Gonzo is the most heavily saturated market right now, people just want to see sex. After all why else would you rent a fuck flick? Gonzo has taken up a "need" in the marketplace that comps used to fill.

Some Gonzo is tasteful and artistic where other Gonzo films are just a comp with fresh faces and hype.

I used to sell porn films for a living and have noticed certain trends. Some of what I say is "theory" while some is fact.

Distribution is a key element, a new company needs to diversify it's product line and not only are more companies popping up but they need director's and lot's of them to compete.

Male talent is the key, if a company can lock in a good performer to an exclusive contract they are one step ahead of the rest. If that means making that person a director then so be it.

Now this is just all mostly theory, so please don't bash me too hard!!!

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My thought is that by directing, it's the surest way for a star to "own their product," rather than be working their scene rate only. Some people have a "vision," while others are cranking it out. I guess my concept of porn, while not exactly counter to all of this, carries over from mainstream cinema, where you have real Class A filmmakers -- and I guess I tend to have a different, perhaps higher regard for directors of porn who are not always also talent. Or rather, they are talent emeritus (or semi-emeritus, like Silvera). On the other hand, Rocco has made some of the hottest porn ever -- and it's all driven by his persona, on and off camera. Mike John, master of POV, is sorta talent -- but I really think of him more as a director who gets a blowjob now and again. Jules Jordan may be the highest-end young director in porn, and appears in his scenes, but you never see him anywhere else, so that's different.

It's late. I may not be making any sense. Forgive any babbling. This just struck me as an interesting topic.

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Edited by - eaglespirit on 7/10/2004 9:47:32 AM

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As for all these new directors; how many are really a real director? When I think a real director I think people like John Stagliano and John Leslie for example. They are the real directors in my opinion. Almost all others just shoot sex, in my opinion there's a difference.

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The real reason is that shooting porno is one of the easiest professions you can do once you master the basics. As I've always said, this shit is not rocket science.

For those of you who don't shoot porn and think it's difficult, think about these basic steps and see if you can do it ...

I tell newbies three cardinal rules right off the bat.

(1) Do not hit the focus ring after manually focusing the lens.
(2) Make sure you are recording when you're shooting.
(3) Stay steady.

Pretty simple huh? You'd be surprised how many people fuck up these simple task.

After that, it becomes a series of framing shots, moving from position to position, composing your look, and getting a strokeable sequence.

Some shooters shoot to edit. As an editor myself, I shoot not to edit.

The stuff is simple as hell and I'm just amazed how many people simply cannot handle these basic facets of shooting. After much practice, it all becomes second nature and you can start being more creative with the camera without disturbing the action at hand.

The real problem for most directors is the intangibles: organization, respect from talent, vision, booking, authority, chemistry, etc.

This business has a plethora of morons and a few shining examples of 'artists'. I just with more qualified and creative new blood flooded the marketplace to show these directors what directing really means.

Basically, if an idiot like myself can direct, anyone with half a brain can learn to do it too. Anybody with a whole brain can make a killing.

Chico

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-T.C.

Edited by - TonyC on 7/10/2004 3:28:57 PM

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I never claimed to be Paul Thomas. I solely Produce and Direct my movies. If someone can't handle that, thats o.k. its an issue they have. Anyone can watch me on the BTS, plenty of press has seen me in action, as well as my crew. God knows I run my sets with complete efficiency-my crew tells me about OTHER PEOPLES SETS-and they thank me for how smooth I run the sets.

Bridgette Kerkove

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Bridgette Kerkove

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Joey Silvera edits his own movies as do John Stagliano, Mason, Jules Jordan. I don't know how they do it. I edited one movie, Un-Natural Sex #12 and thought it was a pain in the ass and it was just one movie. Other directors sit directly in the edit bay and focus on each cut like Zupko, Everhard, Mike John, Darkko, etc.

I believe I had this argument with the affable John Strong at one point. He commented that only male performers can direct because they're intrinsically the best at it. I told him I thought that theory was a bucket of bullshit among a myriad of his many ever-changing, self-serving theories. The best directors in the business are perverts with an videographer's eye for what they want. Often times, male talent prove to be the worst directors in the business.

Nobody taught me how to shoot camera except one person, Cal444. Sitting with that beer pig in the edit bay for over 3 months taught me more about shooting porno than years at UCLA Film School.

Chico

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For any production company, the ideal would be to have a performer director. One who can make good movies and is available to perform for others.

All I'm saying is without considerable knowledge gained from the edit bay, performer or not, nobody will become a decent director. It is that experience which is invaluable.

Chico

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At Evil Angel, when we took on the distribution of Jules Jordan, Jonni Darkko and Justin Slayer, the thing they had in common that stood out was that they were all true perverts and fans of pornography. I think I can safely say that about all the directors who distribute at the Evil Empire. And my husband is the king of the perverted!

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I'll add another amen to Chico's "shoot not to edit" comment. Video encourages a "shoot everything and then find your movie in post" approach. 19 times out of 20 it's a lazy and ultimately inefficient way of doing things (I've been as guilty as anyone.)

Having some idea of what you're doing, and "shooting not to edit" creates better footage and leaves the editor to choose between good and better instead of bad and worse.

-T.C.

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DenverDon

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Of course, the key to any great director comes straight from the head. A pervert's eye and a vision. But in order to incorporate these perverted, creative visions and apply it to the final product requires a serious knowledge of the edit bay which teaches you camera work and style, rhythm, pace, flow and storytelling (yes, even in porn, there's a story being told albeit at a very minimal level). Some people like Silvera and Jules have it. Other people with their formulaic, every scene looks the same, cookie cutter bullshit will always remain in the gutter.

I think this Darkko cat is one of the best and to my knowledge he has never participated in a D.P. on-camera. Just because he was never a performer to me does not distract from the fact he's one of the best directors I know.

Who knows. Maybe I'm talking out of my ass.

Chico

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xoxo Bridgette Kerkove

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Depending on a wide variety of variables, I typcially budget 1/2 day to 2 days of organizing and editing per minute of screen time. Obviously if one is expected to turn out a 120 minute video per month there simply aren't enough hours in the day to edit at this pace. But Zero Tolerance's approach in Non Stop, Drive Thru Porn might actually be an answer to the problem; and Chico's comments about how important time in the edit bay is are germane.

20 minutes of uninterupted footage of anything from someone who doesn't know how an editor turns raw footage into finished stories would likely be as dull as watching paint dry. But a cameraman who is a real student of filmmaking with a real passion for shooting sex just might pull it off. I'd lay even money that they result would be at least as watchable than the 120 minutes in two days editing that most porn gets (probably more so because there wouldn't be as many eratic jumpcut or "if you can't solve it, dissolve it" moments) , and it's two days of not having to sit in the damned edit bay too!

-T.C.

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Second, I just love the new trend of female talent becoming directors. The Kerkoves have started the trend and now it's booming. I've rather watch an Ariana movie or a Bridgette movie over some old stinky director. The Porn industry is so man dominated that it is a nice change. Diversity is spice of life. And I also think that now female performers have a choice, they don't have to work for an old smelly guy anymore, they call the shots. When the time is right for them, they don't have to work infront of the camera if they choose not to. They have options.

Oren
Anarchy

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