Studio Thumb's Push the Plunger: An open letter from Tony Bishop

UPDATE 2 Sept 23; Below...
Dewayne here, Tony Bishop graciously agreed to my reposting his Blog post from his My Space. He makes some strong and valid points from an "insiders" POV that I hope are taken seriously by the Studio's.



To Whom It May Concern

On Thursday September 13, 2007 I lost another comrade; Danny Roddick, a friend - pushed to the extremes of unconsciousness by another studio thumb pushing the plunger down - never to awaken again. May he now have peace??

In the week since Danny left us I am more convinced than ever that this should never have happened. Not to him or to any of the many others who were driven to similar extremes as a result of the often reckless behavior and overreaching demands of the gay adult film studios. I know from my 5 years experience in the industry that COLT is not the only studio out there that preys the unsuspecting, overly optimistic, insecure, and emotionally distressed young men who get into the gay adult film industry - chattel, essentially subjugated to indentured servitude for the explicit gain of the studio. This was the evolving nature of Danny's exclusive contracted relationship to his studios, COLT Studio Group and AMG.

Does there need to be more bloodshed? How many more deaths is it going to take before the studios wake up and do something - one, ten, a hundred, a thousand? And by do something I mean do something constructive to help curb this awesome and grotesque trend. Not, in Danny's case, a one-off contribution to a charitable organization to save studio face with consumers, pacify their guilt, or use a globally circulated obituary to publicize films in such a way that it only looks to serve the studio. Look at all the great work he did for us now check them out and buy a few. Lasting memories of a fallen soul - get them now their going to go fast. How fucking disgusting of COLT & AMG!

I know that the studios chew guys up and spit them out because they are only looking for the next best thing, the new shiny face, and an even bigger cock that will sell. When it stops selling, it's on to the next herd of chattel and the studio cycle repeats itself again, like a broken record.

In an industry worth billions upon billions of dollars, why are the studios not doing more? Exactly that, it's the money. It would mean less of it that they would have to push into their ever growing and greedy pockets. We put our flesh, blood, tears, physical and mental health, personal relationships, overall well being on the line for the studios because you can't work if you won't put it all on the line for them.

And at the end of the day we are a more fragile people. We too have hearts, minds and emotions. So give something back. Back the public, back to our communities, be a corporate citizen for a change.

Studios need to wake up and face the facts that with a few preemptive measures on their part, tragedies like Danny's can be avoided. And should be avoided!! There is no reason it can not be. It could be as simple as adding a targeted message addressing the systemic, if not an epidemic rise of substance abuse in the community and where to go to seek help.

Studios should be actively sponsoring public health and mental health events and organizations that specifically help performers in the sex trade industry like St. James Infirmary. Other organizations, like the one COLT has conceded to donating proceeds from some of Danny's films to are not good enough.

They are designed to help the general population and have little if any of the skill necessary to help with the specific issues garnering performers in the sex trade industry.

Now - stop spending it all on just sponsoring or throwing the next big circuit party - encouraging more abuse. Stop playing with people's lives and do something that will actually help our community so tragedies like Danny's may be avoided altogether.

Thank you Danny, for sharing a part of you with me in the time you had

- A bright and giving spirit. I wish it was more. You are missed by all whom you touched. Be at peace my friend.

I welcome each and every one of your replies and or comments with in regards to what I have written.

Anthony J. Christmann

Former adult film star AKA: TONY BISHOP










UPDATE; September 23,

A reply to Tony Bishop by Trevor Knight.

Guns don't kill people... PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE

I need to say something. There have been two tragic deaths in the gay porn industry in such a short time. First was Kent North from HOTHOUSE video, and more recently Danny Roddick from BUCKSHOT video. Both men I knew and liked. They both always had smiles on their faces. But it's NOT porn that killed these guys… IT'S DRUGS that killed them. Some people are saying that it's the "porn" world that chews these guys up and spits them out, but it's NOT!

It's being exposed to drugs and giving into the temptation. I know it. I lived it. I had my nights of crazy cocaine and limp dick sex. I had my days of doing drugs. But I knew when enough was enough. I had friends and family watching out for me. Once they noticed any slight flaw in my personality, I would be sat down to a family intervention. If you're a boyfriend, lover or family member of a drug addict and say you never knew…. you're blind, or you didn't want to see it. It's hard not to notice a friend or family member that has a "problem." It's whether you speak up. A lot of people don't say anything and let people go. They hope the "problem" fixes itself. It doesn't.

I've written before about what goes thru a models head all day, everyday. It's really harsh. It's all about what you look like or what you DO NOT look like. It shrivels a weak person inside. They are left with a hot human shell. So they fill that empty space with drugs and alcohol. A lot of models fill their every moment as a porn star. They give up the life that they had for the wild parties and tons of money. I gave up my real life for 4 years while I was totally TREVOR KNIGHT. I don't know how I survived. I wish I had something to say to other people to stop them from this same path. But I don't. People will do what they want no matter what is said to them.

Dewayne here, I read this on Trevor Knights blog and felt a contrasting view is in order. Like most issues the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Both Tony and Trevor make VALID point's. Right now hurt and anger is strong it will take awhile to see this in a analytical way and to those involved that may take years. I am not personally making a judgment here, its not my place, suffice it to say I do feel for Dannys friends and family.

As for John Rutherford and Colt I have heard from others in the biz who assure me he did his best to prevent a tragedy. I will say that Colt & Rutherford have always had a good rep in the GayPorn Biz. I smell a lot of Shmearing by Damon Kreuzer on his blog and I for one will not be a party to THAT!

I admire both Tony Bishop and Trevor Knight and will let their statements speak for themselves...