Career
Director and DJ Paciotti, mainly acting under his drag diva persona, Chi Chi LaRue, is one of the most recognizable names and faces in the adult film industry. His fame far surpasses that of most superstars he created over the past decades. Beginning in the press department for Catalina Video, a label he now owns under his company Channel 1 Releasing, it wasn’t long before Chi Chi LaRue’s creative spark set afire. He was soon directing some of the highest selling releases of all time. Multi-award winning and an GayVN Award Hall of Fame inductee, Chi Chi has branded his name and image creating everything from sex toys to candles to Chi Chi LaRue water, all sold at his adult boutique, Chi Chi LaRue’s, on Santa Monica Blvd. in the heart of West Hollywood. In 2005, Chi Chi LaRue became a DJ and now tours with porn stars from his movies, selling out in clubs all over the world. In 2007, LaRue was chosen as one of Out (magazine)'s Top 50 most influential people in the GLBT community.
LaRue's drag persona began upon moving to the Twin Cities area where Chi Chi began performing in drag as one-half of "The Weather Gals", a "hag drag" revue. He later moved to California with a friend and was hired by Catalina Video as an administrative assistant and publicist because of his knowledge of porn and the workings of the porn industry.
LaRue has directed hundreds of gay porn films since 1988. In 2003, he began to direct straight porn for Vivid Video, where he became a favorite among female stars, particularly Jenna Jameson. For some time, LaRue divided his attention between Vivid Video and his own Rascal Video for Channel 1 Releasing.
In 2006, LaRue announced that he would no longer produce films for Vivid Video because they were featuring actors and actresses having sex without condoms.
In August 2008, he directed the controversial bisexual film titled Shifting Gears. LaRue coined the term Straight-for-pay (a play on word for Gay-for-pay), to reference performer Blake Riley's first encounter with a woman, Shy Love, and of his having enjoyed it.
LaRue and partner, Channel 1 Releasing opened their first company store, Chi Chi LaRue's, in West Hollywood in 2008. The store offers the entire Channel 1 catalog of more than 2,000 titles and products. An exclusive arrangement has also been made with One Condoms to provide all the protective barrier products for the store.
Read more about this topic: Chi Chi La Rue
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