by Rich Moreland, February 2019
This is the first of two installments highlighting the 2019 Adult Entertainment Expo (aka the AVN Show) in Las Vegas. Our team circulated on the floors of the hosting venue, the Hard Rock Hotel, networked where we could, and conducted interviews to get an in-depth look at the porn industry today.
So far, we’ve reported on Evil Angel’s thirtieth anniversary and Nina Hartley’s thirty-fifth. We’ve also taken a look at how the show reflected the changes in our culture.
A pair of talented visual artists, still photographer Kevin Sayers and videographer/filmmaker Davyana San Miguel, provided the visual energy that graces these articles.
* * *
Is there love between AVN and the cam world?
If the last few years at the Adult Entertainment Expo is any indication, the porn world is experiencing an internal evolution.
That’s right, things are changing because the new kid on the block—the cam girl (and boy)—is altering the landscape of what defines porn, at least the commercialized version.
First, a little in-house geography. For those of you who have never visited the Hard Rock Hotel, the “floor” is divided among four major venues, three devoted to the on-screen industry and one to novelties.
A walk around the environs reveals that cammers are more evident than ever before. Not only do they have their own booths and tables inside the show rooms, they dominate the hallways that connect them.
That raises interesting questions. Are cam girls the newest version of porn girls?
Do cammers believe they are creating pornographic content when they perform for their fans and sell their shoots online? If that seems obvious to you, it isn’t to everyone and “therein lies the rub.” (my apologies for the well-worn misquote of Shakespeare)
Are cammers open to shooting for studios in a scripted environment? It’s certainly outside their comfort zone where they interact with fans unencumbered by directors, cinematographers, and their crews.
And, how do the established porn stars—the studio moneymakers—regard cammers? Do the stars also cam as a way to build their brand?
In the interviews we did for Adult Industry News, I posed these questions. Answers varied, as you might expect, and we will look at some of them in later posts.
For now, here’s what we encountered during our meanderings about the premises.
Something for Everyone
The cammers greet fans in the hallways . . .
. . . And in the rooms! They seem to be everywhere armed with their connection to the fan world: their computer.
Cammers are not restricted by agents, you see. As a result, they are on their own to mix and mingle.
As a contrast, let’s take a few snapshots of porn’s traditional studios and the well-known stables that supply the talent.
The Agency Booths
We stop at the booths of a couple of modeling agencies I’ve dealt with in the past. At Foxxx Modeling, a brief chat with some girls we’ve already interviewed kicks off the afternoon.
The sexy Scarlett Mae.
The sultry Emma Hix.
And the perky BDSMer Emori Pleezer.
Nearby over at John Stevens’ Matrix Models, we find one of my favs in the biz, Vanna Bardot. Kevin and I met her recently on a Girlfriends Films shoot.
Porn’s Commercial Tradition
Then it’s on to the studios, the heavy hitters of porn. First is Adult Time, Bree Mills’ venue where . . .
. . . I renew old acquaintances with three of porn superstars, all of whom are up for AVN awards. We set up interviews to explore new topics we’ve not talked about before.
Tommy Pistol, one of adult’s finest male actors.
The popular Derrick Pierce whose on-screen personality is in high demand.
Then we have the talented Casey Calvert, a longtime friend. (It’s generational with our schedule making, as you can see. She’s electronic, I’m old school with my pen as we discuss arrangements!)
And a new contact, the luscious and award-winning Kenna James who later gives our team a terrific interview!
And, of course, Bree is there. We had interviewed her earlier in the day.
Other stops include Evil Angel where Katrina Jade is signing for fans.
And Jules Jordan where we pause a few moments with model Emily Willis.
Moving on to Greg Lansky Media, a rip-roaring booth pulsing with club music that engulfed the hall, we pick up a couple of conversations there.
We didn’t forget to take a quick look at the AVN booth (it’s their show, after all!) where a variety of girls were signing each day.
After some searching, we finally locate Sofie Marie, a girl (or MILF, depending on your point of view) who shoots for studios AND maintains her cam site. Later she gives us a terrific interview.
Before wrapping up our mini-tour of the rooms, we visit The Lair.
It’s sponsored by Kink.com, the leading BDSM porn producer in the business. Since the fan has to go upstairs to see the The Lair, there is the undeniable connection to Kink’s popular website, The Upper Floor.
And, as is the habit at AEE, an after-hours party for fans who want to pay for the privilege is offered.
Mostly, The Lair is a quiet respite from the clamor of the show floors. It’s vendors mostly with a demonstration here and there. For BDSM enthusiasts, it’s somewhat of a letdown unless the fan wants to shop .
Veterans
For anyone who writes in the porn biz, there is the “go-to” interviewer (and this is not to diminish any writer presently working). By “go-to” I mean the guy who sets the table for the basics about a performer. In other words, bio facts, personal preferences, shooting history, and the like. Everything that helps a girl build her fan base and gets the rest of us thinking about what we want to ask her.
He is “Captain Jack” and I have the privilege of meeting him after all these years.
Speaking of those in the industry who’ve been around the block a few times, our team briefly greets Evan Stone and has a short talk with Katie Morgan. No interviews this time around due to time and the hectic pace of the show. Maybe next year.
Then there is a new face and an old friend. For the first time, I make the acquaintance of Prinzzess Felicity Jade, a Girlfriends Films superstar, and update personal news with now retired performer, Daisy Layne.
Blended or Separated?
So, where does our brief tour leave us? For sure, the line between camming and shooting scenes is blurred. Take shooting, for example.
Today, the trend is make your own. Everyone, porn vets and cammers, can produce and manage their own content. After all, that’s what the fan wants . . . easy access just a click away.
There’s an old standby, Clips4Sale . . .
. . . And a newbie in the mix, Iwantclips.
At a convention that for decades touted video tapes and performer meet-and-greets, today cammers and studios play side-by-side. With Greg Lansky’s Vixen, Tushy, and Blacked responding to fans on the left of the picture below while the cammers’ ManyVids draws a crowd on the right, what does that tell us about 2019?
Well, maybe a solid “spank” in between to get our attention about a changing industry!
Peaceful Co-Existence?
In our next post, we’ll move to the novelties part of AEE 2019.