I would guesstimate that anyone with a camcorder and a partner could pull off a low cost gonzo movie. It doesn't take much to film sex. The real trick is filming it so that it looks good.

---I'd rather be anywhere but here, but I’m here and not anywhere---

[Link]

While making it look good is a trick, the biggest trick is distribution. It's not like you can just shoot something and someone will buy it for distribution. And if you don't have the connections, then you're stuck marketing your tapes on eBay or getting $250 to get it in one of those amateur compilations.

Since it sounds like you're in Brazil, maybe Planet Sex can shed some light on the market down there.

- Saki

[Link]

The shooting was fast, but I had 53 hours to edit it to perfection, so I guess this must by my best-edited movie.

[Link]

If you ask me...as a pornfan...they never take
their time...and that shows the end-result.

As BigMike said: Everyone can shoot a porno.

Well...let us say almost everyone. I know people
who are in the business since a very a long time
but who still have no idea what porn is about.
Maybe that the camcorder thing would be something
for them...to learn how to handle a camera.

Shooting as porno is easy and it doesn't need a lot
of time when you have:

a) the right people...you are forced to use the
big names...otherwise you will not sell your tapes.
Big names who definitely are not the best porn has
to offer. (from a performance standpoint!)

b) You need a good cameraman. This should be someone
who sees the sex as through the eyes of the pornfan.
A man or woman who knows what the audience wants and
not what the performer once. sad reality is that too
many people already see themselves acting like a real
cameraman without knowing how filming really works.

c) You need a good director...Nowadays whole hordes
of porn stars see themselves grounded in this field
once they have worked in front of a camera.

d) A good editor who knows what's important...the sex!
Also should this man or woman not be too artistic. Too
much tricks distract. I like Andrew Blake movies very
much but really exciting are they not as the transitions
and arty intermezzos distract too much (my view!)

e) You need the contacts to the media. For "pushing"
your product you need to suck up to AVN and other
organisations. "Money" and gifts also help. Best thing
is still to invite them to one of your shoots.

f) Get your "own review" up on e.g. AVN or let them write
the review in a way you like to see it. No one will notice.

g) Find the right distribution channels...will also cost
you some "to persuade" these people.

When you have completed all these steps...It's waiting for
the customer. Usually it takes up to six months for
releasing a VHS tape and another 3 months extra for the
DVD.

How long for a pornshoot?

Here are a few examples:

Vivid: 3-5 days
Wicked: 3-5 days and 7 for a big movie
Metro: 3-4 days
Rocco Siffredi: 1-2 days (so I heard)
Devotion: 1 day (European company shoots amateurs)
Private: 3-10 weeks (The Pyramid trilogy took almost
12 weeks)
Goldlight: 7-8 days (European company)feature films.

Most European companies put a lot of time in their
big productions: 2 weeks average.
While US companies usually need no more than 4-5 days.
(No wonder that the quality of Europan films is so much
better!)

However: Time is not always the critical factor. I know
of people who used / needed a whole year for shooting
a few boring sex-scenes and the end-result as a whole
...it is so terrible that it really makes you wonder.

Spetz

Edited by - spetz on Feb 8 2002

[Link]

The only exception to this rule is in Brazil. Here, 113% of the local-produced porn is pure & unfiltered shit.

[Link]

OK, seriously:
at EA, the directors usually shoot 1 to 2 scenes a day. Their videos are anywhere from 3 to 5 scenes, so depending on how often they shoot, it could get done in 2 - 4 days in a row.
John normally goes to Budapest or Brazil for a week or two, and shoots a couple movies.

I have worked for companies that shoot as many as 4 sex scenes in one day, but the norm for gonzo is usually 2. But you have to be REALLY organized to work out the call times and makeup and all that.

Don't try to do everything yourself (directing, shoot stills, performing, etc.) It will invariable turn out to be bad.

Edited by - tricia_devereaux on Feb 8 2002

[Link]