The majority do it, very few talk about it publicly: Watch porn films. On the one hand, this is of course due to the content of the films. But the mostly cheap and loveless way in which porn films are made may also contribute to the collective silence. Filmmaker Noel Alejandro proves that erotic films can also be aesthetically pleasing. Director Noel Alejandro tackles a wide variety of themes in his films: Violence, loneliness, depression. But what unites them is the sex that the male actors invariably have with each other. And this is not just hinted at, but shown explicitly.
Because Alejandro makes erotic films. What sets these films apart from most porn films à la PornHub and the like is the way they are made. The films are shot professionally; Alejandro's film crew consists of over 20 people. Lighting, sound and camera - everything is designed to create a coherent picture. And it always takes a while before the actors even have sex. Alejandro himself says that he doesn't just want to create art, he also wants to tell a story. The sex scenes also differ from most mainstream porn. His films are not uninhibited and brutal, but usually very human and intimate.
In the interview, the Berlin-based filmmaker reveals why he finds it difficult to describe his films as porn, how he creates intimacy on set and whether he sometimes watches mainstream porn himself.
Erotic films with a plot and aesthetic appeal
What motivated you to make erotic films?
I've hardly seen any gay porn that was beautifully produced, that actually had a storyline. And when there was a plot, it usually resembled a parody. I always had the feeling that the makers of this porn didn't take their own work seriously. That's exactly what I wanted to change.
However, you don't usually describe your films as porn, but as erotic films. Why is that?
The mainstream porn that we find on popular websites is just a means to an end for most viewers. I hope that viewers don't just watch my films for the sex scenes, but also for the story that is told. We also have a large crew who do everything they can to ensure that our films meet aesthetic standards. My films are not just about showing two people having sex with each other. The sex is always part of a bigger story. And yet my films are also porn for me. But I sometimes have problems labelling them as such. The term porn has negative connotations; most people associate it with something dirty.
Beauty ideals, body images and alternatives to the mainstream
So you are also concerned with changing our viewing habits. Yet in your films we mostly only see men who conform to a conventional ideal of beauty.
I don't necessarily see it that way. In mainstream gay porn, we see hyper-masculine, pumped-up men. In my films you also see thin and untrained men. For me, it's more important that the actors exude charisma in front of the camera.
So you find mainstream porn problematic?
I don't find them problematic per se. But I do think that we need alternatives to what we find on the internet. Porn can be something beautiful and more than just sex.
Responsibility, safer sex and sexual education
In your erotic films, you include at the beginning that the protagonists are tested for sexually transmitted diseases and can decide for themselves whether or not to use condoms. Why is it important for you to share this information with the audience?
When you produce and release a film, you educate your viewers in a way. Many people use porn as a tool for sex education. I did the same thing when I was younger. I incorporated things I saw in porn into my sex life. That's why I think filmmakers have a certain responsibility.
Audience, authenticity and natural presentation of sex
Speaking of your viewers: Who actually watches your erotic films?
Mainly men who like men between the ages of 25 and 35. But many women also watch my films - that surprised me.
Do you sometimes watch mainstream porn yourself?
Sure. They just have to be authentic. If I have the feeling that I'm not getting to see real sex, then I turn the film off.
You want to portray sex in your erotic films as naturally as possible. How do you achieve this when the performers are being watched by a film crew of several people?
When the actors have sex, we try to have as few people on set as possible. I also don't give them any instructions. I just let the performers have sex and am a silent observer.
Sometimes things go wrong during sex. You can't get it up or you come too quickly. How do you deal with it when something like that happens on set?
If an actor can't concentrate and can't get it up, the whole film crew usually leaves the set. Miraculously, everything works again within minutes. If someone can't come, it's not so bad - then that person doesn't come. We don't necessarily have to show an ejaculation in the film.
Questions and answers about erotic films
Erotic films can be more than just quick excitement: they tell us about desire, bodies, fantasies, boundaries and how we see and experience sexuality.
What distinguishes erotic films from classic porn?
Erotic films often place more emphasis on atmosphere, imagery, characters and plot. Sex can be visible in them, but is not always the sole focus. It is often also about desire, closeness, fantasy and the story between the characters.
Why can erotic films be more than just sex?
Erotic films can show how diverse lust, bodies and relationships can be. They can change viewing habits, reduce shame and help people to talk more openly about sexuality, desires and boundaries.
What role does safe sex play in erotic films?
Erotic films can make it clear that protection, tests, PrEP, condoms and consent can be a natural part of sexuality. It is precisely because many people also learn about sex through porn and erotic films that it is important to treat it responsibly.
Do erotic films influence our ideas of beauty?
Yes, if only certain bodies, age groups or images of masculinity are ever shown, this can create pressure. However, erotic films can also create counter-images by making different bodies, charisma, vulnerability and charisma visible.
Why is consensus so important in erotic films?
Consensus means that all participants take part voluntarily, informed and self-determined. This is not only important on set, but also for the effect on viewers. Erotic films can show that pleasure, respect and clear boundaries belong together.
What should you look out for when watching erotic films?
It is helpful to take a conscious look at how bodies, sex, role models and boundaries are portrayed in films. It is also important to remember that what works in a film does not have to be a benchmark for your own sex life. Your own desires, pace and boundaries count.
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