Vidkid Timo
Encyclopedia
Vidkid Timo is an award-winning American actor, award-nominated film writer, producer, and director of mostly, but not exclusively, adult and erotic films.
His odd body of work and cerebral style have made him one of the most notable and inspirational artists in the underground and experimental film genres. Timo writes and directs his movies and has also acted in the majority of them. For inspiration, Timo draws heavily on literature, philosophy, his own admittedly abnormal psychology, film parody and, most importantly, the culture of the American South, where he was born and in which he has lived most of his life.
, he attended Silliman Institute in Clinton
for eight years, and then went to West Feliciana High School for the remainder of his Junior High and High School years. He also attempted several semesters at Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge, but did not feel comfortable with that type of education. During that time, he lived both in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Nicknamed "Vidkid" because of his early short films, made with a borrowed video camera and featuring outrageous characters played by himself and university bar-buddies. It is during these low-budget collegiate productions that Timo developed his unique style for visual storytelling.
. The pair went on to produce over 14 live shows (such as Infant Road Kill and If An Entertainer Falls in the Woods Does Anyone Hear Her Scream?) and dozens of short films (including Sex in a Bathtub of Pasta and An Erotic Eruption of Skim Milk at the Superdome).
During the late 1990s, Timo branched out and started producing adult films as well, at first with Rico del la Playa, then on his own. Timo has teamed up with such performers as Jim Buck, Aaron Lawrence, and Brandon Baker.
In 1997, he shared the award for "Best Supporting Actor" with Drew Andrews for his performance in Mardi Gras Cowboy (All Worlds Video) at the Adult Erotic Gay Video Awards.
Timo's first directorial effort was Connie Lingus's Winning Star-Search Video starring Jeff Roberson in the first of many camp drag shorts which culminated in the creation of the "Varla Jean Merman" character.
.
During these years Timo moved to Missouri
where he continued to make comedic films with students from the University of Missouri
, such as The House on Haunted Hill and The Schwartz Family Christmas.
In the late 1990s, Timo moved back to New Orleans and began working on adult films. He also traveled to New York City
and Provincetown and resumed his work with Varla Jean Merman. Their musical short subjects include 24 Hours from Tulsa, If You Go Away, I Who Have Nothing, and Mockingbird Hill (a parody of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds).
It was at this time that Timo was approached by another videographer from New Orleans (Rico del la Playa) to write, co-direct, co-produce, and co-star in the erotic cult classic Mardi Gras Cowboy. Timo also began producing his own independent adult films which lead to numerous nominations and critical acclaim for their creativity and refusal to follow established formulas.
Timo not only appeared in most of his own films, but also performed in videos for other directors such as Shawn Gustavson (Jizz Boys 1), Wash West (Naked Highway), and Aaron Lawrence (Aaron's American Tour 2, Aaron's Adventures in Amsterdam 1, and Aaron's Adventures in Russia 3).
to film footage for All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You. Timo also portrayed "Charles Manson Reilly" in a musical interpretation of Varla's Lookin' For Love in All the Wrong Places.
Timo also traveled to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, St. Petersburg, and Moscow to film segments for his adult videos. He also flew to Amsterdam and Bangkok to assist his colleague, Aaron Lawrence.
Timo and his boyfriend (credited in some films as "Philip Eric") moved to a remote location in Alabama in 2004 (which marked Timo's retirement from making and selling adult films).
Even while enjoying the peace and quiet of country life, Timo returns to the bustling city to film with Varla at least once every year. These short films (such as Jew Don't Know My Name and The Best Things in Life Are Free) are used in Varla's touring cabaret shows all over the United States. Timo considers his friendship with Roberson to be one of the most worthwhile relationships he has ever experienced. Timo also professes that his involvement with the Varla Jean Merman comedies remains one of the most creatively satisfying endeavors of his life.
In July 2006, Vidkid Timo and Philip Eric celebrated their fifth anniversary by flying to Toronto and getting married (since same-sex marriages are legal there).
His odd body of work and cerebral style have made him one of the most notable and inspirational artists in the underground and experimental film genres. Timo writes and directs his movies and has also acted in the majority of them. For inspiration, Timo draws heavily on literature, philosophy, his own admittedly abnormal psychology, film parody and, most importantly, the culture of the American South, where he was born and in which he has lived most of his life.
Early years
Timo was born in Baton Rouge to a middle-class family of Scottish, Cajun-French and Sicilian ancestry. Even though he grew up in St. FrancisvilleSt. Francisville, Louisiana
St. Francisville is a town in and the parish seat of West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,712 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
, he attended Silliman Institute in Clinton
Clinton, Louisiana
Clinton is a town in and the parish seat of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town was named for New York Governor DeWitt Clinton. The population was 1,998 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area....
for eight years, and then went to West Feliciana High School for the remainder of his Junior High and High School years. He also attempted several semesters at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge, but did not feel comfortable with that type of education. During that time, he lived both in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Nicknamed "Vidkid" because of his early short films, made with a borrowed video camera and featuring outrageous characters played by himself and university bar-buddies. It is during these low-budget collegiate productions that Timo developed his unique style for visual storytelling.
Comedy writer
At nineteen, he started writing dialog and plot summaries for music videos and comedic skits used in cabaret acts by his college chum, Jeff Roberson, who portrays the character of Varla Jean MermanVarla Jean Merman
Varla Jean Merman is a character originated and portrayed by Jeffery Roberson, an American actor, singer and drag performer. Varla's fictitious pedigree boasts that Ernest Borgnine is her father and Ethel Merman is her mother....
. The pair went on to produce over 14 live shows (such as Infant Road Kill and If An Entertainer Falls in the Woods Does Anyone Hear Her Scream?) and dozens of short films (including Sex in a Bathtub of Pasta and An Erotic Eruption of Skim Milk at the Superdome).
During the late 1990s, Timo branched out and started producing adult films as well, at first with Rico del la Playa, then on his own. Timo has teamed up with such performers as Jim Buck, Aaron Lawrence, and Brandon Baker.
Film career
Vidkid Timo has an extensive (but hard to find) adult filmography.In 1997, he shared the award for "Best Supporting Actor" with Drew Andrews for his performance in Mardi Gras Cowboy (All Worlds Video) at the Adult Erotic Gay Video Awards.
Selected adult filmography
- Mardi Gras Cowboy (nominated for "best sex comedy" and "best video" in the 1997 GVG awards)
- Pueris Collection #19 "Cousins at Carnival" (nominated for "best amateur" in the 2000 GayVN awards)
- Pueris Collection #30 "Booty-Call in Budapest" (nominated for "best amateur" in the 2001 GayVN awards)
- At Twilight Come the Flesh-Eaters (nominated for "best video" in the 1998 GayVN awards)
- Hippy Hollow
- Orgy of Six
Early films
His first video production was He Knows You're Old which was a horror spoof, about a serial killer who targets elderly couples.Timo's first directorial effort was Connie Lingus's Winning Star-Search Video starring Jeff Roberson in the first of many camp drag shorts which culminated in the creation of the "Varla Jean Merman" character.
1980s
Most of his late 1980s films, even the comedies, have somber and philosophical undertones. Many, like The Varla Merman Story and Varla Doesn't Live Here Anymore, are said to be influenced by the early films of John WatersJohn Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
.
1990s
In the mid 1990s, he began working with Roberson's alter-ego Varla Jean Merman less and less when Roberson moved to New York City.During these years Timo moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
where he continued to make comedic films with students from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, such as The House on Haunted Hill and The Schwartz Family Christmas.
In the late 1990s, Timo moved back to New Orleans and began working on adult films. He also traveled to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Provincetown and resumed his work with Varla Jean Merman. Their musical short subjects include 24 Hours from Tulsa, If You Go Away, I Who Have Nothing, and Mockingbird Hill (a parody of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds).
It was at this time that Timo was approached by another videographer from New Orleans (Rico del la Playa) to write, co-direct, co-produce, and co-star in the erotic cult classic Mardi Gras Cowboy. Timo also began producing his own independent adult films which lead to numerous nominations and critical acclaim for their creativity and refusal to follow established formulas.
Timo not only appeared in most of his own films, but also performed in videos for other directors such as Shawn Gustavson (Jizz Boys 1), Wash West (Naked Highway), and Aaron Lawrence (Aaron's American Tour 2, Aaron's Adventures in Amsterdam 1, and Aaron's Adventures in Russia 3).
2000s
Vidkid Timo continued his occasional collaborations with Varla Jean Merman, traveling 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 film footage for All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You. Timo also portrayed "Charles Manson Reilly" in a musical interpretation of Varla's Lookin' For Love in All the Wrong Places.
Timo also traveled to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, St. Petersburg, and Moscow to film segments for his adult videos. He also flew to Amsterdam and Bangkok to assist his colleague, Aaron Lawrence.
Timo and his boyfriend (credited in some films as "Philip Eric") moved to a remote location in Alabama in 2004 (which marked Timo's retirement from making and selling adult films).
Even while enjoying the peace and quiet of country life, Timo returns to the bustling city to film with Varla at least once every year. These short films (such as Jew Don't Know My Name and The Best Things in Life Are Free) are used in Varla's touring cabaret shows all over the United States. Timo considers his friendship with Roberson to be one of the most worthwhile relationships he has ever experienced. Timo also professes that his involvement with the Varla Jean Merman comedies remains one of the most creatively satisfying endeavors of his life.
In July 2006, Vidkid Timo and Philip Eric celebrated their fifth anniversary by flying to Toronto and getting married (since same-sex marriages are legal there).