Undressing Israel

UNDRESSING ISRAEL:

GAY MEN IN THE PROMISED LAND

General details:

Genre: Documentary Release Year: 2012 Production Countries: Israel Production Companies: Michael Lucas (United States), Mozer Films Ltd. (Israel) Niches: Israel, Gay/Lesbian, The fight against homophobia, Human and civil rights, Social Issue.

Technical details

Length: 46 Min Shooting Format (original film gauge): HD Screening Format: DCP, HDCAM, Digibeta, Beta Analog Spoken Language: English and Hebrew Narration: English Subtitles: English Sound: Stereo / Color Aspect Ratio: 16:9

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Synopsis: When many people think of Israel, it is often in terms of modern war or ancient religion. But there is much more to the Jewish state than missiles and prayers. In his debut as a documentary filmmaker, adult-film entrepreneur and political columnist Michael Lucas examines a side of Israel that is too often overlooked: its thriving gay community. Undressing Israel features interviews with a diverse range of local men, including a gay member of Israel’s parliament, a trainer who served openly in the army, a young Arab-Israeli journalist, and a pair of dads raising their kids. Lucas also visits Tel Aviv’s vibrant nightlife scene—and even attends a same-sex wedding—in this guided tour of a country that has emerged as a pioneer for gay integration and equality.

Hosted By: Michael Lucas

Mickey Gitzin Alon Levi Parliament Member Nitzan Horowitz Amit Lev Ivri Lider Dror Pinto Eliad Cohen Dvir Bor Eytan Fox Eyal Givli Yossi Berg Giyora Yahalom Itai Pinkas Idan Sagaiv Richter Yoav Arad Jason Danino Holt Yehonathan Gatro Oren Magen Hader Rayan Abu-Seif Saar Pelles Rafi Vazana Shay Rokach Andrey Nozdrin Talula Bonet Yiftach Mizrahi Yonaton Vanunu

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Credits: Directed by: Michael Lucas and Yariv Mozer

Produced by: Michael Lucas

Consulting Producer: Scott Stern

Script By: Michael Lucas, Yariv Mozer

Editor: Amit Ginton

Director of Photography: Ziv Berkovich

Additional Photography: Shahar Reznik

Stills Photography: Yishai Llan

Animation Design: Studio Praktik, Sagi Stern, Noam Amir

Sound Recordist: Yishai Llan

Sound Design: Shahaf Wagshall

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Festival Screenings:

January 13, 2013 Los Angeles, CA The Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood January 25, 2013 Tucson, AZ The 2013 Out In The Desert Film Festival February 8, 2013 Atlanta, GA The 2013 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival March 12, 2013 Konstanz, Germany The 26th Annual Queergestreift Film Festival April 20, 2013 Warsaw, Poland The 2013 Polish LGBT Film Festival June 9, 2013 Tel Aviv, Israel The 2013 Tel Aviv LGBT Film Festival June 19, 2013 Brooklyn, NY The Union Temple of Brooklyn June 26, 2013 Holon, Israel The Holon Cinematheque July 14, 2013 Philadelphia, PA The 2013 Philadelphia QFest October 2013 Bergan, Norway The Bergan International Film Festival

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Michael Lucas

Writer, Director, Actor and Producer

Michael Lucas was born in Moscow, Russia, where he earned a law degree from the Moscow Law University. In 1997 he moved to New York; a year later he founded Lucas Entertainment, which he has built into one of the world’s most prominent gay adult-film studios. His movies, which include “Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita” and “Men of Israel” (the first adult film shot in Israel), have won multiple awards and have been lauded for their achievements in cinematography, style and production quality. In addition to directing, producing and starring in Lucas Entertainment productions, Michael is also a regular op-ed contributor to such publications as The Advocate, The Huffington Post and Pink News, where his passionate activism and uncompromising convictions have made him a controversial figure in the gay media world.

“Michael Lucas has used the stardom porn gave him as a platform to speak out against drugs, unsafe sex, child exploitation, anti-Semitism, religious oppression of gays, and host of other social problems.” – The Advocate

Official website: www.michaellucas.com

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Yariv Mozer

Writer, Director and Producer

Yariv Mozer had graduated with distinction from Tel-Aviv University’s Film and Television Department. He is currently completing his first feature film "Snails in the rain", supported by The Rabinovich film fund. Previously he directed the documentaries, "The Invisible Men" (Israel-The Netherlands 2012), Winner of The 2012 Doc Aviv Special Jury Award and "My First War" (Israel 2008), a co-production with Zdf-Arte, Winner of The Doc Aviv Special Jury Award, IDFA First Appearance Nominee and Best Film Winner of The Toronto Jewish Film Festival. Mozer had also produced more than 15 documentary films, among them are "The Heart of Jenin" (Germany 2008), Israeli Academy Award Nominee "The House on Tabenkin st." (Israel 2008) and more; Mozer is a member of the European Film Academy and the first Israeli producer to participate in EAVE (European Audio Visual Entrepreneurs). In addition, Mozer is a member of the Israel Academy of Motion Pictures and the Israeli Documentary Filmmakers Forum. Mozer, former head of Entrepreneur Production Studies at the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, former Supervising Producer of Israeli production company "Alma Films" and has also served as director of the 10th Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival (2004) which hosted in Tel Aviv: Mr. Richard Gere (USA), Mr. Patrice Leconte (France), Ms. Catherine Breillat (France), Mr. Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark) and Mr. Nabil Ayouch (Morocco).

Official website: www.mozer-films.com

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Online Media And Updates: http://www.facebook.com/undressingisrael

Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixRnQVvsTYs

Photo Album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/88885166@N05/

Michael Lucas at The 2013 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S94sHkYIRLE

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RITjOZm8BY

Michael Lucas at the 8th Annual Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pCMT7J1tYE

Michael Lucas at the Union Temple of Brooklyn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH9SAviu-ko

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Press:

The Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/Metro/LifeStyle/The-naked-truth-307962

The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-pro-israel-porn-star-defending-israel-in-film/

Shalom Life http://us.shalomlife.com/news/19583/michael-lucas-an-advocate-of-israel-zionismand-gay- porn/

The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-alexander-hess/michael-lucas-undressing- israel_b_2599206.html

Out Magazine http://www.out.com/entertainment/movies/2013/04/03/michael-lucas-gay-men- undressing-israel

Logo’s NewNowNext Blog http://www.newnownext.com/michael-lucas-explores-gay-culture-in-israel-with-new- documentary-watch/06/2013/

Instinct Magazine http://instinctmagazine.com/post/undressing-michael-lucas

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A Wider Bridge http://awiderbridge.org/michael-lucas-undresses-israel/

David Atlanta Magazine http://davidatlanta.com/2013/01/michael-lucas-undresses-israel/

Project Q Atlanta http://www.projectqatlanta.com/news_articles/view/michael_lucas_from_gay_porn_to_jewis h_film_fest?gid=12884

Out Smart Magazine http://outsmartmagazine.com/2013/02/undressing-israel/

Edge New York http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=movies&sc2=news&sc3=&i d=141231

Gay Calgary http://www.gaycalgary.com/Magazine.aspx?id=112&article=3337

This Week In Texas Magazine http://twitmagazine.com/index.php/component/content/article/38-rokstories/490- michael-lucas-spotlight

Gay.Net http://www.gay.net/movies/2013/02/25/qa-quickie-michael-lucas-going-deep-inside-gay- israel

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South Florida Gay News http://southfloridagaynews.com/articles/gay-porn-king-michael-lucas-love-affair-with- israel/110495

DNA Magazine http://www.dnamagazine.com.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=18583

The Fight Magazine http://issuu.com/lgbtfight/docs/thefight_0413

Guy Magazine http://www.guymag.net/articles/entertainment/interviews/porn-star-michael-lucas- undresses-israel/

Philadelphia Gay News http://issuu.com/philagaynews/docs/pgn070513#download

Philadelphia Magazine: GPhilly http://blogs.phillymag.com/gphilly/2013/07/10/girl-talk-not-too-porny-interview-porn- king-michael-lucas/

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The naked truth? 03/28/2013 12:50 By YONI COHEN

Despite the film’s racy title and director Michael Lucas’s ‘adult’ film background, ‘Undressing Israel’ is a strictly clothes-on affair

background, Michael Lucas may not fit the bill of a traditional Israel advocate, but he insists that he is more than qualified for the job. The gay adult film entrepreneur is a staunch supporter of the Jewish state and hopes that his new documentary will showcase Israel as a beacon of liberalism and modernity in the Middle East.

Lucas’s documentary, however, is not a stale examination of the diversity of Israel’s population or an assessment of how fairly the IDF conducts itself during conflicts. Instead, the Jewish filmmaker looks at an issue that has only recently begun to garner global interest – Israel’s gay community.

The Moscow-born director’s debut documentary Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land features interviews with a diverse range of gay men, such as MK Nitzan Horowitz

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(Meretz); a young Arab-Israeli journalist; a trainer who served in the IDF; and a pair of dads raising their children. Despite the film’s racy title and the director’s “adult” film background, the documentary is a strictly clothes-on affair.

While the gay community in Israel, and Tel Aviv in particular, has recently attracted the attention of some of the world’s media, Lucas insists that most people do not know that Israel is gayfriendly.

In an interview with Metro, he explains that this is something he wants to change.

“When you talk to gay people outside Israel, you usually find that Israel is seen through the prism of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. I wanted to show a side that people don’t get to see very much: It has a vibrant gay community,” he says.

Lucas, who obtained Israeli citizenship four years ago, is no stranger to Israel or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Moscow Law University graduate, whose company Lucas Entertainment is one of the world’s most prominent gay adult-film studios, would make his first documentary about Israel's gay community. This, however, is not the first time the multi-award winning adult entertainment actor and director has made a film in Israel. His 2009 Men of Israel was the first adult film shot entirely in the Holy Land with an all- Jewish cast. Despite being filmed in the same location, Lucas insists that his new documentary is absolutely separate and is not a follow-on from the adult film.

“There is no nudity in the film. It’s about real life and gay politics,” he says.

Lucas is keen to point out that he doesn’t hide the fact that he used his notoriety as an adult performer as a platform. As well as his success in the world of adult entertainment, he is a writer for American LGBT-interest magazine The Advocate and The Huffington Post and often speaks at universities about social and political issues, as well as being actively involved in the pro-Israel movement.

“I am a Jew and an Israeli patriot, and the movie was inspired by my love for the country,” explains Lucas.

He says it was important for him to make the film because “America hears very little about gay life in Israel.”

Events such as the killing of two teenagers at the gay center in Tel Aviv made news in 2009, but Lucas says that type of tragedy happens all over the world and is not at all representative of Israel’s attitude toward gay people.

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“So it’s time for a positive portrayal. Israel has a lot to be proud of,” remarks Lucas, while suggesting that the Jewish state’s progress on gay rights is one of the achievements that should be shown to the world.

Since he became an Israeli citizen – though he continues to live in New York – Lucas may have been entitled to government funding for the film, but he explains that he did not take contributions or apply for government funding.

Instead, he invested about $100,000 of his own money in the project.

“I would rather see that [government] money go to filmmakers that are not fortunate enough to be in a position to fund their own films,” he says.

When Lucas told his good friend Israeli filmmaker Yariv Mozer about the idea for the film, Mozer immediately jumped on board as co-director. It was through Mozer that Lucas had access to many of the people interviewed in the film.

Despite some of the controversial topics discussed in the film, Lucas explains that he did not face much opposition or hardships when making it.

“The responses I’ve received so far have been positive,” he says.

However, one negative response came from within the Israeli gay community in the form of gay Big Brother host Assi Azar, who refused to be a part of the project, according to Lucas.

“He [Azar] told me that he would not be a part of the movie because in his opinion it was ‘a pro-Israeli propaganda film’” Lucas says. “I tried to convince him that I was simply showing life as it is, so that people might come visit and see for themselves. Unfortunately, neither I nor Yariv could convince him.”

Lucas puts this down to “Azar and I having different goals.”

“My agenda has always been to promote a positive image of Israel abroad,” says Lucas proudly, and for him it is important that the movie be accepted by all kinds of film festivals, from those centering on LGBT or Jewish issues to more general ones. “I am trying to appeal to a wider audience. For me, the most important thing is that people go to Israel,” he explains. “I want to see overbooked hotels and clubs packed with tourists. Israel needs tourist money.”

While projecting Israel in a positive light is a main aim for Lucas, just as important in his opinion is defending Israel and the Jewish people amid increasing anti-Zionism. The director is very outspoken in his defense of Israel and has been known to go to great lengths to oppose

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those who try to delegitimize the Jewish state. In 2011 he succeeded in bringing about the cancellation of an “Israeli Apartheid Week” slated to be held at New York’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Center. At the time, he told The Jerusalem Post that he “defeated a group of anti-Semites who sought to equate Israel with the former South African apartheid regime.”

Two years later he is still as passionate as ever about his defense of the Jewish state.

“In today’s world, it is politically incorrect to say you hate Jews, but yesterday’s anti-Semites now call themselves anti- Zionists,” he says. “They often have a sick preoccupation with Israel that goes beyond their supposed concern for international law or human rights. I think Israel is doing a great job under difficult circumstances, and I can’t think of another country that would remain so democratic and tolerant while surrounded by 350 million people that want to wipe it off the face of the Earth,” Lucas says. “If Mexico dropped a single bomb on Texas, the Americans would obliterate it.”

LUCAS IS well aware that his film will most likely be accused of “pinkwashing,” a term coined by Sarah Schulman in a New York Times op-ed that accuses Israel of using gay politics and culture to disguise the ongoing oppression of the Palestinians. The self-confessed Zionist and gay activist is no stranger to being accused of “pinkwashing,” routinely coming under harsh criticism for his defense of Israel and using the gay community as an example in his articles and speeches. He says the “bogus” concept of “pinkwashing” is built on “many false ideas.”

“As my documentary shows, the Israeli government has not exactly given the gay community everything it wants on a silver platter,” explains Lucas. “Progress there [in Israel] has been the result of a long fight, just like in any other country. Israel is no exception.”

The fight for progress is something that impressed Lucas while he was visiting Israel to make the documentary. For someone who is up to speed with Israel advocacy and gay rights, there were certain issues that even he was surprised to discover. For example, he was pleasantly surprised to hear that the gay community was invited to the Knesset to kick off Gay Pride Week. However, for Lucas it was the individuals fighting to make a difference that really surprised and inspired him.

The story of married gay couple Itai Pinkas and Yoav Arad who, among many other things, recently petitioned the Supreme Court requesting to have a baby through a surrogate mother, struck a chord with him.

Undressing Israel has already been featured at festivals in the US, such as The Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood, Out in the Desert 2013 and premiered at the 2013 Atlanta Jewish Festival in February. It will be screened in Israel at the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival in June.

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The world of documentary making opened Lucas’s eyes, and he says he learned a lot from the experience but has no plans to break into mainstream filmmaking.

While he doesn’t rule out the possibility that he might make another documentary in the future, he says that he loves what he currently does and has no plans to stop any time soon.

“The only reason I produced this film is because Israeli documentarians hadn’t done it. I’ve seen a lot of Israeli movies, in fact, that would kill people’s interest in going to Israel,” he says.

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The Zionist porn star defending Israel in film June 16, 2013 By Debra Kamin

Michael Lucas made waves with ‘Men of Israel,’ the first adult film ever shot here. Now he’s released a documentary trumpeting Israel’s stance on gay rights

Gay porn and Israel advocacy don’t ordinarily go hand in hand. But Michael Lucas, a gay porn star-turned industry kingpin-turned-pro-Israel documentary filmmaker, is certainly not ordinary.

The 41-year-old New Yorker was in Israel this week to promote “Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land,” his first-ever mainstream film at the 8th annual Tel Aviv LGBT International Film Festival. But after more than two decades making gay adult films, both as a leading man and as the CEO of Lucas Entertainment, one of the world’s biggest gay film companies, Lucas hasn’t strayed too far.

“Undressing Israel” may be tamer viewing, but its focus – the beautiful gay men of Israel, and the incredible freedoms they enjoy in this country – is nearly identical to “Men of Israel,” Lucas’s landmark pornographic film that made history by being the first-ever adult film shot on location in Israel. It was also most likely the only pornographic film to ever feature an all- Jewish cast. Made in 2009, the same year that Lucas obtained Israeli citizenship, that film also followed the cash-steeped style of “Michael Lucas’s La Dolce Vita,” which with its elaborate plotlines and celebrity cameos is the most expensive adult film ever made.

In person, Lucas is every inch the playboy. Of the dozen buttons on his baby-blue dress shirt, only one has met its buttonhole. He is all eyelashes, chest and cheekbones, his hair bushy and his body impossibly toned. He swears he neither drinks nor smokes, and he is adamant about avoiding the sun.

‘A lot of gay people in Israel are very much on the left, and that’s not a very sensible thing. They live in a bubble. They actually don’t know how much the world hates them’

But Lucas is no simple pretty boy. Born in Russia and raised in a Jewish home, his allegiance to Israel – “the only place in the world Jews know they can come,” he says – runs deep. He came to porn, he says, because he knew he had a better chance of making it in adult films than he did in mainstream Hollywood. And when he did make it, and then Lucas Entertainment rose straight to the top, he began capitalizing on his fame for the sake of his politics. And those

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politics, as far as Israel is concerned, lean steeply to the right. As for his opponents on the left – many of whom fill up his fan base – he doesn’t mince words.

“A lot of Israeli academics are horrible,” he says. “They teach students that Israel basically was born out of sin … And unfortunately a lot of gay people in Israel are very much on the left, and that’s not a very sensible thing. They live in a bubble. They actually don’t know how much the world hates them.”

“Undressing Israel” is designed to dispel many negative stereotypes about Israel, including that persistent concept that ours is a typical Middle Eastern nation filled only with sandstorms, camels and religious fanatics. To make the film, Lucas teamed up with Yariv Mozer, known for his 2012 documentary “Invisible Men” about gay Palestinians hiding out in Tel Aviv. With professional-caliber cinematography and production design, the film shows Israeli men from all corners of the spectrum, including a pair of gay fathers and an openly gay soldier. The message? Israel is a place with groundbreaking freedoms for gay men, a light upon the Middle East and a trailblazer when it comes to homosexual rights and open minds.

It’s by no means an objective film, but objectivity, Lucas says, is entirely beside the point. Asked by an audience member at the Tel Aviv screening why the film skims cleanly past the issue of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, it was clear that Lucas has little patience for such questions.

“He said to me that I can’t make a movie that doesn’t show the occupation and I said, ‘yes, yes I can!’ If I had made a movie about the occupation, would anyone ask me why I didn’t show gay life here? I don’t think so!” Lucas says.

Lucas was born Andrei Lvovich Treyvas. He left Russia at the age of 23, first settling in Europe and then making his way to New York City in 1997. He got his start in German straight pornography, later changing his name to Michael Lucas and transitioning over to gay films.

Lucas Entertainment was founded with his own seed money in 1998, one year after he arrived in New York. The company’s productions routinely rake in GayVN Awards as well as prizes from the Adult Erotic Gay Video Awards, known in the industry as Grabbys.

Despite his success, Lucas has not forgotten what it was like to be a Jew growing up in Russia. That experience, he says, is why he is so passionate in his support for Israel.

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“I’m a Russian Jew and I’m an independent thinker,” he says. “The Holocaust showed us that at any point, Jews could need somewhere to go. I don’t think it’s a difficult conclusion to make.”

He obtained Israeli citizenship in order to show his allegiance to the country, despite having never lived here. And his views on Israel have only been strengthened by the response to his film, which has been warmly welcomed by Jewish film festivals around the globe, but mostly ignored by festivals specifically catering to gay-centric films. The film played the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood; the Out in the Desert fest in Tucson, Arizona; and fests in Poland and Germany. But in much of Europe, Lucas says, it was not just rejected. It was shunned.

“It’s a positive portrayal of something that has to do with Israel,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “If you want your movie to be accepted,” he adds, referring to previous festival darlings from Israel such as “5 Broken Cameras” and “The Policeman,” “you have to make a movie that criticizes Israel.”

Later this summer, the film will be screened at festivals in Brooklyn and in Norway, and Lucas is hoping to get it into American movie theaters by August. He made the film with his own money, investing roughly $100,000 of his funds in its production, but is less concerned about making a profit than he is about combating anti-Israel sentiment.

“I think I contributed to Israeli tourism,” he says. “I think they should put a monument to me somewhere.”

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By Daniel Koren 6.17.2013 41-year-old New Yorker who shot first ever adult film in Israel just released new doc on Israel's stance on gay rights.

The 41-year-old Russian-born New Yorker, recently in Israel promoting his first ever mainstream film, Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land, at the 8th Annual Tel Aviv LGBT International Film Festival, began his career as a pornstar before he started Lucas Entertainment, today one of the world's biggest gay film companies.

After spending two decades in the porn industry - it's safe to say he's championed his field - Lucas has branched out to directing documentaries, his first sporting a premise that many would view is a contradiction of itself: promoting a far right political stance in Israel while publicizing Israeli gay rights.

Lucas collaborated with Yariv Mozer for the project, who is known for his 2012 documentary Invisible Men, about gay Palestinians finding shelter in Tel Aviv.

Undressing Israel is set to swart any negative misconceptions people have about Israel. The film depicts various gay men living in Israel, including an openly gay soldier and a pair of gay fathers, in a bid to demonstrate Israel's unwavering freedom for all gay men, and to promote free and open thinking across the Middle East and the world.

The film is Lucas's second produced in Israel, his first being Men of Israel, his trailblazing pornographic film that is the first ever adult film shot on location in Israel, and also - most likely - the first to feature an all-Jewish cast. The film was made in 2009, the same year Lucas obtained his Israeli citizenship to demonstrate his indisputable allegiance to the country.

Born Andrei Lvovich Trelvas, Lucas was raised in a Jewish household, and has strong convictions when it comes to Israel. After leaving Russia at 23, he got his first few roles in 'straight' German porn films, before he transitioned into gay porn and legally changed his name. He establishing Lucas Entertainment with his own money in 1998, only one year after arriving in New York.

It didn't take long before the company rose to the top.

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Since then, Lucas has used his success to promote what he is truly passionate about: politics, particularly his own set of principles, mainly, his surprisingly pro-right stance.

Despite his growing popularity, the humble Lucas claims he won't let it change him, or what it was like to grow up Jewish in Russia.

Undressing Israel has so far received accolades from Jewish film festivals around the world. The film has played the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood; the Out in the Desert fest in Tucson, Arizona; and fests in Poland and Germany. However, Lucas notes, most European countries boycotted the film for what some argue is a controversial agenda.

Obviously, the pro Israel advocate, who has claimed he cares more about battling anti-Israel rhetoric than actually making a profit, was not prepared to do that.

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Michael Lucas: Undressing Israel Author: Scott Alexander Hess Posted: 02/06/2013 2:39 pm

I imagined that some day I'd sneak a peek at a titillating Michael Lucas film (like his high- grossing, sexed-up 2006 twist on La Dolce Vita), but I never guessed it would be a thought- provoking documentary. The outspoken gay celeb, safe-sex advocate and uber-successful gay porn kingpin (ever heard of Lucas Entertainment?) will premiere Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land at the 2013 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival on Feb. 8. This week I tracked down Lucas to chat about his shift to documentary. Before we started, he set me straight.

Scott Alexander Hess: What initially inspired you to tackle the form of documentary filmmaking? What do you hope to accomplish with this film?

Michael Lucas: I should probably be clear up front that I am not trying to break into mainstream filmmaking as a career change. I'm very happy making the kind of movies I've been making for the past 15 years. This particular project was just an extension of my love for Israel and its gay community; it's more closely related to my op-ed columns and political activism than to my previous films. I've been frustrated at how little people know about Israel; all they read about is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which can give a very misleading impression of Israeli culture, which is actually very progressive and tolerant. That's especially true when it comes to gay rights, which are more advanced there than in the United States. My hope is to show Israel for what it is: a great gay tourist destination.

Hess: Was there any connection between your adult film Men of Israel and the shift to the documentary? Are there any parallels in choices/ways of creative expression or the message you hope to put out there?

Lucas: There is no connection between Men of Israel and this documentary except that both of them were shot in Israel. The title Undressing Israel is a tongue-in-cheek recognition of my background in the adult industry, but the film itself has nothing to do with porn, and none of the men in it -- except for me, of course -- are involved in porn. But to some degree both projects reflect, in very different ways, my general goal of shining a spotlight on Israel's incredibly vibrant gay world.

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Hess: What opportunities and what challenges has your success in the adult film industry offered in the making and promotion of the documentary?

Lucas: The advantages are obvious, I guess: My career has given me a certain amount of notoriety that is useful in promoting this project. It's probably why you're interviewing me right now! But I expect that, as usual, there will be people who will use the fact that I have made gay porn as an excuse to ignore anything I have to say: "Why should we care what some porn star thinks?" and that sort of ad hominem garbage. It'll probably even pop up the comments section of this interview.

Hess: Did you face any backlash in switching to documentary?

Lucas: No, but again, I have no plans to pursue documentary film on an ongoing basis, so it's not as much of an issue. But again, I'm sure there will be people who try to "discredit" me on the basis of my porn career because they disagree with my views on Israel.

Hess: What do you most hope to be known for regarding your body of work?

Lucas: I am proud of both my porn and non-porn work, and I think both of them ultimately reflect my basic values: I'm committed to breaking down social barriers and hypocrisies, and I also value independent and self-reliance. People on the right think of me as a liberal because I make porn, even though I'm a self-made entrepreneur. People on the left think of me as conservative because I support Israel even though Israel is by far the more progressive country in the Middle East. I'm fine with that. Let people be confused!

Hess: What are you working on next?

Lucas: Lucas Entertainment produces 30 adult movies a year. That takes up the bulk of my focus, but I also want to continue writing about politics and gay culture whenever I have the time and platforms to do that.

Hess: What's the most memorable tweet or social media message you have ever received?

Lucas: The one that comes to mind is a Facebook message that I got after one of my articles: "Thank you for changing my mind." I like praise as much as anyone, but messages like that are more satisfying.

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Michael Lucas on Gay Men in the Promised Land BY JERRY PORTWOOD 4.3.2013 In his documentary 'Undressing Israel,' the porn mogul tackles a subject close to his heart

Michael Lucas isn't shy—and that goes for his successful pornography industry, as well as his ardent support of Israel. But he may surprise many who know him for his adult titles when he turns a bit more serious in the documentary he's produced, Undressing Israel, in which a gay soldier, a drag queen, a young Arab-Israeli journalist, two dads raising a family, and an out member of Israel’s parliament all tell their stories.

Lucas didn't do it alone: He teamed up with documentarian Yariv Mozer, who previously directed the gay-Palestinian doc Invisible Men (along with Adam Rosner). The film explores the rise of LGBT rights in the country, the only one in the Middle East to have such a track record, and seeks to shed a light on the way many men (yes, it's only men) live their lives in Tel Aviv and nearby. We caught up with Lucas to ask why he decided to make this film now.

Out: After doing porn films set in Israel, were you concerned that people would be confused or relate this film with that previous enterprise?

Michael Lucas: Not really. Aside from the title, which is a wink to my adult-film career, this movie is obviously very different from my earlier porn ventures like Men of Israel and Inside Israel. Undressing Israel is not pornographic in any way, and has been playing at mainstream gay and Jewish film festivals. Hopefully, the cover makes that clear. But if some of my porn audience sees this movie by mistake, then who knows? Maybe they’ll learn something. (And of course, if someone looking for the documentary ends up with one of my porn films, they’ll probably learn something, too!)

Why do you think it's important to show these representations of gay men in Israel married, with children, etc?

Most of Israel’s coverage in the media is almost always—unfairly, in my opinion—related to the country’s conflict with the Palestinians. That can give a misleading impression of Israel’score humanist values. When it comes to gay rights, as this movie illustrates, Israel is one the most progressive countries not just in the region but in the world. I tried to cover as many aspects of Israel’s diverse gay male community as possible, from gay fathers to gay politicians and artists.

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Why only men? Do you think it's more difficult for gay men in Israel as opposed to gay women?

Since this was my first mainstream project, I wanted to limit its scope—to “write what I know,” as they say to writers who are just starting out. Because of my own history in Israel, I had a stronger understanding and stronger personal connections to the gay male community there, so it seemed like to a good idea to focus on that. But in retrospect, I do wish that we had included women in the film. Israel has an extremely strong, vibrant and active lesbian community that deserves to be explored in greater depth.

When I spoke with filmmaker Eytan Fox about his film Yossi last year, he made the point that much of the gay culture in Tel Aviv has become "superficial," and he even shows hookup site ATRAF in the film. Do you think this online culture has helped spread gay visibility or is hindering the gay culture of Israel?

Of course gay men in Israel can be superficial, just as they can be anywhere else. They like to have fun and they love to have sex. At lot of the guys there use Grindr (which was invented by an Israeli-American), and yes, there are hook-up sites, just as there are in America. But there are still plenty of other places to meet in person, like clubs and gyms. I don’t think gay visibility is a big problem there at this point—and a lot of the men there are certainly eye- catching.

I feel like it's one of the gayest cities on the planet: Why do you after visiting Tel Aviv think your film is essential? is it to educate Americans or people in Israel?

I agree—I'd actually say that Tel Aviv may be the gayest city in the world. But some people know that, and many people don't. A surprising number of people lump Israel in with other Middle Eastern countries, where gay life is vastly more secretive and dangerous, and where gay people are subject to harassment, assault, imprisonment and worse. Israelis don’t need to be educated about this, but others around the world do. That’s why I made this movie.

People have accused Israel government of "pink washing," focusing on the positive aspects of gay rights, and ignoring other human rights violations. Do you worry that people will view Undressing Israel as propaganda?

The truth is not propaganda, and LGBT rights were not some gift that the government sneakily gave its people in order to cover up anything else. Progress on gay equality in Israel was achieved by people who fought for it for years, and that fight still continues. The “pinkwashing” idea, unfortunately, plays into a long history of conspiracy theories involving secret Jewish plots to manipulate the media. Yes, Israel is embroiled in a long conflict with the Palestinians, and yes, Israel has an impressive record on gay rights, but those two things are

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not connected. To assert that they are is as ridiculous as saying that America dismantled “don’t ask, don’t tell” as part of a secret plan to distract the world from Iraq and Afghanistan, or that New York legalized gay marriage because it wanted people to forget about the banking crisis. It’s a patently false idea.

My intention in Undressing Israel is not to give a false impression of Israeli’s commitment to human rights. Rather, it is to contribute to a fuller and truer understanding of that commitment than the media’s focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict generally allows.

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Undressing Michael Lucas Itay Hod | May 31, 2013

Michael Lucas is not exactly what you'd call a "born diplomat." He's opinionated, arrogant, self-absorbed, and, at times, downright obnoxious. (In fact, if this reporter had three weeks to live, he'd spend them with Lucas, because every minute with him seems like a year). But say what you will about Lucas, he's a master of public relations. Somehow, this immigrant from Russia managed to not only become a well-known porn star, producer and director… he's become his own brand. Lucas, who churns out 30 movies a year (that's about one every week and half), has managed to stay relevant in an industry where people's shelf life roughly equals that of a carton of milk.

His latest project is called Undressing Israel, and contrary to its suggestive title, it's the first movie in which his subjects don't lunge into a 69 position within seconds of meeting each other. Undressing Israel is a documentary about gay life in the Holy Land. And what do you know? It's actually quite good.

Lucas, doing his best Oprah, interviews everyone from soldiers to drag queens, even an Arab- Israeli journalist. And even though some of his questions are hard to understand, the movie manages to tell a cohesive story.

Lucas, who's Jewish, shines a light on what it's like to be gay in Israel. The country, which is

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the size of New Jersey, is one of the most advanced places on earth when it comes to gay issues. A recent survey by American Airlines and GayCities named Tel Aviv the gayest city in the world.

This isn't Lucas' first visit to Israel. In fact, one could argue his porn flick, Men of Israel, had something to do with the spike in gay tourism in Tel Aviv. But this is the first time Lucas is going legit. We spoke about what made him button up and pop his mainstream cherry.

So, this your first movie where nobody takes their clothes off. Is the porn business going through a slump? That must be the first time in history that someone has suggested that it’s easier to make money with documentaries than with porn! Actually, it’s only because my adult-film company is doing so well that I have the luxury of working on things like Undressing Israel, or on my current project: a documentary about the LGBT community in Russia and homophobic laws that have recently been introduced there.

This was a rather ambitious project. Was it harder than directing porn? (No pun intended!) I like to take on ambitious projects. I’m a very ambitious person! And yes, of course, it is much harder then directing porn. Making a documentary takes months of work, whereas you can turn an adult film around in a week. And I don’t actually direct or deal with the production aspects at Lucas Entertainment anymore. We have an excellent in-house team that handles that now.

Why did you decide to do this movie? I have been frustrated for some time with what I see as a general lack of understanding about gay life in Israel. At the start of the movie, I interview people in Times Square; you can see how little people know about this subject. And no other documentarians, to my knowledge, had done a film like this before. Many people only think of Israel in terms of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that conflict often presents Israel as

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indifferent to human rights. But in fact, Israel is very liberal and progressive—more than any other country in the region—and its thriving gay community demonstrates that.

You've been an outspoken advocate of Israel. You're also Jewish. Do you think people might think you're biased? I’m also gay, but you didn’t ask me if that makes me biased in looking at the question of gay rights! Of course gay people have a greater interest in gay issues, and of course Jewish people have a greater interest in Israel. Including me: I’m very proud of what Israel has accomplished. But this documentary is not about my opinions. Everything in it is factual and easily verifiable. When it comes to gay rights, Israel is more progressive then the United States and many European countries. That has nothing to do with my being Jewish or gay; it’s simply true.

What do you want people to take away from your movie? I hope people see that Israel is a great country to visit. I’ve never met a person who has been there and not wanted to go back.

You've shot a few porn movies in Israel, how was this experience different? I have had absolute freedom there and have never faced a problem filming either type of movie. Everyone has been encouraging and eager to help.

Has it been sold anywhere? It’s currently making the rounds of film festivals around the world. Hard copies and video-on-demand rentals will be available at the end of July.

Why did you decide to include yourself in the film? Was that a deliberate choice? I act as a kind of host in the movie, but I don't give my own opinions. Basically, I included myself because I’m well known in the gay community, and that makes it easier to attract audiences. Also, Barbara Walters wasn't available.

Your views have sometimes been called extreme. You've been very vocal about your views on the Arab world. Were you worried people in Israel, especially liberal gays, might not want you representing them? I do have a problem with aspects of the Muslim world, particularly religious fundamentalism and its effects on human rights. In many Muslim countries, gay people are being persecuted and killed, prisoners are being mutilated and women are suppressed and treated as second-class citizens. But these “problems” stem from the fact that I am passionately liberal when it comes to social issues. Liberals in Israel understand this and had no problem participating in my film.

You shoot porn flicks in a matter of a few days. How long did it take to shoot this movie? I went to Israel twice, as I was not fully satisfied with the footage I got on my first trip. Then the editing took about three months. The whole thing took about a year from start to finish.

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What was the most surprising thing you learned about Israel while shooting this movie? I have been going to Israel since 2004, so I was not especially surprised by anything in the film. It confirmed what I already knew.

What's next for you? As I mentioned earlier, I'm preparing a new documentary in Russia, and I hope it will help bring attention to the suffering of gay people there. I was born in Russia and spent half of my life there, so I think I’m the right person to make this; I’m sure there are better filmmakers out there, but they don’t seem to find these topics as urgent as I do, so I took the liberty of doing it myself. Other than that, I have no big plans. At this point I’m happy with what I have, and I’m just enjoying my life. It's important to learn how to do that.

For more on Undressing Israel, check out the film’s website and Facebook page: www.undressingisrael-themovie.com & www.facebook.com/UndressingIsrael

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MICHAEL LUCAS UNDRESSES ISRAEL Author: Yanir Dekel Published: December 28, 2012

To open 2013, Michael Lucas, mostly known as a porn actor and producer, is stepping out of his comfort zone to make a documentary about a subject close to his heart: Israel. “Undressing Israel” is the name of the new documentary, which Lucas also hosts and co-directed with Israeli director Yariv Mozer.

The film features interviews with a diverse range of local men, including a gay member of Israel’s parliament, a trainer who openly served gay in the army, a young Arab-Israeli journalist and a pair of dads raising their kids. “The movie I made represents absolutely the truth,” says Lucas in an exclusive interview with A Wider Bridge. “I followed real people, and I show Israel as I know it. I think this would be the perfect answer to the pinkwashing movement, because their main thing is to insist that the Israeli government is giving rights to LGBT people in order to take away the focus from the Palestinian conflict. And this movie

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shows that the government isn’t granting anything. It’s like in every other country, the rights are a result of the fight. Nothing was granted to them. Everything was fought for.”

When did the idea for the movie come about?

“I decided to do it about a year ago. You know, I go to Israel a lot. I try to go at least twice a year. I first went there in 2004 and I try to go twice a year at least and I also became an Israeli citizen three years ago. I was impressed with the gay movement in Israel and I was very much impressed with the progress that Israel is making when it comes to gay rights. Why I decided to make it? Because there’s no movie like that.

“There’s no movie that is showing Israeli gay life as it is today. I think there is one movie that was made about the history of the gay movement, but there’s nothing that shows what gay life today in Israel is like. The most important result for me was also to have gay tourists from all over the world going to Israel, and I think that after they see the movie they will want to go. I think that Israel needs tourists, Israel needs money, so for me it’s also a goal. I am a Zionist.”

Lucas, 40, was born in Moscow, Russia, where he earned a law degree from the Moscow Law University. Being dubbed “the most mainstreamed, provocative, and controversial figure in gay adult entertainment today,” he moved to New York and a year later became a legal citizen and started his own company.

Nowadays, he says that he does more writing than actual acting (he owns a column in ‘The Advocates’ and writes for several other gay websites). “If I was just a lawyer, no one would have published me,” says Michael. “I don’t think anyone would have cared what I have to say. So in a way I use my name and the fact that people recognize me, as a platform to speak about issues that I care about. ”

Why do you care so much for Israel? Where does this passion come from?

“I belong to the place, you know? I come from a Jewish family. I’m an atheist, I don’t believe in God, but I’m ethnically Jewish. I don’t believe in God, I believe in Israel. My father’s family died in the Holocaust so I do understand why Israel is so important and why its survival is so important, so I’m always doing everything possible to help Israel.”

So it’s just this movie? You’re not stepping away from porn towards the mainstream?

“This is not the beginning of anything. It’s just something I saw and thought it was important to do. And you know, I spent close to $100,000 on this movie, and there’s no way to return this investment, absolutely no way because it’s a documentary and documentaries don’t make

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money. And still, people think whatever they think but it’s a lot of money for me. I spent this money because I knew this was an important project. So it’s my gift to the country. It’s something I believe in.”

Do you think that gay Jews have more ways to be connected to Israel than straight Jews?

“I feel as if gay people tend to have more left wing perceptions. They are more brainwashed that Israel is an evil country victimizing people, that Israel is a religious country, a conservative country. So actually I think that most gay people here have no idea that it’s so open and so democratic and so supportive.”

Have you experienced prejudice yourself? Being a porn star?

“I experienced prejudice not as a pornographer, but as a gay person in Russia and as a Jew in Russia. But I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m not interested in climbing any higher, because I actually like to enjoy my life, and at this point in my life I just want to do that.”

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Michael Lucas Undresses Israel SHANE GALLAGHER JANUARY 28, 2013

When many people think of Israel, it is often in terms of modern war or ancient religion. But there is much more to the Jewish state than missiles and prayers.

In Undressing Israel, premiering Feb. 8at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, gay porn auteur Michael Lucas and Israeli director Yariv Mozer examine a side of the Holy Land that is largely overlooked: its thriving gay community.

The film spotlights a diverse range of local men, including a gay member of Israel’s parliament, a trainer who served openly in the army, a young Arab-Israeli journalist, and a pair of fathers raising their children.

Michael Lucas also visits Tel Aviv’s vibrant nightlife scene and even attends a same-sex wedding in this guided tour of a country that has emerged as a pioneer for gay integration and equality.

Why is it important for you to introduce people to gay Israel?

When Israel makes news, it is almost always in the context of terrorism or occupation. Israel is often cast as an oppressor and people who know little about the Middle East come away with the idea that it is an intolerant place that is only supported by those on the political right. Israel is actually the most liberal country in the area by far, and its very impressive record on gay-rights issues is a clear illustration of that. The gay lives that are shown in Undressing Israel do not exist in any of Israel’s Muslim neighbors.

What surprises viewers most in the film?

The variety and openness of Israel’s gay community, and how comfortably it is integrated into the rest of Israeli society.

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How do most Israelis view homosexuality?

As tolerantly as Americans do—probably more so, overall.

How does Israel compare with the USA in the battle for gay equality?

Israel is considerably ahead of America in many important ways. For example, Israel’s parliament repealed prohibitions against sodomy in 1988, fifteen years before the American Supreme Court did the same. Discrimination against gays in employment has been prohibited nationwide since 1992. Gay Israelis can adopt their partners’ children, which is still illegal in many states. Gay people may sponsor their partners for immigration, which is not yet legal in America.

Are gay men allowed to serve openly in the military?

Yes, and they have been since 1993. Before the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, the Israeli military was often cited as an example for America to follow.

Where is Israel in terms of gay marriage?

Israelis are not as interested in achieving the word “marriage” as much as they are in the rights that it accords, particularly when it comes to having children. Although gay marriage does not exist in Israel—because of opposition by the country’s still-powerful religious minority—the state effectively recognizes common-law marriage for same-sex couples, which gives them many financial and legal rights that we do not yet possess in America. (Israel does officially recognize gay marriages performed abroad.)

Is it true that Israel is experiencing a gayby boom?

Absolutely, yes. It’s a very family-oriented culture. Per capita, in fact, Israel has the highest number of children with gay parents in the world. I think that at least half of my gay Israeli friends have children.

What is like to be a transsexual in Israel?

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selected to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, a hugely popular annual competition held among many of the active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union. She won.

How does Israel’s nightlife scompare to the USA?

It varies from city to city, but Tel Aviv’s club scene is comparable to New York’s. It has clubs, bars, discos, gay beaches and a huge Gay Pride parade.

Is Israel safe?

Yes. In 2002, Israel began construction on the West Bank Barrier, which the government said was essential to prevent would-be suicide bombers from entering Israel and attacking civilians. This concrete-based wall has indeed stopped suicide bombings and other attacks. And Israel proper is not a violent place. The rate of gun-related death there is less than one- fifth of what it is in the United States.

What can the USA learn from Israel?

Where gay rights are concerned, it is best to adopt a national policy rather than defer, as the USA too often does, to “state’s-rights” arguments that effectively create large regions of second-class citizenry.

What can Israel learn from the USA?

The momentum for full marriage equality in America has grown stronger, and more quickly, than even most gay activists had hoped. It would be nice to see more movement in that direction in Israel, even if the common-law system already gives gay couples many of marriage’s practical benefits.

What’s the overall message of Undressing Israel?

I would like for people to take away a greater understanding of how progressive and tolerant Israel really is. People sometimes ask why we should care about Israel. This is why: because Israel shares our core values. And in some areas—like gay rights—it can even help inspire us to live up to those values a little better.

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Michael Lucas from gay porn to Jewish Film Fest By Jim Farmer | Jan 29, 2013

A documentary by gay adult film star-director Michael Lucas is one of the highlights of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, which opens Wednesday and includes seven gay-themed titles spread across the ATL over three weeks.

Lucas’ “Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land” (trailer above) is perhaps the highest profile LGBT film at the festival. The feature debunks the perception that Israel is merely an area with nonstop violence an lots of camels. Instead and surprising to many, it’s become a highly attractive gay destination over the years.

“No movie like this exists,” Lucas (top photo) says. “People don’t know about Israel. They think it’s a war zone. I wanted to show what it’s really like.”

Featuring interviews with a dozen or so gay men, including politicians and soldiers who serve openly and equally in the military, the film presents an area that, in many ways, is more progressive towards LGBT issues than the U.S., Lucas feels. Tel Aviv’s nightclub scene, too, is hopping and very gay friendly. According to Lucas, Israel has more gay families then other countries per capita.

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Lucas also interviews famed director Eytan Fox of “The Bubble” and “Yossi and Jagger” for the film and ends it with a wedding between a male couple.

The gay porn star and director who also dabbles in Jewish and LGBT advocacy admits he is not looking to change career paths and break into the mainstream. He is happy with his New York-based Lucas Entertainment. This film is just a project that he felt he needed to make. His most successful porn film of all time, ironically, is “Men of Israel,” which was the first adult film made using an all-Israeli cast.

“Undressing Israel” screens Friday, Feb. 8 at 11:55 a.m. at Atlantic Station as part of a double feature with “The Invisible Men” a documentary about three men who have fled Palestine and relocated to Israel. “The Invisible Men” is directed by Yariv Mozer, who is also the co- director of “Undressing Israel.”

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The naked truth about the Holy Land. by David-Elijah Nahmod

When people think of Israel, they often conjure up images of suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and Orthodox Jews. During the opening moments of Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land, the first non-pornographic feature from gay porn-king Michael Lucas, people in New York City’s Times Square are asked if they think homosexuality is legal in Israel. Many say they have no idea, while some assume it’s not.

For nearly an hour, Lucas reveals the other side of life in the Jewish State. He visits the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament), where Parliament member Nitzan Horowitz issues a Gay Pride proclamation. In Tel Aviv, the country’s gay mecca, gay dad Yossi Berg, founder of Rainbow Families, walks with his young son and explains the importance of having children in Jewish culture.

Lucas takes us to an Israeli gay wedding. He interviews an openly gay personal trainer, who shares his experience of coming out in the Israeli army, where homosexuality has been accepted since 1993.

Throughout the film, Lucas makes it plainly obvious that much of Israel is a safe place to be openly gay.

“Israel is more progressive than the United States,” he observes.

Undressing Israel is not the first time Lucas’s camera has ventured inside the State of Israel. In 2009, he raised many eyebrows when he produced Men of Israel, the first in a series of gay adult features to be shot inside the country with an all-Sabra (Israeli-born) cast.

Lucas, who works in New York City and Tel Aviv, has become one of Israel’s most vocal champions in the gay community. Unafraid of controversy, he’s been equally vocal in his condemnation of the virulently antigay regimes that exist in the Muslim world. His columns for publications like The Advocate, in which he harshly condemns the anti-Israel activism of queer-identified organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace, often draw fire, but he always stands his ground.

While preparing Undressing Israel for film festival screenings around the U.S. and the world, Lucas sat down with OutSmart for an interview.

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David-Elijah Nahmod: Can you explain your personal connection to Israel, and why the country means so much to you? Michael Lucas: I am ethnically Jewish. I was born to a Jewish family in the Soviet Union and many of my relatives died in the Holocaust. Growing up, I experienced not only homophobia but also anti-Semitism. So I understood from a very early age the importance of the State of Israel.

What kind of responses have you gotten for the Men of Israel series? It was my biggest commercial success to date. I got amazing responses, not only from the adult world but also from the mainstream media such as the Los Angeles Times. As for inside Israel, people were incredibly open-minded and helpful. Whenever I ran into problems, people were there to help. They were very excited to see this big production being filmed in Israel. I have a very good relationship with the gay community in Israel. By now, I think I have been interviewed by every Israeli newspaper.

Have you gotten harsh responses from the Orthodox community? I have never been in contact with the Orthodox community.

What was your inspiration for embarking on the Undressing Israel project? I was inspired by the country and its openness, friendliness, and tolerance towards minorities. But mainly [I undertook the project] because not a lot of people see that side of Israel. The media are only interested in covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I thought that this movie would be incredibly important for Israel.

How did you go about finding your interview subjects? It was all because of the help of my co-director Yariv Mozer, of Mozer Films. He helped a great deal with casting. Plus, as soon as I announced the project, people started coming to me.

We interviewed a variety of people, from an Israeli gay filmmaker and community leaders to gay parents and an Israeli Arab. Plus, I was invited to the Knesset and interviewed openly gay Parliament member Nitzan Horowitz.

Were there any incidents in which a potential interview subject hesitated or backed away because of your work in the adult film industry? I never had a problem with anyone who would not be in my film because I own a gay adult studio. Israelis know me as a friend of the country.

Do you have any concerns that your adult film notoriety might affect people’s perceptions of Undressing Israel, or that they might not take the film seriously? No. Absolutely not. I believe it’s the opposite. I’m a well-known name in the gay community, so that can only help spread the word.

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What is your message to queer activist organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace, which often protests the policies of the Israeli government while ignoring the country’s favorable record on gay rights? There is no point in having a conversation with that self- hating group whose members have already made up their minds and only care about the destruction of Israel.

What do you hope to achieve with Undressing Israel? I hope to show Israel as it is—a country that is not only a champion of gay rights in the Middle East, but also way ahead of many Western countries. And, of course, I want to see more tourists go to Israel.

For more information on Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land, visit undressingisrael-themovie.com.

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Michael Lucas Documents Israel’s Gay Life in 1st Non-Porn Film by Steve Weinstein, EDGE Editor-In-Chief

Michael Lucas doesn’t shy away from controversy. In fact, some would say he courts it. In fact, many would say it. Since his arrival in New York several years ago, the Russian-born Lucas has built Lucas Entertainment into the East Coast’s largest and best-known gay porn production and releasing company. His porn oeuvre has become known for its kinky fetish videos, but the studio also wins praise in the adult-film industry for high production quality. Unlike many studios that limit sets to an abandoned warehouse or back room, Lucas has taken his actors to Barcelona, Mykonos and other scenic locales. He’s also done a contemporary New York version of "Dangerous Liaisons" and "La Dolce Vita."

No film, however, has won the praise of his "Men of Israel," which features gay porn’s first all- Israeli cast, some very hot sabras (Israeli natives) in equally breathtaking settings. The film was one of those rare gay porn movies that received attention in the wider world, including Chelsea Handler, who, along with her co-hosts, tossed off some bon mots (examples: This is the only porn film where everyone in the orgy scene has an advanced degree; Lucas is having trouble releasing the uncut version).

Kidding aside (and even his biggest antagonists would have to admit that the film is hot), "Men of Israel" both reflects Lucas’ fascination with the ancient land of the Bible and helped foster an abiding interest that led him to take a dual citizenship. Lucas, who describes himself as a Jewish atheist, has emerged in recent years as one of the most outspoken gay advocates of Israel.

In columns for the Advocate and Huffington Post, Lucas has defended Israel against defenders of the Palestinians. Lucas has taken particular aim at gay activists, who combine what they see as humanitarian interest in the plight of Palestinians with criticism of "pinkwashing." They claim that the Israeli government, its tourist agency and liberal defenders, are exploiting the relaxed climate in cities like Tel Aviv and Eilat to justify or deflect Palestinian repression.

Lucas has extended his avowedly pro-Zionist sympathies with a decided antipathy to Islam. In columns, interviews and lectures, Lucas has fiercely condemned what he claims is ingrained homophobia. His outspoken stance has earned him widespread notoriety -- including some who agree in general with his pro-Israel stance.

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At a recent dinner party, when I mentioned Lucas to a gay executive at a prominent Jewish organization, he practically spit out "Lucas is a "fascist." Not only would such a comment not bother Lucas, it’s that kind of comment that keeps him in full-speed rock-the-boat in-your- face mode.

Now Lucas has taken his pro-Israeli advocacy to a new level. He has stepped out of his presumed X-rated comfort zone into documentary filmmaking. In its 46-minute running time, "Understanding Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land" includes interviews with a gay member member of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament; an openly gay member of the Israeli Defense Forces, Israel’s formidable army; an Arab-Israeli journalist; and a gay pair of dads.

Even though he never addresses pinkwashing, Lucas always intended the film, which is being screened on Feb. 8 at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, as a direct challenge to anti-Israeli gay activists.

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Q&A QUICKIE: MICHAEL LUCAS, GOING DEEP INSIDE GAY ISRAEL BY: BRANDON VOSS 2.25.2013

Adult film entrepreneur Michael Lucas has shot — and shot on — Israeli men before, but never with their clothes on. Along with filmmaker Yariv Mozer, the Lucas Entertainment founder now probes the overlooked but thriving gay community of Israel in his first mainstream documentary, Undressing Israel: Gay Men In The Promised Land, which is currently playing the film festival circuit. He spoke to us about going PG and why he just can't keep his opinions to himself.

Gay.net: This documentary will come as no surprise to those familiar with your work as a political columnist. When did you first discover your passion for activism, and why was it important for you to be so vocal in your convictions?

Michael Lucas: I've always had strong opinions. I suffered for that when I was growing up in the Soviet Union because there was no freedom of speech, so once I moved to the West it became impossible to shut me up! It took me a while to make a big enough name for myself that people would let me write about anything other than porn. That started happening about 10 years ago, and I've enjoyed writing about different social and political issues. I'm an independent thinker and always have been. I don't let anything intimidate me.

Why did you choose Israeli gay men as the subject of your first mainstream documentary?

I was looking for a subject that people were not too familiar with — and obviously Israel has always been a very important subject for me, and one that I have strong opinions about.

Some readers might be hesitant to read or respect your opinions as a political columnist. Were you worried that people might likewise be hesitant to accept you as a documentary filmmaker because they only see you as an adult film entrepreneur?

There have always been people who try to use my porn career as an excuse not to listen to what I have to say, but most people are smarter than that. My op-ed articles are widely read; if they weren't, then outlets like The Advocate and The Huffington Post wouldn't publish them.

As for my documentary, it has already proven a big success. The trailer received more than 18,000 views within its first month, and film festivals around the world have reached out to express their interest in screening the film. I just came back from its official premiere at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, where it was very well received.

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What do you think will surprise viewers most about the gay community in Israel?

It may surprise them to see how advanced gay rights are in Israel. Gay people in Israel actually have more rights then those in the United States.

You previously tackled the subject of gay men in Israel in a very different way with Men of Israel, the first adult film shot in that country. Was it a strange transition to be making a PG film around all those handsome gay men?

It was not strange at all. When I was filming Men of Israel, I was pleasantly surprised at how open-minded Israelis were, so it was very easy to make this documentary. The handsomeness of the subjects was not the issue here — though, of course, whether shooting porn or a mainstream movie, working with hot guys is always a plus.

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Gay Porn King Michael Lucas’ Love Affair with Israel

DAVID-ELIJAH NAHMOD MARCH 27

Michael Lucas released what he now says is his all time best selling title: Men of Israel.

When most people think of Israel, they think of a country that exists in a perpetual state of war.

For many years, the news media has been flooded with reports of suicide bombings and rocket attacks across the Holy Land. Images of Ultra-Orthodox Jews standing in prayer before Jerusalem’s Western Wall led many outsiders to assume that the country was controlled by conservative religious fundamentalists.

All that began to change when gay porn entrepreneur Michael Lucas released what he now says is his all time best selling title: Men of Israel. The film, shot entirely on location in the Jewish State, was the first gay adult feature to showcase Israeli models. Sex scenes were brazenly filmed outdoors in various locales around the country. To the Russian born Lucas, who has been very public about his strong Jewish identity, Men of Israel was an idea whose time has come.

Lucas has never been afraid to shy away from controversy. In addition to his work in the gay adult industry, he’s a columnist for The Advocate, and has also contributed to Huffington Post, Pink News and the New York Blade. He’s been an outspoken critic of drug use and barebacking in the porn world, and has no qualms about condemning the rampant homophobia among Orthodox Jews and Fundamentalist Muslims.

This year, Lucas unveiled his first non-pornographic feature. With Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land, the filmmaker’s camera takes his audience on an eye opening tour of Tel Aviv, the beachfront Israeli metropolis that has, in recent years, emerged as the Middle East’s answer to New York, San Francisco, West Hollywood and South Beach.

As the film opens, the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, offers an official declaration of support for Israel’s annual Pride festival. The camera then follows Lucas as he tours Tel Aviv, chatting with local gay residents. What we see is an out, vibrant community with a strong sense of self, and even stronger family connections.

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Lucas walks down a quiet Tel Aviv street with gay father Yossi Berg, founder of Rainbow Families, gay couples, some pushing baby strollers, can be seen. Lucas also attends an Israeli gay wedding, where a proud Mom gives her son away to the man of his dreams.

“I am ethnically Jewish,” Lucas told SFGN. “I was born into a Jewish family in the Soviet Union and many of my relatives died in the Holocaust. Growing up I experienced not only homophobia but also anti-Semitism. So I understood from a very early age the importance of the State of Israel.”

Lucas is unconcerned with how the religious and anti-Israel lobbies perceive him. He said that he’s never been in contact with the Orthodox community. His condemnation of queer- identified activist organizations such as Jewish Voice For Peace, which protests the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, is harsh.

“There is no point in having a conversation with that self hating group who have made up their minds and only care about the destruction of Israel,” he said.

But Lucas is no anti-Arab hater. On a stopover in Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s historic, ancient neighbor, he has a friendly, upbeat chat with Hader Rayan Abu-Seif, an openly gay Arab-Israeli.

Many surprising fact emerge in Undressing Israel. The country’s gay citizens enjoy a level of federal equality that their American counterparts are still dreaming of.

“I hope to show Israel as it is,” Lucas said. “A country that is not only a champion of gay rights in the Middle East, but is also way ahead of many Western countries. And of course, I want to see more tourists go to Israel.”

In addition to founding Lucas Entertainment, currently one of the largest and most respected brand names in gay adult cinema, Lucas was himself a popular and award winning gay adult performer. He said that his notoriety in the industry had no effect on his ability to obtain interview subjects for Undressing Israel.

“Israelis know me as a friend of the country,” he said. “I’m well known in the gay community so that can only help spread the word.”

For more information, go to www.undressingisrael-themovie.com

Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land has toured at various film festivals. A DVD release is expected to follow.

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Porn Star Michael Lucas Undresses Israel Written by: Shane Gallagher

When many people think of Israel, it is often in terms of modern war or ancient religion. But there is much more to the Jewish state than missiles and prayers. In “Undressing Israel,” gay porn auteur Michael Lucas and Israeli director Yariv Mozer examine a side of the Holy Land that is largely overlooked: its thriving gay community.

Michael Lucas also visits Tel Aviv’s vibrant nightlife scene and even attends a same-sex wedding in this guided tour of a country that has emerged as a pioneer for gay integration and equality.

Why is it important for you to introduce people to gay Israel?

Michael Lucas: When Israel makes news, it is almost always in the context of terrorism or occupation. Israel is often cast as an oppressor and people who know little about the Middle East come away with the idea that it is an intolerant place that is only supported by those on the political right. Israel is actually the most liberal country in the area by far, and its very impressive record on gay-rights issues is a clear illustration of that. The gay lives that are shown in “Undressing Israel” do not exist in any of Israel’s Muslim neighbors.

What surprises viewers most in the film?

The variety and openness of Israel’s gay community, and how comfortably it is integrated into the rest of Israeli society.

How do most Israelis view homosexuality?

As tolerantly as Americans do—probably more so, overall.

How does Israel compare with the USA in the battle for gay equality?

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Where is Israel in terms of gay marriage?

Is it true that Israel is experiencing a “gayby” boom?

Absolutely, yes. It’s a very family-oriented culture. In fact, per capita, Israel has the highest number of children with gay parents in the world. I think that at least half of my gay Israeli friends have children.

What’s it like to be a transsexual in Israel?

Transsexuals face special challenges everywhere, but Israel is unusually accepting by international standards. One of the biggest celebrities in Israel is Dana International: a beautiful, openly transsexual pop singer who is widely loved by Israelis. In 1998, she was selected to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, a hugely popular annual competition held among many of the active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union. She won.

How does Israel’s nightlife compare to the USA?

It varies from city to city, but Tel Aviv’s club scene is comparable to New York’s. It has clubs, bars, discos, gay beaches and a huge Gay Pride parade.

Is Israel safe?

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And Israel proper is not a violent place. The rate of gun-related death there is less than one- fifth of what it is in the United States.

What can the USA learn from Israel?

In closing, what is the overall message of “Undressing Israel?”

For more information, visit undressingisrael-themovie.com.

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GIRL TALK: A NOT-TOO-PORNY INTERVIEW WITH PORN KING MICHAEL

The renowned provocateaur comes to Philly this week to introduce one his first films that doesn’t get a XXX rating.

Posted by Josh Middleton 7/10/2013

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When most people hear the name Michael Lucas, the inevitable images that come to mind are, well, too XXX-rated to mention here. The adult-film king has fathered tons of what are arguably the world’s best-made gay porns. The works are praised for being high-quality productions that have legit story lines, or, as he put it in my interview with him this week, “like Hollywood movies meet hardcore gay sex.”

We were chatting because he’s coming to Philadelphia on Sunday to introduce his latest documentary at QFest, a work that strays from the porn set to shine a light on a particularly gay oasis in the Middle East. In Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land, Lucas turns his camera on Tel Aviv’s plentiful gay nightlife scene, visits the homes of thriving homo parents and talks to openly gay servicemen who, as he explains, have been “serving in the military since 1991, or earlier.” The result is a surprising revelation that this country, which we usually see as a place marred by constant strife, is actually more progressive on the gay front than most places in the United States, especially our very own Pennsylvania. [Blush.]

Here I chat with him about what led him to make the film, get some insider tips for travelers interested in planning a trip to the Holy Land and ask him if this new venture in documentary filmmaking means we’ll be seeing fewer of those Hollywood-worthy porn flicks.

What gave you the idea to do this documentary? I’ve been going to Israel a lot since 2004. … I decided to do this movie because people don’t have information about Israel. The only thing they see is the conflict between Israelis and their Arabic neighbors. … Unfortunately there’s absolutely no information about [gay] day to day life in Israel. … I decided to show the world that it’s an amazing vacation spot and that it’s gay heaven.

What makes it gay heaven? Israeli gay people have more rights than even the United States. You don’t even have to look for a gay bar, because [they are everywhere.] There are so many gay people — in Tel Aviv, particularly — that you see gay men and gay women walking hand in hand everywhere. And society is very open to it. … There are eight gay prides in different cities of Israel. The biggest one is in Tel Aviv, which drew 100,000 people this year. And in Israel, there are, per capita, more gay couples using surrogate mothers to have children than anywhere else in the world.

And then there’s Jerusalem … Of course you can’t say the same thing for Jerusalem, but who cares? Jerusalem is a very religious city; every religious lunatic lives there — Christians, Islamic, Jewish.

How did Israel become so accepting of gay people when it’s surrounded by so many anti-gay countries? Because it’s a Western country. This is not a Muslim country and that is the reason why. [The people who live there] are European Jews and some from the Middle

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East; they have nothing to do with Islam. The reason surrounding countries are persecuting gays, whether it’s by capital punishment — hanging, stoning or throwing people off buildings — or jail time, is because those people live by the Quran. Israel is a country largely [inhabited by] secular people who celebrate Jewish traditions and they rule by a constitution.

Also, Jews took a lesson from the Holocaust, because Jews and gays were both persecuted, so Jews know firsthand what that means. Jews usually get their rights through the courts — the same as gay people. And public opinion has changed. For example, there is no gay show that doesn’t have gay characters. And those gay characters are not clowns, but actual people.

You seem to know a lot about Tel Aviv, but is there anything you learned during the making of this film? Because I’ve been going there for such a long time, I didn’t learn anything new — I just confirmed what I already knew. Maybe one aspect is that the rights gay people have there were not given to them by the government, but just like in every other country it was a result of their fight. Gay activists and gay people were fighting for their rights just like in every other country of the world — usually using courts and the judiciary system of Israel.

Can you play travel guide for a second and recommend some Israel must-dos for anyone interested in going there? The reason I like to go there so much is because it’s such a pleasant country to be in. You go and you have amazing restaurants from all over the world, beaches everywhere, everyone speaks English perfectly, people are very friendly — they love foreigners. There’s a lot to experience. From Tel Aviv, it’s 40 minutes to Jerusalem, then one hour to the Dead Sea, which is an incredible experience. Then you have everything from Roman ruins and the Sea of Galilee to Golan Heights. And of course you can go to Eilat. I’ve gone to Pride in Eliat … it’s on the Red Sea Resort. There are lots of seas — Dead Sea, Red Sea, Sea of Galilee and Mediterranean Sea, of course.

I’ve seen Tel Aviv on a lot of best-of-gay-travel lists. Do you think your documentary helped spur that trend? I think a lot of things helped it. My adult film that I filmed there, Men of Israel, helped a lot. I got so many responses from people saying [they went because of the movie and loved it]. I’ve never met one person who’s been to Israel who didn’t say they wanted to go back.

In other interviews you’ve described Men of Israel as your most important film. Why? First of all, it is the biggest commercial success of my adult film company, Lucas Entertainment. Second, it was something I pioneered, because Israel does not have an adult industry. And so I was the first one who filmed [there] and it was a great success.

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You were born and raised in Russia, which is nowhere close to Tel Aviv on the gay- friendliness scale. Would you ever want to do a film exposing the bigotry there? I just filmed a documentary there and it’s now in the editing process. It’s going to be about Russia in light of the anti-gay laws that were just introduced. I interviewed many gay people, activists and journalists, and even politicians who introduced the law, which is called “Against Propaganda of Homosexuality and Pedophilia” and confuses people [by suggesting that] homosexuality and pedophilia is one thing.

Fantastic. When will that come out? I think sometime in Winter

Does this new venture in filmmaking mean we’ll see fewer Michael Lucas porns and more serious documentaries? No, my porn company is the most important business. Actually, both of my documentaries were sponsored with money from Lucas Entertainment. Lucas Entertainment is probably one of the biggest adult-film companies in the world right now.

Michael Lucas’s Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land screens during QFest, on Sun., July 14 at 2:15 p.m, with the Israeli short film A Matter of Sex. Lucas will introduce the film and stick around to host a Q&A afterward. For tickets and more info on other QFest screenings, visit qfest.com.

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Contact Details:

Michael Lucas 589 8th Avenue 2nd Floor. New York City, NY 10018 Tel. 212.924.5892 / 917.449.3103 Email: [email protected]