'The Sex Factor' Competition Kicks Off 'Millennial Porn Age'

CYBERSPACE—It used to be that consumers and creators of pornography were separated by more than just a screen. They were worlds apart. Producers created movies, and fans consumed the product in ways defined by the cutting-age technologies of the day—be it video cassettes, DVDs or online streaming. But in the age of social media, millennials have begun to leverage technology to drive the industry forward and influence content creation. And now they can even move into the spotlight themselves. More and more, through social media, fans enjoy a more personalized relationship with porn stars. Adult entertainment has become a dynamic, on-demand experience with playlists, personalization and new reality-based experiences. For instance, a developer for Occulus Rift (recently acquired by Facebook for $2 billon) just announced the first virtual reality porn app, which enables the most realistic porn experience to date. Now, the creators of The Sex Factor are taking that interactivity to the next level with a high-profile reality-porn competition. The Sex Factor contest is dangling a $1 million prize in front of fans who are willing to make the crossover from porn consumer to star. The show is holding open auditions to find 16 never-before-lensed aspiring stars to compete in challenges that test their skill and sex appeal. One male and one female winner will be announced in January 2015 at the AVN Awards Show in Las Vegas. For those who prefer to stay out of the spotlight, the show organizers have announced on Twitter (@thesxfactor) that fans will be able to interact with the judges and contestants via social media, vote on weekly challenges and contestants’ porn names, and ultimately decide the winners. Creators of the show launched an extensive search for the most prolific and successful stars in the industry to form the panel of judges. These judges will lead contestants through the intense competition and provide humor, praise, instruction and criticism along the way. There’s never been an Ivy League university for becoming a porn star—until now. Brazzers star Keiran Lee will join Tori Black, Lexi Belle and Remy LaCroix to form the all-star panel of judges. No reality competition would be complete without a beautiful host. For The Sex Factor, Duke University porn star Belle Knox will conduct pre- and post-scene interviews, introduce challenges and navigate viewers through the action. Knox also announced in the show’s trailer that she’ll be doing a scene with the winners. Insured by Lloyd’s of London, Lee’s manhood has pleased many female performers, including each of his fellow Sex Factor judges. He is also a critically acclaimed director and is expected to give unbiased and undoubtedly humorous commentary. Tori Black is the only female star to win back-to-back AVN Female Performer of the Year awards. She regularly ranks in the top five most popular stars in the world. A fearless and genuine performer, Remy LaCroix was nominated for 12 AVN Awards this year, winning for Best Girl/Girl Sex Scene and Best Actress. She will have to make some room for the hardware on her mantel, which already sports a 2013 AVN Award for Best New Starlet. Since her debut, Lexi Belle has solidified her position as porn royalty. She revealed to The Sex Factor production team that she took a very learn-as-you-go approach early in her career, which will play well on the show. Belle continues her reign atop the industry as the 2014 Penthouse Pet of the Year. The reality competition will reveal a few tricks of the trade and a behind-the-scenes look into the lives and careers of the cast and contestants. It’s not all cat fights and judges' panels, though. The Sex Factor will release the entire series of explicit scenes after each episode so fans can watch, comment, share, vote and crown the winners. Fans can keep up with the show and look out for audition information via Twitter (@TheSxFactor). And they can follow the cast for some individual insight as the show progresses: @RemyMeow, @KeiranLee, @MissToriBlack, @OMGitsLexi and @Belle_Knox. To learn more, go to SXFactor.com. Click here to see a trailer.