Reel Women: Six Directors Who Go Beyond Shades of Grey

This is the introduction to a series of interviews in the February issue of AVN magazine. To see the online edition, click here. At the end of the year, right around the holidays, two trending topics collided here at AVN. On the one hand, some mainstream reporters approached us because they were warming up to the notion that women might actually watch porn—an interest undoubtedly sparked by the Fifty Shades of Grey “mommy porn” buzz. On the other hand, as if in answer to that question, AVN was invited to a half-dozen different adult movie shoots—each one, coincidentally, helmed by a female director. So we thought we’d do the viewing public a service by letting them know that if they’re not turned on by the mainstream version of Fifty Shades of Grey, which is due to hit the big screen this month, there are many places to find solace—and hot sex—presented from the female perspective. Want alternative takes on BDSM and power play? Jessica Drake and Jacky St. James can oblige. Looking for a great story line and solid comedy? Stormy Daniels has it covered. Some like it hard—and Bonnie Rotten delivers. Lily Cade brings a genuine lesbian vibe to her girl/girl movies. And finally there’s a newbie: established adult star Chanel Preston is taking her first turn behind the camera. So there you have it. Six different answers to the question of whether there is porn being made for women. Yes—and by women. Together with other prolific shooters, including Joanna Angel, Kimberly Kane, Mason (AVN’s 2015 Director of the Year), Nica Noelle, Aiden Starr and Dana Vespoli, these women are making adult entertainment more interesting every day. (Side note: The International Business Times, for one, also took note of the strides women are making in adult entertainment. For more, click here.)