Anything can be done well or poorly, and porn is no exception. Just as it takes time and practice to become a good lover in real life, the same is true for performing well in adult films. And, again as in real life, what turns on one person can be anathema to another. But there are certain rules that seem to apply, regardless of personal taste.
The first rule of being a good adult performer is to be “into” the scene, involved with your partner and passionate about the encounter. This means keeping connected to your costar, both physically and — for lack of a better term — “emotionally.” Eye contact, constant touching, increased breathing, gazing at each other lovingly; all of these things are fundamental. Let your arms go limp at your side for a moment while she’s kissing you, and you’ve just communicated a lack of enthusiasm to your entire audience. After all, you’re supposed to be in the throes of passion and you have to convey that with your body, your eyes, and your attitude in every frame of the film. It’s not as elementary as some might think.
At the same time, you have to be aware of the fact that you are, at bottom, performing for the benefit of others. Being aware of where the camera is, approaching your costar from an angle at which the camera can get a good view of the action, and choosing positions that are possible to shoot well are important things to remember. But we obviously don’t consider those issues in our real life sexual encounters, so it takes some adjusting to get used to it. Some performers master these new requirements quickly while others never really do.
Recently, I had the experience of breaking in a “newbie” who had never before performed in front of a camera. She’d been a stripper years ago, but that was the extent of her involvement in the adult industry. But she identified as bisexual, and she was curious to see if lesbian porn would be a fit for her. We scheduled the scene to be shot at her home and in her own bed, so that she’d feel as comfortable as possible.
What amazed me was what a natural she was, both as an actress and as a sex performer. Her reactions were authentic (her nervousness worked well with the storyline we used), and her sexual responses were entirely believable. Did she really orgasm? I don’t know, and I didn’t ask. But if she didn’t, she’s one hell of a faker. I was definitely impressed, but it also got me wondering – why does this come so easily to some of us, and not to others? For instance, as much as I love sex, and as enthusiastic as I was about becoming a performer, it took me much longer to get comfortable with all of the many things I have to be aware of during a shoot. Whereas this new girl seemed to master it right away.
People assume that porn is a job anyone can do, and that it takes no special talent or skill level. But nothing could be further from the truth. The saying “the camera doesn’t lie” definitely applies in this area of entertainment — possibly more than in any other. At Girlfriends Films we edit very little of the actual sex scenes, so it’s important that the girls truly enjoy each other and what they’re doing. If they don’t, it will not only show in the finished product, but it will be exaggerated to the 10th power. There’s really no escaping what the camera sees, and it’s hard to “fake the funk.”
It occurs to me that what makes a good sex performer is probably very much like what makes a good lover in real life. Attention to your partner, passion, intimacy, and enthusiasm can make up for what may be lacking in other areas. But above all, the most important quality may be simple sincerity. We know which performers bring truth to their scenes, which performers are truly gifted at what they do. To watch Stephanie Swift in just about anything is to be struck by her quality of realness and authenticity. Some people emanate that, and it may always be something of a mystery as to why it’s so strong in some and not in others.
As with any expression of performance that dares to call itself “art,” (as I believe porn should be entitled to do), there is also in the best works, an element of grace. A great sex scene should play like a beautifully choreographed dance, with the performers blending into each other, their bodies in harmony. It”s hard to say what makes that happen, because our understanding of such things is still fairly limited. But for now, we’ll file it away under the heading of “magic,” and continue to strive for it in all of our films.
Much love,
Sydni Ellis
Director, Writer & Performer
Girlfriends Films
sydniellisxxx@aol.com
GirlfriendsFilms.com
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