another1.. Tell us..

[another1]

several years ago, I did a search for blumedia and found press releases. one said blumedia had selected d & e to product content which would be distributed as Broke Straight Boys David wrote that he brought the concept to mark. another release dealt with JustUsBoys and sha becoming part of the blumedia team.
check of the public rating /ranking sites revealed the drop. whether the drop was because of clay is subject to debate, but it did happen on his watch.

 

[another1]

I have to say that that statement is just a reflection of how great the drop was. a 50,000 and lower ranking was much higher than the current reported level of 70,000 - 80,000 ranking. that is out of some 3 million worldwide sites. however, that number may put Broke Straight Boys higher than the top 100, but it is still much lower than it was and by a noticeable level.
the fall was not from the 10th floor, but rather from the 7th floor. it was a long fall, nevertheless. my brian williams moment!

 

[another1]

Mark's first site was Straight Boys Jerk Off asg was an early competitor. which was first is subject to debate! the timing was close. Broke Straight Boys or asg, I don't know.

 

[another1]

posting from the bar. not responsible for any further post!

 

[mikeyank]

Mark's first site was Straight Boys Jerk Off asg was an early competitor. which was first is subject to debate! the timing was close. Broke Straight Boys or asg, I don't know.

You are correct sir. I meant Straight Boys Jerk Off!!!

 

[mikeyank]

posting from the bar. not responsible for any further post!

Party hearty my friend!!!

 

[another1]

I have to say that that statement is just a reflection of how great the drop was. a 50,000 and lower ranking was much higher than the current reported level of 70,000 - 80,000 ranking. that is out of some 3 million worldwide sites. however, that number may put Broke Straight Boys higher than the top 100, but it is still much lower than it was and by a noticeable level.
the fall was not from the 10th floor, but rather from the 7th floor. it was a long fall, nevertheless. my brian williams moment!

have to apologize for this confusing and wildly inaccurate post.
real numbers :
on 2008-12-23, alexa rank was 19863.
on 2011-12-06, alexa rank was 66717.
the lower the number, the better.

 

[Ambivalent]

As for myself ~

I find myself mostly in agreement with Peter, on the subjects addressed in this thread: with one caveat. I agree with Mike that David had quite a number of incredibly beautiful models, on Broke Straight Boys-1. Danny is the one who springs first, to my mind, but Shane, Logan, and others, were absolutely first-class.

To this day, I am a big fan of both Broke Straight Boys-1 AND Broke Straight Boys-2. Not to mention: College Dudes-1 (back when it was run by Clay, apparently) was an absolutely magnificent site, in every way: replete with amazing models (crossover "Cousin Anthony", Jason Matthews, Jack Griffin, Tom Faulk, Chad Davis, Jarrod Price, Bryan Cavallo, and many more): and featured many marvelous, very skillfully-filmed scenes. If we're getting nostalgic - - - the glory days of College Dudes-1 haven't been equaled in quite some time, either!!!!

Reflecting on members' discontent with Clay's directorial turn at Broke Straight Boys, I would offer the following observations:

1.) It seems to me that David had a very warm and humorous directorial style which was GENTLE and light, in tone, which not only amused the viewers, but also made the models (gay or straight) more comfortable with "messing around" in a playful way.

2.) I think that this playful style was more in keeping with the ethos and branding of Broke Straight Boys, as precisely a place where ostensibly straight guys could fool around, and not feel BAD about it, afterward.

3.) Even in some of the truly EXCELLENT videos he made for Broke Straight Boys, it seems to me that Clay's directorial style was often or even usually, rather darker in tone: not so much humour, more demands delivered in a flat and even stern tone of voice, more emphasis on corporal punishment as a trope, more tolerance of the models feeling discomfort in a scene. (This is by contrast to David telling Diesal to "take it easy" on Danny, for example.)

4.) I think it is noteworthy, also, that in Clay's VERY BEST scenes, on College Dudes-1, he hardly ever spoke. With the exception of the interview portion of solos, on College Dudes-1, the models (while they were undoubtedly being coached on 'positions', etc.) were left almost completely to their OWN devices, as to their verbal interaction. This made the scenes work better, in that context (a different context, because on College Dudes there was never any expectation that 'straight' models were being 'broken in') - and so the scenes flowed, naturally.

Thus, I wonder, when Clay had to assume a more prominent role as a verbal participant and "coach" in the scenes, at Broke Straight Boys, his style (especially at the beginning) simply proved to be too dark, and too heavy-handed, for many members' tastes. Although, respectfully, I think it became much less so, over time, and some of the scenes which Clay directed did turn out to be real classics. . . I am thinking particularly, of Jason and Paul's famous outing.

Just my thoughts,
"A" XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

P.S. As regards what is apparently Clay's latest venture, at least as I understand it to be, based on what others have told me, I wonder if perhaps he has given a freer rein to some of his darker and less appealing directorial tendencies, coupled perhaps with a mite of "Jake Cruise syndrome". ;-)

 

[another1]

Is this the least amount of working models we have had on the site in the past three years?? Or just the most
boring? Well five out of ten at least. Nothing new for a while it seems. But your much better than I on the math.

to answer your questions, johnny. this year, 1.916 models per month were added. in real person terms, that is 23 models over the year, 2015. anyone who remembers that Wednesdays were solo days can tell you that in past years at least 3 or 4 new models were being introduced every month. according to my taste, 11 of those 23 new models are non-boring. that's a 478, in baseball terms. it's a tough, tight market.
I long for the time when the lack of economic opportunity made searching for models easy. the time before Skype, and tubes.

 

[tampa24]

3.) Even in some of the truly EXCELLENT videos he made for Broke Straight Boys, it seems to me that Clay's directorial style was often or even usually, rather darker in tone: not so much humour, more demands delivered in a flat and even stern tone of voice, more emphasis on corporal punishment as a trope, more tolerance of the models feeling discomfort in a scene. (This is by contrast to David telling Diesal to "take it easy" on Danny, for example.)

4.) I think it is noteworthy, also, that in Clay's VERY BEST scenes, on College Dudes-1, he hardly ever spoke. With the exception of the interview portion of solos, on College Dudes-1, the models (while they were undoubtedly being coached on 'positions', etc.) were left almost completely to their OWN devices, as to their verbal interaction. This made the scenes work better, in that context (a different context, because on College Dudes there was never any expectation that 'straight' models were being 'broken in') - and so the scenes flowed, naturally.

Thus, I wonder, when Clay had to assume a more prominent role as a verbal participant and "coach" in the scenes, at Broke Straight Boys, his style (especially at the beginning) simply proved to be too dark, and too heavy-handed, for many members' tastes. Although, respectfully, I think it became much less so, over time, and some of the scenes which Clay directed did turn out to be real classics. . . I am thinking particularly, of Jason and Paul's famous outing.

Just my thoughts,
"A" XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

P.S. As regards what is apparently Clay's latest venture, at least as I understand it to be, based on what others have told me, I wonder if perhaps he has given a freer rein to some of his darker and less appealing directorial tendencies, coupled perhaps with a mite of "Jake Cruise syndrome". ;-)

Another great post Ambi. Thank you for that!

Clay is an easy guy to take a few pot shots at. So I'll try to be reasonably kind and even-handed. (Even though it's difficult.) Clay was not prepared for the role of new director for Broke Straight Boys They knew they wanted a different style of filming from that of David. Something hopefully not only newer but fresher too. The problem was that Clay and the rest of them flailed around for several months trying to figure out what that new formula might be. Of course one of Clay's very first executive decisions as the newly appointed director, was to hire a brand new straight model to be practically the trademark face of the new site. And he offered him an extremely generous one year exclusive contract. This was in spite of the fact that Clay had no idea yet how well the guy would do on set. Who offers a potential model a contract...let alone one of the most generous of any in the history of the whole site, without seeing the guy perform in a single scene on set yet?

I mean seriously, what kind of business man does that?! Thinking with the wrong head maybe. Whatever. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the new model made well north of $70k that year. And that doesn't even include how much of our money was spent on his transportation, food, lodgings and fees paid to his agent during his year here. I knew Mark would not have done such a thing. With the financial fate of his company on the line with a re-launch, he would never have wagered such a hefty bet with one roll of the dice on one untested applicant model. So it had to be mostly or all Clay. Right out of the gate the new model was a mess, and a total disaster during the initial part of the re-launch in particular. That was strike one against Clay (in my mind at least) from the very beginning.

Clay seemed totally clueless as to what he was doing for the first 5 or 6 months. Many of us felt like were helping to coach a brand new director who was filming Broke Straight Boys as his first real job in the big-league gay porn industry. He was so tone deaf in the beginning as to what would excite an audience and what wouldn't...what he would ask the models to do and sometimes even more importantly what he didn't ask them to do...that many members started openly asking in the forum if Clay was straight. The strong implication being from members who were getting impatient and fed up, that maybe Broke Straight Boys should let him go and hire a new director who was actually gay and whose work could appeal more to a gay audience.

Then of course we find out in the forum almost a year into his stint here that Clay is not new to porn at all and actually films (filmed) College Dudes at the same time as he was filming Broke Straight Boys I was floored! It had just seemed to many of us like he was a total newbie who didn't have a clue. And even though a large number of us were genuinely and seriously questioning Clay's sexual orientation, he did turn out to be gay.

But alas, Clay did grow into the role as director here and he did hit a groove with a formula that worked. As you say Ambi, he did go on produce some very good scenes. Some of his videos are now favorites of mine. More so for the models themselves than for the fact that he directed the scenes. But I do have to give him some credit for the scenes of his era that I really like.

As for the last part of your post Ambi, I think you're spot on.

 

[mikeyank]

Of course one of Clay's very first executive decisions as the newly appointed director, was to hire a brand new straight model to be practically the trademark face of the new site. And he offered him an extremely generous one year exclusive contract. This was in spite of the fact that Clay had no idea yet how well the guy would do on set. Who offers a potential model a contract...let alone one of the most generous of any in the history of the whole site, without seeing the guy perform in a single scene on set yet?

I mean seriously, what kind of business man does that?! Thinking with the wrong head maybe. Whatever. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the new model made well north of $70k that year. And that doesn't even include how much of our money was spent on his transportation, food, lodgings and fees paid to his agent during his year here. I knew Mark would not have done such a thing. With the financial fate of his company on the line with a re-launch, he would never have wagered such a hefty bet with one roll of the dice on one untested applicant model. So it had to be mostly or all Clay. Right out of the gate the new model was a mess, and a total disaster during the initial part of the re-launch in particular. That was strike one against Clay (in my mind at least) from the very beginning.

Tampa, you are a friend of mine and we tease back and forth about Jimmy Johnson, but I've only read the first part of your post and you have me seriously pissed off.

#1-You have no idea who hired Jimmy, if it was Mark or Clay and who decided on his salary, which none of us have any idea of what it was. Your deciding that it was "well north of $70k that year", is merely pulling a figure out of your ass, and if Jimmy earned that much, I say good for him, but unless you have some inside information, I think you should not make up figures. My guess is that it was Mark who hired him and decided on his salary, as the owner is usually the one who makes the financial decisions regarding the highest paid employees. Making an analogy to baseball and the Yankees, it was owner George Steinbrenner who handed out the seemingly "obscene" contracts to Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, and Dave Winfield during the Yankee heydays of spending on superstars, and not manager Joe Torre or general manager Brian Cashman.

#2-Despite a vocal presence of Jimmy haters on the forum, Jimmy proved to be a popular and successful gay porn performer who many other studios have hired since he left Broke Straight Boys I clearly understand how much he offended your sensibilities with his stance as strictly a top but he also pleased the segment of the audience who enjoys a straight appearing masculine guy to represent a Broke Straight Boys He became a favorite of the owner of the company Mark, who hired him twice after he left modeling for Broke Straight Boys to work on his cable TV projects.

And if you recall "your boy" Colin posted on the forum what a pleasure Jimmy was to work with. Instead of paraphrasing Colin's words, I will copy them for you.

I got along great with Jimmy on scene and off scene. He was a great guy to work with and a great coach as far as he could be. Off camera we would hang out alot together and play madden or other video games. He was funny as hell and actually very intelligent! I know some people butted heads with him but I personally thought he was awesome!

I still love you Tampa, but I think you should "get over" your vendetta against Jimmy Johnson. He's just a kid who stumbled upon a way to make some money to support his kid and he's entertained me and countless others at the various sites he's worked for who enjoy the concept of the "straight top" fucking the gay bottom boy. It's not real life. It's only porn.

 

[peterh6308]

No comment at this time!!! lolololol

 

[another1]

I understand that colin did not butt heads with jimmy. I suspect that they looked at things as straight boys do. Jason was one of the models who butted heads with jimmy. I spent enough down-time with jimmy to have come to the conclusion that he could be a likeable dickhead. that is like so many humans.
I think Jimmy More than any other model was a selection made at a level over clay's pay grade. as to whether it was the best decision, I won't opine.

 

[mikeyank]

I understand that colin did not butt heads with jimmy. I suspect that they looked at things as straight boys do. Jason was one of the models who butted heads with jimmy. I spent enough down-time with jimmy to have come to the conclusion that he could be a likeable dickhead. that is like so many humans.
I think Jimmy More than any other model was a selection made at a level over clay's pay grade. as to whether it was the best decision, I won't opine.

I am so jealous of you that you got to spend downtime with Jimmy. If he had attended the event that I did, I would have felt like a fumbling starstruck schoolgirl trying to converse with a man I admired so much , and while being a "likeable dickhead" isn't a rousing endorsement, but I'm pleased to discover that he was likeable. From watching all his behind the scenes, I've determined that Jimmy is always the alpha in any situation he finds himself in and I admire cocky self assured guys, but he also has shown a compassionate gentle side both with his scene partners and with his gay fans at the pride events.

 

[peterh6308]

I am so jealous of you that you got to spend downtime with Jimmy. If he had attended the event that I did, I would have felt like a fumbling starstruck schoolgirl trying to converse with a man I admired so much , and while being a "likeable dickhead" isn't a rousing endorsement, but I'm pleased to discover that he was likeable. From watching all his behind the scenes, I've determined that Jimmy is always the alpha in any situation he finds himself in and I admire cocky self assured guys, but he also has shown a compassionate gentle side both with his scene partners and with his gay fans at the pride events.

You forgot to say what a douche he is!!!! lol bring it on mikeyank lol

 

[mikeyank]

No comment at this time!!! lolololol

 

[johnny]

The more I read. The more I like Jimmy. He does have staying power. Except for Johnny F. And now Vadim Black he seems to be the only Broke Straight Boys model to go onto have a career in the porn buiness
Don't be upset with me Peter. Just seems that way too me.
Any I don't know about?? Who else from Broke Straight Boys has moved on to bigger and better things? Even my beloved Paul doesn't seem to be working much? And that I don't understand...

 

[stowe1]

I always have a problem with people stating their opinions or what they might hear unsubstantiated on other sites about the Broke Straight Boys site as actual facts. So to a large degree I stand with mikey:

1. How do forumites know info about the inner workings of Broke Straight Boys including models' compensation? Do they have a direct personal or financial relationship with the principals of the business in order to have access to such information? Guesses or surmises are not facts and it is my view that to traffic in that kind of information is irresponsible and misleading.

2. Same holds true with hiring practices. I'm guessing that in this business the owner might give a director certain parameters of what to pay a model based on the type of scene. If the director wants to go outside these parameters, he would have to get the okay from the producer, i.e. the owner. Same way with exclusive contracts. Since we have been told that "exclusive contracts" are rare at Broke Straight Boys then I think it is logical to presume that the owner would be the one that would have to sign off on that arrangement since it would be committing his company to a year of guaranteed compensation. Again these are my viewpoints based on knowledge of this kind of business set up in the real world, not porn. So I am not saying here that these inferences are proven facts.

3, And again, I ask another1 - not in a challenging way - what he means by spending considerable down time with Jimmy. What does that mean and under what circumstances? Knowing that would give credence to your assertions for those of us who don't necessarily doubt what you say, but just don't know what your descriptive words mean in this context. Thanks.


But I think all of us should be men enough to admit that when it comes to the topic of Broke Straight Boys and its inner workings what we write is just speculation unless we have DIRECT and FACTUAL knowledge which we can cite as proof. And again I'm guessing if anyone had such inside info it was given under terms of confidentiality not to be revealed.

 

[johnny]

I always have a problem with people stating their opinions or what they might hear unsubstantiated on other sites about the Broke Straight Boys site as actual facts. So to a large degree I stand with mikey:

1. How do forumites know info about the inner workings of Broke Straight Boys including models' compensation? Do they have a direct personal or financial relationship with the principals of the business in order to have access to such information? Guesses or surmises are not facts and it is my view that to traffic in that kind of information is irresponsible and misleading.

2. Same holds true with hiring practices. I'm guessing that in this business the owner might give a director certain parameters of what to pay a model based on the type of scene. If the director wants to go outside these parameters, he would have to get the okay from the producer, i.e. the owner. Same way with exclusive contracts. Since we have been told that "exclusive contracts" are rare at Broke Straight Boys then I think it is logical to presume that the owner would be the one that would have to sign off on that arrangement since it would be committing his company to a year of guaranteed compensation. Again these are my viewpoints based on knowledge of this kind of business set up in the real world, not porn. So I am not saying here that these inferences are proven facts.

3, And again, I ask another1 - not in a challenging way - what he means by spending considerable down time with Jimmy. What does that mean and under what circumstances? Knowing that would give credence to your assertions for those of us who don't necessarily doubt what you say, but just don't know what your descriptive words mean in this context. Thanks.


But I think all of us should be men enough to admit that when it comes to the topic of Broke Straight Boys and its inner workings what we write is just speculation unless we have DIRECT and FACTUAL knowledge which we can cite as proof. And again I'm guessing if anyone had such inside info it was given under terms of confidentiality not to be revealed.

 

[tampa24]

My apologies to any members or even staff of the site who I may have annoyed or even possibly offended. I'm sorry. There is no way for me to know with any certainty the inner workings of the company's hiring process. My conclusions on that point are indeed based on suppositions and some deductive reasoning rather than any firsthand knowledge which I would not be privy to. So it's not fair for me to try to state it as fact.

As for his salary, which none of us will ever know for certain...my guesstimate of the $70k range was not stated as a fact but as a strong possibility based on deductive reasoning rather than any firsthand knowledge. So I do admit I could be wrong.

Again I apologize to anyone who might have taken offense.