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Charlie Harding- On “Proxy”, Transitioning and More

Charlie Harding, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Charlie Harding

Charlie Harding is someone who has truly made a name for himself and his brand over the past couple of years. Dominating the gay adult world, he is loved by thousands of his fans for his stunning looks and great performances, in many different ways than one. On top of being a great performer in the adult world, he is also a fabulous writer and an all around smart guy who knows how to take lemons and turn them into lemonade.

Now that he has made his mark on the adult world, he is transitioning himself into the mainstream world with his first big role in the Brandon Deyette directed “Proxy”, which is set to be released later on this year. As a fan of Charlie Harding’s, I couldn’t wait to sit down with him and discuss the vital things that are going on in his life. He discusses everything from transitioning out of the gay porn world, his influences, how nervous he was when doing a role like this and why his future seems to have no limit in terms of his amazing abilities. Check it out.

So, your first mainstream role, that’s really exciting! What made you want to transition out of porn and go mainstream?

Let’s go back to the beginning. I always knew I wanted to be a performer, and the adult industry gave the quickest and easiest route to get started. I was able to create a loyal fan base, become a celebrity of sorts and then use that fame to springboard to other projects. It just feels like a natural progression as I grow as an entertainer and actor to transition from adult roles that are mostly physical acting to adding the depth of emotion and soul that mainstream projects call for.

Growing up did you ever have any icons that you looked up to on the big screen?

Well I have to say Julie Andrews has always been a huge icon to me. She takes performance to such an amazingly high level and always has such confidence in her roles. Sean Connery is another. Again, totally captivating in his efforts on screen, and has just an amazing persona. Of course others from more modern fare include Anne Hathaway, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana and Peter Dinklage all are amazing performers I enjoy watching and hopefully can learn from as well.

Proxy, Charlie Harding, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Brandon Deyette

How did this movie fall into your lap?

Well, I am very active on social media, and my fans and friends are always chatting me up about things. I made a Facebook post about starting to look into mainstream opportunities, and one friend passed me to another who happened to be Brandon Deyette the director and writer for PROXY (www.proxyonfilm.com). We chatted about roles, personalities and such, and it all just fell into place.

Manhattan Digest, Charlie Harding, Proxy — Credit to: Brandon Deyette

Tell me about your character in the movie and what challenges he faces.

Well Tristan is a very frustrating guy. He cares immensely about his friends, and stinks at communicating effectively with them. He has his own demons and insecurities and drinks to much, but is a genuinely good guy inside. There are significant parallels to my own life that I pulled from when Brandon and I created Tristan’s back story. I developed the character all the way back to high school in Tristan’s life to piece together moments that would have been motivating factors in decisions he makes and reactions he has.

From my previous article, it looks like Brandon really has a lot of love and faith in you. How did it make you feel when you read that?

I cried. Literally. Brandon has an amazing talent for making you want to do great work. And going into this process, I was scared shitless. “Was I good enough?” and “Will anyone take me seriously?” are questions that kept me up at night. I worked hard to get into this role and truly become Tristan, and I’m so proud that Brandon is so excited about what I gave on film.

You recently uprooted yourself and your lovely partner from Atlanta to San Diego. How has that been going?

Amazing. San Diego is such a great fit for us. It’s the perfect mix of beaches, gorgeous weather, friendly people and relaxed attitude that we needed. We both feel revitalized and energized being here, and now that I’m only a short drive from LA, I can pursue this crazy acting dream more whole heartedly and without so many geographic boundaries.

Very few porn actors have been able to successfully transition themselves outside of porn and into the mainstream (Colton Ford is a shining exception in the gay world, its mainly ones in the straight porn world like Ron Jeremy, James Deen & Tracy Lords). How do you plan on following suit and making a name for yourself outside of the world you have been in for years now?

Well, hopefully my fan base will follow me over! Plus now I get to try and win over an even bigger number of folks to my team. I’m just a genuine guy, trying to make a dream come true, and I think people appreciate that. I keep getting told that I’m very relatable and easy to understand. I hope to do many more movie roles, super excited about the television show Brandon has in development, and look forward to being an entertaining addition to tons of creative projects.

Looking back on it, was your experience in porn more positive or negative?

It had both positives and negatives. The negatives: I get stereotyped constantly as trashy or of less value as a person because I did porn. The industry takes a toll on you and is not overall a healthy environment. It’s hard to overcome the stigma attached to porn actors and be taken seriously. Some people are put off as to how comfortable I am with my body and openly talking about sex.

The positives: I’m more sexually in tune with myself than I would be otherwise. I get to use my celebrity status to promote social causes and constantly raise money for charities. I’m someone folks seem to be comfortable talking to about all sorts of issues including STI’s and HIV, relationship advice, work out tips and more. I keep getting told I need to host an advice talk show! Without adult films, I wouldn’t be able to take this leap into my dream future!

What are your plans now in the movie biz?

I want to shoot more movies! And I am hoping to do television as well! I want to explore different sides of my personality and translate those into the characters I get to play. I’m currently agent shopping and looking forward to see where this all takes me. Currently I am looking for more projects, and serious inquiries can be made to [email protected] .

What are you hopeful for now that your future is looking brighter than ever?

WORLD PEACE! I’m hopeful I can be a source of inspiration and create quality entertainment for those who see my work. I want to promote the idea that I’m a serious actor no matter where I started. I want to have a voice and be a spokesperson for other people in the world.

You always have a lot going on business wise. Can you tell me about any side projects you have going on?

Well if you live in Southern California you should Facebook search “The Instigators Present.” We throw parties and social engagements, usually with a charity donation twist. I’m also about to release my first vocal single “Sex on the Dance Floor” on iTunes with the music video and multiple dance remixes soon to follow. I’m the spokesperson for www.charliehardingpresents.com a great source for readers of gay romance and erotica. I’m a spokesperson for the Tshirt company www.unicornmuscle.com (use code “HornyCharlie” for a VIP discount).

And my partner Scotty Rage and I are about to relaunch limited additions to our exclusive clothing line RAGE T’s.

And that’s just the stuff I can officially talk about!

Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap: GWTW Fabulous?

by Ryan Shea

As an avid Real Housewives of Atlanta fan (and other seasons at that), this season was different in several ways yet it still brought home that punch at this particular venue does so well. Now that Kim Zolciak has departed this year, the lone original housewive in NeNe Leakes continues to be the one that everyone watches for when it comes to her no nonsense tolerance of stupidity and her overall hilarity that comes with being her. Besides her, there are two new housewives that were introduced in the mix, and boy did they deliver. One more than the other though. Kenya Moore made herself pretty comfortable in the RHOA franchise this year, coming in like a bullet from episode one when judging on a Jet Magazine contest to the finale last night when attempting to kick out other new housewife Porsha Stewart out for coming in a different costume (yes, that happened). Regardless, this was the best season of RHOA in a very long time and I am going to breakdown each housewife and my thoughts on them this season.

NeNe Leakes-

NeNe is truly the best part of this show, and in many people’s eyes the best housewife to ever exist on any of the series. Her vivaciousness and tenacity to get her career where it needs to be has been truly shown this season, in particular her always being bi-coastal in LA and Atlanta. She is finally a series regular on the NBC show “The New Normal” and that was documented in full this year. Also profiled heavily was her reconciliation with her ex husband Greg which culminated in him proposing to her in last weeks episode (Aww). My personal opinion is that they should’ve never gotten divorced in the first place, as to me it just seemed like she was so career driven that she wanted her independence and that was a main focal point in her leaving. Nevertheless, NeNe had words with every cast member this season except for Kandi (her former nemesis) and Cynthia. She read every other girl correctly this year, from Porsha having a controlling husband to Kenya getting way out of line with everyone for no reason. As for her relationship with Kim, that is one that will truly never flourish and be what it was supposed to be- as a modern day boughetto version of Thelma & Louise. Facts are this- NeNe is water to that shows livelihood. That franchise can’t survive without it. So keep coming back NeNe because we love you!

Kandi Burruss-

In my opinion, Kandi is the most successful when it comes to being a true business woman. Her storyline this year was falling in love with her boo Todd Tucker and the road to engagement and potentially a new baby in the works. She is one of two of the RHOA housewives that are getting a spin off, her’s being “The Kandi Factory” in which she discovers new talent to work professionally in the music industry (pumped for that). Kandi and NeNe are in the same realm in that they both really keep it 100 everywhere they go. Kandi did a very good job in the drama department by sticking with Phaedra during the whole battle with Kenya and finally settling the stupid beef between her and NeNe when they were on vacation. A true businesswoman, she continues to be the pioneer in female sex toys with her “Bedroom Kandi” line that earned her the Best Toy Sex Line at the 2012 AVN’s. The joke here that I love is when she said “I think I am the only person to win a Grammy and an AVN”. Really for me, Kandi is the shit and should’ve been an original housewife in season one as opposed to the woman she replaced, DeShawn (boring). She continues to breakaway from being just a girl from a 90’s girl group and really make herself a force to be reckoned with in the business world. Good for her.

Cynthia Bailey-

Cynthia’s will be short and sweet. The renewal of vows with Peter in Anguilla was nice. Her continuing her Bailey Model Agency was fun to watch as well. Her standing her ground when Kenya was acting a hot ass mess at her agency was great as well. Besides that, Cynthia remains to me an anomaly on that show. She isn’t that interesting but somehow continues a third season on the show. I was sort of shocked they kept her around and not that insane nut job Marlo Hampton. She does read well though. The funniest thing this season for me is when she asks Kenya- “Now Kenya, were you before or after Vanessa Williams”. HA. Love it.

Phaedra Parks-

Ugh. There are times where I like Phaedra, and there are times where she annoys the heck out of me. Regardless, her colorful commentary keeps me cracking up, especially her digs at onetime friend Kenya. That seemed to be her main focal point this season as well, was her ongoing battle with Ms. Moore. The battle began really when Phaedra didn’t want to cough up any money to pay Kenya for all the work she put into Phaedra’s workout video. I side with Kenya here, as regardless of friendship you should pay for something like that. That is when the flood gates opened and pretty much at every event something happened between the two of them. They seemed to squash things in the end, but besides that fight was there anything really interesting about Phaedra this season? Her going into the funeral business for pets bored the heck out of me and her relationship with her fine as heck husband Apollo bored me as well. With baby number two on the way, is there anything left for this woman to be a vital structure when season six happens? Stay tuned.

Porsha Stewart-

Or as I like to call her, the Alexis Bellino of RHOA. Meaning the girl says some dumb shit. Porsha is a bubbly fun girl who has some great family history that was documented at the beginning of the season (she is family members with Hosea Williams). That being said, the girl just proved why she is a real housewife this season by being married to a very controlling husband, AKA that closet case Kordell Stewart. Now he has filed for divorce from her and it is getting ugly. Really ugly. I am sure the way he was portrayed on the show didn’t really hit well with him on the home front hence why he is leaving her, but was there anything else that could’ve attributed to it? There were some great and genuine moments such as Porsha revealing her problems trying to conceive and her devotion to charity work, but really all that relationship was was Kordell telling Porsha what to do in every situation. She was another one that got into it so many times with Kenya, and originally I was on Porsha’s side, but as the season went on and all she had to throw digs on was her age really just showed how immature Porsha was. Now with the divorce riding high, she is sure to be a cast member for next season, but will they portray her as the newly single Carrie Bradshaw of Atlanta? Time will tell.

Kenya Moore-

I love Kenya Moore. I really, really do. I have had this girl’s back from the get go pretty much and there are so many aspects about her that I find to just be freaking fantastic. This show needed someone like her, and I understood why she did what she did. The only thing I disagreed with was how rough she was in the first episode when judging the Jet Beauty Pageant thing at Cynthia’s agency. Besides that, girl can stand up for herself. Phaedra was wrong in not paying her, you don’t do stuff for free. Porsha, miss “265 Days A Year” was wrong as well with her below the belt jokes that made Kenya seem to be this old woman when really she is the best looking girl of the bunch (and most physically fit). Did she overreact about Walter? No. If my friends kept inviting my ex to places and they knew it made me uncomfortable, well then they aren’t really friends to begin with? Kenya really did a great job at getting her point across and looking back on things I really get where she was coming from. “Gone With The Wind Fabulous” is truly the best quote of the season and a mantra I use in my everyday life. She is a beautiful and smart addition to the show and I can’t wait to see where it leads next season.

What are your thoughts RHOA fans? Did you like this season? What are your views on the ladies? Can’t wait for the reunion next week!

Bullying exists in the gay world. Yup.

by Ryan Shea

This is an article that I could write a whole novel on, heck turn in into a series like “Twilight” or something. I could also write from an extremely pessimistic and somewhat “bitchy” point of view, yet I want my point to get across without sounding like that. So I will do my best to stay focused and not go off the narrow end of anger and frustration towards the gay community.

As the title of this article states, bullying really does exist in the gay world. Whether people want to admit it or not, it is there, and it’s rampant. I find this to be more true in big cities like New York and Atlanta and not so much in towns and smaller, lesser known communities. For five years I lived in Providence, Rhode Island for school. There is where I truly was able to be myself and out, and actually found a really great group of guys who weren’t judgemental and had me apart of their circle without judgement or negativity.

I, foolishly, thought the same when I moved back to New York in 2009 and attempted to do the same here in terms of making friends. The result was completely the opposite. I learned that in big cities like this, you have to draw a very fine line in order to get respect and a good group of friends along with that. If you come across as too friendly and nice, you are viewed as a huge slut. If you come across as reserved and quiet, you are seen as a wallflower or a dickhead. Either way, it’s not easy. I learned that the hard way when I started becoming friends with a certain group of guys who within a month turned on me, and I saw first hand just how truly vile people can really be.

I never was bullied in high school or growing up, in fact I was pretty well liked by the majority of my school because I was outgoing and just plain nice to people. This experience made me think of the people, both men and women, who actually were teased and bullied growing up, relate to them after the experience I dealt with. Especially with cyber bullying. I got a glimpse from a friend about a never ending update someone made about me, and I couldn’t even read the whole thing. Words thrown around like “Desperate”, “Fat F**k”, “Slut” and many others were used so freely mainly from people who I don’t know or barely even met. I sat there, thinking “what did I do wrong”?

Then it made me think further. The gay community for the most part, is high school 2.0. Especially the bears. It is designed for many men who were in fact teased growing up, to form a group of men and treat others how they were treated for their own satisfaction. There are ones that do it in a variety of arenas, elitist ones who feel because they go to the gym 5-6 hours a day that they are better than everyone else, and a ton others. Quite frankly, its pathetic. Will it ever end? No. Because the shallow end of the sea is where many men prefer to be. Many need to grow up and realize what they are doing to others is wrong. I am not the only one that has endured this, I know several personally that do it. It is a sick cycle that I wish would just stop.

I think Dan Savage and his whole “It Gets Better” movement really is a fantastic one, and I completely get it. Sadly, these kids who do realize it does get better and come out (which is already a hurdle in itself) have to face a whole other hurdle in coming into the gay community. My advice to everyone is stay strong, be yourself, and fuck what everyone else thinks. I learned that the hard way, but I am glad to have that mentality. If you go through life always knowing who you are and are secure in that aspect, you won’t let these douchebags get you down in the least. Be you.

Thanks for listening to my rant 🙂

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