Good Vibrations Magazine

By Allison G

The GV Weekly recently sat down with acclaimed writer, editor, director, and all-around Sexpert Tristan Taormino to find out what new projects are in the works, her favorite sex toys, and how she’s changing the face of porn.

GV: You recently began a new series, Vivid Ed. Tell us how that came about and what you’d like it to become.

TT: When I first returned to the world of adult video, I was focused on making gonzo that would appeal to couples and women, so I was pitching my Chemistry series. I had meetings with several studios, and when I sat down with Vivid, CEO Steven Hirsch was really interested in a sex education line. It’s what I am known for, so it seemed like a natural fit. I really wanted to expand what the genre has done thus far, so I came up with an overall concept behind Vivid-Ed. First, I wanted to show explicit techniques. I’ve seen some videos where there are long shots of people having sex accompanied by voiceovers, but it all felt very vague to me. I wanted to get right in there and show people specifics because in my experience as a sex educator, people want specifics when it comes to sex!! Next, I thought a lot about how I could make a series that was both educational and sexy, and I realized that the best way to do it was to basically do two versions. So, that’s one of the major hooks of the series: people can watch the scenes with or without instruction. In a scene with instruction, the pacing is slower than a “traditional” sex scene, plus there are these cool pop-up graphics with tips as well as the voiceovers. In the same scene without instruction, it’s edited in a totally different way, we include footage that we didn’t show in the instructional, the pacing is faster, and it’s more like a hot sex scene that focuses on one particular thing — whatever the topic of that video is. I also thought it was important to stay on topic. Too many sex ed videos out there have intercourse even when that’s not the subject. So, for example, in the Vivid-Ed cunnilingus video, it’s all pussy eating, all the time. There isn’t even a male cum shot unless you watch the scene without instruction. It may not sound revolutionary, but in the world of mainstream adult video, it absolutely is. Old school male reviewers still complain in reviews that each scene doesn’t end with a cum shot, but that’s not what it’s about! Vivid has really given me a tremendous amount of freedom to challenge convention and do things my way.

GV: How do you think having top tier adult stars featured in sexual education videos will impact the future of sex ed?

TT: It’s interesting you think that they are “top tier,” because I think I’ve managed to cast a good variety of people, but I don’t think of them as top tier, since they are not “big names” by any means. It’s fascinating to me that three of the women I have cast in my sex eds—Adrianna Nicole, Lindsey Meadows, and Roxy DeVille—were nominated for the AVN Unsung Starlet Award this year. They truly are three of the best performers out there, but they rarely “get” the boxcover or top billing in a movie and they are generally underappreciated. I decided to use adult performers because I think as people who have sex day in and day out with lots of different people, they have a lot to teach us. And since my process as a director is focused on collaboration, I look for people who have knowledge, experience and insight to bring to the table. I’ve also used some real-life couples (like Kelly and Richard Kline) as well as performers who are known more on the internet (Princess Donna, Ariel X, Sarah Blake).

GV: You also released the third edition of Chemistry, your reality porn series, and we hear a 4th installment is on the way. Tell us about that project.

TT: Chemistry Volume 4 is subtitled “The Orgy Edition,” because it just never seemed that anyone in the cast could have sex with anyone else without everyone joining in. It stars Penny Flame, Adrianna Nicole, Sinnamon Love, Evan Stone, Tyler Knight, and Johnny Sins. It was a completely wild time — hot tub sex, non-stop vibrator use, threesomes, foursomes, moresomes. At one point, Evan Stone appears out of nowhere in a full tiger suit, and we get some Furry/Human sex. Tantra teachers Mark Michaels and Patricia Johnson (authors of The Essence of Tantric Sexuality) make a special appearance where they give an impromptu Tantra workshop to the castmates, with some surprising reactions and an amazing discussion afterward. Someone does something on camera that they’ve never done before. Someone cries in the confessional. Someone fucks so much that by Day 2 her pussy is so sore, she declares that it’s closed for business; luckily, her ass was ready to pick up the slack. One guy asks one woman to do some face smothering with him, so she sits on his face and goes to town. What can I say? Good times.

GV: What is your favorite thing about porn?

TT: I think that good porn—what constitutes “good” is totally subjective, of course—can inspire passion, arousal, and fantasy in people. It can help us get in touch with our sexuality, it can jump-start our libidos, and it can remind us why sex is fun in a very clear way!

GV: You are definitely known as a major anal sex fan and supporter, how did that come about?

TT: Well the first time I experienced anal pleasure was really fun and positive and made me want to try it again. And again. And again. Each time I did it, I liked it more. For me, anal play gives me a much deeper, more intense, all-over orgasm than any other kind of stimulation.

GV: What is your favorite sex toy?

TT: That is such a tough question! I really love all the NJoy stainless steel toys, especially the butt plugs. I just think they are not only stunningly beautiful, but also designed to hit just the right spots. I just finished my 8th Annual Sexy Gift Guide for the Village Voice, so I have been checking out a lot of the new toys on the market. I love the new wooden dildos by Nob Essence; again, they are works of art and tools for pleasure. I am into the Tuyo vibrator right now. I feel like it’s an improvement on the “it” toy of last year, the Cone. The Tuyo looks sexier and I can put it right between my legs for hands-free masturbation. My favorite Vixen dildo was recently discontinued, so I am on the hunt for a new one I love. It might be Woody. And the Texas Two-Strap Harness still can’t be beat!

GV: You’ve created several DVD series, authored and edited Erotica and Sex Ed books, have a column in the Village Voice, lectured, inspired the design of a butt plug, and the list could go on and on. What new projects are on the horizon?

TT: I just finished my new book, Opening Up: Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships, which is all about nonmonogamy. It will be out from Cleis Press this coming Spring, and I am really, really proud of it. I co-produce a sex event called Dark Odyssey (http://darkodyssey.com) which happens twice a year. Our winter event is March 21-23 in Washington, DC and we have lots of stuff to do between now and then. I am currently editing my next Vivid Ed title, The Expert Guide to the G-spot, which comes out in April. I am also editing Chemistry, Volume 4, which is due in stores in May. I am in pre-production for several new movies for Vivid and Vivid-Ed which I will shoot in February. I am really looking forward to doing more sex ed videos, I have a list a mile long! I am especially excited to do The Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men, it’s on the list!

GV: What would you like to see next from the porn industry?

TT: Wow, that’s a tough question. I would like to see mandatory testing changed from every thirty days to every fifteen days. It’s not a solution, but I think it will decrease the rates of STDs. I would like to see more women in positions of power behind the scenes. We have more than we’ve ever had, but we still need more. I want to see the industry acknowledge the female porn consumer *for real*. I mean, companies produce “couples friendly porn,” but if you ask 9 out of 10 people in the industry, they will tell you women don’t really like, love, rent, buy, or watch porn. We do, and I am sick of people saying we don’t.