Porn Director Reveals Secrets Of The Adult Industry | Minutes With | @LADbible

Summary

In this candid interview, porn director Dick Bush shares his unexpected journey into the adult film industry, starting as an assistant editor at London Film School. He discusses the practicalities of directing sex scenes, emphasizing the importance of camera angles and performer comfort. Bush also addresses the industry's evolution, including the impact of platforms like OnlyFans, and his personal experiences, from on-set accidents to the creative process behind pun-based porn titles. He stresses the need for young people to understand porn as fiction and not a guide for real-life intimacy.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The speaker accidentally became a porn director, starting as an assistant editor and quickly moving behind the camera.
• 🔞 There are various minor accidents that can happen during porn shoots, including physical injuries and unexpected bodily reactions.
• 🎥 The role of a porn director involves directing both acting and sex scenes, with a focus on camera angles and visibility for the audience.
• 🤔 The speaker misses the pun-based titles of old porn films, which have been replaced by more direct parodies of popular media.
• 📽 The speaker has edited and directed various parody porn films, including those based on popular franchises like Star Wars and Game of Thrones.
• 👀 The speaker believes that porn should be understood as fiction and not a guide for real-life sexual encounters.
• 💪 Starting in the porn industry boosted the speaker's confidence, especially in directing sexual encounters, despite the work being purely professional.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's family, particularly his mother, has come to accept and even humorously acknowledge his profession.
• 👀 The speaker's real name is Dick Bush, which he believes may have inadvertently influenced his career path.
• 🌐 OnlyFans and similar platforms are not seen as a threat but rather as an evolution of the industry, empowering models to control their content.
• 💰 The pay for models in porn can be higher per scene than for male performers, and the industry has a relaxed yet professional atmosphere.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial career aspiration before becoming a porn director?

The speaker initially wanted to be a filmmaker and had aspirations to make films, having graduated from the London Film School.

How did the speaker end up working in the adult film industry?

The speaker was encouraged by a colleague to attend an interview at a company called Relish for an assistant editor position, despite being fresh out of film school and having no experience in the adult film industry.

What was the speaker's first task during the interview process at Relish?

The speaker's first task was to edit a 20-minute segment of hardcore porn, which was a new and eye-opening experience for him.

How did the speaker's role evolve at Relish from an assistant editor to being behind the camera?

Within two weeks of working at Relish, the speaker was behind the camera, shooting scenes, after impressing the bosses with his editing skills during the interview.

What was the title of the first movie the speaker edited for Relish?

The first movie the speaker edited was called 'The Cockwell Inn'.

What is the speaker's view on the role of a porn director in terms of directing sex scenes?

The speaker believes that the less direction needed during sex scenes, the better, as professionals in the industry know what they are doing. Direction is mostly about positioning for the camera and occasionally prompting for noise.

What is the significance of the size of a male performer in the adult film industry according to the speaker?

Size matters to some extent as it needs to be big enough to perform in various positions that look good for the camera and show penetration clearly.

How does the speaker describe the atmosphere on the set of a porn film?

The atmosphere on the set is very relaxed and fun, but also serious when it comes to working with new people, ensuring they are comfortable and in control of their participation.

What was one of the most memorable and unusual experiences the speaker had on set early in his career?

One of the most unusual experiences was working with a rubber fetish company where he witnessed a scene involving an inflatable coffin, a gas mask, and a series of metal rods, which left a lasting impression.

How have pun-based or funny titles in porn films evolved over time according to the speaker?

The speaker notes that pun-based titles are less common today, with modern titles often being direct parodies of popular movies or TV shows, appending 'triple X' to the original title.

What is the speaker's perspective on the impact of platforms like OnlyFans on the porn film industry?

The speaker does not see OnlyFans as a threat but rather as an evolution of the industry, providing models with a platform to control their own content and work more independently.

How has the speaker's family reacted to his career in the adult film industry?

The speaker's mother has come to terms with his career and now openly mentions it in a dismissive yet humorous way when asked by her friends.

Is Dick Bush the speaker's real name, and does he believe it influenced his career path?

Yes, Dick Bush is the speaker's real name, and he humorously blames his parents for setting him up for his career in the adult film industry.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Unexpected Journey into Pornography

The speaker recounts their accidental entry into the adult film industry, starting as an assistant editor at Relish after graduating from the London Film School. Initially skeptical, they found themselves editing explicit content, which was a stark contrast to their aspirations of being a filmmaker. The narrative highlights the peculiarities of their first experiences on set, the transition from editing to directing, and the surreal realization of their unconventional career choice.

05:04

🚼 Behind the Scenes of Adult Filmmaking

This paragraph delves into the practical aspects of directing adult films, contrasting the professional approach to the first half of the day, which involves script, acting, and dialogue, with the more hands-off approach required during the sexual scenes. The speaker emphasizes the importance of positioning for the camera and the occasional need to prompt performers for more audible reactions to avoid an unsettling silence. The paragraph also touches on the lighter side of the industry, including humorous incidents and the creative process behind pun-based titles.

10:06

🤔 The Creative and Ethical Dimensions of Pornography

The speaker discusses the creative process behind adult film parodies, drawing inspiration from popular culture and media. They reflect on the evolution of the industry, moving from storyline-driven films to more direct content, and the role of platforms like OnlyFans in empowering performers. There is also a consideration of the potential impact of pornography on young people, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between the fictional nature of porn and real-life sexual relationships.

15:08

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Personal Perspectives on the Adult Industry

In the final paragraph, the speaker shares personal insights, including how their work in the adult industry has affected their view on intimacy and their physical well-being during shoots. They also address the impact of the industry on their family's perception and the surprising acceptance of their mother when discussing their occupation. The conversation concludes with a humorous revelation about the speaker's real name, which is fitting for their profession.

Keywords

💡Accidents on set

This term refers to unexpected incidents that occur during the filming process. In the context of the video, it highlights the potential risks and minor injuries that can happen during adult film production, such as 'a scuffed knee' or 'biting during a blowjob.' It underscores the physical nature of the work and the need for safety precautions.

💡Porn director

A porn director is responsible for overseeing the production of adult films. The video's speaker didn't initially set out to become one but ended up in the role after an opportunity at a company called Relish. This keyword is central to the video's narrative, illustrating an unexpected career path and the speaker's journey into the adult film industry.

💡Filmmaker

A filmmaker is a person involved in the craft of film making, including directing, producing, or writing. The speaker in the video initially aspired to be a filmmaker, indicating a broader interest in the cinematic arts beyond the specific genre of adult films. This term is relevant as it contrasts with the speaker's eventual role as a porn director.

💡London Film School

The London Film School is an institution dedicated to teaching the art of filmmaking. Mentioned in the script, it signifies the speaker's formal education and training in film, which is a key part of understanding their background and how they ended up in the adult film industry.

💡Assistant editor

An assistant editor supports the main editor in the post-production process of film making. The video describes how the speaker was invited for an interview for this role at a porn company, which was a turning point leading to their career in adult films. This term is important for understanding the speaker's entry into the industry.

💡Hardcore porn

Hardcore porn refers to explicit adult content that features sexual acts. In the script, the speaker recounts their experience editing hardcore porn for the first time, which was a jarring and awakening experience. This term is integral to the video's theme, as it represents the content the speaker works with.

💡Cum shot

A cum shot is a term used in adult films to describe a scene where ejaculation is visible. The speaker mentions editing a compilation video titled 'Catcher In The Eye,' which included scenes ending with a cum shot in the girl's eye. This term is part of the industry jargon and is relevant to the video's discussion of adult film production.

💡Parody

A parody is a work that imitates another work, often for comedic or satirical effect. The video discusses various porn film titles that are parodies of popular movies or TV shows, such as 'Hand Solo' and 'Power Bangers.' This keyword is significant as it shows the creative and humorous side of adult film titling and content.

💡OnlyFans

OnlyFans is a platform that allows content creators to earn money from subscribers who pay to view their content. In the video, the speaker discusses how OnlyFans has given models more control over their content and has not threatened the adult film industry but rather evolved it. This term is key to understanding the changing landscape of adult content creation.

💡Intimacy

Intimacy refers to close, personal, and often private interactions between individuals. The speaker reflects on how their job in the adult film industry has affected their view of intimacy, distinguishing between the work they do and genuine intimate experiences. This term is central to the video's exploration of the personal impact of working in the adult film industry.

💡Unrealistic expectations

Unrealistic expectations refer to beliefs or hopes that do not align with reality. The video touches on the potential for adult films to set unrealistic standards for sex and relationships, emphasizing the importance of educating young people about the difference between porn and real-life sexual experiences. This term is crucial for understanding the video's message about the influence of adult content on perceptions of sex.

Highlights

Accidents on set are common, including minor injuries and unexpected incidents during sexual acts.

The speaker originally aspired to be a filmmaker and ended up in the porn industry through an assistant editor position.

The experience of editing hardcore porn for the first time was a jarring wake-up call for the speaker.

Despite initial reluctance, the speaker found themselves quickly transitioning to behind-the-camera work in the porn industry.

The speaker's first film edited was 'The Cockwell Inn', and their first on-set filming was for 'Fresh Off The Bus'.

The role of a porn director involves directing both acting and sexual scenes, with a focus on camera angles and visibility.

Size does matter for male porn stars to some extent, as it affects the ability to perform certain positions for the camera.

The atmosphere on a porn film set is described as relaxed and professional, with a focus on consent and comfort.

The speaker recounts a particularly bizarre on-set experience involving a rubber fetish company.

Porn film titles have evolved from pun-based to more direct parodies of popular movies or TV shows.

The speaker misses the creativity of pun-based titles and their humorous impact on audiences.

Coming up with ideas for porn parodies involves watching a lot of mainstream content and thinking of twists.

The speaker believes that porn should be understood as fiction and not a guide for real-life sexual encounters.

Working in the porn industry has boosted the speaker's confidence but has not affected their view on intimacy.

OnlyFans is seen as an evolution of the industry, empowering models with control over their content.

The speaker's family has come to terms with their career, with a humorous and dismissive attitude.

Dick Bush is the speaker's real name, which adds an amusing element to their career in the porn industry.

Transcripts

We've had accidents on set, as well.

There are lots of sex accidents that happen.

Some are minor, a scuffed knee,

or someone being too vigorous with a blowjob,

and kind of biting a little bit,

and sometimes guys get s**t on.

I didn't decide to be a porn director.

I wanted to be a filmmaker.

I just wanted to make films,

always wanted to make films.

I was at the London Film School, graduated from there,

and a colleague of mine

was working for this company called Relish,

and he said, "Come along for an interview

to be an assistant editor,"

and I was like, "At the porn place?!?"

He said, "Yeah, come along.

You probably won't get it, because lots of other people

are coming with more experience,

but it's good to have an interview

fresh out of film school,"

and I said, "Okay, makes sense."

I went down and spoke with the bosses there,

and then they had me edit for 20 minutes,

hardcore porn, which... if you're not

used to that kind of thing at about 10:30 in the morning,

it really wakes you up,

and I had a sneaky look at what the previous guy had edited.

He'd edited all of the acting bits

leading up to the sex,

in this scene that we had to work with,

and I figured they know that we can edit just normal stuff.

I thought, "Okay, I'm gonna start at the blowjob,

and just work my way forward from there."

About 20 minutes later, one of the bosses, Harry,

comes in and says, "Okay, Dick, how are you getting on?"

And I say, "Whoa, whoa! Just hold on.

I'm just building up to a crescendo.

Let me just put these clips down,"

and they drag me off the computer, send me home,

and a couple of days later,

I get a phone call from my friend saying,

"Do you want the job?"

Two weeks within working there,

I was behind the camera, shooting stuff,

but there's this moment where you look up past the camera,

and you see two people just going at it in front of you,

and it's just like, "This is the weirdest job

I've ever had, or ever will have,"

and you just go back to the screen, just concentrating here,

'cause you're just slightly removed,

and you're just concentrating

on getting everything in focus.

[MARYANA] So what was your first film?

The first movie that I edited for them,

was called The Cockwell Inn.

It was about a pub called The Cockwell Inn,

and the first movie that I went filming with them on,

was called Fresh Off The Bus -

this very gonzo, kind of fake reality.

'Let's pick a girl up, we bring her back here,

we give her a makeover, and then sex happens.'

Very simple kind of stuff,

and I was always on at them about,

'Let's do a storyline, let's do some action.'

I kinda like action films,

I wanted to... you know, girls with guns or something,

but for a long time, they're like,

"No, we can't do that. Let's just stick to this."

[MARYANA] What actually is the job of a porn director?

I think mostly, my job entails telling people what to do.

I'm just a normal director for the first half of the day.

We're usually dealing with a script

and acting and dialogue,

and I'm just telling people where to go,

what to do, 'Let's do it like this.

Can you do it a little differently?

Maybe if you're feeling like this...'

I'm also cameraman for these things,

and lighting as well, so cinematography,

and then the second half of the day

is when we're shooting the sex,

and directing that is a little different.

The less I have to say, the better the scene is.

If they're two professionals,

they know exactly what they're doing.

I don't really need to say a whole lot.

I might just say, "Wait, just bring that leg down here,"

or, "Sorry, can you just go back to this position?

Just do that again,"

because you need to get into weird positions

where you're opening to the camera.

So you're not doing it for you.

You're doing it for the camera,

so that you have to sort of open your body up,

make sure that you're not hiding anything,

and a lot of guys will get... they know that,

and they'll sort of put their arm here,

and that looks awkward.

So I'll have to say "Just put your arm down,"

'cause you don't wanna look like a teapot

when you're sort of doing it,

but you'll probably see it now,

when you watch any porn scenes.

You'll see the guy sort of with his hand here

like this, and like this.

But yeah, it is all about opening up for the camera,

instead of enjoying it yourself, really.

But occasionally, I'll have to say,

"Can you make more noise?"

It's really weird if the performers

aren't making a sound at all.

It just gets a bit creepy, and everyone's like,

"Oh, my god, this is too much like real sex.

Can you make it a bit fake please?"

[MARYANA] Does size matter for a male porn star?

Only a bit.

It needs to be big enough

that you can actually get into these positions,

and show... you need to show all these positions

and show penetration.

So if you have a small penis,

you just can't get into the positions

that look good for camera, and that's it really.

[MARYANA] What is usually the atmosphere like on the set of a porn film?

It's very relaxed.

It's very... especially the team that I work with,

we have fun,

but we are very serious

when it comes to new people that we're working with.

We have a meeting at the beginning,

where we go through everyone's dos and don'ts,

and we tell everyone that you are in charge,

the model is in charge.

They can stop for a break at any time.

They will often make, on average,

more money per scene than guys do,

and we've been working together for so many years now

that it's like a little family

that you go to work with.

So I think, when models that we're working with

for the first time come on set,

they can see that it's this nice, relaxed atmosphere,

and it's a pleasant place to be around.

[MARYANA] Can you talk me through any funny moments you've had on set?

Early in my career,

I got hired by a

rubber fetish company,

and that was in Hastings, I think.

Big studio, lots of rubber everywhere, costumes,

and all these contraptions,

and the guy who owned the studio,

he got into this inflatable coffin thing,

naked, with a gas mask on his face

that he was being pumped oxygen in,

and there was a hole for his penis to come out of,

and his wife was dressed in a rubber nurse's outfit,

or something, and she takes out this little wallet

and unzips it and opens it,

and then takes out this metal rod,

and grabs his c**k,

and just starts putting it down his penis,

and I remember just kind of...

yeah, doing everything that you're doing now,

just kind of, "Oh!" Like that,

and she's doing this,

and then she puts that down,

and I'm like, "Ah."

And then she pulls out an even bigger one,

and just works her way through

this entire wallet of metal rods, until the guy came,

and they were like, "Okay, great. Thank you very much,"

and I'm like, "Okay, good.

Alright, thanks. No, I won't shake hands,"

and I went home, and that was probably

the weirdest filming day,

'cause I didn't understand the sex act

that they were doing, so it's tough to direct.

We've had accidents on set as well.

There are lots of sex accidents that happen.

Some are minor, a scuffed knee,

or someone being too vigorous with a blowjob

and kind of biting a little bit,

and sometimes guys get s**t on.

[MARYANA] Why do porn film always have pun-based or funny titles?

What's the deal with that?

I think it's a little old-fashioned, these days,

to have pun-based porn titles.

You see less of them.

Even when I started,

there were starting to be less of them about.

So these days, instead,

if you're doing some kind of parody of a movie or a TV show,

these days, it'll just be the name of the TV show

and then 'triple X'.

It's like 'the triple X version of this'.

And I think that's just to get people...

it grabs their attention a bit more

if it is the actual title,

but I miss the kind of pun-based movie titles,

because it makes people laugh,

and you share the DVDs around,

like, "Oh my God, have you seen this?

Oh my God, look at these titles."

So I miss them, but they don't

tend to be around these days too much.

One of the earliest compilation videos

that I edited together...

I pitched it, 'Let's do a compilation

of all the scenes that end with a cum shot,

where it gets in the girl's eye,'

and we called it Catcher In The Eye,

for those literary fanatics out there.

We've done...

we did a Power Rangers parody called Power Bangers.

I didn't come up with that title.

I didn't think it was great. Movie was great.

Yeah, we did a Star Wars parody called Hand Solo.

That was mine.

It was almost like we have to do this parody,

just to use that title, Hand Solo,

and we worked in some jokes

about him just constantly masturbating as well.

[MARYANA] How do you actually come up with the ideas for them?

I watch a lot of movies,

a lot of Netflix, a lot of TV, a lot of YouTube,

and I'll just think of ideas, but I've always done that.

I've always written scripts.

I've always written little movie ideas, short films.

So my brain is constantly thinking,

"Oh, that would be good.

Oh, we could do a twist on that,"

or, "Oh yeah, we could do you something like that."

I remember talking to some people

and they had no idea that porn films

could be actual films with storylines.

They had no idea that that kind of thing existed.

Back in the 1970s, '80s, that's pretty much all you had,

is, like, storyline porn films,

but as digital filmmaking rose up,

I think we got a lot of just sex stuff.

Like gonzo, here's reality,

here's this, you can just see sex.

It's kind of real, and there's something...

quite real about that,

that I think people like,

but there's also Spider-Man versus Superman porn films,

and Star Wars porn films,

and all these ridiculous things which... super-sexy,

but also super-fun to watch...?

I don't know, costumes, locations.

Did a Game Of Thrones parody.

Who doesn't wanna see that?

[MARYANA] What do you think about

porn damaging young people and in a way setting unrealistic

sex standards and expectations for them?

I think porn has always been there,

and porn will always be here,

and young people do see a lot more of it these days.

I think you can't get away from that,

because it's so accessible.

But I think it's really important

for young people to understand

that we're shooting fiction, and it's heightened.

Porn, by its definition,

is something that is designed to turn someone on.

So when we are filming sex, it isn't real sex.

It's strange positions,

that are designed to be titillating in some way,

and it's important for young people to know

that you shouldn't have sex like they do in porn films,

because you might get looked at a bit weird.

So I think it's up to us as grown-ups

to teach people that porn is fake.

I think that's the message really.

If you're having sex with someone,

especially for the first time,

you don't wanna act like a porn star.

[MARYANA] Do you think your job has changed your view on intimacy?

Starting in the industry, like, 15, 16 years ago,

I think it definitely boosted my confidence a little bit.

Just being around sex a lot,

it did just kinda give me

a confidence boost in some way,

especially having a job telling people

what to do when they're having sex.

Even though it's not real sex, it's just work.

I'm just there. They're doing that.

I'm moving lights around to make sure everything's lit nice,

and I'm holding the camera, and I'm changing focus,

and I'm just concentrating on keeping everything in focus,

and I'm moving around, and I'm getting all the great shots,

and my back is hurting, and I have to not wobble the camera

'cause I just wanna get it all in one shot.

I don't wanna tell them,

"Just do that again, let me just do this one more time."

I just want them to concentrate on that,

and so my feet are hurting,

and my lower back is hurting,

and my shoulders are hurting,

and I'm like, "Just keep going, keep going, keep going,"

and then we get it done,

and I'm like, "Ah, done!"

And that's not the same

as watching people have sex in a room,

in some kind of intimate way.

It's the complete opposite. It's just work.

[MARYANA] I was wondering about platforms like OnlyFans, for example.

Do you see them as a threat to the porn film industry in any way?

No, OnlyFans isn't a threat to the industry.

The industry always changes, especially with technology.

The porn industry will be the first thing to change,

and there's nothing wrong

with the industry evolving in some way,

and what OnlyFans has done,

is given the models themselves, guys and girls,

their own platform, so they are in control

of their own content.

Before platforms like OnlyFans,

models were relying on companies like us to book them.

But if they didn't get booked,

then they don't have work,

and now they can work for themselves a lot easier.

It doesn't involve building an entire website.

Before lockdown, we were always asked,

"Can you find new people, new models?"

And it was always a struggle to find new models.

But since lockdown,

there are so many new models in the industry,

and I think what OnlyFans

has allowed models to do,

is to just dip their feet into that world,

and create an account,

and do as much as they're comfortable with,

and because they're in control,

and they're in charge,

and they're making decisions about what they're doing,

it's been a bit of an eye-opener for some people, I think,

and I've been really surprised

about how many people are okay and comfortable

with showing their bodies online.

It's been really interesting to see that.

[MARYANA] What does your family think about what you do?

My mum, when she is asked what I do by her friends,

she now just says, "Oh, he makes porn,"

in a kind of funny, kind of dismissive way.

[MARYANA] Last question is,

is Dick Bush your real name?

Yep. Dick Bush is my real name. Well, Richard.

[MARYANA] Do you think your parents set you up in a way?

Yeah, I blame them completely.