Gonzo pornography
Encyclopedia
Gonzo pornography is a style of pornographic film that attempts to place the viewer directly into the scene. The name is a reference to gonzo journalism
, in which the reporter is part of the event taking place. By analogy, gonzo pornography puts the camera right into the action — often with one or more of the participants both filming and performing sexual acts — without the usual separation characteristic of conventional porn and cinema. Influenced by amateur pornography
, basic gonzo porn tends to use far fewer full-body/wide shots, and more close-ups (see Reality pornography). The loose and direct camera work often includes "tight" shots of the genitalia, unlike much of traditional porn.
Gonzo films are one of two broad types of contemporary pornographic film; and can be contrasted with the other type, the "Feature" film. Gonzo films tend to focus far less on the narrative, storyline, plots, extended dialogue, acting, characterization, elaborate costumes and sets, and artistic camerawork commonly found in conventional porn. According to an unnamed executive at a studio specializing in Features, "We don't just show you people fucking; we show you why they're fucking." Features are often aimed at the couples market, whereas gonzo is less likely to be. Gonzo is always hardcore pornography
, whereas some Features could be classed as softcore pornography, especially if they are released in softer edited versions for distribution to hotel pay-per-view services.
Some gonzo directors like John Stagliano
argue that there is a story being told, and that it's a mistake to assume that gonzo inherently lacks a plot. Due to the explosive growth in its popularity since the mid-1990s, gonzo has attained mainstream popularity, lowering the cost of entry into the market for producers, and making it easier for amateur performers to become famous; several individually distinct styles of no-frills, filmed pornography can be labeled gonzo porn. Today, several companies produce gonzo that has excellent lighting and sound quality, (temporary) lingerie costuming, and is shot in various rooms of luxury homes . One trait that all gonzo films share, though, is a much greater emphasis on intense (almost hyperactive) sexual performance, and modern gonzo is evolving to include more hardcore sex acts than either traditional or amateur porn. Regardless of camera techniques or the degree of director involvement in the scenes, a gonzo film has "more sex", per se, than a traditional (e.g. Vivid
or Adam&Eve
) adult video . Gonzo scenes tend to run longer; it is common for a single boy-girl scene to run anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes.
John Stagliano
is considered to have started the Gonzo pornography genre with his Buttman series of films.
Porn star Mika Tan
commented in 2008 that the average gonzo DVD costs $16,000 to produce.
Gonzo journalism
Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism that is written without claims of objectivity, often including the reporter as part of the story via a first-person narrative. The word "gonzo" is believed to be first used in 1970 to describe an article by Hunter S. Thompson, who later popularized the style...
, in which the reporter is part of the event taking place. By analogy, gonzo pornography puts the camera right into the action — often with one or more of the participants both filming and performing sexual acts — without the usual separation characteristic of conventional porn and cinema. Influenced by amateur pornography
Amateur pornography
Amateur pornography is a category of pornography that features models or actors performing without pay, or for whom this material is their first or only paid modeling work. Reality pornography is professionally made porn which seeks to emulate the style of amateur pornography...
, basic gonzo porn tends to use far fewer full-body/wide shots, and more close-ups (see Reality pornography). The loose and direct camera work often includes "tight" shots of the genitalia, unlike much of traditional porn.
Gonzo films are one of two broad types of contemporary pornographic film; and can be contrasted with the other type, the "Feature" film. Gonzo films tend to focus far less on the narrative, storyline, plots, extended dialogue, acting, characterization, elaborate costumes and sets, and artistic camerawork commonly found in conventional porn. According to an unnamed executive at a studio specializing in Features, "We don't just show you people fucking; we show you why they're fucking." Features are often aimed at the couples market, whereas gonzo is less likely to be. Gonzo is always hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
, whereas some Features could be classed as softcore pornography, especially if they are released in softer edited versions for distribution to hotel pay-per-view services.
Some gonzo directors like John Stagliano
John Stagliano
John Allen Stagliano , also known as Buttman, is an American entrepreneur, pornographic actor, producer and director, who founded and owns the Evil Angel pornographic film studio.-Early life and career:...
argue that there is a story being told, and that it's a mistake to assume that gonzo inherently lacks a plot. Due to the explosive growth in its popularity since the mid-1990s, gonzo has attained mainstream popularity, lowering the cost of entry into the market for producers, and making it easier for amateur performers to become famous; several individually distinct styles of no-frills, filmed pornography can be labeled gonzo porn. Today, several companies produce gonzo that has excellent lighting and sound quality, (temporary) lingerie costuming, and is shot in various rooms of luxury homes . One trait that all gonzo films share, though, is a much greater emphasis on intense (almost hyperactive) sexual performance, and modern gonzo is evolving to include more hardcore sex acts than either traditional or amateur porn. Regardless of camera techniques or the degree of director involvement in the scenes, a gonzo film has "more sex", per se, than a traditional (e.g. Vivid
Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment Group is an adult video producer, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....
or Adam&Eve
Adam & Eve (business)
Adam & Eve is a marketer of adult products that sells sex toys and produces pornographic films, as well as funding non-profit social marketing organizations that address issues such as population growth, disease control and sex education in developing countries. In 2006 it was described by Reuters...
) adult video . Gonzo scenes tend to run longer; it is common for a single boy-girl scene to run anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes.
John Stagliano
John Stagliano
John Allen Stagliano , also known as Buttman, is an American entrepreneur, pornographic actor, producer and director, who founded and owns the Evil Angel pornographic film studio.-Early life and career:...
is considered to have started the Gonzo pornography genre with his Buttman series of films.
Porn star Mika Tan
Mika Tan
Mika Tan is the stage name of a fetish model , and pornographic actress of Asian ancestry.-Background:...
commented in 2008 that the average gonzo DVD costs $16,000 to produce.
Notable Gonzo pornography directors
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Rodney Moore Rodney Moore is an adult video producer who helped to pioneer the Gonzo style of porn. To date, Moore claims to have shot with over 1200 different women in his adult career. The great emphasis in Moore's work is on oral sex, and facials.... Pat Myne Pat Myne is an American pornographic actor and director.He was previously married to Shelbee Myne, Stormy Daniels and Alektra Blue.-Awards:... Ed Powers Ed Powers is an American director, producer and actor of hardcore pornographic films. He owns his own production company, Ed Powers Productions.Powers was born in Brooklyn, New York... Shane (porn star) Shane is the stage name of Shannon Hewitt, an American pornographic actress and director, known for creating the Shane's World series of adult videos.Shane is a member of the AVN Hall of Fame... (Shane's World Shane's World Shane's World Studios is a pornographic film company started in 1996. It is one of the first companies to pioneer the reality style videos of adult entertainment. The company was originally started by Seymore Butts' ex-girlfriend Shane, who lent her name to the business... ) Rocco Siffredi Rocco Siffredi is the stage name of an Italian pornographic actor, director and producer of pornographic movies, famous for his rough sex scenes... Joey Silvera Joey Silvera is an American pornographic actor and director.Joey Silvera has been involved in the American pornographic industry since the early 1970s. A native of upstate New York, he got his start performing in San Francisco in 1974, and went on to appear in more than 1,000 videos... John Stagliano John Allen Stagliano , also known as Buttman, is an American entrepreneur, pornographic actor, producer and director, who founded and owns the Evil Angel pornographic film studio.-Early life and career:... (Buttman) Randy West (porn star) Randy West is an American pornographic actor.-Early life and pre-porn career:West grew up in New York City, and later moved to South Florida. He originally hoped to play professional baseball , but he instead decided to pursue a career as a singer... Pierre Woodman Pierre Woodman is a pornographic film director. He is the creator of more than 65 pornographic films, more than 2,000 hardcore scenes, around 1,500 photosets and more than 7,000 castings.-Early life:... |
Further reading
- Hedges, ChrisChris HedgesChristopher Lynn Hedges is an American journalist, author, and war correspondent, specializing in American and Middle Eastern politics and societies...
Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy And the Triumph of Spectacle (2009)