Xander Goes to Hell: An Interview with Xander Corvus About His Burning Angel Co-Directing Debut

Take a Trip to Hell with Xander and Burning Angel!

Top male performer Xander Corvus recently had his directorial debut release through Burning Angel, titled "Cindy: Queen of Hell". He wrote the script to the feature and co-directed it with AVN Hall of Famer Joanna Angel. He has won three AVN Best Supporting Actor Awards in his career to date for his performances in New Sensations' "Star Trek: The Next Generation - A XXX Parody" and in Wicked Pictures' "Holly...Would" and "Underworld" - so given his skill level, I am really looking forward to seeing how he motivates actors along with Angel, who is already awesome at it. Don't miss this feature.

What was the process that lead you to help create this feature? Have you always wanted to direct?

"Well, Joanna had asked me to write her a scene with a cool Satanic ritual in it. So, I thought about what I could do with that. Then, I turned in a full feature movie script. LOL. We had to shorten it a lot because it was wayyy longer than a porn could be."

How was working with Joanna from a co-directorial standpoint?

"Awesome! I was nervous because I didn't wanna feel like I was stepping on her toes but she assured me that this was what she wanted me to do. It was good to have a friend and pro to show me the ropes."

How was Leigh Raven chosen for the title role in this?

"Leigh is such a goddamn good actress. I wanted a scream queen with comic timing and Leigh nailed it. It was her first big feature as well. Couldn't have found a better leading lady."

Who inspired your performance in the role of Satan? Do you have any favorite movie Satans/devils?

"Well, the Hollywood depiction of the Devil has always been this evil 'destroy all humans'-type BS, when in fact, in the all the mythology, the man upstairs was the one racking up the kills, about twenty-five million to ten, by the way.

"So, I didn't want to have that big scary evil incarnate thing. I wanted to make him have a comical side - a bit of a rebel and renegade, doing whatever he wants, like giving humans free will or DPing and cumming inside Raven (Joanna)."

What is your view on the concept of heaven/hell/Satan/the devil/all of that? Do you believe a Satan exists?

"Ha ha no, Satan is just an idea to me, like any mythological character. So, no, I don't believe in any of that malarkey. Damn, I hope the Judeo/Christian god doesn't exist. He's a bit of an asshole, what with all the plagues and wholesale slaughter."

What about the story of "Cindy Queen of Hell" links into its original song "Wake Up In Hell"?

"Well, it basically covers the reason he has sex with Raven. Halloween is when the spirits roam free, right? So, his whole band can come and play shows or do whatever. They only get that one night of the year to hangout on earth as a group. They wanna have a great time (and get laid) because tomorrow they're gonna wake up in Hell."

How was working with Small Hands as a musician instead of as one half of the top double penetration team, the Onesie Boys? :)

"The Onesie Boys double penetrate reality, homie - music, movies, art, video games, baking cakes, knitting, pinball, relationship advice... the list goes on, but yes, it was awesome. We really wrote well together. Maybe in the future, you will hear more of what music we can make. He is a hell of a producer; he actually made me sound good.

"I listened to a lot of Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy for inspiration in this song. Small Hands and I wanted to capture the best of the 80's goth club vibes."

What do you think makes this movie special? What performance in it surprised you the most?

"Tommy Pistol is one of the funniest humans to ever walk this earth. His part in the ritual was glorious, but it's wasn't just one performance in the movie that made it special. It was everyone's movie. Everyone captured their characters so beautifully."

What other movies/books about hell helped shaped the vision of hell in this movie?

"Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim series inspired me a bit with his concept of hell and demons, also the depiction of hell in 'Little Nicky', 'Hell and Back', and Spawn."

What do you like most about the movie's original song? Any plans for a music video for it?

"The scene itself is kind of a music video for it. I like the song so much because it's some we created together. It's BA's new music baby."

Do you have a favorite scene in "Cindy Queen of Hell"?

"The family dinner in Hell scene. There's so many little things happening in that scene that are easy to miss if you aren't looking for them. Watch Joanna. So fucking funny."

You have just been a killer actor over your career in porn and won a bunch of acting awards. What advice did you find yourself giving on the set to help the other performers find their characters?

"Don't be afraid to be be wrong. If you try something and it doesn't work, what's the worst that's gonna happen? Someone's gonna laugh at you. Who gives a shit? You are creating a character, add that feeling into that character. Don't let fear ruin a good thing."

What else is coming up for you?

"Keep watching me and find out!"

Thanks for your time. Is there anything you would like to say for your fans here at Fleshbot?

"It was everyone's at Burning Angel's movie. All those involved busted their asses (literally and figuratively) to make this movie happen - Ophelia and Johnny White and their awesome art department collaboration making our sets and horns look beautiful and evil, Angie and her wicked makeup skills, Mike fucking Quasar, Stef Onzo and Shaun making every shot god damn magical - seriously, those guys. Small Hands getting shit done in the beat laboratory and editing bay! Johnny Goodluck and Kara Pond and all their work, everyone in the cast all the performers, everyone who showed up for the Halloween party and of course, the legend herself Joanna Angel, for giving us the green light and making this happen. We all put a lot into this movie and I hope you all enjoy it, and buy it, don't steal it. Also, no on California Prop 60! 

HAIL!"

All of the images and video here appear courtesy of Burning Angel.

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