Bad Porn

[sweetnpetite]

I had an ephiphany today that what makes most bad porn (and erotica as well) bad is that there are too many close-ups. All the focus is on the in and out of the body parts and the moaning and grunting (unh! unh!) and the release. Close ups are good- but they need to be used judisiously rather than over-used. You have to back up too, and give a sence of place and story. Porn doesn't need a plot- but it needs a story. (Who are these people and why are they fucking?) Whithout some story element, all you have is too poeple who are paid to make a movie about fucking- they are doing there job rather than overcome by lust or passion or need or anything.

I think it's the same with stories. When I look at my own stories, I see some with too much close up, and I see that the story that was selected for the anthology (Faded Rose) isn't all close-up, it has more 'big picture' moments. It's not about 'in and out- in and out.'

Well, that's my oppinion anyway. I think it holds true for movies, pictures and stories. (I don't favor those close up body parts pictures eather that seperate the sex organs from the rest of the person except the Earls famous pic because sexyness is in the person, not the body parts. (However, they can still be sexy without showing the person's face, although I do prefere)

Feel free to agree or dissagree or comment or say, "Duh, we knew that all along" or whatever I'm impressed with my own cleverness- but I know that won't last long

 

[davidwatts]

Agreed

Way way too close much of the time, which makes it all look clinical and detached. The main reason I've given up on porn is that I can't stand the way the women look. They're all interchangable barbie dolls, with absurdly silconed boobs and goofy looking vertical Hitler moustaches for pubes. I much prefer looking at ordinary people that look human (translation: someone that you would actually want to be with) or in lieu of that, vintage porn with Kay Parker, Honey Wilder and good old Aunt Peg.

Then again, I'm a grouchy old fart.

 

[Lovepotion69]

sweetnpetite,
I totally agree with you. I have personally never been that fond of close-ups. First of all they kinda freak me out at times (the angles!) and after a while they get boooring.

Call me a stereotypical girl, but I want my porn movies to have a bit of a plot. I don't get turned on by a guy just entering the room and within seconds humps the girl. I would get turned on if I knew who he is, why he's there, who she is, and what leads them to start humping.

I also am not fond of too many close-ups as I'd like to see the two going at it. A few close-ups is fine, but I enjoy seeing the full image.

Another couple of things that makes me find porn movies dull to watch is the actors/actresses aren't attractive (in my opinion). The girls are usually more attractive (duh!), but the men are very often awful looking. Or maybe they're just not my type...

The last thing is that the artistic side of me also wants aestatically pleasing scenes and colours. I want a mix between a softcore and a hardcore porn. That'd be perfect.

Now, when it comes to stories I'm actually a bit different. I still want a storyline, but not necessarily a good one. With stories I can easier accept suddenly being in the beginning of the sex scene than I can with movies. Weird, eh?

My $0.02 worth.

 

[wishfulthinking]

One of my secret secret wishes is to direct a porn movie for women.

 

[AppleBiter]

You know, I have to say it really just depends on my mood.

 

[Lovepotion69]

One of my secret secret wishes is to direct a porn movie for women.

Yep, same here. Would be quite interesting.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I agree with Sweet. Constant close-ups are really a rather repetitive motion. Once it's divorced from all context, you might as well be watching a piston engine. It is, quite frankly, dull. I don't think that good porn needs a complicated plot, but I do think that it needs human beings and not just bodiless genitalia.

 

[kendo1]

The sheer joy of mechanical excellence in motion.
Pistons moving up and down, lube, greased nipples, O rings.
Bliss!

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Man, I've been talking about focus and close-ups in fiction for years now! But it's not just restricted to sex shots. It's one of the basic devices of fiction as well. Story as cinema.

"Telling" in a story is the same as a very long shot in a flick, and close-ups in fiction are produced by the amount of detail provided. the more detail, the tighter the focus, and the more important we think the scene is.

A lot of stories are a combination of long shot (telling us what happend; backstory and set-up) and close-up (the screwing starts). The medium shot is where you get to see your characters and how the work, just like in the movies.

A story should be a combination of long, medium, and close-up shots. You've got to vary the focus. It's your way of syaing what's important and what's not.

 

[Guest]

My favorite porn movie was called "Hot Gun" a remake of "Top Gun" the main character being a woman fighter pilot who works her way up the ranks, men and women falling like burning hulks of junk into the sea after she is done with them. They didn't mind at all........LOL!

I loved that movie!

Jmt

 

[Softouch911]

And here I always thought I was strange because I prefer my porn with plot, character, character development, verisimilitude, theme ....

Shucks, now I have to find another reason to think I'm strange.

Making porn flicks must be harder than it looks (no pun, honest). I have a couple here by women and they're just as bad, just substitute some schmaltz for the rough stuff.

 

[Lovepotion69]

The best porn I've ever seen was an Italian soft porn. Can't remember the name (which sucks as I'd like to have it), but the actors/actresses were very attractive, the colours kinda dreamy and the scenes very aestethically pleasing. Think the scenery was at a farm in rural Italy. Even the music was nice. It did have a plot, but I can't remember it. Something about robbers travelling the countryside or something like that.

I still remember the scene when the farmer boy seduces the girl in a barn and they have slow sensual sex there. Sigh, I wish I hadn't recorded over that movie!

 

[sweetnpetite]

I agree with Sweet. Constant close-ups are really a rather repetitive motion. Once it's divorced from all context, you might as well be watching a piston engine. It is, quite frankly, dull. I don't think that good porn needs a complicated plot, but I do think that it needs human beings and not just bodiless genitalia.

exactly.

 

[tolyk]

exactly.

There are times when close-ups and graphic scenes can be appreciated, but I mostly agree. People like to see the big picture, not just the penetration

(One of the times a closeup could be appreciated is that picture in your profile... get a zoom lens and try again )

 

[sweetnpetite]

A story should be a combination of long, medium, and close-up shots. You've got to vary the focus. It's your way of syaing what's important and what's not.

That too.

Sometimes someone else can say it a bit clearer than I. Thanks doc

 

[Songcatcher]

Hah!!!