Lucas Kazan interview online from Los Angeles

Hi Lucas, I want to thank you first for letting me interview you.I feel very proud of having been part of your exclusive models, and for giving me the chance of starting a clean career full of success and awards. I've reviewed your material and you now that the great majority of the people addicted to porn consider you a very talented director, not just porn but also as an art.

1. I know that you are a very reserved person, but everywhere I go people ask me where you're from, if you're from Italy or the States. Can you say where you're from originally?
 
I was born and raised in Milano/Italy. Graduated from the Milan Catholic University and moved to Hollywood in 1991 to pursue my Master's degree
at the American Film Institute. And yes, I do have that thick Italian accent when I speak English!

2. I have realized that you've made porn stars out of ordinary models, such as Matthias Vannelli, Roberto Giorgio, Max Veneziano, Filippo Romano, Jake Andrews, Ettore Tosi, Tiziano Cortese  and myself. In which way do you think we have shaped each of your movies?
 
80% of directing is casting. The remaining 20% --storytelling, camera work, lighting, editing-- is no less important to me as a filmmaker, but
won't matter without a strong cast. Beautiful men, hot sex: this is what our fantasies are all about.

3. As a spectator I've felt impressed because your movies always contain a story or a plot, just like you're telling a story. The movie Decameron as far as I know is based on a book containing ten stories, some of which are short novels, written by Giovanni Boccacio in 1352, dealing with love, human intelligence and fortune. Talk to me about those stories and what drove you to produce a film with a similar story.
 
I believe that sex in a dramatic context makes for better sex: why do we fuck? Why do we make love? Porn doesn't allow for as much production
time as the mainstream and so I rely on well known plots to build that context, without wasting valuable time establishing characters and conflicts. I've borrowed
mostly from operatic plots (Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, Traviata, L'Elisir d' Amore), but also from literary classics, such as Goldoni's "La Locandiera"
and Boccaccio's "Decameron"


4. The School for lovers has had a lot of success, receiving awards such as the HARD CHOICE AWARD (Most Passionate Sex), the GAYVN AWARD (Best Foreign Picture, Best Actor in a Foreign Picture "Jean Franko") and the Grabby Award Winner (Best International Video). Talk to me a bit about this film.

 

The School for Lovers is based on Mozart/DaPonte's "Cosi fan tutte". I've always thought it'd make a good porn adaptation, but I needed a
strong Don Alfonso to make it work. Then you came along and I knew I had found the perfect Don Alfonso. Critics agreed and you won your first
Best Actor trophy.

 

5. The movie "Love and Lust", which has also won the 12th Hard Choice Awards Winner (Best Videography and Best Cum Shots) and nominated twice for the GAYVN Awards (Best Foreign Picture and Best Videography), has a very particular name which calls my attention. Where does the story come from?

 

"Love and Lust" is an original story line --something unusual for me--. But it does bear similarities with "Under the Tuscan Sun", a movie released
a few years ago. In a sense, the dichotomy love/lust has inspired all movies of mine, from "Desire" on.

 

6. Why do you always shoot your movies in Italy?

 

But I've also filmed in Greece and Spain and have conducted auditions all over the world, Tunisia, Brazil, Turkey... Why Italy? it's my country, after all. And I have 0 competitors.

 

7. This year you've been nominated again (Best Picture, Best Foreign Picture, Best Actor in a Foreign Release (Jean Franko) and Best Director) for the GAYVN Awards. Has this been a surprise or were you expecting it?

 

I was shocked: I had hoped for Best Foreign Picture, perhaps Best Videography. But no, I wasn't prepared for 7 nominations, let alone for
Best Picture. Then you took home Best Actor in a Foreign Release --for the second year in a row--: an incredible achievement and one I'm particularly proud of. Everyone asked me about you at the Awards Show: you have legions of fans in the US --and everywhere else.

 

8. What final words can you tell us all?

 

Kristen Björn and I feel like we have helped shape your career. It's been an exciting, most rewarding journey to see you grow into a star


Lucas Kazan Videography


  • Decameron
  • the School For Lovers
  • Love And Lust
  • Italian For The Beginner
  • Biografia Jean Franko
  • The Men I Wanted
  • Backstage
  • L´Elisir D´ Amore
  • LKP Video Highlights
  • American Holidays
  • Mykonos
  • Mas palomas
  • Hotel Italia
  • Across The Ocean
  • The Road To Naples
  • Lucas Kazan's Erotic Collection

5 comentarios:

  Oscar

February 20, 2008 at 9:22 AM

Great interview I think Lucas Kazan is one of the greatest filmmakers/directors of all time it must have been great to interview him. The School for Lovers was the first movie I saw of you and ever since then I have been a big fan I think I seen all your movies but that one has to be my favorite.

  Jean Franko

February 20, 2008 at 3:44 PM

Thanks :-))

  karraka

February 21, 2008 at 11:16 PM

Muy buena entrevista Jean, enhorabuena.
Espero leer muchas más ;)
xoxoxox

  Y

February 22, 2008 at 3:46 PM

I too expect more interview like this,Jean.Marvelous interview!

  Unknown

February 3, 2010 at 7:10 PM

jean, u r very sexy. How to get your movie "The School for Lovers" from internet. please advise me.