Exclusive Interview With Bonafide Stud, Micah Martinez

February 19, 2023
AJ SLOAN

So much talent in one sexy person. Micah Martinez checks more boxes than Ellen DeGeneres. Performing, directing, and producing, Micah has literally succeeded at everything James Franco has set out to do and failed. There is nothing mediocre about Micah, however. He has been in front of and behind the camera and has so many stories to share about both. Let's all take a seat and have a moment to absorb the words of Micah f*cking Martinez.

How was your introduction to the adult industry?

My introduction to the adult industry was pretty wild. Honestly, it started out as a joke because a friend with benefits of mine told me “You like to show off so much you should do porn.” He was in the industry so I jokingly told him that if he gets me a shoot I will. The next thing I know, I’m doing shoots almost every weekend for a while. And now, well, here we are.

When you cast, what makes a model stand out to you?

Casting is always fun for me. I do basically all of my own scriptwriting, so when I’m looking to book scenes a lot of time I’ll find myself thinking “okay, so who would look hot together.” I find two (or more) people who I think would mesh well, especially if it hasn’t been done before, and basically right fan fiction around a scenario their porn personas may find themselves in. I look for a mix of performers who I’ve seen knocking it out of the park mixed with people who are new, hungry, performing, and have the charisma to really work a camera. Plus there are the faves who I’ll have a random idea for a script and my brain will go “So and so would be great for that.” It’s really a fun creative process for me.

What is your favorite type of film to work on, in front of or behind the camera?

Oh, it is definitely a tie between two types of filming: campy and horror. If I can mix them together, I do, gladly. I like to hit the same sort of tonal notes for both, especially because they are so similar. In campy stuff, you’re looking for that zinger that can make even the horniest person chuckle. At the same, time for the horror or more sinister scripts I write, you’re looking for the beat that can make your heart go into your throat. They are both equally fun to film too honestly. I love having fun on my sets and I like performing those scripts as much as I like to direct or write for them.

Do you feel that being of color has influenced your career for the good, the bad, or anything in between?

Being a POC in this industry crosses my mind several times a day because I’m faced with it regularly. From casting choices to script writing to who I perform with. It’s not always bad I must say, and given the fact that I’m in this position, I feel like it is a duty that I am proud of to add some seasoning to a sometimes otherwise bland roster. I’m proud of my color and I’m proud of what I’ve done and I’m more than happy to help other people like myself get to where they want to go like I was afforded by great people. Hell, I work for a company right now where every director for the gay division is a POC, and when I say I am PROUD to say that, I genuinely mean that.

You also work in counseling. Tell us a bit about that. Does that take an emotional toll at all or have any lingering effects after you leave the office?

Sure, so before porn (and a brief stint during) I worked in the social work field. I did a bit of everything that hit home for me from drug and alcohol counseling and case management to home displacement, to child services. I’ve always been passionate about helping people, but the field for sure took a toll on me mentally as I work on and focus on my own mental health and sobriety. Working in that field day in and day out is certainly not for everyone. To say I took it home with me every day is certainly an understatement. I’m happy to have helped those that I did, but it was for sure a burden that not everyone can bare.

Do any of your counseling skills or traits come through when directing and producing?

Oh, 100%. From checking on consent to talking people down from high-emotion situations to being diplomatic in the way that I speak, a lot of those skills transfer. I wish I could say that it boils down to “that’s just how you should talk to people” but AJ, you and I both know that that is not the case with some people on set.

Performing, casting, counseling, producing, and the list goes on. You have already accomplished so much and wear so many hats. What's on the horizon for Micah? What's the next chapter?

Next up, I want to definitely delve more into production. So far, I’m loving every crazy and chaotic moment of being behind the camera and feel as though I’m suited for it. Performing is still fun don’t get me wrong, but being able to be creative in script writing as well as directing and casting, it allows for so much more freedom. Long term, I’d LOVE to head a studio, but I just turned 30, I still got some time. ;)