
Indiana Joel/The Ubyssey
The Ubyssey has published a piece on how Feminist Porn is Changing a Male Dominated Industry, and they mention Good for Her’s Feminist Porn Awards. Check it out!
Indiana Joel/The Ubyssey
The Ubyssey has published a piece on how Feminist Porn is Changing a Male Dominated Industry, and they mention Good for Her’s Feminist Porn Awards. Check it out!
Good for Her is thrilled to present the 7th Annual Feminist Porn Awards. The Feminist Porn Awards honor pornographers whose groundbreaking work offers a fresh perspective on the sexual expression of women and everyone who finds themselves under-represented in mainstream pornography.
The official nomination period for consideration for the Good For Her Feminist Porn Awards opens on December 1, 2011 and will close on February 17, 2012.
In order to be considered for a Feminist Porn Award, submissions must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:
1) The work depicts genuine pleasure, agency and desire. These movies may also include a focus on connection, communication and collaboration between the performers and/or between the performers and filmmakers.
2) The work expands the boundaries of sexual representation on film, challenges stereotypes and presents a vision that sets the content apart from most mainstream pornography. This may include depicting a diversity of desires, types of people, bodies, sexual practices, and/or an anti-racist or anti-oppression framework throughout the production.
Categories for awards may include, but are not limited to: Canadian Content, Lesbian/Dyke, Diverse Cast/Representation, Emerging Filmmaker, Kink/Fetish, Lesbian/Dyke, Straight, Trans, and Website.
Please send 4 screener copies of each work to be considered on DVD to:
FPA Nominations
c/o Good For Her
175 Harbord Street
Toronto ON M5S1H3
Canada
PLEASE NOTE: for submissions from outside of Canada, please be sure to mark your package as a gift or sample with a value of $0. Good For Her and the Feminist Porn Awards are unable to pay duty on submissions and packages requiring duty will be refused. NO EXCEPTIONS.
For website submissions, please email your information to carla@goodfoher.com and include a user name and password to be used by up to 5 jury members
The Feminist Porn Awards will be held on April 20th, with a special screening on April 19th 2012 in Toronto, Ontario. Please visit http://www.goodforher.com/fpa_
Good For Her is entering their seventh year as producers of the Good For Her Feminist Porn Awards, the largest and longest running celebration of feminist porn in the world. Since 1997, Good For Her has been creating a nurturing environment where everyone can feel comfortable learning about sex and pleasure. Good For Her provides quality sex toys, erotic and educational books as well as DVDs and workshops that empower and celebrate the diversity of everyone’s sexuality.
The 2012 AVN nominations were released this week, and I have a lot to celebrate with 7 nominations for my films! Rough Sex 3: Adrianna’s Dangerous Mind scored five nominations for Best Vignette Release, Best Anal Sex Scene (Adrianna Nicole and Ramon Nomar), Best Group Sex Scene (Adrianna Nicole, Nat Turnher, Danny Wylde, Keni Styles & Evan Stone), Best Threeway Scene (Adrianna Nicole, Danny Wylde & Keni Styles) and Best Director-Non Feature. In addition, The Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex and The Expert Guide to Female Orgasms were both nominated for Best Educational Release.
These are especially exciting because they represent several different milestones for me. These are the most nominations I’ve ever received in a single year. These are the most nominations I’ve ever received for one film. This is my first ever nomination for Best Director. Here is the list:
Best Anal Sex Scene
Rough Sex 3: Adrianna’s Dangerous Mind, Vivid Entertainment Group; Adrianna Nicole & Ramon Nomar
Best Director – Non Feature
Rough Sex 3: Adrianna’s Dangerous Mind, Vivid Entertainment Group; Tristan Taormino
Best Group Sex Scene
Rough Sex 3: Adrianna’s Dangerous Mind, Vivid Entertainment Group; Adrianna Nicole, Nat Turnher, Danny Wylde, Keni Styles & Evan Stone
Best Three-Way Sex Scene (G/B/B)
Rough Sex 3: Adrianna’s Dangerous Mind, Vivid Entertainment Group; Adrianna Nicole, Keni Styles & Danny Wylde
Best Vignette Release
Rough Sex 3: Adrianna’s Dangerous Mind, Vivid Entertainment Group
Best Educational Release
Tristan Taormino’s Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex, Vivid Ed
Best Educational Release
Tristan Taormino’s Expert Guide to Female Orgasms, Vivid Ed
Aliza Shapiro—a wonderful activist, organizer, event producer, drag king, artist, and performer from Boston—recently suffered a stroke from a cerebral hemorrhage. If you’ve ever been to a East Coast event about queers, drag, burlesque, gender, art, sex, or politics, chances are Aliza had a hand in it. I met her and her then-partner L.A. Teodosio what seems like a million years ago in Boston. I have participated in events with Aliza, seen her at countless others, and most recently loved re-connecting with her last fall at IDKE in Baltimore. In fact, I may have even written a story once about a character based on Aliza. As a self-employed queer, Aliza does not have the resources to support herself during what promises to be a long, difficult recovery. Her friends and loved ones have set up the Aliza’s Brain Trust to collect donations for her and post updates about her progress. So far the amount of love and support has been phenomenal, but the bills continue to accumulate as Aliza does rehabilitation.
I’ve launched a fundraiser for Aliza, and here’s the scoop: donate to Aliza’s Brain Trust between October 6, 2011 and October 19, 2011. The person who makes the largest donation during this time period will win a lunch date with me! Our lunch can take place in any one of the following cities during my Fall Tour:
To Enter:
1. Make a donation to Aliza’s Brain Trust. Do it by October 19, 2011 by 2 pm EST to be considered for this prize.
2. Anyone who donates more than $75 will receive a free porn DVD from me! Anyone who donates $100 or more will be in the running to win the date.
3. The winner will be announced October 19, 2011 at 5 pm EST. Tristan will contact the winner directly to set up the lunch.
I directed three new sex-ed shorts—on cunnilingus, fellatio, and the G-spot—for the fabulous feminist sex shop and site The Smitten Kitten. They star me, Dylan Ryan, and Danny Wylde and you can watch them for free here. I’m very proud of how they turned out, and can’t wait to hear what all of you think. In addition to some solid information, there is super hot sex—er, demonstrations—by Dylan and Danny. This was the first time these two had ever worked together, which is always a totally mystery going in. As it turns out, they have insane can’t-keep-their-hands-off-each-other chemistry. We shot so much good stuff that we had plenty left over. So, in addition to the sex ed shorts, you can purchase a full sex scene, “Dylan + Danny: Extra Credit,” on demand. Photos above are by Clare from The Smitten Kitten who was on set.
I was thrilled at the chance to be on The Deb Colitti Show, which airs on WOR NewsTalk Radio 710 in New York and on Hear Women Talk Radio Network. The experience exceeded my expectations. Deb and her producer are great examples of mainstream media folks who really listen. They are genuinely interested in the topic—in this case, feminist porn—and don’t let their own biases or pre-conceived ideas get in the way of a productive discussion. I had a wonderful time and I am so glad the show finally aired and is now available to listen to online. Her show regularly airs on WOR 710 on Saturdays at 6:00 pm EDT and on Here Women Talk Wednesdays at 1:00 pm EDT. You can listen to the show on Deb’s site, on WOR site, or download it from iTunes.
That’s right folks: I’m back with another video on my favorite subject of all time: anal sex! Introducing The Expert Guide to Advanced Anal Sex, my latest movie from Vivid-Ed. This is the first unveiling of the cover, which features superstars Bobbi Starr and Mr. Marcus. I’ll be blogging every few days about my experiences shooting each scene and give you exclusive photos to look at, too!
DVDs ship from the warehouse to stores July 11!
You can support my work directly & pre-order from me here. Save 30% off the regular price when you do!
Notable media response to the cancellation of funding for Tristan Taormino’s appearance at OSU:
Keiko Lane on LGBT POV: “I think the crucial questions embedded in Tristan’s dis-invitation are exactly about pornography, about why porn matters, and about why people are so afraid of it. Specifically, why the kind of pornography that Tristan produces matters.”
Jessi Fischer on The Sexademic: “The thing is, pornography is not illegal and there is no statute I am aware of in Oregon state law that restricts the use of taxpayer fees in this way.”
“Why should public university students have a choice in their education? That right is apparently reserved for private university students. The way social hierarchies and privilege play out in every aspect of our lives never fails to amaze me. Private high school students can have unquestioned access to issues about sexual orientation, gender, pleasure and agency while programs in public schools are vulnerable to moral panics and content restrictions. This serves to reinforce a sense of access and privilege in the world.”
Elizabeth at SITPS: “When experts are rejected because their work is controversial, we should be worried not only about sexual freedom but also about academic freedom more broadly. Sexual freedom is a fundamental human right. Education is an important component of protecting that right.”
Charlie Glickman on his blog: “The upshot of all of this is that it doesn’t really matter whether the underlying motivation is an administrator’s squeamishness or an anticipation of a backlash from the legislators who fund the school. It’s still comes down to a reaction to sexual shame…Silencing a conversation that makes you uncomfortable or that you think is “inappropriate” is usually about shame. And I have to wonder what it is about a presentation called “Claiming Your Sexual Power” that makes it more controversial than, say, having Playboy recruit on your campus.”
**UPDATED** 1/28/2011, 4:30 pm EST
Here is some of the coverage, thanks to everyone who blogged, commented, posted, etc. about it!
OSU STUDENTS: Please Email the ASOSU In Support of Me!
Press Release from The ASOSU:
CORVALLIS – In regards to Tristan Taormino’s presentation for students at the 2011 Modern Sex Conference, her controversial advocacy in the fields of sexuality, gender and media have led to discussions about accessible resources and funding. The Associated Students of Oregon State University would like to give students an opportunity to utilize student fees in bringing her to campus for the conference. As it is our mission to represent students, we will not take any action until we have gathered student responses. If students want to see Ms. Taormino at this conference, in collaboration with other student groups on campus, we will do our best to ensure her attendance. Students with concerns, opinions, and ideas on the issue may visit ASOSU representatives in Snell 149 or email womens.affairs (at) oregonstate.edu or asosu (at) oregon.edu. For more information please contact ASOSU Executive Director of Public Relations Caity Cagle.
Want to know what the Twitterverse is saying? 700+ TWEETS Check out this and this and this and this.
KEZI 9 News: OSU Cancels Keynote Speaker for LGBT Conference
Keiko Lane on LGBT POV and Oakland Local: Why Good Porn Matters: Tristan Taormino, Oregon State University, and Sexual Empowerment
Portland Mercury: OSU vs. Sex
The Daily Barometer: Controversy Lingers Around Modern Sex Conference
Corvallis Gazette-Times (Editorial): OSU Dustup Over Sex Speech Raises Sensitive Issues
Corvallis Gazette-Times: OSU Students Asked for OK to Fund ‘Feminist Pornographer’ Visit
Charlie Glickman: Oregon State’s Decision to Drop Tristan Taormino is About Sexual Shame
Our Porn, Ourselves: Oregon State’s Modern Sex Tainted by Feminist Porn Hypocrisy (This is a Safe For Work link)
Exploring Intimacy: Support Tristan Taormino: Call OSU and Tell Em What’s What
Practical Polyamory: Oregon State University Uninvites Tristan Taormino As Keynote Speaker
Where is Your Line: We Support Tristan Taormino!
Sex in the Public Square: State Budgets, Higher Education, and Sexual Freedom (brilliant must-read piece!)
Jiz Lee: A Lesson on Sexual Shaming
Hot Movies for Her: Oregon State University Disses Tristan Taormino
Made of Words: Support Ms. Taormino
Sugar by Jacq Jones: Porn: The Scarlet P
Daily Barometer (OSU Student Newspaper): Too Sexy for OSU?
Tobi Hill-Meyer on Bilerico: Taormino’s Replacement Keynote Also Has Porn Connections (oooh the hypocrisy!)
Examiner.com: Tristan Taormino, Modern Sex Conference Organizers Weigh In on OSU Controversy
The Sexademic: The Privilege of Pleasure: OSU and Tristan Taormino (fantastic piece about why this is not just about porn but intellectual freedom)
Violet Blue: Tristan Taormino, Ann Coulter, and the Disgrace of Oregon State University
Portland Mercury: OSU Students Petition to Get Sex Writer Back to Campus
Portland Mercury: OSU in Hot Water After Canceling Sex Writer’s Talk
Corvallis Gazette Times: Too Sexy for Oregon State?
Jezebel: Oregon State Cancels Conference Keynote Over Porn (9000+ page views & lively comments section)
Fleshbot: Tristan Taormino Uninvited From Oregon State’s Modern Sex Conference (Note: NSFW)
Charlie Glickman: (fellow sex educator and confirmed speaker for Modern Sex) Oregon State U Shuts Tristan Taormino Out
Tobi Hill-Meyer: (fellow pornographer who’s giving a workshop at the conference): Sex Conference Un-invites Keynote Speaker for Being Too Racy?
SEX+STL: from Kendra Holliday: Sex Educator Tristan Taormino Uninvited to “Modern Sex” Conference
Divergent Dance: For Shame, Oregon State
Examiner.com: Oregon State University Cancels Tristan Taormino’s Modern Sex Keynote Lecture
AVN.com: OSU Invites, Then Disinvites Tristan Taormino as Keynote
Hey Epiphora: Tristan Taormino and the Hypocrisy of OSU
Sinamatic Salve-ation: Silence=Death (to Feminism & Sexuality)
The Mistress Manual Blog
Lusty Lady from Rachel Kramer Bussel: Tristan Taormino Keynote Speech at Oregon State University Modern Sex Conference Canceled Because of Her Website & Resume
Smut & Sensibility: Last-Minute Uninvitation: Shame on OSU
Center for Positive Sexuality Blog
Self Serve Blog
Vivane’s Sex Carnival
Sarah Sloane, sex educator
Shanna Katz, sex educator
Facts and Friction
UPDATE 1/21/2011, 11:00 am EST:
I’d like to respond to Todd Simmons’ comments to Examiner.com. Sarah Estrella writes:
While Taormino and the blogosphere have been portraying this as an anti-porn act of censorship from the university, it may actually have been more about a misunderstanding on the part of the conference’s organizers about which pools of available money were appropriate to use to bring controversial speakers to campus.
Simmons is re-writing history in order to put this all on the organizers, which is unfair. These general dollar funds were allocated to The Modern Sex Conference. If these funds are so “sensitive,” why were they given to a conference on sex? The organizers were empowered to spend that money, then disempowered when restrictions were placed on it after the fact. The organizers of the Modern Sex conference sought approval from Intercultural Student Services (ISS) every step along the way and never concealed who I was. The ISS had the opportunity to view my website since October and before they confirmed me as the keynote. Organizers have told me explicitly that they looked through the General University Policies, Procurement and Contract Services Policies, and the Intercultural Student Services website expecting to find a policy on speakers whose attendance on campus might be risqué or controversial. They didn’t find one, nor were they ever told there was any such policy. The organizers are not to blame here.
Furthermore, this is an anti-porn statement . Larry Roper said the reason my appearance was cancelled was because of my involvement in pornography, which does make this a free speech issue. Quoting Larry Roper’s email:
It became clear to those providing taxpayer funding for the conference that the speaker, in fact, is also a self-described pornographer with a significant online business in video pornography and related material. A decision was made by Student Affairs leadership that using public funds to cover a speaking fee and travel expenses for the speaker constituted an inappropriate use of those funds, and the speaker’s appearance was thus cancelled.
Other conference speakers are being paid, and that money is coming from the same place: general fund dollars. OSU is clearly saying that Oregon taxpayer dollars allocated to Oregon State University should not be used to bring me, a pornographer, to speak. If they said that to organizers in November, then my appearance would not have been booked and a contract never would have been written, but they didn’t. Of course OSU has the right to spend its money how it sees fit. But it raises some thorny issues which I think are worth discussing. Reducing my life’s work to my work in pornography is a reflection of our anti-sex, anti-porn culture. It is a clear statement that a woman like me, who once performed in and currently produces and sells pornography, is not worth being paid for my time or expertise, regardless of my qualifications or what I have to say. It perpetuates the idea that working in the sex industry is shameful and negates all my other work outside the industry.
I’m thrilled that students are organizing to bring me to campus anyway, because in the end, this is about the students. I support their right to bring whatever speakers they want to campus.
UPDATE 1/20/2011, 6:00 pm EST:
The university is responding to email letters in support of me with the following form letter, which several people have forwarded to me:
Thank you for writing to Oregon State University. As an institution of higher education, Oregon State University is committed to free speech and an open discussion of ideas on our campuses. However, as a public university, OSU and its representatives must be careful and judicious stewards of how we allow taxpayer monies allocated to the university to be spent in service of such discussions.
Organizers of the upcoming Modern Sex Conference at OSU recently sought approval to bring in a speaker for that event by presenting a partial description of the speaker in question as a writer and sex advice columnist. However, as arrangements were being made to complete the contract for the speaker, it became clear to those providing taxpayer funding for the conference that the speaker, in fact, is also a self-described pornographer with a significant online business in video pornography and related material. A decision was made by Student Affairs leadership that using public funds to cover a speaking fee and travel expenses for the speaker constituted an inappropriate use of those funds, and the speaker’s appearance was thus cancelled.
Travel costs already incurred by the speaker in preparation for her appearance at the university will be reimbursed.
OSU regrets the communication issues that created confusion and difficulties for all parties concerned in this matter. The university’s long history as an institution that has provided fora for speakers and ideas of all kinds speaks for itself.
Sincerely,
Larry D. Roper
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Oregon State University
Please note the following INACCURACIES IN ROPER’S LETTER as well as some additional information:
–The organizers NEVER mislead administrators about who I was or what I do or provided a “partial description of me.” They are being thrown under the bus here unfairly.
–I do not have a “significant online business in video pornography” but even if I did, who cares? Pornography is LEGAL.
–The student organizers of this event and staff people are being told not to speak to me or anyone else about the matter. All have expressed to me privately that they fear retribution if they do speak up, including losing their jobs (some of the students also work for OSU, and that work makes it possible for them to attend the university). The university hopes that by intimidating people into not talking to the press, the story will not be covered.
–There is at least one other pornographer speaking at the conference (Tobi Hill-Meyer, see Tobi’s blog post). An OSU spokesperson claims that because Tobi isn’t being paid—and none of the other speakers are being paid—it is not an issue. So, OSU is happy to let the other pornographers/other “unsavory sex types” speak, they just will not pay them to do so. Further sex-negative bullshit, devaluing my work, and the work of others, precisely because it’s about sexuality. Plus, some of these presenters are being compensated for their time, so the spokesperson is lying.
For Immediate Release
SEX EDUCATOR AND SPEAKER TRISTAN TAORMINO, SET TO GIVE CONFERENCE KEYNOTE, UNINVITED BY OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE OF HER ‘RESUME AND WEBSITE’
January 19, 2011
Contact:
Tristan Taormino
tristan@puckerup.com
Award-winning author, columnist, sex educator, and filmmaker Tristan Taormino was set to be the keynote speaker at Oregon State University’s Modern Sex conference, scheduled for February 15-16, 2011. Yesterday, she was uninvited by a university representative, who cited her resume and website as the reason.
On October 28, 2010, organizers of the OSU Modern Sex conference booked Taormino to give the keynote talk; they confirmed the date and agreed to fees, and Tristan’s management received a first draft of the contract on November 1. That contract was incomplete and sent back to OSU for revisions. As with many negotiations, the contract was pending as all the paperwork got done, but in late December, OSU again confirmed Tristan’s appearance and conference organizers told her manager to purchase airline tickets, for which OSU would reimburse her.
On Tuesday, January 18, 2011, Steven Leider, Director of the Office of LGBT Outreach and Services contacted Colten Tognazzini, Tristan Taormino’s manager, to say that the conference had come up short on funding. Tognazzini told him that since the travel was booked and the time reserved, they could work with whatever budget they did have. Leider said that would not be possible: “We have to cancel Ms. Taormino’s appearance due to a lack of funding. It has been decided that OSU cannot pay Ms. Taormino with general fee dollars, because of the content of her resume and website.” At OSU, ‘general fee dollars’ include taxpayer dollars given to the University by the Oregon State Legislature to defray various costs. They differ from ‘student activity dollars,’ which are part of every student’s tuition and help fund student groups and activities.
Taormino’s resume includes her seven books on sex and relationships, the 18 anthologies she has edited, numerous television appearances from CNN to The Discovery Channel, and her award-winning adult films. She was a columnist for The Village Voice for nearly ten years and has given more than 75 lectures at top colleges and universities including Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, NYU and Columbia. Her website, puckerup.com , includes sex education information, advice, and information about the films she directs for Vivid Entertainment, one of the largest adult companies in the country.
“In my ten years of booking Tristan at colleges and universities, of course there has been some controversy. But I have never had a university cancel like this last minute,” says Colten Tognazzini, Taormino’s manager. “It’s not unusual for contract negotiations to drag on. Once they confirmed we should book her travel, I felt comfortable the event was a done deal. I continued to work with them in good faith that a signed contract would be forthcoming. I believe that the conference organizers’ hands are tied, and this decision came from much higher up. They have cancelled with less than a month’s notice during Tristan’s busiest season. She gave up other opportunities to go to Oregon. Without a signed contract, we may have no recourse, and were told we will not be reimbursed for her travel.”
Tognazzini spoke to a source at OSU who speculated that the University feared that when it went before the legislature in regards to future funding, legislators would use OSU’s funding of a “pornographer” on campus as ammunition to further cut budgets. This source, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Tognazzini, “I think they’re uninviting Tristan because they don’t want to have to defend her appearance to conservative legislators.”
“I’m extremely disappointed that OSU has decided to cancel my appearance. I’ve been protested before, but never uninvited. I have never misrepresented who I am or what I do. I am proud of all the work I do, including the sex education films and feminist pornography I make,” says Taormino. “The talk I planned to give at this conference, titled “Claiming Your Sexual Power” has nothing to do with porn, but the porn is such an easy target for anti-sex conservatives and censors. I find it ironic that one of the missions of the conference is to understand diverse perspectives of sexuality. Apparently, my perspective—one of educating and empowering people around their sexuality—isn’t welcome at OSU.”
If OSU students and others still want to hear Taormino speak, she will be teaching two workshops at She Bop in Portland on February 13 and 14. “She Bop supports a healthy perspective on sex and sexuality and we are proud to have Tristan Taormino present two years in a row at our shop in Portland. Tristan is a leading educator paving the way for others to help break down the stigma around sex in this country. It is part of our mission as a female friendly adult shop to support sexual empowerment and growth,” say co-owners Jeneen Doumitt and Evy Cowan.
***
Note from Tristan:
Don’t Let the Anti-Sex Conservatives Win!
If you support free speech and my mission of sexual empowerment, please voice your opinion about OSU’s decision to cancel my appearance at the last minute (and not reimburse me for travel expenses) to the following people. I would really appreciate your support —Tristan
Larry Roper
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
632 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2154
541-737-3626 (phone)
541-737-3033 (fax)
email: larry.roper@oregonstate.edu
Dr. Mamta Motwani Accapadi
Dean of Student Life
A200 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2133
541-737-8748 (phone)
541-737-9160 (fax)
email: deanofstudents@oregonstate.edu
twitter: @deanmamta
Dr. Edward J. Ray
President
600 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2128
541-737-4133 (phone)
541-737-3033 (fax)
email: pres.office@oregonstate.edu
February 1, 2006 (New York, NY): Award-winning writer and sex educator Tristan Taormino will host a sexy, star-studded party to celebrate the release of the second edition of her book The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women and the new adult video from her production company Smart Ass Productions and Adam & Eve Pictures, Tristan Taormino’s House of Ass on February 26 at 8:00 pm at Crash Mansion in New York City.
The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, which is published by Cleis Press in San Francisco, has sold over 75,000 copies since its release in 1998. It has been featured in dozens of publications from Jane and Redbook to Playboy and Penthouse. Tristan has promoted it on The Howard Stern Show, The Discovery Channel, HBO’s Real Sex, and MSNBC’s Scarborough Country where former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough called Tristan “the self-described poster girl for anal sex.” The new edition of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women includes over sixty pages of new material, including new chapters and new illustrations.
Tristan directed Tristan Taormino’s House of Ass for adult powerhouse Adam & Eve Pictures. Shot near Mountain Center, California (three hours outside Los Angeles), this reality-TV inspired video, she invited a group of porn stars to a secluded house in the mountains for the weekend. Tristan wanted to see what would happen if they could relax and let their guard down. Each housemate was scheduled to do one scene with another person, then encouraged to have sex with other housemates of their choice. Throughout the weekend, they told secrets, dished about each other, and were brutally honest as they talked directly to the camera in the Confessional. They gave sex tips in the hot tub, talked about their fantasies, and had sex in every room of the house, culminating in an unbelievable orgy. The video stars video stars Joanna Angel, Justine Joli, Sarah Blake, Keeani Lei, Mr. Marcus, Talon, and Scott Nails.
At the Backdoor Betty 3 party, Tristan will welcome adult superstars Joanna Angel and Justine Joli who will be on hand to greet fans and sign autographs. Joanna, founder of BurningAngel.com and one of the leaders of the alt porn movement, just signed an exclusive directing and performing contract with VCA Pictures. Justine is one of the most sought-after performers in the industry and is known as the “Lesbian Queen of Porn.” “These are two of the smartest and hottest women working in porn today. I am thrilled that they will be there to help me celebrate,” says Taormino.
Tristan Taormino’s House of Ass features the music of several bands, including New York-based indie band JonesTown, who will be performing at the party. “One of the things people joke about is that the music in porn is so cheesy. I wanted to change that,” says Taormino. “We’ve never been asked to have our music on a porn video, but it seemed like a good fit,” says Freddie Mac, lead singer of JonesTown. “I like to think that our songs tap into the most basic of human emotions and impulses. I couldn’t think of a better way to be ‘exposed’ to a whole new audience, to tap into those impulses on a whole new level…now if only I hadn’t missed that casting call…” Also appearing is singer-songwriter Bridget Everett who just performed her one-woman show at Joe’s Pub. “I saw her sing these amazingly smart, hysterical, raunchy songs about sex, and I just fell in love,” says Taormino. “Wait until you hear her ode to anal sex-I still can’t get it out of my head!”
Backdoor Betty 3 is February 26 at 8 pm at Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, NYC. For more information, contact colten (at) puckerup.com or visit Puckerup.com.
Sexy goodie bags sponsored by: Puckerup.com, Adam & Eve, Cleis Press, Astroglide, Babeland, Eros Boutique, The Smitten Kitten, BurningAngel.com, JustineJoli.com, Sphincterine, HoneyBun, WackyJac.com, JonesTownNYC.com, and AtLeastItsPink.com
About Tristan Taormino (http://puckerup.com): Tristan Taormino is an award-winning author, columnist, editor, and sex educator. She is the author of True Lust: Adventures in Sex, Porn and Perversion; Down and Dirty Sex Secrets; and The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. She is a columnist for The Village Voice, Taboo, Velvet Park, and the former editor of On Our Backs. She is the director, producer, and star of two volumes of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. She has been featured in over 200 publications including The New York Times, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, Details, New York Magazine, Men’s Health, and Playboy. She has appeared on CNN, HBO’s Real Sex, NBC’s The Other Half, The Howard Stern Show, Loveline, Ricki Lake, MTV, Oxygen, Fox News, The Discovery Channel, and on dozens of radio shows. She lectures at top colleges and universities including Yale, Brown, Columbia, Smith, Vassar, and NYU, and she teaches sex and relationship workshops around the world.
About Joanna Angel (http://www.burningangel.com): Joanna Angel is the co-founder and president of the punk porn website BurningAngel.com and she is considered one of the leaders of the alternative porn movement. The membership-based website features over 10,000 pictures, over 100 Burningangel.com girls, band interviews, streaming videos, essays, and models’ blogs. Joanna directs, produces and stars in her own videos for Burning Angel (which are distributed by Pulse Distribution) and she is an exclusive director and performer for VCA Pictures. Her first feature for VCA, the comedy Joanna’s Angels, received four AVN Award nominations in 2006. Joanna won the award for Most Outrageous Sex Scene for her self-produced short Re-Penetrator.
About Justine Joli (http://www.justinejoli.com): Over the last four years Justine Joli has appeared as a cover or centerfold for nearly every men’s magazine in creation, including layouts in Hustler, Taboo, Penthouse, High Society, Cheri, Oui, and Club. She has appeared in over seven Andrew Blake titles and had one named after her. She has logged more appearances with Danni’s Hard Drive than any model to date and continues to be a guest on the show. In 2004 she signed an exclusive toy contract with California Exotic Novelties. In 2005, she became the official spokesperson for Michael Ninn’s company Ninnworx.
About JonesTown (http://www.jonestownnyc.com): Fast emerging as one of the hottest new rock bands in New York City, JonesTown is fronted by songwriter Freddie Mac and driven to glory by Timmy Rockmore on guitar, Steve Paelet on bass, and Ross Kantor on drums. Rock ‘n Roll Experience describes them as “Musically addictive and ready to rock they deliver, both live and on record.” JonesTown’s songs will make you bang your head and shake your ass, all at the same time. “Open Up,” from their 2005 release When It All Comes Down has been used as the official theme to Bike New York’s Five Boro Bike Tour. Their music is now being taken for a different kind of ride as a part of Tristan Taormino’s House of Ass.
About Bridget Everett (http://www.atleastitspink.com): Bridget Everett is currently performing her one-woman show, “At Least It’s Pink,” a first-person recounting of her misadventures as the local slut in her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas. In this cabaret-style mix of dirty tales, witty original songs, and 70s and 80s pop, Bridget recalls colorful childhood experiences with almost embarrassing candor. She is accompanied by Kenny Mellman (better known as “Herb” to Justin Bond’s “Kiki”) on piano. Michael Musto calls her “A large talent. Wynonna Judd meets Melissa Etheridge via the local bar floozy, on a rocket ship out of Twin Peaks.”
Tristan Taormino Forms Smart Ass Productions
January 31, 2006 (New York, NY): After nearly a five-year hiatus, Village Voice sex columnist and AVN award-winning director Tristan Taormino returns to the world of adult video at the helm of her new production company, Smart Ass Productions.
In 1999, Tristan made a splash when she directed, produced and starred in The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women for Evil Angel. Co-directed by Ernest Greene and John Stagliano and shot by Stagliano himself, the video received five stars from AVN, two AVN Awards (including Best Anal Release), and an XRCO Award. She followed it up with The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women 2 in 2001, and that title was nominated for Erotic Film of the Year at the Erotic Awards in the UK. In the past several years, she has concentrated on building her sex education empire, which includes penning columns for The Village Voice and Hustler’s Taboo Magazine, authoring popular sex books, lecturing at top colleges and universities, and teaching sexuality workshops all over the world. She’s thrilled to be returning to porn. “I have always had one foot in the adult industry since I write about it often,” says Tristan. “I have watched as more women have stepped behind the camera, and I have been newly inspired to do the same.”
While women and couples have finally been acknowledged as a viable segment of porn consumers, the majority of videos marketed to them are plot-driven features. Through her workshops and other public appearances, Tristan has the opportunity to talk to hundreds of different people. “Plenty of men and women tell me that they love all-sex and gonzo videos, but could do without some of the elements of the most popular titles in those genres. Plus, they’re tired of seeing videos where the women either don’t come or their orgasms are clearly fake.” That’s where Smart Ass Productions comes in. No outrageous stunts. No degradation. Instead, the focus of Tristan’s videos is fresh and accessible performers, hot, spontaneous sex, real chemistry and real orgasms for everyone. “I want the best and brightest performers to come together in a sexually-charged, intense environment where they can let their guard down and show a different side of themselves. Also, one of the complaints I hear most often from women is that the guys aren’t attractive, so I am on a mission to have hot guys in all my videos!”
The first Smart Ass production she directed is Tristan Taormino’s House of Ass for Adam & Eve Pictures. Shot near Mountain Center, California (three hours outside Los Angeles), this reality-TV inspired video stars Joanna Angel, Justine Joli, Sarah Blake, Keeani Lei, Mr. Marcus, Talon, and Scott Nails. Joanna does her first interracial scene in the video. “She did a scene with Scott the first day which was really great,” says Tristan. “The next day, she told me that she liked Mr. Marcus and felt there was chemistry between them. Their scene was totally spontaneous and really hot.”
Tristan plans to direct several titles in 2006. Although she joined forces with Adam & Eve for Tristan Taormino’s House of Ass, she does not have an exclusive deal with the company. “The experience I had with John Stagliano and everyone at Evil Angel was incredible. I really enjoyed working with Adam & Eve on House of Ass. I would love the chance to work with both of them again,” says Tristan. “Plus, there are several other companies I’ve followed throughout the years that I think are creating really great stuff. So, I am keeping my options open.”
Tristan Taormino’s House of Ass hits the streets February 24. The video’s debut coincides with the release of the second edition of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women from Cleis Press.