I have two questions for you. Firstly, do you prefer intimate, sensual sex over hardcore banging? If so, you might want to give this column a read…
..And, have you ever gone to watch porn on the big screen of an Art Deco cinema with friends? I have, and I want to talk about it. If you haven’t heard of Erika Lust, you really must get to know her and her work. I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to CUM by Erika Lust, the UK tour of erotic films by this iconic film director and adult industry pioneer. I’ve always been fascinated and inspired by sex, particularly when seen through a female lens—probably because I was raised around empowered women in South London who weren’t afraid of sex or discussing it.
I’ve been a fan of Erika’s for years, both personally and professionally. I discovered her work through my career in the adult industry, where her reputation has always been stellar. More people, especially women, would know about her if sex positivity weren’t so often silenced and shadow-banned. To give you an idea of Erika’s appeal, even in a culture that frequently censors her work, her film The Good Girl was released in 2004 and achieved two million downloads within eight weeks.
Society has always overlooked female pleasure. Even in 2024, female sexuality remains taboo, and social media has amplified this. Misogyny on Twitter (no, I’m not going to call it ‘X’) and TikTok has helped launch the careers of countless cis male podcasters and influencers. We live in a world where female pleasure is either silenced or objectified— unless a man is pulling the production (or purse) strings. As someone captivated by sexuality, I’m drawn to people like Erika, not only for their productions but for their nuance and context. She’s a rebel, an artist, an icon, and a visionary.
I attended a screening at the beautiful Art Deco cinema, Rio’s, in East London, to celebrate her intense, sensual work. The way Erika’s films are shot, scripted, and produced—it didn’t feel strange to watch them in a cinema setting. No one, as far as I could tell, was sitting around masturbating; we were simply appreciating the beauty of intimacy, erotica, and pleasure. The films showed everything from cellulite and pubic hair to stretch marks and erections that weren’t enormous or rock-solid. It was inspiring and real, yet it maintained that magic Erika always manages to convey. The production was majestic.
The showing lasted around 90 minutes and included five of Erika’s films (shortened for the event). Beginning with a priest’s confessional fantasy about sleeping with a parishioner and ending with a pansexual orgy, the event truly covered all bases and was totally inspiring. As someone who has been known to film intimate moments (cough cough), it’s made me rethink my approach and consider raising my game. I’ve never been interested in making “porno”—for me, it’s about documenting intimacy and capturing magic, including all its flaws, laughter, sounds, and so on. Erika’s vision is unmistakably luxe and unique, and I genuinely encourage anyone reading this to give her work a chance.
Her library includes a vast selection of films, with a strong representation of queer content. In a world of hardcore “Baby Oil-Gape- Creampie-Cumshot” pornography (which can be fabulous, by the way), Erika’s content encourages viewers to pause and enjoy the magic of intimacy, the beauty of our partner(s)’ bodies, and the depth of real sex. You’ll see what I mean immediately, even just by previewing them. The production quality of her films makes them feel like Hollywood productions, but the subject matter and sex make them deeply erotic and inspiring.
One of the things I loved most about the event was watching the audience around me react to the films. As someone with a long history in the adult industry, I’m endlessly fascinated by viewing it through another person’s eyes. I can be a little numb to the shock value myself and find myself looking at things like the brand of lube being used or wondering where they sourced the sex toys. I saw people smiling, laughing, cheering (literally), and holding their partners close. It was such a unique experience. And Erika, this column is simply my love letter to you for inspiring me once again.
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