marcus isaacs

Get To Know The Handsome & Thoughtful Marcus Isaacs

Its always a good thing when you can find a duality in the industry that you work for and be successful in doing so. This can be said about adult film star Marcus Isaacs, who has built quite the impressive reputation in his nearly three years of being in the industry. With an industry that has such a high turnover rate, Marcus’ popularity seems to continue to grow due to a multitude of factors such as good looks, charm, personality and being able to perform on camera. He also rides the line very well with many different top studios and has been a fan favorite of many for the past couple of years.

I met Marcus a couple of years ago at a mutual friends housewarming party where I was first introduced to how enigmatic & sweet this guy really was. I recently caught up with him at a local Crunch where the talks of doing this interview surfaced and he was completely game. Marcus talks about his time in the industry, his inspirations that got him there, his surprising take on the bareback side of things, and where he sees his hopeful future. Take a look.

Marcus Isaacs, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Marcus Isaacs

So tell me what got you into the adult industry in the first place?

Actually Morgan Black was the first person to talk to me about what the benefits would be, and that it would change my life. At the time, I was just starting to go to the gym after not going for a couple of years, and to be honest I always had this inkling to be notorious and have a bit of fame and I knew that would be a way to experience that. Also, I’m a very sexual person so I saw it as a way to seal things in time so that when it’s all said and done and I’m 50 or 60 I would always have those videos to look back on, and not the amateur ones but the ones produced by studios and projects that I worked on so I could say that I was part of that world.

And I’ve always loved porn and porn stars so I kind of wanted a little bit of what they had going for them and be desired by fans and people alike, travel a bit and of course have sex with really hot guys. It’s as simple as that.

Did you have any inspirations in the adult world besides Morgan that drove the desire to be in that world?

I was a huge Damien Crosse fan at the time; I remember he was a huge inspiration for me. The inspiration was any porn star that was really freaky but came across as organic. I would see scenes with him or back in the day with Lucas Entertainment when Chad Hunt was with them and even the old Colt Models, just kind of wanting to be extremely sexual on camera and have people see that it wasn’t acted. Damien exemplified that type of organic behavior and its definitely inspired me when I do my scenes.

You are in the industry where there is such a high turnover rate, yet you remain relevant and more popular than ever. How have you been able to manage that over the course of three years?

I never was exclusive to a studio, so I think sometimes when someone goes really high that people get a little tired of seeing them over and over again in one particular venue. It’s kind of like a hit song; it gets tiring after a while. I know for me that I was never exclusive, and never solely did condom porn and worked with a lot of studios but always had the thoughts in the back of my mind with sticking to one type of porn or one studio in that it would have been better for my career. But at the end of the day I really like that I wasn’t with one studio or something for a long time and then did whatever after. I’ve worked with so many studios and that has helped my longevity due to being versatile. What I mean by versatile for example is that there are a lot of stars that won’t do bareback, they are against that, so it enables me to be open to working with a lot of studios based on what they are promoting and not be stuck to one specific genre.

Are there any particular scene partners or scenes that stick out to you as a favorite since you started?

The best time was my video “Breeding Marcus Isaacs” with Treasure Island Media. I felt so honored that Max Sohl did an entire collection of scenes based on myself. I was really humbled by it. I was really appreciative of that whole thing so I think that was the most memorable project or group of projects because that was six or seven scenes and then the last scene of the movie was an entire group scene with me in the middle. I don’t think a lot of stars get to have a video that has their name on it, so that was really kind of the biggest thing for me.

Are there any guys you would love to work with?

Obviously Damien Crosse but two other guys who I think are really hot and would love to work with are Rogan Richards and Shay Michaels.

So what’s your take overall on the industry today?

I guess it’s ok, I don’t watch a lot of porn. If I do watch porn it’s either bareback and/or straight porn. Although the men in big studio condom porn are beautiful, the scenes are extremely inorganic and boring to me. It’s rare that you find a gay porn actor that looks organic on camera. The big studios are boring, and the talent is lackluster. The positions are all the same too, and half the time the bottom isn’t even hard. Its one thing to be hot but you have to make it look real and portray the fantasy you’re trying to get across well.

So there seems to be more and more stars nowadays doing a good mixture of condom and bareback. What has been your experience with doing so since you began your career?

So I was a little calculating when it came to doing bareback. My first scene ever was a threesome with Treasure Island Media that consisted of me, Morgan Black and Dominic Sol. At the same time I had scenes scheduled with Titan Media, so I went to Titan and did those scenes letting them think that they were the first scenes they I did but in actuality they were with Treasure Island. As soon as Titan found out that I did those scenes, they chopped me off and said that I couldn’t work with them. Besides that incident, I actually did condom porn for a while, working with some of the top studios like Raging Stallion and then worked my way into working with the bareback ones as well. It hasn’t hindered my opportunities though.

So seeing as you have done a good amount of bareback porn, there are people out there that are critical of that particular part of the industry because they think it brings more negativity to the gay community overall. What is your take on it?

I think it’s just a matter of what people choose to look at; I don’t think the medium is really the effector here. Whether they see it online or come across a lot of people in their life in the age of pRep that aren’t going to want to have sex with a condom either, it is still going to be there. The influence is still going to be there if they choose to look at condom or bareback, or go to a sex party where everybody doesn’t want to use a condom. Porn shouldn’t be looked at as what influences someone’s decision making, someone’s education should do that. It is simply a fantasy.

In doing my research on you, you also have done escorting for Rentboy for quite some time now. What do you think, in today’s day and age where you can find someone that would be into you in a click of a button, do people actually want to pay for an experience like that?

The reason is because, I think Grindr and Scruff and these apps are so difficult sometimes. Guys can be such jerks, hide behind their phones, play games and not be serious. They aren’t very nice to each other so I think a lot of times these guys who hire Rentboy’s just want a professional. There are no games, they show up when you want them to and they give you the fantasy that you are looking for. These apps can be so much work in terms of the back and forth, is this guy serious, is he just enjoying this type of thing with no end result, it can be maddening. So going through something like Rentboy is simple and time efficient while getting what you want at the end of the day.

You are based in Manhattan like a lot of other guys in your industry happen to be nowadays. Do you ever plan on relocating?

It’s interesting you say this because I was talking about this sort of thing with my boyfriend the other day. I have been in Manhattan for 18 years now and the thought of relocating elsewhere is something I would consider. There are reasons of course, but a change of scenery wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

What are you hopeful for in your career going forward?

I think I got another solid year in me with this industry. I would love to continue working with great studios and hot guys, like the scene I just did with Rocco Steele. That is the type of scene that had such chemistry and a connection, so if I could do a few more scenes like that and be memorable then that would be perfect. I love doing really organic and beautiful stuff and hope to do that as my career goes on.

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Get To Know The Smart & Sexy Rocco Steele

by Ryan Shea

In the varieties of interviews that I have done for Manhattan Digest (and other sites) I try to always get a human element in each person or persons that I interview. Sure, I can talk to them about what they are known for mainly (music, television, movies, etc) but the basis behind any good article or interview is the hope that the reader comes away with something more than what is on the surface. I got that and then some when I sat down with the humble, brilliant and beautiful Rocco Steele.

Rocco, who currently lives in New York City, is becoming a rising star in the adult world and has developed quite the fan following in a short period of time, something that many stars in any arena can take years to do so. His good looks on top of his good performances have left his fans wanting more and he has delivered ten fold in everything that he has done so far. So it came as no surprise to me that when I met up with him this past weekend after his flight back from London & Barcelona, that his passion that he displays on camera also showed when I interviewed him about his life and career leading up to where he is now. Something that I found a big turn on about Rocco Steele is that he really made this a no holds barred interview. From his troubled past with alcohol & drugs that has led to his sobriety for fifteen years, to his upfront and honest take about barebacking not only in the industry but in gay society as a whole, Rocco truly made this interview something that I hope many people can leave even more interested than they did before they read this. Take a look.

So Rocco, tell me how you got your start in this industry.

I started escorting two years ago. A couple of studios approached me once they saw my ad, and I just wasn’t ready at that point. Back then I was working a corporate job and the time wasn’t right for obvious reasons. So when I left my corporate job a few months ago I decided to start my own business. I thought this would be a perfect time to enter the industry. Because I’m starting a business, I have a set goal in terms of timeline for this. I won’t be able to be doing this for a very long time. I’m using this as a means to an end, but at the same time I really enjoy it and want to have fun while doing it. So all in all it was about timing and the timing itself just happened to be right.

There are a lot of guys who can get sucked into this kind of “porn culture” with the partying, drinking, drugs and whatnot. Do you think it’s easy to navigate this world and get out the same way you came in?

It will be for me because I consider myself fairly well- grounded. I have a strong, spiritual background and a very strong support network, especially in New York City. Also, I’ve been clean and sober for over 15 years, so that helps a lot and my work in recovery gives me the tools to bring a lot of integrity to the table. I realize that with any given shoot, it’s not about me…it’s about showing up and giving the studio the best end-product I can – bringing my A-game, taking direction, etc. My recovery also allows me to stay level-headed and focused on my own goals and objectives – specifically, to do this for a certain period of time, while I am starting my business. So for me, it’s easy to navigate and stay away from the distractions of partying, drugs, etc.

Manhattan Digest, Rocco Steele — Credit to: Edwin Pabon Photography

Something that is big in not only porn culture but gay culture in fact is the phenomenon of the “daddy”, which you seem to embody in a lot of the scenes you do. What are your thoughts on it, in particular younger guys my age always seeing older men as that type?

I think its definitely here to stay. There were always daddies, it just doesn’t seem like there was an obsession like there is now. I came from the generation of gays (in the 90’s) where we all wanted to be super buff, in contrast to the 70’s and 80’s, where gay men were fit but not as muscular and big. The 90’s were different in that sense, where it was all about getting big. My generation of gays are now growing up and are in their 40s and 50s and we are maintaining those bodies. I think this is appealing to the younger generation of gays…big strong daddies with big muscles…but that’s just my theory.

Tell me about your first scene, what was it like? Were you nervous, excited?

He doesn’t realize this but Ray Dragon was pivotal in getting me there. He was somebody I had been talking to on and off for the past 18 months or so about entering porn. I knew that when and if I was ready, I would do my first scene for Ray. I would approach him every so often with questions about it and he would answer them for me and tell me to let him know when I was ready. When I decided to finally do it a few months ago, I reached out to Ray again. He was so great and took the time and talked to me on the phone. Because I had been so hesitant for awhile, He wanted to make sure I was making the right decision. That was something I really appreciated about Ray – he was very professional , compassionate and understanding of my personal decision making process.

My first scene was a solo scene for Ray Dragon. I took a train to his studio in Beacon, New York. I wasn’t stressed or anxious because I knew it was for Ray and he already put me at ease and managed my expectations. When I got there, he set up the scene and again walked me through everything. The set was an army tent. It was really a sexy set, and with the army attire, it was so easy to get into it and do what I had to do. Before I knew it, the scene was over.

Prior to the scene, I said to myself, “Let’s see how this goes. If it’s horrifying and a disaster, I won’t do it again”. But it was a really fun and an amazing experience and I knew on the train ride home it was what I wanted to continue doing.

Barebacking in the industry is becoming huge, even the mainstream ones are bending how they used to do things and allowing it into some of their scenes. What is your take on this?

I do bareback porn and I do condom porn, and it mirrors my life. When I meet and ultimately have sex with a negative guy, I am responsible and we are safe and use condoms. If the guy is on PrEp and tells me he wants bareback, we decide to do that as two consenting adults. I have read a lot of the recent research out about transmission of HIV when one partner is negative and the other is undetectable. Although risk factor is extremely low, there is still a risk so I need to be responsible in my life to prevent further transmission.

The same is how I like to approach my views on bareback in porn. I think there are studios that present it more responsibly than others. I think we have a responsibility even in bareback porn to educate how it can be done responsibly and I try to align myself with those studios who present it that way. I will never be that guy who vocally supports bareback porn over safe sex but it exists, so let’s be responsible about it.

Is there anyone you are dying to work with in the industry?

I’m kind of obsessed with Marcus Isaacs, I don’t know why. I do love that I am staying open to directors choosing partners for me because it makes it exciting – but for some reason I keep going back to Marcus, when I see his scenes and pictures- that’s my type. I mean, If I have a type , it’s him.

What other stuff do you have going on outside the industry, can you discuss your other businesses?

Well I’m a self-taught photographer, and have been doing this for the past six years. Back then, I sold all my furniture to buy my first camera. I just started shooting head shots for friends and friends of friends which then lead to shooting models. I have worked with a couple of modeling agencies, who send me some models to test. I mainly help models build their portfolios but because my interest is in portraiture, I also like to capture more artistic “magical” moments while I shoot them for my own book.

I’m also starting an e-commerce business as well. I’m sure you can understand that I am not able to discuss the details. It’s been such an amazing journey, creating a company and a brand. I will have a website and will use social media as a means to market and drive traffic to the site. It’s exciting and scary all at the same time – working with factories in China for production. I hope to have production completed in the Fall and launch the website in the winter. It’s very organic and home-spun as I do all my own graphic design and my own photography. I designed my own logo and will shoot my own models. It’s thrilling to me because when I was in the corporate world, I was a small part in the decision making process, giving input but I never really felt like I was able to influence where the company is going. Now that this is my own thing, I have that control and it is fucking awesome.

One question I didn’t ask is, what do you ultimately want your fans to know about you?

Look – I could use this as an opportunity to say something really sexy and provocative, but what is most important is that I want people to know that I am just a nice normal guy. I care about people and I try to live my live with honesty and integrity. I am grateful to be on this journey. It’s not something I would have ever imagined for myself but I’m really enjoying it now that I’m on it. I am grateful to every fan and follower who supports me and my work. If this ends tomorrow, I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve had up to this point.

Want to know more about Rocco Steele? Check him out on his Twitter page!

Boomer Banks- Get To Know Him

by Ryan Shea

I have run into a good amount of stars in the industry who have left me leaving with a bunch of different thoughts on who they are not only in it but outside the industry as well. Boomer Banks is someone who caught my eye not only because of his good looks but because when I got to know him he just seemed like a really great guy. When he agreed to do an interview with me and I got to know him more, my beliefs on him were confirmed and I got to know a really great side to him. The new Raging Stallion Exclusive is making a huge name for himself in the industry and on social networking sites like Twitter (9,000 fans and counting) and will be performing tonight at the annual Hustlaball NYC which is one of the biggest gay events in the world. He sat down with me this past week to talk about his meteoric rise in the porn world and some pretty great insight on how he seems things from an insiders prospective. Take a look.

So Boomer, what made you want to get your start in the industry?

I literally just woke up one day and was given an opportunity and I took it. I am a very spiritual person and I felt that it was right. I don’t tend to run on self will I am a very spiritual person. I love for the universe to bring things into my sphere.

Was your side job as a Rentboy aid this decision or hurt it, because it can go both ways?

No, it aided it. I guess it opened my mind to what is out there as I’ve heard every request possible. I make it very clear that when i am “escorting” that I will not do anything that I don’t want to do. And to this day I haven’t. I’m very conventional to who I am.

So let’s keep it real here- you are well endowed. Do you think that has helped in you getting cast in more well known productions?

So, listen I’m sure that I did get noticed because of that. That can only carry you so far. There are many men that have large cocks that come around but many of them don’t have the staying power. Mind you, I am only saying that in regards to what I’ve seen. I am a lot more than that. I think that’s what Raging Stallion when they wanted to sign me saw that in me. They saw one thing, but then they saw someone that can represent their company as respectful as one can be.

In terms of porn, is there anyone that you’ve looked up to as an idol?

I am friends with Johnny Hazard, I’ve known him for a year as an acquaintance. He is definitely a confidant in this whole process, great guy. He still to this day is using everything that he has achieved to his advantage without hurting anyone or himself along the way. Since then I have let some legendary people in the industry. Chi Chi Larue has been a huge cheerleader for me, Sister Roma as well. They are all amazing individuals. It’s been very interesting and very welcoming to say the least.

How many scenes have you shot so far?

I’ve done five scenes so far, two have been released. One with Marcus Isaacs for “Timberwolves” and James Ryder for the “Hard Friction” series.

The one that was just released that is getting quite a lot of buzz is with Marcus for “Timberwolves”. Tell me about what that experience was for you being that that was your first big scene that you shot.

It was awesome, it was the most amazing experience for someone not knowing what they were getting into. I know Marcus personally which made it very easy for him to coach and talk to me. Because I am so coachable and easy to talk to it made the whole experience that much better for me. There were even a couple of times where he didn’t need to coach me because I seemed to comfortable. I just felt at ease and even though it was a lot for me take in it got me prepared for every scene going forward which subsequently has made it easier each time.

This is a question I have never asked anyone before- is there a huge difference between making love on camera and making love to someone in your real life who you actually like on a personal level?

Well number one- Raging Stallion is very much known for their elaborate production of everything. The difference is every ten or fifteen minutes someone has to stop and say “Hey, do this” or “Now we are going to do that position”. Porn is a job and people don’t realize that it’s not another hotel room where the cameras are rolling and they let you have sex. It is a very thought out process- we talk about positions and how we are going to end everything, close ups, lighting- it really is a full blown production. It’s not a job when you know someone personally.

Do you think the adult industry lately has more of a negative view or a positive view?

I’m constantly trying not to read things but I come across stuff on Twitter that people seem to think there are things going on behind the scenes. For instance, one being that the porn companies only hire a certain kind of person. Clearly they don’t, hence me. I completely and utterly not Caucasian, I don’t have a hairless body, I take care of myself but I don’t have an airbrushed body.

Then there is the only point where I’ve also read that a lot of porn models don’t like to work with different races. I can’t speak for those other models but I do notice that it’s very rare when that happens. I have no problem with it. I’m a performer and I get paid to do things so I see no problem in being asked to do something and doing it. If you are working at a coffee shop and there is a variety of races working there, you can’t simply say “I can’t serve you coffee because of your race”. It’s the same in both aspects.

People also have a lot of opinions on condoms in porn and what not. There is nothing to fear if there is nothing to fear. Period. Period. Just to elaborate on that, if you don’t know something on a particular topic of course there is reason to fear. However, if you really know you really can understand that there is nothing to fear. If you are working in condom porn, there is no chance unless you in your personal life decide to do things outside of that.

What are you hopeful for in this industry?

I want to have a good run in this industry. I want it to be filled with integrity and honestly about my sexual freedom which is what i was born with. I want to make a name for myself so that my fashion design becomes more noticed. I will be coming out with a Men’s line geared towards sportswear. There has been a lot of companies that have paved the way, Nasty Pig is one of my favorites. The adult industry porn is an amazing opportunity for me to take everything that i have to show on another level. To all these incredible fans that long for something that they put on a pedestal. I want to use that aspect in a good way because they are the ones who are visiting my pages and buying or streaming my DVD’s or whatever the case may be.

Great guy and a really profound interview. For all things Boomer including upcoming appearances and releases, check out his Twitter page for more information.

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