Ladyporn
(2001)
"Porn IS narrative" - Maggie
Carey
"It's a new genre of porn" - Elena
Carr
"Ladyporn" does something that I don't
think I've ever seen before. I'm sure it's been done
before, but in my past film-going experience, I just
haven't come across it. "Ladyporn" begins with a documentary
about the making of a film, in this case a porno aimed
at women, and then ends with the playing of that film.
That's interesting. I don't know if this final film
is exactly what filmmakers Maggie Carey and Elena
Carr had in mind when they began the project, but,
regardless, the finish product is exceptional.
And what really sells "Ladyporn" is
Carey and Carr. They begin with a very serious intent,
which they look at with a sense of humor, and never
lose sight of this objective: They want to make a
porno film for women. There is, of course, a small
niche of these types of films already being made,
but what is exceptional is that these two "ladies"
are not lesbians, so they are wanting to produce straight
pornography, and are not young and not prudes, so
they want something hardcore, not a Harlequin romance
on film. They also don't want to simply emulate male
generated porn and turn the tables. In other words,
they don't want to simply objectify men. It's a noble
undertaking and the ladies proceed here with nothing
but virtuous intent.
The opening documentary sets up the
porno we will see at the end of the film. C&C interview
women on the street about porn, and being from Austin,
they hand out flyers to people on the streets in an
attempt to get real people to audition for the film.
They don't want to use porn stars or "professionals,"
really. I myself, with a group of friends one night
at the Austin Film Festival in 1999, was handed one
of these flyers and invited to audition. They were
serious about looking for all types of guys. This
is all shown in the documentary as are auditions,
call-backs, struggles with crew and actors and sets.
There are also interviews with sexual psychologists
and erotic video store clerks to set-up the theme
here. All of these interviewees are female as well.
C&C, who are UT students, work their butts off to
bring forth their film. It is a year and a half after
I get the flyer that the film is finished and shown
to a full audience.
One of the struggles in the film comes
when a actress drops out. She becomes involved in
a relationship and suddenly does not want to do a
sex scene. The final product of the film here shows
the interesting and unique way C&C overcome this obstacle.
First, of course, they have to get new actors. This
leads them to Traci Laird and David Slimp, a married
couple who have a webcam in their house. This couple
is attractive, probably in their late 20's or early
30's, and very comfortable together. It is a wise
choice to use a couple already involved sexually for
the film. As a gay man, I can tell you that the finished
film, the final sex scene, is erotic and does turn
you on. Slimp is by no means a "cutie" type, but with
his long hair and clean shaven face, he is attractive.
His body looks real and it is easy to imagine him
as a sexual partner. Likewise, Laird, though she is
no "model" and has had a child or two, is quite natural
and sexy. She reminded me of the female forms you
used to see in 70's porn, a real woman, not a stick
figure with huge tits.
I also realized watching the final
sex scene, which isn't exactly hardcore but does feature
erection and insertion, a small amount of oral sex
performed by each person, and an orgasm (albeit inside
the vagina and not a "cum shot"), that I have never
really actually seen heterosexual sex before. Oh,
I've seen straight porn, but this was different, it
was loving, and erotic and sensual and real. I found
it exciting and refreshing. And even though I had
to concentrate, obviously, more on David than Traci,
I didn't feel a need to exclude her from the fantasy.
It felt warm and nice and, most importantly, comfortable
to see them having sex and to witness it. I saw this
film with 400 people in a crowded theater, so I did
not become aroused. In the privacy of my own home,
watching it on video, I think it is possible that
the film would have excited me quite a bit more.
Carey and Carr introduced the film
at the screening I attended at SXSW and did a Q&A
afterward. They are real selling points to the film.
While they appear in the documentary parts of the
piece, they come alive before an audience. Especially
Carey. Wiry, vibrant, sexy, athletic and slightly
tomboyish, Carey is also hilarious. Having her and
Carr discuss the film, and interact with the audience
afterwards, is a true delight. I could see this film
playing well to women and gay groups (primarily lesbians,
of course) all over the country. C&C could even do
lectures and symposiums on sexuality with the piece.
The finished product is quite intriguing and the ladies
of "Ladyporn" sell it with all their heart. It's obvious
they care and they believe in what they are doing,
but like all "real" women, when dealing with pornography,
they have a sense of humor and good taste about it
too. It is this sense of reality and compassion that
makes "Ladyporn" a revelation.
Note:
Also with Erin McCary and Rafael Sanabria.
DP Scott Rice is shown in the documentary sections.
Music by Kevin Kearny.
The film was not shown at the end of
the year UT showings of student's work. C&C used UT
facilities to shoot the pornographic scene but the
University asked that their name never be used in
conjunction with the film.
Narrative Report Card Script: B+ Acting:
B+ Cinematography\Lighting: A+ Special Effects\Make
Up: A Music: A Final Grade: A+
