Sunday, August 18, 2024
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A Look Back: Secondo Tempo: Il Decameron
An adaptation of nine stories from Boccaccio's "Decameron
Many FH readers, and devoted fans of the male form in cinema, have heard of 1971's The Decameron. (Italian: Il Decameron) but the movie, and the male nude scenes were new to me. The anthology film, written and directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, is based on the 14th-century allegory by Giovanni Boccaccio.
This is the first film of director Pasolini's Trilogy of Life, the others being The Canterbury Tales and Arabian Nights. Each film was an adaptation of a different piece of classical literature focusing on ribald and often irreligious themes. The tales contain a fair amount of nudity, both male and female.
In the second half of the film, and in the fifth story, we're introduced to a young woman named Caterina, who, during a game of hide and seek, meets and falls in love with a beautiful young boy named Ricciardo. Scared to tell her father about her new love, she decides to spend the night sleeping on the terrace so she and Ricciardo can meet up and make love without her parents finding out.
Caterina's parents set up a makeshift bed for her outside where she awaits for Ricciardo. He scales the wall of her house and makes love to her in the makeshift bed. The next morning the girl's father goes outside to find the two lovers sleeping naked, while she is holding Ricciardo's penis.
Dad grabs mom, but instead of being angry, the parents think Ricciardo is a good match, and think a marriage would bring fair amount of money which would help with their social standing. Dad tells Ricciardo the only way he is leaving is to marry his daughter. Ricciardo happily agrees, and the parents leave the couple alone, welcoming them to continue to make love and be with each other.
Young Ricciardo is played by actor Francesco Gavazzi. Not only was this Gavazzi's first nude scene, it was his first and only movie, and credit that I could find. It's not really that odd to find a an actor, especially in a small part requiring full frontal nudity, be a one and done when it comes their film career. I tried to find an interview, and see what Gavazzi did after the film, but there was not much out there. If anyone knows, let me know. Thanks to xyzpdq for the clip!
Praetorian Jack
'Fury Is Born.'
Two summers ago, I wrote about the book, Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road. I wrote about the book, written by Kyle Buchanan, after reading a Tweet about it by actor and comedian Patton Oswalt. Not only did I write about the book, (HERE:) it inspired a series of posts featuring the movie and the nudity past of it's male cast members.
The reason I loved the book so much was how it impacted how I viewed the film. I'd seen Mad Max: Fury Road and liked, but not loved it. After reading Buchanan's incredible behind the scenes book, I re-watched the film and saw it through a totally different lens. It is now one of my favorite films, one I've re-watched each summer since.
I'm not sure that it's follow-up. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is going to make it on to my list of favorite films. Although I applaud writer and director George Miller, I just didn't find Furiosa's origin story offered anything new. Most of her past, we either heard about, or could imagine, by how well the Fury Road was written. This film just seemed a reason to get 'the band back together' without a new or distinct story to tell.
It was incredibly shot and visually intense, but again, no more so than the original. Although the cast was fine, I did not find myself especially drawn to Furiosa, in part, because she was played by two different actresses. Both were fine, but I actually preferred the character and story in the first part of the film, when played by Alyla Browne. I also thought Chris Hemsworth was horrible cast. I love me some Chris, but he was in over his head playing Dementus, the 'big baddie' of the film
Who was I was drawn to, was English actor Tom Burke, who played Praetorian Jack in the action flick. I really liked Jack, and although he wasn't really on screen for that long, the character and the actor really made an impact. I wasn't really familiar with Burke' work, but then remembered his naked turn in the 2008 horror drama, Donkey Punch.
I covered Donkey Punch on FH a few times, mostly because of actor Julian Morris who had several nude scenes, including two quick frontals, in the film. What I'd forgotten, was that Burke also had a quick frontal in the scene that follows a violent act after an on board orgy scene.
The fontal is in the gif above. The clip, thanks to xyzpdq, featured some great butt scenes from Burke and co-star Jay Taylor.
Between Jobs: Brian by Photography by George
'I think it was as much of a turn on for Brian to do this striptease as it is for me to photograph it.'
Last week, while spotlighting Studio1x and his work with Fletcher, I mentioned some of the reasons men decide to give nude modeling a shot. For some it's a profession, for others, it's a way of exploring their inner exhibitionist. Like so many of us though, for most, it's about making some money. The need to make a little quick cash is exactly how Brian ended up in front of George's lens, and modeling nude for the very first time.
Earlier this month, I spotlighted the work of Photography By George, with a feature which focused on a series of George's behind-the-scenes images. (The In-Between) It was while going through George's portfolio to prepare for that piece, that I discovered his work with Brian. I knew right away, I wanted to follow-up with George's work with Brian.
I loved Brian's rugged look, his great body and piercing dark eyes. FH viewers know I also love featuring images of the male form in long abandoned, dilapidated and neglected locations of urban decay. I love the contrast of a young, naked male body, in a deserted and derelict environment. It's almost like looking into the past, and into the future all through the same lens.
When I asked about featuring his work with Brian, George was instantly on board, and my desire to feature the shoot was even greater when hearing how it all came together. Like many photographers, George used to use Craiglist to advertise for models. It was there that Brian saw his ad and got in touch. Brian had never posed nude before, or any experience modeling, but was between jobs, and needed some extra cash to fill his gas tank and pay a few bills.
Even with no prior experience, Brian didn't hesitate when George explained the assignment, and although a little nervous at first, stripped down when it was time, and gave it his best. Given his beautiful eyes and facial structure, George's camera loved him, and Brian followed direction well supporting George in creating an visually erotic series of images.
How did you first connect with Brian?
Brian responded to a casting call I had placed on Craigslist.
What about his look motivated you to want to shoot him?
I thought he had a rugged look. I loved his facial hair and tattoos
How much discussion did you have with Brian prior to the shoot about concept
Not a lot of discussion. He was between jobs and needed to get some paid work to be able to buy gas for his car.
Did he express any boundaries when it came to nudity or theme?
None whatsoever. Although he'd never modeled before, he was happy for the work and expressed that he was happy to be photographed.
Was he comfortable right away with nudity?
I started by shooting him fully clothed as is my custom with all my shoots. This gives me the opportunity to see how the model looks and moves and gives us both the chance to chat about whatever and break the ice. As the shoot progressed I asked Brian to gradually undress one article of clothing at I time. I think it was as much of a turn on for Brian to do this striptease as it is for me to photograph it.
Tell me about the location? Where did you find it?
I learned about the location from a another model, a female model named Bri, I had done a non-nude shoot with there a month or so earlier. She turned me on to the location and specifically asked to do the shoot there.
Were there any other building or people near, was there any worry about being discovered?
There were other homes on the same road. But it was a rural setting with each home being separated by surrounding property. This was the last house on the road. Outdoor shoots when you are actually trespassing are always at risk even without the nudity.
So... now that Brian is down to his undies, it's time to lose the red jock-strap and explore the rest of the location, without the limitations of clothing. Check out the next part of George's work with Brian on the NEXT PAGE HERE:
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