I’m getting pretty excited about my upcoming trip to San Francisco, flying out from Melbourne on 20th September! The Roxie Theater kindly invited me to hold a film night on the 21st September. A wonderful way to kick off Folsom and my first taste of Folsom. I’d love it if you’d join me for an evening of delicious smut and an illuminating Q&A at the end of the screening.
Good vibrations are sponsoring the event and providing us with a gorgeous goody bag to raffle on the night.
Maybe you have heard this phrase used and thought, well, what the hell makes some porn sex positive or feminist or ethical and others not?
Great question, we hope this page can at least cover a very basic understanding of the ethics of pornography and then add a little of Permission 4 Pleasure’s values to boot. (btw, if you want a list of ethical porn producers look here)
Enjoy x
What is sex positive porn?
The contemporary use of the term ‘sex positive’ comes from the branch of feminism called sex positive feminism. Its the simple understanding that sex and sexuality are a fundamentally pleasurable and healthy for most* people (*of course with many of the asexual sexual identities not so much) Previous to its current usage in feminist theory, the term originated from the historical social movement of sexual liberation. Today, it’s just a way of suggesting a general belief, that sex isn’t inherently bad. That also means the culture of shaming sexually active people as whores or sluts or regarding sex work as somehow lesser are actually false value judgement.
At Permission 4 Pleasure we use this term because we believe in agency for all autonomous beings including women (to clarify as well, we will be using the word woman and this includes all female identifying people)
We reject anti-porn feminist sentiments that all porn and performers in porn are just victims of patriarchal oppression and believe consenting adults can not only choose sex work, but also benefit and enjoy the work they choose.
We do not think it is a helpful exercise to conflate sex work and sex trafficking because it not only confuses and obfuscates the actual importance of addressing trafficking but it also amplifies misconceptions about sex work being ‘wrong’.
Of course, we acknowledge there are many unethical situations that happen in the consenting sex industry which brings us to our next question:
What is ethical porn?
You want your tee shirts made slave labor free right? Well, for a lot of people, they want their porn to be held to the same standards as anything else. Not exploitative, not coercive or dangerous for the cast and crew and most of all, that there is transparency so that consumers can pay for the porn that matches their ethics.
Now, you may watch a video from kink.com and think, well that woman is in a cage, being tortured, surely this is not ethical porn? Well this is where ethical porn and sex positive porn come together. Some woman, really enjoy BDSM, to tell them otherwise is to deny that woman her agency to choose or decide what she wants for her life. Kink.com also has widely public ethical practices that it employs to ensure a safe work environment.
Just like when you have a summer job in Kmart and they won’t let you stand on a step ladder without a training session on safe step ladder usage but then through either fault, accident or wrong doing you fall over anyway. Porn production companies that are ethical do their best to provide a safe work environment, it doesn’t mean accidents never happen but it is the process of providing the safest situation to do work that can sometimes be challenging.
So, that got a little long winded, but the point is ethical porn is not a single, defined practice but a series of processes that are put in place to ensure safe productions, non exploitation of performers and consensual acts between adults. A lot of porn industries are unregulated because of varied degrees of legality status, but we know a hell of a lot of great companies that do a fantastic job at self regulating and maintaining high standards for their productions.
What is alt porn?
So this is a little different to feminist porn or sex positive because this is more of a genre. We would argue that there are two usages for this term at the moment. There is a fairly mainstream use of the term, which tends to reference the performers looking ‘alternative’ (tattoos, piercings, coloured hair) but then there is the use applied to a more broad statement of porn that is different to the mainstream. For P4P we feature older bodies, which are alternative to what you would normally see. You might also use term to describe production style (avant guard, art house porn, exotica, erotica etc)
What is independent porn?
This one is just like the regular film industry. Some people work for big companies (distributors or large production companies) but other people work independently. There can be feminist, sex positive, ethical porn made from either category. Often independent porn is less constrained or driven by market values so you might see more alternative modes of production or narrative style.
What is feminist porn? How can porn even be feminist?
The million dollar question. People like to say feminist porn can’t really exist, because all porn is a product of the patriarchy. If you are anything like us at P4P, you might think, “Shit, but I like to watch porn, am I just a empty vessel who can’t tell the difference between what I really want to do and what ‘the man’ forces me to do?”
Nah, its all good – you can totally be a feminist and watch porn or make porn, just like you can wear make-up to look beautiful for yourself without being a product of mass media’s beauty standards. No one is saying don’t have a good introspective look at yourself to make sure you are doing things for yourself and your own desires, but to deny that many woman know themselves and what they want is equally anti-feminist.
For a text to be feminist, it really just needs to be created by people who have feminist intent, IE a self identified feminist makes some art with her feminist lens of the world. Like in critical theory, that work is then subject to perspective from an audience. They can debate the merit of the ‘feminist’ nature of the work, but ultimately, if a woman with feminist ideological background (probably sex positive) wants to write, direct and produce a video of herself being subjected to extreme BDSM (as we have done here at p4p) then that work is feminist. You can debate it and tell her she only made that video because- patriarchy but ultimately if we use artist intent as the bar for critique then certainly porn can be feminist.
We should also remember that multiple feminisms exist simultaneously. If one person does something feminist that won’t fit your type of feminism you don’t need to worry because its an intellectual position, not an absolute you don’t need everyone to agree with you (and guess what, no two people will, thanks pluralism) This is the same reason you shouldn’t worry about Taylor Swift ruining feminism, if you attribute her the power to ruin an entire idealogical framework you are a bigger Tswift fan that you think.
Ultimately, porn and pornographic material as well as sex work are a healthy, normal part of life. We (and many others) just want to make sure there are standards applied for safe, consensual, non-exploitative work environments so that consumers and workers alike can choose content that matches just some basic ethical standards that we expect in most other facets of life.
We are just humble filmmakers, so these answers are just our opinions and not cited – there are amazing academics and writers working in various faculties who write on these topics, you should use google scholar to get deeper into the topic. If you want to jump in and watch something- check out our beginners guide to ethical porn
P4P performer Jade Winters – she consented to balloons being dropped on her before we did this.
Just over 2 years ago I decided to go public with my new career in making porn. I’m proud of my work and I didn’t want to hide. Just over 2 years ago, I met the amazing and efficient Josie Hess when she came on board one of my projects as an assistant. As soon as I saw her with her clipboard, pens and highlighters, I knew that she was “the one” for me!
Not long after, Josie introduced me to another incredible filmmaker, her friend and colleague Isabel Peppard. They both asked if I would be interested in being the subject for a short documentary…and I said yes, sure, why not?
Here we all are today, more than 2 years later, 2 years of being followed around the world, Isabel Peppard and Josie Hess have the great fortune of partnering with a fantastic producer and production company Karina Lila Astrup at House Of Gary to finish this labour of love.
So with much happy tears, overwhelming tears of joy and tears of appreciation and gratitude for the unwavering belief and support that Karina, Isabel and Josie have in me as their subject…I am proud to announce that a FEATURE documentary in my name and about me will be birthed next year.
It’s a pretty awesome feeling to be able to say that “Morgana” is now placed firmly on a map!
Seriously, what sort of creative director would ask a performer to be filmed lying on sharp rocks and being washed over by waves at a beach on a cold, grey and wet fucking Melbourne winters day? OOPS, that would be me!
But when the topic of this short film is about Mental Health Awareness neither rain, hail or cold temperatures was going to deter or delay me in wanting to get on with the start of shooting. The plus side, it never feels like really hard work when awesome and efficient Josie is the cinematographer, as we always end up having lots of laughs along the way!
Most surprisingly, I actually found it quite relaxing lying motionless on the rocks, just listening to the sound of the waves rolling in!
If there is one thing I know in life, it’s that glitter and duct tape will help mend most anything. In the depths of my depression I wanted to give myself an uplifting experience to look forward to and hopefully tempt me out of the “bed fort” that I was reluctant to leave. So last week I booked myself in for a full body glitter model shoot, with the amazing Mad Dame Artist. Ms Josie kindly acted as ‘my driver’ to ensure that an awesome, shiny and incredibly fun experience was not missed.
“In a mad world, only the mad are sane.” – Akira Kurosawa
It was a completely uplifting, body positive experience that allowed me to take stock of my mental health for the day.
It’s always a thrill when our films are selected to screen at a film festival. This time receiving news that three of P4P’s films have been selected to be screened at this years Festival Pop Porn6 on June 10-12 in Brazil.
Our past collaborations with Anna Brownfield ‘Music Box’ & ‘Happy Birthday Mistress’ are still proving to be favourites at festivals, along with our newest film ‘Having My Cake’.
A big thrill was having the solo masturbation scene that I performed for Bright Desire ‘Scarlet Woman’ also being selected to screen at the festival.
It’s always such a satisfying feeling for Josie and I, that our films are being selected, embraced and enjoyed by such diverse audiences around the world.
Morgana with Stoya at the #comingoutlikeapornstar panel cinekink 2016
Hanging out with all the awesome people at CineKink earlier this year, never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that Stoya would approach me with the offer of having our films included on TRENCHCOAT x …a curated platform for episodic, pornographic videos created by Stoya and Kayden Kross.
Going live on 27th May, Permission4Pleasure Films will be GOING TO BE A SERIES “MORGANA” on TRENCHCOATx!
A huge THANK YOU to Josie…your unwavering belief (not to mention awesome talent) in me and our work keeps me going on this path!
Or check out this video on our youtube of the event! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROgfjKsxjeo
The first film on TRENCHCOAT is going to be Having My Cake- our amazing, festival loved short film about having your cake, and eating it too. Watch now>> (also now available, Music Box )
It was with great sadness that my having to return to Australia because of a family crisis, that I could only watch from afar instead of participating as originally planned, the final celebrations over the past weeks of a very special place’s “physical closure” Schwelle7. The space that I visited for the first time in 2014, made so many wonderful friends and fell in love with Berlin.
Now as I read posts of friends personal thoughts, memories and the life changing significance this space and community has brought to them, has made me reminisce with heartfelt love and gratitude in just how much Schwelle7, it’s members and the city of Berlin has allowed me and that part of me that was repressed and suppressed for most of my life…to open up, acknowledge, embrace and nurture the very parts of me that I was too afraid and too ashamed to explore for fear of being judged and deemed to be deviant and abhorrent in the “eyes” of societies perceived norm in regards to sex and sexuality. Schwelle7 and it’s community has left an indelible mark (and many glorious, fleeting ones along the way ) on me, my life, my psyche and my work as a film maker.
It is only fitting that all of the performers in my next 2 short films and a documentary that are in postproduction and will be ready to be released in a few months to a worldwide audience through the film festival circuit and various platforms of distribution, are members of this Schwelle7 community, showcasing their talents in topics that I’ve wanted to explore personally.
I’m also very excited to be in current talks, with various deliciously gorgeous friends that I’ve met through Schwelle7, to produce more films when I return later in the year, with themes that may have been difficult to tackle, if we all didn’t have our backgrounds and experiences so firmly and positively entrenched in the space called Schwelle7. I will be dedicating these series of films to Schwelle7 as a tribute to all that Schwelle7 has given to so many others and me.
I look forward to the possibility of a new space manifesting in the not too distant future…. the spirit of Schwelle7 will always live on through it’s community.
So I’m waiting at LAX to board the 2nd of 3 flights that will take me back to Melbourne. I wanted to say a huge thank you to CineKink and Lisa Vandever for making my second time visit to this festival, another memorable experience. The extraordinary reception, feedback and support that I received was overwhelming. Josie Hess and I are so incredibly happy that our films are resonating and being so well received by such a diverse audience.
Catching up with old friends, meeting with so many new and amazing industry people and members of the audience, is always my personal highlight at this festival…not to mention watching so many awesome kinky films.
It was an honour that our film ‘I Am Whole’ had its world premiere screening at this event. But on a personal level, the most exhilarating (albeit rather nerve wracking too) moment for me was being invited as an industry guest to take part in Jiz Lee’sCineKink NYC: Coming out Like a Porn Star: Sex Workers’ Words and Wisdom event.
“Jiz Lee is an award-winning porn performer and industry veteran whose work spans queer pornography and hardcore gonzo adult film genres. Lee’s writing appears in The Feminist Porn Book: The Politics of Producing Pleasure, Best Sex Writing 2015, Genderqueer, and on JizLee.com.”
I have met Jiz Lee on a few occasions now. Their presence and words of understanding and support, have always been a source of encouragement for me as a I navigate the industry, from a relatively new, naive and inexperienced perspective.
Listening to authors Stoya, Chelsea Poe, Milcah Halili Orbacedo and Jiz Lee read their contributions to the ‘Coming Out Like A Pornstar’ book (that Jiz Lee edited) was a mixture of heartfelt joy, laughter and tears.
After the readings, and along with another industry guest Oynx Keesha, we had the opportunity to engage and share with the audience, our experiences and involvement in the sex industry.
CineKink and NYC is starting to feel like family and home to me.
This evening I had enormous messy fun performing as ‘The Goddess Of The Chocolate Pigs’ in Chapter 5: THE HYPNOTISING DANCE OF THE CHOCOLATE PIGS of this decadent experimental performance art piece titled, ‘ANUS my asshole is a nightmare’, the last piece of a trilogy.
Borbála Szente is an experimental artist in the field of performance and body art, born in Hungary but based in Berlin for the last 7 years. I first met Bóbala on my 2014 visit to Berlin and was asked to participate in the first piece of her trilogy ‘The Great Vagina Show’. Both possessing ‘out of the box’ creativity, take pleasure in shocking people and a wicked sense of humour…I knew that we’d become firm friends. And we’re both very loud when we get together!!!
Check out Borbála Szente’s website to see the professional images taken on the night. Also worth while having a look at her past projects but be warned it’s not for the faint hearted!
FIRST PART Chapter 1: RELATE TO YOUR BUTT
WE will bring up some memories to understand that in the ass we are united. Chapter 2: THE SPACEMONKEY AND ETERNITY
Is it possible? Chapter 3: KAVIAR ON HUMANPLATE
Songwriter dinner for weirdos. Chapter 4: ANUS AS THE MIRROR OF YOUR SOUL
is not the eye Chapte r 5: THE HYPNOTISING DANCE OF THE CHOCOLATE PIGS
Did you ever dare to let go? To give in the pig inside? Chapter 6: THE MOTHER OF THE FLYING ASSHOLES
A message channeled through an anal medium. Open your ears.
SECOND PART THE SUPREME ANAL COURT
For those who like it a little more extreme.
whipsassesspankthepolicefistfuckputinandtrumphomoeroticqueerju
dgmentdaysexworkershooksneedlesbloodsuspensionanalcourtcri
mesagainsthumanity
All of it.
The first film on TRENCHCOAT is going to be Having My Cake- our amazing, festival loved short film about having your cake, and eating it too. 
ave stayed to attend the
he Politics of Producing Pleasure, Best Sex Writing 2015, Genderqueer, and on 
rs Stoya, Chelsea Poe, Milcah Halili Orbacedo and 
HYPNOTISING DANCE OF THE CHOCOLATE PIGS of this decadent experimental performance art piece titled, ‘ANUS my asshole is a nightmare’, the last piece of a trilogy.
gram For The Performance.
