When I first started in the adult film industry there were basically two different types of films being produced — those on 8-millimeter film and those on 35-millimeter film.
For the most part, the 8-millimeter productions tended to be what we’d now term “gonzo” — way before anyone in the industry used that term. They had no script and little or no direction. You simply got in front of the camera and fucked. It was sweet, and simple, and right to the point. I remember shooting several in this category for Michael Carpenter and even a few for Suze Randall, who became much more famous for still photography, as you probably know. I enjoyed performing in these “loops,” but not anywhere near as much as I loved the 35-millimeter feature films.
Next came big-budget, “feature” adult movies. We had scripts. Big ones.
Most scripts were between 90 and 120 pages long with the dialogue comprising most of the pages, where the “coupling” parts simply read as a single line within the script that said, “sex scene.” They very rarely scripted the sex back then. Talented directors would take “real” scripts and simply add the sex that was skipped over in mainstream films. We had large crews, catering, make-up artists, writers, directors, talent and ample budgets. I loved everything about them, and found myself lost in my characters as well as my leading ladies and men. The films were a team effort, and everyone did their part and felt like they were a part of something special.
Sometime during the second year of my career in the adult film industry Betamax and VHS Video popped up on the scene. Everything changed. Budgets were smaller, shooting schedules were cut from weeks to days, and the scripts included much more detail in the fucking department rather than the “meat department” or story line. There was more sex and fewer story lines.
It sure has changed and not for the better. Used to be if you wanted to watch an anal scene, you had to search the video store for it. Couldn’t really go online and even search to find out what movies had anal. Had to read descriptions, reviews etc. There weren’t that many. Now it’s more like search if you DON’T want anal in the movie.
I worry about the girls doing the movies these days. They pretty much have to do the kinkier stuff if they’re going to work. And anal is the least of it. DP is almost the norm now. And double and even triple in one hole. They claim it doesn’t hurt, how much of that is numbing lubes, drugs etc. And no pain doesn’t mean they’re not getting injured. And the pain may just come later.
Glad you did a post on this Ginger, I know we’ve discussed some of this in the past.
I started at the tail end of film,but even the video shoots were bigger at first.Working for Wester Visuals we shot at a house in the redwoods of Northern California with catering ,scripts,and costumes.The pay was good..Then everything got cheaper.They would ask,”Hey Randy,we need you to 5 scenes,all anal with Hatian,heroin addict hookers and can you bring a Conquistador outfit”?