« NY Blade column: Gay Left’s Soft Spot for Islamo-Facists | Main | Auditions 20: Luke Stevens & Angelo DiMarco »
October 04, 2007
Bad taste? No. Just a publicity stunt
So here is the deal:
On Tuesday we started filming our major production, "Gigolo,". I'm playing a hustler (surprise!) and my character gets murdered at the end of what I think will be a dark-and-moody yet juicy-and-hot drama. This movie is not just a sex flick, but a very complex feature with 45 different scenes (and only 6 are sex scenes).
I think we had a little bit of a rocky start, and not only because of all the usual difficulties that are involved in massive shoots like "Dangerous Liaisons," "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita," and "The Intern," with locations falling through on the days of the shoot, models missing their flights, conflicting schedules, and of course 15-hour days one after the other for 10 days straight.
The real life drama began as we started the production. We're filming scenes for the most part in reverse chronological order. Since my muder scene got filmed first, we couldn't resist sending out a press release about my "death" including a fake crime scene photo that would speak for itself. Or at least, I thought it would. It's a black and white photo of me in a phony pose on the bed, strangled. I placed a big Lucas Entertainment logo on it. The press release said, "Michael Lucas found dead in his Manhattan apartment."
We were thinking to have it out there for a couple of days, without any further commentary about it, in order to generate the buzz on the film. Well, the story became kind of messy because some people actually believed that I was really dead, and some, even though they understood it was only a publicity stunt, decided to accuse me of having really bad taste.
Apparently some people didn't get the picture that was attached to the release. They only read the release or heard about it from others. I do feel bad for those who got confused. But for those who are crucfying me for bad taste, writing about it on these idiotic blogs and calling me names, I would just say, People, lighten up. If you want to talk about bad taste in porn, there are plenty of other targets out there more worthy of your wrath than I will ever be. It seemed to me that my critics cannot concentrate on a simple fact: I was making fun of myself, not of anybody else.
Some are saying that the timing for this publicity stunt was terribly wrong. Unfortunately, I'd never heard about activist/promoter Dean Johnson before yesterday, let alone that he had just died. But even if I had, millions of people die every day. What difference does it make what industry they were working in? I'm kind of stunned that people are such militant taste purveyors, jumping with accusations in situations where their judgements are not needed, where no crime was committed, where no one's reputations were hurt, and where nothing was done in an intentionally malicious manner.
Again, I am sorry about those who thought I was really dead. I was trying to give as many reasons as possible not to believe it (as you can see below), but, well, my office now looks like a botanical garden. And trust me, I did send my sincerest apologies to those who sent their flowers, notes, and emails of condolence.
Now, to all my hysterical accusers and taste purveyors, to all the loud cicadas who are so busy unleashing their witch hunt, don't waste your energy—there will be no apologies for you.
And here's the "controversial" press release itself:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMichael Lucas' found dead in Manhattan apartment New York, NY (October 3rd, 2007) -- The body of Lucas Entertainment founder and CEO Michael Lucas was found last night in his Manhattan apartment.
Authorities released the photo below of the crime scene.
No additional information has been released. Stay tuned for further developments.
And by the way, I did send a follow-up release saying I was alive and sound that same evening.
Posted by Michael at October 4, 2007 10:58 AM
Comments
Everyone here at OnGuys.com knew that the press release wasn't real.
Dead people don't look that good!!!
Posted by: OnGuys.com at October 4, 2007 06:19 PM
Michael, so glad to hear that you are not dead. Just saw Viggo Mortensen in the Russian Mafia film. He reminded me of you only I think you are better, bigger dick.
Please stay alive, we need your voice.
Posted by: Charles Merrill at October 4, 2007 06:32 PM
Hi Michael,
You sell porn. People will say porn is in bad taste. Yet your product is the best porn I have ever seen. It's smart and classy. Your productions are better then any others in the industry. Others like Chi Chi who put out a good product are jealous of you.
Mark Twain said the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated or something like that.
Knowing what a brilliant businessman you are people should have checked to see if you were really murdered before jumping to conclusions.
Just keep doing what you do Michael.
This too will pass.
Posted by: Will at October 4, 2007 07:39 PM
I think this is the best publicity stunt ever. And of course I am very glad to know you are very much alive.
Posted by: Donald in Toronto at October 4, 2007 09:12 PM
Hey Michael,
You are at the top of your game, which means that those insecure, jealous individuals "need" to try and knock you off your success.
Continue to produce high quality video's, and let the haters remain defeated!
Rich
Posted by: Rich at October 4, 2007 09:43 PM
Gee, even dead you are hot.
Posted by: John at October 4, 2007 11:37 PM
Dear Michael
I saw the headline, and freaked for a second, till i looked at the picture and thought no this is for a movie. People tend to over react. I got upset for a second cause i just love you. it don't think it is sick at all. I don't know how they can say anything sick about you, when there are people posting pictures of Anna Nicole Smith throwing up and saying they are photos of her dead. thats sick.
Don't let what people say hurt you, your beautiful and sexy. i don't see many other porn producers appearring on camera, because most of them are fat and ugly. So their just jealous of your good looks. Keep up the good work and keep you chin up high. i love you and your work.
Please don't do anything to your mouth the lips are sexy.
love
Bradley
Posted by: Bradley at October 5, 2007 01:42 PM
Michael-
You are the MASTER of PR! I am sure that GIGALO will be yet another stunning film.
DL was great, LDV was a masterpiece and The intern showed your well known sense of humor!
I truly think the people who get angry with you do not "get you". You are a smart businessman and a great producer and director.
It goes without saying that you are a sensational star.
I come back to your sense of humor - your style and quick wit is evident to those who have had the good fortune to meet you.
Much of what you do is done with a wink and a grin.
Good luck with the production of GIGALO -maybe I can do some background work!
Rik
THE ONLY BAD PR, IS NO PR AT ALL!
Posted by: Rik at October 6, 2007 04:46 PM
Michael, the people who weren't bright enough to figure out that it was a PR stunt don't deserve to be watching your movies. As you pointed out, the "crime scene photo" DID have the Lucas Entertainment logo in the corner...sheesh, do people think the NYPD's hurting for money that they have have their evidence "sponsored" by other companies? LOL.
Anyway, it was a very clever and buzzworthy idea and I applaud you. Can't wait to see the movie when it comes out!
Posted by: Matt at October 6, 2007 08:58 PM
If you were found dead, then even the most idiotic of detectives would know that the prime suspect in the case was Michael Tracey.
Beyond that, you don't look remotely dead in this picture. I've seen dead; I know how it looks.
This ain't it.
Sorry.
So sorry that you do not look dead!
Posted by: Tight Hole at October 8, 2007 01:45 PM
so now we know how this movie is going to end???
Posted by: brus at October 15, 2007 04:11 PM