Give Now  »

Noon Edition

Film Shows Realities of Young Females Entering Porn Industry

A documentary titled "Hot Girls Wanted" takes a look at the realities of the amateur porn world and the stream of young females entering it.

by Casey Kuhn

18- and 19-year-old girls are increasingly being pulled into the amateur porn industry through websites such as Craigslist.  These teens are often looking for quick money, but they end of being deceived and exploited. Indiana University professor Debby Herbenick and telecom professor Bryant Paul provided research to a team of producers who premiered a documentary on the subject at last week’s Sundance Film Festival.

The film follows several women who go into amateur porn. The title "Hot Girls Wanted" comes from Craigslist ads that ask women for pictures so they can get into the industry. Herbenick says the documentary gives a never-before-seen look at the type of pornography being produced today.

“There’s been peeks into mainstream porn and fringe-types of porn but not into something like this which is really what is commonly and freely available right now on the internet to so many people,” Herbenick says.

She says another surprising takeaway from the film is the increasingly short career life of a porn actress. For men, she says they can be in the business for several years, but for women, it's only a few months before the industry starts looking for a new face.

The documentary didn’t receive any awards at Sundance but was picked up by Netflix. IU Cinema is also trying to pick up the documentary to screen it on campus.

Guests:

Debby Herbenick is a sexual health professor at the Indiana University School of Public Health and the Kinsey Institute

Bryant Paul is a professor in the Indiana University Department of Telecommunications.

Both provided data research for the film.

You can listen to the full discussion above.

Support For Indiana Public Media Comes From

About