This Is What It’s Like on an Ethical Porn Set In LA
As we step into a 90s Hustler-style porn house in LA, we immediately notice the huge bathroom with black tiles and floor-to-ceiling windows. Next to the bathroom is a bed surrounded by mirrors. Just outside, a bed next to the pool is set up for alfresco pleasure. We’re here, as the house predicts, to shoot a porn film.
Its 10am on a sunny January day and director Anna Lee and afterglow founder Lilly Sparks are setting up to shoot a new afterglow Original movie. They’ve just arrived at the house and after having to quickly re-organize the whole shoot, they’re seeing the space for the first time.
The original shoot was meant to take place a week earlier during the AVN awards in Las Vegas but unfortunately the shoot was canceled at the last minute. Thankfully, the original crew was heading to LA the following week for the XBIZ awards, so we got to work looking for a new LA location.
While Anna and Lilly walk around the house, Will waits on hand with snacks and drinks for everyone else to arrive. Andy, the camera operator, is the next to arrive before Jessica Ryan, Will’s co-star.
Jessica and Will have filmed together before. Will explains that it was an orgy scene and he had accidentally kicked Jessica in the head… It doesn’t sound like a great start to sexual chemistry but he apologizes again when she arrives and they both share a laugh about it and have a good shoot.
In this ethical porn film, the performers will be playing a couple who engage in foreplay throughout the day to keep the spark alive. Showing that foreplay and sexual chemistry don’t need to be limited to the bedroom, we hope this film will be an inspiration to couples looking to build emotional and physical intimacy in and out of the bedroom.
“This film is meant to showcase a real long term relationship. All relationships have ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still flirt and have great sex – with lots of foreplay!”, Lilly Sparks explains.
Read next: The Ultimate Guide to Porn for Couples
What is ethical porn?
Although ethics vary from person to person, there are a few components that are generally considered to make porn ethical and most of them happen behind the scenes on a porn set.
They are:
- Consent: All actors should be consenting adults and all sexual acts should be consensual. This means that performers do not feel pressured to do things that they do not want to do. Everything should be created with enthusiastic consent from everyone involved and there should be no sense of coercion.
- Safety: Performers’ safety, both physical and emotional, should be prioritized at every stage of production. Everyone should feel safe to speak up if they have any questions or need anything during filming.
- Transparency: The production company should be transparent about how they are making their content, who is involved, and what materials are being used.
- Fair pay & labor conditions: Everyone involved in the production of a porn video should be treated fairly and paid appropriately for their work. Just as with any other industry, porn performers and crew should work under fair working conditions. They should have adequate breaks, access to food and water, and reasonable hours. All crew and performers should be paid fairly for their work.
Overall, ethical porn sets strive to create a safe space for all participants and ensure that everyone feels respected and valued throughout the process.
Read next: The Ultimate Guide to Ethical Porn
On the porn set: Setting the scene
We may be in a stereotypical porn house but that’s not the look we’re going for. The script is set in the average house of a young couple. It should feel warm and inviting, certainly not a glitzy LA porn mansion. Anna and Andy get to work finding parts of the house that we can shoot in that don’t scream Playboy.
Paperwork and consent
Lilly sits down with Jessica and Will to go over paperwork and intake interviews. They go over each performer’s boundaries and yes/no/maybe list of sex acts they will and won’t do. Jessica is allergic to gluten and likes things clean, so she requests Will wash his face and hands after eating and before performing.
They discuss the sex scene again and make sure that everyone understands their roles. Creating an open environment where performers can express their feelings and concerns is key to providing a safer sex environment.
“Porn performers are some of the most talented people at having these consent conversations and navigating things that so many of us in our own lives feel uncomfortable talking about when it comes to sex”, Lilly explains.
Jessica and Will are informed that Lilly is on hand if they have any questions or need any support.
The sex scene
Contrary to what most people would think, shooting the sex scene is usually the shortest part of the day. Today it lasted around two hours and it was the first thing we shot. When everything was set up and the performers were ready we moved into the bedroom to shoot.
Usually, the director will provide specific instructions on how to move and act during the scene, but today it was pretty much unguided. We originally had a mutual masturbation in the script but Will ended up going down on Jessica for a long time. We didn’t want to interrupt them so we rolled with it!
Will is naturally playful and goofy, and there was great chemistry between him and Jessica which made the sex scenes even better.
Aftercare on a porn set
Once the sex scenes were finished, we gave the performers time for aftercare. This is a pre-determined and non-negotiable part of being on a porn set, and is essential for ensuring everyone’s safety and comfort.
Aftercare can be anything that the person needs to reset and feel grounded. It might be alone time, cuddles, physical touch, water, food, or time for a long shower.
Read next: A Day in the Life of an Intimacy Coordinator
Rest of the day
The rest of the day looks much like any other shoot. We break for lunch—poke bowls, gatorade & red bull—and then continue shooting the other scenes of the film.
It’s a wrap at 6pm and it’s safe to say everyone is pretty wiped. We finish up with exit interviews with the performers. These interviews are crucial to give everyone an opportunity to discuss their experiences, and reflect on what went well and what could be improved upon next time.
Read next: The Ultimate Guide to Ethical Porn
60% of women are dissatisfied with their sex life. We’re on a mission to change that.
What if you didn’t have to search to find a body that looks like yours, a sex act that turns you on, or a guided exercise that helps you tell your partner exactly what you’ve been craving?
What if YOUR pleasure came first?