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The trademark scalp tattoo, sculpted body and enviable cock made Fran莽ois Sagat an instant hit in most gay households.

But what sets this much lusted-after porn star apart from many who have gone before him, is his seemingly seemless move into mainstream films.

With very little fuss Sagat has taken roles in a string of films, expanding his fan base and earning a greater respect from his peers.

His first mainstream role in the 2007 nudity documentary La nudit茅 toute nue set him on a path that would go on to include roles in Saw VI (2009), Bruce LaBruce鈥檚 LA Zombie (2010), and Homme au bain (Man in Bath). The latter is one of two pieces 鈥� the other being the documentary Sagat 鈥� starring the Frenchman screening at the Mardi Gras Film Festival and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival.

But while Sagat鈥檚 transition to arthouse film may look easy to an outsider, for the man himself there鈥檚 been a lot more work involved.

鈥淚t takes so much time and the process is so long in each project … I just live the evolution continually exploring every side of what鈥檚 possible to do,鈥� he told the 17c起草社区.

鈥淚 really think I didn鈥檛 live the transition the way you guys saw it, and after all there is no specific transition in a matter of time.

鈥淚 never wanted to stop porn. My 鈥榖ig break鈥� was seen as retirement, but absolutely not.

鈥淭here were two new projects that were kind of big hits in terms of publicity and image 鈥� Bruce LaBruce and Christophe Honor茅 鈥� but we were staying in something still very homoerotic. It was really no big deal for me, maybe for the press though, I agree.

鈥淚 just don鈥檛 see any reason to continue porn the same way nowadays. It is not interesting any more and I will give myself five more years doing porn.鈥�

FRANCOIS RETURNS
Francois Sagat will return to Australia this month. He鈥檒lperform at King Size at Sydney鈥檚 Oxford Hotel on March 10 and Melbourne鈥檚 Sircuit Bar on March 12.

SCREENING
Melbourne Queer Film Festival
Sagat and Man At Bath: Screen together Sat March 17, 10.15pm, Australian Centre for the Moving Image
info:

Surprisingly, Sagat shies away from being tagged an artist. In fact he outright rejects the label.

鈥淚鈥檓 just experimenting in life and I sell my image in different ways, he said. 鈥淧retending to be an artist with such a weak background would be insulting for some of the people and creators I respect.

鈥淭he documentary (Sagat) suggested that a few aspects of my personality were hidden from before, a sensibility, and I agree. But art? I don鈥檛 see that.

鈥淏ut so long as there is a camera, you always give something a little bit more controlled, even if you are trying to be as honest as you can.

鈥淚 think there is still too much of the glitter and porn aspect in this documentary, and that makes it a bit frustrating. But the energy and rhythm are very good.鈥�

While Sagat hasn鈥檛 had a film offer since 2010, he is still optimistic about his future outside porn.

鈥淚 go with the wind. You鈥檒l see very soon. In April I have something really good for the eyes and for the ears I will pull out of the box. It is very promising, well, I鈥檓 very happy with it,鈥� he said.

鈥淏ut outside of that, there鈥檚 no specific cinematographic project in preparation.鈥�