How do you feel about the distinction often made between "authentic" and "inauthentic" lesbian porn?
"It's a true distinction. The inauthentic "girl-girl" porn, which is very popular and produced mostly by mainstream adult companies, usually features very femme women performing sexually for the intended male viewer. This can be fine and enjoyable for many. However, I think most lesbians would prefer to watch authentic lesbian porn, featuring women they can recognize as lesbians doing things which they can recognize as real lesbian sex -- sex they might actually have and get off on. In the authentic lesbian porn, the sex is more varied, the performers are more into it, and they usually don't fake orgasms."
Do you think that only women, or only women who identify as lesbian, can or should be creating representations of lesbian sexuality?
"I think at first, it was important that lesbian porn was created by women or lesbians, so the distinct genre was recognized and accepted. Now, I think the market is open enough that anyone with a lesbian sensibility can create it. I think that's the direction we're headed, and I think it's natural growth. "
Can you talk about what that "lesbian sensibility" is? Where do you think it comes from?
"Well maybe I spoke too quickly, and perhaps the market isn't quite there yet. Soon I think! By lesbian sensibility, I meant a knowledge for and appreciation of real lesbian sex and lesbian culture. It comes from knowing lesbians and being around them a lot, being open to them, and looking at the lesbian porn that's out there. The producer/director may not actually be lesbian, but would need to be able to recognize and hire performers who can portray authentic lesbian sex. I think the performers are the most important factor -- getting the right mix of chemistry and believable lesbian sex. Lesbians are usually turned off by women faking being into the sex they're doing, or faking orgasms. So, at the very minimum, to create lesbian porn, at least the performers need to portray real lesbian sex. Everyone else involved can be het/bi/trans or whatever -- they only need to recognize what it is they're creating."
In 2008, Fatale Media will be 23 years old. What are you working on now, and what's next?
"More of the same! We've branched out this past year [2007] into distributing other company's products, the SIR titles and Early to Bed titles. We're planning a big upgrade to our website, getting streaming video and more photos on the site. And, right now, we're working with Panic Culture in Paris to bring some French lesbian porn into the US -- [we are] very excited about that!"
Has being a pornographer changed your sex life?
"I think in my case the reverse may be true -- when we first produced lesbian porn, my sex life influenced pornography! Remember, there wasn't any real lesbian porn around back in the early 1980s, none. So when we created the first lesbian porn, On Our Backs magazine and Fatale Videos, the sex we showed was the sex we did. We photographed and filmed ourselves and our friends, all different types of lesbians having all different types of lesbian sex -- real lesbian sex.
It defined and initiated real lesbian porn as it is today. And, yes, I would say being a pornographer has changed my sex life -- at the very least, I've learned a few new tricks! I came into pornography with a curious and open mind about sex to begin with, but I think my sex life has been enriched by being around so many people enjoying sex.
Some say being in pornography makes you jaded about sex, but I haven't found that to be true. I think the more you're around sex, the easier it is to get turned on and into sex."
Do you think that being a pornographer has changed the way you think about sex?
"Being a pornographer has helped me to be way more appreciative of how important sex is to people -- what a huge part of everyone's life it is, and how powerful it is. And, being a pornographer has given me a true appreciation for the generosity many performers have in sharing themselves intimately with the viewers."
