Interviews Brought to you by ...
And Now... Gage Powers...
Keith: JRL Fanz, Please welcome to JRL, the master mind behind such mega hits as Real & Raw Las Vegas 1 & 2, Camp Boyz-Only, and the current hit in retail stores nationwide Real & Raw Miami Part 1! Yes JRL Fanz, it's none other than director and producer of the Citi Boyz powerhouse, Gage Powers. Thank you for hanging with us Gage...how are you?
Gage: I'm doing great. Thanks for having me here.
Keith: Let me first off ask you about your latest release entitled Real & Raw Miami Part 1 [2007]. Where did you find these sizzling guys for this feature film?
Gage: Some of these guys are exclusive models of ours, like Aaron Armstrong and Sabastion Nohart. Donavin Fitch has been with us for almost 6 years, although not exclusive. Same with Daved Wayne, although he's only been with us a few years. The rest are recent discoveries, like Aiden Shay, Jared Long and Bryan Fever. We "passively" recruit, meaning that the guys come to us rather than the other way around. We hear from about 50 prospective models per month, although only a few make it to full-fledged model status. Since we're out here in the Midwest, we don't draw from the traditional SoCal and SoFL model pools, so we get an unique variety of guys, which works out great for us!
Keith: You have 43 twink features on the Citi Boyz Label. How many features are you targeting for on the Citi Boyz Label?
Gage: Well, who knows where we'll end up! We try to release 5-6 new titles a year. As long as we keep finding hot guys and don't run out of ideas, and as long as it stays fun, we'll keep putting videos out.
Keith: You have also just released Big Dick Party Volume 1 [2007] 
on your Czech Boys European Label. How did you come up with the concept for this project?
Gage: CzechBoys approached us back in 2005 with the idea of releasing their content on DVD to the American market. We had been doing business with them already, so their first choice was us. Basically, they shoot the content in Europe and send us pre-edited scenes which we assemble into DVD's, after we add the bells and whistles of course.
Keith: With the stiff competition in retail with twink studios these days, do you feel pressured to release commercial product to stores or, do you believe in doing your own thing and aren't willing to go down the commercial road. The reason I ask is because a lot of directors have their own vision and aren't concerned about commercial stats. Though they do enjoy the rewards when one of their features tops the JRL Weekly Top 50 Charts. Where do you come from with your visions in this area?
Gage: Well, we've been around almost 10 years, so the Citiboyz line pre-dates most of the amateur and pro-am studios by many years. Frankly, I've seen studios come and go, but we keep going because we've established a loyal following among both retail customers and video stores. We're a known quantity, so to speak. Customers can depend on us to produce a high quality product with attractive models and attractive packaging that won't disappoint them. Since the beginning, our philosophy has been to make the kind of videos we ourselves like to watch. It's been a successful formula!
Keith: Now you know I have to ask this one! Boxers or briefs?..Your fans are lusting to know!
Gage: Well, sometimes boxers, sometimes briefs, sometimes none! But, overall I prefer bikini briefs.
Keith: Okay.....let's touch on the 2257 issue now concerning to a lot of webmasters who are supplying gay consumers with their own homegrown content. You of course do not do this and that can easily be verified when visitors go to www.citiboyz.com . How do you feel about what these webmasters are doing to the marketplace for twink lovers and producers?
Gage: We don't have any problem whatsoever with the reasoning behind 2257, making it incumbent on producers to be able to prove that their models are over 18. 
Having said that, it's absolutely ridiculous how the government makes us prove it to such a degree, as if we're presumed guilty and must prove we're not. We don't think that's right. However, we comply 100% with the law as best as we can interpret it. Our content customers receive all the necessary 2257 docs for all content they license from us. But it does create an un-level playing field when non-US producers and webmasters can post whatever they want without regard to the US law. In the end, that's going to drive more production overseas.
Keith: Do you see the twink genre continuing to dominate the nationwide marketplace? or do you think it will slide off a bit in making room for 28 - 45 age group.
Gage: I can't believe how oversaturated the twink genre has become. Granted the demand is huge, but so is the supply nowadays. And with all the amateur producers entering the business, it affects market share for everyone. These days it seems like anyone who buys a camcorder becomes a "producer", but fortunately for us most don't survive. We've staked out the "All American Boy Next Door" niche to differentiate us from the Euro studios, and that's worked out really well for us. It seems like fewer American studios exist today than 10 years ago, but that's been good for us because we do see the demand for non-Euro videos becoming stronger.
Keith: Tell us about the exclusives of Citi Boyz Video. How many are there and do you have any new hotties coming down the pipeline?
Gage: We don't sign models to exclusive contracts, but we do have a few models who are so happy with us they won't work for anyone else and become "de facto" exclusives, like Mikey Diaz and Sabastian Nohart. Just recently Aaron Armstrong joined that little fraternity!
Keith: Will we be seeing the full length movie trailers of Czech Boy's Big Dick Party and of course the American made Real & Raw Miami Part 1 soon, here on JRL?
Gage: Soon! We're working on that as I write this.
Keith: Paladin Distribution distributes your labels. They also distribute Hot House Entertainment, Bel Ami, COLT Studio Group, Studio 2000 Video and more. How did you get with such a power house in the industry?
Gage: We've been with Paladin 6 years. Originally we connected with them through Men of Odyssey, who was responsible for taking the Citiboyz line national. After Odyssey disintegrated back in 2003, we went direct with Paladin and we've been there ever since. Stan, Laurie and Jenny are great to work with.
Keith: What's in store for your fans of the Citi Boyz genre this summer?
Gage: Real & Raw Miami 2 hits the shelves later this month. Expect releases from us in July, September and November, with CzechBoys releases in the open months. "Straight Boys Fucking" will be the June release under the CzechBoys banner.
Keith: Gage, it's that time.....any shout outs to anyone watching JRL?
Gage: Again, I just want to say thanks for spending some time with me.. Let me give a shout out to my business partner Steven Shay, all the staff at JRL, all my friends, fans, and colleagues.
Keith: Gage thank you for hanging with us today on JRL. Can you tell all of the JRL viewers reading this....just who is Gage Powers No. 1 source for Info and Entertainment on the Gay Adult Film Industry?
Gage: JRL kicks ass! :)
Keith: Thanks again Gage and JRL Fanz, keep it locked in to JRL because soon you'll see the world premier of Real & Raw Miami Part 1 and Big Dick Party.
