Aug
25
FlavaMen Blatino Awards Respond to Copycat Accusation
August 25, 2009 | 6 Comments
The creator of an awards show honoring black and Latino performers in gay adult entertainment has accused the producers of a similar show of copying his name and format. Earlier this summer, FlavaMen Magazine announced its inaugural slate of FlavaMen Blatino Awards nominees, recognizing ethnic clubs and promoters, adult stars and studios, films and websites by and for men of color. The Blatino Erotica Awards, honoring the contributions of black and Latino men in gay adult as well as mainstream entertainment, announced their 2009 honorees at the end of May. CLICK HERE for more details…
Joe Hawkins, the latter show’s founder and producer, said he has “no objections” to another gay-adult awards program honoring men of color, and instead takes issue with what he perceives as a potentially damaging overlap in how the shows are identified and perceived by fans and industry members.
“As a man of color, the very reason behind my creating the Blatino Erotica Awards three years ago was to ensure that more of these men be recognized for their contributions,” he said. “I only wish Flava Works would have been more creative with the naming of their event and show me and my organization some professional respect.”
Hawkins said similarities between the two shows is “causing confusion in the industry and among fans about who is producing what.”
Warren Bullock, director of the FlavaMen Blatino Awards, told me for XBIZ that awards ceremonies “have been around for thousands of years. To think we got the idea from Joe Hawkins are simply delusions of grandeur and to get press for himself and his circuit party.”
“If anything we look up to XBIZ Awards, even the Oscars, not some person no one has ever heard about.”
Bullock stressed the need in gay adult entertainment for increased exposure and recognition of black and Latino performers and studios.
“The Flavamen Blatino Awards is not a pool circuit party with awards given to a select few but an awards show that honors many different ethnic groups voted for by fans,” he said.
[Eddie Diaz © Blatino Erotica Awards.]
Comments
6 Comments so far
Blah blah blah, more bitching. Get over it, people!! We get TWO blatino awards and naturally they are bitching at each other….
P.S. JC, more Eddie Diaz plzzzzzzzzz!! LOL!
I agree~ More Diaz and less bickering!
yeah more eddie diaz BUT CERTAINLY even more Tyler Johnson, the greatest addition to ‘black porn’ since it was created.
LESS Eddie Diaz. He has only done one scene with a black performer (Tyler Johnson).
Outside of that,he has only done a few gang bang scenes with black guys involving white boys.
Confused dude.
Funny…all this over two awards shows..
What’s funnier is how this is being used as a way for people to “snipe” at organizers and performers instead of recognizing the real issue:
We are NOT represented in the major gay porn awards…ARE NOT, period…equally!!
Let me get some things clear; as some of these “things” are being distorted as this debate goes on:
1. I was nominated for and won America’s Top Top at the Blatino Oasis Awards Ceremony. Voted on by the fans(not a select group of individuals) and given at a celebration of Blatino Erotica(not a “circuit party” or a “pride party..as if that even matters? More “cuts” that are unnecessary); give by Joe Hawkins; hardly a “nobody” when it comes to things that matter.
2. I was nominated for but did not win, Hottest Cock at the 2009 GRABBY Awards; still an honor to be nominated by the “mainstream”.
3. I, and my cast mates of BB6: Under The Hood were nominated for and won a 2009 GayVN and three(3) 2009 GRABBYS.
4. I was nominated for America’s Best Acting Top for the upcoming Blatino Awards, sponsored by Flavamen.
5. Flavamen won a Blatino Oasis Award(Palm Springs, CA) in 2008.
6. I enjoy steady work and quality work with great treatment by two(2) “Thug Porn” sites: PapiThugz.com and DawgPoundUSA.com and hope to work with more(..do hear me Pit Bull Productions??)
7. I’ve enjoyed work with the “mainstream” companies as well: Channel1Releasing and Forbidden Funk Media.
I point all this out so that all can see where I’m coming from; I’ve experienced both sides of the coin, so to speak. I’m very grateful for the nominations, the wins, the recognition and the opportunities given to me in such a very short time; and I’m also grateful that there are two(2) shows now that do hi-lite African American and Latino actors in all genres of gay porn!!
All that being said I think “communication” is what was and is missing. I see each entities point but what I ask is that we who help/sponsor/honor, etc., minorities in porn, don’t get caught up in a pointless spectacle that only detracts from the “good” and the progress we are finally making. Maybe the names could’ve been different..who knows? But what each entity needs to ask themselves is:
Are we representing minority actors in gay porn correctly? Are we insuring their safety and giving them the same pay and treatment they deserve? Are we really promoting these actors and giving them a stage from which they can expand their careers and work experience in the industry? Are we emailing/contacting the mainstream companies to encourage more use of these ethnic actors; and for more use than just because they’re being “mandingo hi-lited”?
Those are my main concerns and I think they should be the concern of every model/actor, producer, director, etc. that hires and uses minority actors because especially as a producer of porn, whether Caucasion or otherwise, because that’s where the playing field must be leveled…feel me?
I can say from personal experience that Joe Hawkins is a true activist in this area and all the areas I’ve mentioned although he doesn’t himself “produce” porn.
Blatino Oasis/Palm Springs is the original;
The Blatino Awards/Flavamen is another effort to recognize..
I’m not mad at either organization for the effort at least, to put us right up there where we belong.
Nuff said,
IanRock
Alwayz kepn it xexi and real!!