LA LIFESTYLES
Gay for Pay?
Struggling actor ponders 'crossing over.'

by A. Bravo

TOLUCA LAKE -- December 12, 2002 -- Exasperated thespian Mitch Roundtree has had it up to here with the rigors of the casting couch lifestyle. He's tried everything to get his fledgling acting career off the ground: the right agent, the right acting classes, the right connections. He has even gone so far as to consider changing his name from 'Mitch Roundtree' to 'Mitch Stein' to fit in better.

After all this, the 24-year-old transplant from Chicago, Illinois, is becoming evermore impatient and is seriously contemplating "shaking things up very soon" by doing some gay pornography in the near future.

Mitch just moved to Los Angeles nine months ago. Although Chicago certainly has a big city feel to it, it pales in comparison with the raw energy levels of La La Land. Like many before him, this young actor is considering sacrificing his hard-earned Midwestern values by giving bisexuality a chance in an attempt to bolster his L.A. chic quotient. This, he hopes, will increase his odds of booking jobs.

So far, Mitch has only done 'semi-gay' fashion shows, masturbation videos (whose consumers are predominantly gay men), and a couple of episodes of MTV's Undressed.

The actor told me about the 'fashion show' he had just finished. After the show, he was approached by several homosexual Filipino men requesting his 'entertainment services' at events ranging from 'private shows' to public appearances at a daughter's upcoming birthday party.

Hearing Mitch's tales, I thought to myself, "I can't imagine someone paying me just to show up at some party. How ludicrous is that? And what exactly does 'private show' mean? This was really some ridiculous account."

Mitch was also propositioned to appear in the controversial (and fleshy) Abercrombie & Fitch Christmas catalog. "All they're showing is T & A, man. I know it, they know it, and the whole world knows it. Shame on them." Mitch was upset because he feels the catalog is in poor taste and hardly showcases the clothing that consumers can purchase in any local mall.

"Even I have to draw a limit somewhere, for God's sake," Mitch commented. "There must be something that doesn't make me want to vomit around this time of the year." That's just not the kinda thing this ol' fashioned Chicago kid thought L.A. living was all about.

Take it from me, pal. I have a lot of actor friends who came out here to become stars, only to become expensive escorts later in their early 30's. Bring your kneepads, kid. It's gonna be a long journey.

From Wilshire Gazette (January 2003)

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