behind the scenes of an ethical porn set
If you haven’t already heard, afterglow is an ethical porn company that makes films by and for women. And while we can throw around the term “ethical porn,” we get a lot of questions about what that actually looks like in practice. In short, the main principles we follow when filming include highlighting the pleasure of all performers, avoiding harmful tropes or fetishes, maintaining ethical production standards, and prioritizing the comfort of everyone involved.
But what does this really mean on set? To answer that, we’re turning to the actors and production team. Below, we’ve highlighted some experiences from workers and performers featured in afterglow films. Let’s see what we can learn about what makes an ethical porn set from those who know it best—the stars and crew.
Wild Card
We spoke with Tess Joseph, co-founder of Squirm and co-host of the Porn Nerds podcast, about her experience on the post-production and events coordination team of Wild Card. Tess explained that despite not being on set with the actors, ethical film practices were prioritized throughout every step of the film’s production. She stated, “there is a strong focus on taking tare of cute performers in every phase. From the conception of the film and thinking about how it’s going to be cast, informed consent is involved every step of the way.”
Tess also underscored the importance of what we can learn from watching ethical porn and encouraging ethical practices. She explained, “everytime I have the opportunity to be part of something like this, I better understand the barriers that sex workers face when trying to access things like healthcare and bank accounts due to the stigma around the industry. There is constantly something to know and understand.” Tess’s words remind us to be critical viewers of porn, not just passive consumers. Choosing ethical porn means supporting sex workers, challenging stigma, and promoting fair treatment behind the scenes.
Sex With Friends
In a behind-the-scenes interview with the stars of Sex With Friends, we get a glimpse of how much the right production company can make a difference in creating a comfortable, professional tone on set. Lucia Fernandez shares, “I’ve never worked on a porn set as friendly and professional as JoyBear,” while Emilio Ardana says, “I’m so happy and comfortable with this crew. It’s just amazing on a JoyBear set.”
The BTS footage shows the actors receiving welcome gifts and the genuine, friendly connections between the cast and crew. This goes to show how production companies that prioritize ethical practices help actors feel more relaxed, which leads to more authentic pleasure on screen. And honestly, that makes for way better porn. Can you tell when an actor is really comfortable in a scene?
Read My Lips
Liz Rainbow and Sam Bourne shared their experiences on the set of Read My Lips, a series that shows different sexual encounters between people who stay in one house, exploring the silence that fills the room during sex. Liz and Sam shed light on the importance of communication through body language while filming.
Liz recounted a scene when Sam gave her a sexy massage. Liz described how much she enjoyed the experience, feeling genuinely turned on by the connection they shared through eye contact. She explained, “we were connecting and looking at each other… for me, with your partner or with people you have sex with, it’s important to communicate. You can have security words or say what you like, but sometimes we don’t communicate with words so it’s important with body language to communicate with your partner.”
When filming porn, communication is vital. However, while filming a scene, it can be difficult to communicate verbally. Like Liz states, this is where body language comes into play to figure out whether your partner is enjoying the scene or what they want more of. The next time you watch porn, see if you can read into the body language between two actors. What seems natural? What seems staged?
No Translation
We had the chance to sit down with Roxanna, star of the award-winning film No Translation, an Afterglow production that celebrates T-for-T pleasure and sexuality. In her BTS interview, Roxanna shared how grateful she is to have chosen an ethical production like No Translation as her first film set. She explains, “Porn that I’ve seen in the past has been more directed towards men, performative, and perfect in a way that makes sex not look genuine. We can just be us and empower each other as trans people during sex. That is something I enjoy in my real life sexual experience.”
Roxanna’s interview highlights how the cis male gaze dominates mainstream porn, and how ethical sets that prioritize showcasing different sexual experiences and identities can be so empowering. Roxanna also tells the crew, “You all make me feel very comfortable,” showing just how crucial it is to create space for the real experiences of porn actors. Ethical porn is about respecting their identities and letting them express themselves naturally, rather than forcing them to perform for a specific audience or in a way that’s inauthentic.
Lip Service
Oliver Davis and Avery Black, a real-life couple at the time of filming Lip Service, sat down with afterglow after their shoot to talk about their experience working with an ethical film company. Oliver shared, “It’s probably the most professional set I’ve ever been on. And the best meal on set. It was an actual meal.” Avery agreed, adding, “It’s the most polite and clean set I’ve ever been on. I didn’t have a handful of pretzels.”
This continues a common theme in interviews with stars, where they emphasize how much they appreciate being treated with respect, professionalism, and having their basic needs—like meals—met. While it’s great to see production companies like afterglow prioritize these conditions, it also highlights how many companies fail to meet these basic standards. This underscores the importance of watching porn made by ethical film companies to support the fair treatment of workers on set.