Village Newbies Laugh at Rumors of Sex Parties and Porn Shoots

Earlier this year, the former Century Upholstery building behind Cosmos Coffee Cafe in The Village received a makeover.  Its storefront windows were replaced with one-way glass, and a newly installed door was mirrored. 

Rumors emerged.  They were fueled after police broke up a party—some called it a "rave"—at the site in the early morning hours of Oct. 29, Halloween week.

Some residents and Village merchants expressed a belief that the new tenants were running an illegal after-hours club.  Others suggested the space was for a pornography studio.  

The truth is less sexy. The current occupants, Eric Von Sydow and Jodie Royak, have been operating an art and photo studio for several months. (Century Upholstery relocated to 8155 Center St., a mile north.)

La Mesa Patch paid a visit last week. Upon walking into the space—which Royak fondly refers to as "the clubhouse"—one senses the artistic energy.  Walls are lined with paintings and photographic art. To the front left are vanity chairs for make-up application. On the other side is a 20-foot green screen used for filming. 

Both men acknowledge that their unconventional appearance is likely the root of recent speculation.

"We're a unique looking bunch of characters," Von Sydow said.  "Everywhere I've gone I've always kind of stirred some stuff up.  And between me and my partner, we look a little bit different."

Von Sydow, 38, is a co-owner of Pure Platinum strip club and perhaps best known as the international relationship and "sex expert" Hypnotica. He laughed at the idea that the recently broken up party was a real-life recreation of Tom Cruise's 1999 movie "Eyes Wide Shut."   The film, based on the 1926 novella "Traumnovelle," chronicle's Cruise's night-long sexual adventure—culminating with his infiltration of a masked  orgy.

"A lot of us are in the industry, so we don't get to have fun on Halloween," said Von Sydow, a Spring Valley resident.  "So we basically got a party bus and went out.  We had the full cast of characters. And I figured after we left the clubs we could go to our place, and we brought the party back there. 

"While we were supposed to get out of there earlier, one thing led to another and the next thing you know we had the cops pulling up.  But we definitely aren't 'Eyes Wide Shut.' "

Royak, 42, also laughs at the rumor, saying it's been his experience that people tend to automatically judge others when they see tattoos. 

"People judge a book by its cover," said Royak, a San Diego resident.  "People want to believe the worst in everyone."

And while there is quite a bit of filming that takes place at the studio, Von Sydow said it's certainly not pornographic.  

"I do a lot of webcasting for my Hypnotica stuff," Von Sydow said.  "So when I do things of that nature, we host a call-in show and we use the green screen for that."

Other times, Royak said, he uses it for photography.

"A little over a week ago," he said,  "we did a photo shoot and had eight police sergeants in front of it with a grainy background to show they have a big jurisdiction, and because of that, we had eight cop cars in the parking lot."

The lot, Royak said with a laugh, also shares parking spaces with the adjacent Union Bank.

"When the general manager pulled up and saw all the cop cars they were all freaked out, thinking the bank was getting robbed," he said.  "So it was kind of funny when all the cops came out of my place laughing and joking."

When he's not painting or running photo shoots, Royak said he's been donating his time to the San Diego Police Department's Southeastern Division to shoot a documentary on its series of curfew sweeps.

"On Friday nights, we're going out and picking up underage kids from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. and letting these kids know that, hey, the streets aren't a place you should be," he said.

The program, organized by police Sgt. Jay Moser, has been credited with helping reduce the number of youth-based homicides in the Southeastern Division.

"A lot of these officers are donating their time, wanting to do something for the community, and I'm donating my time to document this, saying, hey, this is what's going on," Royak said.  "And people need to see this because it should be going on in every state in the U.S."

Von Sydow said that because of his and Royak's appearance, people have a hard time believing they do community service.

"I've been involved in a number of suicide-prevention events," he said.  "I've been involved in events to raise money for breast cancer."

Ultimately, they said, the studio—which they began leasing four months ago—is simply a place where they can let their creative juices flow.

Said Royak: "People will think what they will when they see us, but all we can do is live by example. When people get to know me, they're often surprised."

Updated at 3:20 p.m. Nov. 18.