Twilight Of The Porn Stars
To be aired: Sunday 10th June, 10.00-11.00pm - BBC TWOA blog by Louis on this show can be found by clicking HERE
Synopsis
In the 90s Louis spent time at the hub of America’s adult entertainment industry – the San Fernando Valley in California – to find out if being a male porn star really was one of the best jobs a man could have. He also explored the psychological effects of performing one of the most intimate acts of human behaviour in public and on film.Now he goes back to find out what has changed over the last 15 years – and finds the porn business in crisis. New technology allows performers to upload their own films and have direct contact with their fans and piracy of professionally made films is rife. Nobody wants to pay for porn anymore.
Louis catches up with some of the people he met before to see how they have fared over the years – and finds one has fled, one was sent to prison and another killed himself. He also meets some of the newer performers and finds out how they cope in a business that offers less money, more insecurity and more stress than ever before – and how that affects their relationships.
Tommy Gunn
Tommy is an industry veteran. A former mechanic, he quickly established himself as one of porn’s leading performers with a slew of awards under his belt. Now, as he enters middle age, he is increasingly troubled by his failure to have a stable relationship.
Kagney Lin Carter
Kagney (23) is a rising star and has worked in porn for three years. Her ambition to win awards and make a good living has led her towards the more extreme side of the industry. This, in turn, has put pressure on her relationship with her boyfriend, Monte.
JJ Michaels
Louis catches up with JJ – who he met when he was starting out in porn 15 years ago. Now out of the business, he works in IT in suburban Missouri. While unashamed about his porn past, he reveals that a personal tragedy brought him into the industry in the first place.
Rob Black
Also featured in Louis’ first film, Rob, then aged 23, was the most extreme pornographer in the game. His films, featuring staged rapes and abductions, pushed the limits of acceptability. After a year in jail on obscenity charges, Rob came out a bruised man and is now one of the leading directors in ‘couples’ porn.
Jon Dough
Jon was one of the leading male performers in 1997 when he was filmed by Louis. He went on to marry fellow performer, Monique DeMoan, and have a daughter. However, he became increasingly addicted to crack cocaine and finally killed himself in 2006. Six years on, Louis tracks down Monique to find out more about this tragedy.
