I like to think of myself as a knowledgeable fellow in more than one subject, and pornography could be one of those subjects—or is it? You can read our review of Zack and Miri Make a Porno to know what I think, but what does the porn industry think of it? Did the movie get it right? Having never "worn the rain boots to step on the creamy puddle," so to speak—is that a real expression or did I just make that up? Anyway, I never worked in porn, is what I'm getting at—I can't comment on the authenticity of the process depicted in the film.
But award-winning porn director Audacia Ray of Waking Vixen Productions can, and she did when she reviewed the film for Premiere mag.
In the opening paragraph, Ray describes herself as "someone who has undertaken the daunting and somewhat ridiculous task of making porno in New York City, a city that was once this country's smut capital but now trails behind the well-oiled porno production companies of Chatsworth, CA." Here's more about Audacia Ray.
A taste of the review:
The casting couch: In Zack and Miri, producer Delaney (Craig Robinson) goes cross-eyed when a potential lady star strips off her clothing in her audition. However, it's pretty common for performers to take it off in an audition and pose for a few Polaroids — though in a way that negates pretty much all sexiness from the scenario. But line reading? Yeah, that's acting that's quite beyond the call of duty. When I was in my early days of casting for porno, before I knew that I should just ask to see the goods, I auditioned a guy who fancied himself an actor. When he asked me "What's my character's motivation?" I think I blinked at him and stammered out something about hard-ons.
So maybe the film got a few things wrong here and there, but as I've noted in my review, it's not like Kevin Smith set out to represent the biz in a mainstream movie, or reignite his old PTA feud by upping Boogie Nights or anything. Besides, the whole point is that Zack and Miri don't know what they're doing, but they do it anyway.
Still, it's fun to read these things and get an insider's perspective. Maybe they can get an MI-5 agent to review Quantum of Solace.
