For an industry sorely lacking in market research, there are certainly a lot of unspoken rules in porn: “Don’t have too much storyline,” “don’t get too artsy,” “stick with cliches; they sell!” The drab, insipid list goes on and on.

I’ve come to suspect that these rules are not the result of what audiences have truly asked for — rather, they’re what satiates the lowest common denominator. Or to be fair, perhaps it’s just that the average consumer has resigned his or herself to the fact that when it comes to porn they shouldn’t expect much by way of quality: not technically, not performance-wise, and certainly not from the dialogue.

The funny thing is, it takes just a little imagination and effort to make audiences and critics alike sit up and take notice. Even if they don’t necessarily dig what you’re doing, they applaud your effort to do something a bit more elaborate, slightly more sophisticated. They appreciate the fact that you’re taking it seriously.

Nobody wants to admit that they take porn seriously, or that there’s any point in doing so. Even though almost everyone purchases some form of erotic entertainment, nobody wants to admit that it’s an important part of their lives. It’s almost as if their shame in enjoying erotic materials prohibits them from demanding quality and realism. And I don’t mean “realism” in the sense that the camera work looks inspired by The Blair Witch Project and you can see mic stands hovering in the corner — but quality in performances, writing and overall production.

In the past few months I’ve gone out on a limb and taken a chance that audiences are ready for something different. We’ve shot a classic-style noir film in black and white (only the sex scenes are in color) with an elaborate script and innovative camera work. It’s not “MTV” flashy, it’s not subversive — it’s just a very well written, expertly performed film that showcases some of the best lesbian film talent working today (Samantha Ryan, Annabelle Lee, Mz. Berlin and Satine Phoenix). The dialogue is true to classic noir vernacular, and our performers took the time to fully learn their lines, even though this was not a big budget script. It was pretty much a labor of love — and it shows.

Now, tomorrow I will begin a film called “My Little Minx,” which is (gasp!) a lesbian SILENT FILM starring Aubrey Addams, Nina Hartley, Michelle Lay, Marlie Moore and Sinn Sage. Are audiences ready for this mixture of very old and decidedly new? A true artist wouldn’t hesitate to find out, and in my opinion anyone who strives to make quality porn has to have the courage to try things many people will look at you cockeyed for.

“That will never sell,” they’ll say. “Nobody cares about the writing — they just fast-forward to the sex.”

So be it. Let them fast forward if they choose. But after jerking off four or five times, they might decide they’re curious about the parts they’ve fast-forwarded through. They might decide to watch. And find that far from being what they’ve come to expect, they’re watching something different, unexpected, even… entertaining.

The famous mathematician Erwin Schroedinger said that when we know what to expect we go on “auto-pilot” and stop paying attention. We stop engaging and being aware and in the moment; we don’t expect to be surprised. It’s only when the road suddenly diverts and we’re forced to take a detour that we sit up and take notice. Suddenly we engage, we pay attention, and we feel… ALIVE.

It saddens me that porn has become so predictable and that the expectations of the average consumer are so low, and that so many people are committed to keeping it that way. Every director working in erotic films today should be striving to change that. There is a silent audience out there who craves more, but is too embarrassed to ask for it.
So we shouldn’t wait for them to ask; we should just deliver.

Ignore conventional wisdom, and believe that your audience cares. Believe that they’re smart, that they want to see a film that involved some thought, some effort, something that came from the heart. If we can all do that even part of the time, I’m sure we’ll see this industry elevated to the level it deserves to occupy: a sophisticated, relevant form of adult entertainment, filled with beautiful, fascinating, talented stars.

Editor’s note: Watch Nica Noelle’s Sweetheart Video movies for exactly this.