Reviewers Recommend So Extra - review by Sean DPS Director: Mike Quasar Starring: Tommy Pistol, Ryan Keely, Seth Gamble, Isiah Maxwell, Robby Apples, Kay Lovely, Melissa Stratton, Chanel Camryn. Read review
Some say 'Make love, not war'.....I say you can do both, if you budget your time 578 Posts 9/04
Posted - Jan 17 2005 : 11:10PM
Hi, guys.....I’ve been writing film reviews for a couple years. Recently, I’ve begun querying online adult sites, looking to sell my adult reviews However, most of those responding offer nothing more than a free DVD in return for my work. The last thing I need is more junk to clutter my home office. So, I’m holding out for actual legal tender...i.e.....CASH!
What would be a reasonable fee to ask for? Surely, I can’t squeeze someone for a three-figure fee for a two-page review. But what could I realistically request? Is $50 too high? Could $25 be too low?
At least for AdultDVDTalk.com, the reasonable review fee is $0.00.
That's what I get, and I'm in line with my peers in terms of renumeration. Admittedly, I consider my writing skills to be undistinguished at best.
Of course, if you write really, really good reviews, maybe you can ask for more, but if you were really that good, perhaps you'd be getting paid to write mainstream movie reviews for a newspaper or magazine.
Examples of your writing may be helpful in soliciting comments from others about the dollar value of your movie reviews. Feel free to post a link to sample writing.
Best of luck. I'd shoot for the free DVDs, because, really, there's no market for your reviews.
If sites like ADT, IAFD, CAVR, WCA, etc. are full of free reviews, who is going to pay you for yours? Do you have some sort of following we're not aware of that would make your reviews "moneyworthy?"
If you want to earn money writing reviews, start a website, post your reviews and try to earn some affiliate bucks or subscription charges.
But if you're hoping to write for a magazine AVN, Hustler, etc. you better have some writing samples to show them.
If you're looking to be solely online, your best bet would be some sort of deal with a retailer, tho more and more of them are taking Amazon's lead and letting their visitors write their own reviews -- so we're back to the question as to why we should buy your cow when there're farmers giving away gallons of milk on every corner?
Best of luck turning your hobby into a paying gig.
But think of it this way, if it is a sideline, you get to deduct any DVDs you buy as a business expense for a few years until the IRS determines your "job" is just a "hobby."
Stay strong!Could $25 be too high? Most websites work on donated reviews, and some of us get screeners now and then. To "walk in" unproven asking for money when people all over are doing it "for the love of the game" only makes you look bad. There's a few places that have paid reviewers, and every one of them I know of is either a store or magazine. There you might have a chance. Otherwise be prepared to be told not to let the door hit you in the butt on your way out.
"Vegetarianism for me is about saying ‘yes’ to things - even meat." - Coupling
[Link]
DenverDon Benevolent
Firmly Embedded in Depravity 5914 Posts 7/02
Posted - Jan 18 2005 : 9:31AM
One 'problem', if you want to call it that, with paid reviews is are we getting an honest review? Or is it a glowing review because they were paid.
If you find a site/store/magazine that will pay you $50 a review, let me know because I want to sign up! I don't even think AVN pays their writers THAT much! Most places I know give you the movie in exhange for the review...if you're looking to make a living off your reviews - start your own site and start selling advertising!
it's too bad there's no market for reviews. because sometimes, donated reviews are like donated sperm. Like when you read this: "...then they screwed in a couple positions." Uhhhhmmmm, thanks. And I love how this is sometimes followed by a detailed description of what she did with his cum. For that, you get a very intricate play by play analysis.
Some say 'Make love, not war'.....I say you can do both, if you budget your time 578 Posts 9/04
Posted - Jan 18 2005 : 1:07PM
My sentiments exactly. You'd think that retailers/producers of these films would LEAP at the chance for a well-written assessment of their products. Surely, you can find a few grammatically-challenged goobers who'll donate a sloppy customer review for free. But why not offer SOME compensation for a review that's actually well-written?
I don't know. I've read plenty of pretty well-written reviews on this site alone, to say nothing of Rog's body of work on his own site, or the sheer volume of comprehensive information on CAVR, and as far as I know, the only compensation they get for their efforts is advertising based on the traffic of their respective sites. Granted finding outstanding porn reviews in a "free" capacity is a bit of a crap-shoot, but the people who do it, who DO write well, and are doing it for no compensation other than perhaps an occasional movie they can keep, I imagine, make it quite difficult for someone to charge for what is essentially the same thing.
One thing's for sure. Everyone is looking for something a little different when it comes to porn reviews. From a consumer's point of view, the key to getting what you need from porn reviews is to read as many different opinions you can on a single movie. I don't believe that any one comprehensive source, whether paid or not, can offer you the depth of insight that multiple, unbiased, free reviews can, no matter how well-written.
OK, well, Playboy pays me $75 for a 125-word CD review that runs on their website. Stereophile pays me $75 for a 300-word review that runs in the reviews section; $300 if it's 900 words.
But really you just don't get loads of cash for reviewing much of anything, unless it's for a major publication or you're on the staff. Porn? Forget it. If you're realoly ambitious, why not start and promote your own website? Works for Rog. At the very least, you won't have to pay for any porn anymore and you get to interview all the cuties.
Porno movies, sexy videos, xxx. Adult DVD Talk at your service. 6409 Posts 11/99
Posted - Jan 18 2005 : 4:08PM
There are tons of excellent, entertaining writers reviewing porn because it's fun. I love the variety we get here. Moreover, there are plenty of professional writers (one adt reviewer that I know of has a PhD in writing) who review porn for fun.
Have you actually read many of the reviews that are free on the likes od ADT or rame.net?
While there are certainly a lot that are pretty much what you described, there is also an abundance of very well-written reviews out there as well.
Sometimes, it's a matter of getting to know the reviewers you like or can respect, while ignoring the ones who have a style you dislike for some reason or another (lack of detail, lack of diction, endless fawning to the performers, whatever).
But there are certainly a lot of quality reviews around for free.
scipio
[Link]
nietzsche Deactivated User
5470 Posts 8/03
Posted - Jan 18 2005 : 8:05PM
I think she means either a PhD in English or a Masters of Fine Arts.
I've actually been wanting to submit some reviews (free of charge, of course, because I love porn and I enjoy writing) here at ADT, but my main problem is that it usually takes me waaaayyy too long to get through one entire DVD. I watch mainly gonzo, and don't think I have ever gotten through two or three complete scenes in one sitting.
A few times I have begun with the best of intentions, pen and pad in hand, but I indubitably end up with something else in hand, the pen and pad forgotten and tossed aside like and empty TV dinner tray. I've found that porn is just too distracting for me to actually write an entire review. Maybe someday I will be able to write and post an entire review. In the meantime, kudos to those of you who persevere and do write and post the reviews. As has been stated above (in more than one instance), there are some very well-written and entertaining reviews here at ADT. to all reveiwers here. I aim to emulate you guys! Peace. Wolf
Poor Turkey running for her life with Christmas Hat 3713 Posts 9/01
Posted - Feb 7 2005 : 12:26AM
The trick is to watch porn with your finger on the FF button. Much of gonzo can be seen in FF mode with little loss of information . Just stop at the few crucial moments to follow crucial scenes.
Thanks, Ron. I have and do employ the FF button on my remote, but I figured if I was going to write a review I'd watch the entire movie in order to best convey the overall "feel" of it (if that makes sense). However, at this rate, I may have to resort to the FF button and maybe do "quickie" reviews. Otherwise I may never get around to posting a review! Wolf
Yes, I have thought of that, Scipio, but I generally watch porn for "functional" reasons as opposed to watching it like mainstream movies, for example. (Which I suppose best explains why I am into gonzo and not features). After I "watch" a porn DVD I kind of lose interest for a little while. I think it comes down to the fact that if I want to write some reviews I will just need some self-control, will-power and patience. Peace. Wolf
Some say 'Make love, not war'.....I say you can do both, if you budget your time 578 Posts 9/04
Posted - Feb 7 2005 : 4:15PM
Viewing for a review, for me, is radically different than doing it for 'self-gratification'. When doing a review, I pay close attention to details...the names and backgrounds of the cast their wardrobe, films they appeared in other than this, the camera angles...etc.
I do extensive research on the cast and crew.
I'm very detailed in my reviews, and don't get off on them while reviewing.
I sometimes push as far as masturbating before turning on my laptop. This way I'm as objective as possible. I've NEVER written a review in one draft though. Usually 4 or 5 sessions, never more than 3 scene breakdowns at a time. That's why I don't submit a lot. A review can take more than 2 weeks.
I review one scene at a time. Somtimes I'll write the intro before I watch the movie, sometimes after, sometimes during. In any case, I watch the scene (and if I get off, so be it). After that, I'll (clean up and) write about the scene I just watched. Then, I'll (take a break and) watch the next scene, etc.
Once I've gone through all the scenes (which can take days, or hours, depending on how "good" the disc is), I'll go back, sans hardon, and tie everything together, write a conclusion and go through each scene and try to make sure the review has some flow-through to it, edit a bit, and then submit.
Inevitably I find some boneheaded mistakes after it's posted, then I email poor Steph with a corrected version.
I've never masturbated while watching a DVD for review. Felt like it, sure, but never have. When I write, I'm generally watching the movie for the first time and it's in a small corner of my computer screen playing while I write about in Microsoft Works Word Processor. I bang out all my reviews in one sitting, the very first time I watch the movie. Then when I'm done, it may find its way over to the standalone DVD player in my entertainment center. If not, then it probably didn't get that good of a review.
[Link]
Ejac Deactivated User
851 Posts 9/04
Posted - Feb 7 2005 : 6:20PM
Ditto - this is the exact approach on how I write reviews.
Hey, thanks to all the reviewers for the insight as to how you all go about writing the reviews. Good stuff there. I WILL (eventually) try my hand at some reviews. Wolf
Yes, that is probably much more apropos, but I figure I will have to emulate Crucifixio and forego the one-handed reviewing method if I am to actually get any reviews written. Wolf
Business in the front, party in the back. 117 Posts 7/06
Posted - Jun 10 2007 : 8:18PM
Probably the same place he is at when he wrote the post in 2005. mod: extraneous quote removed - see the Forum Etiquette Edited by - hardware on 6/10/2007 9:37:02 PM
[Link]
AlexPanzer Deactivated User
1593 Posts 6/03
Posted - Jun 10 2007 : 11:52PM
Getting paid for writing reviews is a great idea. Game design companies actually pay game testers to test games, so why shouldnt DVD reviewers get paid as well? I know that money would certainly motivate me. I am working on a DVD review for over a month and still can't finish it, but if someone would pay me then I would be done with it within 2 days.
Getting paid for reviews is overrated. When someone else is paying you, they more or less call the shots. I enjoy the freedom I have not adhering to anyone's strict (and sometimes nonsensical) guidelines. You start making rules and you take away my "voice" and isn't that what makes a writer who they are?
@Crucifixio_Jones: Well said. I've had a couple offers over the years to write for others but I've turned them down to write here instead due to the freedom. I guess I've wrote around 2400 reviews and when I check one of the recent average length reviews it came out at 3300 words. That makes nearly 8 million words without Steph or Drew ever asking me to change one. I'll readily admit that there's probably more than a few that should be changed, but I don't think you'll be able to find a writer out there being paid who's done a quarter as much as that without having an editorial change stuffed down their throat a time or two. Edited by - hardware on 6/11/2007 11:15:26 AM
