Juan Bracho is a Venezuelan model living in USA and has participated recently in the last Mr. Gay International, getting the First runner up trophy and winning the swimsuit competition. He dedicated some time to answer my questions. I feel very proud because we're both Venezuelans trying to make it in life, building up our careers and fighting for our futures. Juan, thanks a lot for your time... and I wish you the best in your future with your plans for organizing the Mr. Gay Venezuela International.
Where are you from?
I am Venezuelan; I was born in Puerto Ordaz, Estado Bolivar.
What is your zodiac sign?
Cancer
What city do you live in?
I have lived in Miami, Florida for the past for years.
Are you in a relationship or do you have a partner at the present time?
No, I am single
How did you make it to the Mr. Gay International?
I was selected out of a group of Venezuelans by the IMG committee organizer. I participated in this contest under the sponsorship or the same organization
Which do you consider was the best activity in this contest?
I feel that the Australian games were the most rigorous games, the demanded so much physical conditioning, creativity, leadership and working as a team. In the first segment I achieved a good ranking amongst 19 other contestants. In the end it was in between Australia and Venezuela resulting in the Australian as the victor and me in second place. Later on there was a segment that would measure creativity, endurance, leadership and teamwork. All of this was required to build a sand castle. Our group consisted of Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica and Venezuela, we were called Latin Power. LOL
Were there moments of sexual arousal or provocation during the competition? If so what were your experiences?
LOL! Imagine, all the men were gay, every moment you breathed, there were times where all of the sudden, you would find yourself looking at the other guys, well at least the ones you were attracted to.
Was there rivalry in the competition?
To be honest, you know that it was there throughout the entire competition and even in the daily activities. However, I would not like to go into details, because it is not my way. But you could say that it was present. I could sense it, I believe that many contestants didn’t understand that it was all about having a good time, meeting new people and achieve the objective of the competition that it was okay to be gay. Many made the mistake that it was a beauty contest.
Were there any guys that behaved like women?
Well, in many ways of looking at it I would have to say yes.
Were there guys the behave very masculine well as to say very macho?
Oh yes, many of them were quite masculine only every now and then during the parties after a few drinks, would the feathers start flying.
What was the mood in the changing rooms backstage?
Well I shared dressing rooms with Brazil , Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Mexico. Of course there was some anxiety however there was pleasantry amongst all of us.
Did the organizer of the IMG put you guys up in a Hotel or in private residences?
They put us up in a local hotel. There were two to a room. I ended up sharing with Mr. USA who ended up being an exceptional roommate.
How many days did the competition last?
The contest lasted from Jan. 17 till Jan. 21 and we were required to give them our full attention for the entire day. We were only permitted a couple of hours a day for our personal time.
My favorite was Mr. Brazil Luciano Lupo. Amongst all the contestants he was the one we expected to win. From the day I arrived, I had my favorite, however as the days passed by, I kept changing my mind. I always thought that was Brazil was front runner because of his charisma and personality. But non the less other contestants such as Australia, Norway, UK, Brazil, Argentina and India.
To be quite honest I never heard any comments about myself, It was rumored that I was considered to be the Rude contestant, partially because of my look and my frank personality. At the end many contestants fell behind and Venezuela ended up as the first runner up. Not bad for a harsh look and harsh personality. LOL
It true it is not a well know contest yet. Many people do not realize the importance of this contest within the gay community. I am assuming that the next one will be held some time around next January 2009 in West Hollywood, LA
Mexico had a wonderful personality, in fact we say in touch to this day. My other favorites were Brazil and Argentina.
Some ideas have been brought up and it is still in the works. We have to consider how receptive people are to this type of event. If it were to be held it would take place in Miami. However, the possibility of holding the competition in Venezuela itself could be ground breaking. An online competition has its possibilities as well.
As I said before it is still the works however we are going to require some sponsorship to get this whole concept off the ground.
There are enough Venezuelans in Miami that we could start exporting them.
Definitely there were many highlight for me throughout the competition: coming out in the 5 finalist to ultimately becoming the first runner up was an exceptional moment.
However, winning the best in swimsuit was my biggest achievement. Not because of ego, vanity or narcissism, but because of the amount of hard work and discipline I put into my physical training.
It was very funny. Hours before the final announcement Carlos and I got to chat a bit backstage, and jokingly, I told him that the prize was between him and myself, and that the winner would have to buy the runner up a ticket to Australia. So there you have it, I am expecting my ticket any day now... LOL
Indeed I won the best body, and of course yes it is one of my ambitions to do a porno film in the future. As a gay man, it would be a shame if I don’t get to do my porno before dying. LOL
First of all, I think that no one has the right to judge our community solely on our sexual preferences. Above all we are all humans with values virtues that drive us to achieve our everyday goals. Secondly, in the times we are living there is no shame in being gay anymore and hiding in the closet like old clothes that has gone out of style. Let’s come out into the light with pride, there is nothing wrong with being gay and fact remains that we are still men.
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The Heatgay Awards are celebrated every year in my favorite cosmopolitan city of Barcelona offering awards to all people involved in the porn industry. It was a great surprise for me to have been nominated as Best Porn Actor with the film El Rancho, alongside with other names like Martin Maza and Francesco D'Macho. I got the prize that night but I sincerely dedicate it to Rafael Carrera, Benn Jack and Jason Adonis who are my favorite actors in the porn industry.
Many people gathered in that event that night, among looks from all actors the Heat Was On. The great winners from that night were:
Two young couples, one indecent proposal!
Lucas Kazan Productions’ 15th feature film recruits an international ensemble (Italian, Czech, Venezuelan, Hungarian & Brazilian) and a number of stunning locations in Southern Italy.
Ferrando (LK exclusive Matthias Vannelli) and Guglielmo (Jason) trust their lovers blindly. But Alfonso (LK exclusive Jean Franko) bets they’re like everyone else. Ferrando and Guglielmo agree to do whatever Alfonso wants for the following 24 hours. Unaware of their lovers’ plot, brothers Dorino (Martin Dejdar) and Fiorino (Karel Rok) lounge poolside.
Alfonso sets out to test the brothers’ vows. He will seduce Dorino, who succumbs all too easily (Scene I) and summons Despino (Roberto Giorgio) to win Fiorino, who’s determined to resist . Alfonso grows impatient… While Despino plays one last card aided by hunky Samuel Dolce (Scene II), Alfonso relieves his tension and watches a dvd (scene III, with soloist Fabinho). In the morning, Fiorino gives in (Scene IV).
Alfonso consoles the pair … and claims his prize. He orders Ferrando and Guglielmo to strip and reminds both they’ d agreed to be his slaves (scene V). Dorino and Fiorino spy on with a smile. “Happy is the man”, they realize, “who takes everything to good account”.
The School for Lovers was filmed on location is Southern Italy.
LOS ANGELES - Trapped half a world away by the place she promised to never “go, go, go,” a vibrant, exuberant Amy Winehouse dominated the Grammys on Sunday night, winning five awards and delivering a defiant performance of her autobiographical hit “Rehab” via satellite from London.
Winehouse, nominated for six awards, lost the final prize in a shocker when Herbie Hancock took album of the year for “River: The Joni Letters.”
“You know it’s been 43 years since the first and only time that a jazz artist got the album of the year award,” Hancock said, then proceeded to honor “the giants upon whose shoulders I stand, some of whom like Miles Davis, John Coltrane ... unquestionably deserved the award in the past. But this is a new day, that proves that the impossible can be made possible.
Source: Grammy.com, msnbc.com
Julia Patricia, the editor of the renowned Latin based blog Atacadas, Sin Oficio y Sin Censura, has done this interview with me about my nomination in the GAYVN Awards 2008, this interview will be published on their website in Spanish.
Julia Patricia: Jean, be honest with me, how do you feel about winning the Best Actor Foreign Release 2007 with the film The School for Lovers produced by Lucas Kazan and also winning the Best Actor in the HeatGay Festival Barcelona 2007 with the film The Rancho produced by Kristen Bjorn because it is a great surprise to be nominated again in the same category consecutively with the film Men I Wanted produced by Lukas Kazan?
Jean Franko: With the film The School for Lovers I really expected to be considered for a recognition in the porn industry, I am a principal actor in this movie and I feel this movie as mine and even people everywhere recognize me in the street asking "You're the guy from The School for Lovers, right?". With the movie The Rancho I completely thought it was a very nice surprise, because I am not a principal actor it, and after having being nominated with other names like Francesco De Macho and Martin Mazza I value my work a lot more. Now it has been a major surprise to be nominated again for the GAYVN Awards 2008. Wow! This means that I'm just taking off as a porn actor. I want to make one thing clear, I know that I may not be a very good looking but I take my job seriously and with a lot of commitment.
Julia Patricia: I have heard gossips that you are not a Kristen Bjorn and Lucas Kazan exclusive anymore. Is that true?
Jean Franko: Again with the gossips, lol. Some directors say that some actors should retire from the porn industry but I think that there are some directors too that should retire from this business, and let newcomers take the place. Yes, I completely finished my 3-year contract with Kristen Bjorn and Lucas Kazan and I have decided to work more on the freelance side. Right now I'm working with several production companies that can boost my image. My last project was with Colin O'Neal.
Julia Patricia: What are your plans for the future? When will you shoot your next video?
Jean Franko: I don't have plans for the future, I hate making plans. I go with the flow and work with the things I encounter along the way. I just recently shot a video in Turkey with Colin O'Neal.
Julia Patricia: I heard that the Porn Industry is not having its best moment. What can you say about it?
Jean Franko: Well, it's not only the porn industry that's having a hard time, the music industry and everything connected with piracy and Internet has affected everything. Before, porn producers used to work a little to earn millions, now they have to work a lot harder to prove that they can still please audiences. Now it's easier to be famous thanks to the Internet.
Julia Patricia: Now changing subjects, what can you tell me about your likes and dislikes? Music?
Jean Franko: Lol, who told you I liked music? Yes, right now my favorite singer is Amy Whinehouse. Wow! I love her music and watching her singing is amazing, she is my number one, she's not a show, Amy Whinehouse is a voice. She reminds me a lot of Frank Sinatra, without falling into comparisons.
This year I have been nominated again for the GAYVN Awards that are celebrated in the USA for the Gay Adult Entertainment Industry. The nomination is the same one from the last year's, Best Actor in a Foreign Release.
Last year I won for my participation in the film School for Lovers, this year my nomination is for Men I Wanted. If I get to win this year it will be the same category two years in a row, a great accomplishment. The other nominees for this category are:
| | Amazonia: Capture & Release, Athletic Model Guild/AMG Brasil, Ricardo Onca |
| Knockout, Falcon International Tim Hamilton | |
| | Santo Domingo, Collin O'Neal's World of Men, Francisco Rey |
This show will be in San Francisco on February 16, 2008. I will surely tell you all about it when the time comes. My favorite is Tim Hamilton.
