The story of the world’s oldest KINK/FETISH contest – The INTERNATIONAL MR LEATHER contest. And after 30 years, it’s not just a ‘white gay male’ event anymore! Today, men who are straight, disabled, elderly – or maybe transgender – join with their gay brethren to compete in this honor of masculinity. And it was all started by the man who opened Chicago’s first Leather bar in the 1950s. From street corner preachers to President Obama and Abu Griab in between, ‘Kink Crusaders’ explores a world as close to you as your neighbors next door.

Recently, we had the chance to chat with Mike Skiff, the director and co-founder of Third Rail Media

How did Third Rail Media get started?

Originally, Third Rail Media was a way of handling my taxes from my income from camera work and editing.  Very unromantic.  Yet it gave me the opportunity to begin focusing on projects that I fit into my “third rail” sensibilities.

Who is behind Third Rail Media?

Myself and my very silent partner.  TRM has been teaming up with Manmade Multimedia (who produce Reel Gay TV) for nearly a decade.  Together, TRM and Manmade have shot the official IML contests videos for over five years.  But our work expands far beyond our friends in the Leather community to include covering the Gay civil rights struggle, live performances by pop culture artists, and sports events.

LAPD? How butch – Tell us more.

I am so grateful to be working as a video journalist for queer news.  Through Manmade, I’ve held the LAPD press badge for nearly a decade.  It’s a fantastic honor.  I never thought that I’d really be meeting US presidents, the A-list of Hollywood’s celebrities, disco divas of the past and politicians of all stripe.  But most rewarding to me, I’ve gotten to cover our own queer stories.  After Prop 8 passed in California, I spent weeks out with demonstrators and my camera in the streets of LA.  Lt. Dan Choi, Jane Lynch, David Mixner, Andrew Sullivan – all have had their images and words captured by my camera and then fed to the world.

What was it like working with Clive Barker?

Watching Clive Barker work was to witness one of the master artists of our time.  He filled nearly every moment of his day producing – writing, painting, or in my case, directing.  Incredibly focused and driven. I worked with him as cameraman on a shoot for a music video at his home.  Rooms were filled with stacks of canvases with his paintings, most revealing a dark demon from his imagination.  And he was a very sweet man, with his gravely Brit accent.  He’s struggled with health concerns and it seemed as if he was producing art so furiously – as if to keep his own mortality at bay.

Why a behind the scenes of IML?

I was once in a Leather contest in ’89 when I was a tyke back in Phoenix – the Mr. Bumsteer contest.  Though I had my youthful looks, masculinity and some charm, I didn’t even place in the top three.  But I continued in the leather world and remained captivated by the contests.  As a cameraman, I’ve been on the video crew shooting the official IML video since ’97.  Through this work, I eventually became friends with IML founder Chuck Renslow and his partner Ron Ehemann.  My objective when starting “Kink Crusaders” was to answer the question: why does IML matter – to the Leather community, to the gay community, and to the global community?  What I discovered was how IML has evolved in thirty years from a beauty pageant for gay white men into an unlikely institution for progressive social change.  I also became aware of the importance of selecting individuals who can become the public face of the Kink community, embodying the cause of personal sexual freedom around the world.

What didn’t we see in the video?

There is so much fascinating footage that we couldn’t fit into “Kink Crusaders”.  Not so much X-rated content, as the Hyatt hotel kept a tight reign on what went on in public.  Instead, there were hours of interesting interviews that didn’t make it in.  We may have Mr. Marcus’ (former Bay Area Report leather journalist) last on-camera interview before he passed away.  And while we are able to give a solid historical overview in “Kink Crusaders” of IML and Leather culture using archival footage (kindly supplied by the Leather Archive & Museum), another project should be done that focuses specifically on the history of IML highlighting that rich trove of videos and photographs.

What is your idea of kinky sex?

I like mind-fuck stuff, power-play, heavy verbal, wrestling.  And I have a huge bicycle fetish.  Like I attend the Bicycle Porn Film Festival, or get my jollies by racing some fucker in a on a city street to display my cycling prowess.  You like your gears fixed or single?

Were you surprised when Tyler McCormick won?

In all the years I’ve shot IML, I’ve never been able to figure out who would end up the winner.  At first, when Tyler won, I was just elated that someone who relied on a wheelchair had actually won the IML title.  As to Tyler being transgender, Third Rail Media actually broke that news in the press.  A past titleholder had shared Tyler’s story with me and I was even a bit scared to ask Tyler to open up about the subject during our interview.  I wasn’t prepared for the amount of mean, hate-filled comments that got posted to our podcast on YouTube about the story.  Tyler’s win also gave “Kink Crusaders” a new, uplifting ending.  I support Tyler.

If you could have drinks with anyone – who would you choose?

Since I live in California, can I change it to a joint, because then I’d smoke it with President Obama and get him to chill a bit like he used to in the day.  Then I’d ask him all the important questions like:  What’s it like with Michelle wearing the pants in the family?  Is it true they kept a Presidential Suite for him at Man’s Country in Chicago?  And what does he think about the Shepard Fairey-style street art of Leather Man Obama?

What’s next for Third Rail?

In 2011, Third Rail has two major projects.  The first involves all the work around getting “Kink Crusaders” into film festivals.  This is our first time at the rodeo.  So we can use all the support we can get from our friends in the Leather and Bear communities.

And I’m already at work on my next documentary, which will be a hard 180 from “Kink Crusaders” in subject matter.  It will look at ethical issues around a very public run-in I had as a news cameraman at a Prop 8 demonstration with a notorious British hoaxster filming his summer blockbuster.

As always, Third Rail Media looks forward to continuing its partnership with Manmade Multimedia and Reel Gay TV.

The Twisted Bear provides the bear and leather communities the single source they need for fine bear leathers and toys. We offer leathers for the bear – full sizes and custom work to meet all of your leather needs.

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• Tyler McCormick Mr IML 2010 (seasonsofpride.com)
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• Radical Sex Photography with Mark Chester (seasonsofpride.com)

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Over the past 4 years we have raised $20,000 for charity. All proceeds this year will benefit the Greater Pasadena AIDS Foundation.

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Wet ‘n Hot is an incredible weekend full of uninhibited watersports, fisting, and nasty sex with hundreds of hot, no-attitude pigs. It really is a place like no other, where you can live out your wildest fantasies (and even discover some new ones!) over and over again.

WET N HOT 14

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Plans are now underway for Pump Weekend 16 in Palm Springs – our next big pump event. Make your plans to join us April 30 – May 2, 2010 for a fun time. The weather should be sunny and warm, perfect for naked lounging around the pool with a bunch of other guys. Most of the pumpers that come to our events are from the U.S., but there are usually a few from other places too. We’ll be at the same host hotel again. Canyon Club Hotel recently renovated their new green area – complete with a koi pond for the fish and a maze and volleyball net for the men. And whether you’re an experienced pumper or a newbie, there’s something for everyone. Want to try a new tube or vacuum system? Have your first saline experience? We can get you hooked up. Yeah, that’s right, it’s not just about pumping. Those into saline and silicone are welcome, too.

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