Thinking XXX

Having photographed artists, actors, musicians and politicians, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' next project is to photograph stars of the American pornography industry both with clothes and without in the same pose. As he works with them to capture his images, they speak to the camera about their lives, their experiences and how they see the world they live within.

As with many people I imagine, this film jumped out of the listings at me because of the title but also the names of the people involved – many of whom I have of course seen, but few of them on UK television! I watched it out of curiosity and, in this regard it works as a short documentary. The actors and actresses are all pretty charming and open about the work they do – none of them are cheap and nasty nor are any of them too hung up on the "importance" of what they think they are doing (even if one talks a bit heavily about it as an "art"). Seeing them in their normal clothes and not heavy make-up and high-heels is a nice experience and this novelty value is enough to carry it.

Of course there is also nudity but it is all very posed and those looking for a cheap way to get off will be disappointed because Sanders' is not really interested in making them titillating. This plays in its favour as a documentary but it is a documentary about the shooting of these portraits and not about the porn industry and this is where many viewers will have an issue with it. As it is essentially a relaxed chat with the performers, there isn't any probing and no topics are covered lest they want to discuss it themselves. So what we get is a very cheerful depiction of the industry from those who have been made comparatively rich and successful as a result of what they do. What you won't get is any idea of pressures, downsides, tragedies and so on, because these are not discussed or even really mentioned.

A shame perhaps but also understandable since the film is not really about more than the celebrities being shown "out of character" as it were. In the end what this means is that the film is a sort of cheerful bit of access to porn stars for those with an intellectual interest in them beyond the nudity and sex. In this regard it doesn't totally work because it is all a bit superficial with no probing whatsoever, giving the performers an easy ride and the industry a chance for a bit of PR but it is still quite interesting if you can except it as such.

This film, though not life altering, is fantastic. I mean, it's just an interesting, surprising look at the industry. If you give it a chance, I believe that there is a lot that some of these stars have to say about themselves, the world and the industry. It's not like every last one of these girls and guys are Ivy-League material, but the relative handful in this film as articulate and intelligent.

If you're interested in the sex industry, from a sincere point of view, watch this. Totally worth a viewing, search it, find a way to see it, definitely an eye-opener.

3 1/2 stars

Thinking XXX (2004)

** (out of 4)

Photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders directed this documentary taking a look at various porn stars who show up to be photographed with and without their clothes. Doing the shooting they discuss how they got into the business, their expectations for the future and countless other things. I must say that by the time this documentary was over I was extremely disappointed for a number of reasons but the biggest is that there should and could have been so much more done with it. Greenfield-Sanders released a book with these photos and this "documentary" really just seemed like a promotional piece for people to go out and buy the book. We start off hearing various stories about how these people got into the business and I think even those with the slightest bit of knowledge on porn will already know these stories. We learn that women get paid more than men and if a man really wants to make any cash it has to be in the gay porn industry. We learn about some abuse that goes on and we learn that ladies are often advised to take the show on the road as that's where the cash is. All of these stories have been dealt with in other documentaries so there's nothing new being told here. I'm guessing if you haven't seen other documentaries on the subject then perhaps you'll find this stuff interesting but by the thirty-minute mark I was growing more and more bored with the talk. Also, I do wonder how many actual porn fans are going to care about this book or the stories being told.

bought the book first titled thinking xxx thirty porn portraits that features the industry's top performers and stars clothed and un-clothed by photographer and author timothy greenfield sanders. i bought the DVD a while later and thought it would interesting to see the book being borough to film. viewers looking for x-rated clips of their favorite adult stars will be disappointed as there is none but more a journey of sorts as the performers sit down for a frank and thought provoking interview where they discuss their trade. they talk about growing up and their childhood, how they got started in the business and how it as affected their personal and professional lives. i was more fascinated with the veteran performers from the 70s and 80s who had so many wild tales to tell. back than, sex on camera seemed more enjoyable, worry free and fun where there wasn't the scare of sexually transmitted diseases or the aids epidemic that hit the eighties and devastated the industry. recommended to those wanted to take a further peek behind the curtains of the adult entertainment industry.

Thinking XXX is a documentary with some thought-provoking moments, but suffers from not going in depth with its subjects. Centering around the production of a photography book covering porn stars by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. The film alternates between scenes from the photo shoot and interviews with figures such as the late Norman Mailer.

At times, the documentary is quite interesting, with some very enlightening interviews with the adult actors and actresses. (Nina Hartley is particularly engaging.) The commentary from Mailer, Gore Vidal, and others is also thought-provoking, with a particularly interesting discussion of the connection between violence and pornography.

Unfortunately, the film jumps around so much that these topics cannot be examined in depth. For example, the discussion on violence and pornography lasts only a minute. A discussion of safe sex and pornography, particularly heterosexual pornography, is also given short shrift. The film could have benefited from a longer running time in order to allow greater depth. Furthermore, the film features in depth interviews with only a few of the more articulate or popular stars. Most of the others are given only scant attention.

Finally, for those watching just for the skin, there is plenty of nudity on display. Be forewarned, however, that the film jumps frequently between male and female porn stars, so people tuning in for one group will see a lot of the other as well.