Interview with Steve Cruz

When last we talked, Damien Crosse was on your wish list of porn stars you wanted to work with and he recently signed with Raging Stallion. Any news?

[Laughing] Good things cum to those who wait? In all honesty, I thought he’d always be a Titan Man. I don’t think either of us ever thought we’d get a chance to work together. He was the only character in Hotter Than Hell that I didn’t hand-pick. When he signed with Stallion, Chris Ward said he had a special surprise for me and that’s how I found out who was playing ‘The Crush’... I was floored! It’s like fate did the casting. A real-life crush playing my crush? The scene lived up to the fantasy! Anyway, Damien and I have grown to be friends in the year since I last interviewed so it’s a very special thing that he’s with Stallion. Very special.

You recently finished your latest movie, Hotter Than Hell. What can you tell us about it?

This was my creative baby. I wrote the screenplay around the time of Grunts. Chris Ward loved the idea of a porn noir, being a huge classic movie fan. The story isn’t anything revolutionary but the way we tell the tale is inventive. My character is kind of loser, and he’s hopelessly obsessed with Damien Crosse’s character. I stalk him relentlessly until I finally get the nerve to hit him up. Of course I get rejected hardcore. The next thing I know, I meet this freak in a bar who tells me he can hook me up. In my desperation, I accidentally sell my soul to the devil, played by Ricky Sinz. No one could play the devil himself better. No one could match his sinister intensity on the screen.

When will it be coming out?

The movie is actually shot in two parts. Hotter Than Hell, Part One will be released July 1. Part Two will follow shortly thereafter. But you won’t get the conclusion of the story right away.

You recently started a new program, How I Roll. How does this all get started?

In my personal life, it seemed I was constantly being pressured to have unprotected sex. And in my professional life, there’s the growing popularity of bareback porn. With rising numbers of new infections, especially among 16-25-year-olds, it’s clear that we’ve relaxed our attitudes toward safer sex and maybe that’s not such a good thing. I felt maybe I should try to do something. How I Roll is an effort to remind guys, especially younger guys, that though maybe it’s not trendy, that hotter safer sex is still happening. There’s an entire generation of men who aren’t alive to tell their story. Some of them were my friends. If they still had a voice, what would they say?

Best place to find more information on How I Roll?

Online at howiroll.info and soon I will launch a PSA on YouTube. You can show support for the How I Roll campaign at myspace.com/friendofhowiroll - just request to be a friend!

What is your mission for your site?

First and foremost, it’s to keep HIV-negative men negative. Online, you’ll find information about how to protect yourself not only from HIV but other STDs. I also wanted to encourage frequent testing by providing information on testing sites nationwide. Most of all, I wanted to inspire a dialogue about safer sex and prevention in the community combat the complacency.

I have to ask, with all the bareback movies out now, have people been supportive?

Truthfully, getting partners has been easy. Unzipped magazine believed in the message and jumped on board instantly. Then Naked Sword followed. You know the most incredible thing is the involvement of my fans! Almost all my advertising dollars have come from auctions of my movies, personal items and autographs ... all of comes from fans! It’s really touching how much support I have received so far! I am not sure how the general population of gay and bi men feel. One guy told me safe sex is over. On the other hand, I know a lot of guys that watch bareback porn and think it’s pretty hot. But in the same breath, they swear up and down they would never take the risks in their real lives. I thought what Chi Chi La Rue had to say in her PSA spoke volumes. Real guys are being put at risk to fulfill the consumer’s fantasy. But these men are real! Likewise, when we’re hooking up online it’s easy to depersonalize a casual hookup. But these guys are just as human as you or I even though we’ll most likely never see them again. I can only hope were inspiring men to be more thoughtful about how they roll.

Any tips on using condoms effectively?

Have plenty of sizes and styles in your personal stockpile. Having too many condoms on hand is never a problem. Even if you only top once a year, know what brands work best with the size and shape of your cock. And have tons of lube on hand, dry condoms break and they tear up your ass. If used properly condoms are 98 percent effective in preventing the spread of HIV. If the sex is worth having, you’ll probably go through several condoms at one time. Carry your favorite condoms with you if you think you’re going to get lucky. On the set of my last movie, all I was wearing was a pair of tube socks and I could fit up to four condoms in them. [Laughing]

How can people donate to the How I Roll fund?

I sell my jocks, socks and underwear to raise advertising dollars at stevecruzxxx.com. I also hold frequent special auctions on steve cruzxxx.blogspot.com! I sell autographed photos as well. But anyone can donate by visiting howiroll.info.

You recently were nominated for six Grabbys. Will we be seeing you at the show?

I wouldn’t miss it for the world! I doubt anything could top last year’s show for me, I was a trophy stud on stage last year. It was so much fun! But who knows? Six nominations! Feels pretty damned good. If I take at least one home that would be a dream come true.

What’s next for Steve Cruz?

That’s a loaded question. I feel like so much happened this year already, my own picture, a GAYVN and being named Raging Stallion’s Man of the Year in 2008.

This summer, I film two more big pictures for Raging Stallion. The three-quel to the Arabesque series, an all-sex movie about a Turkish Bath, and a leading role in Chris Ward’s cowboy epic in August. I’m most excited about this one! As my year draws to a close who knows what lies ahead? If porn slows down maybe I’ll finally start up a band or work on having time for a personal life, now that would be an adventure! [Laughing]

Best way to always know what’s going on with Steve Cruz?

Read my blog at stevecruzxxx.blogspot.com. If you want to know where I am in the world, my upcoming appearances are on my Web site home page at stevecruzxxx.com.