Moviegoers Praise Gay Adult Documentary

BERLIN – Public fascination with the real lives of porn performers continues to grow, with the latest example being a documentary that contrasts the lives of three aging and three up-and-coming gay adult stars.

“Cycles of Porn – Sex/Life in L.A., Part 2” opened the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival this week to rave reviews.

Half of the movie focuses on a trio of young, hopeful gay actors living together in an apartment filled with webcams as they search for stardom in the hardcore industry. Their experiences are inter-cut with footage of three men now retired from the business.

Filmmaker Jochen Hick pulled no punches in making the documentary. Much of the film takes place on low-budget porn sets, giving his audience an unedited look at what happens during shoots, including those uncomfortable moments when actors are unable to perform.

Hick also shows what goes on behind the scenes, such as when the young actors collect laughably small paychecks, which they promptly spend on drugs.

“We found that gay actors do [porn] more for the adventure or to do something really wild, because it’s ridiculous how little they get paid,” said Hick. “By contrast, I think there are very, very few women doing porn for fun.”

Hick didn’t make his documentary for fun, either. The film is a follow-up to his 1997 project, “Sex/Life in L.A.,” which grossed $450,000 on his initial investment of $30,000.

Based on the success of his earlier porn documentary, Hick sought, and was awarded, a grant from the German state film board to do a sequel. He is hopeful that Part 2 will find even more buyers than the original, including European television networks.

“People say once they’re into the film, they love it,” Hick said.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Brogan, Holden Beau Headline 'Hardwired' From Fetish Force

Brogan and Holden Beau headline "Hardwired," the latest release from Falcon/NakedSword studio brand Fetish Force.

NakedSword Debuts Alexandro Cabrera's 1st Bottoming Scene

Alexandro Cabrera makes his bottoming debut with reigning XMAs Gay Performer of the Year Derek Kage in the latest installment of NakedSword’s “Spain in the Ass 2.”

NakedSword/Disruptive Films Collab 'Wild Game' Wraps Production

NakedSword and Disruptive Films have wrapped production on the first collaboration between the two studios, the action thriller "Wild Game."

MrDeepVoice Performs 1st DP Gangbang in 'Spain in the Ass 2' From NakedSword

MrDeepVoice performs his first DP gangbang in the latest NakedSword release, "Spain in the Ass 2."

Terry Strokes, Jax Phoenix Make Raging Stallion Debuts in 'Junk in the Trunk'

Terry Strokes and Jax Phoenix have made their Raging Stallion debuts in the first installment of “Junk in the Trunk.”

Sean Cody to Drop New Threesome Release

Sean Cody will release a new threesome scene next week starring Brysen, Sumner, and Ryan.

Ashton Summers Fronts New Scene From Men.com

Ashton Summers stars with Kane Fox in a new POV scene from Men.com.

NakedSword Releases Final Installment of VoyR Collab 'The Barcelona Job'

Heath Halo, Gabriel Coimbra, and 2023 XMA Europas Gay Performer of the Year Bastian Karim star in the final installment of "The Barcelona Job," a NakedSword x VoyR limited series.

SantanaXXL Fronts Latest From Men.com

SantanaXXL stars with Tony Genius and Des Irez in the latest release from Men.com, titled "Loud, Proud and Horny."

Jordan James, Zack MacKay Headline 'Bareback Seductions' From Noir Male

Jordan James and Zack MacKay topline “Bareback Seductions” from Mile High Media studio imprint Noir Male.

Show More