In the entertainment industry, your name isn’t simply a moniker used for identification, but rather a brand under which you must operate. You can coast on a famous name, lazily relying on unearned credentials without doing any actual work, or you can cultivate an array of skills and talents, build esteem amongst your peers and ensure that you maintain a long-lasting and sustainable career. Ace Rockwood is from the latter camp.
Rockwood has been in the business for more than five years, performing with mainstream studios such as Lucas Entertainment, Channel 1 Releasing and Black Rayne Productions. After signing with Black Rayne, Rockwood decided the time was right to launch his own line of movies, which he’ll be starring in and directing. His directorial debut, NY Sex Chronicles, has already been released, and so far the reception is overwhelmingly positive.
“I’ve worked behind the scenes for a few companies that I’ve had good relationships with,” says Rockwood, who started in porn at 18. “I did everything from shoot scenes to office work, so this helped me out a great deal with the technical aspect of it. After I shot my first scene I thought, ‘Hey, I can definitely start my own production company.’”
Rockwood says the transition from acting to directing has been a natural one.
“I will say, the craziest part of it all is how many people I communicate with on a given day,” he says. “Now I wake up with 15 text messages a day sometimes: models, web designers, camera men . . . I find it very simple to direct a scene, as long as you have good, horny models. Since I have shot so many scenes, it’s very clear in my head what angles I want to get or how I want the feel of the scene to go.”
Rockwood’s multitasking — to perform as both a model and direct his own line of movies — speaks to the current state of the gay porn industry. Simply being hot as fuck and having a huge dick and a perfect ass isn’t going to cut it anymore. Now it’s about being able to strike a balance and be all things to all people without losing your identity. You need the adaptability to fill whatever role is required coupled with a personality to distinguish yourself from your peers. In simpler terms, know who you are and don’t be afraid to work it to its full potential.
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