New York State of Arousal
Everyone knows the porn universe begins and ends at either end of the Ventura Freeway that spans L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. Here in New York, the question isn't how much porn is made here, but rather, is there a porn scene at all? I was asking myself that question the other night when I attended a party for the release of a new adult film entitled "House of Ass." (What? You were expecting "A Long Day's Journey Into Night"?) A porn film release party in New York? I thought. This I have to see.
The party was hosted by sexologist Tristan Taormino, a fellow sex columnist for the Voice, who also happened to direct said porn flick. When I spotted Tristan, wearing an apricot sheen dress that exposed a bit of cleavage, I started having a fantasy of re-enacting James Caan's opening scene in "The Godfather." Instead, I asked her if there was any difference between New York porn and L.A. porn.
"It is different," she said. "The people are different, the whole look, because it's not that suburban, sunshine, we're-in-Sherman-Oaks look. It's a different aesthetic, a different energy." This from a woman who writes entire books on anal sex-and whose film was entirely shot in L.A.
Searching for that different energy, I made my way toward Justine Joli. She's a redheaded adult actress in Tristan's new flick. There were print shots of the film flashing on numerous screens around the bar, a few of which were with Justine.
"That's me getting a condom," she offhandedly said as she pointed at one of the screens. I nodded, looking at the screen and back to her, as though she'd just pointed out a basic algebra equation. After a moment, I inquired about the New York porn scene. She said, "I don't know the New York porn scene that well. I really don't know anyone out here." I wanted to defend my great city against L.A. porn snobbery but then, it's not like NY porn is paying me to do its p.r.
Actually, a handful of companies here are indeed producing porn. There is a guy named Joe Gallant, who is fast-becoming a legend with his company, Black Mirror Productions. Joe makes some seriously nasty porn. I've seen it and shut it off, and that's saying something. There's Comstock Films, which is hardcore, but somewhat soft as well, since they take couples that are already together. Then there's Gotham Gold, a hardcore fetish company. There's Stella Films, Rick Savage and RedLight TV. There's also Phillip Butts's Strap-On NY. (Need I say more about that one?) I'm told there's a burgeoning gay porn scene too, companies such as Lucas Films. I'm having my assistant research that.
"I see," I said.
He continued, "Tonight, we're going to get New York porn. Tristan is a New York porn experience."
"What is New York porn?" I asked.
"'Alt Porn,'" Porno Jim said. "The New York porn is what people can ID with, they don't have fake breasts, they have tattoos. It's the best."
I agreed for a moment. I could see myself in a New York Alt Porn shoot. I was a regular guy. The girl I would be with wouldn't have fake breasts. We'd both have tattoos. It'd be somewhat seedy. There'd be no makeup. Yes, I thought. Alt Porn.
Audacia Ray was introduced to me by Libby from PHE, Inc, an affiliate of Adam & Eve, a studio. Audacia is such a great name that I wanted to sleep with her no matter what. I also wanted to sleep with Libby, who wore grandma glasses and had large breasts and was friendly and informative the whole evening. And she smiled a lot.
Anyway, Audacia is from Spread magazine. "It does exist," Audacia said about New York porn. "In a lot of ways, there's been an evolution in it. There's always been porn in New York. The advantage of shooting here is that you have a living set."
I wasn't sure what she meant by that, but I liked hearing it. I liked her too. She was nerdy looking but I liked her. She has a site with lots of pics of her pulling her shirt down to expose her nipples.
At around 10 o'clock I managed to hunt down Joanna Angel, who was then sitting near the front of the stage watching a large blonde named Brigitte straddle a microphone. Joanna is the star of "House of Ass." She is currently holding the title of Queen of Brooklyn Porn, heralded by her company, Burning Angel.
She led me into the Green Room (really a lounge behind the stage). I had seen her do her thing and she looked more petite-and worn down-than I expected. I wondered if we'd get it going. She did mash against me. But she seemed worn down-not in an I-just-got-fucked sort of way, but in a way that told me she needed a nap, some fruit loops, and some quality time on the couch. I wanted to give her a big fat hug. Don't kid yourself: Porn acting is hard work.
The secret: It's more real here
"I don't know much about the New York porn scene," she said, sipping on a kamikaze. "Burning Angel is such a big thing. There are a lot of people who work for us and support us, that's what I'm submerged in all the time."
"What's the different between New York and L.A. porn?"
"I think the place makes the people different. The real difference is that in L.A. it's an industry."
"Well you've worked out there."
"Yes. But they do it as a manufactured product out there. I have a lot of respect for the directors in L.A. But I want to shoot here. I want to always shoot in New York, whether I want to stay in New York. I'm not sure. I will always shoot porn in New York. I don't want to do porn the way L.A. does porn."
"Are there enough people here to shoot?"
"There is no talent pool here. You need to find people who don't do porn. It's a lot different than calling an adult modeling agency. It's like a phone book. They might be flaky, but they'll show up and do it like a job. And to bring someone into this world and try to walk them through it is really difficult. But I like it because it makes the product more authentic and beautiful and unpredictable."
Thinking of L.A. and all those hardbodies and fake tits, I felt suddenly chauvinistic toward my hometown. I wanted to fight for New York porn. I offered my body for the cause. And staring at Joanna, her tired body lying back on the couch waiting for a second-wind, breathing slow, her dark brown eyes looking downcast, her face drawn, pale-I saw New York porn in all its beauty, in all its reality. It didn't need any tans or makeup, any beachfronts or golden hills.
No. New York porn is as palpable and real as a young, tattooed Brooklyn girl.