Award-winning porn director Axel Braun recently announced that he would no longer shoot with performers under the age of 21. He says his "conscience" tells him that 18 is just too young to make the decision to get into porn.
It's a shocking move coming from within an industry that fetishizes "barely legal" youth, let alone from the director of "Naughty College School Girls." But Braun has had a change of heart, and reached a point in his career where he has the power to do something about it. As he told Adult Video News, "The percentage of talent who start performing at 18 and are out of the industry by the time they turn 21 is staggering. Those are the ones who are not cut out for porn, and who could very well spend the rest of their lives regretting their choice."
I spoke with Braun by email about 18-year-old aspiring starlets, the reaction to his decision and whether this will hurt his bottom line.
Why did you decide to raise the minimum age for performers on your shoots?
When you're fresh out of high school it's very easy to have dreams of fame and fortune, along with a skewed perspective that often lacks the maturity needed to understand the pratfalls that come with any type of career in the entertainment business. I just believe that allowing kids three more years to consider pursuing a higher education can make the difference between a conscious, informed decision and an impulsive one with permanent repercussions.
Why did you choose 21 in particular?
Three years seems an appropriate amount of time to explore your college options or choose a career path. Plus, if you make a bad decision after you turn 21, you can at least drown your sorrows in alcohol.
Have you gotten any negative reactions to your decision?
Very few, actually. The outpouring of support has been absolutely overwhelming, definitely way more than I expected.
It seems that viewer demand for "barely legal" performers is huge. Will your decision hurt your bottom line?
Sometimes taking a stand for what you believe in is more important than your bottom line.
What other changes would you like to see in the porn industry?
I'm not a crusader, I'm not trying to change the industry. Every institution has its flaws; I'm just glad to be in a position where I can choose how to regulate my own business.
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