John, I hope you get to read this, because I want to tell you I'm majorly interested in your movie. But first I have to tell you how much I love the first "Fashionistas". It's one of my favorite movies. I don't mean porno movies, but movies, period. What I love about the movie isn't the sex, but the plot, the characters, and the symbolism. You may be surprised about this next comment, but I can't even think of "The Fashionistas" as porn even though it is. It's more in line with mainstream movies. Actually, it comes off as a cult film. I can picture it as a midnight movie (even though the movie's running time prevents that from happening). "The Fashionistas" was meant to be seen on the big screen, and that's where it belongs. I have a feeling that everything I love about the first movie will apply to the new movie as well. I can't wait to see what happens with Antonio and Jesse. I hope you hear from you.
Here's a mini-review, prior to something longer (speaking of procrastination ...)
Here it is, folks. The long-awaited sequel to John Stagliano's opus du porn, "The Fashionistas." Like Quentin Tarantino with "Kill Bill," the Evil Empiricist has split the feature into two parts, and, indeed, "Safado" plays as a prelude to what looks to be a battle royale – only with fucking – when the scene moves to Berlin for F3. With that in mind, F2 is a masterpiece of tease, as the cameras caress an ocean of round, ripe, rollicking ass, sheathed (and, soon enough, unsheated) in gorgeous, sexy latex fetish garb, with a mouth-watering cast that includes not only the obvious stars – Rocco Siffredi, Belladonna, Manuel Ferrara – but a slew of new arrivals. Most of them get their play in an orgy scene that is split into two segments (and, yes, that's Sasha Grey getting her porno cherry popped by Rocco; and devious Melissa Lauren, initially in a non-sex (!!) role as a fashion reporter with a secret agenda). Like any epic feast, the scenario can't be consumed in one sitting, and is best enjoyed morsel by morsel: Stagliano's cameras really emphasize the visual texture of the outfits, the sensuality of the bodies and performer's expressions, the wetness of wanton girl's mouths, and hot sex – no doubt – but in an almost cubist way. The killer scene sets up Rocco (aka "Antonio") with a pair of models (Jenna Haze, Gianna) as Melissa tries to conduct an interview. The threesome is almost geometrically perfect: Amazonian Gianna and teensy baby-doll Jenna. The dominant-submissive power plays between Rocco and Gianna reach a peak when Rocco shoves Jenna's face deep between the heaving orbs Gianna's ass, her eyes popping above the crack like a cartoon mouse. (One whose word balloon would read: "Mmmmmphhhh!") It's glorious – but it's only a detour from the looming mystery of Safado, and a freaky-creepy DVD that leads Antonio to a German website, where strange and extreme characters indulge their kinks in outrageous fetish gear. It gets under Antonio's skin, and even if he must risk his relationship with the increasingly irritated Jessie, he has to solve the puzzle. The double-disc runs to four hours, and is a total treat – though different in tone from the original Fashionistas. Yet, Stagliano has taken up his own challenge to create something fresh – this includes the Las Vegas stage show, which is incorporated into the movie's opening – and not simply repeat himself.
As a director in porn, on a limited budget, I am trying to get as much value for my money. so writing the script to this movie was like putting together a puzzle, the first element being: this probably will be Rocco's last movie for me, 2. Nacho wants to be in the movie, 3, I'm very intriqued by the extremes that come from melisssa Lauren, and 4, the exotic beauty of Katsumi. And twenty other things that are assets (Belladonna!) in creating a great sensual movie. All used put to work through a story. I really like what was said about the value of not knowing if a tease scene is going to lead to a fullsex scene or not. I've been doing this for years. It's so hard writing a porn script when everyone knows a scene will end in sex. It's how you get there that is the fun part, and this was a really fun movie to put together.
John, you're back. Did you read the post I wrote to you? I wanted to tell you what I got out of the first "Fashionistas", and why I think it's a cinematic masterpiece.
Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous? 4283 Posts 4/00
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 2:01AM
myload- John has read all the various threads on both Fashionistas movies (and also many threads on his other movies). He's seen how much you loved the movie, and he appreciates it.
His email isn't available for a reason. We need him to be in the edit bay editing... not answering emails of things that are already posted in forums. That's why he pays me the big bucks... to answer emails. :(
I could not agree with you more John, tease is an incredibly powerfull tool and i think is really where creativity comes into porn these days. The great evil angels directors including yourself are well known for tease sequences, especially jules jordans product, man does he know how to create tease. Tease is most powerfull for me when its a new girl i have not seen before, and i am mentally undressing her with my eyes, i guess the clothes also create a realistic barrier between desire and deprevation. I love fashionistas 2 for its effort into what i believe is aesthetic beauty, style and erotic composotion as a mix rather than just purely going for the done to death raincoater angle which has its place in gonzo, and fashionistas 2 aint gonzo. well at least not completely.
sorry if this has already been posted a bunch of times, but is there an official release date, or general release date you're aiming for, for F3 yet?
I enjoyed my first run-through of F2 (not quite done yet), but it definitely has me much more excited for F3. thanks for all your hard work, John and Tricia!
I'm glad to hear that. For the longest time I've wanted to tell John about my view of "The Fashionistas". Since my take on the movie is somewhat different than eveyone else's, I thought that it was very important that he knows about it. And since he did post here I figured that I could tell him directly. I didn't even know he visited the website until yesterday.I understand. Since he's a filmmaker, he needs to concentrate on making movies.
Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous? 4283 Posts 4/00
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 8:40PM
We WERE pushing hard for convention week, January 2007. But that's not realistic, so we're not going to pressure ourselves, and we're just going to release F3 when it's completely ready.
Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous? 4283 Posts 4/00
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 1:02PM
We don't know yet, and we won't for a few months. You guys gotta start frickin' trusting me that when I have info on stuff, I'll be more than happy to let you know on my own. But answering the same questions over and over just takes time away from me accomplishing my actual job of getting these DVDs ready.
Tricia, I realize that it takes time to get the DVDs ready for release. It's just that you first said that the second part of the sequel was originally scheduled for January, and so was the boxset. But now you're saying that it will be out later than that. I was just wondering if both will be out at the same time regardless of when that will be. Don't worry, this will be the last time I will ask you this question.
Interesting to read of the elements put together for this movie (and who has--or ever again will have--such resources to draw from?--The Las Vegas stage show alone would have exhausted any other porn director's budget. And only Stagliano could have persuaded Rocco to come back for one last movie). Appetite is whetted for more Katsumi and Melissa Lauren, of course, as well as the confrontation between Rocco and Nacho, but I hope poor little Belladonna won't be forsaken and forgotten. The logic of the story seems to demand return to her, but who knows? If that relationship goes unresolved, I will have to insist on a Fashionistas 4. And if Rocco is unavailable, having got lost in the fetish dungeons of Berlin, then perhaps our subtile darling can make a new conquest of Nacho.
I also hope to see more of the pipes girl Judith Fox--she is too good a thing to waste on a mere iconic image (haunting as it is).
Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous? 4283 Posts 4/00
Posted - Oct 15 2006 : 5:07PM
David - interesting post.
John and I fought back and forth for sometime on what the story arc of Fashionistas Safado would be. I wanted Bella and Manuel to get together for some time. Manuel is such a better actor now than he was 3 or 4 years ago, and of course his English is MUCH better. Then I switched to wanting Bella and Katsumi with Nacho at the end of the story. John wanted to continue to focus on Rocco and his relationship with Bella.
We'll have to see which one won out at the end of F3.
I'm surprised the reviews on this movie haven't piled up yet (I've only counted two so far). I eventually plan to review the movie, but who knows when that will be.
I just watched this movie and love it. i now have 1 and 2. great job john and tricia. the only thing i wish you would have put in this movie was a one on one fetish girl girl rough sex scene between Nicole sheridan, and Belladonna. i know they had a short scene in the orgy scene. but im talking about one on one in a room by themselves. but i still enjoyed this movie. hope the 2nd half is as good.
Yes i agree also, the tension between them is a powerful key plot point in the story, people complained about the end scene ending shortly after they get started but i found it powerfull and a representing of jesse's mixed feelings for antonio
So, I finally got around to watching this. Overall, I liked it. I think the orgy took up too much time, but then I really don't care for orgies, anyway. I would have preferred more plot development, but at least what was there was believable.
I particularly liked the footage of Jenna giving Rocco a hand-job at the fashion show, and of Katsumi giving Nacho a blowjob. It's nice to see that somebody still understands the difference between shooting sex and erotica.
Overall, kudos to John, Tricia and the rest of the crew for a job well done.
I have watched more porn in the last 10-15 years than most video stores have on their shelves on a day-to-day basis.
Not something I'm proud of, it is what it is.
I never miss anything John & Tricia put out.
My thoughts:
I saw more production value on the screen in 30 seconds period than many complete releases from anywhere. Count up the performers in the orgy scene(s) and do the math.
Add sets, wardrobe, soundtrack etc. It adds up to more than company B spent on all their releases for the month.
In terms of style and substance, this blows away 99% of all releases for the year - put together.
That's no joke.
You don't compare it to anything released in the last 20 years and then try to pick it apart.
You throw the remote in a corner and watch.
In a genre overwhelmed by guys with cameras shooting in their shipping area of their warehouse or a hotel room, if you miss seeing this, you are missing out on the cream that rises to the top.
Kudos to John, Tricia and all those both in front of the camera as well as behind the scenes who worked to make this happen.
You have to support their efforts. If you rent movies, rent this. If you buy them, but this.
In 15 years and thousands of titles, I have rented all but two.
I'll give you 3 guesses but you're only gonna need one.
You can always watch cumcrappers or cock gagged sluts #88 later.
This message was brought to you by the letters A , R , T and the number 1.
Hey Tony good point on the Z1, I purchased the camera 3 months ago and had shot 2 movies so far in 24p/30 basically on accident or just getting familiar with the camera and I must say the picture looks quite great! as long as the compression transfer isnt to harsh like going to a dvd 5 but onto a dvd 9 what I have seen makes a big difference in quality! Im still impressed with the camera's overall functionality and ease of use once you read through the booklet 5 times and really put it through the test on several practice runs, and for the price I really couldnt ask for much more especially coming from the vx2000.
Posted - Oct 11 2006 : 7:47PM
