Control Freak Examines ‘Future of Porn’ At 2018 AVN Show

LOS ANGELES—The 2018 AVN Show drew record numbers of mainstream press outlets covering the week’s events, including digital publication Control Forever, which just released its report on “AVN 2018—The Future of Porn.” The 15-minute video piece features host Mike Catherwood visiting all areas of the AVN Show—including the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo and the AVN Novelty Expo show floors—to talk with manufacturers, performers and content creators about where the worlds of sex and porn are headed. The segment is the first in a three-part series, with the remaining episodes to be released soon. The piece opens with cameras pointed on Catherwood as he rides in a taxi on his way to the AVN Show at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, talking about how at one time he had a relationship with his porn similar to the one he had with albums. “I thought about it the other day. I watched more of Tera Patrick on film than any other actress or actor,” he said. “Like, you can put Tom Hanks, Jeff Bridges, Julia Roberts all in a bucket and times it by a million and I still watched more Tera Patrick.” The bottom line, Catherwood tells the audience, is not only does sex sell, but it also innovates. The adult industry has played a major role in a number of technological innovations, from VHS over Betamax to standardizing everything from online credit card payments to video streaming. Once inside, Catherwood and his crew head to the AVN Novelty Expo show floor, where they talk with reps from a number of companies, including FemmeFunn, Impulse Novelties, Bad Dragon and Rock Candy. Viewers are treated to experts talking about everything from extremely powerful bullet vibrators to ride-on sex machines that cum to fantasy creature-inspired dildos to triple stimulation vibrators. Catherwood also talks to creators of sex dolls about the stigma surrounding the creations and how love dolls’ appearances and functions have evolved through the years. In a one-on-one interview with Jag, the CEO of CraftyFantasy.com, Catherwood learns that sex dolls are not just the domain of those who don’t have social skills or desires to interact with real-life partners. Jag explained he and a friend created their company—which is known for its Reya Sunshine doll—after Jag went through a tough divorce and had no desire to enter the dating scene for some time, but still needed his biological needs met. Sex dolls, he noted, can be used instead of real-life relationships, but also can be a supplemental tool during emotional or sexual hardships, contrary to the stigma associated with them. Catherwood next interviews Ela Darling, whom he describes as one of the “pioneers of VR porn.” Darling briefly touches on her start in VR porn, discussing how she often gets excited about new technologies and their possibilities, as well as enjoys finding new platforms and technology for her and her fellow performers. The beauty of VR porn, she notes, is that it can be used in conjunction with a traditional relationship, or as a replacement for those who don’t have the time, special skills, finances, physical abilities or other resources to devote to a more traditional scenario. “These new technologies and devices and products help people that are often forgotten in conversations like this,” Darling said. Catherwood and his crew then head back to the AEE show floor to visit the CamasutraVR booth and interview Lisa Hadouck, CMO of the company. Ideally, she said, VR technology will eventually allow users to immerse themselves in new worlds and experiences, as well as interact with characters in augmented reality with artificial intelligence. And the logical starting point for all of that, Hadouck said, is porn. “Adult is a wonderful place to beta-test these new technologies,” she said. Catherwood wraps up the segment with the conclusion that whether it’s with a partner, a pleasure product or a VR creation, sex is the need everyone has and should fulfill. View the full segment at ControlForever.com.   Photo: Catherwood (left) stands behind Reya Sunshine's love doll as he interviews her and Jag, CEO of CraftyFantasy.com.