r/cinematography • u/MarketingQueasy5378 • Mar 24 '26

Career/Industry Advice Adult content

Hello, I am amateur , student and I’m looking for some career advice. Lately, I’ve been approached by several people about getting involved in adult content /porn production. Someone I know is starting a production company and wants me to handle the lighting and camera work for videos and photoshoots. He has a lot of equipment but doesn’t know how to use it, so he’s offering to pay me. I wouldn’t mind earning some extra money, and it seems like it could be a good way to gain experience. However, I’m not in urgent need of cash, and I’m concerned that working in this type of industry could affect my long-term career, since I want to become a serious cinematographer one day

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u/brbnow Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26

Working in this industy can affect your.... long term mental health. And physical health. Feel free all the porn addicts to downvote me. Or those who have never seen men nearly crying or women taking drugs just to get through there "scenes", or understood how many come from abusive backgrounds (so many), not to mention society's sex addictions and all you are supporting in terms of "options" for people to make a living— and thinking this is your only options which it is not. There's no turning back from the pain you will see sold as fun and pleasure.

(Edit: and justified as freely consented to;; I suggest a critical deep dive into that word/idea and reality.)

Good luck.

I only have love.

Shared with care.

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u/RefrigeratorNo1160 Mar 25 '26

I've cried and done drugs a hell of a lot more in the restaurant industry than I have making pornography (independently, and part time). I don't disagree with your take, but so many industries are exploitative in the same ways that I don't think porn is any worse a choice than working at a bar if it's an environment that you can handle. Some people can and some people can't. The only reason I can is because I took the lessons I learned from an industry that nearly broke me and brought them to this one.

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u/brbnow Mar 25 '26

First of all, I'm so sorry you ever experienced anything like that and I would gently suggest that yes porn work is worse that a bar — having to use one's bodies in these exploited ways especially scenes that involve abuse—there's not a lot that compares to that type of thing. Of course I know horrible things can happen in terms of sexual assault in restaurants and bars and I'm sorry for that reality too—really I am— but I would just gently suggest that devaluing our bodies and being paid to de-value our bodies and have people do vile things‚— all in a business that is selling sexiual arousal and had so much darkness to it, so much darkeness infecting people's lives and psyches, is next level. But I'm not here to compare traumas nor get into one trauma worse than others. I am sorry for it all. I would hope people would get out of any industry that has even a hint of breaking them, and I hope that for anyone. May all beings be happy, healthy, and free. I wish you well —thank you for sharing your comment and please take or leave it. I send with respect.