Not too long ago, I celebrated my second anniversary of making porn and, in relation to that, I’d like to share ten things I’ve learned about the industry that the average person I speak to doesn’t realize. This list only reflects the industry I am in and my experiences within it.
1) It’s not about taking or having big dicks
Not only do I not care if there is a penis involved in the scene at all, but I also don’t care if it’s large, small, erect, or soft. Yes, a lot of porn does want large, hard penises, but it definitely isn’t a thing that all porn cares about.
Quite frankly, if you apply to my company, the more you brag about the size of your dick, the less likely I am to think that we’re a good fit because that just isn’t what Feisty Fox is about, at all.
2) People in the industry aren’t rolling in money
This is the one that frustrates me the most, probably. The prevalence of piracy in the porn community is huge. Once your video gets stolen and put on a tube site, you CAN get it removed but it takes time and effort and in the meantime, thousands of people have seen your video for free (and have possibly downloaded a copy of it, too).
If you’re working in a niche category such as feminist porn, the companies are way less likely to have distributors, large sales, and a bankroll. Living outside of the States in this industry cuts you off from the larger majority of companies that produce content of people like you that is in-line with your beliefs. Most of the videos I have been in have been either content or profit share; meaning I don’t get paid unless the producer releases the video and sells it – if they don’t market their videos, I don’t get paid.
Once I got paid $75 for a scene and I was SO excited about it! The average amount you earn per video drastically varies depending on things such as location, type of porn, size of production company, etc.
As for producers? Every producer I work with regularly puts all of their money right back into more content; space rentals, purchasing equipment, (sometimes) paying people. Then there are companies like CherryStems, an amazing erotic photography site run by Kate Sinclaire (who also runs Cine Sinclaire), where “[w]e will be donating profits to organizations that provide counselling in the areas of self esteem, eating disorders, unplanned pregnancies (pro choice organizations), suicide prevention and crisis counselling, STI/AIDS testing, and more. These centres create healthy communities and healthy people, and they deserve our help. ”
3) Our personal and our professional sex lives sometimes look very different
I don’t know about you, but after a long day at work I frequently don’t want to go home and do the same things again. This has been true in every industry I work in and it’s no different with porn! Sometimes I have amazingly hot, athletic sex with my partners. Sometimes it’s a quick hand job before bed. And sometimes we go through ruts where we don’t fuck for a while. Just like any couple does! The industry I work in does not mean I am always wanting sex, all the time, no matter what.
4) Fluffers/stunt cocks
I was so confused when I first heard the term “stunt cock”. It was about a year into making porn and someone applied to be one. I asked if he wanted to be on camera fully and he said no, only as a stunt cock. This concept baffles me because if I don’t want your face or dick on camera, why would I then go to the trouble of casting you AND another person to also play “you” on camera? Why wouldn’t I just find one person who wanted to do both? (See point #1 about not caring how big your dick is)
And I know, the life of a fluffer sounds hilarious and fun and would be a dream job but I have to tell you…they aren’t real. If you’re filming a scene where you need an erection, you have your co-star, internet on your phone to look up porn, and yourself. There isn’t someone on set at all times making sure your penis stands at attention at all times.
5) STIs
Yes, these are present on sets sometimes. They are also openly talked about before scenes, usually in front of the producer, and safer sex as well as sex acts are negotiated with full knowledge of the risks involved. Lots of companies even have an STI and barriers section on the consent form you sign on-set.
As a general rule, the industry is pretty cautious about these things. The stakes are higher as any potential exposure affects how we make a living as well as our health, and that’s a big risk.
Within the type of porn that I do, there’s also a growing understanding that certain STIs, such as HSV, are things that I can almost guarantee you have been exposed to, both on and off set. Informed consent is critical, but STIs do not necessarily mean you will not get hired.
6) We work. Hard.
There is a near-constant hustle that’s shared by essentially everyone I know within the porn industry. We tend to work other jobs (both in and out of sex work) and pursue porn because we’re passionate about it and believe in it being an important thing to do.
Performing in porn or creating porn is a lot more than just pointing a camera and fucking; negotiations, blocking, lighting, setting the stage, making sure cat hair isn’t all over the place, editing, advertising, casting….that’s all a part of it. Performers need to be ready for the shoot in the same way any actor would and, like any actor, sometimes you need to re-do things or use a position that is not entirely natural for you so that the camera can see what’s happening. You also need to create chemistry with someone that you may not have ever met before, which is not always easy.
7) Yes, some of us have experienced trauma/mental health issues/etc, but not all of us. Further, porn can be extremely rewarding.
Honestly I don’t have anything to add to this point.
8) Porn isn’t real
Sometimes what’s happening in the video is completely fake. Fake in that the two performers aren’t that hot for each other or that’s not how they normally have sex or…it happens. But a lot of the times the actions are specific fantasies of the performers and they have picked those actions and co-stars because that’s what feels real and authentic to them.
9) Orgasms are always faked
See above.
10) Because we do porn, we are going to sleep with you/consent to getting your nudes/sexts/send you free content
Ugh just stop this.
Especially stop this when talking to femme, female, and/or marginalized sex workers.
Yes, we do porn. But consent still applies to us. There’s a big difference between consenting to fuck a friend on camera and blanket consent to everything from everyone at all times.
Just ask first. Even if we say no, we’re more likely to continue wanting to talk to you than if you had assumed the consent was there.