What's the difference between the porn you make and mainstream porn?
The sex scenes I show come from true emotions, which rarely happens in porn. Porn is usually about arousal and orgasm, not about the emotions and the process that brought you there. That’s what I find very exciting. And I think a lot of other women do too.
I don’t call what I make porn but explicit erotic films. But I am fine with people calling it ‘feminist porn’ or ‘alternative porn’.
Can you give an example of how your films are different?
It’s completely different. I cast people who haven’t worked in the sex industry before. They have very natural bodies so their sexualities feel very natural. They don’t show off the same way many porn actors do.
I don’t ask people to stop and start. Even though many people work on the film, during the actual sex scene it’s just me, the actors and two other people. I don’t light it so you can see every single detail. I light it so there’s a little bit of mystery.
Do you watch mainstream porn?
I did. I like porn in theory. But I only like maybe one or two percent of the films I saw and even then it would be only pieces of them.
I just didn’t believe the sex was enjoyable. I wanted to see films in which people, and especially the women, are genuinely enjoying sex and having real arousal and orgasm.
Is porn made by women different?
I do feel like I am a part of a movement. In it women and men use different words to describe what they do. But I think that all of us approach sexuality from a positive perspective and we are looking for ways to bring this across.
What impact do you think porn has had on women’s sexuality?
I think it affects everybody’s sexuality. Seeing bad porn, whether it’s unrealistic or unethically made, that shows an unachievable sexual experience, can be confusing. But since women have been socialized to be quiet about their sexuality, they may be more influenced by that.
What led you to want to make your own films?
I had very positive sexual experiences growing up. Perhaps I’ve been very lucky. But I was also taught to have a lot of communication with my partners and not to do anything that I was not genuinely enthusiastic about.
And I noticed a lot of women would like to see good porn but there was very little to look at. I figured out that somebody needs eventually to step up and fill this gap.
What was it like to make your first porn film?
It was great! Some of the best moments in my life were screening my films in public. Hearing everybody hold their breath and being aroused was very powerful for me. It lit the fire in me to make more films people to enjoy.
What do you see for the future of this industry? Is it growing? Are women watching more?
Yes! I think that women are becoming brave enough to ask for and watch the films they find arousing. And I think mainstream porn distributors and production companies are starting to take more of a risk on female directors and on more female orientated films. It’s a slow change, but it is happening. I think in five years from now we’ll have much greater variety.
For more information on Jennifer Lyon Bell, visit her production company's webpage: Blue Artichoke Films.
Would you prefer female-friendly art house erotic movies to mainstream porn? Leave a comment below!