After Porn Ends 2

Came across this and was interested in it due to the taboo industry. This is a look into the industry and follows up with past stars. I consider the stars real people and have an interest in getting to know more about them. Like any other actor or actress, they have their lines. The industry has been bombarded lately due to the ease to upload and get their 15 mins of fame. There were a few familar faces. Interesting to see how their lives are and what you don't see. Recommend this for those who watch adult content but may reduce the hype behind the content. You can find some of the stars now on media platforms, giving those who want to follow them off camera an option.

After Porn Ends 2 (2017)

*** (out of 4)

This documentary is basically a continuation of the first film and has a new line of retired and somewhat retired porn stars talking about what they did after leaving the business. You've got classic stars like Georgina Spelvin, Ginger Lynn and Johnnie Keyes as well as more recent people like Lisa Ann, Brittany Adams, Tabitha Stevens and Chasey Lain. You've also got Darren James telling his story, which involves him getting HIV and bringing it into the business.

For the most part this here is an entertaining film but it falls well short of the original. I think the biggest problem is that a lot of the stories being told here were told in the first one so there's really nothing new or fresh here. Another problem is that it seems a lot of the people here are too new to have much of a career after the business. It seems these folks like to brag about what they're currently doing but not too much of this is overly interesting.

The highlight of the film is without question the interview with Keyes who talks about his carer and he's as funny as ever. He also breaks down in tears when it comes to talking about his childhood. Spelvin and Lynn are also very good in their stories. Another interesting discussion deals with escorts and how a lot of the new porn performers are making a name for themselves so that they can break away and become escorts. The fact that there aren't any real "stars" in porn today is also talked about.

If you're a fan of the genre then there are enough good stories to make this worth watching but it's certainly a step down from the original.

I just read, that someone was not satisfied (no pun intended) with the selection of the retired porn stars chosen for this sequel documentary (I don't think there are many sequels to documentaries, although there is Inconvinient Truth part 2 too, so ...). But this is about getting to know what people go through, and there is actually one interesting part that has to do with protection being used and why porn stars may have a point in not using them.

There's also one particular star that you may not agree with, but the stories are interesting enough. And as with the first one, we do get an ending bit with more "recent" information on their lives and what they've been up to since the interviews had been conducted. But in the movie itself, this time around, you also get people who are in the business right now and their outlook on what they see in their future. Let's see if they add anything to the third one (nudity and more obviously included in this, but no explicit stuff)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Every porn documentary has something to say about this business, the people within, but the hard part is finding a nugget of truth you haven't already seen or heard before. Fun moments, a fair bit of tragedy, damaged people before & after. 'After Porn Ends 2' continues giving both sides of the table but a lot is old hat.

I've listened to Lisa Ann interviews the most of any pornstar and she always comes off bright, positive, well spoken. You're just never sure what's an image and she's versed in self promotion. That's what her appearance here captures as she was retired from the industry once again, doing satellite radio and releasing a book circa 2017.

I don't think it's necessary to run out the rest of the stories here, but needless to say it charts the usual courses. There were two standouts for me. One they give Darren James a podium to talk about his HIV diagnosis and moving on with life after. They allow him to tell the tale without any challenge. Second the new business model of ladies using porn to build a name with the ultimate goal of high priced escorting.

'After Porn Ends 2' doesn't have a strong narrative and maybe it's not supposed to. It's a bunch of soundbites, people's up & down struggles thru life and this industry about making a buck. This piece from director Bryce Waggoner is well edited and flows nicely, but I can't see anyone getting multiple views from it.

I'll be honest; I'm not the sort for documentaries and even less so for gushing about them afterwards...

However, this film is one of the funniest, saddest and most touching things I have ever seen. It really shows how a disseperate group of people were affected by thier time in the adult industry.

It is really worth a watch because it is interesting and well shot.