Tag Archives: AEE 2019

AEE 2019: Cindy Starfall

by Rich Moreland, February 2019

Through Star Factory PR, I had the privilege of  interviewing Cindy Starfall a couple of years ago. Since that time, the Saigon native has received several adult entertainment award nominations and continues to wow her fans with her feature dancing.

Let’s see what’s on her mind this year.

Photos are credited to Kevin Sayers.

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I remember we talked about your feature dancing a couple of years ago. Are you still on the road?

“I do it more and I really loved it because I can really put on a show, on stage and actually get to meet my fans because they come [from] all over . . . different cities . . . for meet and greets.”

Cindy says feature dancing is her thing.

“I love it because it pulls a creative side out of me. I get to be my own boss and put on these big shows on stage every month [in] a different city.”

Cindy comments on her schedule and explains that she’s shooting as much as dancing.

“I dance Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Come back [home on] Sunday then shoot Monday Tuesday. I pack Wednesday and I go again.”

Wow, that’s a lot of traveling, but she seems to love it.

Still Swinging

She tells me that her hectic schedule has put a crimp in her free-flowing lifestyle. Cindy is one of the few porn girls I know who is an active swinger.

“I still have my swinger couples that I’m doing,” Cindy says. In fact, she’s headed over to Japan in April with some of her swinger friends.

We talk about how she handles these out-of-the-ordinary sexual encounters. Among her requirements is spouses have to be present.

“I prefer that because it’s just less drama that way. I’m not there to look for relationships. I just want to be in there and have fun.”

The couples are friendly and, for the most part, older than Cindy. But that is not to discount younger couples who are into the lifestyle. “They always give off this sexual, friendly vibe,” she says.

When she reflects back on her early days in swinging, Cindy recalls it helped her adjust to porn.

“I love sex and swinger [parties have] helped me [to be] more comfortable in front of the camera. Because I have people watching and I have people shooting photos. In a way it [has] shaped who I am.  It is a big part of my life.”

That Connection

We move on to camming. Cindy exclaims that “it’s taking over the [adult] business!”

Camming is a version of amateur porn, she asserts, because “you’re filming yourself at home.”

Cindy has discovered that many of her fans “enjoy that amateur side versus the professional looking, perfect lighting side . . . because it’s more like a private one-on-one, like a personal interaction with me.”

The petite performer indicates that her camming popularity comes from guys who are “lonely” and “looking for that relationship, looking for that connection that they will have with the girls.”

When she describes what she does, Cindy reflects the formula that many cammers use.

“When you cam with me, I will talk to you. I know you by name, I know what you like. You can actually direct your own porn with me. You get to pick what I’m wearing for a session.”

She sees that as powerful for both her and her fans.

Room for Everybody

Some cam girls are comfortable at home and don’t have a desire to become a porn star, Cindy says. “All they do is get online.”

“With porn, you actually got to show up on set, it’s a production. A typical porn set could be between six to eight hours or more if it’s a feature. So, it’s a totally different thing [from camming].

“I started off as a webcam girl. But it wasn’t for me because I got bored. I needed that interaction with that co-star. I love doing porn because I love being in different characters,” she explains.

Unlike other girls I’ve interviewed on this subject, Cindy is blunt with her assessment of what it means to be a porn girl who is committed to studio shooting.

“If you want to be a porn star, can you get naked in front of at least four, five [people and] three different cameras shooting you? Can you do that?”

On the other hand, she says, “With webcam, you’re in your own home comfortable, one camera, you and your boyfriend. Somebody you’re comfortable with.”

Sounds easy, but it’s not because porn girls don’t always want that live feel. “When they know that camera is live and there’s people watching them, they start freaking out. So, it’s totally different,” she asserts.

But Cindy insists that there is room for everybody. “In a way, I do feel like it’s fine to be divided [between camming and porn] because it’s two different audiences.” There enough fans with different tastes to go around.

Trends

On the question of cammers setting their own market trends, Cindy believes they follow rather than lead.

In the adult business, it’s all about the fans. This is the driving force for cammers.

“The audience [is] there and tipping and watching, [buying] tokens. I feel like they [cammers] are following the trend because that’s what the audience wants to see.”

On the other hand, “when it comes to fandoms or fan worship, these guys are following what the girl’s doing.” In that respect, she might be setting her own trend.

But the bottom line will always be the cammers will respond to what the fans want.

“The cam girl’s all about the audience. The audience is giving them their paychecks,” Cindy says.

As for a major production company like John Stagliano’s Evil Angel, Cindy understands he’s doing what he loves because he already has “such a big studio” and consequently sets his own trends.

Once again, we revert back to the power of being online when it comes to camming.

Cindy Starfall says, “In this day with social media, the people that are watching. They want to know you, the actress behind the camera, and that’s what the webcam gives them. They get to talk to me, personally.”

 

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AEE 2019: Christiana Cinn, Part Two

by Rich Moreland, February 2019

We continue our conversation with Star Factory client Christiana Cinn.

Photos are credited to Kevin Sayers.

 

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Marketing

Turning to the business of camming, I’m interested to know if Christiana thinks the online models establish their own market trends. In other words, do they create a demand for their product?

She responds, “The beauty with cam girls is that they’re a niche market. They don’t have to adhere to what society says is a beauty rule. If a girl wants to have purple hair with blue pubic hair, go for it because that’s going to appeal to somebody out there who’s already on their computer looking for someone like her.”

“They (cam models) remind me of characters and dolls, things out of comic books and stories, like fairytales,” Christiana continues. “They can look any way they like and play a character, do a cos-play.”

It’s complete freedom.

“Regular beauty standards do not apply to them, they set the trend of what they want and as long as they have fun doing it, I think it’s great,” she says.

In a way, Christiana is referencing the new generation of porn fans who are young and tech savvy. Cam girls fit the bill for them.

“Think about people who do video games, are online, and spend a lot of their time on the computer. They want an outlet” that camming fulfills, she comments.

For the cam girl and her customer there’s another advantage.

“When you’re camming, you don’t have to face rejection” in an anything goes environment.  She offers an example. If a girl looks like an Avatar, painted blue or whatever, she says, that obviously appeals to some people.

“The possibilities for cam girls are endless and there’s something out there for everyone. There’s a fetish, there’s a taboo. And it’s safe because it’s all from the comfort of her own space. She’s not doing it for free. She’s doing it for business choices and for money because this is making her happy.”

The New Amateur?

If the studios shoot the professional porn girl while the cammer produces her own content, do we think of her as the new amateur porn star?

Christiana is not so sure, or should we say she has a more egalitarian view.

“That’s not a very fair assumption. I don’t feel there should be a divide in the industry because we’re all sex workers. We’re all selling an ideal. Maybe people who are close-minded and even unkind would say there’s two different tiers or three different tiers and we’re not part of the same family.

“But my opinion, we are absolutely a part of the same special group of women. This is what we do.”

At this point, Christiana concedes there is a little difference, however.

“Maybe to be considered an amateur means they haven’t been shot by a professional studio per se. But it doesn’t mean that she can’t do it on her own or do whatever she wants. The amateur style would be like setting up your own camera, your video, your camera phone.”

Can we say a cam girl can create an amateur feel in her shows?

“Yes, because that’s huge right now!”

Before exploring the amateur product, Christiana reminds us of what pays her bills.

“I do porn. People watch me when they want to get off. They want to watch the big production, the role playing, the different costumes.”

On the other hand, what pleases her viewer tastes is different.

“When I watch porn, I literally look at real couples, real people [who] don’t have to look like what society says is beautiful. As long as they’re real people having real orgasms with real intimacy, that’s what I want to see.

“I like watching ‘cause that’s reality, they’re not doing it for anyone but themselves,”  Christiana says.

Safety

Finally, we turn to some specific issues facing porn today.

Christiana is concerned about sex worker safety particularly with the changes in the online advertising sites. “Taking down Backpage and the sex part from Craigslist” is a problem, she says, because it cost sex workers “a lot of their independence.” The result has put them in a “more risky and dangerous place.”

Having said that, Christiana understands the reasoning of the online services. “What they’re trying to do is prevent sex trafficking, but now anything advertising something exploitative is taken off. So, now there’s nothing.

“They really should have focused more on the actual trafficking aspect and where that’s happening” rather “than taking away from everybody. Now what are the girls supposed to do?” she asks.

Butt Pads

Next, I bring up the AVN show’s Code of Conduct. It’s relatively new, but is it necessary?

“It’s good to hold people accountable, make them aware,” Christiana says and relates a personal story.

“For the first AVN I did years ago, I had to wear fake butt pads under my dress because people would pinch and squeeze your ass so much that it turns black and blue. Then what are you gonna do when you shoot tomorrow? Have bruises?

“But this year, people have been really respectful, really sweet. They’re just there to see you, take a picture, thanks for your time. They’re not mauling all over you. They’re not thinking it’s ok because they’ve seen you have sex.”

There’s a bit of humorous irony with the butt pad, though.

“I learned that trick from a girl who worked at Disneyland. She was a Disney princess. So, it’s not just happening here,” Christiana says with a wink and a nod.

Lastly, I mention the #MeToo movement. Has it caused people to be more respectful at the show this year?

“Well, it’s definitely made some changes. It’s brought attention to people who might feel entitled to your body or to touch you because they’re a fan and they paid to get in. Or, they’re with this company so ‘let me touch this’ or ‘do that’ because I’m gonna help you out.

“If that was their evil intention, it’s made them think twice because now we’re looking out for that,” Christiana Cinn says.

“It’s not just a free-for-all. Personally, I don’t mind touching, hugging, kissing or anything like that. But I don’t like being mauled by somebody and I’m struggling to get away. That’s never fun,” she concludes with a laugh.

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AEE 2019: AINews Reports from the Show, Part Two

by Rich Moreland, February 2019

This post is a brief visit to the Novelty Expo that was a part of the larger adult trade show in Las Vegas. Before we begin, a disclaimer is in order.

Neither I nor my cohorts—photographer Kevin Sayers and videographer Davyana San Miguel—were offered any compensation by any manufacturer for the photos in this article. We just wandered around and observed, enjoying everything we encountered.

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Passing through the crowded and noisy rooms connected with the on-screen part of the Adult Entertainment Expo and into the AVN Novelty Expo is akin to moving from a frat party to an executive suite.

‘Tis a pity, too, considering most fans never make it this far. Without porn stars ready for conversation and a signed photo or cammers with their computers, the atmosphere immediately loses some of its appeal.

Nevertheless, you never know who you might find hanging around. Maybe a superstar like Manuel Farrara.

There is certainly a lot of room to walk around and greet vendors, look at products, and ask for demonstrations.

What is trending this year are sex dolls, a rising product in adult at-home entertainment. Of course, some are caricatures (avatars?) that look like they came out of a Pure Taboo film.

But realism is making headway in manufacturing these days giving the dolls a natural appearance that at first is deceiving when seen from a brief distance. Up close a truer picture comes into focus but for the purchaser, the “feel” is as good as ever, or so I’m told.

Don’t get too carried away, though.  Never forget that the dolls are inanimate which means some customers may only want the more intimate parts!

Requires a little imagination, I think.

Apparel also plays a big part in the novelties show, especially for women.

Thigh highs are always in demand . . .

. . . Then there is Thighbrush!

Umm? Wonder what that could be? Oh, it’s designed to appeal to the man with a beard and the lady he loves! Sorta gets her in the mood.

The fetish crowd always loves to see their paraphernalia on display. The kinky sort might pick up a little something to take home. Maybe replace those worn out wrist restraints.

Gotta make those sexy BDSM connections that will light up her night!

Toy vendors improve their products every year and it’s evident that manufacturing has come a long (no pun intended) way.

Attracting the female customer is a major thrust (oops! another pun apology!) in the industry these days.

Of course, women are approached with exquisite promises that just the right outfit brings the joy of sex! If that doesn’t work for the lady . . . .

. . . She can create her own solo excitement in a very private moment.

I was going to leave the next one out, but mechanization is a part of the adult industry and the pleasure it provides. So, those of you who are prudish please look the other way!

To be honest, motorbunny was not in the novelty room, but I threw this in anyway to let you know “personal items” could be found in other parts of the show.

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Before we leave the novelties, Kevin snapped the perfect picture to describe the dilemma the adult industry faces everyday.

Sometimes selling a sexy good time has its quiet moments . . .

Thanks Hard Rock for hosting the show!

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