Porn Director Of The Month: Sean Michaels

We spend a lot of time talking about porn performers and crediting them for their spectacular scenes, and we realize that we ought to give some love to porn directors--we may not see them sweat, but we know that they're running the show, keeping things organized, and finding the best possible ways to deliver the dirty goods that we crave. With that in mind, we decided to get in touch with one of our favorite people in the adult industry: the legendary pornstar/director and all-around master of smoothness, Sean Michaels.

Sean has been in the adult industry since 1985 and started directing in 1991, so there is a damn good chance that you've jerked off to his work in some way, shape, or form. If you honestly don't know who the man is, here's a quick rundown:

Mr. Michaels was born in Brooklyn on February 20, 1958. He moved to Los Angeles in the '80s determined to get into the porn game, and even though he had to deal with a lot of racism (he's even been edited out of scenes by nasty directors), his reputation as a stellar cock-swinger, a charmer, and a level-headed gentleman quickly spread. Sean isn't just a huge hit in the States; he's also spent a lot of time getting freaky around England, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. Most recently, he's been directing some crazy-steamy movies for Evil Angel, and they hooked us up with the man so we could pick his beautiful brain.

Fleshbot: How did you get started directing?

Sean Michaels: I first got started as a director in 1991 with Christian Mann and Video Team production and distribution. The movies were "My Baby's Got Back" and "In Loving Color." It was something I always wanted to do after attending the Lee Strasberg Institute. People like Sidney Poitier, John Leslie, Spike Lee, Alfred Hitchcock, John Stagliano, and John Singleton have been my inspiration as a director in the adult industry and it has been and continues to be very, very exciting for me.

How did you forge a relationship with Evil Angel? What's it like working with them?

My relationship with John [Stagliano] and Evil Angel spans over twenty years as he, along with Christian Mann, gave me the opportunities to do more than be a male performer. Three years ago I was looking for a distributor for my product, and Evil Angel was my best choice, allowing me to be me and to continue to grow my brand name like never before. John has my back and I can trust him to "do the right thing."

In past interviews you've mentioned the importance of romantic lighting and having a small crew to establish the right mood on a set. Do you still stand by these factors? Are there any new ideas you've incorporated into your craft?

I still stand by my lighting rules because my fan base after twenty-two years is still growing domestically and around the world. My fan base has stated that the mood, lighting, and the talent that we choose are the most important factors. What I do as a director is tell the story because for me each scene is a story in itself.

Ever get the urge to ditch the camera and suddenly jump in a scene you're directing?

Yes, I do sometimes get the urge to jump in a scene here and there, but most of the time my focus is on the scene and making it the best it can be by conveying what it is that needs to be captured during the scene at hand.

A lot of black performers look up to you for paving the way for them and working to dispel racism in the adult industry. What do you feel still needs to be done to promote equality and respect in the porn world?

I appreciate the fact that my peers hold me in a high regard. That means a lot to me. It has not been an easy road for me as I still stand for "NO COLOR LINES" in any arena! I lost out on lots of opportunities both as a performer and director because of the blatant racism that abounds in the adult industry. This is the only working industry where agencies tell and list on their websites the new models not to work with black men because it will certainly hinder their ability to make money, and affect their careers. Even black women have refused to work with me on separate occasions. What if I charged more to work with other nationalities!? It is LUDICROUS!

There is still a lot of work to be done to fight racism. I look around and I believe I have set a good example of things we need to do, and how to carry one's self while doing so.

IAFD says you've appeared in 1399 movies, you've directed at least 218, you're in multiple Halls of Fame, and you're still in the saddle. What keeps you going? Do you feel like you're still in your prime?

IAFD is way off! It's more like 3200 as a performer. I have directed over 300 movies as well.

What keeps me going is the fact that I have and continue to have a very positive effect on people with my work and career in the adult industry. I feel I am just getting started, and I still have a few more years of "primetime" left in this Brooklyn kid.

What are you working on next? Are there any performers you're looking forward to working with, or hope to work with in the future?

I have a few projects that are in the works. I just released my new titles through Evil Angel, "Black Diamonds" and "Evil Cuckold 5." Next is my take on the "Rat Pack," something I've been wanting to do for quite some time! I am hoping to work in the same scene together with all the top black male and female performers around today! The potential cast is as follows: Nyomi Banxxx, Jada Fire, Monique Symone, Skin Diamond, Ana Fox, Layton, Benton, Lexington Steele, Mr. Marcus, Jack Napier, Prince [Yahshua], Shane Diesel, Tee Reel, and yours truly. My other big project due out January 2013 is "The Return of Mandingo." This is my take on the 1975 classic starring Ken Norton, Susan George, and James Mason: the first interracial love story!

Peace & NO COLOR LINES!

· Evil Angel (evilangel.com)
· Curious about what Sean's been doing with Evil Angel? Check out his releases here: Evil Distributor (evildistributor.com)

[At top: Sean Michaels always measures twice and bangs once. Please note that the chalkboard behind Sean has "Do The Right Thing" written on it. Picture via "Daddy Knows Best" (fleshbot.com)]