Marc MacNamara says that the inspiration for NakedSword’s international series “Global Entry,” which has sheathed and unsheathed many a blade in locales ranging from Italy to Portugal, first struck him during a 40th-birthday trip to South Africa.
“I was meeting my friend Bianca, who was wrapping up their comedy tour in Capetown and Johannesburg,” he recalls. “I sat there and watched the gay community come out and fill a giant sold-out theater. It clicked: There are so many countries around the world with thriving gay communities that are underrepresented in the adult world.”
After having had success the previous year with more story-heavy series like “The Swords,” he pitched his travel series concept to Falcon/NakedSword president and CEO Tim Valenti, who loved the idea of exploring new places and new models.
On previous projects, MacNamara and NakedSword usually traveled to locations with script in hand and locations already picked out. This time around, the casting process has been a little different.
“With ‘Global Entry,’ I sit down with the local talent and ask them: ‘What do you want to show us?’” MacNamara reveals. “‘What are your favorite places here? What brings you joy about this place?’ It’s not just showing up at a bathhouse and filming a hot dick. It’s a little deeper — getting to know the person attached to the project, their beautiful life and culture.”
He travels light, a two-person crew comprised only of himself and an assistant, along with mics, lights, cameras and other production equipment. The most beautiful locations, MacNamara points out, are often the most difficult to get to, with miles of tough terrain, but he believes the payoff has always been worth it.
“We are also the chauffeurs, the chefs — the entire team really — but what’s there to complain about when you get to explore the world and these stories?” MacNamara muses. “It’s certainly a labor of love.”
MacNamara felt compelled to begin his new series in his all-time favorite travel destination: South Africa. He had loved the people, the scenery and the food.
“We filmed the majority in Capetown and then I flew with Diego Sans to Johannesburg, where we then traveled for about five hours into the reserve to go on safari and capture another side of the country,” he says. “Our biggest challenge in South Africa was something they call ‘load shedding,’ which to a porn director sounds great, but it’s actually a system to conserve the supply of electricity.
“Every day, there are hours where electricity is turned off completely,” he explains. “No Wi-Fi, no lights, no power at all. The load shedding hours change every day, so it was a moving target to get filming in when we could.”
South African performer Sonny Blonde has only positive things to say about his experience on the project.
“I love working with Marc!” he beams. “I consider myself lucky, and honestly thankful, to have had him not only film my very first studio movie, but then give me the chance to go international! I was so excited to join my fellow performers in South Africa. Who wouldn’t be? I knew that once I arrived I could expect supportive and clear direction and communication, a super-safe and fun workspace, and that the final product would be beautiful and sexy!”
Blonde recalls memorable highlights from the Cape Town shoot, from sitting on the beach with penguins to four-wheeling through white sands and hiking up Table Mountain, not to mention working with the local talent.
“If Marc gets the itch to go international again and give the world a ‘Part 2,’ I am ready to reprise my role,” he vows.
Sir Charlie, another participant in the South Africa shoot, waxes equally enthusiastic about working on the South African “Global Entry” production.
“I am so happy that my first time doing commercial porn was with a reputable brand like NakedSword,” he says. “It was an amazing experience. Even though it was my first time, Marc MacNamara put me right at ease with his clear direction, energy and funny comments. It was an added bonus to meet and work with some well-known models in the industry.”
For the second destination shoot, MacNamara headed for Sicily, where his family is from.
“I know the area well, and I knew there were a ton of Italian models waiting to be showcased,” he says. “We filmed every scene outdoors and traversed as much of the island as we could to capture the variety and beauty of Sicily, from the bustling downtown of Palermo to the many ruins and temples, beaches and cliffs.”
When it comes to blending the NakedSword roster of exclusives with local talent, how does MacNamara ensure a mutually satisfying collaborative spirit with high chemistry? Easy, he says. They just cast “a wide variety of beautiful men.”
“I’m no scientist, but that formula creates chemistry every time,” he wryly notes.
For performer Alex Palmieri, the Sicily shoot was his first professional production. He admits that he was nervous at first.
“I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “I heard many different things and some weird stories about actors’ experiences when filming porn. Honestly, I’m glad Marc introduced me to this and not someone else. He knew exactly what he wanted on set, but at the same time he has that charm and sensibility to get what he needs from the actors in a simple way, without making you feel pressured.
“It’s a proper skill and talent to shoot sex scenes,” Palmieri adds. “I honestly went there with my mind set on work, but the time I spent with these guys, even for only a few days, taught me so much. I had the chance to meet people with stories like mine. Once I was on my flight back home, I was not thinking about it as work anymore, but more as an opportunity to grow as a person.”
For all his personal fondness for South Africa and Sicily, MacNamara seems equally taken with the next stop on his itinerary: Portugal.
“Spain gets a lot of attention and rightfully so, but Portugal doesn’t get the light as much as it deserves,” he says. “It’s a stunning country with gorgeous men. If size is your gig, Portugal always delivers in mass with giant dicks and thick asses. That’s what makes up our Portugal scenes! And it is headlined by Portuguese model Lobo Carreira.”
Carreira himself chimes in, sharing, “Working with Marc was easy and fun. He was always present and very professional. I was very impressed by all the work. The best producer I have worked for, no joke!”
With Mexico the next entry on the horizon, MacNamara previews the overall style, vibe and scenarios that segment will explore.
“The cast is 100% made in Mexico, besides the return of legend Landon Conrad,” he explains. “It is a colorful and vibrant place with very passionate people, and I think that really comes out in this entry. We introduce a slew of models who have never filmed before but were instant stars.”
Of course, while traveling to such distant locales, MacNamara also makes time for leisure pursuits, taking advantage of the unique surroundings and partaking in the local culture.
“Going on safari in South Africa and coming face-to-face with wild lions was an exhilarating dream,” he shares. “Even though I almost put us on the menu one morning by venturing out alone, not knowing there were lions in the resort! You also need a certain level of privacy to film outdoors, so exploring secluded caves and the hidden beaches in Sicily while location scouting was stunning.”
Looking to the future, MacNamara says he would love to film in Cuba, having visited in 2017, though he notes the logistics and laws could prove challenging to navigate. He also hopes to head to Australia and Japan, as well as continuing on course with filming in countries not generally thought of as “gay destinations.”
“But as our community is empowered, the world has become one big gay destination,” MacNamara enthuses. “So let’s go have fun!”
