I’m very excited to provide you with an exclusive interview with the fabulous Candida Royalle, the doyenne of women’s erotica.
If you’ve been reading the blog you’ll know that her latest movie is called AfroDite Superstar, the first in a series of adult films made for women of color.
So, without further ado, here’s the interview.
How do you feel about the reception given to AfroDite Superstar? Has it been a success?
The reception given to AfroDite Superstar has been wonderful, just like I hoped. People are recognizing it for the long overdue attention to the sexual needs and desires of women and people of color. The adult film industry has long neglected the demographic made up of educated and discerning people of color, turning out movies that feature insulting stereotypical images of black and latino sexuality. Couples of color also like to occasionally share a sexy, erotic movie together, and would appreciate viewing adult entertainment that speaks to them in an intelligent and provocative way.
Advertisement
Support independent, ethically made, award-winning porn. Bright Desire features all of my erotic films and writing. A membership to Bright Desire gets you access to every movie I've ever made and lets me keep making female friendly porn!
Click here to find out more.
-------------------------------------------------------
Here’s a sampling of some of the comments I’ve been receiving from both the white and ethnic community:
“… as a young man of color, I was impressed. The film portrayed our women in such a beautiful, classy yet stimulating light that I never thought was possible. I can’t describe it any other way but as a work of art. I think it’s also great that Ms. Hottentot cast women of various dark shades as well as real beautiful women whom you’d see every day on the street. This was very inspiring and uplifting, and I look forward to seeing more films from your Femme Chocolat line. Finally, I own an adult film that I can actually display with my other movies rather than tuck away underneath my bed, and can actually enjoy with my partner.”
From an African American Professor:
“I never got a chance to say how much I enjoyed the Afrodite Superstar film. It was quite unique in the genre… The humor and splendid writing was a breath of fresh air… Simone was marvelous and played her role flawlessly.”
From a Latino woman/reviewer:
“Great Job! There is a lot of sensuality with foreplay, touching and romance that women look for….. Mr. Marcus’s style of making love to Simone is how all women would love to be treated.”
From Audacia Ray’s FLESHBOT review:
“Besides all the hotness and chemistry between performers, the plot is really engaging, and we don’t even feel the need to add on the disclaimer ‘for a porno movie’ at the end of that sentence… a sizzling coupling between Simone Valentino and Mr. Marcus that actually made us utter the word ‘Sweet!’ out loud in a dark and quiet movie theater. It’s not often you see two performers laughing and enjoying themselves during a sex scene instead of making faces like they’re slaughtering a suckling pig, but Simone and Marcus delivered and then some.”
Under the Covers came out in February. Has it been stressful having two films released within such a short space of time?
It was a bit stressful, particularly the combined tasks of trying to finish up both movies at the same time. There’s an unbelievable amount of detailed post-production work to be done as well as technical work in creating the DVD. And then there’s also the cumbersome task of getting all the legal paperwork in order. Doing two at once is really a lot!
As for the work of promoting, that wasn’t so bad really. Fortunately I had some help from both Jamye Waxman who co-wrote and produced Under the Covers and from Mischa Allen of Adam & Eve Pictures. With both their help we put together a really fun release party for Under the Covers in New York and another one in LA. (see photos on my “out & about” page on my web site) And with Venus I arranged a great event for AfroDite Superstar at the New School for Social Research in New York.
When is the next Femme and Femme Chocolat film due out?
I notoriously take a long time completing and releasing a movie so one a year is about all that can be expected of me! I’m planning on shooting both another Femme movie and another Femme Chocolat movie in the late fall, early winter, so that one will come out in spring 2008, and the other probably fall 2008.
Are you working with more new female directors for upcoming projects and are you able to tell me who they are?
I actually have several young women I’m developing scripts with for both lines. I can tell you that Jamye Waxman will be directing for Femme, and I have another woman who will be directing for Femme, as well as two others who are working on scripts for Femme Chocolat. Only hints I’ll give is that they’re all in the last two movies that came out, Under the Covers and AfroDite Superstar!
What’s next on your schedule?
Getting these scripts done and working with my new directors! It’s not easy stepping behind the cameras to direct, especially directing erotic scenes in a more complex, less “formulized” style required for the Femme line. It’s a lot more complicated than people imagine. So I’ll be creating a sort of program to help these women make the transition not only from actress to director, but also from non-adult director to director of erotic scenes.
***
Candida’s site is here.
PS. I’m happy to say that next month For The Girls will feature an exclusive interview with Venus Hottentot, director of AfroDite Superstar.