Sunday, March 7, 2010

DENISE LAFRANCE Toronto Canada Painter/writer/actor




This statement was completed in 2008

Also this is the question that was posted Who is Denise Lafrance:


The Golden Heart & Soul of XXX~
A Celebration of People

So, to make this an easy explanation of my idea's origin here I am publishing an excerpt of an interview my friend, journalist, Victor von Buchastab junior wrote about me:
"Recently, I caught up with the Toronto-based artist / writer, and asked about her inspiration behind the book…



"I was a burlesque entertainer for 16 years," recalls Denise, "and I was noticing the public casting value judgment on me; making false assumptions about my intelligence and moral fiber."



So, I took the most intense example of the adult entertainment industry—porn—and decided to put my journalistic skills to use… and I have been interviewing these people about their personal lives, outside the industry, and painting their portraits.
I am focussing mostly on the key porn people from the 1970's era because this was the turn of the Sexual Revolution; the time when the "Porn Ball" really got rolling.


Very generally, this book is being created by me with the aim to celebrate the dignity and humanity of the key figures in the porn industry in all sects of the business, and to defend these people's honor in reaction to the attempted demonization religious zealots and certain sects of Media have attempted to portray over a long course of time via corrosive misrepresentation and selectivity in what they choose to-- and not to reveal about the people in the porn industry.



All in all, the interviews are touching, humorous, entertaining and most of all revealing the common thread of Humanity that is present in each and every one of these people.



Even in situations where the subject may be discussing something sad like illness or heartache, I steer the tone of the interview to be compassionate but, at the same time, up beat and positive/hopeful.



The reader will feel like a fly on the wall; eavesdropping in on a porn star talking in a very personal manner with a friend.



We joke around. Sometimes, I reveal some of my own self to the porn star throughout the course of our conversations...so the reader will also get a feel for the person who is conducting the interviews.

Each interview is accompanied with a very flattering hand painted watercolor portrait that I've created which reveals and celebrates the dignity of the subject.

Deep inside, we're all the same; people with hopes, dreams, family, aspirations and feelings."
Georgina Spelvin (of 'Devil in Miss Jones" fame) wrote the foreword for my book.
Here is what she says in the foreword:
Foreword
by
Georgina Spelvin
I was bowled over when Denise LaFrance asked to paint my portrait from a photo. After all, The Devil In Miss Jones (source of my 15 minutes of fame) was made over thirty years ago! Fishing in an old trunk under the bed, I found some shots from that era and sent them to her. The resulting work left me speechless. She not only picked the most flattering shot, she skillfully managed to create an intelligent looking glamour puss out of it. I should only have looked so good – ever.
During the exchange of messages and phone conversations that took place working out the logistics, we bonded. Denise has a skill, not just for painting, but for drawing people out about themselves and their feelings. Hence the depth of expression and life in her work that takes a photo to a whole other dimension.
The more I learned of her ambitions for this book, the more my admiration for her grew. I loved her idea of presenting the familiar faces of the better-known sex performers – especially those of us from the past – with accompanying profiles of their very human aspirations, disappointments, triumphs and defeats.
"Hey, these are real people with real lives beyond the porn industry," she said. "I want to give each an opportunity to present those aspects of themselves that the standard porn press has traditionally scorned. Most importantly, I want each of them to feel they have complete control over the content."
Denise's book presents the people from the porn industry in a very humanistic and compassionate light. Also, it offers them a platform to speak freely about the things they are truly passionate about. What more could an adult adult-film star ask?
Well, I intend to ask for a copy of the book. That's for sure. I know you will enjoy yours.
This book is still in the making and I am currently re-searching for an appropriate and reputable publisher as the person who had initially asked to look at (and most likely publish the book), Judith Regan of Regan Publishing; A division of Harper Collins publishing, got canned.
To date, the subjects in my book are:
Georgina Spelvin
Harry Reems
Jamie Gillis
PT (Paul Thomas)
Candida Royalle
Ron Jeremy
Joey Silvera
Bill Margold
Gloria Leonard
Johnney Keyes
Marilyn Chambers
Juliet Anderson ("Aunt Peg")
Kay Parker
Veronica Hart (now known as director, Jane Hamilton)
Herschel savage
Randy West
Dr. Sharon Mitchell of AIM Healthcare
Annie Sprinkle
Eric Edwards
Sharon Cain
Kitten Natividad
Richard Pacheco
Nina Hartley
Amber Lynn
Ginger Lynn Allen
Christy canyon
Mike Horner
Rhonda Jo Petty
Vanessa del Rio
Mai Lin
Gay San Franciscan Porn icon and friend, Peter Berlin.
Directors:
Bob Chinn (Director of Johnny WADD series) and featuring special surprise poster I painted of one of his *biggest male stars*.
Henri Pachard,
The Late Jim Hiolliday
Roy Karch (who is the 1st director to put porn on video)
Print:
Larry Flynt and Theresa Flynt-Gaerke from Hustler Magazine
Legendary porn screen writer, Raven Touchstone, also known as erotic photographer Penny Antine
Jim South; Agent to porn from Hollywood's World Modeling agency
Special commentary from and portrait of: My good friend, Xaviera Hollander; The Happy Hooker.
Once I find a suitable publisher, the personal secretary to Hugh Hefner said Hugh will consider taking part.

1 comment:

  1. Dee, I love you so much. I miss our daily chats but know I think of you often.
    xo
    Denise....sheeet!
    Magnet & Steel will end soon and we can go out again for a nice afternoon...maybe this time we DO buy a guitar!^^

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