Hot Topic: 'After Porn Ends'...The Documentary

From Left to Right:  Producer Andy Weiss, Mary Carey, Crissy Moran, Nina Hartley, Director Bryce Wagoner

Last night, I had the opportunity to see a screening of the documentary, After Porn Ends.  I can hear your thoughts right now.  Yep, I said porn.  I'm not here to talk about the rights and wrongs of the porn industry though.  You either like it or you condemn it.  I thought the idea of the documentary was fascinating though:  What do you do with your like "After Porn Ends"?  Do you have a family?  Do you get a "regular" job?  Does society allow you to have a "normal" life?  After watching the film, I realize how all-encompassing the job choice becomes even when you leave it behind.  The former entertainers are constantly judged even if they move on to become parents, real estate agents, artists, or devout Christians.  Some of the participants in the film fell into the stereotypical traps of the porn industry with addiction, abusive relationships, and suicidal tendencies. However, other entertainers like Mary Carey, who is hilarious and deserves a mainstream Hollywood job, or Nina Hartley, who is still in the business, are very comfortable with their choices and feel like the adult industry has offered them a privileged life.  It was rare to hear that from the female performers because, not surprisingly, the men were judged less harshly than the women upon leaving the industry. The dark reality hit the women harder than the men.

Mary Carey

The other interesting delineation in the film fell between the entertainers who worked in the early years of the adult industry, the 1960s-1980s, versus the actors that worked in the internet years.  It seemed like the experiences of those that worked in the earlier years had an easier time.  Porn was more of an underground industry, they were able to lead a more private life off-set, and they endured less judgement from society.  It was almost cool to work in porn during that era.  For the internet-era stars, there appeared to be more personal difficulties transitioning back into the real world because of a tool called Google.  Neighbors, co-workers, and family are now able to see images of their former life on their laptops.  It never goes away.  While many featured in the documentary went on to have well-adjusted kids and careers, their former life lurks in the background.  During the Q&A after the documentary, one of the panelists mentioned that this film should be screened for everyone new performer in the adult industry as a cautionary tale.  The addictions and the abusive relationships you can move on from, but the stigma of porn.......you cannot.



After Porn Ends will be available On Demand beginning May 21st and the DVD will be out in August. (Warning:  There are porn images in the documentary.)


I wrote about a similar topic after I interviewed Demi Delia from Crackle.com's reality web series, Mommy XXX back in 2009.  Demi has left the adult industry behind and has her own talent management company.  She goes by her given name, Gina Rodriguez, now and reps some infamous personalities like Octomom and Michael Lohan.  See the controversial article I wrote here and my interview with Demi here.


I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Hit me up in the comments below, on Twitter, or on Facebook.


Today is the last day to enter my Gift Bag Giveaway.  You have until 11:59PM PT tonight.  Enter here.  

The Top Five

I hope everyone has an incredible and safe time tonight.  As 2010 draws to a close, here are some Top 5 lists for you.  It's been a great year here at Red Carpet Closet. Thanks for being a reader and a friend.  Happy New Year!

Top 5 Most Read Posts of 2010
1.  Disneyland's Club 33:  I have a feeling this post will be at the top in 2011 too.

2.  Dos and Don'ts on the Red Carpet, The Sequel:   What?!  You didn't like Part One as much?

3.  Publicity and Web Series:  My most controversial post of the year, but it always draws in a lot of readers.

4.  Behind the Scenes of Mommy XXX:  Well, this focused on Sony's web series about an adult star, Demi Delia, raising two kids.  The series was shot in a very Osbourne-like reality show way and this episode was shot in 2009.  Demi started to manage the mistresses of Tiger Woods, so I imagine the tabloid aspect of this entire tale drew many readers here.  It is one of the most fascinating stories I have ever covered.  Read the blog, watch the episode, and I think your initial perception may change.

5.  Behind the Scenes with Taryn Southern:  This lovely lady had a great year, so I know there are many guys out there drooling over this smart, ambitious actor/producer/writer/host/singer.  If you aren't familiar with her, check out some of her work, she's one to watch.

Top 5 Most Absurd Searches on Red Carpet Closet:
These always make me laugh, misspellings and all!

1.  "Does (sic) and Don'ts for a Red Person":  Um, hmmm, I don't discriminate by color on my blog.  Anyone can mess up on the red carpet.  I guess you were looking for this post?

2.  "I want to see your peacock behind the scene (sic)": Okay, I realize these are lyrics in a Katy Perry song, but I don't write about Katy, peacocks, or Teenage Dreams, this is more my style here at Red Carpet Closet.

3.  "Kristyn Burtt piernas":  I rarely write about the crazy things people put in a search engine to find me, but I remember my 7th grade Spanish.  Thanks for looking at my legs, I think?  I am not going to direct you to the photos, instead you can enjoy me all bundled up at the State Fair of Texas.  Enjoy!

4.  "Rachael Hip Flores boyfriend":  Hmmm, I am not sure if Rachael has a boyfriend or not.  I will ask her, but here is my favorite story about Rachael in 2010 when she won a Streamy Award for Anyone But Me.  Well-deserved!

5.  "her choir robe":  As a lapsed Catholic, I don't have much use for choir robes these days, but I did wear one this year for the XBox 360 Kinect premiere. Was this the style you were looking for?

Finally, I was able to discover a lot of new blogs and make some great online friends this year.  Here, in no particular order,  are a few other writers to check if you don't already follow them:
New Blogs to Check Out in 2011:
1. Jenna Birch at Seven Style Notes:  She's 18, a strong writer, and just adorable.
2. Shauna Sever at Piece of Cake:  I gain 5 virtual pounds every time I read her blog.
3. Emily Schuman at Cupcakes and Cashmere:  There are lots of fashion blogs, but I don't think anyone does it better.
4. Elle Sees at Elle Sees:  A great overall blog, but her posts on throwing theme parties for everything from Mad Men to NYE are my favorites.
5. Indiana Adams at Adored Austin:  Probably the quirkiest and funniest blogger of the bunch.  She makes me laugh and I know she would be the kind of girl I would want to have a cocktail with.

Weekend Web Watch: Streamys Edition

Each weekend until Sunday, April 11th, The Web Files is running our Weekend Web Watch with one of the nominees for the Streamy Awards. This weekend, check out Best Reality/Documentary Web Series nominee, Mommy XXX. We interviewed Demi Delia in her home back in July of 2009 and it is one of my favorite episodes from 2009. So many people are quick to judge the person when they hear about their chosen profession and I don't always think that is fair. Well, I think you will see some new insights and changes with Demi when Season 2 premieres. But, take a closer look at the interview and be sure to check out the article about some of the controversy surrounding advertisers on the Crackle.com website and the power of the Mommy Blogger. It's worthy of a read before you see the interview. Judge for yourself and comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

Article: Mommy XXX Controversy

Episode: Mommy XXX

If you missed our other Streamy Edition Weekend Web Watch Shows, click here: Weekend Web Watch Week 1 and 2.

The Web Files Update

As anyone working in arts or entertainment, you plug away at your work and you hope people respond. Well, today we received a response we were not expecting, NewTeeVee's Reviews Editor, Liz Shannon Miller, reviewed The Web Files. I am thrilled that she took the time to watch multiple episodes and I think she gave us some really constructive feedback. It gives me some great ideas on what we have to work on in the future. For instance, Liz pointed out that we did not find out how MERRIme.com obtained their name actors like Tom Arnold and Tony Hale. In fact, we did ask the question, but it ended up on the cutting room floor. Tom Arnold is an old friend of Kaily Smith's family, David Weidoff and Kaily went to USC with Ryan Eggold, and many of David's castmates from ABC Family's Roommates were recruited for the web series. So, Liz makes a great point in some things we might want to focus on. Thank you, Liz. Read her article: NewTeeVee.

For our Weekend Web Watch, I am always looking back to episodes and pulling them back up for viewing because The Web Files episode may coincide with a web series' event. (e.g. Last week's Weekend Web Watch with Movies You May Have Missed and their Podcast Award nomination.) Well, this week, I am dusting off Crackle.com's Mommy XXX with Demi Delia, because this episode is a continual powerhouse for us. I realize her former adult star status draws a certain amount of attention, but her fans are loyal. They watch the episode, they comment on the show, and they come to this blog to read more about the behind the scenes scoop more than any other show we have featured. We are all looking for that fan enthusiasm in our web series, films, television shows, and music that we create. How do you create a loyal audience? Well, maybe we could all learn something from Demi Delia and how she maintains a fan base that will follow her beyond her adult industry career. View the episode:

The Web Files Weekly Update

The Web Files Executive Producer, Sandra Payne, with Gary Valentine of "Dusty Peacock".

We are plugging away here at The Web Files and already planning our fall episodes. I am pretty excited by the shows that have said "yes" to us so far, you will see some familiar faces from past web series who are about to launch big shows within the next few months. So, be sure to check out The Web Files in September and October.

In other news, thanks to Demi Delia for her shout out in her recent blog post. I was happy to hear that she enjoyed our interview. She is taking her career to a more mainstream level, so look for Demi to make a splash in 2010 with product launches and Season 2 of Mommy XXX on Crackle.com. Check out here blog (and The Web Files mention) here: Demi Delia


For those of you following the web world carefully, make sure you are watching Nick Carlton's work. He is one of the young creators from "Oz Girl" and we look forward to showing you the "Oz Girl" interview for "The Web Files" launching on August 26th. I had the opportunity to read the pilot script from his new web series called, Stitch. If you want to check out the pilot, click here to contact Nick and find out more about his next project, "Stitch". You will see a few familiar "Oz Girl" faces on the "Stitch" website as Shanrah Wakefield, Sophie Tilson, and Shaun Crawford are all involved both in front and behind the cameras. Shanrah wrote a great blog on her week at iTVFest and a few encounters with The Web Files: Shanrah's Blog. Thanks, Shanrah!


Our next episode of The Web Files features Gary Valentine from Crackle.com's, "Dusty Peacock" I can't wait to hear everyone's reaction to this interview. He is a former series regular on his brother's sitcom, "King of Queens". Yes, his brother is Kevin James, who is producing "Dusty Peacock". So, what do expect out of your web series when it is fully funded, on a high profile portal, and you have name recognition? Find out on Wednesday, August 19th, when we launch our next episode of "The Web Files".

Behind the Scenes of Mommy XXX

When I originally contacted the Sony PR department looking to interview Demi Delia from Crackle.com's Mommy XXX, I wanted to find out more about the woman behind the fun, Osbourne-like reality show. I thought it was interesting look at working mom's life, raising two kids, and oh, by the way, she works in the adult industry. Once we got approval for the interview and all of the details were worked out, we headed to Demi's compound which is featured in the show. It turns out that Demi lives in my neighborhood, right around the corner. In fact, I had been jogging past her home for months with my puppy. The house is a former child star's childhood home, complete with a guard house and a fantastic pool and veranda in the back. I guess I should not have been surprised as that street is filled with celebrities, entertainment lawyers, and agents.

I have to say, I was a little more nervous for this interview versus others since Sony did send a publicist to monitor the taping. She asked for the questions ahead of time, but I didn't offer them up. Anyone that watches The Web Files knows that I am not interested in tabloid journalism, no matter what the subject. I want to understand the process of each individual show because each creator, actor, or crew member has a story to tell and it should be heard. That was our mission when we started the show and that mission will continue, no matter what the subject involves.

We had a fantastic time with Demi and her super cute puppy, Louie (be sure to check out his cameo at the end of the show.). Demi is personable, kind, and very open with her home life and her life in front of the cameras. I know the entire Web Files crew that day walked out of Demi's home feeling as though they really understood the person behind the show....and we liked her.

Fast forward a few weeks later, our show is still being edited for an August 10th launch at this point, but I see Demi make a comment on Twitter about an unfair interview with a Mommy Blogger. If you aren't familiar with Mommy Bloggers, they are considered a powerful group by advertisers to influence other mommies with their product reviews and endorsements along with writing about their daily lives. There is a lot of debate going on right now with the ethics of Mommy Bloggers and you find many interesting articles on the subject on the internet if the topic interests you. Anyway, Lindsay Ferrier of Suburban Turmoil, posted an article about her interview with Demi and a call to advertisers to pull their ads from the show on Crackle.com. We are talking about big companies like Kraft and Nabisco. Well, I piped in with my comments about how we cannot really judge someone unless we walk in their shoes and try to understand their lives and where they are coming from. I truly feel that it is important to get to know the person behind the public face. Well, it turned out to be quite an interesting debate. I don't want to rehash it all here as I know Lindsay feels a little beaten up about the issue, but I think it is important that all sides should be heard. My opinion was not changed by the discussion, I prefer to live a more open-minded existence, but I always appreciate rational debates. So please hear the other side, you can find Lindsay's posts here, here, and the follow-up here on the subject.

In parting, Kraft did pull its ads from the show.

Episode 6: Mommy XXX

I will have a behind the scenes look with Demi Delia by tomorrow because her show, while done in the genre of "The Osbournes", has caused quite a ruckus amongst Mommy Bloggers. I will give you the scoop because I opened my big mouth and found myself smack dab in the middle of the controversy. Meanwhile, enjoy the show: The Web Files: Mommy XXX.

Summing up the week!

Okay, it's been a crazy week, so I will give you the bullet points and you can Choose Your Own Adventure!

1. Episode 3 was released with our best episode to date featuring the Safety Geeks:SVI.

Watch here: Safety Geeks: SVI

2. We interviewed Demi Delia of Mommy XXX on Crackle, so be sure to catch up on her show before you watch The Web Files episode. Watch here: Mommy XXX

3. We are planning on covering animation in Web TV, so I have been talking to a few animators lately. Michelle of Blink Kitty Love kindly wrote a few words about The Web Files. Read here: Lonely Pond

4. Last Thursday was the Hollywood Web TV meetup sponsored by Tubefilter. Koldcast TV kindly interviewed us about the show. This is the highlight reel, our full interview will be up next week. Watch here: Koldcast TV

5. We will be covering the iTVFest Opening Night Gala on July 30th. If you are a web series in the Festival, be sure to stop by and talk to us on the red carpet.

6. And right below you find Episode 2 with The Crew if you are just too tired to click over to YouTube.