Many people will never wonder how to become a porn a porn star. This article is not for them. But if you ever wondered if you could have sex on film for money or how, then read on. We’ve got tips to help set you on your way and some warnings you might not consider when thinking about how to become a porn star.
YOU GOT TO LOOK THE PART
It’s not hard to see what the mainstream porn industry wants in a star. You probably think the typical porn actress is blonde, has a large chest and butt, yet she remains thin at the waist. There’s a reason why this is a stereotype; about 1/3 of porn’s leading women are blonde. Think Jenna Jameson, one of the best-known porn stars. However, there are actually more brunettes making adult films than blondes.
Just because you have the right build doesn’t mean you’re going to make it in porn star land, however! This is especially true if a casting director is looking for something unique. He or she might be looking to avoid the typical busty blonde who dresses sexy for someone who looks a little more homegrown.
There are yet other considerations. Breaking into porn is especially difficult for women of color. Over 70% of female performers are white, with black women making up the next largest demographic. And despite the number of people who fetishize Asian women, it appears that they only make up approximately 5% of the lady porn star population!
All this might not matter if you don’t have the right look though. Porn stars have spent thousands, if not millions, of dollars on getting breast enhancements (and reductions), tucks and lifts of all kinds. They work out and follow advice to make breasts look awesome.
The news is even bleaker for trans women, whose role in mainstream porn is relegated to the fetishized “tranny.” Of course, many people find this tasteless, and no one would blame a trans woman who thinks the same
Although there are trends and stereotypes that you can expect from porn, especially mainstream porn, the industry is changing – albeit, slowly. Indie porn producers are looking for new and unique faces and bodies. These include trans porn stars, plus-sized actors, men and women with body modifications and other traits that set them apart. The body positive movement has lead to more varied porn, but there’s still enough competition that you might find it hard to land a big role.
LOCATION MATTERS, TOO
Just like aspiring actors and directors flock to Hollywood, so, too, do young starlets make their trek to California (and many of them were born there to begin with) with the intent of breaking into porn. This is where most of the porn studios are, and you’re going to find it difficult to be taken seriously if you don’t move to L.A. This brings its own challenges, including the higher cost of living. If you cannot already support yourself in California with your existing career, then you’re probably going to suffer while you try to get your pornography career going.
However, stricter rules about condom usage mean that some studios are taking their business elsewhere. For example, Las Vegas has seen an increase in porn production, but it’s also an expensive place to live.
You could also consider Miami as your base. But in most cases, you’ve got to go to the action and not the other way around. That’s key when it comes to become a porn star.
WHAT ABOUT THE PAY?
The porn industry actually uses fairly typical pay scales in straight flicks. This means you can expect to make:
- $800 for a woman-on-woman scene
- $1,000 for a man-woman scene
- $1,200 or more for anal sex
- $4,000 or more for “double penetration” Source
Thus, the more you’re willing to do on camera, the more you’ll make. However, don’t expect to make it rich. While women in porn could expect to make $100,000 annually, the number has dropped. It’s more likely that you’ll make $40,000 to $50,000 per year unless you manage to become a household name. Keep in mind that you’ll wind up paying 10% to 15% to an agent, if you have one, and there may be other hidden fees, such as paying for routine STI testing.
That’s not the “easy money” that most people expect when they think of doing porn, and your current day job might already have that beat!
Interestingly enough, popularly male performers tend to make more than their female contemporaries.
FAME DOESN’T LAST
Our last warning is about how fleeting stardom can be for a porn star. For every Jenna Jameson, Sasha Grey or Stoya, there are thousands of porn stars who never become the leading women. They certainly don’t get to go on to do it time and again. And even for those who do gain some notoriety, a career in porn isn’t going to span decades like it can for a regular actor. Jenna Jameson, for example, was only active in the industry for about 10 years before she announced her retirement. Although the fame led to other gigs, including reality TV show hosting and acting in films, there’s only one Jenna!
In reality, most porn stars see an average career length of six to 18 months. Don’t get us wrong, however: a porn star can film a lot of scenes or films during those months!
There are a number of reasons why porn careers tend to be to shortlived:
- It’s not what they thought it would be.
- The lifestyle is not as stable as they’d like it.
- There’s always someone willing to do it for less money because they don’t know better or have the authority to argue on their behalf.
- Disenchantment with the porn life…who’d have guessed!
- So on and so forth.
But maybe you just want to get into porn for a brief stint. Perhaps you’ve got cash in the bank, so it doesn’t matter whether you make it or break it. Here’s what you have to do (assuming you’ve got the body, the time and you’re in the right location!).
HOW TO BECOME A PORN STAR IN 6 STEPS
1.TAKE PHOTOS
Your photos will be one of the first things potential agents and directors know you from. Be prepared to take high-quality photos of yourself both naked and clothed. it takes more confidence to do porn than it does to ride your man. If you can’t strip in front of a single photographer, you’re not going to do so well in a brightly-lit room full of production staff. Check out the tips to take a sexy selfie because a lot of that advice can be used here.
2. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE WILLING TO DO
Casting calls are going to look for actors who are willing to do certain scenes. This correlates directly to pay, as discussed above. So you’ll need to know what you’re willing to do and let your agent know, too!
3. FIND AN AGENT
Yup! Just like you would in Hollywood. It’s probably not the same agent that Jennifer Lawrence has, but that’s okay. Agents such as Mark Spiegler are higher profile, but you’ll find plenty of talent agencies dedicate to porn like Flis, OC Modeling, East Coast Talent or ATM LA.
A quick Google search reveals dozens of agencies dedicated solely to porn. An agent might seem expensive to the newbie who wants all her money to herself, but it’s a wise move, especially if you’re not familiar with the porn industry. A reputable agent can help you find gigs with better working conditions and pay while someone who is less scrupulous could lead you to low-paying jobs and even risky situations!
You can certainly keep an eye out for casting calls on your own, but beware of Craigslist and other online postings that might not be legitimate.
4. APPLY FOR JOBS
You and many other potential actors are going to apply for any jobs you’re interested in. Realize that you will get a lot of rejections, especially if you’re an amateur or if you don’t fit the vision for the movie.
Whether it’s you or an agent speaking on your behalf, you’ll need to let the producer know what your limits are. If you aren’t okay with girl-on-girl scenes, anal sex or anything else, then the producer needs to know right away. You might miss out on a job, or the role may be changed for your preferences, but you don’t need to do anything you’re not comfortable with.
Furthermore, you might even be interested in doing kinky scenes like BDSM (more on that here), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be treated with respect by fellow stars, the director and production staff.
5. EXPAND YOUR NETWORK
Allow your agent, producer and other pornstar friends to introduce you to their contacts. Go to industry events and parties. Hang out at the bars and clubs where industry execs are known to frequent. You don’t want to be clingy – it annoys potential contacts as much as it does boyfriends – but being available is useful. You never know when you might catch someone’s eye!
There’s potential that you can follow these steps and your career will never take off. Perhaps you don’t have the right look or you’re not into what’s currently trendy in porn. The realities of becoming a porn star are far less glamorous than many people realize, even those bad girls whose dream is to have sex on camera. Breaking into porn itself might not afford you with the opportunities you want, but for some women, they have to try doing porn before they know if it’s for them or not.