Page 98 - AVN May 2016

Voices of XXXperience Continued from page 60
Francesca Lé: Well, I think that you have to adapt. I’ve
been around for a while, and I think the talent now,
the performers now have a misconception that they’re
going to shoot their entire time. I’ve had 18-year-old
Cherie DeVille: I am not sure why so many young
girls tell me, “I’m gonna shoot ’til I’m a MILF.” Well,
women come into porn and only stay for a few
actually, the MILFs mostly came in being MILFs;
months. It’s a career with a lot of pros and cons.
they haven’t shot us for 25 years. I think they have
Some may not have weighed all the cons before
the misconception that they’re just gonna be talent
jumping into porn and then they realize too late that
the whole time, and I think that you should be able
they don’t like it. I say too late because if you do
to adapt in the business. There’s always going to be
one scene or a hundred you are still on the internet
something else you can be doing besides being in
having sex, which in our current culture limits future
front of the camera. I’m lucky that Mark [Wood, her
jobs and can carry a negative social stigma.
partner in LeWood Productions] was able to teach me
how to shoot camera. I shoot my own stills, I shoot
Did you think you would be in the
business long enough to transition from
starlet to MILF?
Julia Ann: There’s actually videotape of me saying—
because this is how stupid you are in your 20s—that
“If I’m in the business when I’m 30, I’m a fuckin’
loser.” When I said it, I believe I was in a dressing
room with Janine, and somebody came in and did the
interview while we were dancing at a club, and sure
enough, that came right out of my mouth. ... Like,
you say things, and then later, you’re like, “Really?”
camera, I do post-production work, I direct, and in
2000 I was doing sales. I’ve also worked in the JM
Productions offices as an office manager for many
years; I ran JM Productions’ mail-order company for
many years, so I’ve done, I think, all—besides editing,
which I don’t really want to do, I’ve done everything
I can to learn the business. I think a lot of the talent,
being as they’re young, they don’t learn about the
business as much as they should; not just their social
media.
Ryan Conner: I didn’t think I’d see a second go-
around and certainly not at 45. But the saying these
days is 40 is the new 30. I think regardless of your
age, people want to see someone who is having fun.
They want to see women who don’t care that their
hair is out of place at that moment but are so lost in
the pleasure that their hair is the last thing on their
mind! Or at least that’s the way I see it!
Do you have tips on enjoying longevity in
adult?
Julia Ann: Longevity in porn takes just a little bit
of sheer luck, I think. I never really strived; I was
never, “I’m gonna be the biggest thing out there.” I
just thought, “Okay, this is my job and I’m making a
living; I have to pay the bills.” ... The other thought
I have is, I think the biggest thing in the world is, if
you’re a dick, nobody’s going to help you. So there’s
a thing to knowing that your job is just as important
as the director, the PA, the makeup artist, the lighting
guy, the cameraman, the grip, whatever; we’re all in
the same boat. ... If you act like a dick—and honestly,
that’s boys and girls—you act like a dick, there’s no
loyalty in that. You know, [former talent agent] Lucky
Smith, back in the day, of Risque Business, said,
“Better be nice to everybody on the way up because
they’re the same people you’re gonna see on the way
down.”
Ryan Conner: My tips: Take care of yourself. Eat right,
drink infrequently, exercise. And have a strong work
ethic. That means showing up on time, with a happy
attitude, and do your part to make the day as smooth
as possible!
Any tips for breaking in as an older
performer?
Jodi West: I would suggest finding out which
studios you like and would like to work for and
then contacting them. As a mature woman who is
willing to have sex on camera you are in about a
1:100 ratio compared to the younger girls getting in.
Then I would get some great photos done, contact a
reputable agent and let them take it from there.
Brandi Love: I have to chuckle at “older
performer”—40 is the new 30 if you are doing it
right! Using the most recent Pornhub data, the most
popular porn genres are Teen, MILF and Mature. So,
two out of the top three most popular genres are
related to those of us who are more experienced,
LOL. Based on that data it really boils down to having
the right look, attitude and drive. If you have those
things, then the pursuit is the same as it is for a teen
performer. One thing I would recommend: Take your
personal appearance and fitness seriously.
How long do you want to stay in the
business?
Jodi West: I will always have a hand in the adult
business; it just might not always be in front of the
camera. I will know when it’s time to stop, but it’s
not time yet! I’m still having too much fun and the
fans seem to still like what I’m doing.
Francesca Lé: I’m really lucky because sometimes I
want to be in front of the camera and I can shoot a
bunch of scenes—I just shot Francesca Loves Young Boys,
FEATURE
and I did all the scenes in my movie. I really had a
good time. I worked with all brand-new guys I hadn’t
98 | AVN.com | 5.16
worked with before: Alex Jones, Jesse Jones, Brad
Knight and Logan Pierce. So I’m lucky: when I want
to be in front of the camera, I can, and then when I
get tired of it, I go back behind the camera and shoot
my movies and direct.
Cherie DeVille: I will stay as long as I’m having fun
and people keep booking me!! Hopefully that will be
many years to come.
How does motherhood affect your choice
of roles or the way you approach your
career?
Ryan Conner: I can’t honestly say motherhood ever
affected the roles I took. This is my career, and it’s
my body. I did, however, decide to take my break
due to my daughter and my feeling that she needed
me at home more. I mistakenly thought that I might
not be setting the best example by acting in the
adult industry so I left to pursue other dreams. My
daughter has since decided to shoot in the industry. I
can’t say it’s a bad way of life. I have had an amazing
time with a fun and lucrative career so why shouldn’t
she??? I guess we’ll see how good my advice is over
the course of her career ;-)
Brandi Love: I’m often asked questions similar to this
and it always strikes me as curious. The undercurrent
to this question, however unintentional, insinuates
that my career choice is somehow questionable for
a mother. I simply don’t subscribe to the theory
because I only shoot scenes that are a turn-on for
me personally. I have found my career in adult to be
empowering for the following reasons:
a) It’s the world’s most pleasurable activity.
b) It’s lucrative. Let’s face it, we all need to make a
living.
c) The hours are flexible.
d) I can work from my home office 50 percent
of the time. While I don’t shoot at home, most of
what my husband and I do is “technical.” Updating
and building websites, online marketing, managing
servers, managing finances etc. Working from home
is an invaluable gift for those who are disciplined
enough.
e) I meet amazing people!
f) I have incredible adventures.
g) I have a great family life. I’ve been happily
married for 21 years now. ... My career in adult has
me home and engaged with my family more than
anyone else in our neighborhood, and they work in
health care, law, auto industry, technology, education,
entrepreneurs, etc.
I guess if there is one area where being a mother
affects my choices, it would be in how best to manage
my career so that it has longevity.
Longer answers from these experienced performers will be
posted on AVN.com during the month of May.