Interview with Chi Chi LaRue

Chi Chi La Rue, one of the most famous people in the porn industry, is celebrating his 20th year in porn. LaRue is coming to Chicago for the ninth year in a row to cohost this year’s Grabby Award show.

Growing up in Minnesota, how did you decide to move to California?

I actually had to be pushed by my friend Kevin. We were in Minnesota doing our drag shows at the Town House, and we were successful as the Weather Gals. I was also working at an adult book store, Kevin was a hairdresser, and we wanted to get out of there. No, he really wanted to get out of there, and I was a little scared. So we packed up his little Chevy car with what we could fit in it and drove from Minnesota to Los Angeles.

What was your first job in the porn industry?

I got a job at Catalina Video selling movies.

Who gave you your first directing break?

Kriston Mann, who was running Catalina for William Higgins. I started at Catalina, and William Higgins was still there, and John Travis was directing there. The person who gave me my first job directing actually was William Higgins, and we were at lunch and I had expressed my interest in directing. There was somebody who was very threatened by me and did not want me to be in the production area and actually told me I had to lose a 100 pounds before I could direct anything.

What? Why?

I don’t know because this man was very overweight himself, and it was probably the first thing that came to his mind that he thought would stop me doing it, knowing that it would be very hard for me to lose a hundred pounds [Laughing]. I guess he thought it would make it easier for me to get around sets. But when William Higgins and I were out to lunch, he said if I got a concept together and figured it out on my own that I would be able to direct an episode of a series they did called the Heart Men. It was a dance video that had a jack-off after each dance segment. I went and did one, and John Travis actually brought me to San Francisco, where the Catalina Studios were, and I did it and it turned out to be the best segment in the video. It was really good, and it got good reviews when it came out. I then asked to do something else, and they still wouldn’t let me, so I quit. From there, I went to In Hand Video, where I directed the very first movie I ever directed, and it was called Flexxx. It was a learning experience because I did not know what I was doing. There were some good things in the movie, and I remember Jerry Douglas calling me up and expressing the fact that there were a lot of good things in the movie, a lot of potential in the movie and a lot of promise for someone who could be a good director in the future.

How did you start Rascal Video?

I was directing for everybody, mostly Falcon. I had my regular gigs. I was also directing for Odyssey and Falcon, pretty much anyone who would want me to do a movie, I was directing for. I was at an adult expo in Las Vegas, and Doug Jefferies introduced me to Steven Walker and Rob Novenger, my partners, and we were at the Gipsy for a party, and they came up to me and said, it’s time you start your own business. It’s time you make your own money, and it’s time you utilize your knowledge of the industry and make it good for you. I was, like, oh, god, absolutely not. I am scared. I don’t want to do that. And we had a meeting. They are very smart business guys, and they snapped me into reality. I am very glad that they did!

True or false - you are in the Madonna video Deeper and Deeper?

True.

How did that happen?

It was a very hot day in November in California. It was right before my birthday, and I had to drive to the directors house at, like, 1 p.m. in full drag. I walked in, and he took a picture of me and said I was amazing and fabulous. He said he had to speak with Madonna and show her all the pictures of all the extras. They called me that night and told me I was chosen for the video, and that was all around when Madonna was doing her sex book, and Joey Stefano was involved with the book and with the photos at the Gayity Theatre. The video shoot was the day after my birthday. I had a huge birthday party, and I was completely hungover. I got no sleep and went to the set the next day and had a fabulous time. She [Madonna] made sure I had some really good shots in the video.

How many movies have you directed?

Over 400.

We hear the LINK series is coming back, so for all the readers, when will it be released?

LINK: The Evolution will be released in September. It’s going to be pretty spectacular.

You have this habit of finding some very beautiful men. How do you do it?

Everywhere, from night clubs that I perform at to coming to do the Grabby Awards in Chicago to stepping out my front door and going to the grocery store. A lot of people approach me. That’s what is great about having this persona of Chi Chi LaRue, and nowadays with MySpace, I have guys approaching me every day. There are a lot of agents who find guys, but it’s exciting for me when I can find someone on my own. I have discovered a lot of great talent like Matt Sommers and Johnny Hazzard. For instance, Matt Sommers was discovered in Florida when I was doing a gig at the Parliament House in Orlando. Johnny Hazzard was brought to me by Doug Jefferies because they met in Boston. Tyler Rigz was someone I met in San Diego who was a fan of mine, and he invited me to his birthday party, and after the party, we talked about him doing movies. Blake Riley, I found on MySpace.

Blake is one of your newest discoveries?

Yes, he will be coming to town for IML and The Grabbys.

Let’s say there is someone sitting in Iowa and is beautiful and wants to do porn. What can they do to get in contact with you?

They should send pictures to chichi@chichiLaRue.com. They should include a face picture, a body picture and a dick picture.

A happy dick picture?

Yes, a happy dick picture. Right now, I am in Ft. Lauderdale shooting a movie, and this boy sent me an e-mail to our model submissions division of Channel 1, and I had him drive up from Miami to meet us. He was so beautiful that I was, like, you have to be in this movie. The movie is called Click, and he is so new, he doesn’t even have a name yet.

Two years ago, Channel 1 purchased All Worlds Video. Did that make you happy?

Extremely. All Worlds was a company to which I devoted a lot of my time and blood, sweat and tears. I made some amazing videos for them - How The West Was Hung, the LINK series, My Sister’s Husband and some of the best movies I have ever made. Now I am happy to own them. There are also some amazing Jerry Douglas movies and the Dirk Yates collection. Dirk Yates is still making stuff for us. It’s just a win-win situation.

You were recently named one of the top 50 gays in OUT magazine. Were you surprised?

Very surprised. Like head over heels surprised. I am very honored to be included with people like Rosie O’Donnell, Ellen Degeneres, Marc Jacobs and people like that. It is very exciting. And Tom Ford, who I just adore. It’s humbling and it’s very nice.

Let’s talk about your feelings about condoms in movies.

I am the condom Nazi. Condoms are essential. They are as essential as a camera, a monitor or lights. Condoms are a staple on my sets. Safer-sex practices are required on a Chi Chi LaRue set. It’s very alarming for me to see these other directors talking about safe-sex and preaching the right thing, and you see them having them eating other people’s cum out of an ass. I think it’s stupid and hypocritical, and you have shot yourself in the foot by preaching any safe-sex. If you are going to do that kind of stuff, don’t act like a safe-sex advocate, because you are doing something that is not considered safe.

Best place to get or movies or find out anything and everything about your companies?

You can go to Channel1Releasing.com, ChiChiLaRue.com, AllWorldsVideo.com, and they can check it all out.