By Peter Landau
In the world of pornography everyone's a star, but there's only one Platinum Princess. Seka, the one-named super-slut of late '70s and early '80s adult entertainment, is legendary and more than simply for her humungous lungs.
The scuttlebutt is that she was managing an adult bookstore and complained that she was hotter than the models in the product she was selling. The rest is herstory.
The five-foot, eight-inch tall, blonde bombshell with the explosive 42D-28-40 figure, moved to Los Angeles to find fame and fortune. After Seka found work as a supporting player, she busted out big time in Blonde Fire (1978), which costarred the big man on campus John Holmes, who Seka had no problem submitting to.
Her timing was perfect. Seka entered the industry (and let the industry enter her every which way and loose) just as the business was moving from film to video. It was a boom she would ride with as much success as she rode the hard studs on camera.
Seka is no brain-dead bimbo, with a business acumen she built her brand becoming the industry's top-seller right up to her final film, Careful He May Be Watching (1986). Then she disappeared.
Fast forward to the new millennium, dateline Sweden. A trio of filmmakers was attending the Stockholm Film Festival in 2001. "The idea for the documentary came like most good ideas on a late night when we were out drinking," says Christian Hallman, writer/producer/director of Desperately Seeking Seka (Picture: - website).
He was bellying up to the bar with Magnus Paulsson, who would co-produce and co-direct the film, and Stefan Nyl?/b>, a freelance journalist. "Nyl?came up to us with an idea for a documentary," Hallman explains. "Or a title for a documentary, I should say, Desperately Seeking Seka, kind of like in the days of Roger Corman, starting out with a title."
The idea lasted longer than the next morning's hangover. All agreed Seka was a fascinating subject for a documentary, being one of the first really huge stars of adult film. "She stood out from the rest," Hallman notes. "She knew how to market herself, she had an exotic name and, also for us being Swedes, she worked a lot for a company called Swedish Erotica and because of that and her blonde hair many people thought that she came from Sweden." In fact, Seka is a Southern belle, born in Radford, Virginia.
The filmmakers were encourage to pursue their wet dream because at that point no one had produced a documentary on a female performer from the Golden Age of Porn. There were already two films from the male perspective: Wadd: The Life and Times of John C. Holmes (1998) and Porn Star: The Ron Jeremy Story (2001). "Hey, why not make one about the adult icon of the '80s, the Platinum Princess, the sex goddess, Seka!" Hallman exudes.
They were also fascinated by the transition of the industry from film stock and theaters to videotapes and the home entertainment tidal wave of the '80s. And they wanted that story told by the porn stars.
One of the most revealing interviews comes from former porn star and current adult director Jane Hamilton, better known as Veronica Hart. "In the interview you can feel the love and affection that she feels for Seka," Hallman says. "In many ways I think you can say that she sees Seka as a mentor or some sort, and this comes through in our interview with her."
Less easy on the eyes is their encounter with ex-publisher of Screw magazine Al Goldstein, a connoisseur of all things Seka.
"Al was great," beams Hallman. "He is outspoken and has an opinion on everything and everybody. He told us great stories of working with her, as well as giving his views on the early times of the adult industry and how it looks today."
But the real draw of the movie is the filmmakers' attempts to get the grand dame of decadence onscreen for her own close-up. Thankfully the industry is a small pool and once a toe was dipped in those erotic waters it was easy to take the plunge.
"We had some friends working with adult films that helped us with contacts, this ultimately opened a lot of doors for us," admits Hallman. "When it came to Seka, and don't read this if you haven't seen the film and don't want the anticipation of whether or not we find Seka spoiled, it took a little bit longer. We got hold of a phone number to her from a contact in the industry. We called and left a message on her voicemail. A couple of days later she called us up."
How did Seka relate to her infamous past? Well, you'll have to watch the film to hear her dirty stories, but it's fair to say that Seka has a very healthy way of looking at her explicit history. She has no regrets and talks copiously about her costars, including Jamie Gillis and John Leslie.
But what about Hallman, does he have a favorite Seka movie? "Ultra-Flesh from 1980, directed by Svetlana, starring Seka with Jamie Gillis," he says. "It's a perfect blend of story/sci-fi and sex. Two other great films worth mentioning are Blonde Heat and Dracula Sucks, a.k.a. Lust at First Bite."
About porno, Hallman speaks for the group of filmmakers, saying, "We enjoy watching an adult film as much as anyone from time to time. Also, we are anti-censorship. We don't think the porn industry should be banned. We think they serve a good cause, in that they provide fantasies for both women and men, but that is what it is: sexual fantasies."
And those fantasies hit unexpected reality in the film. For instance, Hallman was surprised to find out what a great chef Seka is. Everyone knows she can cook in the bedroom, but who knew she makes a mean marinara sauce, which Hallman had the pleasure of sampling.Sadly, Seka appears to be happily retired. She made a brief comeback with the film American Garter (1993), but found that she didn't enjoy the work as much as she used to.
Her foray into mainstream was equally disappointing. She has a brief cameo in Men Don't Leave (1990), with Jessica Lange and a young Chris O'Donnell. Naturally, Seka plays an adult film star and is featured on a TV screen, which they shot exclusively for the film.
"When it comes to her relationship with the mainstream film industry there were some opportunities as well as interesting propositions that could have led to more mainstream roles for her, and she tells of this in the documentary," Hallman explains.
Desperately Seeking Seka can be purchased in an NTSC-coded DVD format available for the US market at desperatelyseekingseka.com, and is jam-packed with over three hours of extras, from 30 minutes of deleted scenes to extended interviews offering a candid look inside the adult entertainment industry from the stars themselves.
So, it looks like the best way to see Seka is at your local video store where her near decade-long reign as Queen of Quim is documented in all it's X-rated glory. As for Seka now, Hallman replies, "She lives in Chicago enjoying her life and the smart decisions she made when she was an adult star."
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Official Desperately Seeking Seka site Veronica Hart Jessica Lange |
Men Don't Leave |
