WHO THE HELL IS ERIKA LUST?
According to www.erikalust.com Erika is a “Female provocateur and erotic film director who is creating a new world of indie adult cinema.” She has hosted a TED Talk on ‘Why Porn Should Change’ and her manifesto according to her website is – “I pledge to create new waves in adult cinema. I want to show all of the passion, intimacy, love and lust in sex, where the feminine viewpoint is vital, the aesthetic is a pleasure to all of the senses, and those seeking an alternative to mainstream porn can find a home.” She is the creator of X-Confessions whereby your confessions are turned into erotic films by directors.
BUT WHO IS ERIKA LUST?Erika is based in Barcelona and studied Feminism, Gender Studies and Political Sciences. She was tired of mainstream porn and made a short film that received critical acclaim titled “The Good Girl” in 2004. Her erotic films are ethically produced and work to challenge the mainstream porn industry. Besides movies, she has also written several books including “Let’s Make a Porno” and “Good Porn.” Essentially, Erika works to create a conversation about pornography. As a provocateur, she is willing to go out on a limb to produce ‘ethical’ porn that stimulates the viewer in every conceivable way.
WHAT DOES ERIKA STAND FOR IN THE PORN INDUSTRY?Erika’s films adhere to a strict list of rules that govern the making of every film she undertakes. She wants to put women first and believes ‘diversity is central to creating groundbreaking cinema.’
She endeavours to do work that not only is she proud of, but that is also made in a relaxed and work-friendly environment. Her films adhere to safe-sex practices, and STD checks are undertaken by all performers. She pays everyone fairly from interns to actors, to directors or studios that are featured. For Erika, though taking pride in what she does takes centre stage, she states in her ‘ethical film manifesto’ that, “We have nothing to hide because we are proud of what we do. Mainstream porn sites like Pornhub.com, Exxxtrasmall.com, brazzers.com don’t show who they are: no names of producers and directors, no contact info, no one showing face, no pride.”
WHAT ARE THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA SAYING ABOUT ERIKA AND HER WORK?Well known in the UK and Europe, Erika, as well as her many cinematic awards, has been featured in numerous publications including; News Week, Marie Claire, GQ, Vogue and Fortune. Somewhat of a superstar and media darling, Lust’s ethical ethos toward erotic cinema is fielding a lot of attention. She has been described by the ‘Huffington Post Living’ as, “working to change the face of porn” and by ‘Metro’ as ‘leading a revolution’. The Independent also had this to say about Erika Lust, “concept underpins Erika’s films…it’s what sets her apart.” Erika Lust Films runs three online streaming platforms (Lust Cinema, Erotic Films and XConfessions); one store for downloads, toys and cosmetics; Erika Lust’s website including her prolific blog; and a non-profit project working to encourage sex education for young people: The Porn Conversation.
