Tag Archives: Captain Jack

February 11, 2020 · 8:56 am

AEE 2020: Hard Core at the Hard Rock, Final Curtain

by Rich Moreland, February 2020

Photos by Kevin Sayers.

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Call it the end of an era or the final curtain, but never suggest it’s a swan song. The Adult Entertainment Expo and the Hard Rock Hotel are no more, but the trade show is not going into retirement.

Here’s the story. The talk around the Hard Rock this year was what to expect in 2021. What is going to be new and different? Well, as it turns out, not a whole lot. The Hard Rock is going under a name and branding change.

“We are signed with the Virgin Hotel through 2023 already. They are thrilled to have the AVN Awards and Expo at their property,” Dan Miller, managing editor of the AVN, told me. The only real change is the name because the venue remains in place. Next year fans and industry people will meet and greet at the new Virgin Hotel on Paradise Road in Las Vegas, the same location that carried the impressive guitar logo of the Hard Rock.

Enough said on that. Let’s take a look at what this year offered.

Networking

The Expo’s opening day on the collective floors of Artist Hall, Muse Hall, and The Joint is much appreciated by media people. A modest number of fans are just getting into the swing of things. The bulk of them will arrive Thursday and Friday so movement around the three adjoining facilities is less crowded which means many of the stars are conveniently accessible. For an industry writer, corralling porn’s finest for a short interview or brief chat is hassle free.

Simply put, this is orientation time, if that’s what I may call it. Find out where the talent agencies have their girls, scope out the best times to visit the booths of the major studios, and check the layout of the novelty expo. For veterans like yours truly, the day is filled with networking and renewing old acquaintances before everyone’s schedule becomes too hectic.

My photog Kevin and I stopped by ATMLA’s (Adult Talent Managers) signing area to pass a few moments with a favorite I interviewed last year, Ember Snow, and one of the industry’s most likeable MILFs, Sarah Vandella. We first met her on a Girlfriends Films set a couple of years ago.

Stopping by Adult Time in late afternoon, I congratulated Tommy Pistol on another productive year. I congratulated him on a superior performance in one of the year’s top comedies, Love Emergency, but didn’t stay long because a couple of fans showed up and they always come first. Then I dropped by Foxxx Modeling to set up an interview with newcomer Paris Amour.

One of the fascinating aspects of networking day is an impromptu chat with a performer I’ve never met, but am familiar with her work. Early in the day I introduced myself to Victoria Voxxx, an AVN award nominee for a shoot she did with Kink.com. Very personable and I mentally put her on my list of talent to interview if time allows.

The Press Room

Kevin and I have learned that the best way to take a break from the hyperactive pace of the trade show floor is to retreat to the press room. Everything there is calm, bottled water is available (we are in the desert, after all), and talent comes and goes in response to interview requests.

We had some informal time with Cory Chase, whom we interviewed last year, spoke with Bree Mills as she passed through and with Seth Gamble whose acting talent is unmatched in the industry. Even offered a brief “hello” to Lauren Philips as she waited for someone from the media.

Good-natured Tim Williams and Jill Hagara are the bedrock of the room, checking people in and keeping everyone informed. If anyone needs anything, they’re the ones to ask.

During the week, Kevin and I networked in the room and, as we did last year, enjoyed our conversations with Captain Jack who knows every performer in the business (or seems to).

Later in the week, I reconnected with Jillian Janson whose porn comet is rocketing into the galaxies of stardom. She was sitting on a couch waiting for her interviews (she had a couple lined up).

Jillian’s no longer that skinny kid I remember from a few year ago. Lamenting that I did not get a scheduled interview with her for this show (it’s tough, she’s in demand), Jillian gave me a hug and we made informal arrangements for next year.

Getting back to the floor, Kevin and I spent a few moments with John Stagliano of Evil Angel early in the day and later with veteran actor Dick Chibbles who was holding down a spot at the AVN booth.

John Stagliano

No Vixen

In summarizing our sweep through the show’s major venues, three thoughts crossed my mind. First, some kiosks were cleverly placed among the signing tables available to talent. That was particularly helpful for fans in The Joint where corridors are narrow. The facility is a really a theater with tiered seating and a stage where the AVN Awards show is held. Traffic flow was much less congested so fans could move more freely from one girl to the next for momentary conversations and signed photos.

Second, more performers were there on the first day than I remember from the past, a boon for fans eager for a selfie with their favs. And lastly, director Greg Lansky’s Vixen Media Group was absent this year. Lansky sold his business shortly before the show to pursue other interests. In the recent past, Lansky’s presence was a focal point for meeting talent.

Sex Dolls

On a final note for the day, Kevin and I invested significant time getting an overview of the novelty part of the AEE, something we had done only cursorily in the past.

This year I had an interest in an up-and-coming topic: sex dolls. My knowledge of what constitutes a sex doll was limited to TV skits and off-color jokes. As someone in the press room mentioned to me, “who would buy one of those things?”

I was determined to find out and that is where we go next!

 

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February 16, 2019 · 9:42 am

AEE 2019: AINews Reports from the Show, Part 1

by Rich Moreland, February 2019

This is the first of two installments highlighting the 2019 Adult Entertainment Expo (aka the AVN Show) in Las Vegas. Our team circulated on the floors of the hosting venue, the Hard Rock Hotel, networked where we could, and conducted interviews to get an in-depth look at the porn industry today.

So far, we’ve reported on Evil Angel’s thirtieth anniversary and Nina Hartley’s thirty-fifth. We’ve also taken a look at how the show reflected the changes in our culture.

A pair of talented visual artists, still photographer Kevin Sayers and videographer/filmmaker Davyana San Miguel, provided the visual energy that graces these articles.

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Is there love between AVN and the cam world?

 If the last few years at the Adult Entertainment Expo is any indication, the porn world is experiencing an internal evolution.

That’s right, things are changing because the new kid on the block—the cam girl (and boy)—is altering the landscape of what defines porn, at least the commercialized version.

First, a little in-house geography. For those of you who have never visited the Hard Rock Hotel, the “floor” is divided among four major venues, three devoted to the on-screen industry and one to novelties.

A walk around the environs reveals that cammers are more evident than ever before. Not only do they have their own booths and tables inside the show rooms, they dominate the hallways that connect them.

That raises interesting questions. Are cam girls the newest version of porn girls?

Do cammers believe they are creating pornographic content when they perform for their fans and sell their shoots online? If that seems obvious to you, it isn’t to everyone and “therein lies the rub.” (my apologies for the well-worn misquote of Shakespeare)

Are cammers open to shooting for studios in a scripted environment?  It’s certainly outside their comfort zone where they interact with fans unencumbered by directors, cinematographers, and their crews.

And, how do the established porn stars—the studio moneymakers—regard cammers? Do the stars also cam as a way to build their brand?

In the interviews we did for Adult Industry News, I posed these questions. Answers varied, as you might expect, and we will look at some of them in later posts.

For now, here’s what we encountered during our meanderings about the premises.

Something for Everyone

The cammers greet fans in the hallways . . .

. . . And in the rooms! They seem to be everywhere armed with their connection to the fan world: their computer.

Cammers are not restricted by agents, you see. As a result, they are on their own to mix and mingle.

As a contrast, let’s take a few snapshots of porn’s traditional studios and the well-known stables that supply the talent.

The Agency Booths

We stop at the booths of a couple of modeling agencies I’ve dealt with in the past. At Foxxx Modeling, a brief chat with some girls we’ve already interviewed kicks off the afternoon.

The sexy Scarlett Mae.

The sultry Emma Hix.

And the perky BDSMer Emori Pleezer.

Nearby over at John Stevens’ Matrix Models, we find one of my favs in the biz, Vanna Bardot. Kevin and I met her recently on a Girlfriends Films shoot.

Porn’s Commercial Tradition

Then it’s on to the studios, the heavy hitters of porn. First is Adult Time, Bree Mills’ venue where . . .

. . . I renew old acquaintances with three of porn superstars, all of whom are up for AVN awards. We set up interviews to explore new topics we’ve not talked about before.

Tommy Pistol, one of adult’s finest male actors.

The popular Derrick Pierce whose on-screen personality is in high demand.

Then we have the talented Casey Calvert, a longtime friend. (It’s generational with our schedule making, as you can see. She’s electronic, I’m old school with my pen as we discuss arrangements!)

And a new contact, the luscious and award-winning Kenna James who later gives our team a terrific interview!

And, of course, Bree is there. We had interviewed her earlier in the day.

Other stops include Evil Angel where Katrina Jade is signing for fans.

And Jules Jordan where we pause a few moments with model Emily Willis.

Moving on to Greg Lansky Media, a rip-roaring booth pulsing with club music that engulfed the hall, we pick up a couple of conversations there.

We didn’t forget to take a quick look at the AVN booth (it’s their show, after all!) where a variety of girls were signing each day.

After some searching, we finally locate Sofie Marie, a girl (or MILF, depending on your point of view) who shoots for studios AND maintains her cam site. Later she gives us a terrific interview.

Before wrapping up our mini-tour of the rooms, we visit The Lair.

It’s sponsored by Kink.com, the leading BDSM porn producer in the business. Since the fan has to go upstairs to see the The Lair, there is the undeniable connection to Kink’s popular website, The Upper Floor.

And, as is the habit at AEE, an after-hours party for fans who want to pay for the privilege is offered.

Mostly, The Lair is a quiet respite from the clamor of the show floors. It’s vendors mostly with a demonstration here and there. For BDSM enthusiasts, it’s somewhat of a letdown unless the fan wants to shop .

Veterans

For anyone who writes in the porn biz, there is the “go-to” interviewer (and this is not to diminish any writer presently working). By “go-to” I mean the guy who sets the table for the basics about a performer. In other words, bio facts, personal preferences, shooting history, and the like. Everything that helps a girl build her fan base and gets the rest of us thinking about what we want to ask her.

He is “Captain Jack” and I have the privilege of meeting him after all these years.

Speaking of those in the industry who’ve been around the block a few times, our team briefly greets Evan Stone and has a short talk with Katie Morgan. No interviews this time around due to time and the hectic pace of the show. Maybe next year.

Then there is a new face and an old friend. For the first time, I make the acquaintance of Prinzzess Felicity Jade, a Girlfriends Films superstar, and update personal news with now retired performer, Daisy Layne.

Blended or Separated?

So, where does our brief tour leave us? For sure, the line between camming and shooting scenes is blurred. Take shooting, for example.

Today, the trend is make your own. Everyone, porn vets and cammers, can produce and manage their own content. After all, that’s what the fan wants . . . easy access just a click away.

There’s an old standby, Clips4Sale . . .

. . . And a newbie in the mix, Iwantclips.

At a convention that for decades touted video tapes and performer meet-and-greets, today cammers and studios play side-by-side. With Greg Lansky’s Vixen, Tushy, and Blacked responding to fans on the left of the picture below while the cammers’ ManyVids draws a crowd on the right, what does that tell us about 2019?

Well, maybe a solid “spank” in between to get our attention about a changing industry!

Peaceful Co-Existence?

In our next post, we’ll move to the novelties part of AEE 2019.

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April 5, 2018 · 8:22 am

Sofie Marie, Part Three: Hotwife

by Rich Moreland, April 2018

In this final post on Sofie Marie, we’ll look at her on-screen adventures.

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For Sofie Marie, her swinging history prompted her move to porn. I’ve interviewed other girls with similar experiences as swingers and wanted to know what Sofie could tell us.

A Hall Pass

“I am doing porn because of swinging or ‘the lifestyle’ (as it is known among its adherents). I am a true Hotwife which means I have a hall pass from my husband to go and explore whatever I want to as long as I am one hundred percent open about my plans and experiences with him. He likes to see and hear about my exploits from me and from Spike,” Sofie says.

From what I’ve learned as a journalist, being absolutely open about everything is the cornerstone of acceptance into the swinging community and the ongoing enjoyment of it.

Sofie’s interview with Adult DVD Talk gives us the back story. Her husband introduced his new wife (they’ve only been married for a couple of years) to the swinger community. “He told me about it and I didn’t have any idea what a ‘swinger’ was,” she tells Captain Jack.

Now husband and wife savor the lifestyle together which means parties and the excitement of hooking up in a consensual atmosphere. Sofie has loved it all, especially the variety of sex partners-in-waiting, an unexpected treat for her.

“We’ve met a lot of great people and I have been with girls through that. That’s where it all began as far as fooling around with other girls,” she beams.

That ongoing adventure of self-discovery became an important step in initiating a porn career.

Sexy Young Guys

Sex for the camera is another story.

Sofie’s photography career began with bikini modeling which, as sometimes happens with porn girls, led to nude work. From there, her exhibitionist tendencies and relishing all things sexual nudged Sofie to take the next logical step: her own website and porn.

Sofie explains to Captain Jack that x-rated shooting is “no big deal” because she enjoys exploring her “sexual boundaries” which includes, no surprise, being naked and revealing her “girl parts.”

Has porn benefited Sofie’s free-wheeling spirit? You bet.

“I have gotten really comfortable in front of the camera. So, being nude or having sex is easy for me with the camera rolling,” she says.

“I am really a shy person and exploring my sexuality and now doing porn has been a great experience.”

From a psychological perspective, exhibitionism is a common trait among porn performers and often counteracts shyness. Sofie’s fans are undoubtedly thankful she has made it work for her.

By the way, Sofie’s age would dictate a career as a MILF, but she’s not really into that. When it comes to shooting, “It’s the job for me to play the MILF,” she comments, “but I like playing the Hotwife better.”

Actually, being a MILF took some getting used to, Sofie declares, because she not a mom in her real life, so the label feels a bit “weird” to her. But it does have its rewards. “I get to have sex with the young sexy guys as a MILF so that’s a bonus for me!”

That’s something all her fans can watch with delight as Sofie redefines “cougar!”

Work Sex

There is something about Sofie Marie that separates her out from the run-of-the-mill porn girl. Though I’ve not had the pleasure of being on one of her sets, as I’ve said, I can infer from the short clips I’ve seen that she is cultivating an image that sets her apart from the crowd.

That is a huge reason for her popularity, I believe.

In talking with performers and directors I’ve been reminded that porn sex is not the type of sex civilians (pornspeak for non-industry people) experience in their everyday lives. What is surprising is this: that goes for porn performers as well who are happy to separate film sex from home sex.

Another way of putting it is this: porn sex is acrobatics that involve contortions and positions that directors insist be held minute after minute to get the footage desired.

As you might expect, performers don’t go home in the evening to their significant others and hang from the chandeliers. Work sex is a business and exhausting enough as it is.

Social scientists and educators tell us that porn, with all its outre positions and hard banging, has become the new sex education for today’s young people.

Sometimes it’s difficult for them to understand that sex is supposed to be enjoyable, intimate, and a mutually shared experience. It doesn’t need to be nasty, rough, or vulgar and doesn’t have to be dominated by deep throating, gagging, choking, tears that smear mascara, and reverse cowgirls (the most graphic position for the camera).

Here is what I mean. Watch Sofie in a girl-on-boy oral scene, for example, and compare her with popular porn performers today. The difference is noteworthy.

Her on-screen sex is instinctive and unpretentious. Without doubt, this is Sofie Marie’s tour de force and why she is destined to luxuriate in the adult industry for as long as she wants. When she proclaims she projects the girl-next-door image, Sofie isn’t kidding or trying to sell her fans a bill of goods. She really is as she appears on-screen and that, in a business that is turning more and more to the bizarre to keep fans energized, is in itself remarkable.

Think of it this way, Sofie communicates her sexuality without saying, “Hey, look at me!” Her scenes are less about her and more about personalizing the sexual experience for the camera. The more natural she is, the easier it becomes for viewers to imagine themselves in the shoot with her.

As I’ve already hinted, Sofie Marie’s shoots explore sex as a spontaneous expression. In other words she reinforces the idea that sexuality as meaningful on a human level. It’s not a superhero cartoon or the perils of Pauline. It’s just us.

There’s no drool, spit, or slobbering when she is performing orally. Dirty talk is subdued, and, she completely turns the porn formula on its head when she fails (forgets?) to point her toes. Those things are not important in her shoots because they are not her. As Sofie keeps telling us, she’s natural . . . and she is a natural.

I could be wrong and if I ever see her in action on set in a way that disputes what I’ve said here, I’ll let you know.

Consent

Not surprisingly, consent is important to Sofie.

“So far I have been treated with respect one hundred percent of the time. I expect nothing else from this industry or I will not shoot with a company who does not respect my time and boundaries,” she proclaims.

For girls to accomplish what Sofie asserts, they must take control of their image just as this statuesque beauty clearly demonstrates in her work. That is a link to feminism she may not know she possesses.

Balancing Act

Finally, I had a couple of questions for Sofie that arose from personal interest. She and I are similar in two ways.

First, I was raised in a conservative evangelical home (Southern Baptist) and didn’t know much about sex growing up other than it was sinful outside of marriage.

I don’t know if Sofie’s childhood attitudes were the same, but she had this to say about her background.

“I, too, was raised in a very religious household and I still maintain my spiritual connection to my faith. But I have come to realize that I am a consenting adult and the people I perform with are adults as well and we are not hurting anyone by having sex.”

She concludes with, “I always try to be kind to others.” A lesson we could all share. Are you listening evangelicals?

The other area Sofie and I have in common is endurance sports, specifically triathlon and marathons. The training is grueling and fatiguing and I can’t imagine having sex on camera in addition to that.

So how does she balance everything out?

“My last Ironman was 2016 so my training has been easier for the past year. My husband and I train together, so when we get our schedules synced, we will likely do another one. But my focus is my career now.

“Yes, it’s hard to a balance business and training . . . business is first for now. I do workout with weights and cardio six times a week, just not as long as when I was training for my Ironman!”

We wish her well with all her loves: racing, on-camera sex, and of course, hubby!

*          *          *

A final note. Sofie Marie did not talk about her fetish performances because regretfully I didn’t ask.

So, for the followers of this blog who like BDSM, I want to assure you Sofie is not shy when the fetish comes her way.

Take a look here:

And here:

Be sure to follow Sofie’s fetish adventures with your bondage dollars!

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April 2, 2018 · 11:29 am

A Naughty Hardbody: Sofie Marie, Part One

by Rich Moreland, April 2018

I discovered Sofie Marie by accident through twitter. One look convinced me this sexy honey is one exceptional woman in a sometimes cookie-cutter industry.

Hoping to get an interview, I contacted her. Sofie was gracious and the result is a three-part post on this blog.

She is refreshing . . . and we welcome her here!

*          *           *

Because I was unable to attend this year’s Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, I missed out on a new (to me) performer I’d put on my radar. Her name is Sofie Marie and she’s more than special, she’s unique. At thirty-seven, the hardbody is creating her own space in porn that puts her leagues ahead of the typical baby-faced newbie who’ll be shot out in six months.

First, a little background on this beautifully sculpted girl compliments of Captain Jack at Adult DVD Empire. (You can read his entire interview with Sofie here )

With an athletic physique that is the real deal, the former volleyball player is an endurance athlete with a resume that includes an Ironman triathlon. Her trainer? Her husband, who just happens to be a four-time Ironman competitor himself. More on this in a later post.

Sofie’s five-ten frame lends itself to a svelte, sexy look that has molded her into a stunner with brains to match. Make no mistake, this babe is blessed with the right DNA and a smile to die for. It’s no stretch to imagine that displaying her physical treasures gives her a natural high.

Oh, one more thing. Sofie Marie offers us an interesting spin on her readiness for the adult biz. Her husband introduced her to the “swinger” community in L.A, her home town. Sofie went from partying to online porn, an obvious fit for a girl who uses her assets to the max!

We’ll also explore this later.

For now, I was able to follow-up with Sofie on some of what Captain Jack mentioned. My thanks to her and let’s get started!

A Naughty Side

First, I ask Sofie to define her brand.

“Sofie Marie is not your typical porn actress,” she begins, speaking of herself in terms of the brand.

“Since I am lean and all natural, I am truly the tall girl next door who has a naughty side.”

 

Sounds good, but how does that translate into being a cam girl? In other words, how does Sofie separate herself from the overwhelming number of worldwide cammers?

It’s in the loyalty of her fan base.

“I am just me which is genuine, goofy, fun, and sexy,” she proclaims, then gathers those endearing traits into an easy-going, but enticing image of “a naughty girl” that seduces the camera.

“I work hard to give my fans a great show so they will come back for more.”

When I mention that the cam girl might be the new porn girl, a point we’ll look at shortly, Sofie is on board with the idea.

“I think that camming is a great way to meet and interact with fans from whatever genre the girl or guys want to promote.”

 

Sofie believes that cam work builds that personal touch that’s been missing in porn for so long. You can see why. Just a moment’s interaction with her tells us she has a personality so affable it’s more than suited for cam work.

Nothing Rough

What is on the horizon for Sofie and how can she avoid being overshot, the fate of so many girls who enter porn? After all, she’s been at this for a while.

Sofie starts off by recounting her resume.

“I have produced over 180 clips and videos so far and I have over 450 photo galleries on my website.  I have done over twenty mainstream porn scenes from solo, B/G, G/G, BGG, and one orgy, but not all of those scenes have been released yet.”

From what I can glean from checking out Sofie online (disclaimer here: I’ve never been on set for one of her shoots) she has the feel of a gonzo girl who has left vulgar, nasty and trashy at the studio door.

Rather, she’s fun-loving in a way that let’s her tap into a fan base hungry for that type of entertainment.

Perhaps one day features may be in Sofie’s future and she understands how to get there.

“I am a former pro athlete, so I am very competitive, but I don’t have an acting background, so I practice so I can be the best performer I can be!”

To her credit, Sofie has her personal limits and does not try to sell an image that doesn’t reflect what she is about. In other words, she’s comfortable with how she is presented on-screen.

There is no rough sex (slapping, gagging, spitting, deep throating) in her films.

“Not for me,” she declares and adds that moving forward in the business is a series of personal choices that dictates what a girl will do. To phrase it another way, everything “depends on the image you want to portray,” she says.

What Sofie Marie proves is this: a fan base is not dependent on following the crowd.

IR

One more point is worth making here. In standing by the choices she makes, Sofie joins a handful girls in porn who chart their own career. As I’ve written in the past, it’s the industry’s version of feminism.

However, don’t think this very smart woman does not understand the shooting demands of the business. She knows how to respond to them.

“According to my Adult Empire page,” Sofie says, “after ‘Cougar Orgy,’ my fans love my IR scenes”

Black/white porn is more popular today than ever before, but the taboo barriers still exist, though they are not what they once were. That is not a bad thing, by the way, because their presence insures the popularity of interracial shoots.

We always like what is forbidden. For porn, when blacks on blondes becomes just another boy/girl shoot, things will really border on the mundane!

That’ll never happen with Sofie. Our girl is good to go with IR and she’ll drive her naughtiness meter to ever higher levels with each shoot.

When pressed about her scene partners, Sofie doesn’t hold back.

“I see people as individuals not as part of a group,” she states, which opens her up to any shooting possibility.

Of course, there are the aesthetics. “I love the color contrast of the IR shoots, and I do love a big cock!!”

Her attitude is right on target and Sofie Marie is cultivating a career headed for porn stardom at an age when most girls are shot out and retired, sometimes involuntarily.

“Since I have a unique look, I will not likely be over exposed, even if I wanted to be!!”

You bet. Sofie’s candid spontaneity graces her on-screen presence and her classical features are rarely found in porn. Think of her this way, in Athens 2600 years ago, Sofie would have been immortalized in marble.

Anal Anyone?

What are Sofie’s thoughts about broadening her repertoire of sex acts?

“I may do anal in the future, but not now,” she asserts, knowing that a girl doesn’t want to jump into everything at once.

But I strongly suspect her fans are patiently awaiting that decision, so our honey ought to be getting out the toys she loves so much to prep for the big (pun intended) day!

Oh, one more thing. Waving another carrot for her followers, Sofie purrs,

“I am considering some group sex scenes for my site.”

Throw that together with Black dudes and a little anal, and Sofie Marie has a winning formula, should she want it.

*          *           *

Part Two of this series on Sofie Marie looks at her brand and how she controls the porn image she has effectively built around her athleticism.

Contact Sofie at:

IG/SC/Twitter @wickedyummy1
Yummygirl.xxx

 

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