How many women directors REALLY direct?

Author	Post
BlackSix All-Star Member pornography wasn't sex but fantasies of an impossibly hospitable world 12377 Posts 9/07	Posted - Nov 12 2007 : 6:16AM I hope this doesn't come off as patronizing, but from some of the BTS material I've seen, it seems that some (many?) of the women 'directors' these days aren't really the directors of the videos that their names are attached to. From what I've seen I'd say that Mason, Kylie Ireland and Belladonna are the real deal. Ashley Blue however, and more than a few other films, are clearly not. [Link]
Tristram Member 80 Posts 2/06	Posted - Nov 12 2007 : 10:03AM Veronica Hart is obviously the real deal, although it's been a few years since she released anything. But she directs feature porn and I guess that at least when it comes to gonzo there is something strange about people who are meant to be directors and then don't do any camera-work (although there might be exceptions, for instance it certainly feels as if Tristan Taormino's stuff bears her mark). Among women directors, Celeste is probably the one I'm wondering about the most; she's altogether absent from bts segments and there's a lot of Robby D in her movies. Of course, to a certain extent that's only natural since he does the camera-work, but is she even on set or does she just draw up the basic ideas and do wardrobe? [Link]
RFrog Member 396 Posts 10/07	Posted - Nov 13 2007 : 11:37PM I once spoke with a main-stream (non-porn) director who started doing Hollywood productions. Some people assured him, "The crew has plenty of experience. The show runs itself. Just hold the reins and collect the credit." But, he told me that he didn't want to stand around and let the show "run itself." He studied, worked hard and learned what directing is all about. Last I saw, he was doing very well directing TV shows. I guess that's what separates the best from the rest. [Link]
pornlaw Member 578 Posts 10/05	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 10:05AM Vanessa Blue is a true director. And has won an AVN award for such. I think she's the only african american woman that has for won for directing. She also holds camera, shoots stills, edits, authors, composes her own music for her movies. Michael www.adultbizlaw.com [Link]
howie Member 144 Posts 11/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 12:14PM I seriously doubt that Wendi Knight directs those movies for Zero Tolerance. [Link]

caroline-NL Member 543 Posts 3/07	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 2:59PM In Europe, some movies are labelled as "directed by starlet xyz", but its only a bogus, they arent directed by a woman, but by male directors. In Japan, my japanese girlfriend told me, in the last 2,3 years more women directed movies, but most japanese men dont like this, they fear, that porn movies by women are boring, so the companies label the movies with a fantasy male name. [Link]
kylie ireland Member Welcome to the darkside....we have cookies. 598 Posts 11/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 3:00PM You might be surprised how many of the girls actually do direct their own movies. (I know there is a threead already about this somewhere too) Here are a few off the top of my head: Nicki Hunter (directing one for SexZ right now) Hillary Scott Katja Kassin (for SlutWerkz, coming soon) Ginger Lynn (directing one for SlutWerkz right now) Melissa Lauren Jewel DeNyle Mason Belladonna Vanessa Blue Alana Evans Tricia Devereaux Tina Tyler Veronica Hart I know there are more, ladies I apologize if I missed you, but that is a good start off the top of my head. Unfortunatly there are several who are just a name only and someone else does the work. Kylie [Link]
michelle aston Member "Hillary Scott is cute, but she looks cuter with my fist up her ass." from set of Upload f 22 Posts 3/07	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 4:24PM Vena Virago Maria Beatty Kelly Holland Nautica Thorn Courtney Cummz Bella Vendetta Joanna Angel Kimberly Kane Dana DeArmond Brittany Andrews Taylor Wane Natalie Demore Michelle Aston [Link]
MikeSouth Deactivated User 511 Posts 11/02	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 4:30PM pornlaw wrote: Vanessa Blue is a true director. And has won an AVN award for such. I think she's the only african american woman that has for won for directing. She also holds camera, shoots stills, edits, authors, composes her own music for her movies. Michael www.adultbizlaw.com Click to expand that make her a cameraperson, a photographer, an editor, a writer and a musician...NOT a director [Link]
MikeSouth Deactivated User 511 Posts 11/02	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 4:34PM Of the ones I have seen listed here only Veronica Hart qualifies, calling yourself a director doesn't make you a director. A director's main job is to make sure the actors are staying in character, to make sure that everyone is doing what they should be doing in order to properly tell the story considering that there are maybe 4 people in porn (if that) who can even act as much as your average high school drama club drop out it isnt surprising that nobody knows what a director REALLY does. [Link]
imak Adult Film Legend 3345 Posts 2/04	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 5:03PM I have personally seen Kylie Ireland Francesca Le Mason Vanessa Blue Jewel DeNyle all actually direct, doing the work.. I have seen Lizzy Borden Ashley Blue absent from sets they directed and bridgette kerkove half direct the list for boys can go both ways also, it's not just the ladies who get their names slapped on a box Edited by - imak on 11/14/2007 5:45:35 PM [Link]
imak Adult Film Legend 3345 Posts 2/04	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 5:07PM I would like to add that it's not from first hand experience but I have no doubt that Melissa Lauren directs her movies [Link]
kristielove Member All is fair in love and porn 69 Posts 7/05	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:11PM When you say "direct" how do you define that? I define it as booking talent and creating scenes (ex. boy/girl or boy/girl/girl) picking box cover girl(s), choosing box cover lay out but most of all SHOOTING CAMERA! Let's face it, there are no male directors that don't shoot camera. That would be considered ridiculous. Two women who are THE REAL DEAL are: DANA VESPOLI (Awesome!) DIANA DEVOE (killer director) MANY of the others mentioned do NOT shoot camera. I was the production manager on several films for PXP (I know, I know) and I did all the booking, I chose scene content, chose box cover girl, created box cover scenerio, ok'd box cover art and once again, I was considered a "Production Manager." The person who shot the camera and shot stills was "the director." Believe me, it sucked and I don't think that was fair but my point is in this industry, since there's no need for directors and cinematographers, generally speaking, a real director shoots camera. So many woman "directors" don't shoot camera which leaves them to what...directing the actors and giving them their motivation? We're talking porn, it's all in the angles and shots, that's the direction in a porn. [Link]
threesomebody Official BlowBang Judge Would you like my autograph? 2491 Posts 12/04	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:16PM So when, for example, Jake Malone is performing in a scene in a movie that he is directing while someone else holds the camera, you don't consider that he directed that scene? I am just trying to clarify. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:19PM AS I understand it, the late, great Bruce Seven never shot camera; Michael Cates shot most of his videos. Does anyone want to argue that Bruce Seven was not really "a director"? What's sauce for the goose . . . [Link]

threesomebody Official BlowBang Judge Would you like my autograph? 2491 Posts 12/04	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:22PM Patrick Collins [Link]
threesomebody Official BlowBang Judge Would you like my autograph? 2491 Posts 12/04	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:23PM Thomas Zupko [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:37PM As we all know, people who just shoot camera are called . . . er . . . "camera operators". [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:39PM "Cinematographers" if they get to boss around the other camera operators. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:43PM kristielove wrote: We're talking porn, it's all in the angles and shots, that's the direction in a porn. Click to expand Could that be why most porn sucks shit? Because anyone who can point a camera at naked people thinks they're a "director"? Hmmmm. Food for thought. [Link]
jake malone Member 530 Posts 1/05	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:49PM Wow, 3sb, and Bob, you're really up on your porn history/trivia. I was just thinking Zupko and Patrick and also Bruce while I was reading this, and then you posted them. In the case of these three , (and I've been on the shoots of, and been in scenes of all of them), they are exceptions to the rule. They all "Direct" in no uncertain terms. But to give credit where it's due, Michael Cates is the great unsung shooter in the history of porn, IMHO. He did indeed shoot all of the early/classic Sodomania series and all Elegant Angel stuff for the first few years, AND shot all the great Bruce Seven stuff, "Buttslammers", the bondage-S/M stuff and also edited all that stuff. An amazing body of work. And 3sb, my little hair-splitting honey, in the rare case where I am "in" a scene in my own movie, as opposed to shooting POV, ( like with Annette in Fuck Slaves #2) I had Brandon shoot the camera, and yes, I was "directing" too. That's an exception to the rule too. But yeah, in most cases, putting a girls name on the package as "Director" is a sleazy move. WHAT?? Sleazy behavior in the porn industry???.....I'm shocked! [Link]
threesomebody Official BlowBang Judge Would you like my autograph? 2491 Posts 12/04	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 9:50PM Isn't Manuel Ferrera in almost all of the scenes in his movies? Does that mean he isn't a director? Come on, Kristi. You know better. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 10:01PM jake malone wrote: But to give credit where it's due, Michael Cates is the great unsung shooter in the history of porn, IMHO. . . . An amazing body of work. Click to expand I completely agree! At the same time -- and not to detract from Cates' amazing talent -- the few things that he actually "directed" were less than spectacular. [Link]
threesomebody Official BlowBang Judge Would you like my autograph? 2491 Posts 12/04	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 10:02PM Cross-posted with you, Jake Baby. [Link]
HeyNow Oblivious Gold Star Hey! 5965 Posts 1/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 10:14PM howie wrote: I seriously doubt that Wendi Knight directs those movies for Zero Tolerance. Click to expand She had to have done something! She's the first name I think of when I think female directors - she did the first Grand Theft Anals and Strip Tease Then Fucks for ZT. I really did like her style. Seems like she paid a little more attention to the clothes, bras, panties, etc. I do know Mike Quasar did the camera work for most if not all of those. Mike, what say you? [Link]

Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 10:25PM I must confess, though, that a Skeeter Kerkove movie that's not been shot by Jim Powers is a terrible thing to behold. As is a Mike Ramone movie that has been shot by Skeeter Kerkove. [Link]
kristielove Member All is fair in love and porn 69 Posts 7/05	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 11:27PM Ok, I spoke 1st, thought later...when will I learn? I just hate, especially certain female "directors" taking so much credit and in some instances practically doing nothing on a movie but putting their name on it but that's the whole point, isn't it? Why not, I get it, star power, it's good. It really is great for the girls who, in this industry are considered "old" at gulp 23!! So, if it helps sustain a girl's career/income, I should be glad. -Of course I think when a directors in a scene they still direct, it's really about the whole package. I think I just talked myself to the other side. Hee hee [Link]
DarkPlaces Member 477 Posts 3/07	Posted - Nov 14 2007 : 11:48PM BlackSix wrote: I hope this doesn't come off as patronizing, but from some of the BTS material I've seen, it seems that some (many?) of the women 'directors' these days aren't really the directors of the videos that their names are attached to. From what I've seen I'd say that Mason, Kylie Ireland and Belladonna are the real deal. Ashley Blue however, and more than a few other films, are clearly not. Click to expand As opposed to some of these guys who couldn't direct traffic on a one-way street and is just way to save money on male talent and get to fuck the girls!?! Every time I say I'm never going to watch a Justin Slayer vid, he gets someone I like, I relent and regret it almost instantly. As Mike South points out, very few people, period, are directors. [Link]
MikeSouth Deactivated User 511 Posts 11/02	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 1:25AM I love it you guys dont knoew a director from a camera operator and some of you are IN porn...no wonder the product is shit these days BTW Stormy can direct and no she doesnt run the fucking camera [Link]
mapofhawaii Senior Member 1050 Posts 3/06	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 2:50AM I can't believe all these insiders arguing over who really directs porn. Very few of porn makers attempt to break outside the genre into serious filmmaking, so who cares? [Link]
BlackSix All-Star Member pornography wasn't sex but fantasies of an impossibly hospitable world 12377 Posts 9/07	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 3:55AM Well, I think that Mike is making a legitimate distinction between a features director and a gonzo director. There aren't many of the former around anymore. I would still consider the best gonzo directors legitimate 'directors' in that they are directing the talent and making most, and sometimes all, of the visual decisions. [Link]
stormydaniels Member 171 Posts 3/04	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 12:19PM I really direct...As of next week, I will have shot 11 features. I have only had an assistant director on set on the first two days of Operation Desert Stormy (it was a 10 day shoot). EVERY other day of my directing career, it has been just me. You can check the BTS of any of my shows to see. I know most other girls don't really do their own directing, and that made it very difficult for people to take me seriously. I had three releases in 2007 as a director and all three received Editor's Choice from AVN. I see my films from start to finish...I write the script, cast the talent, scout and book the locations, do all the props and wardrobe, and sit in all the editing. And not to change the subject back to male directors, but not all male directors are cameramen. Michael Raven is the only director in our lineup that also does cinematography. [Link]
kylie ireland Member Welcome to the darkside....we have cookies. 598 Posts 11/03	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 12:33PM Only in porn is the director and cameraman the same thing. In mainstream directors direct and camera is shot by someone else. I direct all my own stuff - from conception to editing (which I oversee) - ideas, casting, permits, boxcovers, everything. A director knows how to get the best performances out of their cast and how to keep things running smoothly while getting the footage (and in the case of porn - heat) needed. A director also knows what is best for the shoot; and although I know how to shoot camera and if neccessary can do so, I CHOOSE not to because I know that my camerawork is not what is best for the movie. Kylie [Link]
Ramsey Senior Member Trina Michaels fan 10332 Posts 10/02	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 12:46PM Personally I can't watch movies directed by women, it's a whole different point of view. [Link]
Kensington Chapp Senior Citizen Mine is the biggest. 610 Posts 7/07	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 2:16PM I think nearly all porn directors suck. Some of them get it right, for brief (probably accidental) moments. [Link]

Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 15 2007 : 3:52PM Ramsey wrote: Personally I can't watch movies directed by women, it's a whole different point of view. Click to expand It IS a different point of view, which is why I like it. When a woman such as Kylie, Francesca, Jewel, or Mason (among others) directs really nasty porn, it's usually nasty in just the right way for me. Also, I don't worry that the girls are not being taken care of properly, especially in connection with the harder-edged scenes. Which isn't to say that many male directors -- such as Jake Malone, Joey Silvera, John Stagliano, Lex Steele, Steve Holmes, and Mark Wood, among others -- don't do all the same things. [Link]
Steve Holmes Senior Member 1235 Posts 12/02	Posted - Nov 16 2007 : 1:30AM kylie ireland wrote: ... A director knows how to get the best performances out of their cast ... Click to expand That is easy for you, Kylie. You just make everybody horney. Kisses Steve Holmes [Link]
studioline Member 303 Posts 8/07	Posted - Nov 16 2007 : 8:49PM MikeSouth wrote: A director's main job is ... to make sure that everyone is doing what they should be doing in order to properly tell the story Click to expand Yes to that! If only everyone were doing what they should be doing, the world would've been a better place. And Al Gore would've been the president. [Link]
BlackSix All-Star Member pornography wasn't sex but fantasies of an impossibly hospitable world 12377 Posts 9/07	Posted - Nov 17 2007 : 3:38AM OT, but I want to big up Kylie as a performer too, when I saw her in John Leslie's movies, wow. It blew my young mind. [Link]
Loraine Senior Member 1559 Posts 3/04	Posted - Nov 17 2007 : 5:10AM Ramsey wrote: Personally I can't watch movies directed by women, it's a whole different point of view. Click to expand Bob too -- I'd like to know more about this as an idea - how is it different, what do you see and hear that makes it different? I've been having all sorts of discussions about this lately and I'd love some hear more. [Link]
Twizted6 Senior Member Good & Evil is merely a matter of perspective, I perfer to call myself... Determined 1229 Posts 7/05	Posted - Nov 17 2007 : 1:50PM I don't believe that the POV is really all that different between men & women when it comes to setting up a scene. For me it's the idea that a woman can be just as twisted as some of the men that is a turn-on for me. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Nov 17 2007 : 2:41PM Loraine, It's hard for me to pin it down, because it's mostly a vibe, an intuitive sense of a difference. The difference, as far as I can capture it, doesn't manifest itself in the nature of the camera work but in matters that flow from directorial functions per se. I think women directors tend to be more concerned with finding out beforehand what the girls like and don't like, what their kinks are and what their limits are. I also think they're relatively more focused on the sexual appetite and performance skills of their performers and relatively less on their surface appearance. Like men (but perhaps more consistently), women directors explore and/or project their own sexuality in their work, and that sexuality is in some ways different from the sexuality of men, although it's by no means less varied, intense, or (as Twisted would say) twisted. In some cases, this exploration/projection is more overt. For instance, among the most striking aspects of Mason's recent movie, "Annette Schwarz is Slutwoman", are the interview segments that are cut in between the sex scenes. Mason elicits some extremely personal and poignant revelations from Annette about the interplay between her emotional life in general and her effort to understand and integrate her (sometimes confusing to her) sexual interests. Although Mason asks the questions and Annette answers them, one gets the feeling that Annette speaks for Mason, too. And that these two women, one in front of the camera and one behind, are collaborating on a very personal project with matters of real seriousness at stake. [Link]
pornologist Member 724 Posts 12/04	Posted - Nov 17 2007 : 2:55PM Names that are missing from the list are: Pinky Shane Ona Zee Buffy Malibu Jill Kelly Nina Hartley Candida Royalle Juliet Anderson Toni English Suzy Randall Lizzy Borden Brandy Alexandre I'm sure that the Girlfriends titles are directed by women. Aurora Snow? Ariana Jollee? Edited by - pornologist on 11/17/2007 3:10:19 PM [Link]
kylie ireland Member Welcome to the darkside....we have cookies. 598 Posts 11/03	Posted - Nov 18 2007 : 4:45PM BlackSix wrote: OT, but I want to big up Kylie as a performer too, when I saw her in John Leslie's movies, wow. It blew my young mind. Click to expand Still OT - but , thank you! I regret never getting to work for John Leslie other than that one scene! I would be some different in that scene now! :) [Link]
BlackSix All-Star Member pornography wasn't sex but fantasies of an impossibly hospitable world 12377 Posts 9/07	Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 2:14AM Just checked iafd and it must have been Voyeur #2 in 1994, it was great stuff if I remember it after all these years! [Link]
William Hyde Member 112 Posts 3/06	Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 6:06AM kylie ireland wrote: Only in porn is the director and cameraman the same thing. In mainstream directors direct and camera is shot by someone else. Click to expand There are several mainstream directors do who do their own camera work [ Steven Soderbergh and Jan de Bont come immediately to mind ]. Directing and shooting a movie are two distinct jobs, but they aren't mutually exclusive. But narrowing this question to women is a bit patronizing. How many "directors" in porn, male or female, really direct? Obviously there are some that have the budget, creativity, and technical proficiency to take charge of a shoot and put their own distinctive stamp on a video. But many more are just glorified PA's with shaky hands and a C-light, making "what if we...?" suggestions from the sidelines. Regardless of who gets the credit on the box cover, the person with the skill and vision to ultimately dictate the look of the final product is the REAL director. [Link]
ma meeshka Iconoclastic Member 3939 Posts 4/06	Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 6:30AM tony c is a woman and she REALLY directs. or does she? [Link]
TonyC Comstock Films 2523 Posts 8/03	Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 11:53AM Bob wrote: Loraine, It's hard for me to pin it down, because it's mostly a vibe, an intuitive sense of a difference. The difference, as far as I can capture it, doesn't manifest itself in the nature of the camera work but in matters that flow from directorial functions per se. I think women directors tend to be more concerned with finding out beforehand what the girls like and don't like, what their kinks are and what their limits are. I also think they're relatively more focused on the sexual appetite and performance skills of their performers and relatively less on their surface appearance. Like men (but perhaps more consistently), women directors explore and/or project their own sexuality in their work, and that sexuality is in some ways different from the sexuality of men, although it's by no means less varied, intense, or (as Twisted would say) twisted. In some cases, this exploration/projection is more overt. For instance, among the most striking aspects of Mason's recent movie, "Annette Schwarz is Slutwoman", are the interview segments that are cut in between the sex scenes. Mason elicits some extremely personal and poignant revelations from Annette about the interplay between her emotional life in general and her effort to understand and integrate her (sometimes confusing to her) sexual interests. Although Mason asks the questions and Annette answers them, one gets the feeling that Annette speaks for Mason, too. And that these two women, one in front of the camera and one behind, are collaborating on a very personal project with matters of real seriousness at stake. Click to expand Emo. [Link]
BustdownGal Member 539 Posts 7/06	Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 3:42PM TonyC is hilarious, son. [Link]
juha Senior Member 2752 Posts 3/05	Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 9:30PM Veronica Hart is in my opinion the greatest female porn director. Her films have a distinctive look. Why doesn't she direct anymore? [Link]
juha Senior Member 2752 Posts 3/05	Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 9:37PM Not many women have an ongoing career as director after they retired from performing. That makes the comsumer skeptical. [Link]