Belladonna says Sasha Grey "got lucky"

Author	Post
M11911A1 Member 205 Posts 5/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 11:03AM http://losangeles.decider.com/articles/porn-star-belladonna-talks-erotica-la-and-more,29165/ D: What do you make of fellow porn star Sasha Grey being the lead in Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience? Would you want to do something like that? B: Personally, I don't think I would want to do something that's so similar to what I do already. I think Sasha Grey was very lucky in getting that role because it could've been anybody. It's awesome for our industry that we have a girl that got lucky and got that much exposure. It just helps our industry become that much more acceptable. But I would want a role that isn't sexually related at all because it's not challenging for me to do something like [The Girlfriend Experience]. I do that every day. I want to do something that's really going to challenge me--that I don't get the opportunity to do very often. That might be something that people aren't willing to risk on a girl who's been in porn for 10 years. But I think the right director could get it out of me. Click to expand Do you agree or disagree with Belladonna? I am a fan of both but I disagree with Belladonna here. She says "it could've been anybody." I think saying that gives no credit to Sasha who obviously stands out in the adult industry. Soderbergh said the whole reason he contacted Sasha is because he feels she is very different from other porn performers I also disagree with Belladonna saying the GFE is "not challenging" and is "so similar" to her own porn movies. That's just ridiculous. The GFE has no sex scenes! Does she seriously think the acting and directing in Cock Happy #3 is similar to the GFE? I get the impression Belladonna has not seen the film and does not get what it's about. That is surprising to me because I always thought Belladonna was hip to stuff like that Edited by - M11911A1 on Jun 21 2009 [Link]
Anime Nut Senior Member Too cool for Zuul 1925 Posts 6/06	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 2:23PM I disagree with Bella, too. It's obvious she hasn't seen the movie and just doesn't realize how much more there is to Sasha's role. [Link]
NeonKnite New Member 4 Posts 6/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 3:50PM Sounds to me like sour grapes. I really loved the older Belladonna stuff, but she lost me once she started going into the more extreme stuff. [Link]
Max Booty Member New Orleans 484 Posts 6/03	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 3:54PM I don't really get a negative vibe from Bella's comments. Sasha is lucky for the experience since so much of the movie industry is luck, timing and meeting the right people. I also agree that any crossover appeal benefits the porn industry as a whole. I take Bella's point that casting a porn star as a high-priced hooker isn't a real stretch of the director's imagination and on its face, a stretch for the performer's talent. The problem with the movie is that the character is so underwritten and cool that a performer with limited range does not have a lot of options. Bearing that in mind and speaking as someone who loves Sasha Grey as a performer, I thought The Girlfriend Experience was a ghastly bore. And I'm not pointing a finger at SG but instead Steven Soderbergh. I do think Sasha Grey has the talent to grow into the kind of actress who could have taken that kind of poorly developed material and filled in some of the many blanks making it at least interesting but at this point she is not there. Soderbergh really is a every-other-film kind of director. Anyway...whatever. [Link]
Dave_K99 Member 497 Posts 12/07	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 6:27PM To me Sasha's big stroke of luck was getting cast in Fashionistas, and getting far more hype than a typical porn performer right at the start of her career. Without that she might not have made it into the mainstream media through Tyra Banks and The LA Times, and without that she might not have come to Soderbergh's notice. I think that hype, along with her personality, look and appreciation for film, made her an obvious choice for the part. It's hard to say whether a different porn performer would have been chosen if Sasha hadn't been around, but I certainly don't think that Soderbergh would have picked just anyone for the role. Of course performing in porn isn't the same as acting in a non-sex role (even when playing a prostitute), so I think Bella's way off when she suggests that it isn't a different challenge. [Link]

M11911A1 Member 205 Posts 5/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 6:29PM Max Booty wrote: I don't really get a negative vibe from Bella's comments. Sasha is lucky for the experience since so much of the movie industry is luck, timing and meeting the right people. Click to expand The negative vibe comes in saying "it could've been anybody" and that what Sasha did is "not challenging" and that she (Belladonna) does something similar "every day." While luck is involved in the film industry, Sasha is not just any girl in porn. She has very different thinking than most porn performers and has worked to set herself apart. That was what really landed her the role Before Soderbergh contacted her, Sasha was already distinct in the industry. Look at her interviews, her past crossover projects. What other pornstar has recorded vocals for underground British experimental music group with ties to Throbbing Gristle? What other pornstars even know who Throbbing Gristle is? What other pornstars quote Hunter Thompson on their websites and name Situationism as an influence? Belladonna makes it sound like Soderbergh just picked a random porn chick. Why doesn't she give credit to Sasha for being unique? I take Bella's point that casting a porn star as a high-priced hooker isn't a real stretch of the director's imagination and on its face, a stretch for the performer's talent. Click to expand You don't think there is a huge difference between doing a pornographic scene and doing the central role in a dramatic film? I am a Belladonna fan, but there is nothing in her filmography that is similar to the GFE. Belladonna doesn't even do features. All of Belladonna's past work is gonzo porn with one goal: turn you on and get you off. The GFE obviously has a very different goal and is a very different kind of art [Link]
Oral B. Member 349 Posts 4/05	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 6:34PM Even my friends who arent that into porn bring up Sashas name. She is quite an alluring woman. [Link]
Max Booty Member New Orleans 484 Posts 6/03	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:11PM M11911A1 wrote: You don't think there is a huge difference between doing a pornographic scene and doing the central role in a dramatic film? I am a Belladonna fan, but there is nothing in her filmography that is similar to the GFE. Belladonna doesn't even do features. Click to expand That is not what I was saying, or what I think Belldonna was saying. I think the point is if you are thinking about doing a movie about a high-priced call girl or porn star then it isn't that far a reach to think about casting a porn star. I will be the first person to say I think Sasha Grey is a really talented & beautiful woman and she could have just have easily made a good run at it in mainstream Hollywood features. I'm just saying it doesn't take much imagination to want to cast a porn star as a call girl. All of Belladonna's past work is gonzo porn with one goal: turn you on and get you off. The GFE obviously has a very different goal and is a very different kind of art. Click to expand REALLY? There is a difference between a gonzo porn movie and a semi-mainstream feature from a "A" list director about the life of a call girl? I saw The Girlfriend Experience as a fan of Soderbergh and out of curiosity because of Sasha Grey. Art is of course different things to different people but what I found was a film that did Grey no favors. There is something there as far as she is concerned but this movie did not show it to her advantage. I wanted to like the movie but just thought it was a big bore. As far as this thread I think the thrust of it is that people are reading conflict & petty jealously into a situation where there probably is none involved because it makes for tongues-a-wagging conversation. I think it is all smoke with precious little heat. I could of course be wrong. [Link]
M11911A1 Member 205 Posts 5/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:29PM Max Booty wrote: That is not what I was saying, or what I think Belldonna was saying. Click to expand Well let's just look at what Belladonna actually said as opposed to what you think she was saying. She said the GFE is "so similar to what I do already." As I have already pointed out, this is ridiculous. Nothing Belladonna has done is similar to the GFE. REALLY? There is a difference between a gonzo porn movie and a semi-mainstream feature from a "A" list director about the life of a call girl? Click to expand I assume you are saying this sarcastically because it is obvious. But it is apparently not obvious to Belladonna. Because she said she does the latter "every day" As far as this thread I think the thrust of it is that people are reading conflict & petty jealously into a situation where there probably is none involved because it makes for tongues-a-wagging conversation. I think it is all smoke with precious little heat. I could of course be wrong. Click to expand Uh, Belladonna did an interview and said something that is up for discussion. No more no less. This is not gossip. I have posted the link to the interview and everything. If you do not think it is worth discussion why post on this thread? [Link]
Audrey Lords Member Thou shalt have no Lords before me 57 Posts 6/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:35PM M11911A1 wrote: What other pornstars even know who Throbbing Gristle is? Click to expand [Link]
JohnHenry Member 165 Posts 3/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:41PM Pfft. More light than heat. Replace the word 'lucky' with 'fortunate', and you have a very different tone of interview. The two are friends, and knowing that context it's highly unlikely that Bella meant anything other than she's happy for her friends success, and that it was fortunate for Sasha that landed the role, as Soderbergh could have chosen any number of other girls for the role. So nope, no catfight here that I can tell. John [Link]
M11911A1 Member 205 Posts 5/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:42PM Audrey Lords wrote: M11911A1 wrote: What other pornstars even know who Throbbing Gristle is? Click to expand Click to expand Cool! [Link]
M11911A1 Member 205 Posts 5/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:50PM JohnHenry wrote: The two are friends, and knowing that context it's highly unlikely that Bella meant anything other than she's happy for her friends success, and that it was fortunate for Sasha that landed the role, as Soderbergh could have chosen any number of other girls for the role. Click to expand Like I said, I am a fan of both. But I disagree with Belladonna here, in this actual interview. Instead of replacing her words and spinning what she meant, why not look at her actual words and whether you agree or disagree? Honestly, replacing "lucky" with "fortunate" does not make me disagree with her any less. It does not change the lack of credit she is giving Sasha. Like I said, I get the impression Belladonna has not even seen the film [Link]
JohnHenry Member 165 Posts 3/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 8:14PM M11911A1 wrote: Like I said, I am a fan of both. But I disagree with Belladonna here, in this actual interview. Instead of replacing her words and spinning what she meant, why not look at her actual words and whether you agree or disagree? Honestly, replacing "lucky" with "fortunate" does not make me disagree with her any less. It does not change the lack of credit she is giving Sasha. Like I said, I get the impression Belladonna has not even seen the film Click to expand And I think you misread her answer. Here's how I interpreted her answers. "Personally, I don’t think I would want to do something that's so similar to what I do already." - i.e. "I wouldn't want to portray a role that is so heavily sexualized." "I think Sasha Grey was very lucky in getting that role because it could’ve been anybody." i.e. "I think she was fortunate to get this break, as another actress could have been cast" "It’s awesome for our industry that we have a girl that got lucky and got that much exposure. It just helps our industry become that much more acceptable." i.e. "Porn girls rarely get opportunities to work in 'mainstream'/non-adult roles, because of the stigma; this could help pave the way for more porn girls being offered mainstream roles. "But I would want a role that isn’t sexually related at all because it’s not challenging for me to do something like [The Girlfriend Experience]. I do that every day. I want to do something that’s really going to challenge me—that I don’t get the opportunity to do very often. That might be something that people aren’t willing to risk on a girl who’s been in porn for 10 years. But I think the right director could get it out of me." i.e. "My roles are already almost exclusively dealing with themes related to the fantasies offered by sex-workers, and I'd prefer a project that would let me work outside of that genre" John [Link]
skronker Notable Legendary Icon Scopophiliac 9780 Posts 9/02	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 8:25PM Yeah, exactly. I don't see what the deal is. [Link]

Dr. Nasty Senior Member Asa Akira.....Damn! 3797 Posts 9/05	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 9:02PM ^people always have to make drama where there is none. ***The Dr. of Nasty*** [Link]
fu_q All-Star Member Marv Montag (@PornOfYore) 2506 Posts 2/09	Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 10:41PM Not sure how to take Belladonna's comments -- really one way or the other -- but I believe that Sasha deserved the role and am happy that she got it. [Link]
Katar Hol Member I know you're watching me. 419 Posts 2/07	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 1:25AM OT- but to Sasha and Audrey, I think I love you. Okay, it's lust, but the sentiment is the same. [Link]
jrv Senior Member 1266 Posts 2/03	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 2:48AM "Luck" is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Most "luck" may occur because of a random event, but what is made of that random throw of the dice is often a product of how well prepared the person is to take advantage of the opportunity. Nothing wrong with saying Sasha was lucky in that context. [Link]
Harri Patel Senior Member #SDNY he's all yours. -- Michael Steele 5110 Posts 3/03	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 2:52AM +1 JohnHenry [Link]
NathanielFisher Member 146 Posts 8/07	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 3:29AM I disagree with Belladonna. I think Sasha Grey stands out in the porn industry and got chosen to do the Girlfriend Experience because she's very original for a pornstar. Sasha Grey has the most potential to be a mainstream actor out of all the other pornstars: Her looks, her voice, her character, the way she acts, what she knows and the things she says, make her stand out. Edited by - NathanielFisher on 6/22/2009 3:29:47 AM [Link]
DarkPlaces Member 477 Posts 3/07	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 3:39AM I don't read any sour grapes in this as well. When she refers to "similar" she's clearly talking about Sasha as a sex worker playing a sex worker. I also think Sasha was "lucky" or "fortunate" to get the job, because he could have gone with a real actress instead of the very faux provocative nature of hiring a porn star, as if directors who consider themselves "edgy" haven't been doing it since the 70's. But she's also unlucky to be in one of Soderbergh's "experimental" films which have been sucking since Full Frontal. [Link]
Joel Member 331 Posts 5/05	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 9:43AM I agree to an extent. Sasha got quite well known in porn because she got in just after turning 18 and was willing to do all the nasty shit straight away. However, there are a lot of other girls in porn who could have possibly got the role - as (although I haven't seen the movie) it doesn't differ too much from the real life of a porn star. He could have even hired a real actress for the role. That's not to belittle Sasha though, I read she was pretty good in the movie. [Link]
christianx Senior Member 1883 Posts 9/04	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 10:16AM Dave_K99 wrote: To me Sasha's big stroke of luck was getting cast in Fashionistas, and getting far more hype than a typical porn performer right at the start of her career. Click to expand That group scene was her first scene, and Spiegler knew she was going to be awesome because she fucked Rocco right before the scene started and he was raving about her by the time the actual scene took place. Her performance in that scene was unbelievable actually, she was incredible. [Link]
Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 12:49PM Hey Everyone, Being a friend of both Sarah and Bella I'm going to comment on a few of these because I do feel there is a tendency to take things out of context. So here I go... :) [Link]

Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 12:50PM Anime Nut wrote: I disagree with Bella, too. It's obvious she hasn't seen the movie and just doesn't realize how much more there is to Sasha's role. Click to expand Bella has seen the movie and she does recognizes the role that Sasha is playing...an escort. [Link]
Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 12:58PM M11911A1 wrote: ... I think saying that gives no credit to Sasha who obviously stands out in the adult industry. Click to expand She did not intend to give no credit to Sasha. She would have never intended something like that. Soderbergh said the whole reason he contacted Sasha is because he feels she is very different from other porn performers Click to expand Yes Sasha in unique but there are a lot of girls in the industry that are just like her they're just not getting the same press (due to a lot of factors). That's why Bella says Sasha got lucky because she was in the right place at the right time. I also disagree with Belladonna saying the GFE is "not challenging" and is "so similar" to her own porn movies. That's just ridiculous. The GFE has no sex scenes! Does she seriously think the acting and directing in Cock Happy #3 is similar to the GFE? Click to expand No she was not comparing GFE to CH#3. And she was not referring to the amount of sex on camera. She was referring to the acting required for the role and the lines themselves. Take her words for face value. She not trying to hide an agenda. Edited by - bobbi starr on 6/22/2009 1:08:21 PM [Link]
Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 1:03PM M11911A1 wrote: The negative vibe comes in saying "it could've been anybody" and that what Sasha did is "not challenging" and that she (Belladonna) does something similar "every day." Click to expand She's not intending to be negative. Anyone who knows Bella knows she doesn't have a negative bone in her body. Before Soderbergh contacted her, Sasha was already distinct in the industry. Look at her interviews, her past crossover projects. What other pornstar has recorded vocals for underground British experimental music group with ties to Throbbing Gristle? What other pornstars even know who Throbbing Gristle is? What other pornstars quote Hunter Thompson on their websites and name Situationism as an influence? Click to expand I do know who Throbbing Gristle is and I've read everything by and about Hunter Thompson not to mention most of the authors/musician Sasha has mentions. All of Belladonna's past work is gonzo porn with one goal: turn you on and get you off. The GFE obviously has a very different goal and is a very different kind of art Click to expand Bella has done features. Two in this past year, at least. The sequel to Pirates and The Devil and Miss Jones Edited by - bobbi starr on 6/22/2009 1:25:50 PM Edited by - bobbi starr on 6/22/2009 1:26:23 PM [Link]
Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 1:06PM DarkPlaces wrote: ... because he could have gone with a real actress instead of the very faux provocative nature of hiring a porn star, as if directors who consider themselves "edgy" haven't been doing it since the 70's.... Click to expand He wouldn't have cast a "real" actress because this is the "beginning" (even-though he has followed this recipe before) or first in a series of movie where he uses non-actors. [Link]
Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 1:11PM skronker wrote: Yeah, exactly. I don't see what the deal is. Click to expand Skronk! Shame on you! ;) You know better. Louv ya man! :) [Link]
Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 1:14PM NeonKnite wrote: Sounds to me like sour grapes. I really loved the older Belladonna stuff, but she lost me once she started going into the more extreme stuff. Click to expand Bella hasn't really been doing extreme stuff for a few years now. You should really check out her stuff since i've been in the business. She far tamer that I am. Her movies try and encourage a portrayal of a healthy aspect of porn for both men and women to enjoy. Edited by - bobbi starr on 6/22/2009 1:28:22 PM Edited by - bobbi starr on 6/22/2009 1:28:42 PM [Link]
Bobbi Starr Senior Member 1211 Posts 12/06	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 1:23PM One last thing. Keep in mind porn stars are human and when you're put on the spot to do an interview (most of the time on your lunch break during a convention were you've already been signing for hours) we don't always way all the possibilities of what our words can convey. It's very easy for fans/non-fans to take our words out of context. (Which I am aware is a possibility right now for me.) Bare in mind it does not feel good to be on the receiving end of something like this especially when people are criticizing you for something you said about some one you've helped. Remember, Bella had hand in Sasha's initial popularity. I've said this previously (and I know Sasha would agree with me) Bella doesn't have a negative bone in her body, so please take her words at face value and don't read into a hidden meaning because you will not find one. Thanks everyone! I always enjoy participating in this forum. :) [Link]
presto_nl Member 103 Posts 3/09	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 3:36PM Hi Bobbi, I like how you stated your opinions in this thread. It clearly shows that you have a lot of respect for Belladonna and Sasha Grey. Bella and Sasha deserve that from their colleagues in the industry and IMO also from the porn fans because Bella and Sasha are among the best performers in the porn biz. [Link]
tricia_devereaux Evil Angel DVD Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous? 4283 Posts 4/00	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 7:15PM Thanks Bobbi. :) And thanks for mentioning Bella's roles in Pirates II and in The New Devil in Miss Jones (omg - how many people have seen the trailer for it yet?). She also received multiple nominations for Bella Loves Jenna and of course Fashionistas. I know that Bella doesn't have any harsh feelings towards Sasha. Here's my opinion, and I don't know if Bella agrees or disagrees with me: Sasha is beautiful. She did a lot of extreme scenes right off the bat. Her first scene was in Fashionistas Safado, a role which she, indeed, was very lucky to be in the right time at the right place for. Casting was finished. Wardrobe was custom-made. TWO girls couldn't be in it. One of them had the same sizes as Sasha. When I called Mark Spiegler to ask him who he had available, he told me he had "this brand new girl... she's great. Can I send you some pics?" Absolutely, if Sasha had not impressed the hell out of me, I would have told Mark he was insane for suggesting a brand new girl to be in Fashionistas, even as a last minute replacement. But yes, she possessed something unique, and so I took the risk of John telling me that I was insane for recommending that he take precious time during the last days of pre-production to meet a brand new girl. Again, what was that first porn project for Sasha? The sequel to Fashionistas, an AMAZING feature in which Belladonna acted her ass off and had some of the best sex scenes of the decade. Without Belladonna, the first Fashionistas would never been as great. The role of Jesse was written 100% for Belladonna. Since her first movie, Sasha has made very few, if any, missteps. She knows how to market herself. She is unique enough in many ways, so people take notice of her. She gives great interviews, so when a PR person is asked by a reporter, who do you have that I can interview for this story, Sasha is one of the first girls that comes to mind. She is extremely easy to work with. However, there are a lot of porn girls who do just as amazing scenes who have just as "unique" interests outside of porn that don't recite those interests in blogs and interviews like Sasha does. Maybe that's their fault, and maybe if they did, fans would say "wow, did you know she likes this same band that's never made it big?" I adore Sasha, but to say that she is the only girl in porn who could have achieved a good performance in The GFE is utterly ridiculous. Sasha did a very good job in a movie that you couldn't have paid me to finish watching if she wasn't in it. [Link]
Dr. Nasty Senior Member Asa Akira.....Damn! 3797 Posts 9/05	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 7:43PM ^Yeah we know(most of us) Bella didn't mean anything by it. So many things are misconstrued on these forums everyday. I also agree that if Sasha wasn't in it I wouldn't have made it as far as I did into the movie. It wasn't very good. There I said it. Still likes me some Sasha Grey though. I hope she doesn't kill me now for saying that. ***The Dr. of Nasty*** [Link]

Hardware All-Star Member Your other left 14595 Posts 3/02	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 7:57PM tricia_devereaux wrote: I adore Sasha, but to say that she is the only girl in porn who could have achieved a good performance in The GFE is utterly ridiculous. Click to expand I agree with this. I think Sasha entered the business because she knows that notoriety is the best publicist. She presents herself as someone who is steeped in art-house culture, and who is exploring her sexuality and art in front of the camera, which is probably why Soderbergh even considered a porn performer in the first place. That's a meme art-house types are thoroughly familiar with. [Link]
Hannah Westxxx Member The classy side of shameless 506 Posts 8/07	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 8:17PM I think she meant "lucky" in the sense of.. it's hard for industry to make mainstream breakthroughs.. [Link]
bauer024 Senior Member It is what it is 1345 Posts 12/05	Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 9:28PM Bobbi Thanks for Giving your Opinions i think it means more from someone who knows both girls well Dan [Link]
NathanielFisher Member 146 Posts 8/07	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 12:36AM Either way Sasha Grey and Belladonna need to have a lubed-up wrestling match on camera to sort this out... [Link]
ExtremeGonzoFan ArinsystmaticX is done. Sasha Knox with all her cuteness, is back in town! 378 Posts 6/08	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 3:45AM Am I the only one who thought Sasha's acting wasn't that good in the movie? Let's face it, she is a Porn star who was playing an Escort....not a Nun working under a pedophile Priest. I don't think she's the nastiest girl in porn, like somehow, it gets mentioned in almost every interview she does. (Annette, Bobbi Starr, and a few others make a much stronger case these days) . I don't think she's the best actor/actress in porn either. HOWEVER, I do believe she's the BEST self-promoter this business has ever seen! I can't even count how many times I got so annoyed while reading her interviews and reading her unnecessarily quoting people so often, like those kids in High School who try so hard to stand out. BUT, to someone who hasn't followed her career and who just happens to come across her interviews and blogs....would definitely be impressed. Anyway, I am not saying any of this in a negative way, and I am actually happy for her for the attention she's got for the movie. I just think a little credit to people like Mark Spiegler and Tricia and Belladonna should be given by her, but then again, we don't know what they talk about in private. Edited by - ExtremeGonzoFan on 6/23/2009 3:47:33 AM [Link]
NathanielFisher Member 146 Posts 8/07	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 5:16AM Well it's not normal "acting" like you see in most films: The Girlfriend Experience is done in the style of, say, "Funny Ha ha" or "Dance Party USA". It's improvised dialogue using unproffesional actors. That was the point. Soderberg knew what he was doing by making the film in this way. The performances are unconventional and slice-of-life realistic. But you either like that style or you don't. Edited by - NathanielFisher on 6/23/2009 5:17:39 AM Edited by - NathanielFisher on 6/23/2009 5:18:41 AM [Link]
jazzyfae728 Member 75 Posts 4/09	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 6:22AM i disagree, B just sounds passively jealous to me. i've noticed SG gets a lot of hate, and most of it seems due to jealousy, probably since she's ahead of the game yet refuses to conform, and has gotten so much success so fast. she is one of a kind without a doubt. [Link]
Rosco Fuji Deactivated User On the licking stick, Mr. Magic Dick! 3309 Posts 2/09	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 6:19PM Hannah Westxxx wrote: I think she meant "lucky" in the sense of.. it's hard for industry to make mainstream breakthroughs.. Click to expand I'm going to have to agree with this take on the situation. [Link]
JoshD Member 43 Posts 10/03	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 10:08PM I think Sasha's mainstream attention has a lot to do with the uniqueness of her looks. I showed a picture of her and two other brunette porn stars (Rebecca Linares and Alektra) to three female friends who know nothing about them, and asked them who they would want to hang out with. I was careful to pick pictures so that they wouldn't be influenced by clothes, make-up, photography, etc. They all picked Sasha, basically saying the same thing: there's something intriguing about her. [Link]
NathanielFisher Member 146 Posts 8/07	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 11:34PM JoshD wrote: I think Sasha's mainstream attention has a lot to do with the uniqueness of her looks. I showed a picture of her and two other brunette porn stars (Rebecca Linares and Alektra) to three female friends who know nothing about them, and asked them who they would want to hang out with. I was careful to pick pictures so that they wouldn't be influenced by clothes, make-up, photography, etc. They all picked Sasha, basically saying the same thing: there's something intriguing about her. Click to expand That's interesting. Also, just out of interest, did you show your female friends any of the pornstars' reverse cowgirl anal gaping shots? Just out of interest... 2) I'm not a girl but I'd pick Sasha. ;) The other stars are nice too though. [Link]
skronker Notable Legendary Icon Scopophiliac 9780 Posts 9/02	Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 11:44PM MOst 18-year-old porn girls yap like there's no tomorrow. And say nothing much at all. JUst visit Twitter if you don't believe me. Or MySpace. First time I met Sasha, I was struck by how quiet she was. Not shy quiet, just observant. Of course, she was mostly listening to me and Spiegler yap .... it can't have been that profound for her ... hahaha. But she continues to be very focused and thoughtful in a manner that is highly unlike many of her chronological peers (of course, a lot of performers who come in at 23 24 25 26 do so with a lot more maturity than if they did so as a teenager, but Sasha just turned 21). It's like Peter Buck of REM once said, in regards to rock'n'roll: "You can accomplish a lot in this business just by showing up on time." I think that must go 10 hex for porno. [Link]
Shylock Spieglergirls.com "Patron of the Tarts" 2431 Posts 3/03	Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 1:47AM Sasha was extremely lucky to get the part! Why, if only I hadn't gotten that flat tire on my way to the audition, I would have had the part. No question about it. Little known fact - The movie was originally supposed to be entitled the "Boyfriend Experience" but I got a flat on my way to Soderbergh's office. Anyway, Sasha was just supposed to meet me there to go out to lunch with me after my audition but, while I was delayed due to the flat tire, Soderbergh ran into Sasha in the waiting room and by the time I finally arrived Steven told me had decided to "go in a different direction" with the movie and he ended up casting Sasha. No hard feelings though. After a closer read of the original script I realized that I, and any prospective audience members for that matter, would feel uncomfortable with all the nude scenes it called for me to be in! And that's all I have to say about that! SHYLOCK "Patron of the Tarts" Spieglergirls.com "Vivid girls are the ones your mom warned you about, but Spieglergirls are the ones your cardiologist warns you about!" - jrv [Link]
JohnHenry Member 165 Posts 3/09	Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 5:08AM ^It's OK, I'll cast you in our coming movie: "The Shylock Experience." The tagline? "Are you really experienced? John [Link]
bigfoot Senior Member 1295 Posts 7/06	Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 7:01AM I see where Belladonna is coming from and do not believe it is sour grapes. Bottom line, there is nobody like her in the industry as she puts her unique stamp on everything she works at. Clearly, she is an outstanding feature actress as many examples have been given by previous posters. I believe the answer simply exists in her words that she would not find a role that is not sexually related to be one that is challenging. Let's be honest, Bella marches to the beat of her own drummer and we are fortunate enough to be able to watch many of those marches. What she finds interesting or challenging usually pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable (I reference the brew-ha ha over Fetish Fanatics #5, I believe). Bella does not necessarily make porn for the masses but if they are interested, they are welcome to view the circus at 4 bits a peep. Instead, Bella makes titles on subjects and themes a that get a rise out of her. I personally believe that Bella films scenes for movies that includes topics she knows cannot be distributed, like water sports, fisting, scat, bestiality, etc., However, these films are for her, her husband and those close friends who get off on such things. This has been hinted at in many of her BTS segments when they ask the female talent if they would ever fuck/suck a dog, ask what their craziest fantasy is (Kimberly Kane once told Aiden Starr and Bella that she masturbates to the thought of sucking off a guy while getting fucked by a dog from behind or something like that), etc., Hell, we know that Bella films stuff that can never be included in one of her movies (remember the clip of Jenna Haze double-fisting Bella - pussy and ass - that made it's way around the net? That was filmed during a Belladonna shoot and was obviously left out of the final scene). That brings me back to my belief that Bella films scenes for movies that includes topics she knows cannot be distributed. [Link]
seedfeeder Member My balls are full, who's hungry? 716 Posts 4/09	Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 12:40PM I must agree with the original post. We see this in real movies, we see it in a lot of businesses... "They beat me out on the job because they're lucky". I deal with it in my business all the time. "fate favors the bold" definitely applies to Sasha Grey. And no, this is not about who does the most hardcore stuff... if that were true then every star of "good source of iron" or "the gang bang girl" would be huge... but they're not, some are, some are not. Some seem to have a strategy in this business, some do not. The scenes aren't near as important as the personal marketing that is done. Case in point, look at Jenna Jameson. I've seen maybe one of her scenes, I don't really care for Vivid or the stuff she does. I consider this stuff "softcore". But, she's a household name, she's in mainstream video stores, there are posters of her next to Britney Spears... Belladonna might call this "lucky", is it? Clearly not, Jenna is a genius among porn stars. Would I buy her movies? No. But she has my respect as a fellow businessperson and I would not say that about most porn stars. Sasha Grey definitely markets herself and has loads of sex appeal. Being good looking or having a hot body, etc... is not the same as sex appeal. One might expect to find a picture of ol Sasha in wikipedia next to "sexy" and it might just be a FACE shot, how many girls could do that?? Not many. I don't think it's that Sasha did everything right out of the gate. She has a certain appeal; she is arousing by her very nature and again, that is not the case with most of them. There are few stars who do impressive marketing of themselves, very few. Sasha is one of them and that is why I would say she stands out so much and many people have heard of her but not heard of Belladonna... A FOOL says "they got lucky" or "they cheated" when they lose. A WISE person says "I need to re-adjust my strategy" or "I need to figure out what they are doing that I am not". In other words, they are dynamic, they continue to improve every day and they never say "that girl/guy got lucky", no, NEVER. This attitude leads to mediocrity and the difference between these two girls is ultimately attitude. Attitude is precisely why Sasha got that part too. [Link]
Haze Deactivated User 769 Posts 7/04	Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 3:19PM I disagree. the movie is pretty good. Sasha is more marketable to the mainstream that Belladonna ever will be. [Link]

Author

Post

M11911A1
Member

205 Posts
5/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 11:03AM

http://losangeles.decider.com/articles/porn-star-belladonna-talks-erotica-la-and-more,29165/

D: What do you make of fellow porn star Sasha Grey being the lead in Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience? Would you want to do something like that?
B: Personally, I don't think I would want to do something that's so similar to what I do already. I think Sasha Grey was very lucky in getting that role because it could've been anybody. It's awesome for our industry that we have a girl that got lucky and got that much exposure. It just helps our industry become that much more acceptable. But I would want a role that isn't sexually related at all because it's not challenging for me to do something like [The Girlfriend Experience]. I do that every day. I want to do something that's really going to challenge me--that I don't get the opportunity to do very often. That might be something that people aren't willing to risk on a girl who's been in porn for 10 years. But I think the right director could get it out of me.
Click to expand

Do you agree or disagree with Belladonna?
I am a fan of both but I disagree with Belladonna here. She says "it could've been anybody."
I think saying that gives no credit to Sasha who obviously stands out in the adult industry.
Soderbergh said the whole reason he contacted Sasha is because he feels she is very different from other porn performers
I also disagree with Belladonna saying the GFE is "not challenging" and is "so similar" to her own porn movies.
That's just ridiculous. The GFE has no sex scenes! Does she seriously think the acting and directing in Cock Happy #3 is similar to the GFE?
I get the impression Belladonna has not seen the film and does not get what it's about.
That is surprising to me because I always thought Belladonna was hip to stuff like that

Edited by - M11911A1 on Jun 21 2009

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Anime Nut
Senior Member

Too cool for Zuul
1925 Posts
6/06

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 2:23PM

I disagree with Bella, too. It's obvious she hasn't seen the movie and just doesn't realize how much more there is to Sasha's role.

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NeonKnite
New Member

4 Posts
6/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 3:50PM

Sounds to me like sour grapes. I really loved the older Belladonna stuff, but she lost me once she started going into the more extreme stuff.

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Max Booty
Member

New Orleans
484 Posts
6/03

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 3:54PM

I don't really get a negative vibe from Bella's comments. Sasha is lucky for the experience since so much of the movie industry is luck, timing and meeting the right people. I also agree that any crossover appeal benefits the porn industry as a whole. I take Bella's point that casting a porn star as a high-priced hooker isn't a real stretch of the director's imagination and on its face, a stretch for the performer's talent. The problem with the movie is that the character is so underwritten and cool that a performer with limited range does not have a lot of options. Bearing that in mind and speaking as someone who loves Sasha Grey as a performer, I thought The Girlfriend Experience was a ghastly bore. And I'm not pointing a finger at SG but instead Steven Soderbergh. I do think Sasha Grey has the talent to grow into the kind of actress who could have taken that kind of poorly developed material and filled in some of the many blanks making it at least interesting but at this point she is not there. Soderbergh really is a every-other-film kind of director. Anyway...whatever.

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Dave_K99
Member

497 Posts
12/07

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 6:27PM

To me Sasha's big stroke of luck was getting cast in Fashionistas, and getting far more hype than a typical porn performer right at the start of her career. Without that she might not have made it into the mainstream media through Tyra Banks and The LA Times, and without that she might not have come to Soderbergh's notice.
I think that hype, along with her personality, look and appreciation for film, made her an obvious choice for the part. It's hard to say whether a different porn performer would have been chosen if Sasha hadn't been around, but I certainly don't think that Soderbergh would have picked just anyone for the role.
Of course performing in porn isn't the same as acting in a non-sex role (even when playing a prostitute), so I think Bella's way off when she suggests that it isn't a different challenge.

[Link]

M11911A1
Member

205 Posts
5/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 6:29PM

The negative vibe comes in saying "it could've been anybody" and that what Sasha did is "not challenging" and that she (Belladonna) does something similar "every day."
While luck is involved in the film industry, Sasha is not just any girl in porn. She has very different thinking than most porn performers and has worked to set herself apart. That was what really landed her the role
Before Soderbergh contacted her, Sasha was already distinct in the industry. Look at her interviews, her past crossover projects. What other pornstar has recorded vocals for underground British experimental music group with ties to Throbbing Gristle? What other pornstars even know who Throbbing Gristle is? What other pornstars quote Hunter Thompson on their websites and name Situationism as an influence?
Belladonna makes it sound like Soderbergh just picked a random porn chick. Why doesn't she give credit to Sasha for being unique?

You don't think there is a huge difference between doing a pornographic scene and doing the central role in a dramatic film? I am a Belladonna fan, but there is nothing in her filmography that is similar to the GFE. Belladonna doesn't even do features.
All of Belladonna's past work is gonzo porn with one goal: turn you on and get you off. The GFE obviously has a very different goal and is a very different kind of art

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Oral B.
Member

349 Posts
4/05

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 6:34PM

Even my friends who arent that into porn bring up Sashas name.
She is quite an alluring woman.

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Max Booty
Member

New Orleans
484 Posts
6/03

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:11PM

That is not what I was saying, or what I think Belldonna was saying. I think the point is if you are thinking about doing a movie about a high-priced call girl or porn star then it isn't that far a reach to think about casting a porn star. I will be the first person to say I think Sasha Grey is a really talented & beautiful woman and she could have just have easily made a good run at it in mainstream Hollywood features. I'm just saying it doesn't take much imagination to want to cast a porn star as a call girl.

REALLY? There is a difference between a gonzo porn movie and a semi-mainstream feature from a "A" list director about the life of a call girl? I saw The Girlfriend Experience as a fan of Soderbergh and out of curiosity because of Sasha Grey. Art is of course different things to different people but what I found was a film that did Grey no favors. There is something there as far as she is concerned but this movie did not show it to her advantage. I wanted to like the movie but just thought it was a big bore.
As far as this thread I think the thrust of it is that people are reading conflict & petty jealously into a situation where there probably is none involved because it makes for tongues-a-wagging conversation. I think it is all smoke with precious little heat. I could of course be wrong.

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M11911A1
Member

205 Posts
5/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:29PM

Well let's just look at what Belladonna actually said as opposed to what you think she was saying. She said the GFE is "so similar to what I do already." As I have already pointed out, this is ridiculous. Nothing Belladonna has done is similar to the GFE.

I assume you are saying this sarcastically because it is obvious. But it is apparently not obvious to Belladonna. Because she said she does the latter "every day"

Uh, Belladonna did an interview and said something that is up for discussion. No more no less. This is not gossip. I have posted the link to the interview and everything. If you do not think it is worth discussion why post on this thread?

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Audrey Lords
Member

Thou shalt have no Lords before me
57 Posts
6/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:35PM

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JohnHenry
Member

165 Posts
3/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:41PM

Pfft. More light than heat.
Replace the word 'lucky' with 'fortunate', and you have a very different tone of interview. The two are friends, and knowing that context it's highly unlikely that Bella meant anything other than she's happy for her friends success, and that it was *fortunate* for Sasha that landed the role, as Soderbergh could have chosen any number of other girls for the role.
So nope, no catfight here that I can tell.
John

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M11911A1
Member

205 Posts
5/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:42PM

Cool!

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M11911A1
Member

205 Posts
5/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 7:50PM

Like I said, I am a fan of both. But I disagree with Belladonna here, in this actual interview.
Instead of replacing her words and spinning what she meant, why not look at her actual words and whether you agree or disagree?
Honestly, replacing "lucky" with "fortunate" does not make me disagree with her any less. It does not change the lack of credit she is giving Sasha. Like I said, I get the impression Belladonna has not even seen the film

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JohnHenry
Member

165 Posts
3/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 8:14PM

And I think you misread her answer. Here's how I interpreted her answers.
"Personally, I don’t think I would want to do something that's so similar to what I do already." - i.e. "I wouldn't want to portray a role that is so heavily sexualized."
"I think Sasha Grey was very lucky in getting that role because it could’ve been anybody."
i.e. "I think she was fortunate to get this break, as another actress could have been cast"
"It’s awesome for our industry that we have a girl that got lucky and got that much exposure. It just helps our industry become that much more acceptable."
i.e. "Porn girls rarely get opportunities to work in 'mainstream'/non-adult roles, because of the stigma; this could help pave the way for more porn girls being offered mainstream roles.
"But I would want a role that isn’t sexually related at all because it’s not challenging for me to do something like [The Girlfriend Experience]. I do that every day. I want to do something that’s really going to challenge me—that I don’t get the opportunity to do very often. That might be something that people aren’t willing to risk on a girl who’s been in porn for 10 years. But I think the right director could get it out of me."
i.e. "My roles are already almost exclusively dealing with themes related to the fantasies offered by sex-workers, and I'd prefer a project that would let me work outside of that genre"
John

[Link]

skronker
Notable Legendary Icon

Scopophiliac
9780 Posts
9/02

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 8:25PM

Yeah, exactly. I don't see what the deal is.

[Link]

Dr. Nasty
Senior Member

Asa Akira.....Damn!
3797 Posts
9/05

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 9:02PM

^people always have to make drama where there is none.
*****The Dr. of Nasty*****

[Link]

fu_q

All-Star Member

Marv Montag (@PornOfYore)
2506 Posts
2/09

Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 10:41PM

Not sure how to take Belladonna's comments -- really one way or the other -- but I believe that Sasha deserved the role and am happy that she got it.

[Link]

Katar Hol
Member

I know you're watching me.
419 Posts
2/07

Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 1:25AM

OT- but to Sasha and Audrey, I think I love you. Okay, it's lust, but the sentiment is the same.

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jrv
Senior Member

1266 Posts
2/03

Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 2:48AM

"Luck" is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Most "luck" may occur because of a random event, but what is made of that random throw of the dice is often a product of how well prepared the person is to take advantage of the opportunity.
Nothing wrong with saying Sasha was lucky in that context.

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Harri Patel
Senior Member

#SDNY he's all yours. -- Michael Steele
5110 Posts
3/03

Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 2:52AM

+1 JohnHenry

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NathanielFisher
Member

146 Posts
8/07

Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 3:29AM

I disagree with Belladonna.
I think Sasha Grey stands out in the porn industry and got chosen to do the Girlfriend Experience because she's very original for a pornstar. Sasha Grey has the most potential to be a mainstream actor out of all the other pornstars:
Her looks, her voice, her character, the way she acts, what she knows and the things she says, make her stand out.
Edited by - NathanielFisher on 6/22/2009 3:29:47 AM

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DarkPlaces
Member

477 Posts
3/07

Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 3:39AM

I don't read any sour grapes in this as well. When she refers to "similar" she's clearly talking about Sasha as a sex worker playing a sex worker. I also think Sasha was "lucky" or "fortunate" to get the job, because he could have gone with a real actress instead of the very faux provocative nature of hiring a porn star, as if directors who consider themselves "edgy" haven't been doing it since the 70's. But she's also unlucky to be in one of Soderbergh's "experimental" films which have been sucking since Full Frontal.

[Link]

Joel
Member

331 Posts
5/05

Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 9:43AM

I agree to an extent.
Sasha got quite well known in porn because she got in just after turning 18 and was willing to do all the nasty shit straight away.
However, there are a lot of other girls in porn who could have possibly got the role - as (although I haven't seen the movie) it doesn't differ too much from the real life of a porn star. He could have even hired a *real* actress for the role.
That's not to belittle Sasha though, I read she was pretty good in the movie.

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christianx
Senior Member

1883 Posts
9/04

Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 10:16AM

That group scene was her first scene, and Spiegler knew she was going to be awesome because she fucked Rocco right before the scene started and he was raving about her by the time the actual scene took place. Her performance in that scene was unbelievable actually, she was incredible.

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