so i rejoined after a few months long hiatus after the insanely good deal i haggled them down to per month mysteriously did not renew one month. anyways mainly in anticipation of the upcoming kazumi scene which i assume will happen as she was screen capped on twitter directly asking to work with hard x.
has the xempire bonus content decreased drastically in the last few months? all i am seeing are a few extra channels that have not been updated in months and all i see in the video feed are hard x \dark x \ directly related x network updates which some have gaps of 10 days. do i not have the bonus content enabled correctly perhaps and its not showing up? i was getting nearly one update per day wheter it was hardx network or stuff like dfextra and wicked. now i no longer see those anywhere.
^ I haven't been a member for several months now, but if you look back starting around December 2025 you'll see several posts commenting on the same issues. I rejoined after probably eight months and was surprised at how few updates there were in that time. There were comments (from me included) saying that HardX was really the flagship and even it wasn't updating much. I'll still rejoin, but it will be an annual thing from now on.
ah ok that makes sense that is right when my subscription did not renew. strange timing as it coincided almost perfectly when they stopped posting bonus updates of any kind but that explains it.
i have the entire catalogue of hard x scenes which was my initial goal of joining a few years back so i am satisfied and will just join sporadic to catch up from here on out. seeing kazumi request to shoot for them was so unexpected and pleasant for me i did an impulse sub this time lol.
^ Over the past few years I've been trying to curb impulse memberships. I'm mostly successful. I keep a Word document of current and past subscriptions where I make notes for future reference. X Empire has a note telling future me that updates aren't frequent now so joining once per year is enough. I'm a bit surprised that I've curtailed impulse buying as much as I have. I'm not an impulse buyer with anything else, but porn memberships are my weakness.
I have been looking for a site to join as some of my current subscriptions are ending in the near future. One option was XEmpire, I had a subscription years ago, and like their stuff, HardX being my favorite, but it looked to me that their updates are quite infrequent and was wondering if it has always been like that. Although price would be quite fine, I didn't subscribe, and keep on looking...
^^^I'd love to see Zoey Uso experience that magical breakthrough moment, the same way rookie stars like Remy LaCroix, Mia Malkova, and Keisha Grey had their unforgettable first showcas.
^ Think she needs to take the plunge with an anal scene to achieve that and we know she's up for that. Mason would be ideal for that first anal scene as she has been with so many others through her career!
Mason - "Some of the best sex I have witnessed/captured in YEARS. She's THAT amazing. Keep killing it Zoey!" "She really is the next big thing. I was blown away by what I witnessed. Was a total throwback to 2010."
Mason's glowing praise for Zoey Uso is seriously next-level.
"Studio stuff is better at all levels. Quality filming/production/editing plus professional pornstars who get what is needed (well most of them). Not fussed about circus stunt porn just good intense convincing scenes (your speciality!)"
What Have You Done To My Little Cable Boy? 2966 Posts 5/10
Posted - May 20 2026 : 11:42AM
In my opinion, studio porn has lost a lot. Not from a technical standpoint, but in terms of creativity and variety. Mason and Jules Jordan were the gold standard 10 years ago... now it's just the same old generic b/g scene. Now, regardless of the fact that I don't find Zac Wild believable-every other scene features Zac Wild. Every other scene looks exactly the same because the same guy always follows the same routine. Ten years ago, Mason filmed b/g, bb/g, and b/gg scenes with gorgeous girls and a wide range of top male talents. Now it's just standard b/g with Zac Wild.
That's why, as far as I'm concerned, studio porn hasn't been the market leader for a long time now, because it's been reduced to the bare minimum and is just treading water. Studio porn is technically great, but the content has become incredibly boring.
^ When she was shooting for Elegant Angel and all the way up to 2018 with Hard X, it would feature multiple guys in each scene. There was Mick Blue, Manuel, John Strong, Erik Everhard, Bill Bailey, Michael Stefano, James Deen, Ramon Nomar, Mr Pete, Stirling Cooper, Eric John, Mandingo. I know some of these have long retired or are no longer with us, but that was the norm. You only see 3 guys now.
What Have You Done To My Little Cable Boy? 2966 Posts 5/10
Posted - May 20 2026 : 2:17PM
And the diversity of the guys also makes for a wide variety of scenes. Each of the guys has a different style. A Manuel scene looked different from a Mick scene. Everhard had his own vibe. Mark Ashley was a great performer.......now there's basically only Zac Wild. To me, he's the most out-of-place guy in studio porn. That's why studio porn is dead to me, too, since it no longer offers me any variety. Even if there is some variety, it doesn't even come close to what it used to be back then with Lex, Manu, and all the other guys - in terms of quality and appearance.
^Mason doesn't only book Zac Wild... She also books Vince Karter, who's much worse. lol If we're complaining about variety, he always brings his "You wanna cum? CUM" gimmick to every scene, hijacking the girl's time to shine. What's worse to me, though, is that beyond male talent the scenes still look very much the same. Same color schemes, same bedrooms - it's like regardless of girl the scene is gonna look the same. If it looked pretty, it's one thing, like Anna Claire Clouds' "On Fire" scene last year. But it's hardly ever the case.
Star Showcase is one of the most important premium formats in American porn. It functions as both a star-making vehicle and a high-value product. It benefits performers (personal brand growth), studios (stable profits), and fans (focused, high-quality content centered on their favorite star). Even in the age of OnlyFans and user-generated content, professionally produced Star Showcase movies remain prestigious and influential in the traditional adult industry.
^ Only works for me if the Star Showcase is with someone fresh and relatively new to the industry.....not one of those who've already been around for 3/4 + years.
^Even a rising new actress can shine if she already has a loyal fanbase and we build a concept that fully showcases her best qualities! Of course, investing in a top-tier production team and proper budget is non-negotiable. Multiple intense scenes will require serious money for sets, crew, and talent fees.We need powerful, standout performances think First Anal, First DP, and other high-energy moments that fans will remember. But more than anything, the burning desire and real commitment from both the studio and the actress herself is what truly makes it happen. Without that genuine passion, it won't work.So, with all that in mind who do you think we should cast?
^ Here's a few I'd look at....in no particular order: - Asteria Jade - Zoey Oso - Melanie Marie - Gal Ritchie - JoJo Austin
If you're looking for something a bit 'leftfield' try Gabbie Carter. Rumour has it her and hubby have split. Recently did a watersports scene with two male pornstars. Could be up for a return if it was a big project and maybe even do the DP she never did first time around!!
The actresses you recommended appear truly outstanding. They possess the talent to become leading figures in the next generation. While others frequently mention blowbang, facialized, and gangbang scenes, I find myself missing Star Showcase the most. It has already been seven years since the last Star Showcase production was released. Never being able to watch another Star Showcase directed by Mason would, in my opinion, be equivalent to making one of the greatest mistakes in life.
i just watched lady fellatio 2 hardcopy\physical copy i own on dvd last night! logged on and saw you posted in this thread for the first time in ages. i feel like the ritual of watching that dvd summoned you back :D. anyways i understand you dont shoot extreme gonzo like those early dvd\movies but could you involve scenes with multiple men and 1 girl. not every scene but an occasional dp or blowbang would be amazing and really add some variety to the new scenes.
Even though it's not much and you're openly saying how difficult they are to shoot (very expensive), even the tiniest glimmer of hope we may get the return of Facialized (or even just singular Facialized scenes from time to time) has me thrilled that there is even a chance!!! I really, really hope you're able to get to shoot some of those sorts of scenes again, and soon!! I know in the past you've said how much you enjoy them (despite the immense scheduling difficulties, not to mention the finances involved) but those scenes are simply the best, and it's not remotely close. Facialized is sorely, sorely missed!!!! Hoping you're able to bring us its return!!! 🤞🏼
^ TBH....I'd much rather Mason concentrated resources on absolutely banging 1 on 1 scenes (preferably with relatively new talent) than the huge outlay for what is a niche that not all of us are into.
What Have You Done To My Little Cable Boy? 2966 Posts 5/10
Posted - May 25 2026 : 3:38AM
Basically, porn faces the same problem as the movie industry-the DVD/Blu-ray market is dead. Why are all Netflix and Amazon movies so terribly generic? There's no way these movies will generate any revenue over the years. "The Big Lebowski" and "Fight Club" were box office flops, but they became cult classics thanks to the DVD. These days, studios no longer take risks because a movie has to be a hit right away.
The same is likely true for Porn. Financial risks have simply become even riskier. There is no safety net anymore.That's why, in my opinion, there's no more budget for Showcase, and why there aren't any great male talents left.
^ The biggest issue at the moment is the number of great female talents who leave because of too many of the guys in the industry bully and abuse them. The whole industry just seems to turn a blind eye to this. Girls who would have had great mainstream careers go down the OF rabbit-hole rather than stick around and get molested by producers/agents/male talent on ego trips.
^ Some.....but clearly not all. The problem with abuse and exploitation has usually been not with the biggest stars but those coming through behind them who are more easily exploited and pressured by the predatory behaviour of some of the men in the industry. This is clearly not the only issue in the porn industry but is an indication of the lack of proper regulation and values from within. Why would girls put up with this if they can make the same or more elsewhere with less hassle?