FROM HOLLYWOOD ONLINE
Parker Seeks the Perfect 'Orgazmo' by Jim Bartoo
Sometimes the winds of fate blow in mysterious ways. One minute, you're shooting a musical comedy about Alferd Packer (the only American ever convicted of cannibalism) with a bunch of college friends or putting the finishing touches on a film about a young Mormon who finds himself the unlikely star of a porno empire and the next thing you know--you have a contract to put together a weekly animated TV show.
Such is just the case with filmmaker Trey Parker. Along with his old college friend Matt Stone, the pair have become household names for their foul-mouthed cartoon about a group of grade-school troublemakers, "South Park." However, before there was Chef or Cartman, there were a number of interesting projects that are now getting a chance to see the silver screen. Along with the Packer epic "Cannibal: The Musical," Parker is about to see the theatrical release of another piece of his past. "Orgazmo" follows the strange and humorous path of an idealistic Mormon named Joe Young (Parker).
While spreading the word door to door one day, he happens upon a porno set run by the sleazy producer Maxxx Orbison (Michael Dean Jacobs). Impressed at how Young was able to defend himself against goonish bodyguards sent to work him over for interrupting the shoot, Orbison decides that maybe he actually found himself the next Captain Orgazmo.
With his innocent and beautiful young fiancee Lisa (Robyn Lynne Raab) waiting for him to marry her in Utah, Young finds himself looking at too much money to turn down. Against his better judgment, he becomes an overnight porn sensation--much to Lisa's dismay when she happens across his title in the local video store.
For Parker, the film comes at a time when even humor is being attacked harshly by the Motion Picture Assn. of America. Branded the dreaded NC-17 rating, the film will likely face long odds with many newspapers refusing to accept advertising for the piece.
While not directly angered by his own film's rating (mainly because he'd like to see his audience consist of longtime fans rather than mainstream curiosity), Parker has stressed that the rating could devastated a filmmaker without studio backing whose own time and money are riding on whatever success the film generates.
"I'm not worried about 'Orgazmo,'" he explains. "I'm more concerned about the next guy in line. The guy who has no studio support and whose life and finances went into his film. That's the person who is going to be hurt by that rating."
When asked about the feeling on the set, however, the congenial actor lights up--remembering a happy mood that normally doesn't extend itself to mainstream Hollywood studio pictures.
"On 'BASEketball', we didn't know most of the people on the set," Parker recalls. "All the different departments kept to themselves and the actors all found themselves sticking together."
Fortunately, the set of "Orgazmo" featured a much cozier environment--complete with porn stars and old friends. The congenial mood extends itself into the film and Parker hopes audiences sense that.
Not that mainstream success is unappreciated. Parker is currently teaming with partner Matt Stone on the upcoming theatrical version of their popular "South Park" series. In the meantime, however, Parker hopes fans will take a peek at his quirky little look at pornography.
"People are always going to be fascinated by the porno world because it is so different than anything they're used to," he muses. "It's just so out there [...] we had porno stars on the set who were actually bummed out that they weren't being required to have sex."
"Orgazmo" opens nationally Friday, October 22.