How to be a successful porn star, as explained by porn stars

Say you’re an aspiring adult performer who wants to enter the porn industry. You probably want to do your research beforehand, but you’re not quite sure how to go about it, other than to Google multiple variations of “what it’s like to bone on camera.” If so, check out Porn 101, a primer for how to enter the adult entertainment industry, written by and starring your favorite adult performers.

Featuring James Deen, Stoya, Nina Hartley, Asa Akira, and a slew of other well-known performers, the video was written and produced by the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC), an organization devoted to improving the safety and work conditions of those in the adult entertainment industry.

The 14-minute video, which was written by many of the performers in the clip, offers sage advice on such topics as STIs, agents, managing your finances, how to choose the proper porn name, and anal sex (note: probably not a great idea to use a numbing agent while shooting a scene).

According to Danny Wylde, an APAC member and former adult performer who was heavily involved with the production of Porn 101, the video is intended as a resource for up-and-coming adult performers, who may not have access to up-to-date information about working in the adult entertainment industry.

“Quite a few years back there was a Porn 101 video made for an older generation of performers,” he tells me via email. “But there seemed to be a lack of information for the current and upcoming generations.” Wylde co-wrote the script with fellow performers Kimberly Kane, Stoya, and Annika Albrite before submitting it to a medical professional for review, inviting dozens of adult performers in the community to appear in the video.

Chanel Preston, a spokesperson for APAC, says the organization was launched a few months ago to provide a cohesive voice for performers in the adult industry. While there are a handful of adult industry advocacy groups, such as the industry trade group the Free Speech Coalition, there are few that directly represent the interests of performers themselves.

“Many people and organizations speak on behalf of performers, and we felt it necessary to create a platform that is a true representation of [our] needs and wants,” she says. APAC’s goal is to educate prospective performers about the industry and safety issues, so they can feel “safe and confident when making decisions about their career as well as their health on and off camera.”  

Even if you have no interest in entering the adult entertainment industry, the video is worth a watch: it’s frank, funny, and provides a glimpse into the less glamorous realities of an industry that most people harbor a lot of misconceptions about. Plus, James Deen is incredibly charming and goofy in it, so if you’re not in love with him already, you probably will be by the end of the clip.

H/T Kinky | Photo: Screengrab, YouTube