We were just wondering--how do the GayVN and Xbiz folks pick winners when it comes to handing out awards for gay porn? That is, what are the criteria, if any, when they vote? Is there a scale based on the number of times a voter gets an erection or the quality of said boner during the viewing of a flick? If we're talking the quality of a film in terms of technical achievement then that's a whole other matter. That's a bit easier to decide. But what about categories like "best oral scene"? Is it based on whether it's believable? pleasurable? Or whether the performers look genuinely satisfied? These are important questions!

 Whether or not we get any answers on this burning query, we at Jack Manly are going to forge right ahead with our own picks from this year's GayVN and Xbiz nominations. Here you'll find our picks semi-predictions and we'll thrown in a few observations about some omissions. Before you check out our picks be sure and check out the nominations we've already posted on previous blogs.

 First the Xbiz nominees:

GLBT Web Company of the Year.
  Here you'd have to be an insider to be able to tell which is the worthy winner. The functionality of the companies listed is pretty wide-ranged but we've had dealings with several. Frankly, we can't decide here. We think there re six nominees here that do a fine job and they should tie--Big Muscle.com, Pistol Media, Bang Bang Boys, Cybersocket, COLTCash, and PrideBucks are ALL deserving.

GLBT Studio of the Year:
 Raging Stallion and Titan Media could and should easily tie. Both studios consistently put out high quality product and are both very responsible studios. Titan may have the edge here for their work outside of film production--donations and sponsorships of gay events and their making a big effort to crack down on piracy.

GLBT Feature Movie of the Year:
 GRUNTS (Raging Stallion) is probably the favorite here but Michael Lucas' Gigolo (Lucas Entertainment) could eke out a win too. GRUNTS is by far the biggest film of the year but will size really matter? Gigolo is a bit more of a stylish sex noir movie, but is it too derivative of Lucas' other films La Dolce Vita and Dangerous Liaisons?
We like the idea behind A Rising Star (Ridgeline Films)--trying to make a different kind of male porn. Fear (TitanMen) also gets kudos for trying kink with a little flair.  

GLBT Director of the Year
 Brian Mills and Michael Lucas will probably battle it over their respective films. We're a little surprised that neither Jake Deckard or Matthew Rush got any mention for their first efforts

GLBT Performer of the Year:
  An interesting assortment here with Jake Deckard being a perennial favorite (no problem here with that). But Dean Flynn may also have a shot having shot to the top at Titan this past year.
 
Now on to the GayVN Awards. As you can see there were lots of categories and films to pore over and so we had our work cut out for us. But have no fear, we're up to the task ahead.
 
BEST ACTOR
  This is a bit different than the  "performer" category as the nominees had to do more than get it up and get it off. They had to exercise their acting muscles too and convince us they weren't merely reading lines.
  Of the nominees, Jason Ridge, Dean Flynn, and Jake Deckard definitely have a talent. It's hard to tell whether Michael Lucas's on screen persona is real acting or if he's being himself. Either way, Gigolo was more an ensemble piece. The success of GRUNTS hinged on one person--Jake Deckard. If he hadn't been so convincing as a tough-as-nails drill sergeant, the film wouldn't have worked. So we think he'll pull out a win. If both Lucas and Deckard cancel each other out, we could see Jason Ridge getting honors. He really put a lot on the line to go indie here.

BEST ACTOR (FOREIGN RELEASE)
  We have no idea how this will go, but we've noticed Amazonia on more than a few lists so we give Richard Onca the odds on winning.

BEST ALL–SEX VIDEO 
  This is a hard one to determine. On one hand, Link: The Evolution is a cornucopia of fetish fun but there's so much in this surreal film that it almost seems like overkill. H20 (Titan) and Just Add Water (Jet Set) are pretty interchangeable Hot House's Trunks series and yet the latest HH water themed film got no mention. HH's entry here Communion is actually our favorite here. Cleanly produced, and well filmed.  

BEST ALTERNATIVE RELEASE
  Naked Boys Singing seems out of place here but it's definitely the most accessible of the lot. 

BEST AMATEUR VIDEO
 We think it should be a toss-up between Alumni Weekend 5 ( FratMen) and Edge Series 1 (ChaosMen)
We like the guys at FratMen but stylistically the Edge Series are a  good example of amateur site material that's almost artistic.

BEST ART DIRECTION
 All the films here are well suited to this category, very visually stylized films. Gigolo (Lucas Entertainment) probably has the richest look but Black Scorpion has been turning out some interesting films like Hunger 

BEST BISEXUAL VIDEO
 We have no idea about this one but we love the title Bi Pole Her (Third World Media)

BEST Box cover CONCEPT
 Tho is a tough one. On one hand they could avoid controversy by passing over Passio and give it to the much lighter fun-looking The Intern  (Lucas Entertainment)

BEST CLASSIC GAY DVD
  For sheer historical value the Falcon 35th Anniversary Box Set ( Falcon ) should and probably will win.

BEST DIRECTOR
  Depending on how the best picture goes, it's probable that the director will be the same (much like the Oscars). Actually we liked Chris Ward's work on Mirage ( Raging Stallion) more than GRUNTS. Competing against himself, Michael Lucas may pull off a win although Steven Scarborough (Communion) is also deserving.

BEST DVD EXTRAS/SPECIAL EDITION
 Depending on what you're looking for in DVD extras each of these has something to offer.  Because GRUNTS (Raging Stallion) has much more of a production story to tell we give this the odds to win.

BEST EDITING
  Another tough one. Communion seemed so seamless it's hard to ignore the editing. But again for sheer amount of footage to work with GRUNTS ( Raging Stallion seems the favorite. Endless Crush (Falcon) does a great job too that we're glad it was recognized. 

BEST ETHNIC–THEMED VIDEO
 We didn't see many of the films in this category but Tiger Tyson's Eiffel Tower has been on more than one list for the year. Possible favorite.

BEST ETHNIC–THEMED VIDEO (LATIN)
 Collin O'Neal's World of Men series are so good but with two noms he could cancel himself out. Amazonia: Capture & Release might just pull it out.

BEST FOREIGN RELEASE
 If Amazonia: Capture & Release gets en ought attention from voters in other categories it could win here against the big time Kristen Bjorn and Bel Ami. We think Knockout (Falcon International) has a good chance too.

BEST GROUP SCENE
  A group scene is a  hard thing to pull off successfully. Let's just say it's more to be in one that to watch one--they can be so confusing. We think that either Barnstorm or Mirage will win but the highly touted Dare (Falcon) has our vote. It has the highest percentage of our faves in the nominated -- Matthew Rush, Roman Heart, Mason Wyler, Dallas Reeves, Tyler Saint, and Eric Blaine.
            
                                               Tyler Saint                                                                                  Jesse Santana

BEST LEATHER VIDEO
  Another tough competition. Folsom Leather (Titan)and Instinct (Raging Stallion) were are favorites but Gaytanamo may have controversy on its side. Communion might win if it doesn't get other awards and Link: The Evolution is very competitive. We think Folsom Leather will win.

BEST MAKE–UP ARTIST
  A category that's very hard to gauge ---especially in movies where the guys are supposed to be rough and natural. Two Lucas Entertainment films look like winners---Gigolo and The Intern. The first had Death-make up, the second involved the makeover of a character. We'll give this to Gigolo.

BEST MUSIC
  For us if the music is evident it's a distraction so it better be subtle or used only sparingly. Lucas Entertainment
has Nekked in its two nominated films. GRUNTS has JD Slater. We give this to Nekked.

BEST NEWCOMER
  Another tough one although it appears that Jesse Santana everywhere. Dean Flynn is our favorite here but Steve Cruz is being talked about on blogs. A real toss-up.

BEST NON–SEXUAL PERFORMANCE
  The ubiquitous Sharon Kane could continue her winning ways but we'd like to see Chip Daniels win. He did a good job and we weren't ever sure he was going to keep his pants zipped. He should get this one for remaining clothed--for once.

BEST ORAL SCENE
 This is that kind of category where we wish we knew how to grade" the scene.  Of the "memorable bj scenes we'd choose Mirage and Road to Redneck Hollow. We have a sneaky feeling that The Intern (Lucas Entertainment)
is going to win.

BEST OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN
 We think both Falcon campaigns deserve the nod---Dare and the Falcon 35th Anniversary Box Set. But we think the real battle will be between two from Lucas Entertainment--Gigolo and The Intern.

BEST PACKAGING
  We had a few favorites here including the humorous Little Big League 3 and the retro Sun-Soaked but you have to give credit to Lucas Entertainment for a smart sexy design for Gigolo

BEST PICTURE
  If the trend goes the way we think it does GRUNTS (Raging Stallion) will probably come out on top. It's a very ambitious movie although the same studio produced Mirage which had a more of a tight plot. The race is between
GRUNTS and Gigolo, and it is possible that the latter might pull it out over the bigger military epic.

BEST PRO/AM RELEASE
  Of the films here we think that Road Trip Vol. 1 Russian River (Falcon) was truest to the idea of this category but Lucas Entertainment does a great job with their Auditions and Collin O'Neal can always be counted on for discovering hot guys.  We think the edge here goes to Lucas Entertainment .

BEST SCREENPLAY
   Another tough one. We prefer less melodrama in our scripts so any injection of humor is appreciated.  Bottom of the Ninth: Little Big League 3 did just that but The Intern was a superior film. We'd give it to The Intern, but we think if a sweep occurs GRUNTS will win.

BEST SEX COMEDY
  Bottom of the Ninth: Little Big League 3, Campus Pizza (Titan), and The Intern seem to have the inside track here. We think that Little Big League 3 will win.

BEST SEX SCENE
 Again, this is so subjective it almost is too difficult to figure out. There was so much hype over the premise of real couple Aden & Jordan Jaric performing together in Endless Crush (Falcon) that there's no way that the scene could live up to the anticipation. In fact if we didn't know they were a couple we wouldn't have figure it out. Ricky Sinz and Roman Ragazzi were incendiary on screen in GRUNTS and Roman Heart and Jason Ridge were very convincing and hot in their scene in A Rising Star. We have a soft spot for the always enthusiastic Mason Wyler and he and Tyler Saint were perfect together in Just Add Water. Seeing Tom Chase and Carlo Masi together in Naked Muscles: The New Breed (COLT) was a dream pairing that did not disappoint. It's a tough choice but we'd pick Tyler & Mason. We think though that Roman and Ricky will win though in the possible GRUNTS tidal wave.

BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE
 We thought that Damien Crosse was biggest turn on in H20 but we think that the award will go to the much talked about Johnny Castle in Sun Soaked.

                          
                                                                         From FratMen to Steve Cruz --lots of nominees!

BEST SOLO VIDEO
   We're such fans of FratMen that choosing Alumni Weekend 5: Australia, is a no-brainer. But if they give this to a bigger studio then BUILT (COLT Minute Man) will take this one.

BEST SPECIALTY RELEASE
 A surprisingly tough category. The Edge series at ChaosMen is very well done but a entire video of the genre gets a little redundant. Fratmen: On The Mat by FratMen should be in our list of choices but the guys just don't get down and dirty enough. Kink is a harder genre to film believably and we thought both Fear(Titan) and Ink Storm (Raging Stallion) did it very well. Although we like Jake Deckard's approach in the tattoo flick, Fear was more exciting. We think it will win. On the other hand our favorite is Executive Pleasures 1 (MenAtPlay.com)
where kink is more genteel but VERY hot.

BEST SPECIALTY RELEASE (BEAR)
  This is not our genre of choice but we though that Erotikus (Raging Stallion) was the hottest but When Bears Attack (Rascal Video) was more successful because it featured a nice mix of bears and non-bears. We think it will win too.

BEST SPECIALTY RELEASE (EXTREME)
   Again, not our cup of tea, but Fear, Fist and Shout (Raging Stallion), and Knuckle Sandwich (Club Inferno) are probably the favorites. We'd give it to Fear but we think that Gaytanamo (Dark Alley Media) got much more press and could win it.

BEST SPECIALTY RELEASE (18-23)
 Again--not our scene but we figure Bel Ami's Rebel has the inside track.

BEST STILL PHOTOGRAPHER
GRUNTS will probably win here but we liked the moody quality of the Vanished (Falcon) stills--they accurately reflected the look of the film.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
 Frankly--all these guys were great. Our criteria here based on how big an impression the performer made. If we felt it didn't seem as like a supporting role then he got our vote. In that regard Andrew Justice in Barnstormgets our vote. We think that Roman Heart (a Rising Star) and Jesse Santana (On Fire!) are the favorites but Jesse being a new face and getting so many nominations will get him the award.

BEST THREESOME
  Another tough one. While we prefer one on one scenes a well-done three-way scene can be awesome. And the choices here are ALL good. We can't decide. BUT, we think the favorite here is Folsom Leather (Titan) with Francois Sagat, Rick van Sant, and Brendon Davies

BEST VIDEOGRAPHER
 Another tough one...We couldn't decide this either. Videography is a tough task because it has to be interesting to watch--even for those who are renting or buying a DVD for the obvious reasons. We think GRUNTS has this one in the bag.

PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
   How can anyone make a choice here and not bruise some egos? The big names like Erik Rhodes, Jake Deckard,
Jason Ridge, and Michael Lucas all have their fans and may split the votes. Jesse Santana and Tyler Saint had a lot of films this year while newcomer Steve Cruz was talked about a lot. Roman Ragazzi has been talked about the longest it seems. We think he or Cruz will win.

   So there you have it. If you want to make your own choices e recommend going to the big sites are seeing the videos or selected scenes using VOD options. In addition Get Your Fixxx  has teamed up with Ridgeline Films to show scenes from Jason Ridge's film A Rising Star (with multiple GayVN nominations). They'e showing one scvene per week.