Making Awesome Home Porn

Contributed by Elizabeth Bromstein, Lavalife

It seems like everybody's making sex tapes these days.

Filming yourself is currently one of the quickest ways to get your name into the public consciousness, as long as the caught-on-camera boinkfest is released onto the web.

Of course, not everyone has dreams of recognition and some just think filming themselves getting it on would be fun. It's risqué and you get to feel like a porn star. Plus, who hasn't wondered what they look like doing it?

But many don't know where to begin. And there is that added fear that, if you do make a home movie, your roommate or cleaning lady will find it and boy will you look stupid.

You know what? Own it. Make that home movie so good that even if someone else does get their hands on it, all they'll think is 'Damn. That's hot. Maybe I can get cast in the next one.'

OK, But How?

I went straight to the experts for advice. Through adult production company Digital Playground , I got in touch with director Robby D. and actress Jesse Jane.

Robby D. has been in the business almost a decade, garnering more four-star ratings, Editors' Choice accolades and rave reviews than any other director in the same time-span. Jesse Jane is a television host and star of several films including Digital Playground's benchmark Pirates, the most expensively made porno... like... ever. The two of them provided enough tips to make your home movie the best in the world.

Make Yourself Comfortable

Robby D. insists the key to making a good video, professional or amateur, is psychological. "A good meal, maybe some wine -- whatever puts you in the mood. Make the other person feel comfortable."

Jane concurs. "Being comfortable with yourself means being confident and knowing you're sexy. Tell yourself you're sexy. You know your partner thinks you are and you know how to turn him/her on. You already know how to hit this person's buttons. My first time on camera was a little home video with my boyfriend. I was nervous but knowing it turned him on automatically helped build up confidence."

"And pick your outfits accordingly," adds D. "Put the girl in really flattering clothes that she feels comfortable in. Don't put her in a nun's habit if she doesn't feel comfortable or in something that maybe exposes a weak spot. Same goes for men."

For the ladies, Jane adds, "If you have stretch marks maybe use a little spray tan. Definitely don't wear anything that covers too much of you and don't wear anything loose. Just wear a bra and panties or even just panties. Or a man's shirt with one button buttoned and nothing else." Classic.

Get Your Good Side

We've all got that little something we're not thrilled about: Midriff rolls, thunder thighs, cellulite, butt zits. And while we know we should just get over it and be comfortable with our own unique beauty, the fact is we aren't delighted about the idea of catching these flaws on camera. The solution? Angles.

Beforehand, Jane suggests you "find a mirror and test your angles. Honestly, you know certain positions might not flatter your body but bending over doggy-style, for example, tightens up your legs and firms up your ass. Know your angles."

Blinded by the Light

Not sure what to do with lighting? We've all heard candlelight is the most flattering but D. says otherwise. "Daylight is probably the most flattering. I shoot almost everything in daylight. If you're doing something in the afternoon you can just open up some curtains."

For a night-time project, "Today's cameras have such low-light sensitivity that you can use almost any ambient light."

Lights... Camera

Keep it simple, D. advises and don't pick a camera with bells and whistles you don't know how to use. Then, "you can hold the camera yourself, create some intimacy and explore one another with the camera. Or you can create something a little more cinematic and voyeuristic by using a tripod or, if your budget doesn't allow, put it on top of your nightstand.

"Don't be afraid to move the camera around and explore. Don't leave it sitting in one place because how boring would that be? Hopefully your love life isn't as boring as a camera on a tripod." Plus: "These days a lot of cameras have a little slip-out LCD screen that you can watch the monitor on, which is great because you can look at the picture, make sure the lighting is perfect, color balance it if you need to and then rotate it like 180 degrees so you can have it on the nightstand or a tripod and flip the screen around and it's like you're watching yourself on TV." Cool.

Use every room in your house, adds Jane. "Say you're in the bathroom, set it on the counter, make sure you angle it right. It's easier than it sounds. All you need is counters, cabinets, phone books. You'll get the angle you're looking for."

Action

Ack! OK, this was great in theory but when it comes down to it, we're kind of nervous and what if we make stupid faces and oh...I don't know...

Jane says it helps to have a character. "Get into a different mood. Tell yourself that you're something, get into the mindset of what you want to be. Do you want to play a hooker and be the dirty girl? Or do you want to be the innocent? Pick a character and get into it.

"It's funny for me to watch myself and see the character I turn into. You don't realize when you're having sex how dirty you become or how kinky you get because you're so into the moment you don't think about it, so when you watch it it's like 'Holy Shit, was I doing that?' Everybody turns into a different person. Especially if they know they're being filmed."

And forget about the camera, she advises, or you will make stupid faces. "People either wrinkle their foreheads or have this blank stare. Think it's just you and whoever you're shooting that film with, then you're gonna go crazy and it's gonna look hot, really dirty, sexy."

Tell Us More about Hot, Dirty, and Sexy

Talk! says Jane. "The key to good dirty video sex is talking to the camera. When a guy puts the camera in my face I say 'You know I'm making you hard. You wanna stick your cock inside me.' Talk to the camera. That makes the video a hundred times hotter. Talk. Grab the camera. Look into the camera. Say, "You wanna fuck me?" Like you know somebody's watching you and getting off."

Also, she says, do a little solo. This is obviously for the girls. "Do a striptease. Tease the camera by touching your hair, putting your fingers in your mouth, touching your breasts, undressing yourself. If you're in the bathroom, hop on the counter, touch yourself, play with yourself and say 'Oh God that feels good,' undressing, taking on the camera, looking at yourself in the mirror while you're touching yourself and then turn to the camera and say 'I know you want to touch me but you can't,' and start fingering yourself. Do something to yourself and THEN let them do it. You gotta add a little tease, otherwise it's just giving it away, which is still fun but make it a game." Ooh! We like games.

Final Words of Advice?

"Always have lube because usually when you film you go longer. Have dildos, toys, cuffs, get crazy," says Jane.

"And don't forget to put film in the camera," D. adds. "And make sure your batteries are fully charged. Nothing causes wood problems like a battery going dead in the middle of a scene." Sound advice.

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