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Dark Mistress
An
interview with Mistress Persephone
By Bob
Ignizio |
At least since Bram
Stoker's 'Dracula', the archetypal modern horror novel, the carnal and the
macabre have been intertwined. While the eroticism of Stoker's novel
was fairly subtle, film adaptations of the story would make this connection
more pronounced. This was especially the case in the Dracula films
made by England's Hammer Studios, films which were a major influence on the
future Mistress Persephone. Other noteworthy influences on Persephone
included later, more explicit erotic horror films by the likes of Jess
Franco and Mario Bava and the bondage photography of Irving Klaw.
In recent years, however,
the sort of imagery that first fired Persephone's imagination has
disappeared from the modern horror film. Rather than simply accept
this state of affairs, Mistress Persephone launched her own
website featuring photos and
short video clips that delivers dark fantasy the way she likes it. The
material on her site ranges from fairly tame glamour photos to scenarios
that mix sex and violence in a way that some may be uncomfortable with.
Although it contains no hardcore pornography, it is definitely for adults
only.
Utter Trash: A little
personal background: where did you grew up and are there any interesting
stories about your formative years that shaped your interests in erotic
horror and/or got you interested in being part of the adult entertainment
industry?
Mistress Persephone: I grew up a pale skinned poor Mexican kid
with homemade clothes in an upper middle class white republican neighborhood
in Irvine, CA. My first language is Spanish, and I grew up watching Santo
movies and Mexican horror like ‘La Lobo, El Hombre Y el Monstruo’, and fell
in love with Christopher Lee at the age of five. I so desperately wanted to
become his vampire lover that every night I would pull the neck of my
nightgown across my collarbone to expose my throat and await his arrival at
my balcony window. After seeing ‘Salem’s Lot’ on TV, this desire grew and
every time a fog rolled in I hoped and prayed that my wonderful Dracula
would manifest in the thick, white mist.
I
always had a vivid imagination and was fascinated by horror comics. It
started with Mexican versions of the EC Comics and when I learned English I
would beg for comic book versions of Countess Bathory that would end up in
the bargain bin of Pic N Save. There were always women bound, tightly laced
in corsets, and the first sexual thrill I ever remember feeling was watching
Christopher Lee bite his victim in ‘Dracula: Prince of Darkness’. I was
hooked, and forever associated blood with sex from that moment on. Those
women of Hammer Films (ed. – for the uninitiated, the studio that made the
Christopher Lee ‘Dracula’ movies) were so gorgeous and I knew that I had to
be one of them when I grew up. Elvira was also an influence. I don’t think I
need to explain why I thought she was the perfect role model!
UT: When and how did you
first get involved in the adult entertainment industry?
MP: I have been modeling about 10 years. My career
started when I was working at a fetish boutique in Fountain Valley, CA
called Fantasy Lingerie and was asked by the owner’s daughter if I had ever
done any modeling; her dad was looking for models for his Centurions bondage
equipment catalogue. I had been a pervert since my teenaged years, but never
a model. However, I had done some photos for fun at my friend’s house done
up as a pony girl, so I brought those into work and she took them home to
her dad. He liked my look so much that he gave me the gig. I was working a
Vampirella/Bettie Page look at the time, which was pretty rare in those
days. Now it seems everyone sports that look.
UT: At what point did you
decide to do your own thing and start your website, and how did that come
about?
MP: For years I had a free home page with many
free photos and it was getting bigger every year, to the point where my host
asked me to slim it down. I had thousands of photos I wanted to share
because I felt that people didn’t understand just how much work I had
actually done in my career. It was impossible to put up that many images
and not have it cost me money so I decided it was finally time to make the
next step and make it a pay site. I also wanted to be able to have the
freedom to create the kinds of images and videos I wanted with no limits, no
one telling me what was suitable or marketable, and since my husband, Tim
Polecat, is a talented and successful production designer we decided it
could work. I went into partnership with a host for about a year and, when
I no longer was satisfied with their service, I moved it over to Perv City,
a network of sites hosted by fetish photographer Christine Kessler. It
didn’t hurt that she is also my neighbor!
UT: You say you’re trying
to recapture the spirit of the erotic horror films of the late sixties and
early seventies (with perhaps of dash of Irving Klaw’s bondage pics in the
mix as well?). For those who have no point of reference to that material,
give a brief description of your particular approach to erotica. Any
short, snappy label you like to put on your work?
MP: I was obsessed by Irving Klaw before I was ever a
model, which is how I ended up doing the snapshots that got me into it.
Out of that a love for glamorous bondage was born. It’s hard for me to
think of a label since I abhor them so. I could call it erotic horror but it
isn’t anything like the kinds of material being produced within that genre
in the last 20 years, so I can’t say that fits. I like to think of my life
as a Fellini-esque Blood Orgy of the Ultra vixens.
UT: Even though your
website doesn’t include any images (that I saw anyway) which would qualify
as hardcore pornography, I would imagine because of the elements of fantasy
violence you utilize that some people are absolutely appalled at what you
do. What’s your response to that?
MP: There isn’t any boy/girl porn in there or anything
harder than softcore, but that’s simply because that’s not my particular
taste. I have received backlash from Christian groups because of my heavy
interest in blasphemy, and some people have been turned off by the gialli
elements of some of the layouts, but I have been online since 1996 and by
now, I am used to it.
UT: Do you find it ironic
that material which, in the sixties and seventies could have been in an ‘R’
rated movie or on the cover of a pulp novel, is considered by some to be
about the most objectionable imagery one could commit to film?
MP: I don’t find it ironic so much as I find it
ridiculous. These puritanical values seem so out of place when in countries
like Mexico on the covers of newspapers like ‘Alarma!’, scenes of real crime
depicting actual gore are sold on every newsstand. The USA media has come to
pretend to accept fetishism and violence in cinema when in fact it does
almost everything to exploit them or censor every aspect possible.
UT: Detractors aside,
there’s obviously something about the mix of sex and death that continues to
appeal to people, and not just the Ted Bundys of the world but perfectly
sane, law-abiding citizens as well. Any thoughts on why?
MP: I don’t think shows like ‘Forensic Files’ or ‘The
New Detectives’ would be so popular if the general public didn’t have a
fascination with the macabre, but when it is presented in a cold, clinical,
scientific package it becomes more palatable food for the masses. Don’t get
me wrong, I LOVE those programs, but they prove that violence is apart of
who we are, and that unless we learn from it and the psychology behind the
predator, then we are doomed to either become victims or, in the case of law
enforcement, become unable to capture the assailant. I am actually
surprised that gialli hasn’t become as mainstream in the USA as it is in
Italy because they are very fascinating tales that illustrate the mind of a
serial killer, and that’s pretty fascinating stuff.
UT: How involved are you
with coming up with the concepts for the photo shoots and videos on your
site?
MP: I am very involved, but I think it is important to
collaborate with each photographer I work with, and I like the models to
have some input about how they wish to be portrayed. It adds a special
element to it that isn’t there if we were to just bring in “mannequins” from
an agency. This site is all about dark fantasy, be it violent or just
perverse.
UT: Is there anything
(outside of committing real acts of violence, obviously) that you would
consider to be going too far?
MP: I’m not into any kind of scat. Outside of that,
I’ve been a sicko for so long I’m not sure I have any boundaries left.
UT: You work with a
number of different photographers on your site. Is there anyone in
particular who you feel really captures what you’re trying to get across?
MP: Everyone that I work with I do so for different
reasons. One may be really great at doing foot fetish stuff, another may
understand 60s exotica LP covers, and others are just into complete
glamour. The people who seem to “get” the horror aspect that I have worked
with so far are Tim Polecat, Timothy Dolph, Frank Ippolito (who is actually
a makeup artist, but he takes some excellent pics!), and Jonnie-Saiko
Espiritu. I am always shooting with new people because I like for them to
have different takes on me, since I do pride myself on my ability to morph
and become different people. Next month I am working with other people whom
I feel will do some pretty amazing horror imagery with me, like Dan Santoni
and Sean McCall.
UT: You’ve been in a
number of fetish films and a few low budget erotic horror films. Are there
any that you’re happy with?
MP: I have appeared in over 130 productions and I am
pretty happy with many, but I feel that the material I am producing for the
site truly exhibits my personality and tastes. Someday I hope to produce
full-length features.
UT: Aside from the “Mr.
Creepo” videos you did, which you mentioned not being too happy with, have
you tried to break into more mainstream horror films?
MP: In all fairness, I really believe that he meant
well and really wanted to produce his own interpretation of what erotic
horror meant to him, but I wasn’t pleased with he results. I have to hand it
to anyone who says “I want to make movies” and then goes out and does it, no
matter what the results are. I always wanted to be in a b-movie so I got
that out of it all, and some pay too. I don’t really have the desire to act
enough to go out and do the whole audition thing. I am so extremely busy
with all of my other projects abd my travels, going out on casting calls
just isn’t something that has ever appealed to me. I’ll leave that to the
girls who hunger for it. I’m seeing things from a different angle. I have
worked in the mainstream in production before, so if I was to reach out for
something, it would be from the creative end.
UT: I would imagine the
audience for what you do on the website is relatively small compared to the
number of people who might surf over to a more typical adult site. Is what
you do more a labor of love than a money-making enterprise, or are you able
to have the best of both worlds (doing what you like AND turning a profit at
the same time)?
MP: Well, like I said, I started the site mostly to
show the world what I do and hopefully inspire others along the way. I had
no idea it would be as successful as it is, and while I can’t give you
financial details about my profits, let’ s just say it makes enough for us
to have a studio/loft in Hollywood and a home in London. We travel all over
the world, we live well, and I often feel like I am living the life of Jess
Franco character. I truly believe if you imagine yourself living a certain
way, you can get there! I have a strong European following, perhaps because
I have appeared in so many magazines overseas and in foreign TV interviews.
It’s hard to say. Most are men, but loads of my members are females which
is one unique quality most adult sites lack, and part of the reason for that
is that my female fans enjoy living vicariously through my adventures and my
own descent into perversion. I make them feel like Eugenie!
UT: Anything I forgot to
ask that you’d like to comment on?
MP: Ask me anything! I think your site is great.
Visit Mistress Persephone's website.
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