Rereading that last sentence makes me sound naive. Or ignorant. Maybe a little bit of both.
I never thought about how making smut videos would effect future relationships with women — women both in and out of the industry. I knew “civilian” women wouldn’t be too thrilled about having a dude who made dirty movies for a living; I had no idea it would make a relationship virtually impossible. I never knew it would be equally impossible to maintain any sort of relationship with one of the models as well. I’ve told you these stories.
By the way, I point the finger at myself. I don’t wanna come off as The Sane One surrounded by all The Crazies.
For a while, I was thinking 2012 was gonna be it. After 10 years, I was all done. I’ve changed my mind, at least for the foreseeable future. I like my job, more than I ever have, and I know a great deal of that has to do with the slowdown. “The Perfect Storm” nearly killed Porno, but, in the end, it’s made my life a little easier. I still make a decent living, but it’s not like The Good Ole Days.
The Perfect Storm: the near-meltdown of the US Economy at the end of 2008, which is the same time the Tube Sites exploded in popularity, which is the same time DVD production, for the most part, died and went to Heaven.
The Perfect Storm reduced my work by 2/3’s, which has allowed me to stay (somewhat) sane.
My family’s always been involved in a cyclical business (they started it 8 years before WWII did) and they’ve always said, “when biz goes down, it’s always a good thing…cause it shakes the trees and gets rid of this shit.”
Porn Trees shook hard, and a lot of the shit has gone away…hopefully for good. There’s other interesting things that’s happened since, and part of it is the damage the storm left as far as a model’s longevity is concerned. Pre-’08, I think a “good career” spanned about the same time as an NFL player’s did…3 years. I think if a model can get steady, consistent work through a calendar year in 2013, that’s pretty fucking good. Some people think there’s “no more” Porn Stars, but I won’t go that far.
So much has changed in 10 years. I’ve never heard of a business model imploding in such a short time. I don’t mean the internet model, either. When I got to Porno Valley in 2002, there were “internet rates” and “DVD rates”, and our rates were 20 – 30% lower; in addition, the DVD Crews thought the Internet Guys were a joke. They predicted a rapid demise, and some even licensed their content to web sites for next-to-nothing. Some models wouldn’t even take an “Internet” gig. And when they did, you could almost hear The Agent smirk on the other end of the phone when he said, “Oh, it’s just an internet site? Then her boy-girl rate is $700 instead of $1100. And if you’re looking, I know a producer that will license his entire library to you for $8000. I’m pretty sure there’s hundreds of titles.”
Anyway, the storm seems to have passed. And as far as me…well, I’m good for a while longer. Maybe a good while.
What else am I gonna do?
I recently saw a porn documentary by Louis Theroux called ” Twilight of the Porn Stars.” It was eye-opening to say the least. I recommend the documentary for anyone wants a closer look at the current state of the porn industry.
Needless to say, the “Good ol’ days” of porn are never comming back.
On the occasion of your ten-year pornoversary, I’d certainly love to hear more about how the business has changed. Porn has always been the canary in the coal mine for the rest of the entertainment industry – it’d be very interesting to hear more about that business model implosion and where you think things are headed.
Interesting post. I’m sure you can fall into mutual love, Billy. Just put yourself out there more and put yourself into challenging social situations. It seems like you like smart women. You should try and meet more of them. Toastmasters is a great place…
I wonder whose decision was it to license content for the internet at such low rates. What was the logic behind it? Everyone blames the tube sites but it was really the fact that producers did not value their content which really did the industry in.
Were agents the main driving forces responsible for lowering performer rates for the internet? Why did they cave so easily?
It just doesn’t make sense.
Some good things that are gone: extreme rough sex (ie triple anal)–although Kink still likes to beat the fuck out of women. In the same vein, aren’t kill-fees a lot less common? It also seems like there are a lot less drugs in porn (weed isn’t a drug). Also, during the late 90s and early 2000s there was a creepy “childlike” motif with female performances. Things have gone the other way with cougars and MILFs and I’m definitely happy about that….
Great film if you haven’t seen it already: Shohei Imamura’s “The Pornographers”
IM a bigger guy but not look supper big and fat r nothing but not skinny I wasn’t do porn can u get back to me plz
Bring back Pin-Up. Real prints, not internet.
Porno-journalism. Book, documentary.
Ten years from now you’re Billy Watson, artiste and auteur.
Billy you need to know that its probably not you nor your career as a smut peddler that makes relationships with women so difficult. No I doubt that it makes all that much difference. I would guess that its more of an age thing. Just from the little I have read on your site I gather that you in your early 40’s. I myself am amongst your age group and single. I find that women our age are needy and desperate to settle down, women in their 30’s either have kids or want to have kids, and young women, early to late 20’s are just to young and irresponsible to be in an adult relationship. Add to that in my case and probably yours as well, I will not settle. I have grown to know exactly what I enjoy in life and what I am willing to accept from my partner. Unfortunately most women can not live up to my expectations.
I could not be with a woman who wants to live beyond our means. You know the type that must have the big house and the Mercedes and everything is about the appearance of wealth. They are all to common and truly bitter people who are never happy with the life they have.
Next is the one that I am sure you suffer from most. Stupid women. I will not be with a woman who does not read. How many women do you know that have made it through a book lately.
Then there are the damaged women. They permeate my life and make it difficult for me. These are the women who have been hurt by men in the past. It can range from a bad marriage all the way to molested as a young woman. These women are everywhere and seem normal at first. Then you get to know them and see all the insecurities and quirks that makes carrying on an adult relationship to difficult. These are the ones I fall for thinking that once they see that I am a decent man who only wants to be there for them and to protect them that they will magically become fixed. NO once damaged always damaged. Its a shame to because there are some truly awesome women in this category.
What I see and it makes me ill if I must say. 50 plus women seem to have their shit together most. They have a much better perspective than a women in her 40/30’s and enjoy most of the same things I do. To a 50 year old woman a trip to a museum followed by a nice meal then a night in bed reading is a joy. The only thing with this is they are 50 and although many take care of themselves and are attractive to the eye when dressed. Once the cloths hit the floor and your up close and personal you can tell they are 50. This sucks. I wish I wasn’t so vain. They suite me in every other way but I can not stay attracted to a 50 year old woman for more than a few months. Then I will start talking to women in the above mentioned categories and think I can fix her or put up with her quirks because she is attractive. Then I start the cycle relationship failure I have practiced the last ten years.
So Billy find yourself a nice cougar and read a good book in bed at some boutique hotel in San Fran while you spend the days searching for antique porn or drag race film.
Your alternative is much better than mine…You could always continue to have sex with young porno princesses that come to your studio without any strings attached. I dont have that option, I have to fain interest in young girls inane lives to get them to sleep with me, not to mention all the money it cost.
Brandon,
Billy has made it abundantly clear that he is not interested in dudes. It’s on the “All About Billy Watson.” page:
“If you’re a dude looking to get into the biz, either in front of — or behind — the camera, DO NOT ASK ME FOR A JOB. I CANNOT HELP YOU. Sorry I had to shout, but it seems that’s the only way to get through to people…and it still doesn’t work.”
“but not look supper big and fat r nothing but not skinny”
Comedy gold right there, pal. Quit plaguing Billy with these requests and for fuck’s sake…take a Basic course in English or something!
That was a very nice summary of the last ten years. Wishing you a great 10 years more. Things will change – its the nature of existence.