A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Fame and Fortune

I got a message today about a movie that’s doing the film festivals now, about Steve Haworth‘s work. Steve makes the point in this trailer that he’s Constitutionally protected from prosecution (which may be the case, especially in Arizona, but that still has to be tested in court before it’s a definitive statement), but I wanted to remind practitioners that I strongly urge the oldschool “word of mouth referral only” method of promotion.

It should be a fascinating movie and I’m looking forward to seeing it, but every time a media product comes out into the mainstream world, I worry about what type of attention it’s going to bring, especially when it’s tightly focussed on one person’s activities. That said, at some point I guess a line is crossed where you should be able to make the case that it’s been publicly done for long enough that it’s all de facto legal until specific laws are written codifying what’s what… (BMEshop see also: MODIFY, Like a Butterfly, Dances Sacred and Profane, and the Nomad Piercing DVD; BMEnews see also: a recent extreme body modification prosecution).

Comments

268 responses to “Fame and Fortune”

  1. Warren Hiller Avatar

    and the whole ending with the girl suspending and the fade out of the people singing happy birthday…That just OOOOOZES LionsGate Entertainment or Maple production hahaha

  2. Warren Hiller Avatar

    and the whole ending with the girl suspending and the fade out of the people singing happy birthday…That just OOOOOZES LionsGate Entertainment or Maple production hahaha

  3. Dallas Avatar

    I see a lot of negative comments, and I understand them.

    However I see this as progress. Steve was on National Geographics TABOO as well as some others.

    IAM Tiger was on Ripleys belive it or not!

    IAM Louie Sanchez akd themexicanmutant has been in several things.

    I think people WANT to see what the ‘freaks’ do….. what other people have the guts to do. It amazes and repulses people at the same time. It’s the kind of stuff you don’t want to watch but you can’t close your eyes.

    As far as Steve being ‘safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.

    I can’t wait to see this, I can’t wait to see the reactions and be a part of supporting it for the modified community.

    It is a GOOD thing for anyone reading this. I don’t see ‘dermal anchors’ ever being ‘mainstream’ but who wants to go to wal-mart for a piercing.

    I can’t wait!

  4. Dallas Avatar

    I see a lot of negative comments, and I understand them.

    However I see this as progress. Steve was on National Geographics TABOO as well as some others.

    IAM Tiger was on Ripleys belive it or not!

    IAM Louie Sanchez akd themexicanmutant has been in several things.

    I think people WANT to see what the ‘freaks’ do….. what other people have the guts to do. It amazes and repulses people at the same time. It’s the kind of stuff you don’t want to watch but you can’t close your eyes.

    As far as Steve being ‘safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.

    I can’t wait to see this, I can’t wait to see the reactions and be a part of supporting it for the modified community.

    It is a GOOD thing for anyone reading this. I don’t see ‘dermal anchors’ ever being ‘mainstream’ but who wants to go to wal-mart for a piercing.

    I can’t wait!

  5. Dallas Avatar

    I see a lot of negative comments, and I understand them.

    However I see this as progress. Steve was on National Geographics TABOO as well as some others.

    IAM Tiger was on Ripleys belive it or not!

    IAM Louie Sanchez akd themexicanmutant has been in several things.

    I think people WANT to see what the ‘freaks’ do….. what other people have the guts to do. It amazes and repulses people at the same time. It’s the kind of stuff you don’t want to watch but you can’t close your eyes.

    As far as Steve being ‘safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.

    I can’t wait to see this, I can’t wait to see the reactions and be a part of supporting it for the modified community.

    It is a GOOD thing for anyone reading this. I don’t see ‘dermal anchors’ ever being ‘mainstream’ but who wants to go to wal-mart for a piercing.

    I can’t wait!

  6. Dallas Avatar

    I see a lot of negative comments, and I understand them.

    However I see this as progress. Steve was on National Geographics TABOO as well as some others.

    IAM Tiger was on Ripleys belive it or not!

    IAM Louie Sanchez akd themexicanmutant has been in several things.

    I think people WANT to see what the ‘freaks’ do….. what other people have the guts to do. It amazes and repulses people at the same time. It’s the kind of stuff you don’t want to watch but you can’t close your eyes.

    As far as Steve being ‘safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.

    I can’t wait to see this, I can’t wait to see the reactions and be a part of supporting it for the modified community.

    It is a GOOD thing for anyone reading this. I don’t see ‘dermal anchors’ ever being ‘mainstream’ but who wants to go to wal-mart for a piercing.

    I can’t wait!

  7. Rob in Australia Avatar
    Rob in Australia

    The Scariest part of this Upcoming Horror movie is the Ever – Inflating size of Steve Hayworth’s Ego.

  8. Rob in Australia Avatar
    Rob in Australia

    The Scariest part of this Upcoming Horror movie is the Ever – Inflating size of Steve Hayworth’s Ego.

  9. Rob in Australia Avatar
    Rob in Australia

    The Scariest part of this Upcoming Horror movie is the Ever – Inflating size of Steve Hayworth’s Ego.

  10. Rob in Australia Avatar
    Rob in Australia

    The Scariest part of this Upcoming Horror movie is the Ever – Inflating size of Steve Hayworth’s Ego.

  11. cere Avatar

    I could comment on this all day…

  12. cere Avatar

    I could comment on this all day…

  13. cere Avatar

    I could comment on this all day…

  14. cere Avatar

    I could comment on this all day…

  15. lilish Avatar
    lilish

    I would love to see this film. However I too am nervous about the ramifications that will come from it. No matter how eloquently and positively you portray this type of subject matter, there will be hard-headded people who do not want to listen to reason and will just want it gone. Therefore I hope this film reaches the right people who are open-minded and see things for what they are. I don’t expect any giant public outcry against this film and its subject matter, but I do fear the small fanatical group that is strongly against the content of this film growing in its voice and reaching the mainstream media. With luck though it will just be overlooked by the close-minded people.

  16. lilish Avatar
    lilish

    I would love to see this film. However I too am nervous about the ramifications that will come from it. No matter how eloquently and positively you portray this type of subject matter, there will be hard-headded people who do not want to listen to reason and will just want it gone. Therefore I hope this film reaches the right people who are open-minded and see things for what they are. I don’t expect any giant public outcry against this film and its subject matter, but I do fear the small fanatical group that is strongly against the content of this film growing in its voice and reaching the mainstream media. With luck though it will just be overlooked by the close-minded people.

  17. lilish Avatar
    lilish

    I would love to see this film. However I too am nervous about the ramifications that will come from it. No matter how eloquently and positively you portray this type of subject matter, there will be hard-headded people who do not want to listen to reason and will just want it gone. Therefore I hope this film reaches the right people who are open-minded and see things for what they are. I don’t expect any giant public outcry against this film and its subject matter, but I do fear the small fanatical group that is strongly against the content of this film growing in its voice and reaching the mainstream media. With luck though it will just be overlooked by the close-minded people.

  18. lilish Avatar
    lilish

    I would love to see this film. However I too am nervous about the ramifications that will come from it. No matter how eloquently and positively you portray this type of subject matter, there will be hard-headded people who do not want to listen to reason and will just want it gone. Therefore I hope this film reaches the right people who are open-minded and see things for what they are. I don’t expect any giant public outcry against this film and its subject matter, but I do fear the small fanatical group that is strongly against the content of this film growing in its voice and reaching the mainstream media. With luck though it will just be overlooked by the close-minded people.

  19. Jen Avatar

    cere – Please do! I would enjoy that immensely.

  20. Jen Avatar

    cere – Please do! I would enjoy that immensely.

  21. Jen Avatar

    cere – Please do! I would enjoy that immensely.

  22. Jen Avatar

    cere – Please do! I would enjoy that immensely.

  23. Warren Hiller Avatar

    #39 Dallas: “As far as Steve being ’safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.”

    And how many of us in the industry look at these magazines and shudder/cringe/wince at MANY things displayed…As they are very watered down and lacking in true quality.

    The more watered down/dilluted the product, the lesser the quality

    None of this stuff is EVER going to be fullblown mainstream…Even if the majority of people are into tattoos and piercings. Because what many of us do to our bodies, like what is displayed in this film, in Modify,etc. It goes BEYOND the limits of where many people are willing to go.

    There’s no trying to switch it up or change it, its true. I see it on a DAILY basis with my scarification sleeve and when I discuss MANY things I’ve had done to my body.

    In our life times will the surgical modifications be acceptable and treated with unbiased and fairness? Probably not…Not unless some SERIOUS/BIG changes are to occur, both on the Governments behalf as well as those within the Industry as well.

    #41 Cere: C’mon dude…Tell us what’s on your mind…What is formulating within the mind of Cere.

    C’mon…Tell us what you REALLY think 😉

  24. Warren Hiller Avatar

    #39 Dallas: “As far as Steve being ’safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.”

    And how many of us in the industry look at these magazines and shudder/cringe/wince at MANY things displayed…As they are very watered down and lacking in true quality.

    The more watered down/dilluted the product, the lesser the quality

    None of this stuff is EVER going to be fullblown mainstream…Even if the majority of people are into tattoos and piercings. Because what many of us do to our bodies, like what is displayed in this film, in Modify,etc. It goes BEYOND the limits of where many people are willing to go.

    There’s no trying to switch it up or change it, its true. I see it on a DAILY basis with my scarification sleeve and when I discuss MANY things I’ve had done to my body.

    In our life times will the surgical modifications be acceptable and treated with unbiased and fairness? Probably not…Not unless some SERIOUS/BIG changes are to occur, both on the Governments behalf as well as those within the Industry as well.

    #41 Cere: C’mon dude…Tell us what’s on your mind…What is formulating within the mind of Cere.

    C’mon…Tell us what you REALLY think 😉

  25. Warren Hiller Avatar

    #39 Dallas: “As far as Steve being ’safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.”

    And how many of us in the industry look at these magazines and shudder/cringe/wince at MANY things displayed…As they are very watered down and lacking in true quality.

    The more watered down/dilluted the product, the lesser the quality

    None of this stuff is EVER going to be fullblown mainstream…Even if the majority of people are into tattoos and piercings. Because what many of us do to our bodies, like what is displayed in this film, in Modify,etc. It goes BEYOND the limits of where many people are willing to go.

    There’s no trying to switch it up or change it, its true. I see it on a DAILY basis with my scarification sleeve and when I discuss MANY things I’ve had done to my body.

    In our life times will the surgical modifications be acceptable and treated with unbiased and fairness? Probably not…Not unless some SERIOUS/BIG changes are to occur, both on the Governments behalf as well as those within the Industry as well.

    #41 Cere: C’mon dude…Tell us what’s on your mind…What is formulating within the mind of Cere.

    C’mon…Tell us what you REALLY think 😉

  26. Warren Hiller Avatar

    #39 Dallas: “As far as Steve being ’safe’ with the laws…. well who knows. Larry Flint had a lot of slack when he started (to say the least) but hustler is still around and if I am not mistaken we have him to thank for some tattoo magazines that get published every month.”

    And how many of us in the industry look at these magazines and shudder/cringe/wince at MANY things displayed…As they are very watered down and lacking in true quality.

    The more watered down/dilluted the product, the lesser the quality

    None of this stuff is EVER going to be fullblown mainstream…Even if the majority of people are into tattoos and piercings. Because what many of us do to our bodies, like what is displayed in this film, in Modify,etc. It goes BEYOND the limits of where many people are willing to go.

    There’s no trying to switch it up or change it, its true. I see it on a DAILY basis with my scarification sleeve and when I discuss MANY things I’ve had done to my body.

    In our life times will the surgical modifications be acceptable and treated with unbiased and fairness? Probably not…Not unless some SERIOUS/BIG changes are to occur, both on the Governments behalf as well as those within the Industry as well.

    #41 Cere: C’mon dude…Tell us what’s on your mind…What is formulating within the mind of Cere.

    C’mon…Tell us what you REALLY think 😉

  27. Warren Hiller Avatar

    To add to my statement to #39 Dallas

    Its true people WANT to see what the “freaks” are doing.

    Its like a horrible train/car wreck/accident…You don’t WANT to look but you’re compelled to lol

  28. Warren Hiller Avatar

    To add to my statement to #39 Dallas

    Its true people WANT to see what the “freaks” are doing.

    Its like a horrible train/car wreck/accident…You don’t WANT to look but you’re compelled to lol

  29. Warren Hiller Avatar

    To add to my statement to #39 Dallas

    Its true people WANT to see what the “freaks” are doing.

    Its like a horrible train/car wreck/accident…You don’t WANT to look but you’re compelled to lol

  30. Warren Hiller Avatar

    To add to my statement to #39 Dallas

    Its true people WANT to see what the “freaks” are doing.

    Its like a horrible train/car wreck/accident…You don’t WANT to look but you’re compelled to lol

  31. Mitch Avatar
    Mitch

    I have a few points:

    1. The freak show will always be popular. It may as well be US making the freakshow than some clown promoting the midget in the tent for 5 bucks.

    2. Modify had some seriously strong content (IE: liposuction graphically detailed, breast augmentation, Trigger putting a fucking ball in his own cock). I didnt see any negative newsprint, I didnt read about it in the NY Times, I didnt see a story on my local TV..WHY? Because the people that are buying the DVD are US. we want to see US in that movie. Its like looking in a mirror. Like “hell yeah that is awesome” or “I want to do that next time”. The mainstream may see some of this but the vast majority of watchers will have some modification already.

    3. Steve was instrumental in developing the Arizona set of laws concerning these practices. He was involved politically at that level to writing the documents for medical and non medical use. IF more of us were as political, as accessible, as in the public as Steve is, than perhaps this issue would be resolved by US and not BY THEM…

  32. Mitch Avatar
    Mitch

    I have a few points:

    1. The freak show will always be popular. It may as well be US making the freakshow than some clown promoting the midget in the tent for 5 bucks.

    2. Modify had some seriously strong content (IE: liposuction graphically detailed, breast augmentation, Trigger putting a fucking ball in his own cock). I didnt see any negative newsprint, I didnt read about it in the NY Times, I didnt see a story on my local TV..WHY? Because the people that are buying the DVD are US. we want to see US in that movie. Its like looking in a mirror. Like “hell yeah that is awesome” or “I want to do that next time”. The mainstream may see some of this but the vast majority of watchers will have some modification already.

    3. Steve was instrumental in developing the Arizona set of laws concerning these practices. He was involved politically at that level to writing the documents for medical and non medical use. IF more of us were as political, as accessible, as in the public as Steve is, than perhaps this issue would be resolved by US and not BY THEM…

  33. Mitch Avatar
    Mitch

    I have a few points:

    1. The freak show will always be popular. It may as well be US making the freakshow than some clown promoting the midget in the tent for 5 bucks.

    2. Modify had some seriously strong content (IE: liposuction graphically detailed, breast augmentation, Trigger putting a fucking ball in his own cock). I didnt see any negative newsprint, I didnt read about it in the NY Times, I didnt see a story on my local TV..WHY? Because the people that are buying the DVD are US. we want to see US in that movie. Its like looking in a mirror. Like “hell yeah that is awesome” or “I want to do that next time”. The mainstream may see some of this but the vast majority of watchers will have some modification already.

    3. Steve was instrumental in developing the Arizona set of laws concerning these practices. He was involved politically at that level to writing the documents for medical and non medical use. IF more of us were as political, as accessible, as in the public as Steve is, than perhaps this issue would be resolved by US and not BY THEM…

  34. Mitch Avatar
    Mitch

    I have a few points:

    1. The freak show will always be popular. It may as well be US making the freakshow than some clown promoting the midget in the tent for 5 bucks.

    2. Modify had some seriously strong content (IE: liposuction graphically detailed, breast augmentation, Trigger putting a fucking ball in his own cock). I didnt see any negative newsprint, I didnt read about it in the NY Times, I didnt see a story on my local TV..WHY? Because the people that are buying the DVD are US. we want to see US in that movie. Its like looking in a mirror. Like “hell yeah that is awesome” or “I want to do that next time”. The mainstream may see some of this but the vast majority of watchers will have some modification already.

    3. Steve was instrumental in developing the Arizona set of laws concerning these practices. He was involved politically at that level to writing the documents for medical and non medical use. IF more of us were as political, as accessible, as in the public as Steve is, than perhaps this issue would be resolved by US and not BY THEM…

  35. kleptesvirgo Avatar

    I felt like someone took a trailer from a “happy” movie about modification, and re-cut in on their older sister’s iMac to be scary and sinister.
    Lame.

  36. kleptesvirgo Avatar

    I felt like someone took a trailer from a “happy” movie about modification, and re-cut in on their older sister’s iMac to be scary and sinister.
    Lame.

  37. kleptesvirgo Avatar

    I felt like someone took a trailer from a “happy” movie about modification, and re-cut in on their older sister’s iMac to be scary and sinister.
    Lame.

  38. kleptesvirgo Avatar

    I felt like someone took a trailer from a “happy” movie about modification, and re-cut in on their older sister’s iMac to be scary and sinister.
    Lame.

  39. JenO33 Avatar
    JenO33

    Mitch- I completely agree.

  40. JenO33 Avatar
    JenO33

    Mitch- I completely agree.

  41. JenO33 Avatar
    JenO33

    Mitch- I completely agree.

  42. JenO33 Avatar
    JenO33

    Mitch- I completely agree.

  43. stainless Avatar

    A lot of this footage was shot around 5-7 years ago. I was there during some of the shooting, and from talking to Larry and other people involved, it should be a pretty good documentary. I think that the trailer is just set up this way to draw people in and make them interested and wonder what’s going to happen.

  44. stainless Avatar

    A lot of this footage was shot around 5-7 years ago. I was there during some of the shooting, and from talking to Larry and other people involved, it should be a pretty good documentary. I think that the trailer is just set up this way to draw people in and make them interested and wonder what’s going to happen.

  45. stainless Avatar

    A lot of this footage was shot around 5-7 years ago. I was there during some of the shooting, and from talking to Larry and other people involved, it should be a pretty good documentary. I think that the trailer is just set up this way to draw people in and make them interested and wonder what’s going to happen.

  46. stainless Avatar

    A lot of this footage was shot around 5-7 years ago. I was there during some of the shooting, and from talking to Larry and other people involved, it should be a pretty good documentary. I think that the trailer is just set up this way to draw people in and make them interested and wonder what’s going to happen.

  47. adam Avatar
    adam

    its a movie trailer. movie trailers are created to be edgy and “in your face,” to really get some excitement and emotion stirred up. what the hell would be the point of making a boring, blah trailer… would any of you remember the movie in months when it comes out on dvd? memory is tied to emotion, basic psychology and marketing knowledge.

    the whole “freak show theme” (ill just refer to it as that for simplicitys sake) is the reason most of these kids do these things, even when they are up on their soapbox claiming how they “dont care what people think about them” and they are “just doing it for themselves and not for public reactions” (just like we all -well most of us who were able to grow and evolve our lives and not get stuck in one mindset forever — did when we were kids)

    so its all about marketing.

  48. adam Avatar
    adam

    its a movie trailer. movie trailers are created to be edgy and “in your face,” to really get some excitement and emotion stirred up. what the hell would be the point of making a boring, blah trailer… would any of you remember the movie in months when it comes out on dvd? memory is tied to emotion, basic psychology and marketing knowledge.

    the whole “freak show theme” (ill just refer to it as that for simplicitys sake) is the reason most of these kids do these things, even when they are up on their soapbox claiming how they “dont care what people think about them” and they are “just doing it for themselves and not for public reactions” (just like we all -well most of us who were able to grow and evolve our lives and not get stuck in one mindset forever — did when we were kids)

    so its all about marketing.

  49. adam Avatar
    adam

    its a movie trailer. movie trailers are created to be edgy and “in your face,” to really get some excitement and emotion stirred up. what the hell would be the point of making a boring, blah trailer… would any of you remember the movie in months when it comes out on dvd? memory is tied to emotion, basic psychology and marketing knowledge.

    the whole “freak show theme” (ill just refer to it as that for simplicitys sake) is the reason most of these kids do these things, even when they are up on their soapbox claiming how they “dont care what people think about them” and they are “just doing it for themselves and not for public reactions” (just like we all -well most of us who were able to grow and evolve our lives and not get stuck in one mindset forever — did when we were kids)

    so its all about marketing.

  50. adam Avatar
    adam

    its a movie trailer. movie trailers are created to be edgy and “in your face,” to really get some excitement and emotion stirred up. what the hell would be the point of making a boring, blah trailer… would any of you remember the movie in months when it comes out on dvd? memory is tied to emotion, basic psychology and marketing knowledge.

    the whole “freak show theme” (ill just refer to it as that for simplicitys sake) is the reason most of these kids do these things, even when they are up on their soapbox claiming how they “dont care what people think about them” and they are “just doing it for themselves and not for public reactions” (just like we all -well most of us who were able to grow and evolve our lives and not get stuck in one mindset forever — did when we were kids)

    so its all about marketing.

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