FANZINE

It seemed ideal to christen a nascent, still untitled porn column by interviewing Sasha Grey, the adult film industry’s most intriguing newcomer. A complex mix of smarts and almost violent fearlessness, Grey’s as comfortable talking about her first gang bang and interest in rough sex as she is Jung, Italian neo-realism, Brutalism, Byron, and “single malt 30 year old Scotch.” Self-aware transgression and hardcore intelligence often go hand in hand, but what makes Grey an anomoly is that she’s just 18 years old.

High-gloss punk porn/alt porn is the hip, art-world ready, generally boring aesthetic path these days––tattoos, dye jobs, the missionary position. Grey’s as punk as they come, but thankfully doesn’t feel the need to dress up like a cartoonish Warped Tour extra. And unlike the generally vanilla “Alt” strain, she’s known for her unrelenting, intrepid, over-the-top shit-talking performances, making porn that puts to shame the Valley-based implant-n-tan-line sort.

Look for Grey in upcoming issues of Hustler, Barely Legal, Taboo and Tight. She’s also a new editor at Fox Magazine. “They’ll have me do interviews on porn stars and such,” she told me. “I’m not quite sure what my other duties will be yet.” She’ll grace the cover of the November issue. For now, check out the following conversation, which took place via email.

FANZINE: You entered the porn industry shortly after you turned eighteen. How long did you know porn was what you wanted to do?

GREY: I knew I wanted to do porn after exploring a semester of college and working full time. I started my research in August of 2005.

FANZINE: How did you go about researching?

GREY: Online of course! I read a lot of interviews and watched as much smut as I possibly could. I also practiced positions and played with toys a lot. Hopefully one day somebody will be reading this interview for the same purpose.

FANZINE: Did you have idols or role models?

GREY: I was fascinated by Belladonna’s work as a performer and spent a lot of time on her website.

FANZINE: What did you find fascinating?

GREY: She has an intense energy that never fades away and commits to each scene. She made girl/girl porn better than great. I actually get off on it. Here was this woman who was creating, and always making intense, nasty porn. She’s an innovator.

FANZINE: Now you work together. How’d you meet?

GREY: The first time was on a go-see with my agent. The second day he started representing me. We were at the Evil Angel office and she was getting her costume fitted for The Fashionistas 2. It was so surreal—she was one of the first porn stars I met in those two days, and happened to be my favorite.

FANZINE: Most of the younger folks getting involved in porn immediately jump into the alt or punk realm. You, though, hooked up with Belladonna, likely the most sexually adventurous mainstream porn actress. Are you at all attracted to alt porn as a concept or a career path? My own personal opinion is that on a general level it’s fairly generic porn with different costume design. Someone like Jack The Zipper’s really interesting—he transcends the basic tropes.

GREY: Honestly, the only “alt porn” I have seen is the Suicide Girls stuff. I do agree that they take interesting visuals and the product becomes the same run-of the-mill soft-core scene. Alt-porn should not just be soft-core but a melting pot of many sexual beings, or characteristics––hence the word “alt.” As far as my own career path, I don’t wish to follow one genre, belief, or idea… I would like to work with Joanna Angel. Maybe I can convince her into some Misfits shit.

FANZINE: You entered the business at the top really—shooting your first scene for The Fashionistas 2. What was it like stepping immediately into a major production?

GREY: It was amazing; I never imagined that I would be a part of a major project like this so early in my career. It was such a great honor to be able to work with John Stagliano and all of the performers. It was wonderful to stand aside professionals who love what they do and take it seriously.

FANZINE: The last one nabbed so many AVN awards. And working with Rocco Siffredi? I’ve yet to see your scene, but know he can get pretty rough. You’ve mentioned being into rough sex––still, was it intimidating?

GREY: Well, that wasn’t even supposed to happen, but Rocco will take what he wants if he sees something he likes. I was nervous the whole day, but right when I slid his cock into my mouth all of those butterflies went away, and my pussy instantly got wet.

FANZINE: What’s the difference between shooting something like, say, The Fashionistas and a shorter, lower budget scene for something like Frat House Fuck Fest? Do you approach the scene differently?

GREY: The main difference is that The Fashionistas is dramatic, intense, and fascinating; while Frat House Fuck Fest is supposed to be real. My focus is intense, but I take into account what is supposed to “really” be happening.

FANZINE: You just did your first gang bang scene—you and fifteen guys. Daunting?

GREY: No, I was well prepared mentally and physically. It had its banal and frustrating moments but it started strong and ended strong. You’ll have to see it to get the rest of the nectar!

FANZINE: Ever work with someone you didn’t find attractive? I imagine you have. How do you deal with that?

GREY: Of course I have, but I’m concentrating on the dick and my performance I can get off even if the person is unattractive. It is my job to overcome obstacles like this.

FANZINE: Do you draw the line anywhere regarding what you will or won’t do?

GREY: Unfortunately during my scenes I have to be conscious of where somebody is slapping, or hitting me, because nobody wants to shoot a bruised porn star. Personally, I think battle wounds are sexy. Outside of that, I will try anything, because if something is too much it can be stopped with the snap of a finger. I love being scared, feeling unsafe, but subconsciously I know I am in control. On the flipside, I am a “switch.” I am anxious to do more Dom work with both men and women.

FANZINE: Are you into that Bend Over Boyfriend thing? Seemed like a moment for a while, perhaps spurred on by Tristan Taormino.

GREY: I would love to do a scene like that! I love being both dominant and submissive, and I enjoy men who are the same way (well not always). Scenes like these add more variety to porn, which I continually strive to do.

FANZINE: What was the first porn you ever watched?

GREY: The first porn I ever saw, I stole from my dad. It was some early eighties smut. The first time I found it hilarious, and the second time…well you know!

FANZINE: Where did you grow up?

GREY: Sacramento. Culturally speaking, Sacramento’s very diverse. Unfortunately, I am a product of a neglected economic environment. So there wasn’t much to do but get in trouble, or be sneaky and not get caught.

FANZINE: I’ve interviewed people like Candida Royalle and Jamie Gillis in the past, and really love their stories about the Golden Age of porn. The “industry” was obviously much different when they got involved. I’m interested in what’s shifted between then and now. There’s the Internet, of course.

GREY: The Internet definitely plays a big part. It’s convenient, and you don’t have to hide it under your bed. A few decades ago, women could not make money from having their own website with original content. But a definite disadvantage is that online sites can now appropriate your work for their own profits.

FANZINE: In a lot of ways, mainstream porn’s lost its edge. It’s become acceptable enough for Jenna Jameson to appear on billboards. What do you think is the more interesting “underground” work at this time?

GREY: I think it has lost its edge, mainly due to legal issues. You can also argue that some directors/companies have an idea of what should be done, and there is no balance of creativity as a whole. It is like a routine. As far as women receiving promotional tools that they utilize to further their careers, that is wonderful for them. I would see it as a setback if the woman stopped the “style” of the way she works. The truly underground porn, I haven’t seen. Stuff such as vomit, piss, bestiality subjects that will not be palatable to most people. Underground porn is truly underground because it explores all the facets of human sexuality.

FANZINE: I have friends who are obsessed with Crack Whore Confessions, though I’ve yet to check it out. I’m interested in porn on various levels, but especially enjoy the work that can teach you something about language or the human condition. Seems like Crack Whore Confessions could do that.

GREY: I think Crack Whore Confessions is both hilarious and tragic. They need to fuck for a different reason than porn stars—we need or want sex, and they need drugs. It is an excellent exposé of human sexuality, which probably frightens a lot of people.

FANZINE: I saw some photo shoot where you engage the photographer with a series of shit-talking questions. How Important is the verbal to your work?

GREY: Verbal stimulation is very important to my work. I can’t get off unless there is shit-talking involved. I don’t want to hear sexy moans, I want to hear degradation, grunting, hyperventilating. It stimulates your psyche as well as your libido, allowing for a more intense scene.

FANZINE: Okay, now for a bunch of quick Entertainment Weekly-style questions. I saw on your Myspace page that you play left-handed guitar. Ever been in any bands?

GREY: No, I’ve never been in any bands.

FANZINE: What sort of stuff do you play?

GREY: I like to experiment and make shit up. For speed purposes, I practice different scales. I don’t really like playing other people’s music.

FANZINE: Are you left-handed?

GREY: I’m ambidextrous.

FANZINE: A lot of the bands you’re into––Joy Division, Current 93, Sisters of Mercy, Coil, Bauhaus, Skinny Puppy––are obviously, as my Dad would say, “before your time.” How’d you get into, say, Coil, Throbbing Gristle, and C93?

GREY: Mostly by accident, probably looking for weird shit online, and brainwashed.com.

FANZINE: Have you ever read England’s Hidden Reverse?

GREY: I’ve never read it, and can’t find it anywhere.

FANZINE: Do you like Marilyn Manson’s music, or more as a personality and icon?

GREY: His personality compliments his amazing talent as a musician and performance artist. I think he is exactly what his name derives from––he’s a very intelligent man.

FANZINE: Do you have any say in the music that scores your scenes? Godspeed You Black Emperor… Fugazi?

GREY: LOL! I wish I had a say—that’s all done in post-production. Every time you shoot a scene, part of the contract even states that you do not have a right in the final product.

FANZINE: You’re into Aesop Rock, Outkast, etc. Do you write?

GREY: Yes, I do write actually, mostly poetry and short stories. I guess I want to be a renaissance woman. I wish more hip-hop artists had the intelligence of Aesop––we’d have larger array of listen-worthy music.

FANZINE: What attracts you to, say, the work of Burroughs or something like House of Leaves? Bukowski?

GREY: Burroughs was just fucking fantastic, molding reality, into the surreal. Not to mention his interplay of sexuality. House of Leaves is great because I have never read or seen a post-modern horror book—graphic design combined with eccentric writing.

FANZINE: You’ve also mentioned performance art. Favorite artists or movements?

GREY: COUM Transmission, definitely. The Situationist International is definitely a movement I favor.

FANZINE: Are you into Vienna Actionism?

GREY: I checked out, it’s right in my alley––no pun intended.

FANZINE: Do you consider porn performance art?

GREY: Of course I do. I don’t know how many people see it that way, but when I am in the scene I am performing for an audience. Satisfying not the male talent, but people at home watching.

FANZINE: You’re a new porn participant, but you’ve received a very enthusiastic response it seems. What do you think it takes to make a good porn star?

GREY: There is no true definition of a “good porn star.” Everybody wants something different. In my opinion, it should be one who understands their sexuality while continually exploring it. All porn stars should care about their fans, their appearance, and the quality of their work.

FANZINE: Yeah, guess asking what makes a good porn star is the same thing as asking what makes good writing. Somewhere you call yourself, I think, a “sex junkie.” Explain.

GREY: Actually, it’s “Fuck Junkie”. The term fuck defines an abrasive way of having sex; it pulverizes the idea of making love. I don’t want to make love––I want to fuck. I fiend for intense sex that I can share with one, one hundred, one thousand, or even a million people. I hunger to explore my own sexuality, finding sicker ways to get off psychologically and physically.

-FIN-

(Photo Credits: Ian Preston Cinnamon)

For additional Sasha Grey info, surf over to www.myspace.com/sashagrey. Keep eyes peeled for her new website, http://www.sashagrey.com, and the excellently titled film, Sasha Grey’s Anatomy, currently being shot for Combat Zone. Grey’s been extremely productive over a short period of time, as this abridged list of her projects suggests:

The Fashionistas 2: Safado
Fuck Slaves
Jack’s My First Porn 7
Oral Supremacy
Sex Slaves 2
Swallow My Squirt 4
Barley Legal 62
50 to 1 no. 5
Teenage Anal Princess #5
Black Balled
Control
Tight Teen Twat #2
Feeding Frenzy #9
Black Cock Addiction
House of Ass 3
In thru the Back Door
The Girl Next Door 2
Fetish Fanatic 4
Cumfart Cocktails 5

The titles I dreamt up for this column aren’t as colorful as the names of Sasha’s movies, so I’ve decided to open the decision making process to you, the reader. Send ideas to brandon@thefanzine.com. If your title is selected, you’ll win your choice of a number of prizes.

Grand prize: Sasha has happily agreed to make a mix CD “with some original xxxtra content.” A couple weeks ago, I asked her what she was listening to since relocating to Los Angeles and she told me: “Boxes still unpacked, but this week I pulled some CD’s out: Aphex Twin, Dead Kennedy’s, The Damned, Bjork, KMFDM, Skinny Puppy. Next week?” Checking back, it was the Smiths, Mt. Egypt, Einsturzende Neubauten, and a bunch of The Cure reissues.

Second prize: Your choice of a free gift package from Joe Gallant’s Black Mirror Productions (for fans of gritty, ambitious, NYC, mostly hetero porn) or Michael Lucas’s Lucas Entertainment (for fans of glossy, ambitious NYC gay porn). Hell, you can have both. Black Mirror just finished Avenue X for Hustler/VCA and Lucas Entertainment continues to wow with a forthcoming remake of La Dolce Vita. For more info on these companies go to www.myspace.com/blackmirrornyc & www.lucasentertainment.com, respectively. (In the meantime, in an attempt to offer smut for all orientations, I’ll find a lesbian (or at least girl/girl) company willing to offer some goodies.)