UKNakedMen, the British studio that’s launched so many guys into porn stardom turned ten years old this year! QXMEN caught up with Jonno, award winning director and one half of the dynamic duo behind the studio….
QXMEN: Describe UKNakedMen to some one who’s never heard of it before…
JONNO: UKNakedMen is our ten year old baby, rammed to the rafters with hot, uncut cock, more pictures and exclusive scenes than I can count and stuffed to the gills with hot fucking and sucking – all in glorious high definition quality (basically).
What were you doing before you started UKNakedMen?
I was a photographer, and my hubby (partner in UKNakedMen) was a graphic designer. I took pics for ‘normal’ magazines, but when the obsession for porn stars started I found myself shooting Jeff Stryker (for Attitude), the 12 most beautiful women in porn for FHM, other porn gals for Maxim and Bizarre, and we were surprised that they weren’t frothing druggy loons, but were on the whole sane, professional, friendly people. So when Aiden Shaw asked us – on the back of a mainstream shoot – to shoot a porn set for a few American magazines, we threw ourselves down the well-lubed, slippery slope into porn… And it’s been FUUUUN!
As an unknown studio how did you go about recruiting models?
We started off trawling through the escort ads on Gaydar or the back pages of your lovely publication. Then one guy would recommend another…and so on. And then with Twitter, it all became very easy. I don’t think ‘doing porn’ has the stigma it used to.
You’ve popped the cherry of many porn star newbies… How do you put nervous first timers at their ease?
A cup of tea and a biscuit, and don’t rush things. I’ve heard of directors shouting at a model to “GET HARD!” erm, yeah, that’s gonna work!! It’s all very relaxed and unrushed.
From stately homes and Regency town houses to rundown council estates, you’ve filmed in some amazing locations… How do you find them?
Ahhh, you’re thinking of our ‘King’s Speech’ set. That got us so much publicity. We have had some great sets and locations over our ten years. Our lovely chum Tanya Hyde (straight porn director) has suggested a few places as has Mistress Kim from Club RUB, and people have emailed and put their location forward with the hope that they’ll see some jiggly bits during filming (they usually do get a glimpse)
What’s a typical day like at UKNakedMen?
A shooting day is hectic, loading up with all the gear, heading to the studio/location, trying to direct a model, who only speaks Spanish, to a dungeon in Hackney! We have so many French and Spanish models I’ve learnt enough Spanish to do a shoot ‘’Separa Las Nalgas, por favor’’. We work whenever the guys are available, so seven days a week is not unusual.
Tell us your top five guys you’ve filmed for UKNakedMen?
Is it wrong to have a favourite? BUT – Carioca was an exquisite, big, brooding, donkey-dick stud. Nathan Raider and his boyfriend Gabriel Phoenix are super-steamy (can I put them down as one choice?). Kurt Rogers was a stunning, great muscular South African. Paddy O’Brian was great, lovely, a proper Cockney and that dick is always naturally hard, and, of course, Issac Jones. We shot his first ever scene and over the years he’s topped, bottomed, gang banged, dildoed and basically explored every aspect of his sexuality on camera, and he’s absolutely lovely and has a super sexy French accent, BOING SOLD!
We bet your casting couch has seen some action over the years… So, come on, spill the beans. Does the director really get to sleep with the stars?
Lorksy a Lordy! Who would hold the camera? I’ve only got two hands! I’d luv to have done that, but we’ve just racked what’s left of our brains to think of anyone we’ve ‘had a go on’ and we haven’t! DAMN, wish we had!
You must’ve worked with some right Prima Donnas over the years…
YES, but they’re really few and far between. Everyone knows everyone in this business and if you’re a nightmare people don’t shoot with you. There’s only one guy I can think of who was really rude, and no one works with him anymore. BUT I think his rudeness was a cover for his own problems at that time, so it’s hard to be annoyed with him. The only real problems we’ve ever had are models turning up off their face, which in itself is rare, and for some studios that works, but not for us. Really; googly-eyed gurning guys, who can’t perform?! Why? If either of us smell mephadrone when a model walks in, they’re going straight home again.
Who would you love to direct in a UKNakedMen scene?
Christopher Lee in the 60s and 70s was hot. Justin Trudeau (Canadian president) can come to us when he’s finished with that political thing he’s doing, or failing that (and back within the realms of possibility) Matt Surfer was a great guy, big dick, very exhibitionist, big loads – he’d be great to get back.
Over the last ten years we’ve seen new studios pop up, put out a couple of releases and then disappear. What’s UKNakedMen got that’s made it so successful?
Hard work, adapting to the technology and choosing hot, hot guys. Jon and Jim are very talented and headstrong, they gets things done and have got us out of a pickle or two, and they’re always thinking of what’s next… Also having an American lawyer who will chase money – that’s been handy.
So what’s in the pipeline for UKNakedMen?
We’ve been working with Falk Lux and setting up a network to which we’ve added his sites – ‘Raw Fuck’, ‘French Lads’, ‘Spritzz’ and ‘Young Bastards’. For years we just hunkered down and did our thing, but meeting other producers and webmasters and adding some excellent new brands to our network is making us stronger and more competitive than ever.
Along with UKNakedMen you have its brother site, Butch Dixon and the online shop JonnoStore… What’s next for your porn empire?
We’ve just added those gorgeous cuties UKHotJocks to the network. LUV LUV LUV those boys, they’re passionate, shoot bright, poppy, steamy hot sex and are great to work with!
Jonno, here are your quick ones…
Muscles or slim?
Depends on the day… little bit of both please. No roid ragers please.
Smooth or hairy?
HAIRY (men please)
Cut or uncut?
Oh, do you have to ask? UNCUT! Why oh why would anyone support ‘male genital mutilation’?
Daddy or twink?
Daddy – please sir! I never got that Twinks thing even when I was one (a short while ago)
Cock or arse?
Both, absolutely both. Hot buns in trunks or hard, swaggering packets in jeans? Gotta be both.