Matthew Rush

Unless otherwise noted, Matthew Rush photos by GIO

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Matthew Rush 4^th of July weekend before his performance at Voo Doo Lounge’s Sunday Babylon T-Dance.  I want to thank Gary Santis for allowing me to come to Voo Doo and conduct this interview and photo-shoot before Matthew’s show.

GIO      Thank you for taking time to meet with me.  You have been to South Florida a few times, what keeps you coming back?

MR       I love South Florida, especially Fort Lauderdale.  The people here are great and every time I come down here I have such a good time.  I mean, I really love this place (he giggles) and I plan on moving here by the end of the year.

GIO      Oh yeah?  To Fort Lauderdale?

MR       Of course!  I love it here and cannot wait to move to Lauderdale.

GIO      Well great, we will be glad to welcome you to our fine city.  So, how did you get into the adult industry?

MR       Well I used to live in Columbus, Ohio and a person representing Falcon Studios approached me one night at a bar.  I had never wanted to do porn and never even thought about it at that point.  When he approached me I said no.  I continued to talk to him that night and we exchanged numbers and kept in contact.  At the time, I was working at a gym and then one day the gym shut its doors without notice and I was without a job.  So I figured there was nothing keeping me in Ohio anymore and I figured I would try the porn thing and see what happens.  I called the guy back up, sent some pictures. And the rest is history so to speak. (He gives a big hearty laugh)

GIO      So, what is your favorite porn that you have done with Falcon?

MR       We (referring to his boyfriend Ethan Kage) just shot a film in New Zealand, called Cross Country, which will be out in September.  I got to do a scene with my boyfriend and it was probably the easiest scene in the world to do.  I mean the chemistry was there between us and the scene was overall perfect.  It was a lot of fun being with him in New Zealand, I mean it is a beautiful country and it was great being there with him.  So for me, this shoot was by far the best for me.

GIO      So you mention your boyfriend Ethan, how long have you two been together?

Ethan Kage & Matthew Rush (boyfriends)

MR       (Ethan gives a laugh and I invite him to join in on the interview, but he stays on other side of room watching and smiling) we have been together for seven months.

Ethan & Matthew – Awww Romantic!

GIO      Newlyweds (both laugh)!  So, he is also signed with Falcon Studios?

MR       Yeah, he just signed an exclusive contract with Falcon.

GIO      Do you have a favorite co-Star that you have worked with besides Ethan?

MR       Actually I do.  There are two, Joe Foster and Jake Andrews.  Mainly because they are fun guys and we had a really fun time shooting together.

GIO      Can you share any embarrassing or funny moments that happened while filming?

MR       You know what, there are so many fun things that happen and they are usually caught on camera.  So you can watch them on the behind the scenes bloopers with Falcon and see me do a lot of silly shit (he laughs).

GIO      Well I love the blooper scenes.  Do you watch yourself in the videos?

MR       I do not watch my videos, I just can’t.  I am way to critical of myself.  If I did watch, I would probably never make another movie.

GIO      Well you certainly have an amazing body, you are built like a Michelangelo statue. What is your workout regimen like?

MR       (actually blushes) Wow, that is quite a compliment, thank you.  I work out four times a week for about an hour, no more than that.  I used to be the total gym-rat but now I just work it hard and maintain.

GIO      Wow, just an hour each time.  Do you contribute your physique to genetics?

MR       You know I got lucky in the gene pool, I would have to say.  Yeah, I got pretty lucky and I thank God every day (he giggles)

GIO      After being in a relationship for seven months with Ethan, what qualities do you look for in a relationship?

MR       Well to be with me, you have to be a big kid (he laughs a big laugh).  Honesty and being confident with your self are very important. In this business it is hard to keep a relationship.  We both realize that what we do is work and we can separate that work from personal. If we could not do that, the relationship would not work.

GIO      You are one of the most well recognized images in gay porn these days, how is it for you to be out in public and be recognized?

MR       It is flattering to go out and be recognized and have people come up to you and want to talk to you.  I mean, I see myself everyday and I think to myself, what the hell are you people thinking?  Because, I am really a big geek! (laughs) I am really a huge dork.  But, I am totally flattered when people come up to me and tell me they like my work. (Gives me a big smile)

GIO      Does your family know what you do?

MR       (Big giggle) No, they do not.  I am from a small town in Pennsylvania and they are so far isolated from any type of pornography that I really do not think that they would find out.  But, even if they did, they are very open minded and they always told me that whatever made me happy, they would support.  At this point, I just have not been able to go home and say; “Hey, mom and dad, I am a porn-star.”  (Big smile and giggle)

GIO      So, you say you are a big geek!  What were you like growing up, what was your childhood like?

MR       Well I was the youngest of three sons and I was the skinny geeky kid.  My brothers were very athletic. Sports and me were like Richard Simmons trying to throw a football; it just did not work (laughing).  So, I started weight lifting later in life and that became my thing.

GIO      What is the best advice you could give to anyone wanting to do porn?

MR       Well you have to be thick skinned (nervous laugh) because the critics will rip you apart in a heat beat.  You have to treat it like a job and do not get caught up in the party scene.  You have the potential to make a lot of money and you should try to invest it as best as you can and not blow it away on partying.

GIO      That is good advice, and seems to be a trend amongst the most successful performers of today.

MR       Well it is true, you just have to be smart and treat it like a job.

GIO      OK, Boxers or briefs (laughing)?

MR       (Big laugh) Depends on which are clean!

GIO      (laughing together) Outside the porn industry what are you passionate about?

MR       Obviously working out! And trying to maintain my relationship (gives a big romantic smile to Ethan)

GIO      How many movies have you done for Falcon?

MR       In five years I have done 25.

GIO      Wow, that is a lot! I understand you were named "Lifetime Exclusive for Falcon,” I have read that there was some controversy around that, can you shed some light on it for us?

MR       There was some controversy when I first started because they said they only sign one Lifetime Exclusive at a time and another one was signed after me and it kind of hurt.  Falcon didn’t even tell me, I just kind of read it on the Internet.  But, since then it is cool.  Being a Lifetime Exclusive is pretty cool and I would not want to work for anyone else except Falcon.

GIO      So the stories out there about you leaving Falcon are false?

MR       Yes, anything that you read about me wanting to leave Falcon is greatly exaggerated.  Falcon has been awesome to me and they treat my like royalty and I would never want to leave them.  They have given me so much and I am definitely there to stay as long as I can.

GIO      Well I am glad that you cleared the air on that issue.  If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?

MR       Uh, well I have always had this fascination with the black panther.  Ever since that Madonna video where she is going around the street and there is a panther following her, I thought that was hot and sexy and I would love to be a panther because they are so sleek. 

GIO      Cool, well you may get to see a black panther when you move down here, they are protected in Florida and can be seen in the everglades.   

MR       Oh cool, another reason why I like it down here. 

GIO      If I were to call up a couple of your very close friends and ask them to tell me your best quality, what would they tell me? 

MR       I would hope that they say I am an easygoing guy and very low drama.  They would probably say that I try to give back to the fans by going out and making appearances, like this one. 

GIO      And if I were to ask them what your biggest opportunity for improvement would be, what would they say? 

MR       (Laughing very loudly)  Hmmm, the BAD thing?  Uh, probably that I can throw back some alcohol and when I do (laughs) watch out!  It is not a pretty thing! 

GIO      Obviously you are openly gay, what is your take on the whole gay-for-pay issue in gay porn? 

MR       Well my opinion is that if you are doing anything gay, you are gay! But, it does not really bother me; I mean everyone is out to make money. In the gay society so many guys like the thought of getting the “straight” guy, so it all works hand-in-hand, so to speak. 

GIO      So, do you have one ultimate sexual fantasy that you have not been able to fulfill yet? 

MR       Well I have done so much porn and in so many places, that is tough.  But, I would love to make a movie with a superhero theme.  Get dressed up in latex and spandex and play that kind of role. 

GIO      Would you be the superhero? 

MR       It does not matter, I could play the hero or be the one rescued. (laughing) As long as there is spandex (hysterical laughter) 

GIO      Wow, Spandex huh?  I am sure you would fill it out just fine!  So, what is the next thing coming out with you in it? 

MR       It just came out 3 weeks ago, the movie Heaven to Hell, it was Chi Chi Larue’s last movie with Falcon and she went all out!  The sets were amazing and the costumes were amazing and I got to play a Demon, which was very cool because he had horns and body paint.  My costume is something like out of Mad Max. 

(To view the trailer and view photos of this film go to http://www.falconstudios.com/landing/h2h/ )  

GIO      Sounds great, I have not seen it yet.  Is there anything that you would like to share with people reading this that they may not already know about you? 

MR       Well, if you see me out and about, feel free to say hello.  I do not bite; I am an everyday person just like everyone else, I just happen to make movies.   

GIO      When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

MR       (child like laughter and a gleam in his eye) I, uh….ummmm…. I should not say this, but Wonder Woman!  

GIO      Wonder Woman? (both laughing) OK, I have to ask, why? 

MR       I do not know why really, maybe it was the spandex tights and running around in spandex. 

GIO      Oh, I see a theme here with the spandex! 

MR       Yeah, there is.  It was either Wonder Woman or I wanted to be the Bionic Man as well, with all his bionics.  But, yeah the tights and spandex are cool. 

GIO      Alright then!  Well I hope you get to make that superhero themed movie one day and I look forward to seeing you in spandex!  I know you have a show in 10 minutes, so I should let you get ready.  Thank you for taking time to meet with me. 

MR       It was my pleasure!  Enjoy the show (gives a big grin) 

For your viewing pleasure, I took the following photos during the show and it was great that Matthew Rush and his boyfriend Ethan Kage performed together!