Dayton

Dayton Interview - To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected
2003-08-25 15:18:32

Dayton signs her slick to "The Animal" Anthony Fiato.

I had a chat Monday afternoon with Dayton. First the press release to put things in context:

Kevin Beechum and Allen Gold welcome Dayton To the Cherry Boxxx Pictures Family.

Dayton will appear in 12 Features for Cherry Boxxx Pictures, along with Becoming the company's first spokesperson, making appearances across North America and around the world.

Currently a feature dancer, she got a strange call one day on tour.. "It was Kevin" she explains, adding: "Kevin and Allen were putting Cherry Boxxx Pictures together, and they were curious if I'd be interested in possibly doing something with the fledging new company."

After a month of secret negotiations, "lots of phone calls from all over America, at the strangest hours," laughs Dayton, "we finally sat down and discussed everything, but I had to take off again, so we agreed to meet again this week."

"Being on the road was a blessing and a curse," she explains: "I haven't done a movie in almost 2 years, my website: www.illanalesa.com is going well, and the road's been non stop, so I wasn't in a hurry to shoot again…..

However, after every show, when I meet my fans, they all wanna know: "When are you shooting again?"

After turning down numerous offers from other companies, she chose Cherry Boxxx Pictures, not so much for just the movies, " We've got some really interestingIdeas, and I've seen some of the raw footage they've shot so far, it's pretty intense stuff."

Immediate plans call for Dayton to make her first appearance at the upcoming Exotic Dancer Expo next week.

I call Dayton when she's in the drive-thru at Taco Bell. Her friend starts yelling all kinds of scandals in her phone.

Dayton: "Don't put that on my name. He's crazy."

She talks to me as she drives to Las Vegas for the Magic Clothing Convention and Exotic Dancer convention. "I'm signing for Third Rail Clothing."

Luke: "How did you get into the adult industry?"

Dayton: "In 1999, I met Jill Kelly when I was waitress at a strip bar in Anaheim. She helped me. Also, Roy Garcia.

"I was a Vivid girl for two years. I was with Jill Kelly Productions for about a year. Then I was a contract girl with VCA for a short time. I dropped out of the video industry for 18-months to focus on feature-dancing. I just signed with Cherry Boxxx Pictures."

Luke: "Why did you sign with Cherry Boxxx?"

Dayton: "I wanted to do something different. I wanted to try something more edgy, not the same cookie-cutter contract girl thing. They offered me a good girl. Plus, I'm the spokesperson for the company. I have a lot of creative control on the movies regarding talent, scripts."

Luke: "When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?"

Dayton: "A zoologist."

Luke: "Because you loved animals."

Dayton: "Because I loved animals and I still do."

Luke: "What did your family and friends expect you to become?"

Dayton: "Before I did movies, I was a daycare teacher, licensed manicurist and licensed cosmetologist. I had done all of that before the time I was 19. I was expected to be one of those three. I had done all of that by the time I was 19."

Luke: "How did you make the turn into dancing?"

Dayton: "I was a cocktail waitress for years. I started dancing when I was 21. I used to go to Las Vegas and dance every other weekend. I met Roy Garcia in Vegas. I started out doing magazine layouts. From there, I did girl-girl. Finally, I did boy-girl."

Luke: "Do you do interracial boy-girl?"

Dayton: "No."

Luke: "Do you prefer feature dancing to house dancing?"

Dayton: "I don't mind either of them. I enjoy house dancing. I like to hustle. Feature dancing is easier because I don't have to deal with giving lap dances. I still do lapdances but I charge a lot more."

Luke: "What are the good parts and what are the bad parts of being a porn star?"

Dayton: "The good parts are: It's fun. You get to be kinda famous. Because I've been under contract to so many companies and been on Playboy TV so much, people recognize me when I'm out.

"One of the bad parts is that you may not like strangers knowing your business. Women with regular 9-5 jobs don't understand that you are a person. That you are not just there to suck their boyfriend's dick. They think that just because you do this for a job, it is who you are as a person."

Luke: "I don't think people realize that porn stars are no more promiscuous than the average woman you meet in a bar?"

Dayton: "Porn stars are way less... Most people think we're just ready to do whatever."

Luke: "What do you like to do?"

Dayton: "I live at the beach. I like to do lots of beach activities. I boogie-board. I ride my beach cruiser. I lay out in the sun. That's about it."

Luke: "How do you get recognized in public?"

Dayton: "I have tattoos and most of the time they recognize me from them."

Luke: "Do you like traveling so much?"

Dayton: "I love it. It's the best thing ever. I'm worldly. I get to meet new people all the time, every week.

"When I'm feature dancing, I get up early in the morning and I walk around and check out sites and take pictures."

Luke: "What is dating like for you?"

Dayton: "It depends on the guy. Lots of them are ok with it until they fall in love with you. Then they want you to quit the industry. I try to keep dating to a minimum because I travel so much."

Luke: "Would you be willing to quit the industry for the right guy?"

Dayton: "Yes, most definitely."

Luke: "Do you prefer to date within or outside the industry?"

Dayton: "Outside. I did date Ian Daniels for a while. It's hard when you work in the industry and develop feelings for another [porner]."

Luke: "Would you like to have kids one day?"

Dayton: "Yeah, in about ten years."

Luke: "How come you've had contracts at so many companies instead of just one company?"

Dayton: "I was a contract girl at Vivid for two years. I enjoyed that. I left their company for a relationship with a guy not in the industry. I wanted to stop doing boy-girl. I spoke to Steven and he agreed to release me from my contract.

"Then Jill Kelly Productions picked me up to do girl-girl. It's another great company. Then my relationship broke up and I went back to doing boy-girl. We had some differences, a conflict of interest, on boy-girl, so I left JKP for VCA. I've left every company on good terms."

Luke: "How long were you at VCA?"

Dayton: "Not long because I just quit. I don't like them. I just don't like 'em. I don't want to elaborate.

"I don't have a problem now that Liz and Larry [Flynt] took over. It's a totally different situation. I didn't care for the way things were being run prior to that.

"I've worked for Liz and Larry for years. I worked for Hustler when I first came into the business. They use me all the time. I shot covers for them."

Luke: "Is Liz (Larry's wife) involved in the operation of Larry Flynt Publications?"

Dayton: "Of course. I've done lots of personal appearances for them. I've shot billboards for their casino. Both of them are great people."

Luke: "Now that you've had a taste of fame, would you like more of it or less of it?"

Dayton: "More of it, of course. I love publicity. I think that when they stop talking about you, it's bad."

Luke: "How do your friends from childhood and your family react to you becoming a sex star?"

Dayton: "I don't know. We don't really talk about it."

Luke: "Do you still have friends from school?"

Dayton: "Yes, we just don't talk about it. I have a great relationship with my parents. I'm the oldest of four kids. We just don't talk about it. It never gets brought up. We don't discuss it."

Luke: "Has being in this industry affected your attitude towards men?"

Dayton: "No, not at all. Guys are guys. It's made me understand them more, what they think and how they work."

Luke: "Are you bi?"

Dayton: "I'm bi. I like both. I've never had a steady girlfriend."

Luke: "Has your work affected your personal sex life?"

Dayton: "No. I'm a very intimate person. I've always enjoyed having intimate sex. I don't want to have porno sex at home. I don't think I've ever wanted to have sex like that in my personal life."

Luke: "How old were you when you lost your virginity?"

Dayton: "17."

Luke: "What sort of crowd did you hang out with in high school?"

Dayton: "Oh God, do I have to answer that?"

Luke: "No."

Dayton: "Ok."

Mutt writes on GFY: Yes the child prodigy Dayton. "To those to whom much is given much is expected." It must not have been easy growing up for Dayton with so much pressure and so many expectations on her shoulders. Carl Sagan was also a cosmetologist. I wonder if she had a chance to meet him before he passed on.

As I fought to merge into the lane leading to the 118 West from the 405, I felt panic rising within me. Then as I got onto the two lanes of the 118, which rose high above the 405, I felt my panic increase. The freeway tilts dramatically towards the sky as I hurtle along at 55mpg.

Then everything flattens out, including my stomach, as I pass Northridge and head towards Simi Valley.

The anti-anxiety medication I am on is supposed to decrease my anxiety, not increase it. Yet most every time I get on the highway these days, I see accidents about to happen all around me. None of them happen.

About ten miles along, I take an exit and I'm in mountain country. The roads are steep and narrow. I'm driving a big old ugly van.

Finally I arrive at the destination. A girl is there before me. She's dark and exotic, almost asian looking. She's friendly to me, even though I wear old clothes and drive an ugly van.

She appears new to the business, about 24 years old, about 5'7" tall with natural breasts and a full figure.

An old man comes down on a golf cart and opens the gate. The girl roars up in her little green car. I power up behind her, occasionally skidding my wheels. I worry I won't make it. The driveway twists and turns. I'd hate to get stuck in the middle. I don't. I park beside the girl who's already walking up to the house, to change, to get makeup.

I walk on to the lawn and recognize almost nobody. Oh, thank God, there's Dominic. He invited me. I belong after all.

I introduce myself to Dayton. I spot the famous Jordan brothers Corey (slick) and Dale (beefy). Dale shot 450 movies for Elegant Angel. Rick Davis, a young-looking 42, is the friendly director, in porn since 1983 as a shooter (never worked as male talent). There are photographers from various magazines.

I ask about Dana. I hear she's latina.

This is my first time using my new NikonD100 camera. I carry an instructional booklet around with me.

Without realizing it, I fire off 66 shots of Dayton. Once her top comes off, I leave.

I fire off a dozen shots of fresh-faced blonde Riley Roberts. In the industry on and off for two years, the 19-year old appears in ten films.

The crew gives Dayton a baby lizard. She plays with it in her hand. The director tells Dayton the lizard can be in the scene with her.

Dayton about Davis: "Just because he has an ugly voice does not mean he's an ugly person."

Davis shakes his finger at me: "Do not print that. That's your boss calling. He's telling you not to print that."

Dayton does Riley on a blanket on the grass.

I wander inside to talk to John West and Dana.

DUC to John: "When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?"

John: "I wanted to be a doctor."

Luke: "Why?"

John: "I knew right away that money makes the world go round. I was dating a girl who came from a family of money. Her sister was already married to an anesthesiologist. Her dad was a doctor. I wanted to do something that made good money."

Luke: "What sort of crowd did you hang out with in high school?"

John: "I hung out with the stoners and the metalheads and with the jocks too, because I played football (running back).

"I was born and raised in Southern California."

Luke: "What did you start doing after high school?"

John: "I started selling computers and bartending. First I started as a bouncer and worked my way up to bar-back (who stocks beers, wines, and does the grunt work) to bartender."

Luke: "How did you get into this industry?"

John: "In 1991, Peter North came into the bar I was working in. I've been watching porn since I was a kid, jerking off to Peter's movies. I introduced myself to Peter. I brought him strong drinks all night. He was with Jon Dough and Randy Spears.

"At the end of the night, I pleaded with him, 'How do I get into this business? I'm built for this. This is what I want to do.'

"He says, 'Dude, if you really want to do this, get a girl to work with you, and go see Jim South at World Modeling.

"So I went to see Jimmy. He took a picture of me. I got lucky because I was working out and taking good care of myself. I got picked by my picture. Savannah came in. She was doing a gangbang. She needed some guys for Starbangers 2 with John T. Bone.

"I started talking to other talent and getting phone numbers and after that it was all downhill."

Luke: "You've always worked out?"

John: "Yes. I've always taken good care of myself. If you came over to my house, you'd see a big cupboard full of vitamins. Running, jujitsi, grappling, boxing."

Luke: "Have you gotten into any fights in this industry?"

John: "No, no fights. I get along with everybody. When I was first in the business, me and TT Boy rubbed elbows but we're good friends now. I love everybody."

Luke: "How many movies have you done?"

John: "About 2000."

Luke: "How has your life changed since you entered the industry?"

John: "How has my life changed since working fulltime as an adult entertainer? It's given me a lot more financial freedom. It has limited my ability to have a normal relationship. I can have sex with beautiful women but to find a girl who's going to accept me having sex with other women and then come home to her every night. Even a female porn star has trouble accepting that. You've got to find someone really understanding and that's the biggest downfall."

Luke: "How about your social life?"

John: "When I've mixed with civilians outside the industry, I've gotten nothing but positive results. There have been occasions when I've gone to a five-star restaurant and gotten snooty looks from older ladies. There's no way they could've known who I was unless they were watching my movie.

"Every guy I've met has wanted to shake my hand and to wish that he could do what I do."

Luke: "What do you love and what do you hate about the industry?"

John: "I love the sex and the women and I hate the inability to have a normal relationship."

Luke: "When did you direct your first movie?"

John: "In 1999, Sex Sells, for Knob-Ryder Entertainment. I only did one. They didn't have the money for more.

"I started my own company (JohnWestProductions.com) right after I left Knob-Ryder. I have on released and another one coming out."

Luke: "Who's distributing you?"

John: "It's all new to me. I'm looking for distributors."

Luke: "What kind of transition has it been for you to go from performer to company owner?"

John: "It's been a costly one. All my extra money goes into the company and I've yet to get any back. I hope that one of these days I'll be able to sell some of these movies."

Luke: "Do you ever regret that you set it up?"

John: "No, you have to take risks to make money. I'll keep pushing forward and I hope it will payoff."

Luke: "How did your family react?"

John: "At first my mother and father didn't like it but now they've learned to accept it. Sometimes I ask my mom questions about distribution because she has a business mind.

"My little brother Joel West is in the industry. He's a photographer and does set design. He did a big thing for Passion Pictures - Shades of Red.

"I like the girls with the bigger butts like Olivia O'Lovely, Drew Hurley, Bella Maria Wolfe, Pamela Peaks, Amethyst Stone, Ginelle.

"Every girl, even if she has a bad attitude or is not attractive, I will still find something attractive about that girl."

I down on the couch with Dana, who wears white lingerie. She says she's half Irish and half Thai. Dana has a BA in comparative literature from Mills College in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her mother has a PhD in English literature.

Luke: "Why did you give up medical school to enter the adult industry?"

Dana: "You mean law school. Less pressure. I needed more of a social life."

Luke: "Does this industry provide you with more of a social life?"

Dana: "Absolutely. I meet all kinds of people.

"I was considering graduate school to become a teacher. My mom is a professor and political activist."

A tall nervous man walks in and stands over Dana.

Man: "Did they tell you who I am?"

Dana: "You're the still photographer."

Man: "Yeah, for the toy company."

Dana: "The toy company?"

Man: "Yeah. I guess they didn't tell you."

Dana: "No."

Man: "I guess I'll have Rick..."

Dana: "Ok."

Man: "Basically I'm piggybacking the shoot here today. The owners of their company (Cherry Boxx Pictures) know the owners of our company. Are you under contract with them?"

Dana: "No."

Poor man is nervous. "Would you be willing to shoot for our catalogue. We're going to give you a $100."

Dana: "With toys?"

Man: "No."

Dana: "Ok."

Man: "It's easy. We don't need a whole lot. I'll show you the catalogue."

Dana: "I think I have some of these toys. Yay."

Man: "We use you as a model on the side."

Luke: "Do you need me too?"

Dana: "I think he would be great for the anal toys."

Man: "We would like to shoot you with another man."

Dana: "John West is around here. I already made a mistake. I thought the director (Rick Davis) was male talent."

Man: "I'm sorry. What was your name?"

Dana: "Dana."

Man: "John."

Dana: "Nice to meet you."

John: "When would be a good time to shoot you? You've got a fresh look right now."

Dana: "Not worked, beaten down."

Luke: "Exploited."

Dana: "Humiliated."

We resume the interview.

Dana: "I wrote these proposals for a while. I was tired and stressed out. I started dancing at Mitchell Brothers in San Francisco. I've been a fan of porn since I was 12.

"I grew up Portland. I moved down here [to Los Angeles]. I did production work for Playboy TV. I met Nina Hartley and these people. I started thinking - why aren't I doing this?

"My mom knows."

Luke: "Did you tell her it was an exercise in comparative literature."

Dana: "I told her I planned on deconstructed some of the old Caballero stuff. She's progressive. She just says - be careful. Be smart with your money. I don't judge you. I love you.

"She was teaching Western Civilization for a while then she started teaching on an Indian reservation. She's an activist for the educational system on reservations.

"I get cast for a lot of latin stuff. I'm not going to object to it."

Luke: "Did you have a happy childhood?"

Dana: "For the most part. I was a quiet kid. I kept to myself. In high school, I met more like-minded individuals. I was active in foreign language club, literary magazine, modern dance."

Luke: "Did you win any spelling bees?"

Dana: "I'm a good speller."

Luke: "How do you spell gratuitous?"

Dana: "G-r-a-t-u-i-t-i-o-u-s."

WRONG!

John: "Do you want to start this?"

Dana: "Let me finish this? Is that cool?"

John: "Yes."

Luke: "I always have trouble with that word. I use it a lot."

Dana: "There are certain words... Sometimes I have trouble with commmitment, remembering that there are two Ms and two Ts."

Luke: "Are you sure there are two Ts in commitment?"

Dana, assured: "Yes."

Luke: "No, no, no. One T. Two Ms. But there's a Freudian issue here - commitment scares you."

Dana: "That's pretty good. A little bit. Maybe that's why I am single."

Luke: "Why you are such a sex star."

Dana: "Hardly, though I did see myself for the first time having sex. My movies are started to come out now. It wasn't traumatic but I was shy. I watched it like this (peaking out through her fingers) without sound, because I was shy about hearing myself. Then I watched it through and I was cool with it.

"I get into it. I enjoy what I was doing. I wondered what if it doesn't translate? It was all right."

Rick Davis comes in: "We're shooting your pretty girls in a minute."

Luke: "What were your goals upon entering this industry?"

Dana: "Ending world hunger and adult literacy. I'm going to find a way to make it work. Maybe include books with the movies. You can read along."

Luke: "Do you believe in deconstruction in studying text?"

Dana: "Absolutely. One of the most interesting books I read was by an advisor of mine - Dwelling in the Text - about homes in literature. Deconstruction is something I would've gotten more into in graduate school. My mom talks about it a lot."

Luke: "Does it get you hot?"

Dana: "Not really. I think I'm pretty basic when it comes to what gets me hot. I get turned on by people who are intelligent and thoughtful."

Luke: "You must encounter that so much in this industry."

Dana: "Not often, but when it happens, it's cool. There are a lot more cool people than I thought. When you're a stripper, you meet a lot of bimbos."

Luke: "Did you have a lot of thoughtful conversations while giving lapdances?"

Dana: "I was a stripper in San Francisco where the attitude is different. You can be a stripper there and still be taken seriously. It's such a progressive city. I was talking about Virginia Wolf with this one guy at The Crazy Horse. And a math professor came in. He was a big stoner. 'When I'm dealing with formulas, it helps to be stoned so I can just focus.'

"It was just weird stuff. There's be strung-out people. Rock stars would come in and be asshole. There were some grad student girls who worked there. Some girls who were getting ready to get into porn. There were dumb-ass bimbos who'd go blow thousands of dollars on useless crap.

"I'm getting ready to buy a car but that's more out of necessity. It won't be some fancy thing. I'm frugal."

Luke: "Do you think adult videos are a good vehicle for political activism?"

Dana: "It depends on what kind of political activism. If you're talking about feminism and post-modernism... Annabel Chong had the right idea, she just came off as nuts. Adult videos, no."

Dana has appeared in 22 movies. "The stuff I did for VCA was good (with Kurt Lockwood in Gypsy Woman and Sopornos 5, a threeway, Deep Inside Sunset Thomas). T.T. Boy's Asian Street Hookers 34. Peter North's North Pole series."

Luke: "T.T. Boy has a reputation for being rough."

Dana: "He's so good. I've been a fan of his since 1996. I used to buy stuff he was in. He's like a shark. He just goes for it. He's like the Id. He's just about f--king, just getting in there. There's something that's just such a turn-on about that. When I had the chance, I was so excited. He knew. I made it clear I was a big fan. I guess I like it rough.

"This is the only sex I'm getting in my life. I like to have sex often."

Rick Davis says he doesn't allow any choking or spitting in the face.

Madison, the tiny ex-porn star rocker, did the belly button piercing of Dana, who also has a vaginal piercing.

Rick has known Cherry Boxx Pictures owner Kevin Beechum since 1983. He got Kevin into riding Harleys in 1989 with Dion Garusso, owner of Red Light District.

Rick snacks on the "Ultimate Low-Carb Chocolate Supreme" protein bar.

Rick: "Keeps the abdominals tight."

Davis has worked for most of the big companies including Vivid and VCA.

Dayton says she has never spent a day in the gym.

As I shoot the girls, my zoom lens zooms out embarrassingly far, about five inches far from the base of my camera.

A bright red Dodge Prowler, owned by Kevin Beechum, waits in the driveway. Dayton will drive it up to introduce the show.

The director and crew discuss Dayton's goodbye line to the show. Corey Jordan suggests, "See you next month with more chicks with dicks."

Dayton calls AIM for her HIV-test results.

Dayton, in loud voice: "Positive?"

Rick Davis looks like he's going to die. Crew in shock. Then Dayton reveals she's just kidding.

Corey Jordan gets a phone call while he stands on the trampoline with Dayton.

Corey: "About my mortgage payment? It was already sent out three days ago. I have 15-days, right? It's been sent out. It should be there today or tomorrow."

I heard a rumor that Dayton has been called before a federal grand jury in NY on organized crime but Dayton called me Tuesday afternoon and said this is completely wrong.

Dayton says she hasn't shot any porn for a while. She keeps busy feature dancing and working out.

I heard that porn star Dayton testified Thursday before a Grand Jury in New York investigating organized crime. I've been told that Dayton dated John Baudanza, the youngest capo ever in the Luchese family. I heard she also dated an acting boss of a Mafia family.

I heard Dayton hung out with Nicky Glasses, Craig Marino, Keith Gordon (owner of Bizarre Video) at Privilege, a Mafia strip bar in Manhattan at 23rd Street. Maybe John B. Glasses as well.

"What's going on? I heard you were subpoened before a grand jury in New York investigating organized crime?"

Dayton: "Yes, I was subpoened before a federal grand jury. I don't want to comment on anything."

Luke: "Did you hang out at that strip club Privilege on 23rd Street in Manhattan?"

"I don't know where you got this information. I didn't tell you about it. Who would tell you such a thing?

"Anything that goes on in any federal grand jury, the person who testifies is not allowed to talk about it. It's called an obstruction of justice."

Dayton: "This is a stressful time in my life. I've never been in jail. I'm not in the gossip columns. I'm low on the radar. I have good relations with every company I've worked with. I'm harmonious with everyone. This has been a lot of stress for me as a person."

Luke: "You would think that if you were called before a grand jury, you must've been leading a dangerous and dramatic life?"

Dayton: "I had dinner and drinks with my friends. That's it. And I have dinner and drinks with my friends all over."