The minute I saw his framed image in the lobby of The Nob Hill Theater, I could see that David Benjamin was not just your average porn star. The perfect size, height, age, and coloring for serious sexuality on film, David is just what the erotic industry needs. Falcon/Raging Stallion Studios was very quick and very smart to sign this new, versatile star. The sky's the limit for this stud, and it's no surprise that The Nob Hill Theater would want to start the year on a high note, featuring him on its legendary stage, bringing a freshness and fearlessness that should set the stage for the rest of the new year.
Cornelius Washington: How did you create your porn name?
David Benjamin: First, thanks for taking the time to talk with me and offering me the opportunity to introduce myself to your readers. I'm a huge fan of the Bay Area Reporter and have read it online for some time. I'm honored to be featured. As a newcomer to porn, I'm very excited to be able to talk with you today!
But to your question, I chose the name for two reasons. First, I thought that a name with a Jewish flavor would appropriately address the Hebrew tattoo on my chest. Second, I wanted a stage name that I hoped would evoke the qualities I bring to my performances: intelligence, maturity, and confidence.
Is this your first time performing at the Nob Hill Theater?
Yes it is, and I am very excited! Nob Hill is a legendary space that over the years has hosted some of the greatest gay adult entertainers of all time. It's an honor to be invited to perform here!
How do you think you'll feel when you see your name on the marquee on one of the world's most venerable gay porn venues?
A mix of emotions: excitement, accomplishment, nerves. Marquee billing is a special experience and a very visible indicator that I am doing something right, but I very much want both staff and patrons to enjoy themselves and walk away satisfied.
How do you think you'll feel, as you're performing, seeing yourself have sex on the big screen, 30x40 feet?
First, I did not know that there was a 30x40 foot screen...wow! Honestly, I suppose I'll be turned on by the experience.
Is dancing nude a sensual and/or sexual experience for you?
Absolutely! I am a true exhibitionist and performer at heart. So when I perform, the experience inevitably turns me on.
How do you want your Nob Hill Theater audience to feel when you dance nude for them?
I hope they enjoy themselves. The male body and sex should be celebrated and enjoyed!
What brought you into the porn business?
I've always been a fan of porn, since first being exposed to it as a teen. I always fantasized about being a model in the movies I watched.
Then about a year ago, I was taking stock and realized that I was unhappy with the trajectory of my life. I was unfulfilled in my career, resented the security and routine of my life. I have always craved a life filled with experiences and I decided there were not enough new experiences in my life. So I asked myself what I wanted to do, and the idea of being a stripper and escort popped into my head. After initially setting aside the thought, I asked myself an important question "Why not?" and that was it.
Within a week I got a job as a stripper and in May I signed with my agents (Ducati Models) and shot my first sex scene. The following month, Falcon signed me to an exclusive contract. Since then, I have been filming and making appearances around the country; and I've never been happier and more fulfilled professionally.
What is the very first porn film you ever saw?
Well, when I was younger, my father kept a small collection of porn magazines and videos hidden in his bedroom closet. When I discovered it, I would watch some of the videos. While I cannot remember specifically, the first porn I ever watched was probably one of those terrible Playboy channel scenes!
Have you ever fallen for a scene partner?
No. But I have been attracted to all of them. I believe that in order to make sex on camera entertaining and believable, performers need to be attracted to each other.
Who's your fantasy scene partner, and what would you do?
Ken Ryker, and I would bottom.
What do you do onscreen that you don't do off, and vice versa?
Everything I've ever done on-screen I've done off-screen. And I can't think of anything I do off-screen that I wouldn't do on-screen.
What sexual act that, at first, repelled you, are you, now, totally into?
Fisting.
How do you prepare (mentally, physically, etc.) for a scene?
Physically: I groom and workout before a scene.
Mentally: I try to develop a connection/attraction with my scene partner. As a porn fan, watching performers who are into each other increases my enjoyment of the scene. So I try and develop that attraction so that it comes across in my performance.
What do you want people to see and feel when they watch your work?
I hope they are reminded that sex is natural and fun, and walk away having enjoyed themselves.
What is your favorite sexual position?
Doggy style.
What is your favorite sexual act?
Fucking.
What's your favorite guilty pleasure (shopping, food, sex, video games, etc.)?
Taco Bell.
Who is your fantasy celebrity hook-up, and what would you do with them?
Joe Manganiello, and we would have dinner on the beach, before making love in the surf.
Superhero and "sword and sandal" films are huge now. Which legendary hero would you be, and why?
Perseus, because he used his intelligence, more than his strength, to defeat Medusa.
What is your #1 fitness tip, for the BAR readers who have exercise as part of their New Year's resolutions?
Fitness is a practice more than an accomplishment. So get out there and do what you can do. Pursue your goals with slow, steady consistency and you will see results!
What is your favorite body part, on yourself and others?
On Myself: My eyes. They are a beautiful shade of hazel.
On Others: Their eyes. You can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes.
Whom, in the adult industry, do you admire?
Chi Chi LaRue. He has forged a singularly unique career in the adult industry, while retaining his kindness and compassion.
What, in adult film, turns you on?
When someone has the confidence to "let it all hang out" and gives viewers both a mental and physical performance.
What stereotypes about adult film stars and the industry, in general, have you found to be true and/or false?
I believe many people think porn is populated by damaged people: addicts, survivors of childhood trauma, deviants, etc... In my experience there are no more damaged people in porn than in any other industry.
What is different is that the porn community is populated by people who celebrate sex and sexuality in a way that many do not.
What do you now know about the adult industry that you wish you knew when you entered it?
When I started, I thought that there was a system whereby performers were brought in and molded into stars. There is not. I've learned that in order to make it in this business you need to be a self-starter who is willing to hustle.
What is your opinion of "bottom stigma"?
It's silly. Being confident and trusting enough to allow another person inside you, is the mark of real man.
Where do you see porn going in the 21st century?
The economics of the porn industry have changed in the last ten years due to Internet piracy. Profit margins have shrunk, and so too have production budgets. I believe there will always be a role for a few large studios to produce high quality content. But the number of big studios will shrink.
Alternately, smaller, lower-quality producers will increase in number as they find and exploit niche markets (exp. feet, spanking, etc.).
Where do you see gay male sexuality going in the 21st century?
I see gay male sexuality experiencing a renaissance. By that I mean, for the last decade of the 20th century, gay male sexuality was shuttered by a combination of issues: the gay community's focus on civil rights, and the echo of the AIDS epidemic. The former focused attention of monogamy and marriage while the later kept many gay men from exploring fully their sexuality.
Now that the marriage debate has been all but won and anti-retroviral drugs have helped limit HIV transmission, gay men can more openly explore and celebrate their sexuality.
Barebacking, pro or con?
I personally believe that barebacking is here to stay. That said, it's the job of studios producing bareback content, to do so responsibly. None of the "viral load" or "bug-chaser" crap. That promotes unhealthy behavior and stigmatizes men living with HIV.
Is porn art?
Yes.
David Benajmin will be at Circle Jerk in the cruisy downstairs arcade Thursday, January 15 (8pm), and performs solo shows (8pm) and a live sex show with Brian Bonds (10pm) January 16 and 17 at the Nob Hill Theatre, $25. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. https://twitter.com/davidbenjaminx/ www.thenobhilltheatre.com