Expert: Charles Taylor - 3/13/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hey, Charles! I'm interested in writing a concept for a TV show about the people who work behind the scenes in the porn industry: the clean-up crew, makeup artists, cameramen, and yes, the directors. What I'm interested in knowing is what a typical day at work looks like for these people, if they work at a bigger-budget straight porn studio.

Some specific questions:

1.) Who are the first few people on set, and how early do they have to be there?
2.) Who sets up the...well, set, and the lights, cameras, and monitors?
3.) When do the actors come in, and how does their day begin?
4.) What's the typical day of a director like? When and how does his day begin, and how long can production run for? When does the director take a break, and what do they usually do on their breaks - apart from have lunch, that is. When and how do their days end? Do they have to do anything work-related when they get home (or alternately, does their work affect what they do at home in any way)?
5.) What's the typical day of a makeup artist like? When and how do their days begin? In their line of work, how dirty do their hands actually have to get? How often is a makeup artist needed during a shoot? When do they go on breaks, and what do they do besides eat? When and how do their days end? Again, do they have to do anything work-related at home?
6.) Pretty much the same questions about cameramen: when do they come in? What do they do first thing? What do they do on their breaks? When and how do their days end? Also, to what extent do they interact with actors offscreen? Do cameramen sometimes have to step in as fluffers, or does someone else do that?
7.) Same questions about the cleanup crew. Also - this is silly - but what do you call a cleanup crew member, if you don't want to call him a "cleanup crew member" (which can be long and tedious)? Do they ever have to step in during the shoot or do they only come in after everyone's done? If it's the latter, what do they do during the shoot? What happens if there's an unfortunate accident and a director or cameraman gets...um, bodily fluids on him - who cleans that mess up? What cleanup equipment is required for this line of work? Does cleanup ever get to deal with actors?
8.) How does dealing with female actors differ from dealing with male actors?
9.) When shooting an indoor scene, where are the film sets usually located? (This porn studio is going to be in Porn Valley.)

Whew... I realize that there are a lot of questions here, and I really appreciate you guys volunteering to answer people's queries like this. You're great!  

Thank you so much for your help!

ANSWER: you would be better off talking with someone from "porn valley"....since most companies here where I am at...(Florida) are fairly small operations.

Good luck with your project....it sounds like it will have a wide audience appeal.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Charles! Because I do have a deadline looming (I'm a creative writing student), I'm afraid I won't have the time to research which studios in Porn Valley to call for info. If you could provide me with answers to the questions that you have some knowledge about, that would be fantastic!

Also, some more specific questions:

1.) I'm going to have two characters make love on set when the cameras aren't rolling; if this is a set in a warehouse, what's a possible obscure place that could provide privacy for the couple? Private Dressing room? Bathroom? Some other space I wouldn't know about?

2.) I'm thinking of having my director leave his wireless mic on and go into another room to discuss something private. Naturally the whole crew would hear what he's saying, but how would the sound mixer turn the sound down? In other words, what are the technical aspects of that?

3.) When the crew is done shooting for the day, who are the last few people to stay on set? Cameramen, who have to pack up their equipment? Lighting crew?

Please answer these three questions at the very least. I'll be eagerly awaiting your response :-)

Answer
1) a VERY large bathroom....most naturally are on the smaller side.

2) that you could do in the final editing process....as longs as you have the time a quality computer with something like sony vegas editing software.

3) most everyone has their designated "job" to do and be gone....sound guy, videographer, lighting tech and various associated miscellaneous crew.


hope it helps...