The problem with UK porn

[one eyed jack]

Sorry to harp on about that old chestnut again and bearing in mind a recent post trashing UK porn. I have had the chance to peruse some American porn from the Evil Angel camp this afternoon and have to admit, I was humbled by the intensity and sincerity of some of the scenes which had me thinking about Everhards comments. All points aside, made from these various posts, it had me thinking that part of the problem with UK porn rests in the aesthetics of its performances. I'm not talking about resorting to shock tactics like double anal and pissing or anything like that but just the ability to deliver more dynamic performances.

I think a lot of our talent over here should watch a lot more porn to see what they are up against and not assume that because you love sex that makes it visually interesting in itself. Especially girls who only do girl/ girl when they're not even bi-sexual. This has been a huge problem for me. So few girls are actually capable of delivering a blinding scene and think the audience should be just grateful for seeing them naked. I feel its in this department that people considering a career in porn should pull their socks up and give us more scenes we can feel rather than just watch. Just thought I'd share my thoughts while it was still fresh in my head. No doubt I'll bne berated as a traitor and thrown in the stocks, but I feel it had to be said

[marcusallen]

Terry, the only point I'd pick up is the one re "enthusiasm" & natural enjoyment.
I agree entirely that most English girls nowadays consider it a favour that we see them naked - never mind what they are up to.
"commercialism" is a word that spings to mind. However, whilst it is understood that they are naturally looking to earn, they could at least enjoy what they are doing!

It must also be said that some girls get pissed off - and quite rightly so - when they have been assured that a shoot will take x-hours and it stretched to x + 6. I'd get pissed off too.

ALSO, bear in mind that the U.S. is bursting with girls ready willing & able and the competition is fierce, which is one reason why the extremists get away with their perversions.

[one eyed jack]

Very true Marcus, enthusiasm is great but lets face it, performance is paramount because that is what the customer is shelling his money out for.
Sexiness is something you've got or you havent. Just seeing a girl get fucked might please the masses but how its done makes the difference.

Production values I find laughable when people raise this as an excuse for a good video as a hot scene is a hot scene even if it was shot in a dingey alleyway or the back of a car...or a grotty flat for that matter. In some way this adds ambience to the proceedings.

If I have a criticism and its only a little one, you don't get much idea of the personality of the girls other than their on-camera persoanae but lets face it, the product was made for whacking off to and makes no pretence otherwise

I still think performers: Male and female should watch more porn to differentiate what is good and bad and apply this in their own performances. It would set them apart from everyone else and make them more desirable to the viewer. People you are making movies! Act like it.

[Jonboy]

Hi Terry, I have read your post and I agree with a lot of it. I do not think it is just the girls fault, it seems that in Britain and the US, the recruitment of the girls is 'Get them young and then get them to do extreme?, coupled by an attitude of get them fucking and get the DVD out rather than how well the performance can be captured

Now I was looking at one of my favourite scenes the other night, Cassandra Wilde was on a leather swing chair taking on two guys and it is fantastic, Cassandra is also magnificent, when she does the Gang Bang for Rocco, but this is her best scene.

I have considered what makes it so good, and the answers are a huge combination of facts.
1) The room could be anywhere, but it the lights suit the occasion.
2) The props create an interest.
3) Cassandra gives a fantastic performance.
4) The studs are up for it, not just a technical performance, but also an enthusiastic one.
5) Till it begins there is a slight doubt as to whether she will do it or not, and after watching it there is joy in knowing it is happening.
6) The camera is on the move the whole time and the cameraman does know what he is doing, and it has been properly edited

Now I like British Porn but my complaints are.

1) There are to few studs that can perform and, without naming names, one of the major names, does look totally bored with the whole thing, and another looks like a fool who got lucky. The produces should talk to both these guys tell them they don?t look the part, even if they can perform the part, and remedy this, by actively managing the scene rather than just recording it, and then put a bit more care into the final edit, before the public buy it.
2) Models who do the most like Angel Long and Donna Marie are never utilised to the best of there ability, I am always left feeling the scene is to simple for their abilities, as if the Producer has said 'Right then girls, shag these two guys and we will do the rest '
3) Some of the other models I feel have the attitude of 'He's not bad looking and it is ?350.00 for four hours' and then in effect lease out there bodies; they seem to have no enjoyment of passion for it.
4) Tried and tested formula, I know you and Relish are trying to raise the bar, but there is just too much produced where the whole point was to get the cash flow in, before the expenses go out.

Overall Terry I know I sound pretty negative, but British Porn never fails to surprise me and I do appreciate it, there are some great domestic models like Sandie and Faye, and the girls who work internationally like Angel, Ashley, Donna Marie, who never seem to get the scene that shows them to the best of their abilities

[JackHorny]

Aesthetics... I'd agree. The stuff I have performed in to date (the scenes with Persiston excepted) has been pretty one-dimensional... I'd even go so far as to say "Formulaic". It's felt like a case of going through the motions to include the necessary positions etc. etc.

The stuff I did with Persisiton FELT GOOD, FELT RIGHT - because they gave me something to get my teeth into. Short pieces of dialogue for build up and then encouragement to ad-lib the dialogue throughout. Now I'm just making myself available again - and I genuinely think I have learnt a lot both during my time performing but more recently doing the stills etc of late.

I've made a conscious decision that before each scene I shoot I will make a concerted effort to get to know the model/s I'm working with, try to develop a strong rapport BEFORE we go to action and work on certain trains of thought for dialogue between ourselves during the scene.

Although, essentially, guys wanna see the action, I think dialogue led action brings the action to life and brings in the extra dimension....

Comments?

[chef69]

i just had to join this debate and throw in my two cents worth,('yeah,yeah,yeah....get on with it).

as someone who has no real knowledge of the inner workings of the porn world i cant really comment on production values,(whatever that means),or what have you but i do think that jackhorny has a very valid point in which there has to be a certain rapport/chemisry between the actor's for something to look and feel realistic and enjoyable.lets face if they are not enjoying it then how the hell can we,i.e the punters, be expected to jerk off to it.

i also agree with one-eyed that a horny scene is a horny scene no matter whether it is filmed in a beverly hills mansion or a soho alley-way,but i just wonder if it is the directors fault sometimes for killing a scene stone dead.(not you,terry). i have seen some scene's where the actors are totally up for it in the beginning then just when they are getting into it looks as if they are asked to change postion,cut,put this arm over here,cut,make this noise,cut,strech this leg over there etc.then the actors just end up looking bored and wanting to get it over as soon as possible.over direction could be one of these reasons.

for me the best scenes,irrelavant of where they are made,are the ones which just flow,everyone involved know what they are there for and enjoy it.

another quick thought.america is alot bigger than britain,therfore they have alot more 'talent ' to choose from so performers are bound to be...erm, better(???),they also have more money to offer that talent,choice's of location,(if it matter's), etc.the flip side of that is that they will produce alot more crap and they do,honest.stands to reason.so i think it is a bit unfair to compare brit porn with u.s porn.

[Deuce Bigolo]

That girl/girl comment is so patently true which is why after viewing about 50 g/g scenes over the past 4 years from varying producers worldwide I vow,NEVER AGAIN

cheers
B....OZ

[davewells]

Yes Terry, it's exactly what I've been trying to tell everyone for about 20 years.

[one eyed jack]

Deuce: May I convince you to see Belladonnas Evil Pink scene with Cytheria...I echoed the words "Fuckin hell!" with her when Cytheria gushed into her face several times. Now that is a woman who can work women man! I was humbled by that scene. This proves to me you can still have hot girl/ girl scenes.

In fact, it is more difficult directing g/g scenes for reasons too long to go into here.

Jon Boy you are so spot on with your observation it was frightening but a slight amendment to point number 4. You are right to a point but I have pulled back and become a lot more choosy about what I invest my time in to shoot but true because the only reason I was shooting was to keep the cable people in product for their programme schedules. The market believe it or not is constantly changing but I still don't feel with what is coming out here in the UK that I should lose any sleep over for the same reasons outlined in my original post. I'm glad you spotted that. I've stated so many times to people in the industry not to be cynical because the end user (you the buying public) are not stupid. This is why I've never tried to polish an amateur scene and make it look glossy. It is what it is and never the twain shall meet.

As for the two guys you refrained mentioning their names I think we are reading off the same page. It has come to my attention and I am guilty of letting it slip a couple of times but I also recognise it isn't easy on the male performers who also have a duty to make a girl feel good prior to doing the do. Bragging and arrogance as well as being too shy can kill that all important moment between a guy and girl which is probably why I'm always on edge for awhile before doing a shoot with a new girl. It always helps a bit if she particularly fancies the guy. Thankfully the tell tale signs a girl usually likes her co-performer lies in subtle things like kissing or pulling his dick out and sucking it of her own initiative. That's when I warm up and feel I've achieved something special. The coming together (metaphorically speaking) of a man and woman is an epic occasion. Porn should not be excluded from that thought but if a performer has to be professional about it ie cold and calculating then at least they should apply that same thought in their performance. That last statement is levelled more at the girls than the boys who we well know, can't fake orgasms.

I still feel the prformers themselves can learn from the best thats out there and consider why they are the best for whatever reason and apply that to their own modus operandi. For professionalism and initiative though, I rate the europeans very highly. I'm not undermining UK talent though. There is so many new people coming into the mix that most of them just don't get it and are quite happy that a girl gets naked and has sex that they seem to think this alone is okay and are seriously getting in the way of progress by diluting the market with stuff shot with the same combination of people. That's when the spark dies and the whole thing becomes...well, just work.

[one eyed jack]

I must be getting old...I'm turning jaded, cynical...Omigod! I'm Dave Wells!!! No offence Dave. I know where you are coming from. Your a vet whose been around for years. Hell, I remember seeing you on them old Busen Videos when I was at college. Respect where it is due Dave. Just pulling your leg *:-)