Twenty Questions with AVN’s Best Web Director, Ivan

Ivan Shoots Porn You Love

Veteran shooter/director Ivan took home the AVN Award for Best Web Director at this year's ceremony. He has had a very long, very prolific career, and chances are that if you are a long-term porn consumer, you probably own at least one of his wall-to-wall releases. He has shot low-budget horror, pro-wrestling, and a ton of porn for Anabolic, Evolution Erotica, Extreme Associates, Tom Byron Pictures, and most recently for the Puba network of websites and their DVD branch, Pornstar Empire. Here is your opportunity to get to know the man better.

What kind of guy were you back in school? Were you always interested in photography?

"Going way back when we first came from the Soviet Union, I spent my nights in the back of night school classes drawing Spiderman while my parents learned the language and other skills to properly assimilate in our new home. From that point on, all I wanted to do was be a cartoonist, all the way through high school where I even attempted to apply to Hanna Barbera as an artist. Realizing I wasn’t that good, I went to a Commercial Art College where one day I picked up a video camera—a Panasonic VHS Reporter to be exact. I was in love with the moving image. After graduation, I instantly went to a local junior college where I spent two years taking film theory, history, and production classes. My brain evolved into thinking only film, all the time. Lighting it, shooting it, editing it, watching it. But we were all limited to shop lights and Super-8 cameras.

I wanted to keep learning and getting better, so I applied and eventually attended Brooks Institute of Photography. In my little over three years there, I worked on 55 projects from student films to outside professional features, commercials, etc. Many know how little I sleep and how much I’m immersed in my love for creating and just lugging film equipment around. I wound up receiving a Motion Departmental Award and the highest honor of President’s Award being just the 51st winner in the school’s 50-year history. It was a serious accomplishment, considering I was a Motion Picture major in a primarily photography school. That was my proudest moment that I got to share with my parents. I didn’t expect the award, and when I was called up on stage, I almost lost it when I saw my teary-eyed parents in the audience. That award was more of the life lessons and hard work ethics I learned from them. It’s a shared award and still means the world to me.

After receiving my Bachelors Degree in Motion Picture and Cinematography, I was in the real world, working as a grip, electrician, and dolly grip. I met a few fellow filmmakers with the same drive and we continued our passion to write, light, shoot, and create projects at nights and on weekends for years to come. That passion and drive is still strong for me from weekend warrior projects to our lovely Blue Movies."

Were you a porn fan before you got into the industry? Who were your favorite porn stars/favorite porn movies?

"I was a casual porn fan before getting in the industry. Back then there was no Internet, just friends with magazines or an occasional tape they 'borrowed' from their dad. The few movies that I did see had a group of people that stood out for different reasons. Peter North and his loads! Tom Byron and his mullet! Teri Weigel with her hair and knockers. When I got in the industry, I worked with Tom Byron, so when I first met him he had NO MULLET! I asked where the mullet was but he didn’t find it amusing. One of my favorite movies before I got in was and still is Extreme Associates’ 'The Pornographer'."

What do you think shaped you creatively into the director that you are now?

"I’m a very visual person. When I watch movies, I’m constantly looking at lighting and angles while imagining if I’d do the same thing. My mom was a fashion designer, and my brother is an artist from his very successful street art to his clothing line. Could be just in our blood."

What/who do you want to shoot that you haven't yet?

"Certain people I’d like to work with as business partners, which would mean I’d shoot them, certain people I wish I never shot or met, but that’s a different topic. I’ve been in this long enough to know better then to ogle one particular person; to me this is not a dating service or my outlet to get laid. I love being creative and having drama-free environment. So the biggest name around or a newbie that has those qualities, I’m down [for them]! Project wise, I’d love to get a chance to shoot 'Texas’ Asshole Massacre Part 2'. That movie established my name and opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I also have a few projects in my head swirling around that hopefully this year will come to fruition."

Who are your favorite female/male performers to work with and why?

"From previous years, I loved our roster of dudes from Anabolic, Brian Surewood, John Strong, Sascha, James Deen, Tony T, CJ Wright. Never had wood issues and drama—well, for most of them, that is. These days, since I mostly shoot content, my list of guys is sporadic. It’s hard to point out certain guys, but the ones we use, I have decision-making process on. So if you are an ass or just a shitty person, I won’t be shooting you. If we wind up working together, it’s because you’re good in my book as a person or performer or hopefully both. Female performer wise, if you check my social media, you can probably gather who I enjoy spending time with or shooting. Because when you run a network of sites and shoot content, it’s a business partnership, so you have to enjoy being around that person. Each woman in porn has her good and bad qualities—you can’t pick and choose just the good parts, it’s a full package deal. If that person seems respectful and honest then whatever their personal issues are, they are none of my business."

You respond to your fans a lot on Twitter. What do you like most about talking to your fans on social media.

"I love the feedback. These people pay our bills. The banter sometimes is interesting. You’ll get normal people and those sometimes become friends. Then you’ll get that clueless fanboy or fangirl oozing drool from their mouth, which you smile and respond to in a polite manner. Being polite and open helped me grow my unique brand, down to 30 million views on my Youtube channel and before social media my blog actually won an award. Plus the dick and titty DMs and emails are fun to navigate through."

What’s your favorite position to shoot a woman getting fucked in?

"My favorite position to shoot a woman getting fucked in is having a couch or ottoman nearby I can sit down on while shooting. So I guess the sitting position? I assume you meant for the girl, but I feel like I’m not a typical porn director and don’t like typical porn questions. Next thing you’ll ask me if my parents or significant other knows what I do."

What do you love most about being a pornographer?

"I love the creative freedom of sorts and making my own schedule. I can work all night and sleep away the day, which I never do. But the best part is meeting new people. Each person has their own life story which is unique to them. I love learning about people. And as you can imagine porn people have a story or 12 to tell."

What do you think that people assume about shooting porn that just is not true?

"That there are drugs and craziness on set. The thing is my sets are different. The director is not there just to get the scene over with, so he can try to hook up with the female talent. We laugh, joke, and never make anyone cry. Unless they want to. It’s a job and most treat it as that. Except for the few flaky self-absorbed people."

How did it feel to win the Best Web Director AVN Award?

"It was a rush. I didn’t expect it. I had over 90 AVN nominations for my years and never won. This year was no different. I didn’t expect to win, so much so, a few years ago I wore a hat to the show that said “Susan Lucci of Porn.” To me it’s an honor. It’s a culmination of our company and the loyal Puba girls who came in and shot amazingly creative content for now almost seven years. The award is shared by everyone. Puba is the only Web Network of Pornstar websites that now has Web Director of the Year who’s a co-owner and director of production. To me, that’s what’s important. It’s another building of the brand and proof that we do the best shit out there. No pay-per-day directors or editors. Nope, with us, the director/editor works 24/7 to make the best quality content and brand building for the girls."

What do you think are “must-have” DVDs for your fans?

"Well as you know firsthand, Holly, you helped me grow my brand with your positive feedback and spreading the word about my work on “Texas’ Asshole Massacre” That movie was my growing-closer period with my ex Kami Andrews, and the behind-the-scenes shows that. Plus the movie really got me seen by AVN and few feature companies. For my Anabolic days, Sweet Cheeks #8-11 were my babies. Sweet Cheeks 11 was my favorite one, as a few of my good friends were in it, and years later became Puba girls. MTV’s True Life even had a segment from my set of that movie. At Tom Byron Pictures, I did a series called “This is Why I’m Hot” where I spent all my money and brain power on amazing teases that made the series very successful. And now I do a series called “SeXXXploitation of” with Puba girls where it’s a very artsy showcase of one girl. So far we’ve done one for Dani Daniels, Romi Rain, and Abigail Mac, and I am planning on one, possibly two, this year."

What do you like to do for fun?

"The last few years fun has been far and few between, but I manage to watch my favorite sports: football, hockey, basketball and MMA. I’m a huge movie nerd, so I watch tons of trailers for ideas and movies. I’m a homebody. Many people think I party and run around saying words like, “bro!” and neither is true. I don’t drink or even smoke weed. This body is a temple for pasta and 5-hour energies. I guess my biggest hobby is anything aliens, Bigfoot, or conspiracies. They are fun conversations, whether these things are real or not, BUT I KNOW they’re real!"

What is your favorite type of scene to shoot?

"I enjoy the creative process of lighting and setting up cool teases or vignettes. Once the sex starts it’s on the talent. But my creative time is pre-sex. I love shooting people that love to be creative—shit, this is their brand, why wouldn’t they? Right? You’ll be surprised, though. I guess the question could spin out into what scenes are your least favorite to shoot. That would be with flaky, self-righteous lazy people. The opposite of those people, I love working with because they care about their image and brand."

What do you hope happens in 2016?

"I hope more rich people who like investing in DVD companies show up, so my fellow porn peers can make serious money. I hope people realize if some guy named BillyBigDick69 on social media calls you smart and pretty, that doesn’t mean you are god’s gift to our existence. For our company, I am hoping we take on more reliable business-minded women to call partners. We have a good amount now, but you can never have too many like-minded, focused people."

What is the best mainstream movie you have seen recently?

"I saw The Big Short, which was amazing. There were so many movies I wanted to see, but with my schedule I missed all but that movie. I tried to sit through this Netflix Adam Sandler Western, but after three tries I gave up on that kaka."

How about the best porno movie? Is there someone else whose movies you like to watch who is working now?

"I don’t really watch other people’s stuff just because of my schedule. I’ll watch a trailer here or there. My opinion, Guy Capo was one of the most creative people I met in porn. I think Lee Roy Myers is super creative as well. I’m a filmmaker at heart and a good person in my soul. So I tend to gravitate towards people like that, whether they are a performer or director. If I would watch anyone’s movie these days, I’d watch the fun storyline for entertainment then watch some amateur porn for the other 'entertainment.'"

What sex toys do you most like to have used in your scenes?

"I’ve used a Sybian before, which is fun. We did boyfriend-type stuff with it, which was funny. With content, it’s really up to the girls, so they often just choose something that makes them orgasm and not tear if you know what I mean."

If you could direct any celebrities in a sex scene, who would you choose and what would you ask of them?

"If I had a chance to direct a celebrity in a scene, I’d definitely choose to direct them in a non-sex movie. Then I’d feel like that teary-eyed young man on stage with his award made it, really made it! But if it had to be porn, then probably any Kardashian just to get more followers on my social media. I’d ask him or her to hashtag me to all their posts. That’s a real business move like no other."

What single piece of advice would you give a brand new porn director?

"If you are getting in to get laid, get lost. If you have a vision in mind or a pervert who has certain things he or she enjoys, stick to what you love and that will show in your product. The best directors in our business shoot what they love to do or watch, then they can put their heart and soul into it."

Is there anything you want to say to your fans here at Fleshbot?

"Thank you for reading this interview. Sorry it was long-winded and sassy, but I popped a 5-hour energy before sitting down to do this. If you are interested in knowing about me or my life, go to www.IamIvan.com. If you want to help me pay my bills go to www.Puba.com and sign-up. Other then that, thank you for reading this and supporting my plight to be a back-to-back Best Web Director on this planet we humanoids call Planet Earth."

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