Mysteries of the porn world have been laid bare by performers and producers, who’ve offered candid - and somewhat surprising - revelations about what really goes down on set.
A thread on Reddit asked actors for the secrets of porn that viewers really don’t know about.
And before footage is polished in post-production, performers say everything from paperwork to body hair preening make for a pretty arduous process that’s anything but sexy.
Here's 10 porn secrets that may surprise you…
Porn Secrets Revealed
Women make way more than men(01 of10)
Female porn actors receive more money for their time than men. A former porn producer wrote: ‘Back in 03', a girl could make $2,500 a scene depending on what she did. Men only (made) around $500.’ They said that the rate for those men willing to take part in gay porn was roughly the same as women. (credit:Shutterstock / Chamille White)
It’s hard work staying hard(02 of10)
Male performers say the hardest bit about porn is been standing to attention at all times. One wrote: ‘So even before we start the video, we do the picture shoot. This is done separately to the video and I have to get into all the positions we are going to do and stay still from 20 - 50 seconds, which is really fucking awkward, like no movement nothing. ‘This is why I have to take Viagra before I get to work, it's hard work staying hard.’ (credit:Katie Tegtmeyer/Flickr)
Outdoor porn is filmed on the fly(03 of10)
There’s little planning or preparation for outdoor scenes, with permits and permissions rarely sought by producers. One male actor wrote: ‘…on the street stuff is actually filmed on the street. They don't have a plan or permit for it, just go and get it done before people start asking questions.’ (credit:ЯAFIK ♋ BERLIN/Flickr)
Porn shoots are boring(04 of10)
According to performers, they can be on set for anything from five to twelve hours for a 30-minute scene. They get bored, text, and smoke. (credit:Getty Images)
Photos and the videos are shot separately(05 of10)
Performers have to pose for up to an hour for photography before the main shoot has even begun. According to one actor, the poses and positions taken in the photos have to be painstakingly replicated on film. (credit:Sergio Vassio/Flickr)
It’s physically and mentally demanding(06 of10)
Actors say that the job is, perhaps unsurprisingly, pretty physically demanding. But it’s also mentally draining, with performers recommending good mental health as an attribute for success in the industry. (credit:Reddit)
Unbelievably at least some porn is WRITTEN(07 of10)
By whom it’s unclear. But the vast majority is improvised - obviously. (credit:Sharon Drummond/Flickr)
Actors go their separate ways (08 of10)
Those actors commenting on the Reddit thread suggested that they rarely kept in touch with their fellow performers. One male performer wrote: ‘After the shoot is done we go our ways, I've rarely spoke to the girls I worked with much because a lot of them are pretty broken and I'd avoid them if I didn't have debts to pay.’ (credit:Alamy)
There’s lots of forms to fill in(09 of10)
Performers lament the amount of paperwork they have to complete before and after shooting scenes. One performer said that they were even filmed providing answers to questions. They wrote: ‘I have to fill out a million forms and be filmed on video before and after (a scene) answering questions like if I'm there of my own free will or if I'm on drugs’. (credit:jasra/Flickr)
And things almost too disgusting to reveal...(10 of10)
Smells:Smells are a big problem, according to Reddit porn actors. Some actors take great care -- and others... don't.Stickiness:And other undesirable stuff happens a lot. 'It comes with the territory'...'Money Shot':Is often faked -- and through a variety of ingenious means too x-rated to outline in detail. (credit:pfv./Flickr)