Filmmakers M-Z
Madison Young
Madison Young is a fiery redhead known for her authentic approach to documenting sexuality. Her participation is on both sides (and all around) the camera. Young’s films express her view on the importance of free, sexual expression and create a dialogue about breaking down sexual taboos. This message is close to her heart. As a self-proclaimed feminist who enjoys rough sex, severe bondage, intense S/M, puppy play, and all people regardless of their place on the gender spectrum, Young is used to defending (and promoting) socially atypical sexual practices. She directs for her own company, Madison Bound, for Reel Queer Productions/Good Releasing (the production and distribution arm of the feminist sex shop Good Vibrations) as well as her own websites in the Feminist Porn Network [link, need affiliate code]. Popular films include Perversions of Lesbian Lust, Fluid, and Frisk Me.
DVD and VOD: Good Vibrations VOD | Good Vibrations | AEBN (VOD)
Maria Beatty, Bleu Productions
From the Bleu Productions website: “Maria Beatty’s films reveal the previously hard-to-find fantasies of bondage, spanking, tickling, sensual teasing, and more. Not only an astute observer of the cultural aspects of the fetish world, Beatty’s artistry as a filmmaker sets new standards of quality. The high art quality of the films is a dramatic contrast to the (frequently) shocking images she reveals.” Her cinematic style is often described as “erotic noir” due to the unique way she juxtaposes lesbian hardcore with the shadowy look of old crime flicks. Beatty’s highly personal approach achieves an authentic sensuality rarely seen in adult cinema and leads viewers into the enticing world of fetishism.
DVD and VOD: Good Vibrations VOD | AEBN (VOD) | Bleu Productions
N. Maxwell Lander
N. Maxwell Lander is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker and designer based out of Toronto, Canada. Her work, ranging from cutting-edge fashion portraiture to high-intensity hedonistic smut, has been featured in numerous publications. Her forays into erotic films and pornography have been met with much acclaim, with her first film, “Maybe He’s Gifted,” winning a Feminist Porn Award in 2011, and her second, “Emile,” winning in 2012. With a boundary pushing style that often walks a thin line between decency and vulgarity, Maxwell’s distinctive work has become a staple of the Toronto queer community. Ever a fan of biting off more than she can chew, she is always engaged in numerous projects, most recently forming Figure 3: Films, which will serve as a collaborative production hub for film making.
DVD and VOD: Pink Label VOD | N. Maxwell Lander
Nenna, Feelmore Entertainment
Nenna is the owner of Feelmore510 Adult Gallery and Feelmore Entertainment, which are both based in Oakland, CA. Feelmore Entertainment produced Feminist Porn Award Winner Hella Brown: Real Sex in the City (2012) and Feminist Porn Award Winner Tight Places: A Drop of Color (2011). Although she has her degree from Florida A&M University (B.S. Public Management), it wasn’t until her Uncle Hank followed his dream to work in film/television that gave her exposure. “My move from Las Vegas to the Bay Area was the difference between being someone’s maid and being my own boss,” says Nenna. In addition to working full-time in the Adult Industry, her entrepreneurial spirit combined with community consciousness moves her to speak to various at risk populations on any topics ranging from sexual health, personal empowerment, and business especially the adult business. “I enjoy shooting everyone; however, persons of color have been my interest simply because there is not much of a queer reference. So, I have much work to do.”
DVD and VOD: Good Vibrations VOD | Pink Label | Feelmore 510
Nina Hartley
Hartley is a true pioneer of feminist pornography. Over the last thirty-plus years she has acted in and/or directed hundreds of pornographic films as well as been an outspoken activist for the sex positive movement. Addressing other women, she says, “Sex isn’t something men do to you…Sex is something you dive into with gusto and like every bit as much as he does.” Hartley’s films clearly embody this “sex with gusto” message. What makes her intensity especially appealing is that it is expressed with authenticity, confidence, and ease—a trifectah of traits that make for an intimate viewing experience. She has directed her own line of educational videos for Adam & Eve since the early 1990s, which cover everything from oral sex and female ejaculation to bondage and dominance and submission. Her films are directed by her husband, acclaimed fetish director Ernest Greene, and she often teams up with him on his feature films as well.
DVD and VOD: Good Vibrations VOD | Good Vibrations | AEBN (VOD) | Nina.com
Petra Joy
Petra Joy’s films are based on the erotic fantasies of women (including herself). As a result, they are focused on female desires and female pleasure. Joy refers to her films as “art-core” rather then “hard-core,” a title they earn due to their depiction of real bodies (her sets are “silicone-free” zones), their focus on sensuality, and their creative edge. Furthermore, she refuses to portray any sexual actions that she believes many women experience as degrading such as forced fellatio, extreme anal sex and facial cum shots. Popular titles include Feeling It!, The Female Voyeur, and Female Fantasies. Petra is also the creator/curator of the Her Porn series, where she compiles the best female-friendly porn scenes from around the world.
DVD and VOD: Good Vibrations VOD | Pink Label VOD | Petra Joy
Shine Louise Houston, Pink & White Productions
From the website: “Pink & White Productions creates adult entertainment that exposes the complexities of queer sexual desire. Taking inspiration from many different sources, Pink & White is dedicated to producing sexy and exciting images that reflect today’s blurred gender lines and fluid sexualities. ‘There is power in creating images, and for… a woman of color and a queer to take that power… I don’t find it exploitative; I think it’s necessary,’ says company owner and director, Shine Louise Houston.” Shine has won multiple Feminist Porn Awards, including The Visionary Award in 2009. Popular titles include The Crash Pad (which spawned the web-based episodic series CrashPadSeries.com), Champion, and Superfreak. Shine is also the creator of Heavenly Spire, a web site which “focuses on masculine beauty and sexuality and how it manifests on different bodies with a unique cinematic style.” In 2012, Shine launched the fair-trade VOD site PinkLabel.tv to provide a home for independent and new adult filmmakers.
DVD and VOD: Good Vibrations | Crash Pad Series | Heavenly Spire | PinkLabel.tv
Tristan Taormino®, Smart Ass Productions
Sex educator, author, and speaker Tristan Taormino has directed and produced 24 adult films, including her multi-award winning debut film based on her book, The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women for Evil Angel. She founded Smart Ass Productions in 2006 to create intelligent, ethically-produced, performer-driven films with authentic chemistry, pleasure, and orgasms for everyone. A few months later, she became an exclusive director for Vivid Entertainment. Her documentary-style series Chemistry has won several Feminist Porn Awards, and Tristan was the first woman ever to win an AVN Award for Best Gonzo Movie for Chemistry, Volume 1. Her series Rough Sex depicts real women’s fantasies of BDSM, dominance/submission, and kink and has won two Audience Choice Awards at CineKink Film Festival. Tristan is creator and executive producer of Vivid-Ed, Vivid’s sex education line. She received the Feminist Porn Trailblazer Award in 2010 for her ten years of work in the industry.
DVD and VOD: Pucker Up Shop | Smart Ass Productions | AEBN (VOD)