Sage advice from Stoya, James Deen, Nina Hartley, and more.
APAC, the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, is a new porn rights group created to maintain and improve the safety of working in the porn industry. If you have any interest in entering (ha!) the field, there are a few things you need to know. First, porn isn't all depraved orgies, Dirk Digglers, bouncing breast implants, hardcore bondage scenarios, or overwrought repair men coming to fix your broken dishwasher. Because as much as we want to glorify, mythologize, or put adult film stars on a pedestal, what they do, at the end of the day, is very much work. As James Deen once aptly put it to me, it's not just sex; "it's stunt sex."
The cornerstone of APAC's mission is educating, whether it's passing down knowledge to fellow porn stars or their gawking, tissue-grabbing audience at large. The group developed in the wake of a controversial year in the adult film world, where required condom laws have relocated the industry to Las Vegas and three performers were tragically diagnosed as HIV positive. The APAC looks to give performers their own necessary voice in the serious politics at hand.
In order to foster those warm and fuzzy feelings of solidarity, Stoya, James Deen, and other charming members of the APAC have just released their first tutorial video about the reality of being a porn star. As it turns out, it's a whole lot more taxes and genital hygiene than it is facials and gang bangs. Here's a few things we learned from our favorite adult film stars in Porn 101.
1. "When you make the decision to have sex on camera, it will last forever."- Nina Hartley
The internet lasts forever. Name a medium, and a naked video of you having sex can end up on it. As the adult stars of Porn 101 note, the decision to make porn will follow you around for the rest of your life. Your parents will know, friends will know, even old classmates will eventually hear about it regardless if you've chosen a stage name. Yes, it does affect your personal relationships and future partners. Not to mention, potential future employers will most likely be aware of your past in porn. It's important to know before going into porn that even one photo or one video can have huge repercussions.
2. "Stardom is not guaranteed, neither is steady work."- Chanel Preston
Because being an adult film star is actually freelance work, porn is a drought-or-flood career. Meaning, you could work most days or not at all on some weeks. Just like you, porn stars could look to their fridge some days and sigh that they too are out of the expensive gouda. So they need to be prepared that their career could have as many ups and downs as their scenes. Kelly Shibari suggests having a savings account of up to three months of living expenses to fall back on in case you get sick or injured. 10 out of 10 porn stars agree: you should not fuck someone with the flu.
3. "The sex you have no longer affects just you and your partners. It now affects the lives of every single performer and person working in the industry." -Stoya
Only in porn could one little case of the clap change a whole business. In the industry, there is a frequent testing protocol for STIs. They even check your IDs at the clinic and on set. That means write down the names of your partners and date that stuff! As Stoya cutely notes, your butthole counts as genitals, too. Think of your genitals as tools of the trade. You need your tools sharp and sparkly.
4. "Look at the bodies of the people you're performing a sex scene with. If something doesn't look or smell right, reconsider continuing the scene."-Kimberly Kane
As performers, everyone has something called a "No List." You can object to doing a scene with someone or doing a particular sex act just because it's out of your comfort zone. Sure, you might have a contract with a producer, but you can always change the terms of that agreement. If someone's conduct (or major body odor) is unacceptable, it's probably best not to get intimate with them. A mint and a pube trim could go a long way.
5. "Make sure you are comfortable with the rate you you are being paid. If you think it's too low, it's probably too low."- James Deen
Porn is a job. You need to think about taxes, the IRS, and agent cuts. Some porn stars boast six figures, while some do not. Your rate is based upon how much experience you have, but being a virgin to the industry also has its value. Different sex acts cost different amounts. Double fisting? You bet you'll have a thicker check.