What makes a porn actor a star?

[CharleyH]

I can probably better figure out why men (especially Ron Jeremy) are considered pornstars. Male actors are usually stars because of their large penises or the amount of cum they can shoot, and while Ron Jeremy can perform autofellatio, I never really think of that act (or his penis size) as *star* qualities. I think of Ron Jeremy as a star because he is mostly ordinary doing the extraordinary that men like him cannot usually do, which is fuck beautiful women any time and anywhere. In the sex world, he represents the successful man.

I am curious about what makes a female porn actress a star. Everyone knows the name Linda Lovelace. We know it because of the movie (Deep Throat, 1972). She did how many movies ... few? She's a star, though. Jenna Jameson is also a star, but she has performed in over 100 porn flicks. Recently, Sasha Grey is a star (perhaps due to her own marketing). There are many porn actresses that you see in movies and on websites everyday. But what sets the porn star apart from the chick who does porn?

 

[Liar]

What sets a movie star aside for an actor that does movies? Or a sports star aside from an athlete?

Same thing. Pop culture notoriety. When you're a household name even among people who don't watch your movies.

I don't think I have ever seen a Ron Jeremy porn. But I sure as hell know who he is and what he's famous for.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I don't think I have ever seen a Ron Jeremy porn.

I avoid them. He is one big turn-off.

 

[oggbashan]

I think that the criterion for porn actors, male or female, is the same for any actors in other genres - the ability to make the audience believe in the action.

Unfortunately the screenplays of most pornographic videos are inherently unbelievable and even a talented actor can do little with the material.

Og

PS. Two female porn actors, Stacy Burke and Chelsea Taylor, come close to making the unlikely scenarios almost believable.

 

[CharleyH]

What sets a movie star aside for an actor that does movies? Or a sports star aside from an athlete?

Same thing. Pop culture notoriety. When you're a household name even among people who don't watch your movies.

But how do you do that? What makes a star?

 

[Stella_Omega]

I avoid them. He is one big turn-off.

Why does he turn you off?

I mean-- I know why he turns me off, and of course, I'm wondering if my reasons are gendered....

Whoops, threadjack!

Charley, what to you think mmakes a star out of a porn actress?

because I can't remember a single name, at this moment, and am incapable of addressing this question.

 

[jomar]

Lucky timing, self-promotion, a certain popular/desirable look, does something attention getting, maybe can really act a bit and doesn't chew gum during the sex scenes, and most importantly - smart enough to choose the best scripts. Probably helps to stay off drugs, too.

 

[CharleyH]

Why does he turn you off?

I mean-- I know why he turns me off, and of course, I'm wondering if my reasons are gendered....

Whoops, threadjack!

Charley, what to you think mmakes a star out of a porn actress?

because I can't remember a single name, at this moment, and am incapable of addressing this question.

I know what makes a movie star, Stell. I am asking because I really do not know what makes a porn star. I watch porn daily. I see certain actresses daily. I know they are celebrities. But why is Sasha Grey a star? She is not really outstanding - other than by suddenly being everywhere.

 

[Handley_Page]

I think that the criterion for porn actors, male or female, is the same for any actors in other genres - the ability to make the audience believe in the action.

Unfortunately the screenplays of most pornographic videos are inherently unbelievable and even a talented actor can do little with the material.

Og
.

Well said, Sir.
Getting a good photographer also helps, I suspect. There were a couple of really good French films a year or two ago which I thought were really good.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I think of the stars of porn as being only women. There are men included, of course, but they are just props, like beds and pillows and other things necessary but not noticable. I don't know just what makes a star. Looks, of course, and capacity (deep-throating, etc.) and enthusiasm, which may be acting ability. If a woman appears to be having a really great time, she is or will be a star. If she just looks bored, I will be too.

 

[TE999]

Interestingly enough, when women began writing, directing and producing porn flicks the overall quality improved...plots became coherent, the acting was more realistic and even the production values improved. These women also realized that there was a vast underserved adult market that was interested in becoming slowly and sweetly aroused with their partners without all the money shots, exaggerated gestures and faked orgasms.

You can practically date when a porn flick was made by the acting and production values. Oh yeah, and by the clothing and hairstyles.

 

[Huckleman2000]

Interestingly enough, when women began writing, directing and producing porn flicks the overall quality improved...plots became coherent, the acting was more realistic and even the production values improved. These women also realized that there was a vast underserved adult market that was interested in becoming slowly and sweetly aroused with their partners without all the money shots, exaggerated gestures and faked orgasms.

You can practically date when a porn flick was made by the acting and production values. Oh yeah, and by the clothing and hairstyles.

What porn do you watch? They almost never shoot on film anymore; there are almost never plots, just contrived circumstances (fucking by the pool, fucking a maid/nurse/schoolgirl...).

 

[john-the-author]

I think that the criterion for porn actors, male or female, is the same for any actors in other genres - the ability to make the audience believe in the action.

Unfortunately the screenplays of most pornographic videos are inherently unbelievable and even a talented actor can do little with the material.

Og

PS. Two female porn actors, Stacy Burke and Chelsea Taylor, come close to making the unlikely scenarios almost believable.

I disagree to an extent, Ogg: I think that a good deal of the earlier material from the Golden Age of Porn (the 70s and 80s) was in many cases believable. Oh, improbable, sure: my stepson had a career delivering pizza for several years and, despite being really quite a chick magnet--yeah, I'm envious--I don't believe he ONCE got a blowjob for a tip. And I believe that I'd have heard. But many of the scenarios, while improbable (e.g., you're fucking your wife's best friend; she walks in and joins in with vigor rather than braining the two of you with the nearest blunt object), some of these things do happen to people and we even have fond memories of them.

People like Marilyn Chambers, Nina Hartley, and a number of the other porn stars of the era made them reasonably believable while at the same time they acted a lot like real people who you might conceivably know and (you wished!) got the chance to fuck. While I don't have quite the list of experiences a number of my friends do, particularly the swingers, there really were things that had strong parallels in porn of the day. Hell, I lived in Tucson and was going to roughly the same parties that Annie Sprinkle was when she was a teenager and getting started in her future career by giving out blowjobs like business cards. And, damnitalltohell, I never met her then. But people I'm sure I knew then did. (OTOH, I did share a hot tub at a SF convention with Monica Lewinsky before she became famous... but that's another story.)

The actors/actresses in porn now tend to look a lot like overbred, silicone-injected mutants or even just animatronic fucking machines with too many steroids. I can't get interested in them, I can't identify with them, and there's just nothing there for me. Many of the women fall into that category of "I wouldn't fuck 'em with your dick!"

 

[Liar]

But how do you do that? What makes a star?

I know what makes a movie star, Stell.

Well then, there you have it. What makes a movie star? And doesn't the same make a porn star?

But why is Sasha Grey a star?

Because people started calling her that. Simple as that. It's not a magic formula: Do this and that and hey presto you're a star. In Sasha Grey's case, she was AFAIK a pretty good but run-of-the-mill porn actress. Who got cast for a leading part in a mainstream non porn movie. And the mainstream media as always got a hard-on for juicing up the narrative. So they called her "PORN STAR Sasha Grey". And people read it and said "Uh, who's Sasha Grey? Apparently, a PORN STAR. it says so in the media."

Was she considerd a star before the Soderbergh thing? Not that I know of. She was certainly not among the handful in the porn industry that everybody recognise the name of.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TE999
Interestingly enough, when women began writing, directing and producing porn flicks the overall quality improved...plots became coherent, the acting was more realistic and even the production values improved. These women also realized that there was a vast underserved adult market that was interested in becoming slowly and sweetly aroused with their partners without all the money shots, exaggerated gestures and faked orgasms.

You can practically date when a porn flick was made by the acting and production values. Oh yeah, and by the clothing and hairstyles.

What porn do you watch? They almost never shoot on film anymore; there are almost never plots, just contrived circumstances (fucking by the pool, fucking a maid/nurse/schoolgirl...).

I think TE is referring to feature length flicks, not to what I usually call "loops." Deep Throat is probably the best known porn flick ever, and I thought it was pretty good. It actually had a story line, but no conflict and very simple characterizations.

ETA: BTW, what clothing asre you talking about?

 

[TE999]

I think TE is referring to feature length flicks, not to what I usually call "loops." Deep Throat is probably the best known porn flick ever, and I thought it was pretty good. It actually had a story line, but no conflict and very simple characterizations.

ETA: BTW, what clothing are you talking about?

Precisely. I should have been more specific.

Period clothing...from the 60's, 70's and 80's...although it's not on for very long. The hairstyles and makeup are giveaways too...tho somtimes exaggerated for effect.

 

[R. Richard]

Lucky timing, self-promotion, a certain popular/desirable look, does something attention getting, maybe can really act a bit and doesn't chew gum during the sex scenes, and most importantly - smart enough to choose the best scripts. Probably helps to stay off drugs, too.

Most porn actresses work for a studio. They sign a contract for so many movies per year. In general, a porn actress has no script approval. In fact, about the only way a porn actress gets script approval is to write the script herself and either sell it to her studio or start her own studio.

[Shameless plug: Read the book I cowrote with Sunset Thomas, Anatomy of An Adult Film.]

 

[Boxlicker101]

Most porn actresses work for a studio. They sign a contract for so many movies per year. In general, a porn actress has no script approval. In fact, about the only way a porn actress gets script approval is to write the script herself and either sell it to her studio or start her own studio.

[Shameless plug: Read the book I cowrote with Sunset Thomas, Anatomy of An Adult Film.]

I find it hard to believe she has nothing to say about what she does. If an actress looks at the script, such as it is, and says she won't do anal, or refuses to do lesbian scenes, what then?

I realize that most aren't that choosy, but some of therm might be. I don't watch that much porn any more, but they used to sort of specialize in certain things. For instance, little Oral Annie used to be known for anal scenes. Of course, everybody gives head.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I find it hard to believe she has nothing to say about what she does. If an actress looks at the script, such as it is, and says she won't do anal, or refuses to do lesbian scenes, what then?

She loses the job, Box. She's back to barrista.

What the fuck do you THINK happens? Can you please drag your head out of your oblivious ass?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Originally Posted by Boxlicker101
I find it hard to believe she has nothing to say about what she does. If an actress looks at the script, such as it is, and says she won't do anal, or refuses to do lesbian scenes, what then?

She loses the job, Box. She's back to barrista.

What the fuck do you THINK happens? Can you please drag your head out of your oblivious ass?

Do you mean she doesn't do that particular flick or do you mean she is permanently fired? The first seems reasonable, the second seems a bit extreme.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

What makes a porn star a star?

Nothing.

Who says they're starts at all?

I don't think being well-known makes you a star. It's the adoration in my opinion. "I'd fuck that," doesn't equal "I adore that."

Q_C

 

[Stella_Omega]

Originally Posted by Boxlicker101
I find it hard to believe she has nothing to say about what she does. If an actress looks at the script, such as it is, and says she won't do anal, or refuses to do lesbian scenes, what then?

She loses the job, Box. She's back to barrista.

What the fuck do you THINK happens? Can you please drag your head out of your oblivious ass?

Do you mean she doesn't do that particular flick or do you mean she is permanently fired? The first seems reasonable, the second seems a bit extreme.

Let's just say... it's an extreme business.

Buy R.Richard's book!

 

[jomar]

Most porn actresses work for a studio. They sign a contract for so many movies per year. In general, a porn actress has no script approval. In fact, about the only way a porn actress gets script approval is to write the script herself and either sell it to her studio or start her own studio.

[Shameless plug: Read the book I cowrote with Sunset Thomas, Anatomy of An Adult Film.]

That's right, you should have some insight into this.

Good luck with the book.

 

[CharleyH]

What makes a porn star a star?

Nothing.

Who says they're starts at all?

I don't think being well-known makes you a star. It's the adoration in my opinion. "I'd fuck that," doesn't equal "I adore that."

Q_C

I might like to agree, but there are porn stars. There is Jenna, for example, She is considered a porn star. She is famous and adored. Why her? Why not Lanni Barbie or Claudia Jameson. WHAT makes a female pornstar? Big tits? Blonde hair? The girl-next-door look?

 

[Boxlicker101]

I might like to agree, but there are porn stars. There is Jenna, for example, She is considered a porn star. She is famous and adored. Why her? Why not Lanni Barbie or Claudia Jameson. WHAT makes a female pornstar? Big tits? Blonde hair? The girl-next-door look?

Big tits, definitely, especially when they jiggle and sway when doing doggy style. The girl you wish was next door looks helps too. Naturally blonde hair is good too, but it's partly the very fair skin and blue eyes that often go with that. There have been some very big porn stars, such as Jeanette Littledove, who were not blonde.

I am probably dating myself, because I rarely watch porn on videotapes or in a theater anymore.