November 10th, 2009
Ashley Blue on Khan Tusion
One of the most important porn actresses of the past decade speaks about one of the most controversial directors of the Gonzo era, Khan Tusion, with characteristic restraint.
The time is summer, 2004, and the place is the set of “Ashley Blue, Cockstar,” a JM Production co-directed by Jim Powers and Ashley Blue. I was just getting started on a documentary that would never be finished, working at this point with my good friend Brad Stark, who would soon bow out. As you can see from watching the clip, Ashley wasn’t feeling too positive towards ole KT at this point, though I think those fences have been mended in recent years. At least, I hope that they have - Tusion and Blue being two of the more cerebral, boundary-pushing figures in porn.
Khan Tusion (not his real name, it’s a funny pun) knew what he was doing - he found girls at the very beginning of their “careers” (or in some cases, the wonderful Nikki Hunter, almost at the end of hers) and degraded them, choked them out, abused them in general and in most cases ended up pissing on them.
Most people may find this revolting, but mainstream America wouldn’t understand niche films & marketing if it stabbed them in the asshole.
Khan was one of the first (let’s not get into Max Hardcore or the whole Rob Black situation) to really push it with the girls, make the scene totally about the man’s gratification, the humiliation, and eventual breaking of these same girls.
Most of his scenes (and films) are out of print and even a few (remember Regan Starr and “Rough Sex 2″?) were recalled due the “utter violence” of them against the girls.
But “violence”? The girls were told up front what was going to happen. They were being paid a ton of cash for the scenes. they knew it was pretty much extreme S&M without the whip and chains, just slapping, choking, pissing and whatever else popped into his head.
However…
The world is a funny place, and what one person may find totally reprehensible is another smorgesbord of depravity.
Khan knew that right up to the end, slowly disappearing back into the world in 2005/6.
Max Hardcore went to jail on somewhat related charges.
I think Ashley’s put out because in one of the “Meatholes” scenes she did with him he choked her out until she was left convulsing on the bed as he filmed it… guess I’d be pissed too if I was left brain-damaged.
The same happened with Roxy Jezel in one her scenes, but we all knew she’s gone on to much bigger and better things (acting in legit stuff, finally pulling the plug a few months back).
There is bitterness in her voice, sure, but Khan was doing what the natural order of porn does - in the late 70’s/early 80’s, interracial became much more popular, as did anal in scenes.
In the 90’s, gangbangs became more standard, and as of late, the old fashioned sweeping drama/porn has made a bit of a comeback (no more motel rooms there, look at the DVD pre-order of “Pirates 2″), all filmed in glorious hi-def and even on Blu-Ray!
If only Marilyn Chambers or Ona Zee were alive now… their scenes would be golden…