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Contrary to some rumors, Thomas Zupko is not dead. He is stilling across from me.
Thomas Zupko
Resurrected in Brian Surewood's living room.
Roger T. Pipe
Shall we start with the big news?
Thomas Zupko
The news will be official on Monday or Tuesday, but it looks like I will be directing my new project for Elegant Angel. I am looking forward to it. Patrick Collins and Axel Braun are really good people.
Roger T. Pipe
This is your first project in a while. You have been off the radar for a while now. Where have you been?
Thomas Zupko
I took two months off which I know is crazy in this business. I needed to get away for a while and decide who I was and where I wanted to go with my life. I read Dostoyevsky again and tried to find out if I wanted to continue making movies. That sounds weird, but Dostoyevsky's work has influenced me more than anything or anyone else I have ever come in contact with in my entire life. I wanted to see if I could regain the passion and desire that I used to have, that made me want to be a pornographer. After literally doing nothing for two months I realized that making adult movies is what I really love to do.
Roger T. Pipe
How did this deal with Elegant come about?
Thomas Zupko
When I made the decision to start making movies again I went to High Society, as a friend of mine told me they were really interested in me when they found out I had left Extreme. They loved my stuff and they were ready to give me a really big budget, although I had to tone things down,
(At this point we have to take a break because Surewood's cat knocks a large planter from the window sill.)
Thomas Zupko
OK, back to High Society. I am very anti-social in a lot of ways. As much as people think I have this big ego, I'm really insecure and I hate schmoozing or having to sell myself. The thing with High Society was in many ways a blessing in disguise because it went so smoothly. But then, as I started casting, I got a call from Bob Johnson (the head of video production) that High Society was pulling the plug on their video lines, which they had just started only a few months ago. I was disappointed because it seemed too good to be true. I mean I just got the courage to get back into making movies again, and it was like, "Man, this is great. I'm going to have my pick of the companies." As I said, it was the first call I made and I didn't have to jump through any hoops. After that I made a couple of phone calls to a few companies I was referred to and when I didn't get a call back right away or I got a bad vibe, I was just like, fuck it. Then I wrestled up the courage to call Patrick at Elegant.
(Brian Surewood comes downstairs on his way to a shoot.)
Thomas Zupko
Have you met Rog?
Brian Surewood
I've seen him around.
Thomas Zupko
Rog is one of the few reviewers who liked Mammary Man.
(The laughter stops when Brian sees the damage caused by the cat. Brian rushes to clean up the botanical disaster. )
Thomas Zupko
Back to Elegant. I knew I had to find a good match. If I went to Vivid, they probably would avoid me like the plague, primarily because my reputation in many ways is so notorious I think they would immediately call security and hang crosses and garlic across their front door. So I had to find a company that would be compatible with what I do and who would also be open-minded enough to actually sit down and watch my movies. I met with Axel Braun first (Patrick was in Brazil) and we hit it off right away. He is an amazing guy with his background and lineage, one of the most educated and intelligent people I've ever met in this business. So, after the first meeting he took home copies of my flicks and actually watched them. Then, during our second meeting, he told me that he was really impressed by my work, that it wasn't what he expected it to be. What followed was this great conversation about filmmaking. About a week later I met with Patrick and they decided to give me a chance. So far the reception has been great. Everyone is so happy to have me there and that is a great feeling. Everyone at Elegant has treated me with the utmost respect.
Roger T. Pipe
Did you feel that your choices were somewhat limited because of the movies you've made in the past?
Thomas Zupko
It's funny how this works. What I respect about you is that you actually WATCH all of the movies you review. If you like it, it doesn't matter who made it, or what your relationship with him is- You don't let all that other stuff affect your reviews. Axel told me that there was so much of a pre-conceived notion about my movies and the whole Extreme thing, that people were shocked when he put them in the vcr and they actually WATCHED them. When they finally got to take a look at the movies and see what I can do, they saw what I'm really about and their attitudes changed almost instantaneously. In this business you are defined and stereotyped by people who haven't seen a single thing you've done. I honestly believe that I'm capable of directing anything someone needs, be it a Jules Jordan rip-off, Michael Raven or Andrew Blake. Like is that a real Van Gogh or an imitation? That's easy. Sadly, imitation and a formulaic way of doing things seem to be the standard in porn. What these people fail to realize, however, is that whether it's gonzo, shock porn, or cable-friendly product, the people who did it first are really the true artists and innovators. We all take a little from here and there; there's no escaping it, but I like to think that the movies I've made have created their own unique niche. So yes, to answer your question, I knew that I had to choose companies that would be receptive or at least open minded when it comes to the reputation I've acquired. .
Roger T. Pipe
Even if people watched all of your movies, they still might back away from you a bit. You couldn't make the movies you made at Extreme for Vivid or Wicked no matter how open minded they tried to be. Maybe you were pigeon-holed, but at least some of that reputation is well earned.
Thomas Zupko
(He laughs) That's true.
Roger T. Pipe
It's not always that you're misunderstood Zupko. Sometimes they understand you perfectly.
(He keeps laughing.)
Brian Surewood
He's got you there.
Thomas Zupko
You are right. There are a lot of companies that I didn't go to. I hate the process.
Brian Surewood
You wouldn't be comfortable shooting for those companies anyway.
Thomas Zupko
That's true, but even if I wanted to tone it down, I would hate calling up all these people. That's the process that I hate.
Roger T. Pipe
This deal with Elegant, is it exclusive?
Thomas Zupko
It's actually a deal for this one project. I am going to do this first movie and then we'll talk about a more exclusive deal. I'm not working for anyone else right now. The reality of the situation is that I put everything into the project I'm working on. I only work on one at a time and sometimes that even seems to be too much.
Roger T. Pipe
Is Brian Surewood in this one? I think he's been in all of your movies.
Thomas Zupko
We work well together. Brian understands exactly where I am coming from. He doesn't like it most of the time, but he does what it takes to get the job done.
Brian Surewood
Tom likes making me jump through hoops of flame. He loves to make me do ten takes of something that we could have done in one. If the situation were reversed, I would do the same thing.
Thomas Zupko
We have been together forever. There are very few people who are true friends. Brian has always been there for me and that's priceless. To get back to your question, yes he will be in the movie.
Roger T. Pipe
Who else are you planning to use?
Thomas Zupko
I am hoping to use the new Elegant Angel contract girl Ann Marie. She is very cute and I'm hoping to do with her what I did with Kristi Myst in "Days of Whore." This might be her feature vehicle for Elegant.
Roger T. Pipe
What is the movie called?
Thomas Zupko
It's called "Flesh Circus" and it's about a girl who is driving from Vegas to LA. Her car breaks down and she starts walking. In the distance she sees lights.
Roger T. Pipe
We talked about this one the last time we interviewed didn't we?
Thomas Zupko
Yes, this was the big project I was working on. It's a sexual odyssey for this pure young girl. Axel and Patrick looked over five treatments that I had and this is the one that they both wanted.
Roger T. Pipe
Are you taking a different approach to this movie?
Thomas Zupko
You will appreciate this. I'm going to focus on making sure that the sex is really hot and then everything else will fall into place. The sex will be at the forefront and everything else will secondary to making the sex as jackoffable and erotic as humanly possible.
Roger T. Pipe
That sounds good to me. We need to talk a little about what happened at Extreme. Did you quit or did you get fired?
Thomas Zupko
My experience with Extreme was enjoyable. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about anyone there. But the company was continually going in a different direction from where I wanted to go. I left, I was not fired. Everyone there knows that to be true. But if it makes them feel better to say I was fired, then I was fired.
Roger T. Pipe
Was it amicable?
Thomas Zupko
I like to think so. But as in all things in life, it's not that black and white; it's all shades of gray. One thing that I learned during my three months away is that there is something very important about goodness, trust, and standing together with all of those in this business. There are so many outside forces against us, the last thing we should do is attack each other. My current philosophy in life is to be good to everyone and let what I do and what everyone else does speak for itself. There is no reason for cruelty or putting other people down. What I've found is that in this business when people put other people down, it's to make them feel better about themselves and to hide their insecurities and failings as a human being. I can't do, nor want, to do that any more.
Roger T. Pipe
So we're looking at a kinder, gentler Thomas Zupko?
Thomas Zupko
I know it's so Pollyannaish that you're going to puke, but it's genuine and it's how I am approaching my life, both personally and professionally.
Roger T. Pipe
Let's recap. You are working on "Flesh Circus" for Elegant Angel and you've turned over a new leaf.
Thomas Zupko
It's really great to be back in the porn community. It is amazing that so many people have been so receptive and appreciative of me and my work. I can't thank them enough. This is where I want to be. I chose to be in this business because I love pornography. I'm a pervert. I like being part of this community instead of being on the outside. It is great to be working for a company that is happy to have me. There is a lot to be said about positive reinforcement for motivational purposes.
Roger T. Pipe
When is "Flesh Circus" filming?
Thomas Zupko
In the middle of March and it should be out in late April.
Roger T. Pipe
I think we've covered everything. Any final words?
Thomas Zupko
This is the new and improved Thomas Zupko, opening his arms to everyone. I love you all. I hope we can work together in the future and please accept my most humble apologies for anything I may have said in the past that may have offended any of you.
Roger T. Pipe
You just apologized to everyone in the business Zupko, thanks.
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