without them I wouldn’t have a business. I invite them over to the house. They come for Christmas. I’m friends with a large majority of them. A lot of my guys are very successful. I’ve worked with attorneys. I’ve worked with TV professionals. One of the guys I work with produces the morning show in Miami. They are successful people, which makes for great friends. I think there is such a bad stain on porn stars. I think it’s a few bad apples that ruin the whole thing. That’s not really the case, because there are great apples in the rest of the barrel.
Why do you think the porn industry has such a bad rap?
A few bad apples, I think. I have very strict standards. There’ll be no drug use on my set. The people I work with are respectable people in society. A lot of them come to me and say that they’ve had this fantasy all their lives, and they would really like to try it. It doesn’t matter if they live in a million dollar house. They want to try porn. That’s what they want to do.
Why do you think they wish to do that?
I think the times have changed. I think society as a whole is just more open now to people being gay, having a black president. I mean, things have changed. Attitude has changed.
So when people come to you for an interview, what do they have to do?
I don’t do casting calls. I never, ever, ever required anyone to sleep with me to get work. I’m just not that way. Basically they fill out an application and send me pictures. If I like them, I book them for a scene. A lot of these guys are new to this, and they are kind of nervous. The more I can hold their hand, so to speak…
So all of this goes on a website?
I have a partner in Japan who has 26 sites. So if you join my site, you also have access to his sites.
You must get a large number of applicants.
I have gotten the gamut. One of the funniest ones I’ve gotten, and this is a good one: One of the questions is, “Do you have any experience?” on my application. I had one guy who answered, “Yes, seven years in prison!” I guess that’s experience!
I guess it is. So what if you get two bottoms, what do you do?
Two bottoms don’t make a top.
So on the application you actually ask them that?
Absolutely. I have to know that. That’s critical. The one thing that goes wrong in a porn scene is when you don’t have someone who is dominant. Somebody has to be strong enough to control the scene.
What’s the one thing that perhaps your fans don’t know about you?
I don’t watch gay porn. I never watch straight porn. I just don’t really watch porn, unless it’s work related. The sexual part doesn’t do anything for me. I’m too involved with lighting, the models connecting. I just watch it with such a different eye!
