Nearly a year ago, Pandora, D, AJ and I met with a journalist, in a London pub, to talk about ethical porn for an article. After a couple of months, I think we had all assumed that the piece would never be published, and forgot all about it. But it has been published today (you can go check it out here)
I have to admit here that I struggle at times to label my work as ethical, feminist, or queer, even though I know it fits into all of those boxes. So why do I not talk about how the content I make fits into those boxes? Because I never set out to make an ethical, feminist, queer porn site. I simply set out to make porn that I enjoy performing in and watching, with people who also enjoyed performing. And to treat my performers and members well.
Before I even had any idea how I was going to create a website, I knew a few things. That I would never ask my performers to do something they didn’t want to do. That I would collaborate with performers on the scripts for their scenes – get their ideas and give them a chance to explore their desires on camera. That I would treat the people I work with fairly, and look after them on set – I always make sure that performers know they can call a cut at any time, and that they can let me know if something just isn’t working for them, and we can change to do something they would enjoy more.
It never occurred to me to do it any other way.
But I am coming to realise that it is important to be more explicit about these things, because it’s important for people to realise that not all porn is exploitative and degrading.
I strongly believe that porn isn’t inherently a bad thing. That it can be a good thing in many ways, for both performers and consumers. But consumers want to know that what they are viewing isn’t the product of non-consensual abuse or coercion, especially with the sort of extreme movies I am involved in.
I feel like I shouldn’t have to explain that I treat my performers well, pay them fairly, don’t pressure them into doing things they’re not comfortable with, and allow them a safe space to explore their fantasies in front of a camera. But until the porn industry as a whole changes considerably, and the way it’s viewed changes even more, it will be important to make sure that it’s known that there are people out there making ethical porn, and that I am proud to be one of them.