The Fluffer
Encyclopedia
The Fluffer, a 2001
U.S.
independent film
, is a triangular story of obsessive love set against the backdrop of the adult video industry. The film was written by Wash West
and co-directed by West and his life partner Richard Glatzer. The Fluffer features cameos from a number of figures in the adult entertainment industry, including Ron Jeremy
, director Chi Chi LaRue
, Karen Dior
, Zach Richards, Derek Cameron
, Chad Donovan
, Thomas Lloyd
, Jim Steel
, Chris Green
and Cole Tucker.
The Fluffer was an official selection of and premiered in 2001 at the 51st Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Berlin International Film Festival
). It was also selected for the Toronto International Film Festival that year, where it made its North American debut.
to break into the movie business. While looking for work, he passes the time watching rented videos. He sets out to watch Citizen Kane
, but the videotape has accidentally been switched with an adult movie called Citizen Cum. Sean becomes instantly obsessed with the star of Citizen Cum, Johnny Rebel. His interest in Johnny leads Sean to turn down work in the mainstream film industry to become a cameraman for Men of Janus, the production company that has Johnny under exclusive contract. On his first shoot, Sean ends up as a "Fluffer" for Johnny, performing (offscreen) oral sex on him to help him maintain an erection and reach orgasm for the "money shot
." He learns that Johnny's real name is Mikey, he is "gay-for-pay
" and doesn't perform oral sex on other men or even kiss. Johnny has Sean fluff him on additional productions, and Sean's infatuation continues to grow. He confides his feelings for Johnny to co-worker Silver, who tells him that the relationship is hopeless because Johnny's a porn star and straight. Meanwhile, Johnny's girlfriend Julie, who works as a stripper
under her stagename Babylon but who has tried to move into mainstream acting, learns she is pregnant.
Trying to break from Johnny, Sean begins dating an acupuncture
student named Brian. However, Brian breaks up with Sean because of his emotional unavailability, the result of his continuing obsession with Johnny.
Johnny's crystal meth
use spirals out of control. He goes on a five-day binge and misses a scheduled film shoot. The film's producer Sam Martins forces Sean to fluff Johnny's replacement for the shoot. Johnny shows up late to the set and is fired. Julie decides to get an abortion
since she cannot rely on Johnny to help raise a child. She breaks up with Johnny and changes the locks to her apartment.
At the studio an expensive video camera goes missing and company manager Chad Cox is found dead in his apartment. The police seek Johnny, under his real name Michael Rossini, for questioning. Johnny turns to Sean for help, and together they flee to Mexico
. Once in Mexico, Sean sells his car for getaway money. Johnny initially denies involvement in Chad's death but later confesses to Sean that he killed Chad accidentally during a fight over the payoff for stealing the camera for drug money. That night Johnny offers to let Sean service him sexually, but for the first time Sean declines. Sean shares in oblique terms memories of being sexually abused as a child by an adult male neighbor. Johnny starts to cry, saying he can relate because of some of the "fucked up shit" he's been through and that he was made to do things he didn't want to do. Sean comforts Johnny and for the first time calls him "Mikey." They kiss.
When Sean wakes the next morning, Johnny is gone along with all of Sean's money. Sean initially tries to hitchhike back to the United States, but ends up accepting an offer to go further south to an idyllic location he had previously suggested he and Johnny visit. Babylon packs up her apartment and drives north away from Los Angeles. Mikey survives in Mexico by committing armed robberies, his new gritty reality counterpointed as Sean reads a fan letter written to Johnny, who remains a figure of fantasy.
on September 20, 2002 (R-rated version) and September 28, 2002 (Unrated Special Edition). The differences between the two versions are minor; the R-rated version has some dialogue overdubbed with less explicit lines and slightly less nudity.
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
, is a triangular story of obsessive love set against the backdrop of the adult video industry. The film was written by Wash West
Wash West
Wash Westmoreland is an independent film director who has worked in television, documentaries, independent films. Westmoreland's began directing in the adult film world of the late-nineties making deliberately ironic post-modern porn...
and co-directed by West and his life partner Richard Glatzer. The Fluffer features cameos from a number of figures in the adult entertainment industry, including Ron Jeremy
Ron Jeremy
Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
, director Chi Chi LaRue
Chi Chi LaRue
Larry David Paciotti is an American film director of gay, bisexual and straight pornography. He is best known in his drag persona as Chi Chi LaRue and has also directed under the names Lawrence David and Taylor Hudson.- Career :...
, Karen Dior
Karen Dior
Karen Dior was an American transgender adult film performer, director, singer. She was best known as a pioneer in popularizing adult films involving transsexual people.-Life and career:...
, Zach Richards, Derek Cameron
Derek Cameron
-Awards and nominations:* 1996 Gay Erotic Video Awards winner of Best Erotic Scene in "Tradewinds".* 1996 GayVN Awards winner of Best Erotic Scene in "Tradewinds"....
, Chad Donovan
Chad Donovan
Chad Donovan is an American performer and director of gay pornographic films. He has won numerous awards as a performer and director, and is a member of the GayVN Awards Hall of Fame and the Grabby Awards Hall of Fame....
, Thomas Lloyd
Thomas Lloyd (porn star)
Thomas Lloyd is a retired gay porn star who won a GayVN Award in 2000 for Best Supporting Actor in Animus. He appeared as himself in The Fluffer and had an important role in Hardbody 2000 2: Chi Chi's Birthday Bash. He was born in eastern Kansas...
, Jim Steel
Jim Steel (director)
Jim Steel is an award-winning American director, writer, production manager and producer of pornographic films. He is an inductee of the Grabby Awards Hall of Fame and the GayVN Awards Hall of Fame.-Porn career:Steel's career dates back to the late 1980s...
, Chris Green
Chris Green
Chris Green may refer to:* Chris Green , British writer* Chris Green , British comedian and writer* Chris Green , NFL defensive back* Chris Green , Porn star of the 1990s...
and Cole Tucker.
The Fluffer was an official selection of and premiered in 2001 at the 51st Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
). It was also selected for the Toronto International Film Festival that year, where it made its North American debut.
Plot synopsis
Sean McGinnis is a film student who moves to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to break into the movie business. While looking for work, he passes the time watching rented videos. He sets out to watch Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...
, but the videotape has accidentally been switched with an adult movie called Citizen Cum. Sean becomes instantly obsessed with the star of Citizen Cum, Johnny Rebel. His interest in Johnny leads Sean to turn down work in the mainstream film industry to become a cameraman for Men of Janus, the production company that has Johnny under exclusive contract. On his first shoot, Sean ends up as a "Fluffer" for Johnny, performing (offscreen) oral sex on him to help him maintain an erection and reach orgasm for the "money shot
Money shot
A money shot is a moving or stationary visual element of a film, video, television broadcast, print publication, etc., that is disproportionately expensive to produce and/or is perceived as essential to the overall importance or revenue-generating potential of the work.-Cinema:Originally, in...
." He learns that Johnny's real name is Mikey, he is "gay-for-pay
Gay-for-pay
Gay-for-pay describes male or female actors, pornographic stars, or sex workers who self-identify as heterosexual but who are paid to act or perform as homosexual professionally. The term has also applied to other professions and even companies with the same core concerns and criticism in place...
" and doesn't perform oral sex on other men or even kiss. Johnny has Sean fluff him on additional productions, and Sean's infatuation continues to grow. He confides his feelings for Johnny to co-worker Silver, who tells him that the relationship is hopeless because Johnny's a porn star and straight. Meanwhile, Johnny's girlfriend Julie, who works as a stripper
Stripper
A stripper is a professional erotic dancer who performs a contemporary form of striptease at strip club establishments, public exhibitions, and private engagements. Unlike in burlesque, the performer in the modern Americanized form of stripping minimizes the interaction of customer and dancer,...
under her stagename Babylon but who has tried to move into mainstream acting, learns she is pregnant.
Trying to break from Johnny, Sean begins dating an acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
student named Brian. However, Brian breaks up with Sean because of his emotional unavailability, the result of his continuing obsession with Johnny.
Johnny's crystal meth
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
use spirals out of control. He goes on a five-day binge and misses a scheduled film shoot. The film's producer Sam Martins forces Sean to fluff Johnny's replacement for the shoot. Johnny shows up late to the set and is fired. Julie decides to get an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
since she cannot rely on Johnny to help raise a child. She breaks up with Johnny and changes the locks to her apartment.
At the studio an expensive video camera goes missing and company manager Chad Cox is found dead in his apartment. The police seek Johnny, under his real name Michael Rossini, for questioning. Johnny turns to Sean for help, and together they flee to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Once in Mexico, Sean sells his car for getaway money. Johnny initially denies involvement in Chad's death but later confesses to Sean that he killed Chad accidentally during a fight over the payoff for stealing the camera for drug money. That night Johnny offers to let Sean service him sexually, but for the first time Sean declines. Sean shares in oblique terms memories of being sexually abused as a child by an adult male neighbor. Johnny starts to cry, saying he can relate because of some of the "fucked up shit" he's been through and that he was made to do things he didn't want to do. Sean comforts Johnny and for the first time calls him "Mikey." They kiss.
When Sean wakes the next morning, Johnny is gone along with all of Sean's money. Sean initially tries to hitchhike back to the United States, but ends up accepting an offer to go further south to an idyllic location he had previously suggested he and Johnny visit. Babylon packs up her apartment and drives north away from Los Angeles. Mikey survives in Mexico by committing armed robberies, his new gritty reality counterpointed as Sean reads a fan letter written to Johnny, who remains a figure of fantasy.
Cast
- Scott GurneyScott GurneyScott Gurney is an American executive producer, writer, director, actor, model, and entrepreneur who has created several television series documentaries and unscripted/reality TV programming including Auction Hunters, Haunted Collector, Speed of Life, and Wild Recon...
as Mikey Racini (aka Johnny Rebel) - Michael Cunio as Sean McGinnis
- Roxanne Day as Julie Desponsio (aka Babylon)
- Taylor NegronTaylor NegronBrad Taylor Negron is an American writer, actor, and stand-up comedian.-Personal life:Negron was born in Glendale, California to Conrad Negron, Sr., former mayor of Indian Wells, California. He grew up in Pasadena, California. His cousin is singer Chuck Negron...
as Tony Brooks - Richard RiehleRichard Riehle-Life and career:Riehle was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, the son of Mary Margaret , a nurse, and Herbert John Riehle , an assistant postmaster. He attended the University of Notre Dame....
as Sam Martins - Deborah Harry as Marcella
DVD release
The Fluffer was released on Region 1 DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on September 20, 2002 (R-rated version) and September 28, 2002 (Unrated Special Edition). The differences between the two versions are minor; the R-rated version has some dialogue overdubbed with less explicit lines and slightly less nudity.