Porn

Feminist BDSM

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:05:00 GMT

This question came from a Facebook friend: Hi Babeland! I have spent many a-night pondering with my female housemate how female feminists fit into the BDSM world. We were both intrigued about the subject of BDSM, but somehow always came back to the conclusion that we would feel more comfortable if our "master" was actually a "mistress." Why? The answer is not simply AHA…QUEERNESS. Yes, we are both queer and enjoy the sexual presence of women as well as men, but this cannot, and is not, the sole answer. It has to be more complex. We have both experienced sexual trauma from men in the past. Could the answer be the history of our own personal experiences? Does it have to do with the patriarchal power relationships we experience everyday as non-males? I'm beginning to feel the interconnectedness of all of these answers. Since these conversations with my housemate, I have played around in the BDSM world. Mainly through online porn watching and one live play date with a Craigslist man, which involved blindfolds, ropes, cuffs, vibrators, and spanking/slapping…and left me feeling a bit strange. I like watching male dominants and female submissives, as well as female dominants and female submissives via bondage porn sites. But, while watching the former, I always felt pangs of guilt. This is not guilt that one might feel towards the general enjoyment of BDSM. This guilt is not caused by our "sex-phobic culture." I think it might go deeper than that. Am I finding guilt from other women's consented sexual abuse? Is abuse even the correct word? How can I tell that what I watch online is consensual?? I think that is what scares me the most. Are these power relationships in bed simply perpetuating gender hierarchies outside of the bedroom? How does a feminist fit into the BDSM world?

Rachel Venning, Babeland Co-Founder, responds: Feminist women who like BDSM, especially those who are submissive or masochistic with male dominants, or even if they just like fantasizing about or watching porn on that theme, are sometimes left with a queer feeling, and not queer in a good way. More like guilty. But please don’t fret if you have a taste for the bottom. Thousands, if not millions of strong-minded women have gone down this same path before. And after years of sister vs. sister debate, aka “the porn wars,” the answer turns out to be pretty simple.

The key to “feminist” sex is consent. Meaning that each participant gives a meaningful yes, and can at any point switch to a no. It can be interesting to consider why we like certain things- being tied up, or shiny red fingernails, or the smell of leather, all that stuff. Or ocean breezes and vanilla-scented massage lotion for that matter. And if you enjoy unpacking your unconscious, go right ahead and analyze away. Your personal history may be part of it, or you may just be "wired that way." But don’t beat yourself up about your desire. Enjoy the arousal. Just as energy is created when two objects of different polarity (positive and negative) come together, sexual energy is also created by difference. And one way of making that exciting sexual spark happen is to create the polarity of a BDSM dynamic.

In terms of porn, it is difficult to know what the standards of consent were on a production. The best bet is to find filmmakers who espouse the same high standards of consent that you want in your own life. Start your search atwww.madisonbound.com (that's Madison pictured above!) As porn consumers, we do have a responsibility to pay attention to the working conditions of the performers. Just as we should care about working conditions for all the workers in the chain of production of our consumer goods.

If a person has meaningful consent, then it is not abuse.

One more thing. You will not be the lone feminist if you decide to explore the BDSM world. Maybe it’s because kinky folks have had to spend more time thinking/ articulating their desire, but there are a lot of powerful, righteous, fierce feminists in the scene, on both ends of the whip.

The Plot Thickens: Sexy DVD Reviews

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:17:48 GMT

I'll admit it: when it comes to porn, I am typically anti-plot. See, I was a film major at college, and cut my teeth on the French New Wave and German Expressionism. The pretentious film student in me remains to this day. So when I received copies of Debbie Does Dallas and Lost and Found to review, I hesitated. Most of the porn I enjoy is gonzo, to the point, hot sex with little chatter getting in the way.

However, once I popped in the first DVD, I got lost in it. Debbie did Dallas first, and I did doubletakes. The totally unmodified, tan-lined bodies of the performers were refreshing, as was the campy, innocent nature of the plot. To wit: Debbie is trying to raise money to go to Dallas to audition for a national cheerleading team. Her friends decide to accompany her on her journey, and together they set about doing extra jobs on the side to earn the cash. You see where this is headed. Although the titular Debbie never actually makes it to Dallas in the movie, it's the journey, not the destination.

Debbie Does Dallas came out in 1979, before VCRs were widely available. In order to see the film when it was first released, you would have had to go to an adult theater, which was prohibitive to women for all the obvious reasons. Although the film’s audience was male when it was released, women will enjoy the natural bodies, lighthearted plot, and emphasis on female employment! (Hey, it was the 70’s.) If you’re interested in hot shower scenes, high school themes, or intergenerational exploration, I’d encourage you to do Dallas as well. My suggested toy pairing is the Hitachi Magic Wand.

Lost and Found, one of the latest additions to our collection, represents the future of porn as Debbie Does Dallas takes us back to the ‘70’s. Digital shooting and editing combined with a thoughtful storyline and really hot scenes put Lost and Found at the cutting edge of what porn can be. Quick synopsis: hard partying womanizer David laments his inability to meet the right girl, until his sweet new neighbor, Jen, arrives on the scene. Through a series of crazy capers, David and his friends kidnap Jen's dog and hold him hostage so David can help Jen search for her lost pup. The sex scenes are organic, arising in the plot in a natural way. And I hope I’m not ruining anything by telling you that our two leads have unbelievable sexual chemistry.

Lost and Found gets a lot of things right. It is spectacularly well-lit and shot in sparkling HD. You can see the actors' skin flush and sweat. The camera moves like it would in a Hollywood production, seamlessly giving us the best vantage points. The acting is quite serviceable, with the plot enhancing and informing the action. And Xander Corvus, who plays our protagonist David, is astonishingly good-looking. (I follow him on Twitter; so should you.) Gone are the days of disembodied penises bobbing around in space; the cinematography captures the male body in an aesthetic, erotic way. The action itself is on the vanilla side, all hetero, lots of oral sex and a few different positions for penetration. Condoms are used in all scenes as well! My suggested toy pairing is the We-Vibe.

Every week, I meet customers in the store who ask for porn that they can watch with a partner. That means different things to different people, of course. But I will not hesitate to point to these two DVDs as exemplary titles. If you and your friends and lovers are looking for an entertaining classic, a throwback to porn from a different time in film history, Debbie Does Dallas will do the trick. If you're looking for a movie that is more sweet than salty, witty and light like a Meg Ryan movie (but with much better love scenes -- and no Billy Crystal), Lost and Found is the way to go.

I completed my night humbled by porn's rich history, happy about where the medium is headed, and totally exhausted. A night well spent. You may make a plot-lover out of me yet.

Not sure where to start? Check out Babeland's helpful guide for more recommendations. Our friend Violet Blue's post Women Watch Porn: All About Porn for Women is an amazing resource. Share your recommendations, reviews and resources in the Comments please!

Inspiration, Information and Just Because - Link Love

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:49:31 GMT

Have any links to share? Tell us what you’re reading in the Comments section

Cosmopolitan surveyed women about sex, dating and relationships. Only 20% of the women who responded said they were "Completely satisfied - wouldn't change a thing" when asked "How satisfied are you with your sex life?". That's really upsetting and means we have our work cut out for us here at Babeland. Maybe a survey of our own is in order, too.

Trojan hopes its 'Good Vibrations' truck will stimulate a discussion about sex -- and we do, too. Babeland's co-founder and the co-author of Moregasm: Babeland's Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex, Claire Cavanah, was there for the debut Thursday, July 28th and was interviewed by one of our fave sex educators, Logan Levkoff. We'll post a video from the truck soon. Meanwhile, check out the Tri-Phoria vibe if you want a versatile new toy.

A male porn star speaks: James Deen sits down with Salon to wax poetic about sex as art -- and begs you not to learn your moves from him. This is an insightful interview from Salon that let's us get to know a person that most mainstream media outlets aren't profiling. If you're curious about James, you can see him in Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge.

10 Famous Ladies Who Like It Kinky Rihanna, Nicole Kidman, Britney Spears and more! By the way, RiRi, you can shop privately at Babeland anytime you want and we promise we won't call the National Enquire or any other paparazzi.

Feminist Porn Awards Continues to Highlight Diverse Sexualities in Porn

Fri, 06 May 2011 11:02:11 GMT

On April 15th on Toronto, performers, directors and consumers celebrated at the 6th Annual Feminist Porn Awards. What began six years ago as a group of around 250 people is now a celebrated event that takes place over 3 days, attended by over 1,000. It is hailed as "the longest running celebration of erotica focused on women and marginalised people." Presenting a variety of sexual selves in a respectful, authentic light has been the goal of these awards since the beginning. The awards aim each year to find new ways to draw attention to diverse, unique and sex positive sexual expression in pornography. This year, a lot of the performers and directors spoke about including a more diverse representation of masculinities alongside celebrating presentations of authentic female experiences. For instance, Shine Louise Houston, creator of the Crash Pad series, was honored for her new website, HeavenlySpire.com, which focuses on masculine beauty and sexuality. Speaking about the site, Houston noted, “I watch mainstream gay porn and it’s very cookie-cutter. This is completely different. I like to break the fourth wall at the end of my movies. I want to humanize my models. I ask the guys what they think is sexy about their bodies, and it’s really interesting how they respond: it’s not always their cock. Sometimes it’s their arms or their ass or hands. When they tell me how they eroticize different parts of themselves, I can highlight that when I film.” In the same way that feminist porn directors have previously spoken about authenticating female expression in porn, Houston seeks to bring the same realness to male sexuality in pornography by including both transgendered and cisgendered men in her alternative porn work. Also acknowledged this year was Tristan Taormino's Rough Sex 2 (for Hottest Kink Movie), Courtney Trouble's Billy Castro Does the Mission (for Most Tantalizing Trans Film) and Ilana Rothman's Open Invitation (for Sexiest Straight Movie). For the full list, check out the awards website. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you, GoodForHer's Feminist Porn Awards, for continuing to highlight genders and sexualities in an inclusive manner! Kudos!

Tonight! Adrianna's Dangerous Minds Party

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:17:47 GMT

When people talk about feminist pornography, feminist porn is often described as being the expression of women's fantasies, with the women in control of their own sexual fulfillment and journey. We've talked before on the blog about Tristan Taormino's films and the way they express sexual fantasy in a way that is women-positive and female driven. They're excellent examples of how women in pornography can be presented in a way that authentic...and hot! That's why it's so exciting that tonight in downtown NYC, Tristan will be celebrating the release of her much-anticipated third Rough Sex film, Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind. This film in the series represents a unique collaboration between Tristan as a feminist pornographer and Adrianna Nicole as an adult film star. For the scenes, Adrianna picked her own co-stars and choose the scenarios based on her own fantasies. If you happen to be in the NY metropolitan area, you can meet Adrianna Nicole, co-star of the film Jiz Lee, Tristan and other special guests. You can also sip on the signature cocktail of the evening inspired by Adrianna's favorite toy. Get your free poster signed by the stars, see a sneak preview of the film, and get fabulous, sex-positive gift bags. And all in all win! The event will be held at Fontana's, which is located at 105 Eldridge Street between Grand and Broome streets. Rough Sex 3 is available in Babeland stores now and on the web at Babeland.com.

It's Lady Porn Day!

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:46:26 GMT

A concept generated and dispersed across the web by blogger Rabbit White, Lady Porn Day is (in Rabbit's own words) "a day to explore porn and masturbation. Because it's tough trying to explore porn as a girl." It's a chance to share your thoughts on porn, the good, the bad and everything in between by submitting your thoughts to Rabbit's site or tweeting about it. For this weeklong blogosphere project, she has enlisted amazing sexuality folks to get the discussion going; posts include an interview with porn star Jiz Lee and an excerpt from sexuality educator Betty Dodson's memoir, My Sexual Revolution. The project has been getting a lot of attention, some of which has been critical of its marketing approach and somewhat nonexclusive imagery. That being said, the fact that an open conversation about porn (with all thoughts on the matter given their due time) is being produced is a notable and valid place to start. In the spirit of getting a dialogue going, here is my contribution to Lady Porn Day: I've always had mixed feelings about porn. I've looked at and watched porn for most of my life, though I've had complicated ideas about it throughout that time. Having grown up in the Internet age, I can remember searching out free porn to watch on the web since I was young. I also remember seeing Playboy Magazine at an even younger age and being unable to identify with the hairless, shiny nudity on its pages. Images in porn were such a mixed bag, I sometimes felt I could identify with the participants, while other times not at all. I wasn't always sure what to think of porn, there was so much porn covered, it seemed impossible to have just one opinion on it. Also, knowing that pornography wasn't approved of by my elders, I always felt a little dirty or wrong looking at it (though maybe not always in a bad way, hah!) So sometimes it served to open my sexuality, while the stigma of it sometimes shamed me into trying to avoid it. Yet when I discovered female-lead porn by people such as Tristan Taormino or the erotica from the other women who ran the magazine On Our Backs, I realized that knowing who was showing me sexual images (and why they were showing me them) mattered to me and affected my ability to get excited about viewing pornography. It's been exciting for me to live in a time when queer porn is gaining popularity and stars such as Buck Angel, Billy Castro, April Flores, Jiz Lee and Syd Blakovich have changed the way porn stars look and are "allowed" to act. The notion that porn is empowering, or has the possibility of being empowering, is far more convincing an argument when trans bodies, fat bodies and genderqueer bodies are shown in all their wonderful glory. I also really love what people like Tristan Taormino and Nina Hartley do for education and porn; I can geek out on sex while getting off at the same time! Though porn that shows a range of sexualities and is educational isn't the only kind of porn I watch (I, like most Americans, still enjoy the occasional fast food consumption, if you know what I mean), it helps me to know it's there for others. While I still stand firm that no person can have one singular opinion of porn, good or bad, I'm happy to say that some of the porn I've watched as an individual and as a Babeland employee has educated me, enlightened me and made me a more well-rounded person. And masturbator. What porns have you enjoyed? What porn stars do you vibe with?ino and Nina Hartley do for education and porn; I can geek out on sex while getting off at the same time! Though porn that shows a range of sexualities and is educational isn't the only kind of porn I watch (I, like most Americans, still enjoy the occasional fast food consumption, if you know what I mean), it helps me to know it's there for others. While I still stand firm that no person can have one singular opinion of porn, good or bad, I'm happy to say that some of the porn I've watched as an individual and as a Babeland employee has educated me, enlightened me and made me a more well-rounded person. And masturbator. What porns have you enjoyed? What porn stars do you vibe with?

And the Wins Just Keep On Coming...The 2011 XBIZ Award Winners!

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 07:32:57 GMT

It's that time of year again, for the 9th annual XBIZ Awards! Originally founded in 2003 to recognize the contributions of the online adult industry, the awards currently honor the work of "the most influential companies and performers who play an essential role in the growth and popularity of adult entertainment around the globe." And much like at the AVN Awards, the sex toys are as much the stars as the companies and performers are! Congratulations to all the Babeland favorites who have won: Digital Playground (Best Studio of the Year), Wicked Pictures (Feature Studio of the Year), Speed (Feature Movie of the Year), Tommy Gunn (Male Performer of the Year), Kayden Kross (Female Acting Performance of the Year), JimmyJane (Luxury Toy Manufacturer of the Year), LELO (Excellence in Product Packaging), the Form 3 by JimmyJane (Luxury Toy of the Year), and the Cobra Libre by Fun Factory (Innovative Product of the Year)! It's great to see sex toys get the same stage time as the porn stars they please. Looks like companies like JimmyJane, Lelo and Fun Factory (not to mention JeJoue, a big winner at the AVN Awards) have elevated sex toys to the same level as their amazing co-stars.

Truly SALACIOUS: An Interview with KD Diamond, Editor of SALACIOUS Magazine

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:00:48 GMT

When I was young and had just begun to discover my sexuality, I had a partner who subscribed to the magazine On Our Backs, a women-run erotica magazine whose tongue-in-cheek title was a wry response to the publication off out backs, which regularly printed the work of anti-pornography feminists of the 1980s. At the time, the images in On Our Backs were the most raw, unabashedly honest snapshots I had ever seen of alternative sexualities. For my own part, On Our Backs succeeded in not only mirroring my own sexual desires, but also producing a few new fantasies in the process. By the time the magazine was bought out in 2006, it had under its grommet belt a number of now legendary contributors, including Susie Bright, Pat Califia and Tristan Taormino. I mourned the loss of such a radically exciting (and indescribably sexy) publication. Mourned, that is, until SALACIOUS Magazine launched its first issue. In between its shiny pages, I found new beginnings for a queer erotic dreamscape: personal comics addressing sexual journeys and self-exploration, sexy photos of scandalously hot people playing house or just playing around, burly leatherdaddies in full gear, daintily blowing out sweet little hearts onto the surrounding ground. In short, a erotic cornucopia of kinked, complex and counterculture images. Just the sort of thing to get the mind whirling and the juices flowing. Upon finishing the first issue, I sought out editor and comic artist KD Diamond, to hear more about the inspiration behind the magazine, as well as its plans for the future. After all, if I've found a new magazine of alt sexuality to leer at, I want to make sure it will be around for a while! Here's what KD had to say: Sarah: Tell us a bit about the driving forces behind the magazine. Who is SALACIOUS? KD: SALACIOUS Magazine is a hearty ship with 10 individual, diverse board members, steered by me as their captain. You can meet everyone here at our editorial page. I'm the founder and art director, but I really rely on my board to keep the project strong. Speaking for myself, I'm a nerdy art-kid who's also a sex geek. With these powers combined, I create sex comics. Sarah: What was your inspiration for the magazine? KD: I've always been a huge believer that comics are the best tool to talk about gender and sexuality. There are so many great serial comics, comic books, and illustrated stories about queerness and sex and gender - it's hard to say which one specifically influenced and inspired me. I knew I wanted to create something that combined feminism, queerness, sex, and comics. Sarah: Who personally inspires you as an artist? Who do you read and look at?

KD: Well, Tom of Finland, I love his work - it's iconographic by this point. But his painterly style, and hyper-sexual imagery is just wonderful to me. Also, Ellen Forney, her illustration work is so gorgeous, and she does a great job telling stories. One of my favorite books on my shelf is "Lust," the illustrated personal ads from The Stranger she did. And Alison Bechdel. As a queer woman, and as a comic artist, it's hard not to feel Alison Bechdel has really influenced my drawing style and story-telling.

To list off some more, Roberta Gregory; Phoebe Gloeckner; Lynda Barry...not necessarily queer or sexy imagery, but women drawing comics. Great stuff. Lynda Barry's "One Hundred Demons" is just incredible, and Phoebe Gloeckner's "Diary of a Teenage Girl" is dark, intense and wonderfully drawn.

Additionally, there are an incredible amount of web comics that are telling awesome stories, queer and sexy stories, or just fun. Some NSFW ones are: Oglaf.com and MoonoverJune.com.

Sarah: What are your goals in presenting the queer community in a manner that is sexually charged as well as visual? Do you think this has the potential to socially normalize queer sexuality? KD: It's all about blowing the lid off the mystery of sex (no pun intended, really!). I think there's this mainstream concept about what queer sex looks like and the truth of the matter is, it's totally unquantifiable. Sexually charged visuals are as old as the sun. I'm using this tried and true method as a ways of making sexuality accessible. Knocking it off its awkward pedestal, down to something grittier and much more real, if you will. Sarah: What are your hopes for future issues? KD: It's been great to test this opening issue on the world. I think for future issues, folks can expect more illustration, and an even broader spectrum of gender and race. Sarah: What have you been discovering about the queer community, as you travel around for the launch parties? KD: We are so very segregated! Still! I love cross-pollination, and part of the reason I use "queer" to describe my politics and my sexuality is that joyous combination of a little bit of everything. There's no script or boxes for the word "queer" - for any LGBTQIA-XYZ word, really. Part of what makes SALACIOUS a powerful project is our intentional and purposeful approach to queerness and sex. There is no one way to define us. I hope that the more air-time the mag gets, the more we'll all come together. Queers are incredible in the ways that we collaborate - I want more of that. Sarah: And also, would you mind describing some of the SALACIOUS parties - I'm very interested!

KD: The parties totally vary depending on who is organizing them! Something to know about me is that while I'm an artist, I also come from a non-profit community organizer background... I really don't believe in parachuting into someone's community and telling them how to do things. So, what has made the parties so wonderful, successful, and diverse, is that they each have their own local flavor! SALACIOUS co-sponsors, supplies magazines and art, and then the party will look different however that particular community wants it. In Brooklyn, it was a sexy awesome dance party called Queerspondance co-sponsored by BrooklynTheBorough.com. In Portland, Oregon, it was a drag and burlesque and spoken word night run by the local feminist bookstore, In Other Words. In Oakland, it was a live demonstration/workshop called IRON SLUT: Sex Educator Showdown featuring Reid Mihalko and Madison Young, co-sponsored by Femina Potens. They vary immensely, and they're all pretty rad! (Find more about the Launch parties here).

To find out more about SALACIOUS Magazine or to obtain an issue, visit their website.

Media/uploads/2011/02/tf02-190x300.jpg" alt="" width="152" height="240">KD: Well, Tom of Finland, I love his work - it's iconographic by this point. But his painterly style, and hyper-sexual imagery is just wonderful to me. Also, Ellen Forney, her illustration work is so gorgeous, and she does a great job telling stories. One of my favorite books on my shelf is "Lust," the illustrated personal ads from The Stranger she did. And Alison Bechdel. As a queer woman, and as a comic artist, it's hard not to feel Alison Bechdel has really influenced my drawing style and story-telling.

Additionally, there are an incredible amount of web comics that are telling awesome stories, queer and sexy stories, or just fun. Some NSFW ones are: Oglaf.com and MoonoverJune.com.

To find out more about SALACIOUS Magazine or to obtain an issue, visit their website.

A Don't Miss Event: Behind the Scenes with Open Invitation

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:17:18 GMT

What makes this indie-adult film worthy of eleven AVN Award nominations? The perfect blend of hot acting, a smart storyline about swinging, and a savvy female director. This Friday night, meet the cast of PRIVATE's award-winning film "Open Invitation," which follows a couple through the swingers scene in San Francisco. Screenwriter Andrew Sullivan, director Ilana Rothman, and adult star Lorelei Lee will speak about their experiences working on this groundbreaking film, plus Palagia, founder of OneLegUpNYC, will answer questions about what she calls the "sex art" lifestyle. All attendees will be entered in a drawing to win prizes, including a free "Open Invitation" DVD and pair of tickets to OneLegUpNYC's Take-Out Soiree. "Open Invitation" is available for purchase online and in select stores. Event details: "Open Invitation": Behind the Scene's of 2010's Hottest Adult Film | Friday, January 28th, 7:00 PM | Free | Babeland Soho

Tristan Taormino "Uninvited" from Oregon State University's Modern Sex Conference

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:35:54 GMT

This morning, sex educator and feminist pornographer (as well as former Babelander) Tristan Taormino posted a press release on her website, which stated that Oregon State University's offer for her to give the keynote speech at their Modern Sex Conference on February 14th had been rescinded, due to the University's concerns regarding the content of her resume and website (despite OSU having originally approached Tristan). Since Tristan's contract with OSU was still pending at the time of cancellation, she was told she would not be reimbursed for her airfare, which had already been booked. Tristan is the author of 7 books on sex and relationships, editor of 18 anthologies, and an award-winning adult film director (known for her sex ed films) for Vivid Entertainment. Prior to this proposed lecture, she had given more than 75 lectures at top colleges and universities, including Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, NYU and Columbia. To find out more about how you can support Tristan's work and speak out on behalf of such a vital voice in sexuality education, visit Tristan's website, where you can find more information about getting involved online as well as contacting Oregon State University directly.

What Happens in Vegas...is on the Babeland Blog!

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:36:54 GMT

As they often say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...I suppose that's not the case when it gets photographed, though! And how lucky for us, because here are some beautiful shots of our favorite stars at the AVN Awards red carpet last weekend, straight from the Palms Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas: [From top to bottom: star of the Crash Pad Series, Belladonna's Strapped Dykes and Champion, Syd Blakovich with Fleshbot.com editor Lux Alptraum, Wicked Pictures star Alektra Blue, Digital Playground star Stoya, Burning Angel star Joanna Angel and An Open Invitation star James Deen, An Open Invitation's director Ilana Rothman and writer Andrew Sullivan, and winner of the AVN Best Actress award and An Open Invitation star, India Summer. Photos courtesy of Pimpspromo.com]

The Results Are In! The 2011 AVN Award Winners

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:52:30 GMT

This past weekend in Vegas, the 2011 AVN Awards were announced - and we won! Babeland was voted Best West Coast Boutique. Other sex toy superstars include the Afterglow Natural Massage Oil Candle by JimmyJane (voted Best Sex Accessory), the Sex in a Can by Fleshlight (voted Best Sex Toy for Men), sex toy company Je Joue (voted Best Small Sex Toy Company) as well as their toy the G-Ki (voted Best Sex Toy for Women), and sex toy company LELO (voted Best Large Sex Toy Company). As for our favorite porn stars and films, India Summer won Best Actress for An Open Invitation: A Real Swinger's Party in San Francisco, Speed won for Best Feature, Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Advanced Fellatio won for Best Educational Video, and Belladonna (see photo) won for Most Outrageous Sex Scene. Congrats to all the winners!

An Interview with Andrew Sullivan of An Open Invitation: A Real Swingers’ Party in San Francisco

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:33:39 GMT

Tonight is one of the biggest nights in the porn industry, the final evening event of the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo: the 2011 AVN awards! One of the definitive "stars" this particular year in awards is sure to be Private Media Group's independent release, An Open Invitation: A Real Swingers' Party in San Francisco, nominated for such categories as best film, best actress, best supporting actress, best supporting actor, best director, and best group sex scene. It's sure to be an exciting night for both the creative forces behind the film, such as director Ilana Rothman and VP of Private's Online Services, Andrew Sullivan, as well as for the amazing stars, such as Kink.com talent Lorelei Lee and Crash Pad Series star Mickey Mod. Also exciting, though, is the fact that Andrew was generous enough to give us an in-depth interview before the award results were even in! Here's what he had to say about the film and the lifestyle it presents: Sarah: What inspired the making a film for couples about swinging and open relationships? Andrew: For couples, modern life can be hard. Both people are often working, focusing on their financial commitments. Then there’s shuttling kids, shopping, cooking…it’s enough to transform a couple of wonderful people in love into emotionally distant people who, through a series of daily negotiations over time and responsibilities, have lost touch with the erotic base, fueled by open communication, that sets the foundation for vibrant, long-term relationships. So one of the primary motivators for the story was that to show how the trust, history and honesty at the center of healthy relationships can be catalysts for transformative experiences. Lovers should want their lover to grow and enjoy and seek adventure and live life fully. We need to rethink our ideas of what long-term relationships are for and An Open Invitation, by starting with a couple very much in love, raises this question. Sarah: This is an independent film up for 11 AVN award nominations. What does it offer viewers that some mainstream porn might not? Andrew: A meaningful, thoughtful script. A great love story. Great cinematography. Great sets. Great acting. The cast was selected based on their acting skills. Everyone on set could act and they viewed themselves as actors first and adult stars second. It’s also a docu-drama. It’s rare to see a fictional narrative intersect with a documentary as smoothly as it does in An Open Invitation. Most people actually don’t even notice what we did when transitioning to the party scene. We also made a point to shoot on location. I didn’t want an adult film shot in a villa or on a hotel couch. We wanted to put people in clubs that viewers might have been to, restaurant settings they can identify with, work environments that unify the audience and actor. These efforts are all part of the general goal to create a believable arch of experience. We want the viewer to think: “Hey…I can see that happening to me.” This is not a film with a girl at a bar who quickly returns home with a man who compliments her sizeable tits. This is a film that tries to show how a normal couple might go from having a dinner to ending up a private play party…and enjoy it! Sarah: Who has been involved with the project and what does it reflect about the swinging lifestyle? Andrew: This film is a celebration of the people who are the real cultural drivers behind the alternative sex scene in San Francisco. I incorporated the people who run the clubs, the websites and the parties into the film. They’re there. They act in it and we promote that fact. So this film is an expose to that scene in the most positive sense. Sarah: How did you select the swingers and swingers’ party hosts who attend the party in the film? Andrew: The guests selected from a couple of different groups: Kink.com’s list of party-goers, a number of couples from LifestyleLounge.com, and members of local couples’ clubs who responded to an invitation email. All guests were then screened for a couple of criteria, which included aesthetics, experience in the lifestyle and exhibitionist tendencies. All guests had to take photos and sign model release documents before entering the party. Sarah: An Open Invitation has such an eclectic and dynamic cast. How did you choose which actors would be involved? What’s your personal favorite scene? Andrew: Kink.com’s casting director suggested a number of potential candidates and Ilana and I went through all of the photos and videos of each candidate to determine the right person for each role. Acting skill was key, as was diversity of cast. We had a number of debates over some of the key roles and I think we ended up with an ideal pool of talent. Everyone really delivered. You know, never having produced an adult video and having seen my share of really bad interviews with stars, I came to the set with certain assumptions. This cast blew them all away – they are all so articulate, so professional, so passionate and kind. There are many scenes in the film that are my favorite – they all have an important role in the progression of the story. But the restaurant scene for me rises above the others. The physical acting is fantastic! The build up from an awkward, tense beginning to a bacchanalian feast was done perfectly. These subtle moments, such as when James Deen (playing Mr. Bloom) and India (playing Mrs. Bloom) swap seats to get cozy with their opposites, or the moment where they wrestle over the glass of wine - which it’s cute and provides a glimpse of the type of comfort that a strong relationship would have - these were exactly the kind of subtle and believable escalations that I was looking for. The restaurant scene was the tipping point for the Blooms, because their lives will never be the same when the leave the restaurant with their new friends, which I think is an experience that we can all relate to. Sarah: Both the director Ilana Rothman and the star Lorelei Lee of this film are women who were heavily involved with the design and style of the feature. How does their perspective as women enhance the film, or allow them to connect more closely with the viewer? Andrew: The fact that the film was directed by a great woman, with much of the sex orchestrated by a great woman, as well as the scenes shot by a great woman - that makes a difference. Certain subtleties, perspectives, attention to the body and the face and the clothes…I hate to generalize and stereotype, but I don’t believe this film could have been made by men. It has a distinctly aggressive feminine eroticism to it. And that is, whether intentional or not, a reflection of the personalities behind it. Sarah: The Kink.com armory is such a beautiful shooting location. How did Kink.com get involved in the project? Andrew: This was PRIVATE Media Group’s second film with Kink.com. The first, entitled “A Real Swingers Orgy,” was a strong concept, but fell short in a number of critical areas, though given that it was Kink.com’s first feature film, it was an extraordinary effort, actually. For our second effort, we wanted to make sure we had more creative control and leveraged what Kink.com does really well: production. Kink.com has incredibly strong production skills and easy access to some lesser-known, but very talented actors. We added a meaningful story and the concept of the Open series. The party scene was filmed in Kink.com’s Upper Floor, which was created using the budget from our first collaboration. It’s a wonderful space. Sarah: Sex toys are also the stars of the film (such as the wonderful Hitachi Magic Wand!). How did you decide to make sex toys a part of the show? Andrew: Well, for example, when Ilana and I were discussing a particularly passionate sex scene with the Angels (played by Lorelei Lee and Mickey Mod), she made a point to say there would be a Hitachi in the scene. Ilana and Lorelei both made sure the clit was well-cared for. But it goes beyond that. The women in this film are extremely relaxed and obviously enjoying the making of the film. This level of comfort – of being around strong women who are passionate about what they’re doing and very comfortable in their positions – was infectious. Just check out the incredibly hot sex – made hot because the women are in control of the action. That’s just a little of what they brought to the show. Sarah: As I understand it, this film is a part of a series. Can you tell me more about that? Andrew: I have the next two scripts written already and the next Open Series film will be shot in Barcelona in the spring. The series deals with erotic triggers that present opportunities for people to explore their boundaries. The triggers are everyday, common, quotidian things – like food and cooking, dance and language. Things that are core to our daily routine but, when presented differently when the mind is open, act as gateways to growth. I’m always looking for the believable creative arch that takes a “normal” person and leads them into an extraordinary situation. The series will travel around the world to major cities – Paris, Rome, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal – and showcase the local cultural drivers, incorporating them into the film just as we did in San Francisco. People will be able to sign up to attend the real party that will close every Open Series film, and I’ve already had strong international requests to attend the Open Series event in Barcelona. Sarah: What would you like couples to take away from the film? Andrew: A conversation about what they might do to live more in lines with their interests, their desires and their dreams. What they might do to love more passionately. Even decades into a great relationship, you can make it even better. What is it that you can do as a couple to help each other grow? I think this is the key to An Open Invitation: the relationship should be seen as a home base to which you can always return from your risky adventures. Use its strength, lean on the love, test the trust. The relationship can liberate, but both parties have to be ready. That requires an honest talk. me.” This is not a film with a girl at a bar who quickly returns home with a man who compliments her sizeable tits. This is a film that tries to show how a normal couple might go from having a dinner to ending up a private play party…and enjoy it! Sarah: Who has been involved with the project and what does it reflect about the swinging lifestyle? Andrew: This film is a celebration of the people who are the real cultural drivers behind the alternative sex scene in San Francisco. I incorporated the people who run the clubs, the websites and the parties into the film. They’re there. They act in it and we promote that fact. So this film is an expose to that scene in the most positive sense. Sarah: How did you select the swingers and swingers’ party hosts who attend the party in the film? Andrew: The guests selected from a couple of different groups: Kink.com’s list of party-goers, a number of couples from LifestyleLounge.com, and members of local couples’ clubs who responded to an invitation email. All guests were then screened for a couple of criteria, which included aesthetics, experience in the lifestyle and exhibitionist tendencies. All guests had to take photos and sign model release documents before entering the party. Sarah: An Open Invitation has such an eclectic and dynamic cast. How did you choose which actors would be involved? What’s your personal favorite scene? Andrew: Kink.com’s casting director suggested a number of potential candidates and Ilana and I went through all of the photos and videos of each candidate to determine the right person for each role. Acting skill was key, as was diversity of cast. We had a number of debates over some of the key roles and I think we ended up with an ideal pool of talent. Everyone really delivered. You know, never having produced an adult video and having seen my share of really bad interviews with stars, I came to the set with certain assumptions. This cast blew them all away – they are all so articulate, so professional, so passionate and kind. There are many scenes in the film that are my favorite – they all have an important role in the progression of the story. But the restaurant scene for me rises above the others. The physical acting is fantastic! The build up from an awkward, tense beginning to a bacchanalian feast was done perfectly. These subtle moments, such as when James Deen (playing Mr. Bloom) and India (playing Mrs. Bloom) swap seats to get cozy with their opposites, or the moment where they wrestle over the glass of wine - which it’s cute and provides a glimpse of the type of comfort that a strong relationship would have - these were exactly the kind of subtle and believable escalations that I was looking for. The restaurant scene was the tipping point for the Blooms, because their lives will never be the same when the leave the restaurant with their new friends, which I think is an experience that we can all relate to. Sarah: Both the director Ilana Rothman and the star Lorelei Lee of this film are women who were heavily involved with the design and style of the feature. How does their perspective as women enhance the film, or allow them to connect more closely with the viewer? Andrew: The fact that the film was directed by a great woman, with much of the sex orchestrated by a great woman, as well as the scenes shot by a great woman - that makes a difference. Certain subtleties, perspectives, attention to the body and the face and the clothes…I hate to generalize and stereotype, but I don’t believe this film could have been made by men. It has a distinctly aggressive feminine eroticism to it. And that is, whether intentional or not, a reflection of the personalities behind it. Sarah: The Kink.com armory is such a beautiful shooting location. How did Kink.com get involved in the project? Andrew: This was PRIVATE Media Group’s second film with Kink.com. The first, entitled “A Real Swingers Orgy,” was a strong concept, but fell short in a number of critical areas, though given that it was Kink.com’s first feature film, it was an extraordinary effort, actually. For our second effort, we wanted to make sure we had more creative control and leveraged what Kink.com does really well: production. Kink.com has incredibly strong production skills and easy access to some lesser-known, but very talented actors. We added a meaningful story and the concept of the Open series. The party scene was filmed in Kink.com’s Upper Floor, which was created using the budget from our first collaboration. It’s a wonderful space. Sarah: Sex toys are also the stars of the film (such as the wonderful Hitachi Magic Wand!). How did you decide to make sex toys a part of the show? Andrew: Well, for example, when Ilana and I were discussing a particularly passionate sex scene with the Angels (played by Lorelei Lee and Mickey Mod), she made a point to say there would be a Hitachi in the scene. Ilana and Lorelei both made sure the clit was well-cared for. But it goes beyond that. The women in this film are extremely relaxed and obviously enjoying the making of the film. This level of comfort – of being around strong women who are passionate about what they’re doing and very comfortable in their positions – was infectious. Just check out the incredibly hot sex – made hot because the women are in control of the action. That’s just a little of what they brought to the show. Sarah: As I understand it, this film is a part of a series. Can you tell me more about that? Andrew: I have the next two scripts written already and the next Open Series film will be shot in Barcelona in the spring. The series deals with erotic triggers that present opportunities for people to explore their boundaries. The triggers are everyday, common, quotidian things – like food and cooking, dance and language. Things that are core to our daily routine but, when presented differently when the mind is open, act as gateways to growth. I’m always looking for the believable creative arch that takes a “normal” person and leads them into an extraordinary situation. The series will travel around the world to major cities – Paris, Rome, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal – and showcase the local cultural drivers, incorporating them into the film just as we did in San Francisco. People will be able to sign up to attend the real party that will close every Open Series film, and I’ve already had strong international requests to attend the Open Series event in Barcelona. Sarah: What would you like couples to take away from the film? Andrew: A conversation about what they might do to live more in lines with their interests, their desires and their dreams. What they might do to love more passionately. Even decades into a great relationship, you can make it even better. What is it that you can do as a couple to help each other grow? I think this is the key to An Open Invitation: the relationship should be seen as a home base to which you can always return from your risky adventures. Use its strength, lean on the love, test the trust. The relationship can liberate, but both parties have to be ready. That requires an honest talk.

We Made Fleshbot's Top Ten Sex Toys of 2010!

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:45:39 GMT

With heavy hitter toy companies such as JimmyJane and Lelo featured along with the surprisingly powerful, amazingly affordable Butterfly Kiss vibe, Babeland's own Edible Body Chocolate also made Fleshbot's Top Ten Toys of 2010. Fleshbot notes its organic, free-trade and vegan ingredients, making Babeland's Edible Body Chocolate a very yummy, very green choice. I particularly love the coconut oil - such a great addition to the dark chocolate deliciousness! Thanks to Fleshbot for the shout-out in this great round-up of 2010 toys!

Rough Sex 2: An Interview with Director Tristan Taormino

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:15:43 GMT

Around here, we're big fans of Tristan Taormino's work (and it's not just because she was a Babeland Sex Educator way back in the day!). It's smart, sexy, and educational without ever being dry (in more ways than one, heh). Her latest, Rough Sex 2, is no exception -- this DVD is full of the edgy, intelligent, and downright hot sex we love to see on film. Read on for Tristan's thoughts about Rough Sex 2, exploring performers' fantasies, and more. Babeland: What was your vision in creating Rough Sex 2? Tristan: Because the Rough Sex series is based on the female performers' fantasies, I begin with a list performers who I want to work with. I don't have a specific vision or any pre-conceived ideas about what their scenes will look like, or what the content might be. In the case of Madison Young’s scene, she wanted to work with Dylan Ryan and imagined a domestic scene with dominance, submission, and… cake. I never thought I would shoot a scene where food was part of the sex, but Madison had this idea about her Domme sitting on a cake and making her lick it off her. So I got her a kitchen and a cake! The movie really takes shape as we're making it. I follow the performers where they want to go. Babeland: That makes sense -- the performances are so genuine and inspired. What kind of feedback did you get about the first movie? Was there controversy? Tristan: I was expecting more controversy, actually, but it seems like the overwhelming majority of people really understood what I was trying to do. The feedback about Rough Sex has been really positive. One scene — “Stranded” with Satine Phoenix and Derrick Pierce — was screened at several film festivals and won the audience award at the CineKink Festival in New York City. Babeland: That's great! What can viewers expect that makes this installment similar to/different from the first? Tristan: Rough Sex 2 is very different in several ways from the first one, although I didn’t know it would be going into it. For example, the scenes feature more specific BDSM activities like bondage, forced orgasms, flogging, spanking, knife play, and hot wax; it also has some unique fetishes, including food fetish, human pony play, and kinky domestic service. The scenes are lot more stylized; they're more like mini-features than anything I’ve directed before. I concentrated more on lighting, art direction, and the storytelling. For Madison’s pony girl fantasy, we shot it at a real ranch, with real horses in the background. The stalls, sets, props — everything was authentic, which I think adds a lot to the scene. Babeland: The authenticity and performer input really do shine through. How did you collaborate with the performers to create the scenes? Tristan: Just like in the first Rough Sex, I like to interview the performers before their scenes, and you get to hear directly from them what they want and what they like. In Rough Sex 2, I decided to mix it up: sometimes there's an interview and other times, the viewer gets to sit in on the actual negotiation of the scene. I remember that April Flores and Claire Adams had this great conversation — they talked about their desires, dislikes, limits and boundaries. I think it’s unique and refreshing to hear the performers talk openly about what they're about to do. April admits she doesn't like to be slapped too hard on her breasts, and Claire reveals that she likes to be punched on her chest. At one point, April says to Claire, "Just use me." I love her honesty. Babeland: What do you want your viewers to take away from this film? Tristan: It's very important to me that the viewers hear from the performers themselves so they can understand how much control the performers have over the scene. I want people to see a diverse array of desires, especially among the women who like to express their erotic submission — each one of them does it differently. I want viewers to see what hot, consensual, kinky sex can be. Many of the performers are BDSM players in real life. When Mark Davis and Chayse Evans co-top Adrianna Nicole, it’s clear that all three have experience with the activities they're performing. Mark knows how to wield a flogger and how long to leave clothespins on pussy lips; on the flip side, Adrianna knows how much her body can take and how to communicate throughout the scene. Watching this give and take, as people explore these edgy areas, will hopefully inspire people to do whatever they want to do safely and respectfully. Babeland: That's a goal we can definitely get behind, too. So on a personal level, what's your favorite scene to watch in Rough Sex 2? Tristan: My favorite scene to watch is "Eyes" with Bobbi Starr and James Deen. Bobbi and James have incredible chemistry that just explodes on the screen. Theirs is the least stylized, the least fetishy, the least story-based scene. He just takes total control of her, and her submission is breathtaking. Babeland: And what was your favorite scene to shoot? Tristan: My favorite scene to shoot was definitely "Poker," starring Sinnamon Love, Richard Mann, Shane Diesel, Orpheus Black and Alonzo Knight. Sinnamon plays a slave in service to her Master, Orpheus, who hosts a poker party for his friends, and she serves them all in multiple ways. Orpheus is a real Dominant in the LA leather scene (he had never appeared in a porn film before), and the way he runs the scene is really impressive. There are maybe a handful of BDSM scenes with all African-American performers — most of what's out there is white-on-black BDSM, so I was acutely aware that we were shooting something that was groundbreaking. Sinnamon is just so clear about her desires and when she goes into a submissive space, she goes all the way. Babeland: We noticed that there are no male subs in the scenes. Why is this? Tristan: The scenes are created by the performers, and while there are female and male doms and female subs, there aren't any male subs like there were in the first Rough Sex. It just turned out that way. I didn't want to impose any ideas on the performers, and I'm comfortable with the results. Yes, there is a female submissive in every scene, but each of them has a unique voice and journey, so ultimately I think it reflects a great diversity of female desire and sexuality. Babeland: Finally, what's next for you? Tristan: My latest film, The Expert Guide to Female Orgasms, was just released, and I think it’s my best sex education movie for Vivid Ed. I really love it. I'm currently editing Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind. Adrianna Nicole is in every scene, and the entire film revolves around her kinky fantasies. It's pretty unbelievable: edgy, playful, perverse… one of my favorite projects to date.re their scenes, and you get to hear directly from them what they want and what they like. In Rough Sex 2, I decided to mix it up: sometimes there's an interview and other times, the viewer gets to sit in on the actual negotiation of the scene. I remember that April Flores and Claire Adams had this great conversation — they talked about their desires, dislikes, limits and boundaries. I think it’s unique and refreshing to hear the performers talk openly about what they're about to do. April admits she doesn't like to be slapped too hard on her breasts, and Claire reveals that she likes to be punched on her chest. At one point, April says to Claire, "Just use me." I love her honesty. Babeland: What do you want your viewers to take away from this film? Tristan: It's very important to me that the viewers hear from the performers themselves so they can understand how much control the performers have over the scene. I want people to see a diverse array of desires, especially among the women who like to express their erotic submission — each one of them does it differently. I want viewers to see what hot, consensual, kinky sex can be. Many of the performers are BDSM players in real life. When Mark Davis and Chayse Evans co-top Adrianna Nicole, it’s clear that all three have experience with the activities they're performing. Mark knows how to wield a flogger and how long to leave clothespins on pussy lips; on the flip side, Adrianna knows how much her body can take and how to communicate throughout the scene. Watching this give and take, as people explore these edgy areas, will hopefully inspire people to do whatever they want to do safely and respectfully. Babeland: That's a goal we can definitely get behind, too. So on a personal level, what's your favorite scene to watch in Rough Sex 2? Tristan: My favorite scene to watch is "Eyes" with Bobbi Starr and James Deen. Bobbi and James have incredible chemistry that just explodes on the screen. Theirs is the least stylized, the least fetishy, the least story-based scene. He just takes total control of her, and her submission is breathtaking. Babeland: And what was your favorite scene to shoot? Tristan: My favorite scene to shoot was definitely "Poker," starring Sinnamon Love, Richard Mann, Shane Diesel, Orpheus Black and Alonzo Knight. Sinnamon plays a slave in service to her Master, Orpheus, who hosts a poker party for his friends, and she serves them all in multiple ways. Orpheus is a real Dominant in the LA leather scene (he had never appeared in a porn film before), and the way he runs the scene is really impressive. There are maybe a handful of BDSM scenes with all African-American performers — most of what's out there is white-on-black BDSM, so I was acutely aware that we were shooting something that was groundbreaking. Sinnamon is just so clear about her desires and when she goes into a submissive space, she goes all the way. Babeland: We noticed that there are no male subs in the scenes. Why is this? Tristan: The scenes are created by the performers, and while there are female and male doms and female subs, there aren't any male subs like there were in the first Rough Sex. It just turned out that way. I didn't want to impose any ideas on the performers, and I'm comfortable with the results. Yes, there is a female submissive in every scene, but each of them has a unique voice and journey, so ultimately I think it reflects a great diversity of female desire and sexuality. Babeland: Finally, what's next for you? Tristan: My latest film, The Expert Guide to Female Orgasms, was just released, and I think it’s my best sex education movie for Vivid Ed. I really love it. I'm currently editing Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind. Adrianna Nicole is in every scene, and the entire film revolves around her kinky fantasies. It's pretty unbelievable: edgy, playful, perverse… one of my favorite projects to date.

And the award for best group sex scene goes to…

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:26:24 GMT

The list of nominations for the AVN Awards (a.k.a. the Oscars of porn) is out, and Open Invitation, a staff and customer favorite, has been nominated for eleven awards. Eleven! And every single one of them (including best film, best actress, best supporting actress, best supporting actor, best all-girl scene, best group sex scene, best director, best script, and best soundtrack) is well-deserved. It's been a while since we've seen a DVD as hot, varied, and all-around impressive as Open Invitation; plus, it features both real-life swingers and porn stars, for a cast that'll keep all types of viewers glued to the screen. Other Babeland favorites with AVN nominations this year: Joanna Angel, Belladonna, Jesse Jane, Sasha Grey, Digital Playground, Tristan Taormino, Nina Hartley, Seven Minutes in Heaven, and Madison Young. Yay!

Babeland University: BlowJobs with Dr. Emily Nagoski

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:00:51 GMT

Here at Babeland, we take pride in our blow job workshops. They're one of our most popular events and we love talking about passionate sex with people who are as energetic and excited about sex positivity as we are! So sometimes, we like to keep things lively and invite other amazing sex educators in, to spice things up. Last weekend, we invited college health educator Emily Nagoski to come in and teach a fellatio workshop for a crowded room of eager students. Some highlights from the workshop? Emily emphasizes the two essentials to giving a great blowjob: confidence and joy! She talks about the notion further on her personal blog, speaking to how loving your body (as well as your partner's body) is essential for fantastic sex. Delighting in the experience of being with your partner is another way to make great sex happen for all parties involved. Emily also spoke about knowing that you can experiment freely with whatever you like to try and experimentation is another key element to exciting blowjobs. She talked about a variety of different ways you can play and go with flow of the blowjob experience. The important part? You are empowered to do whatever you want, if it feels good and it works for you and your partner. I can't think of a statement more sex positive and fun! Here is a photo of Emily, talking the good talk to a captive audience: Want to see another amazing sex educator come in and talk about fellatio? Our next blowjob workshop is with the amazing Madison Young, visiting us on November 21st @ 7:30 PM, to talk about Fetish and Fellatio, for $35. Book tickets now, as this event is sure to sell out: 212.966.2120.

Madison Young Teaches Deep Throating

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:54:43 GMT

I’m really excited to have Madison Young teaching at Babeland in a couple of weeks! Madison is one of our most favorite porn stars, an award winning director, published writer, sexual educator and founder of Femina Potens Art Gallery (a non profit art gallery and performance space that serves the LGBTQ and Kink communities). She is coming to teach Deep Throating here at the Seattle store on September 12th. Our Fellatio class is always one of our most popular classes, usually selling out at least a week in advance. There is always a deep throating section to our BJ classes, but we tend to only cover a few exercises and some position suggestions to get deeper. All in all, it is something most of the people in the class want to know about and now we get to learn from a true Deep Throating expert! I recently got to chat with her about her upcoming class and here is what she shared. Audrey McManus: Hi Madison, we are really excited to have you teach here at the Seattle store. Do you come to Seattle often? Madison Young: I used to come to Seattle all the time. My partner, James Mogul, used to live there. For awhile it was my second home. I've been traveling up to Seattle for work for several years working for House of Gord, Lydia Mc Lane, and at the time Nawashibari - James' old site. Several of my favorite spots seem to have disappeared in Seattle. I used to love going to The Globe which was this really great vegan restaurant in Capitol Hill. I always love stopping by The Center for Sex Positive Culture and poking in the galleries around Pioneer Square. I'm sure I'll stop by Machiavelli's and Cafe Septieme. Have a lot of great memories at those places. AM: Bad news, Cafe Septieme closed this year. I know a lot of folks miss The Globe too. You should check out Sage Café and Plumb Bistro this time around though. Both are vegan restaurants on Capitol Hill and both are delish! So on to your upcoming class… Can you give us a bit of a teaser of some of the topics you are going to cover? MY: I go over anatomy, pleasure points, hand and mouth techniques as well as focus on deep throating techniques. Our audience will learn how to open their throat, relax their throat muscles and use their entire mouth and throat to pleasure their partner. I'll have a demo bottom in which I'll demonstrate different techniques for our participants to practice at home. AM: One of the questions I get a lot in our regular BJ class is about tearing up when the cock gets too deep in the throat. I always think of that as a hot and sexy thing, but a lot of women don’t. Are you going to cover some tips for how to avoid the tears, or how to work with them and learn to love them? MY: I try to teach all the participants that our fluids are our friends. Saliva and watering eyes and are a product of us letting go and our bodies reacting naturally and beautifully to our primal pleasure sharing with our partner/s. AM: I have heard of tips for swallowing while the cock is in your throat to give extra sensation on the penis. I have yet to be able to master such a technique. Do you have tips for doing things such as this that you will be sharing in the class? MY: We will be reviewing how to use your throat muscles to stimulate the penis. I call this "throat kegels". Its really about controlling your gag reflex and isolating your throat muscles. Its easier to practice with out anything in your throat this kind of muscle isolation. Then I suggest practicing with a dildo. My favorite to practice oral sex on is the vixskin dildos. AM: Were you always good at deep throating (i.e. not a very sensitive gag reflex) or did you have to work at it to do it so well? MY: I've always had an oral fixation and have been able to relax my mouth and throat muscles fairly easily but it did take some practice. AM: What movies are you in with a deep throating scene that you love? Something that would inspire more deep throating perhaps? MY: In Good Releasing's Nostalgia directed by Courtney Trouble I play Linda Lovelace and do an entire homage to Deep Throat. Also in several of the films I've directed including Writers and Rock Stars, Thin Line Between Art & Sex, and The Curse of Mac Beth are all great deep throating films. In the Curse of Mac Beth you get to watch me recite Shakespeare and deep throat James Mogul's cock at the same time :) AM: Oh wow! I can’t believe I have not seen The Curse of Mac Beth yet. I know what I’m doing this weekend : ) I often hear from female customers with male partners that they feel a BJ is an obligation and not something they love. I can understand there are power dynamics at play for some couples regarding submission or feeling degraded with this activity, but how can people overcome that so they can love sucking cock (deep throating or otherwise?). MY: One of the first things I discuss in my class is visualization. Your desire to consume your partner and to pleasure your partner is just as important (if not more) than any of the techniques that you will learn. You need to visualize that your partners cock is the most delicious desirable thing that you have ever seen or tasted in your life. Oral sex or any kind of sex is an exchange of energy. That energy exchange can or can not involve power exchange depending on the couples desires. Oral sex and deep throating is just another way to exchange pleasurable energy and breath with your partner. It’s always nice to have additional techniques and toys in your mental toy box when it comes to sex. AM: Do you have any homework that we can practice to get ready for the class? MY: Drop by Babeland and pick up a Vixskin dildo and start practicing. Allow your mouth to explore and consume every inch of the dildo. Do this and you'll have a great head start on everyone in the class. AM: That's how I trained to teach the BJ class you know, I practiced with the Goodfella! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me. I can’t wait to meet you in person and to learn some new tips and tricks!86_1909651_13471-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300">MY: I try to teach all the participants that our fluids are our friends. Saliva and watering eyes and are a product of us letting go and our bodies reacting naturally and beautifully to our primal pleasure sharing with our partner/s. AM: I have heard of tips for swallowing while the cock is in your throat to give extra sensation on the penis. I have yet to be able to master such a technique. Do you have tips for doing things such as this that you will be sharing in the class? MY: We will be reviewing how to use your throat muscles to stimulate the penis. I call this "throat kegels". Its really about controlling your gag reflex and isolating your throat muscles. Its easier to practice with out anything in your throat this kind of muscle isolation. Then I suggest practicing with a dildo. My favorite to practice oral sex on is the vixskin dildos. AM: Were you always good at deep throating (i.e. not a very sensitive gag reflex) or did you have to work at it to do it so well? MY: I've always had an oral fixation and have been able to relax my mouth and throat muscles fairly easily but it did take some practice. AM: What movies are you in with a deep throating scene that you love? Something that would inspire more deep throating perhaps? MY: In Good Releasing's Nostalgia directed by Courtney Trouble I play Linda Lovelace and do an entire homage to Deep Throat. Also in several of the films I've directed including Writers and Rock Stars, Thin Line Between Art & Sex, and The Curse of Mac Beth are all great deep throating films. In the Curse of Mac Beth you get to watch me recite Shakespeare and deep throat James Mogul's cock at the same time :) AM: Oh wow! I can’t believe I have not seen The Curse of Mac Beth yet. I know what I’m doing this weekend : ) I often hear from female customers with male partners that they feel a BJ is an obligation and not something they love. I can understand there are power dynamics at play for some couples regarding submission or feeling degraded with this activity, but how can people overcome that so they can love sucking cock (deep throating or otherwise?). MY: One of the first things I discuss in my class is visualization. Your desire to consume your partner and to pleasure your partner is just as important (if not more) than any of the techniques that you will learn. You need to visualize that your partners cock is the most delicious desirable thing that you have ever seen or tasted in your life. Oral sex or any kind of sex is an exchange of energy. That energy exchange can or can not involve power exchange depending on the couples desires. Oral sex and deep throating is just another way to exchange pleasurable energy and breath with your partner. It’s always nice to have additional techniques and toys in your mental toy box when it comes to sex. AM: Do you have any homework that we can practice to get ready for the class? MY: Drop by Babeland and pick up a Vixskin dildo and start practicing. Allow your mouth to explore and consume every inch of the dildo. Do this and you'll have a great head start on everyone in the class. AM: That's how I trained to teach the BJ class you know, I practiced with the Goodfella! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me. I can’t wait to meet you in person and to learn some new tips and tricks!

Feminist Porn Awards!

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:19:33 GMT

This past weekend the Feminist Porn Awards were held in Toronto and gazillions (well, ok, many) of our very favorite porn stars were there and won awards! If you've been trying to find some good porn to watch, I'd start with the winners of these awards. They are amazing, each and every one of them. Some personal favorites: Most Tantalizing Trans Film: Speakeasy by Courtney Trouble The Smutty School Teacher Award for Sex Education: Tristan Taormino Heart-throb of the Year: April Flores The Boundary Breaker: Jiz Lee (See Jiz's "postcard" from the awards here) The Visionary: Shine Louise Houston, maker of the Crash Pad Series The Trailblazer: Tristan Taormino (again!) Thank you to all of the winners and everyone nominated for working so hard to make thoughtful and sexy porn for us all to enjoy - we love you and our customers love you!

Seven Minutes with Puck Goodfellow, Up-and-Coming Porn Star!

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:00:10 GMT

We're big fans of the Seven Minutes in Heaven DVD series, directed by the lovely and prolific Courtney Trouble. It's queer, it's enthusiastically fun, it's hot without taking itself too seriously... win, win, win. We were excited when the first volume came out, and with the second volume, Tender Hearted, up on our site now, we're psyched all over again. Puck Goodfellow turns in a particularly inspired performance in the Seven Minutes series. Here, he shares his experiences as a new star of sexy screen. (Thanks, Puck!) Read on... Babeland: How did you get involved with this project? Puck: I asked Courtney if she wanted to photo me for NoFauxxx.com, her queer porn site. She was excited, and shot me a month later. We had such a good time snapping shots that she offered me the chance to work on Seven Minutes in Heaven. Babeland: How did the experience compare to that first photo shoot? Were you nervous? Puck: Four out of the six performers were porn virgins, so it was quiet at first, but once the ice was broken the chemistry was ripe for a perfectly good time. I was excited more than nervous... I can tune a lot out when I'm fucking. I get very focused. It was me and a bunch of ladies and girls and femmes, so I was in heaven for reals. It was a blast. Babeland: And what's it like to watch the DVDs now, having been part of it all? Puck: At first, I was interested to see how I look to other people. I found that I am skinnier than I thought, and I have a funny farmer's tan, and I make goofy faces when I fuck (who doesn't?)... it's just silly to see the faces I make. I also found that I'm turned on by watching myself have sex! Babeland: What was your favorite part of the filming experience? Puck: Getting to know new people and network with producers... wait, no, what am I saying? Having playful sex in most ways I have wanted to all day was my favorite part of filming!!! And I learned that I'm even less inhibited when I'm on camera than when there's no camera at all. Go figure. Babeland: Sounds like you're made for the big screen when it comes to sex! Are you planning on doing more porn in the future? Puck: I already have! First of all, I have a porn blog: puckplay.blogspot.com. I did Seven Minutes and then Volume 2, Tender Hearted, then I went to L.A. for Alpha Femmes; I've also shot for Butch-Boi.com and Crash Pad, and there's plenty more to come. Babeland: We can't wait.