XXX Wasteland

It would be accurate to state that Holly Randall was literally born into adult entertainment. The daughter of mainstream author and erotic film writer Humphry Knipe and legendary industry photographer Suze Randall, the 33-year-old grew up around the XXX world and a photo of a newborn Holly even ran in Hustler magazine shortly after her birth – a publication for which mother and daughter would both successfully ply their trade over an incredible span of four decades.

Holly began working for her parents at the age of 20 assisting in the day-to-day operation of the family-owned adult website, Suze.net. From there, the second-generation photographer proceeded to establish her own outstanding reputation in the porn community, with her work gracing the covers and pages of numerous prominent adult magazines.

Randall transitioned into directing XXX scenes in 2004 and today is one of the most respected and celebrated photographer/producers in the industry, with many of adult’s top models consistently clamoring to work with her.

Holly kindly granted XXX Wasteland a recent interview to discuss her family’s background in the adult business, growing up around the unique erotic industry, her own career behind the camera and more.

Visit Holly online at her official website, HollyRandall.com, where you can find scenes and photo sets featuring some of the most beautiful women in adult entertainment. Randall also runs the fetish-themed ForeverVamp.com and HollyCore.com, a glamour hardcore page.

Additionally, Holly has opened a studio, which is available for rentals to those wishing to shoot adult content. For more information, please visit the studio’s Facebook page here.

Follow Holly on Twitter under the handle @HollyRandall and check out her FreeOnes page at this link.

(All photos courtesy of Holly Randall)

Your family’s history in erotic entertainment is illustrious and well-documented. For those unacquainted, can you tell us about your parents’ decades-long involvement in the industry?

My mother is Suze Randall, who is considered one of the pioneers for women working behind the camera in the adult business. In her time, she was literally the only female erotic photographer in the business, a business definitely dominated by men. She started off as a fashion model who dabbled in nudes, and then one day she got a layout in Vogue magazine and decided to use the money to buy some camera equipment. I’m not sure why. She thought she was on her way to becoming a famous fashion model; I don’t think at the time she really thought of photography as a career.

Anyhow, she started shooting her model friends and ended up becoming a Page Three photographer for the Sun magazine in England, a distinction that is still fairly prestigious. Then she shot her roommate, Lillian Muller, and sent the photos to Playboy. Hefner fell in love with Lillian, but wanted to fly her out without Suze and have one of his staff photographers shoot her. Suze said no way and threatened to send the photos to Penthouse instead, so he flew them both out. Suze shot Lillian, who became Playmate of the Year, and Suze became Playboy’s first female staff photographer. Suze also shot herself as a model for Playboy, but that’s a really cool layout that I just love. She worked there for a couple of years and then went onto work for Hustler, and then went freelance, which she’s been doing ever since.

Do you feel growing up around the adult business made your childhood unique from most other kids’ upbringings?

Ha, ha! Um … yes, in a way. I was brought up without being instilled with a sense of shame about sex and nudity, which I think is a really good thing. I see these people who are so conflicted about their sexuality because they were taught from a young age that something which is very natural and, in fact, vital to the survival of the human race, is a sin. I find that to be such a shame.

I’ve also been taught to be a very tolerant individual and to respect others and the way they want to live their life – my parents are both pretty laid back in that sense. But they were also strict in other areas: good table manners and social conduct was strongly emphasized, good grades and a college education a must. It was a real pain, though, to have to try and avoid the question of what my parents did for a living, though I never had a problem with it. As a kid, it wasn’t appropriate to tell my friends or their parents because you just never know how people are going to react.

Can you describe your own entry into the adult industry and was the decision to make your living in the field something you had always planned?

From a young age, no, of course I didn’t plan to enter the adult industry, but when you’re a kid, you know – you think you’re going to be a vet or a ballerina or something silly like that. From the age of 12 when I took my first photography class, though, that’s when I knew I wanted to be a photographer. There was just no question: I was hooked immediately. When I started working for my parents at 20 it was going to be temporary, but then of course, I found that I enjoyed the work and it was a good fit for me.

You began directing for your mother’s company, Suze Randall Productions, in 2004. Do you have a preference between photography and producing films?

You know, I used to hate shooting video. I just did it because I had to. I think in my heart I will always be a photographer first, but I’ve come to really enjoy shooting video lately, especially when I started using the 5D. The cinematic look of the footage really inspired me and I very much enjoy shooting video now, and would actually like to do more of it. I’d like for people to start to know me for my video work as well, not just my photography.

As a woman, do you feel you have a different or unique rapport with the female models you shoot?

I think some girls – especially new ones – definitely feel more comfortable working with me, but overall I think if you make people feel comfortable then it’s just a natural projection of your personality, whether or not you’re a male or female.

Likewise, do you consider the comfort level your friendship provides much of the talent you shoot a key element in producing exceptional content?

I hope so! I never push girls beyond what they are comfortable with; I never want anyone to regret anything they’ve done on my set. I think there’s a certain amount of trust that automatically has to happen between an erotic photographer and her subject, and I never want to break that trust.

You launched your official website, HollyRandall.com, in 2009. Can you tell us about the site and what those who purchase a membership can expect?

Yes! I produce high quality stills and video for my site, and I also have two other sites that you get for free with it: my fetish site, ForeverVamp.com, and my glamour hardcore site, HollyCore.com. I’m also part of the Brand Danger Network, so there are several other model sites that come for free with your subscription, like Lisa Ann and Kayden Kross’ sites. I love my website and I work very hard on it, and I hope that it shows!

You have modeled for several semi-nude photoshoots. If I may ask, was your decision to participate in those projects a way to gain a personal perspective from the other side of the camera?

Part of the reason I did it was I wanted to experience what it was like to be on the other side of the camera – I figured it was only fair! It was a good insight into what I put my models through, and it definitely made me appreciate the hard work they do. Plus, let’s be honest: what girl doesn’t want pretty pictures of herself?

Your work often takes you overseas to different countries and exotic locations. Do you have a favorite place to visit or shoot in?

Actually, I’ve only shot in two foreign places: Budapest and Prague. And Prague is by far my favorite! But I would love to travel to so many more places to shoot, mostly exotic beach spots.

Do you have any professional aspirations left that you still wish to accomplish?

God, yes – as I mentioned earlier, my dream is to travel the world and become more of an international shooter. I want to shoot beautiful girls in every continent. I would love to be recognized more for my video work; people usually only know me as a photographer.

Besides your parents, is there anyone else you admire professionally or consider a major influence on your career?

I love Ellen von Unwerth and I very much admire Andrew Blake’s videos.

Is there one misconception about the adult industry that you wish you could dispel?

That it’s run only by men exploiting women. There are so many females working behind the scenes, and a lot of girls have made adult into a viable and enjoyable career.

I read that you rode horses competitively for 13 years. Is equestrianism still a passion of yours?

Ha, ha, no – though my mother wishes it was!

You have been open in the past about your battle with alcoholism several years ago. Is there any specific advice you would offer to someone who may be struggling with an addiction?

That you’re not alone. There are so many recovering addicts out there who want to help you. Getting sober is the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but it’s definitely worth it. And will probably save your life.

Are there any current or upcoming projects in the works that you would like to mention?

I opened a studio, which is available for rentals! We’re working on a website, but for now you can check it out at Facebook.com/NoveriaStudios.

In closing, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

I want to say thank you to my fans for all their support and check out my site, www.hollyrandall.com.

Adult superstar Asa Akira has emerged as perhaps the most decorated XXX performer of 2012. The popular Asian starlet earned a plethora of trophies at January’s Adult Video News Awards ceremony and also this year has garnered top honors for prominent industry outlets XBIZ, AEBN and XRCO.

Asa shows no signs of slowing down and continues to establish her already outstanding name in adult. The raven-haired star kindly took time out of her busy schedule to grant XXX Wasteland a recent interview discussing her awards season victories, moving from Japan to the United States at the age of 13 and much more.

You can visit Asa online at AsaAkira.com and follow her on Twitter at @AsaAkira. Check out Asa’s FreeOnes page here.

For booking inquiries, please contact Mark@SpieglerGirls.com.

(Special thanks to Mark Spiegler of Spiegler Girls. All photos courtesy of AsaAkira.com)

First off, I’d like to congratulate you on your illustrious year thus far in 2012. Not only did you collect a host of Adult Video News Awards this past January, but you were also named Performer of the Year for XBIZ, the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network and the X-Rated Critics Organization. That is an incredible number of honors in one year. How does it feel to be so celebrated by the industry in which you make your living?

I feel incredibly honored. It’s an awesome feeling to be considered one of the best at anything, really. I think it’s great to have (literally) worked my ass off all year and be recognized for it!

Let’s backtrack a little bit: Can you tell us how you initially became interested – and later involved – in the adult industry?

I’ve always wanted to be in porn – since I was way too young to say. The adult business has always been held in this glamorous light in my mind. I started out as a dominatrix at 19, moved on to stripping, did a year on a radio show and there I met Gina Lynn, who eased me into porn. I’m so grateful to both her and her husband. It was a great way to enter this business.

What do you enjoy most about being an adult film starlet?

This always changes. When I first started, my favorite thing was just the act of having sex in front of the camera. Nowadays, while the idea of having sex in front of an audience still excites me, I really enjoy the variety of people I get to have sex with.

Who are some of your favorite studios and performers to work with?

As far as girls go, I really love London Keyes, Katsuni, Dana Vespoli, Celeste Star and Jayden Cole. The European boys are the best male performers to me. They have a pervertedness about them that turns me on so much. Toni Ribas is my favorite.

My favorite studio is Elegant Angel. I do my best scenes for them.

You were a regular on the Bubba the Love Sponge radio program earlier in your career. Can you tell us about that?

They were looking for a girl to promote the strip club I was dancing at, and, being a fan of the show, I volunteered. They liked me, moved me down to Florida, and I stayed there for a year.

Did you enjoy your stint on the Bubba show?

Absolutely. Everyone was so cool and I had a blast. It was a lot of fun, and in hindsight, I did a lot of crazy shit I probably wouldn’t have the guts to do again.

Taking into account all of your accolades, are there any goals you still wish to accomplish in your career?

I’d like to have sex with a she-male.

Is there one misconception about the adult industry that you wish you could dispel?

I don’t know that there are many straight-up “misconceptions.” I mean, for every preconception there is of porn stars, there are thousands of girls to prove it right. I guess I’d like people to know I’m not on drugs and I do porn because I want to - because I love to. I think that this is probably true of a lot of the successful girls.

I understand you lived in Japan for part of your childhood before relocating to the United States in your early teens. Being very young, but still old enough to understand the concept of such a big move, was transferring to America a huge culture shock?

Oh, definitely. I moved back to NewYork City when I was 13 – an age where “fitting in” is the most important thing in one’s life. Everything about New York kids was different compared to the kids in Japan: pop culture, hobbies, clothes … New York kids are bad! Ha, ha!

Let’s learn a little bit more about Asa Akira, the person: How would you describe yourself growing up?

I was really shy. My mom used to tell me constantly, “Shy people never get anything.” I guess she was right!

What are some of your interests and hobbies away from work?

I’m a homebody. I like movies, I like hanging out with my dog. I’m very simple.

Is there one thing about yourself that you feel would surprise most people?

I don’t drink. I’ve only been drunk maybe 4 or 5 times in my life.

Are there any upcoming or current projects in the works that you would like to mention?

Always! I just shot Asa Loves Girls for Mile High Movies. Also, please check out my Fleshlight that came out a few months ago.

In closing, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

Thanks for watching!

Veteran adult starlet Alana Evans is a woman of many talents: Erotic performer. Gamer girl. Singer. In the past week, however, Evans has found herself in a new role: poster model for mothers in porn.

Evans has enjoyed a considerable amount of mainstream coverage following her appearance on HLN’s Dr. Drew program last Tuesday, when the television doctor presented an episode focusing on the debate of whether or not performing in adult films is an appropriate career for parents raising children. Alana received industry-wide praise for her candor, acumen and professionalism in not only addressing the topics at hand, but also responding to a surprise live commentary from anti-porn activist Shelley Lubben.

When not on set, Evans spends much of her time providing content for PwnedByGirls.com, a gaming site launched last year featuring Alana and several other adult stars which allows the women to merge their dual passions for porn and video games.

Evans is currently a contestant in the Maxim Gamer Girl Contest, a reader-voted competition to determine a gaming representative for the popular men’s magazine. You can vote daily for Alana at this link.

Evans also sings lead vocals for “Pop That Tooshie,” a catchy single released by renowned techno band Lords of Acid this year for their brand new album Deep Chills (the video for “Pop That Tooshie” is available here).

Listen to Alana every Monday night from 7-9 p.m. PST on Sirius XM 103, where she hosts her Spice Radio program All Wives Cheat.

Alana kindly spoke at length with XXX Wasteland on the evening of May 4 to discuss the mainstream recognition she has received since appearing on Dr. Drew, her enthusiasm for gaming and PwnedByGirls.com, singing on Lords of Acid’s latest album, her future musical aspirations and much more.

You can visit Alana online at AlanaEvans.com and follow her on Twitter under the handle @AlanaEvansXXX. Check out Alana’s FreeOnes page here.

For booking inquiries, please contact Adult Talent Managers.

The first thing I’d like to ask about is your appearance on HLN’s Dr. Drew show a few nights ago. Can you tell us how it came about and what the experience was like overall?

Definitely! I have a lot of other friends in the industry who are moms. Nicki Hunter is a good friend of mine. The show had come into contact with her and Nicki knows how strongly I feel about my kids, my family and how honest and forthright I am. So, Nicki passed them my way and this was Monday night, so it all happened very, very quickly.

And it was Tuesday that you were on the show, right?

Yes, I was on the show Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. And I knew what to expect in the sense that I knew what we were talking about – being a mom in the business – and a lot of it was because of the recent controversy with Stacie Halas, the now fired teacher from the Oxnard School District and, of course, the issues with Sean Loftis, the gay teacher in Florida.

Being a parent, I’ve spent a lot of time in my kids’ schools. Originally, I wasn’t allowed to participate in my stepkids’ school. It was a private school that my husband’s family was paying for and when they found out I worked in the adult industry – basically because the children’s mom had told people within the school – they just became very nasty to me. In my own way of being a parent, they told me that I was a disruption to the middle school boys who are going through puberty and that I was not allowed to come back to the school until things kind of quieted down.

Now, this is upon me doing nothing – not behaving inappropriately, I didn’t dress inappropriately. I went to one function and was basically told on. So, I have a deep respect for parents in our industry, as well as other people in our business who work around children in different aspects. If we haven’t done anything wrong, I don’t think we should be treated like sex offenders and that’s basically what they are doing.

So, that’s basically the whole reason the people at Dr. Drew and HLN initially wanted to do this show. Knowing all of those things, I was very comfortable. I will tell you that I did not know until I was there at the studio that Shelley Lubben was going to be on the show. Unlike other people, I think, in our industry, that actually made me happy. It made me giddy. I was like, “Are you kidding? I get to take her on? Yes!” (Laughs) Because I don’t like the woman – and everything I’m saying you can one-hundred percent print. I have a huge problem with the way that she approaches the industry with what her message is. Her message is fine in the sense that if you want to help people that maybe need help within our business because it’s not the place for them, there’s nothing wrong with it. Doing it in the name of because of what happened to her is not right, I think, because not all of us are drug addicts. The majority of women I know in our business that are parents would never subject their children to the horrendous things that I’ve now learned Ms. Lubben subjected her kids to.

I didn’t know any of these things – the outside details – before the show. So I was glad because it prevented me from behaving the way she did (Laughs), which was totally attack me on, of course, her standpoint of disease and things like that – not really me just being a good mom, which has no ground.

I agree with your views on Shelley Lubben. Many people question whether or not the things she said occurred to her (during her time in the industry) actually happened.

Right.

And I think it’s good also for everyone to see people like that publicly called out.

Yeah – finally. Because in this little HIV bubble we’ve got going on over here with the fight with AIDS Healthcare Foundation, she’s really been able to stand on her soapbox and point the finger and say some very nasty things that are really untrue. And if you look at her experience in the business – I believe she did about six movies, she worked in the industry for a year at most – it’s not really fair for her to attack the industry the way she does when she herself doesn’t have real experience.

Most girls in our business, we’ve been here a few years – and like myself, I’ve been here 14 years – and I don’t look like her, I don’t act like her, I don’t have the same regret, distaste. Also, I don’t do drugs. And I think a lot of Ms. Lubben’s problems aren’t based on the fact that she did porn, but were based on the fact that unfortunately, she was an addict. And that will happen (to people) no matter what your job is. And it’s too bad.

Yes, absolutely. Has the feedback you have received from your appearance on the show been positive for the most part?

For the most part, it’s been amazing. I haven’t received any negative backlash on Twitter. I have received a lot of new followers, a lot of women saying really incredible things, really respecting my choices and my decisions, I think the reason being our economy is hurting so badly and there are so many families and so many single women that are struggling to make ends meet no matter what their job is, and the fact that it is so difficult to find work, that if they had access to the kind of work that I had access to, one-hundred percent they would do it because it would mean that they could put shoes on their kids’ feet, they could feed them and they could pay their rent.

It’s been really cool because women who are okay with what I’m doing – who are okay with my choices, as I said – they are actually seeking me out and I’m having women ask me how they can get into the industry. And I thought that was very cool. I was like, “Wow!” (Laughs)

And I think, too, you can tell that I have my act together, you can tell that I speak very clearly, I like to think of myself as being intelligent, but I won’t brag about it. And I think that it removed a lot of the stereotypes that people have attached to women in porn.

Now, even with the latest Savanna Samson 20/20 story; I think it’s so amazing that Savanna – again, contract girl, which I was not. I made my business by myself: my own hard work, my own sweat, help from agents and things like that, but no company really behind me. So with Savanna, she’s not like the rest of us really are, trying to do porn multiple days a month to just pay those bills.

The only thing that disappointed me about Savanna was the fact that she said she had to do drugs in order to shoot, and that right there just totally solidified that stereotype again. So, I was glad to be able to show that not all of us have to do that. So … I’m on my own soapbox right now – sorry! (Laughs)

(Laughs) No, that’s absolutely fine.

The only place where there has been negativity, of course, is the video feeds on YouTube. But YouTube is just like that in general, so I just choose not to read it and that’s okay.

When I first learned of your appearance on the Dr. Drew program, I remembered a blog you wrote about a year ago addressing the same type of subject matter: being involved in the porn industry while also being a parent. It was a really great article about being very involved with your kids’ school fundraisers and things like that.

Thank you.

Yeah. And you also had a really good line about how the so-called perfect people are often the ones you have to watch out for.

Absolutely. Because we put our whole lives out there for the public to view. I share my innermost soul by having sex for a living, which gives me a different kind of release. And I don’t mean a sexual release or a gratuitous release. I mean at that brief moment, everyone is looking at me, everyone is watching me. So in my day-to-day life, I don’t need to dress a certain way or behave a certain way for attention the way some people may need to because they are not getting that attention in other places. I feel fulfilled. So, with that same statement for others that have sexual issues, if they aren’t meeting those needs and issues that they have, I think they look for it in other places and then we have teachers doing things to our kids that they absolutely shouldn’t be doing.

The article that you are talking about I wrote in response to Sasha Gray reading at the schools because I was absolutely infuriated that here was this incredible young woman in our business who is really a role model – she is brilliant, she does not do drugs, she is not an escort. She is a businesswoman. And again, she did it by herself – she’s not a contract girl with a company behind her and their publicist doing it for her. Sasha is a self-made woman. So, all of these things without the word “porn” attached … you would want to give this woman a Woman of the Year award just on those merits. So, because of the fact that she worked in our business, it gave her this label when all she’s doing is going and picking up a book in a room – where I guarantee you she was supervised with teachers and other people watching – and reading a story. Yet, she is going to be attacked for it? And that’s where it bothered me, and that’s when I said, “I need to come forward right now and speak my own story,” because not only do I read to kids, I sell them pizza, I made the yearbook, I ran the committee when other mothers didn’t have the time or effort – because this is more than a full-time job – and I’m doing it. So, it really just bothered me that she didn’t get the respect that she deserved.

Yeah, that was a story which really irked me, too.

Yes.

I didn’t think there was any reason for her to be singled out, especially in that manner.

Absolutely. She did nothing wrong and they were treating her as if she walked in with the bubonic plague and got all of our kids sick. (Laughs)

Are there one or two misconceptions about the adult industry that particularly bother you?

The main is that we’re all drug-addicted prostitutes – that’s the issue for me. The fact that people don’t understand that we’re just people. I have had times in my life – being that this is my career – where people can’t really separate and understand that I’m not just that porn star that you see on the screen, which means I’m not going to places and saying, “Okay, I’m here – it’s time to have sex with me!” It’s doesn’t work like that. We’re still just people. That’s just a job, at least for me. I know it isn’t one-hundred percent like that for everyone and I am not the one-hundred percent prime example. But I’m at least sixty percent of the business. I think we are at a place now where there are far more women in our business who are here because they want to be and not because they were forced into it, tricked into it, being brought in by pimps, if you will, because that definitely happens. I think the industry is full of women who really want to be here, who are having fun, who are learning so many things about the business world itself when it comes to marketing and promotion. It’s not just having sex – the job doesn’t just end there. So, these women who are really taking it on and doing something with themselves are a really good example of what our business is now – it is a true business.

I completely agree with that and please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong here, but I have a theory that many people refuse to accept the fact that the adult industry is capable of evolving like anything else.

Right.

As you said, there may be some women who fall into the business under the wrong pretences and it might have been that way for the most part several decades ago, I don’t know. But nowadays, many of them are entrepreneurs and businesswomen marketing their brand in an industry that has evolved like everything else. It just seems to me that much of society is unwilling to even consider that possibility.

You’re right, you’re definitely right. It’s being closed minded. It’s not understanding that just like the world, just like technology, of course the business has changed and evolved simply because free porn has caused the business as we know it to change dramatically. Even when VHS was starting to dwindle, DVDs started to dwindle and stores were being affected, people were still making money on the Internet. And that’s definitely still happening, but free porn is affecting that. So, it means as performers we don’t film as much. Well, bam – the girls find a way to make that work by streaming. Every porn star I know now streams from their house if they’re not shooting a scene. That is a perfect way of how the business has evolved: the girls are taking control of their own money and they are not leaving it up to the companies to say, “Oh, we’ve got a demand for you. Let’s shoot you.” These girls are making the demands for themselves by getting to the fans directly. So, it has to continue to evolve.

People who don’t see it evolve don’t understand all of the changes and they are probably still buying DVDs. (Laughs) They are the ones who say, “What’s camming?” (Laughs)

(Laughs) Yeah. I have noticed also that a lot of girls run their own websites because they prefer to do that – I’ve heard stories about webmasters cheating them.

Or a current issue I just had where I went to someone that I’ve known for quite some time who has girls on his site and he’s running his own little mini-network. But I know what a website should look like and when you can’t do anything except download my videos, when the site is spread out and it just doesn’t look right … if you’re not happy with what you have, you take control. So I took control – I pulled my site back myself, we signed up with Elevated X, which has to be probably one of the most incredible concept management systems I’ve ever seen. My brand new site – I love them – it looks like a Brazzers site. I’m so excited! (Laughs) With that being said, I now have other girls coming to me because they don’t like how their things are looking and they want to change it. And that’s what you have to do – you can’t just leave it with some dude who isn’t you, who doesn’t care about your career the way that you do, who is just making money off of you. If you want to do it, you have to do it yourself.

Yeah, absolutely.

Or – because a lot of girls aren’t capable, they don’t understand – then you go to what you know and you go to people … if you like what it looks like, then that’s okay. But there are always the webmasters who will take advantage. (Laughs) But there are good ones. I’m really impressed with Nina Mercedez and what she has going on with her XXX Sex Cash. She is another example of an absolutely incredible woman who is helping other women do for themselves in this business.

To backtrack a bit, can you tell us how you initially entered the adult industry?

Sure. I was married, my ex-husband was a police officer and I had my son when I was almost eighteen. We were swingers – we had an open lifestyle – and we had talked about it. I wanted to be a feature dancer, that was the big thing – I wanted to be that stripper who went from club to club. Once he found an agent for me – which was Reb (Sawitz) at Pretty Girl International – we found it in the Exotic Dancer Guide. (Laughs) This was in March of 1998. I did my first scene March 24 of ‘98 with Mr. Marcus for Real Sex Magazine.

After that first movie, that was it – I was hooked. I never really stopped to go dancing. I did movie after movie after movie. I loved being the little boobie natural girl; I swore that I would never get my boobs done and I’ll never forget the day: I was 27 years old. Roy Karch is a good friend of mine. Roy called me and he said, “I’ve got this new series I’m doing, it’s 18 and Hot. Do you want to be in it?” And I said, “Roy, I love you … but, I’m 27.” (Laughs) I can’t keep doing these young girl movies! And this was before the whole invention of the MILF, which was really just a way to label the hot older girls in our business because you had the younger teeny-boppers like me and then you had the Vivid girls and the Wicked girls, which were just women – they didn’t have a “label.”

And then, that was it: I got the boobs and now I’m a big-titty MILF. Whoo hoo! (Laughs)

You also host a Playboy Radio show on Spice, is that right?

Yes. It’s now changed because we have been bought by Brazzers. Since Playboy is now owned by Brazzers, which is awesome, they have control. So, all of our shows have been changed to different Brazzers websites, which is very cool.

My show is very fitting – it’s called All Wives Cheat. I talk about cheating and both sides of it, the good and the bad. Chris Evans, my husband, will join me the last half-hour of the show and add his input of being the occasionally cheated-on husband (Laughs) and talk about how we make our open relationship work and things like that.

But it’s pretty awesome; it’s every Monday night. It’s on Sirius XM 103 satellite radio and, of course, you can always listen on SiriusXM.com.

I also do a huge gaming site, PwnedByGirls.com.

Yes, I wanted to ask about that. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

I will say that it drives my husband nuts that I have found a way to take video games and make it a job. (Laughs)

(Laughs)

I’ve been playing my whole life. It was last year and I was talking to Chris. I said, “I really want to make a video game site. I want to start doing things in the video game industry, but I want us to play video games and stream it for our fans because nobody does that!” (Laughs) And after working on it and putting things together, after several months we launched September 20 and it has been amazing. It started out as a site where you could view everything, watch the feed and see the pictures. Now, we have turned it into a free registered site, so you sign up for a username and you can comment in the forums and things like that.

But it’s been awesome. It has video game reviews, stories about upcoming games, games that we play, videos … it’s awesome. I’m really obsessed. Missy Martinez and Daisy Dare are my gamer girls who play along with me. It is so much fun.

And we’re going to E3! (Laughs) This year we’re going to E3 together, so I’m really excited.

Wow, very nice.

Yeah. It’s neat to see a year’s worth of my planning and hard work come back to where it started, so I’m really excited.

You are also involved in the Maxim Gamer Girl Contest right now, is that right?

Yes! Oh, my gosh! The voting ends May 25. I am currently holding seventh place right now out of, I would say, more than a thousand girls. It’s a daily vote situation. I’m seventh, Missy is hanging on to ninth and my other gamer girl, Daisy, is in tenth. I’m getting close to sixth place. (Laughs)

The way the contest works is Maxim is going to pull their favorites out of the voting, so it’s about getting noticed on the site. My comments page has two thousand comments on it. There is so much interaction with us. I’m really excited. It’s been fun.

What does the winner of the contest receive?

Oh, my goodness. You can become Maxim’s first-ever Gamer Girl. You can also get a contract with Virgin Mobile Gaming. You will be taken to different events to host gaming competitions and things like that. And then you represent Maxim as their gamer girl in the magazines and other events. So, it’s a pretty big deal.

Yeah, for sure.

Yeah! (Laughs) There are several other girls in the adult industry that are on the Maxim gaming site and are working for their votes, and of all the porn girls, I am the highest-rated, so that makes me feel really good. It’s really exciting.

Absolutely. Very cool.

It’s cool! (Laughs)

You are involved in a music project as well with the band Lords of Acid, is that right?

Yeah. (Laughs) My life is crazy right now. I feel so incredibly blessed. I’ve been in this business for a really long time, so for me to be watching my career peak at 14 years … it’s just crazy.

Lords of Acid are an amazing techno-electronic band from the nineties with all the dirty lyrics with Praga Khan as their “master.” (Laughs) We became friends, got to know each other over the Internet and Praga was putting together his first album in, my goodness, eleven years.

They asked without really, really knowing me and my abilities if I would sing a song on the album and since then, not only did I perform on the album, but we released a couple of music videos, the latest being the Exageist remix. When the album was released on Amazon, it sat on third place on the electronic charts for new releases. And that’s just my single, just “Pop That Tooshie.” So, I was like, “Is this really happening?” (Laughs)

We’re talking about doing other things. I’ve got offers to perform and I’m also currently working on my own album. We’ve already got three songs recorded in the can and nine more to go. So, it’s amazing. I’ve been singing my whole life, so again, for something like this to happen to me at the age that I am is insane and I am so thankful.

They have been incredible to me. Metropolis Records and Sony do all of our European distribution, so it’s just been insane.

Very cool.

Yeah – I love them. (Laughs)

As you said, you have been in the industry for quite a long time. Are there any goals left that you still wish to accomplish?

I have an absolutely ridiculous movie I have been sitting on! I wrote the script. In the world that I’m living in right now where there are so many things going on, my current focus is getting this particular movie made and we’re in talks right now. It’s probably going to be one of the most attention-getting movies of the year as soon as we can finish ironing out the deal. So, I am really, really excited.

Very cool.

Yeah. It’s all secret-secret stuff. It’s a parody, but it’s a parody unlike any of these others, so I’m really, really happy.

And I’m moving on to a new agent. I will be signing with Shy Love as of Monday (May 7). So I’m very excited about moving over to them.

Yes, I’ve heard a lot of good things about Shy and ATMLA.

Yes, absolutely. I feel myself surrounded by this amazing girl power network right now. I just feel a lot of really positive women around me. And not that there aren’t positive men who are awesome, but when you are a woman in this business – which is driven so strongly by men – to have such incredible women around you lending such amazing support is just great. I’m so happy. I haven’t been this happy in a long time, so I’m waiting for something … (Laughs)

(Laughs) Yeah, I guess that’s just human nature, huh?

I’m waiting to get hit by a bus or something! (Laughs)

I’d like to ask some questions about yourself as a person if that’s okay.

Sure. Of course!

Can you tell us where you were raised and how you would describe yourself growing up as a child and teenager?

My dad was in the army, so I was born on the army base Fort Campbell in Kentucky. At a young age, my mom had moved herself and the baby in her tummy (Laughs) back to California and I’ve actually lived here my entire life in different parts. I grew up in NorCal. I’m a total NorCal girl – I say “Hella” and “hecka.” (Laughs) When I say NorCal, mostly San Jose, a little bit of Sacramento and I’ve lived in Los Angeles almost the entire time I’ve been in the business. I’ve been in L.A. for thirteen years, definitely more my home than Northern California.

As a teenager, I was a tomboy. I rode a boy’s bike, I had a mongoose (Laughs), I played with G.I. Joes, I played with Star Wars. I had my Barbies, but I had an equal amount of boy stuff because I wasn’t a girly-girl. I know I’m obsessed with pink now, but it’s probably because I hated it when I was a kid. (Laughs) If someone would have told me when I was a kid that I would drive a pink car, I probably would have given them the finger. (Laughs)

(Laughs)

I speak freely about a lot of my family. My mom passed when I was 16, but by the time I was 12 or 13 years old I lived with my aunt, who is very, very close to me and a lot like my mom, so my family did really well kind of surrounding me.

My family knows what I do. Nobody disowned me. My family knows that I’m a good mom, I’m a good person and I stay out of trouble, so they don’t really have anything to say about it.

But when I was a kid in school, I was in all the “smart kid” classes. (Laughs) Thinking back to it, I’m like, “I was in the nerd classes – how did that happen?” (Laughs)

I’ve noticed that a lot of girls in the industry were in advanced or gifted classes in school.

Isn’t that funny? Because they all try to say that every girl in porn is here because we were molested, our parents were gone and because we have no education. While I can say that the first few were probably a contributing factor in my life – and I’m honest about those things; I don’t share details, but I will say that I had issues, so it happens. I’m not going to deny that. But I was a very smart kid. So that’s why I feel like I’ve managed to stay in the business as long as I have and do so many different things with it. People say that I’m basically always reinventing myself.

And I like porn. (Laughs) I don’t want to go anywhere. So if I’m going to stay here, I have to keep finding new ways to make it work.

It’s nice to hear as well that your family is aware of your career and supportive.

Right. The news this week and all of the media attention is probably the most I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was very overwhelming when I realized that I was on CNN.com and I saw it. Dr. Drew and HLN are one thing – that was awesome. But to see (CNN) completely remove Shelley Lubben and all the callers and put all of my words and my thoughts on the site … oh, I got sick. (Laughs)

I’m okay with that, though – if they are looking at me because I am a proud mother in the business, then I’m high-fiving myself. If that’s what I’m known for, then Hell, yeah. (Laughs) I am okay with that.

Yeah, definitely.

It’s been awesome.

What are some of your interests and hobbies away from work?

Obviously, video games are the main thing I do. I like exercise, even though it doesn’t always look like it because I like to eat. (Laughs) Cooking is a huge thing for me. I am an amazing cook, so I spend a lot of time doing that stuff.

It’s funny, actually, now that I’m talking about it: most of the things that I really enjoy are things that I kind of found myself doing at home because I’m usually here with the family. But I like skateboarding and I like almost drowning while I attempt to surf. (Laughs) Just being active. And I’m always on my computer. You have to pull me away. I’m a night owl, so I like to get most of my work done at night. I’ll stay up until four in the morning naturally, maybe on just some Coca-Cola. (Laughs) But I’m just a home person.

Is there one thing about yourself that you feel would surprise most people?

Hmm … that’s a really, really good question. I feel like so much of my life has been put on blast, let’s say, more now these last few months than really my whole career, but just the different aspects of it: the singing, the video games, being a mom.

So, anything that people wouldn’t know about me … I sleep with a teddy bear. (Laughs) Wow, that’s very personal. It’s a brown Build-A-Bear teddy bear and it’s got a pink jumpsuit. (Laughs)

(Laughs) There’s pink again, eh?

It’s my Alana Bear. (Laughs) I have an Alana Bear, Chris has a Chris Bear. So yeah, that’s probably the one thing that nobody knows: I sleep with a teddy bear. That’s pretty hilarious. But that’s like the main detail. Now all my secrets are out! (Laughs)

(Laughs) There you go.

That’s awesome.

Are there any current or upcoming projects in the works that you would like to mention?

Well, we’re always doing another PwnedByGirls event. The next event is May 16. So, that’s that one.

I don’t have specifics yet, but I’m supposed to be performing “Pop That Tooshie” Memorial Day weekend. So, that will be my first live performance, which I am totally thrilled about. And then, of course, my upcoming Alana Evans EP. So, it’s been awesome.

And then I have all of these great companies wanting to hire me now – I’m shooting with Brazzers and I’m speaking with Wicked, so I’m really, really happy.

I think the biggest thing in my future is waiting to see what my future with Lords of Acid holds for me and what my future with Shy Love will hold for me because that could be just about anything. So, I’m very excited. It’s going to be a very interesting summer. (Laughs)

Absolutely. To finish up, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

I do have one thing to say: of all the things I have been doing and all of the projects I have been working on … you know how this business is: when you start getting a lot of shit going, it’s real easy for people to come out of the woodwork and everybody wants to help you. Before I got crazy, Allison Vivas from Pink Visual really came out of nowhere for me and really helped me make my gaming site, which I know a lot of the attention and things that I’ve gotten were because of the initial time that that started. They did that for me when they didn’t have to, they did that for me and make no money off of it and she has just been so supportive, so incredible to me in helping us make that happen that I really don’t think my year would have been as great as it’s been without the help from Pink Visual. And I don’t really give that kind of credit because I’m very proud of the fact that I am a star in my own right. They are the first people that really helped me make things happen without asking for things in return. They are awesome. (Laughs)

They really are. I interviewed Allison a while back and Pink Visual has arranged a few interviews for me in the past. They are all very professional and a good group of people.

They’re classy – and you don’t find that a lot in our business. (Laughs)

And Allison is a great representative for the industry. She speaks at a lot of panels and is very involved in many issues pertaining to the adult business. They are a really great crew over there.

Absolutely. So, I just feel lucky that they have done so much for me this year. I’m excited about the future. (Laughs)

Very cool. That’s always great to hear.

Thank you. I’m really glad that we did this.

Me, too. I’d like to thank you for taking some time to speak with me today. It was great talking to you and I wish you continued success. All the best to you.

I appreciate that and you the same. Take care.

Since its inception in 1999, CamContacts has established a reputation as one of the top video chat networks on the Web with unique features such as interactive gaming and pay-per-view billing. The brand was nominated for XBIZ’ Best Live Video Chat Company in 2011 and this year received its first Adult Video News Award nomination in the Best Live Chat Website category.

CamContacts Special Projects Manager Ramon Azzopardi kindly granted XXX Wasteland a recent interview to discuss the early years of the company, the recent launch of CamContacts’ StripMeister Challenge interactive card game and more.

You can follow CamContacts on Twitter under the handle @CamContacts.

(Special thanks to David Witcomb of CamContacts)

For those who may be unfamiliar with CamContacts, can you tell us about the website and discuss its origins?

Yes, sure. CamContacts was founded in 1999 by a group of users (Well, let’s think of them as the Big Bang Theory TV series kind of guys!) who wanted to radically improve the experience of video chats. The vision was to focus on the two main core aspects of the business at that time, i.e., quality of product with innovative features for the viewers, plus providing the necessary tools to chat hosts for their daily needs. Since then, we never looked back. Today, we find ourselves with chat hosts from virtually every country on the planet – 173 countries and counting!

At that time, there was no specific off-the-shelf product, so everything actually had to be created from scratch. This was definitely the fun part for the boys. Having succeeded in the creation of their vision, CamContacts, via our custom proprietary video streaming platform, has to date handled over 100 million hours of live interactive streaming video, including direct cam-to-cam experiences.

CamContacts has grown over the last 11 years into one of the premiere companies in video chat worldwide. The brand has expanded its reach with country-specific dedicated sites, provides multiple product offerings through a network of various market niches, has an aggressive white label program and the must have affiliate/webmaster program CamSense.

Is CamContacts essentially an adult industry-based service or does the site focus largely on other sectors as well?

Obviously, we do work in the adult sector, but that’s not to say we don’t focus on areas such as just making friends, and forming long-term relationships. There is something for everyone.

When one enters the site, you are not hit with the usual in-your-face nude adult images, and this is for a reason. CamContacts is primarily an adult facilitator – leaving the choice of adult or non-adult video chat in the viewer’s hands. What I mean by this is that we provide a communication platform between viewers and the self-employed chat hosts that are registered under different categories. What route one decides to follow is up to them. One may be surprised to hear that through our popular non-adult categories – Make New Friends and Long-Term Marriage – we have a number of real-life engagements and weddings under our belt!

What are some of the unique features offered by CamContacts?

Having our own proprietary software has definitely helped in our long-term strategy of keeping our market share through innovation. At the end of the day, that was the reason why we started in the first place, and what keeps our interest in the field. A few of our unique features are:

Pay-Per-View Billing. This was the first unique feature that placed us as market trendsetters within the cam industry. The boys were fed up of experiencing hidden terms and conditions online, monthly fees, surprise deductions from bank accounts, and paying for services that never really made any sense. So, we decided to take charge and create a totally transparent billing methodology for the viewer. In short, we created and built a unique payment system that unmistakably displays the rate of the chat hosts versus the number of minutes consumed right after the video session is terminated, and deducted straight away from one’s account. This assisted in increasing the trust of our viewers, and gave us the reputation that with CamContacts you only pay for what you consume.

Smartphones. CamContacts has been in mobile space since 2003. We were the first to use the mobile medium for our product, initially launching our java-based mobile platform in 2003.We also took the decision to step aside from developing WAP, and be the first to market live adult video chat on iPhone, iPad and Android-enabled devices. Having accomplished this, we now focus on raising the usability standard with unique User Interface, Secure Payment, and all without the need to download an app! Trying to describe this product is unjust, as one needs to try it to experience its potential and uniqueness. Hit www.camcontacts.com from any device, anytime, anywhere!

Interactive gaming. Involving viewers and chat hosts has always been our unique signature style. Every year, we grab our best 5 designers and let their imagination run wild to come up with a number of themes to create events for the year, including an interactive game attached to each theme. We then choose the most stunning visual designs that include our best 10 chat hosts. Wrapping these three elements together and throwing in a huge prize pot creates a unique, killer event. Today, both viewers and chat hosts eagerly await the events that we run. Both win great prizes while truly enjoying themselves and the challenge of the only interactive games in the cam industry. A few of our past interactive games include Pirates of Pleasure Island, Into the Future, Sweet Temptations, Lover’s Masquerade Ball, Sirens of the Sea, Bikini Beach Break, and A Sizzling Hot Christmas. Who knows what’s next?

Strip HiLo. Our unique one-to-one live card game between chat hosts and viewers. Integrated within the live video stream, the game allows each side to guess if the next card chosen will be higher or lower. If the viewer wins, the chat host has to remove the selected item of clothing. Due to its huge success, we launched the unique site www.striphilo.com with StripMeister Challenge running every month (http://www.striphilo.com/stripmeister.html).

After over 11 years in business, what business model does CamContacts strive to follow and which standards to you consider most important in regard to the day-to-day operations of the website?

I may have to let the truth ruin a good story here! There is no trade secret or best practice. Each business is unique, and every day it cries just like a baby to be noticed. What I mean by this is that the business is forever changing its needs and demands, and it requires your full attention. However, the constant elements that fuel our business model are the excitement of working in this industry and the ability to create innovative and profitable business elements.

Finally, let’s be honest: It takes years to build a reputation. Well, in our case, keeping a transparent and honest business model for both chat hosts and viewers as valued customers has taken us this far!

When it comes to integrity, we strive to ensure that chat hosts on the site are treated with the highest respect. They, essentially, are the business and without them we would have not lasted 11 years in the game. We also believe that every worker deserves to be paid, hence why we don’t ask the self-employed chat hosts to do a certain number of hours per week with free video chats.

Equally, the viewer is clearly a very important aspect of this business model. That’s why we have a world class Customer Service team that takes care of any viewer concern immediately.

CamContacts acquired its first Adult Video News Award nomination this year in the Best Live Chat Website category. What other accolades and recognition has the company received from the adult entertainment world?

You know, this is quite an interesting question. CamContacts received an XBIZ nomination for Best Live Video Chat Company in 2011, but little else. We’ve never craved huge industry recognition as a company because all we want to do is focus on giving the best viewer and chat host experience possible. That’s not to say we don’t welcome recognition – we do. I guess we haven’t spent enough advertising bucks over the years … hmm!

What can CamContacts customers expect from the site that buyers may not receive from other chat pages?

Simply unique product approaches like interactive games for both viewer and chat host alike, regular events such as the recent Sweet Temptations Valentine’s Day event and respect for the people who make CamContacts.The experience of the journey during and after the session is unique! That’s why our viewers never leave.

CamContacts recently introduced the StripMeister Challenge as part of its real-time card game, Strip HiLo. Can you tell us first about Strip HiLo itself and then discuss the unique StripMeister concept?

Strip HiLo is a unique product. No one else has it in this sector! We wanted to bring back the interactivity aspect to live cams by introducing a challenge between the viewer and chat host. I think we succeeded admirably with Strip HiLo. Always popular, always bringing home the bacon, we’ve enhanced it even further with the StripMeister Challenge. It’s the tried and trusted method of adding a competitive challenge within a game for the viewers with the carrot of extra credits to spend. I’m sure most men would like to hold the crown of being the StripMeister for one month, and that is what drives it: Competition. Plus, you can play it anywhere as it’s available on all Smartphones and Tablets. Just by pointing your browser at striphilo.com/stripmeister you can play “Anyplace, Anywhere, Any device.” Just how we like it!

Quick trade secret: In 2012, we are giving our viewers what they have been asking for … yes, more games coming your way!

What has the feedback been from Strip HiLo customers thus far, particularly those who have participated in the StripMeister challenge game?

We’ve had some really, really encouraging feedback to the StripMeister Challenge. It seems that the competitive element has really fired our viewer’s imagination. We’re seeing a massive rise in participation – people really do want to be at the top of the leader board. On mobile, we’re seeing an almost 10% uplift over normal interaction from desktop PCs. I mean, that’s huge already!

Are there any current or upcoming CamContacts-related projects you would like to mention?

Ahhh, well … yes, there are lots, but I’m sworn to secrecy! What I can say is that new projects are not only aimed at viewers, but also chat hosts. Oh, both of them are going to love it!

In closing, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

I love having the last word! If your readers have never tried out CamContacts, Strip Hilo, or taken part in the StripMeister Challenge, then they should do so. If they are at home, I recommend the iPad. If they don’t have one, borrow one and clear that history before returning it! Otherwise, it’s always great to experience live video chat over a Smartphone – specifically during working hours – lifting the mood and showing off with your colleagues. As for me, it’s time to go back to welcoming all our new chat hosts … oh, I meant work!

Visit CamContacts from your desktop PC or mobile device to try live adult video chat for yourself – http://www.camcontacts.com.

For more information about the brand, please visit: http://www.camcontacts.com/pressandmedia.html.

To sign-up as a Chat host visit: http://www.camcontacts.com/chathost/newchathostreg.html.

For information on becoming an affiliate or white label partner, please email: Ramon Azzopardi at ramon.azzopardi@ccmedianetwork.com.

Britney Amber has emerged as one of adult entertainment’s brightest new starlets over the past 12 months. With each passing week, the beautiful blonde performer continues to build a shining name by working with some of the industry’s top brands. Britney’s résumé includes appearances for Digital Playground, Hustler, Adam & Eve, Immoral Productions and many others. Additionally, the actress has landed prominent roles in several feature parody films.

Britney kindly granted XXX Wasteland a recent interview to discuss her rapidly budding career in adult, being heavily featured in “Porno” Dan Leal’s The Right Hand reality series this fall, appearing in Adam & Eve’s recently released Buffy the Vampire Slayer parody and more.

Fans will soon be able to visit Britney online at her re-launched official website, BritneyAmberXXX.com. In the meantime, you can follow Britney on Twitter under the handle @Britney_Amber and check out her FreeOnes page here.

(Special thanks to Erika Icon at The Rub PR. Photo #3 courtesy of ZZ Insider)

Let’s start at the beginning: Can you tell us how you initially became interested – and later involved – in the adult industry?

I started working at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in 2007. Then a year later, I met a girl that was in porn. I had always wanted to do it, but didn’t know how to get in the business. So, she gave me her agent’s info and I started making movies!

What do you enjoy most about being an adult film performer?

All the sex is great!

You recently attended the Phoenix Forum in Arizona along with “Porno” Dan Leal and his Immoral Productions brand. How was that experience?

It was so much fun! The weather was so nice – it was 90 degrees all weekend. All I had to do was pass out flyers and do a mini-girl/girl scene with Aaliyah Love for a video workshop. Quite a few friends of mine attended the convention as well, so the rest of the time we just hung out, drank and went to parties.

I understand you will be prominently featured in the second season of Porno Dan’s reality program The Right Hand this fall. Can you tell us a little bit about the show and are you excited to be such a big part of the project?

So far, we went to Vegas for AVN and shot a bunch in those two days. There was a bunch of chaos, of course, but that’s what makes it exciting to watch. In a month or so, a few other girls and I are going with Dan and the TV show to a Galaxy game, so I’m stoked.

You play the role of Harmony in Adam & Eve’s newly released feature film Buffy the Vampire Slayer XXX: A Parody. Did you enjoy your part in the movie and are you a fan of the original Buffy show?

Oh, yeah! I was totally a fan when I was younger – my sister and I were obsessed! Harmony was the perfect role for me, and I can do dumb blonde well. It comes naturally … wonder why. (Laughs)

I realize this was some time ago, but I would like to ask about your trip to Charlie Sheen’s mansion last year on behalf of Brazzers to deliver custom-made T-shirts to the actor and his then-“goddesses,” Bree Olson and Natalie Kenly. I remember thinking at the time what a uniquely cool gesture that was. Do you recall that day well and how would you describe your visit to Sheen’s house?

We just waited out front across the street and waited for press to come out and get coverage. Then we jumped in the van and had the security people call up Charlie and see if he would let us in, but he wasn’t there, so they took the package to give to him.

You are planning to re-launch your official website very soon, is that right?

Yeah, we’re just waiting on my ex-web guy to send over the paperwork for the scenes and then we should be all set to launch. Just to let you know, we changed the domain to BritneyAmberXXX.com, since it was for sale and I was finally able to buy it.

Let’s learn a little bit about Britney Amber, the person. Can you tell us where you were raised and how you would describe yourself growing up?

I was raised in a small town – Beaumont, CA – about 20 minutes west of Palm Springs. In junior high, I was put on probation after a drunk-in-public charge. Then in high school, I was expelled and put in a continuation school until the following year (when) I was transferred out to a school where I could only work towards my GED. Then I dropped out and moved out before I turned 17. Basically, I had bad parents … to make a long story short.

What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of work?

I really enjoy working out and stand-up comedy. I love photography, but I’ve been too busy recently to shoot anything. But I’m going to be setting something up soon, hopefully.

Let’s talk favorites: Favorite movie, television show, food and musical artists.

Favorite TV show is My Name is Earl. Favorite food is In-N-Out Burger. Favorite musical artist is Sublime. Favorite movie is Half Baked.

Is there one thing about yourself that you feel would surprise most people?

I’m usually a messy person, but I’ve been trying to change that. (Laughs)

Are there any current or upcoming projects in the works that you would like to mention?

My site, BritneyAmberXXX.com, should be up real soon and I’m working super hard on it to make it to keep those cocks happy!

In closing, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

Please follow me on Twitter at @Britney_Amber! Ask me to follow back and I will.

A decade-plus of remarkable credentials, hundreds of thousands of loyal fans and one of the highest profiles – both domestic and international – in adult entertainment place jessica drake among the elite few who qualify as true living legends of erotic cinema.

jessica first set foot on XXX soil in 1999 and signed an exclusive performing contract with major adult studio Wicked Pictures a few years later.  The partnership has proven immensely successful and jessica remains under the Wicked umbrella today in a variety of capacities, including acting, directing and scriptwriting.

jessica has starred in a wide array of Wicked’s most popular feature films and last year the studio introduced jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex, a line of educational sex titles helmed by the starlet herself.

In addition to balancing her numerous duties at Wicked, jessica maintains a strong presence over the airwaves with two popular radio programs, In Bed With jessica drake (heard every Tuesday from 2-3 p.m. PST on Playboy Radio’s Sirius/XM 102) and the STFU podcast available here and on iTunes.

jessica kindly granted XXX Wasteland a recent interview to discuss these topics and a variety of other subjects, including her being named 2011’s Best International Porn Star by the Australia-based Eros Shine Awards.

You can visit jessica online at jessicadrake.com and via her official blog, InsideJD.blogspot.ca.  Follow jessica on Twitter under the handle @thejessicadrake and purchase the starlet’s official Wicked RealDoll here.  jessica’s FreeOnes page is available at this link.

(Special thanks to Daniel M of Roads to Moscow)

Let’s start at the beginning: Can you tell us how you initially became interested – and later involved – in the adult industry?

Well, I was always very curious about sex. I remember wondering if other people enjoyed the same types of things sexually that I did, and around the same time I discovered porn. My boyfriend at the time was being raised by his father, and we found his stash of movies. Not only did we watch them together, I watched them alone as well, and took great comfort in the fact that I was not alone in the kind of sex that I liked. As soon as I turned 18, I would creep into the adult stores and watch porn in the booths – I was too embarrassed (and didn’t have enough money) to buy movies.

In my early twenties, I was in college and supporting myself while I was stripping. Two things happened that led me to where I am today – I saw Blondage perform onstage at the club where I was working (Blondage was Janine and Julia Ann, two of my all time favorite stars).  I watched them with my jaw hanging onto the stage, and all I wanted was to do that, to be up there, to be like them. Shortly thereafter, the club had one of their “Miss Nude” pageants and I met up with some people who worked in porn, though I didn’t fully understand at the time. They were Michael Raven, who later went on to become an award-winning director for Wicked, and some of his friends and crew. I became friends with them, and one day I decided to come out to L.A. to visit … and they took me onto the set of a movie. I was the condom and lube girl for about half a day, and found myself standing just feet away from where Jill Kelly was having sex with Marc Davis. Jill was my other favorite, and I was just in awe. I loved how everyone was so comfortable and shared such a camaraderie. I came out a few more times, and about a year later I surprised everyone by agreeing to do a movie. I am very fortunate to have come into the business with my eyes wide open and meet so many great people right off the bat. Now I’m a contract performer, writer, and director for Wicked (and I do so much more) and I’m just so happy with it all.

You have been exclusively contracted to Wicked Pictures since 2003. What do you enjoy most about being a Wicked contract star?

I enjoy everything about being with Wicked, but most of all, I am grateful for the way they have supported me at every stage in my career. I have been given some tremendous opportunities, and I have tried to work as hard as I can for them. It’s the least I can do. I think that Wicked cares so much about their performers and directors and employees, and these days, that is rare.

You have successfully transitioned into both directing and scriptwriting during your time at Wicked. How would you describe the experience of participating in those areas of the industry?

You know, it’s something that was so gradual and so natural. I began writing about 4 or 5 years ago, and directing about 3 years ago, but before that, I played the role of Brad Armstrong’s assistant, and then his AD (assistant director) and that was kind of like trial by fire. He is the absolute best at what he does, and though I did learn a lot from him, I have also carved out my own style as well.

Wicked introduced your self-created line of educational adult DVDs last year, jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex. Can you tell us about the series and explain how the concept was conceived?

It came about as I traveled the world doing appearances and international conventions. Our demographic began to change from lots of guys and the occasional woman to an even mix of men and women … and often single women will come out to meet me as well. I am asked questions about love and sex, relationships, porn, you name it. I began giving sex seminars where I would hold really insightful Q & A sessions afterward, and it made me realize just how hungry people were for this information. I decided to create a line of instructional, inspirational, yet arousing DVDs that couples could watch independently … or together. I have my Threesomes Edition coming out soon, and I’m about to start working on the next title sometime in the next week or so.

You are one of the starlets featured in Wicked’s upcoming Men In Black: A Hardcore Parody blockbuster title slated for release on June 6. Can you discuss the filming of the movie and do you feel MIB will be well-received by fans?

The movie is phenomenal! I just watched the first screener of it last night, and I was blown away. Misty Stone is an amazing actress, and she just shines in it! We also had Randy Spears come out of retirement just to do the part of Agent K, we had Ethan Hunt play Agent J (the male version) and we just had a ton of other amazing performers – Kaylani Lei, Alektra Blue, India Summer, and more. I play the role of Estrella, which was created just for our parody. I’m an alien, and the special effects makeup is so great. It took hours, but the result is awesome.

I have to be honest: At first, I was not excited for Wicked to jump onto the parody bandwagon because I really enjoy putting my spin on original characters and not having to copy anything, but after the success of Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody, I realized that Brad Armstrong is truly the perfect person to do them – his amazing attention to detail and his art directing expertise, plus his creative screenplays really make our parodies stand out. I think the fans will absolutely love it!

You host In Bed With jessica drake every Tuesday afternoon on Playboy Radio. For those who may be unfamiliar with the program, can you describe the content of the show and what it is about?

It’s a live show on satellite radio – Sirius/XM 102 – every Tuesday from 2-3 p.m. PST where I talk about different sexual topics, have guests and take calls. It’s sexy, sometimes very funny, it’s insightful, and it’s real! I love giving fans another chance to connect with me, and my radio show is the perfect way to do it.

Australia’s Eros Shine Awards named you Best International Porn Star in late 2011. Your reputation in North America obviously speaks for itself, but how did it feel to be honored by such a major international outfit?

I’m very grateful. I think the first foreign award I received was Best Actress for Fallen, and then later, a “Body of Work” award from Venus Faire in Berlin, which was a real honor. I do love international travel, and with Wicked’s foreign distribution, it’s just crazy to think about how many people have actually seen my movies! I get fan mail from all over the world, and I also host a podcast called the STFU Show, which can be found on iTunes or its own website, stfushow.com, and we’ve taken a look at where our listeners come from – it’s all over the world!

I’d like to ask your opinion on the recently passed regulation mandating the use of condoms on all California porn shoots. Speaking as not only a veteran and superstar of the adult world, but also a contract performer for a condom-only studio, do you feel XXX productions should be legally required to employ the use of condoms on sets?

Well, it is a bit of a different thing for me personally. Wicked is condom only, and has been since before I first signed with them. Using condoms is the right choice for me, and I have always felt that safe sex is of the utmost importance.  But that being said, I think that it is not appropriate for the government to force performers to wear condoms if they choose not to. I feel that is a very personal decision.

Is there one misconception about the adult industry that you wish you could dispel?

Every day of my life, I work to defend the stereotype that we are all damaged, that we were abused as children, that we were raped or that we are all on drugs or that we are alcoholics. As the years have passed, I think that some people have come to understand that we are all not exploited or coerced into doing things that we don’t want to do, but all it takes are some ramblings from Shelley Lubben or some slanted news segments, a newspaper article written without a fact-checker to sort out skewed statistics, and we’re back to square one.

Having enjoyed a legendary career in adult, what are your future aspirations professionally? Are there any goals left you still wish to accomplish?

I do have a few more goals to accomplish, but I can’t put them out there just yet. I have so many projects going on right now, I’m sure I’ll be busy in this business for quite a few more years to come. I am truly my greatest competition, and I will always try to outdo myself.

Your mainstream credits are impressive and include an appearance on The Tyra Banks Show and a role in the music video for Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s popular single “Telephone.” Are you always interested in pursuing more mainstream work?

Of course! It’s fun, and the attention is great, but it’s not something that I am aspiring to do long-term. I am quite happy here in the adult world, and my success here has been why I have gotten the mainstream offers I have so far.

Let’s learn a little bit about jessica drake, the person. Can you tell us where you were raised and how you would describe yourself growing up?

I was raised in Texas, and I’m still a Texas girl at heart. I attended private school for most of my childhood, raised by supportive parents. I was in gifted classes in school, always had my nose in a book, very socially awkward. I was very tall and skinny, and I got picked on most of the time. Ah, payback …

What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of work?

I have two other passions, philanthropy and travel, and when I can, I do both at once.

Is there one thing about yourself that you feel would surprise most people?

Last year I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro. Seriously. And here’s one more: I ride a motorcycle.

Are there any upcoming or current projects you would like to mention?

Countdown and Men In Black: A Hardcore Parody will be out soon, and the very best way to keep up with me and my newest releases and appearances is through Twitter – twitter.com/thejessicadrake.

In closing, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

Sure! I love you guys. You’re the reason I’m here.

In an industry full of interesting individuals, Cindy Starfall’s background stands out as an intriguing story. The granddaughter of a wealthy Vietnamese entrepreneur, the Asian performer lived a secluded childhood before leaving her home country at the age of fifteen to relocate to the United States and proceeded to lay the groundwork for a life based on self-reliance and focus.

Cindy recently transitioned from webcamming into shooting adult films and with only a few weeks in the industry behind her has already performed for top companies such as Hustler and Reality Kings.

Starfall kindly spoke with XXX Wasteland to discuss her beginnings in the adult industry, long-term aspirations, leaving behind her sheltered childhood as a teenager and much more.

Cindy Starfall is available for bookings through OC Modeling. For interview requests, please contact James@GalaxyPublicity.com. Follow Cindy on Twitter (@CindyStarfall) and find her on Facebook here.

(Special thanks to James Bartholet of Galaxy Publicity)

Let’s start at the beginning – you have a very unique story on how you entered the adult industry, is that right?

Yes! (Laughs) James was asking about that and he said, “You should really tell him that story.”

The reason I went into the industry – and part of it was because I’m very sexual as well, so I feel like I belong in this industry. Everybody else who photographed me said, “You should be a porn star.”

James was asking me if I still lived with my parents and I said no, because my mom kicked me out. I was too Americanized and she was trying to set me up in an arranged marriage. You have to think about a traditional Asian family: A 22-year-old should already have a kid, a husband and everything else like that.

So she’s setting me up in an arranged marriage and trying to find guys who would want to marry me. And I’m thinking, “I don’t even know these guys, I’ve never even met them.” The whole philosophy is that you learn to love the guy. You are not the one who has the control over who you marry – he is the one who will get to choose who you will marry and I thought that was kind of wrong.

I’m very opinionated – pretty much, you can call me a rebel. (Laughs) I tend to do things that people tell me not to do. So my mom was like, “You have to marry him.” I said, “No, I don’t think so.” So, I got kicked out, pretty much.

Oh, wow.

Yeah. I was too rebel, I was an oddball. Most of the things I do aren’t “God-approved.”

So, I said, “Okay.” Now here I am on my own trying to figure out, “How am I going to survive this?”

I’m a very strong, opinionated woman and I’m very sexual and I want to be in this industry. I just want to tell people that I’m more than just a pretty face. I have other goals that I want to achieve. A lot of people think a porn star is just there to look pretty, but we work hard, too.

Absolutely.

And I think that has really motivated me because of where I came from. My family, they never see anything good for me. They always said, “You’re ugly,” “You’re fat,” “You’re this,” “You’re that,” “You’re short,” “You’re so tanned,” “You’re not white …” (Laughs) It’s just very negative – the family that I grew up with is very negative, everything about me is very judgmental. And I want to make a name for myself and I want to show them that I can do it because they always told me, “You can’t do it. You can’t do anything. You’re just a loser and all you’re gonna do is marry a rich guy.” So, I really want to make it out there and just come back one day and say, “See, I told you.”

So you have been on your own since the age of fifteen?

Well, my mom left me when I was two years old, so I was on my own with housekeepers – like a maid – in Vietnam until I was fifteen and then I came here. When I was two she left me, so you can tell we really don’t have that much connection because I wasn’t growing up with her.

I came back and she decided, “I’m going to take her in.” But things didn’t work out too well – she tried to control my life so much. That’s the thing that bothers me: I want to do my own things. I don’t like when people decide things for my life like who I am going to marry, what I’m going to wear. She constantly tried to keep me in the house, she didn’t want me to be out. She sent me to an all-girls Catholic school, which I think was a mistake because all I saw was lesbians. (Laughs) That’s very sexual.

She kicked me out when I was eighteen and from eighteen until now – four years – I’ve been on my own. And a lot of people would say, “How do you do it?” I don’t know how I do it. (Laughs) Sometimes when you don’t have a choice, you have to believe in yourself. A lot of people say, “You’re not going to make it.” But I think when you believe in yourself, you are going to find a way out. Even when I’m in a tough situation – financial or personal – they worry more for me, but I just laugh about it. I say, “Something tells me I’ll be fine.”

And how long have you been a part of the industry?

I have been camming for two years, but going into the industry, literally just two weeks. (Laughs)

Oh, wow.

Yeah, I was doing camming, but I want to explore my sexual side. I want to be on camera and I want more exposure, so I said, “Why not do a movie?” When Hustler came to shoot my pictures, I said, “Oh, great.” And that’s when I actually wanted to do porn. I want to show people what I can do, show off my body, I want to look pretty. I’m sexual, but I want to make money as well. (Laughs)

For sure. You have shot for both Hustler, as you mentioned, and Reality Kings, is that right?

Yeah, I shot for Hustler’s upcoming issue in the summer – I believe it’s the August issue – and then Reality Kings. That was my first scene, actually – Reality Kings. And it was a great experience – I love it. It was so exciting.

You said earlier that you have a lot of goals you wish to accomplish. Are there any specific performers or studios you would like to work with in the near future?

I want to work with big-name companies, I want to get my name out there – I want to be that Asian girl that makes it. I want to be different. I want to differentiate myself from all the pretty girls out there.

My goal eventually is that I want to be an entrepreneur, I want to be a businesswoman. Of course, I’ll continue doing porn, but I want to actually own something.

My background is actually fashion – I went to a fashion school. I want to have my own fashion line, a toys line – pretty much being an entrepreneur and have a production company.

Very nice. Are you interested in directing as well?

Yeah, definitely. I want to be directing and producing Asian movies. Definitely I want to be involved with the adult industry because I feel like that’s where I belong with my personality and everything. I want to do more than just making porn, though. I want people to know me for more than just being a porn star. (Laughs) So I have a lot of goals and it’s going to take a long time to achieve it, but I know I can get there. Like I said, when I believe in myself, I can do it.

Yeah, absolutely. Are there any misconceptions about the adult industry – whether from yourself or the general public – that you have discovered to be untrue, even during your short time in the business?

Yes. Personally, I deal with people that know I am a porn star. My friends around me knowing what I do, they start to judge me and say, “That’s dirty,” and “You shouldn’t be doing that.” And I feel like … why? It’s just a job. It is a job. Everyone has a job. And people consider the industry to be worse than it really is. I mean, we all get tested. They just think that we’re below them. Yeah, there is a lot of drugs, there is a lot of everything in this industry, but isn’t there a lot of drugs outside of the adult industry as well? Why don’t they protest against a drug dealer and not against porn?

I think it depends on the person as well. They tend to stereotype every porn star as the same: Every porn star is a drug addict. I feel that we’re pretty and some of us are very intelligent. We just want to make money and do what we love.

Yeah, absolutely. Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood and how you would describe yourself growing up?

Yeah. My grandfather was an entrepreneur – that’s where I get my business sense. So, he makes a lot of money back in Vietnam and we lived in a really nice house, I had nannies and everything.

I was too young to really remember anything, but I know growing up I was pretty much living in a jail. It was like a ten-story building that we owned. It was only me and I couldn’t go out because they were scared I would get too wild out there, pretty much. So, they just wanted to keep me in the house. I couldn’t go out much, I couldn’t talk to a certain person – I didn’t have any freedom. In an Asian family they have a very high expectation in academics, so my family would constantly enroll me in classes to have the teacher come to our house like a home school to teach me a lot of stuff.

But I can tell you I didn’t have much fun in my childhood, so I don’t really talk about it that much when people ask. I didn’t do anything: I don’t know how to ride a bike, I don’t know how to swim. A lot of things I missed out on in my childhood because they always kept me in the house and all I did was study. (Laughs) You could call me a nerd – constantly, from nine to ten o’clock at night you just study, study, study and it’s no fun. You just sit there at a table and play by yourself. There was no one else allowed in the building but me and a nanny.

A lot of people would say, “Didn’t you like growing up in a rich family?” No (Laughs), because everybody thinks you’re a spoiled brat and everyone sees you under what your grandfather is. So that’s why it really motivated me to be out there and do things on my own. Even though my mother told me not to get a driver’s license, like the rebel I am I got a driver’s license without her knowing it and I bought my first car. (Laughs) After that, she just kicked me out. (Laughs)

What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of work?

I love fashion, so I love shopping and styling for my friends. I love watching XXX movies, they are kind of like my favorite movies to watch. (Laughs) And I love working out because of public cities and stuff – I want to have a nice body and everything else.

Hobbies – pretty much shopping and I love meeting new people.

Being in California, it is probably very hectic and fast-paced. Is that always where you wanted to be and did you find it overwhelming when you first arrived there after having had such a sheltered childhood?

Yes. Actually, when I first came here, I did not know any English. So you can only imagine coming here at fifteen years old not knowing how to say much. I knew how to say, “Hey, how are you?” But what you guys would say to me I couldn’t respond because I didn’t know what the heck you were talking about. (Laughs) So the first year here was pretty tough, a lot of language barriers. But like I said, I pretty much try to conquer any challenge I have.

Yeah, it is pretty fast-paced. And I like it because it’s really pushed me to compete. I’m an aggressive person – I love the competition and the fast pace of it. But I think it’s just something that you have to get used to. When I first came here I wasn’t used to it, but I adapt easily.

What are some of your favorites – food, films, musicians, etc.?

Favorite food – oh gosh, I love to eat! People think that I don’t eat when they see my pictures or they meet me in person because I’m really tiny. But I can eat a whole pizza by myself! (Laughs) A lot of the time I like to eat healthy, but one day out of the week is my “bad day” and I eat pizza, burgers, In-N-Out. I love spaghetti – I love Italian. I like spicy food as well because I’m Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai, so I pretty much have a little bit of everything in me and I love hot food. (Laughs)

Favorite movies – I like race cars, so Tokyo Drift, The Fast and the Furious, I love watching those. I think those are pretty cool. And I love spy movies for some reason – I just pretend to be an assassin! (Laughs)

(Laughs)

I love a spy sexy girl who just kills people. (Laughs) That’s kind of weird, but there’s just something sexy about it.

Is there one thing about yourself that you feel would surprise most people?

A lot people say that when you see me, I’m such a sweetheart, but they get really surprised at how dirty I can get. They would have never thought that I would do the things I do. When you see me for the first time, I’m just a sweet, innocent girl. You would never suspect, “Oh, she’s so dirty.” My co-star from Reality Kings, he was like, “Wow, you surprised me because you look so freakin’ innocent and you fuck like a dirty girl.” (Laughs) So that kind of gives a misconception about me. Before people meet me, they think, “She looks kind of shy” – innocent, nerdy. Yeah, I can be a nerd. (Laughs) But I’m a sexy nerd and I get really dirty.

Are there any upcoming projects in the works you would like to mention?

I plan to do a lot of appearances, radio shows and I want to start shooting interracial movies. That’s one of my fantasies. And I want to do more things like Hustler, Barely Legal – I just want to get myself out there right now. Do a lot more movies and show the world what I can do.

Awesome. To finish up, is there anything to wish to say to readers?

I can’t wait to show them what I can do because I’m very excited to cross over from camming and be able to do movies and everything. It’s very exciting for me.

Thank you, I appreciate you taking some time out to speak with me today.

You’re welcome – you learned a lot about me! (Laughs) Thank you very much.

Aurora Snow is a walking, breathing contradiction to most of the general public’s perception of what a “porn star” is.

Since arriving on the adult scene in 2000, Snow’s delightful attitude and enthusiasm has earned her masses of fans and industry awards. The charming blonde actress achieved a career highlight when Adult Video News named her its 2003 Female Performer of the Year. Aurora’s success in the porn world has also allowed her notable face time in several mainstream films, including the 2007 blockbuster Superbad, and a few years later the starlet’s life was the subject of Carnal Comics’ Aurora Snow: True Stories of Adult Film Stars.

However, it is Snow’s personal life that sets her apart from most individuals. As one website accurately wrote, “The background story is about challenging stereotypes.”

In February of 2009, Snow’s brother Keith was almost fatally injured in a motorcycle accident. The incident rendered the 24-year-old single father of three a quadriplegic.

With nobody else able to raise her nephews, Snow halted her life and left California to dive head-first into the role of parent. For the past few years, Aurora has continued to assist in caring for Keith’s children while remaining the main advocate of his cause and doing everything possible to raise donations for his physical therapy and rehabilitation equipment.

Please visit Keith’s HelpHOPELive page here to read his story and make a tax-deductible contribution to his recovery. Keith, Aurora and their family greatly appreciate all donations.

Snow is also a proud champion for the adult industry and pens an occasional column for The Daily Beast commenting on various issues facing the adult industry. In 2010, she covered John Stagliano’s obscenity trial for AVN and offered her views on the case here and here.

You can visit Aurora Snow online at her newly revamped website, AuroraSnow.com and follow her on Twitter (@MissAuroraSnow). Snow has also launched an official YouTube account at this link and her FreeOnes page can be found here.

Aurora Snow is represented by Mark Spiegler. For bookings, please contact Mark@SpieglerGirls.com.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Aurora on the evening of March 20, where we discussed her reflections on a decade-plus career in adult, California’s newly instituted mandatory condom law for porn shoots, her brother’s inspirational story, presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s “war on porn” and more.

Aurora Snow is a remarkable person and true credit to the adult industry. I hope you enjoy reading this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it.

(Photos #1, #3 and #4 courtesy of Aurora Snow)

Let’s start at the beginning: Can you give us some background on your entry into the adult industry?

I was going to the University of Irvine at the time. I was looking for a job I could do where I could also go to school – that didn’t require a lot of my time – but that I could pay back my college loans, which was a big concern of mine. I saw this ad in the Orange County newspaper – a big ad – that said, “Girls: Earn Two Thousand Dollars a Day Nude Modeling.” So I called that ad, got in touch with an agent and he sent me out on a few photo shoots. And of course, I got talked into doing video work and I never had any intention of doing that.

I thought, “Okay, I can do this for a year, make a lot of money and then get out and pretend I never did it.” Which, ten years later, I’ve done quite a bit of stuff (Laughs), one year turned into ten and I ended up really liking something that I didn’t expect to like.

As you mentioned, you have been in the business for a decade. What are some of the standout memories of your career?

Wow. (Laughs) Definitely working for Playboy for a few years. That was a really neat, fun job. In this business, you see so many different people on set. You see so many different faces and they rotate out every so many years. When I worked with Playboy, I had a work family – I’m seeing the same people every week for years. And that was a very good bonding experience. So that was neat, in that term.

And then traveling. I love that I’ve been able to travel everywhere with my job. I’ve been to Japan, Berlin, Prague – all for work. And it’s been amazing.

For sure. In regard to Playboy, you were referring to your Private Calls program, right?

Yes. I did Private Calls and I was also on Spice Clips at the same time. I would do Private Calls and then I would come into the studio a few times a week to do Spice Clips, which was on the Spice Network, but (recorded) in the Playboy studios.

You just wrapped filming for a Family Guy parody by LFP Video, is that right?

I did, yeah. I played Lois. I was so excited to get that. I auditioned for it – actually, it was a phone audition because the director already knew who I was and he had a certain set of girls that he was looking at for that part. So, we all had to do a phone audition and I was so nervous because I had watched Family Guy and absolutely love it. So, it was very exciting.

I did the phone audition and he said, “That was great. I’ll call you back and let you know if you got it.” And I remember just staring at my phone waiting. And two hours later, I got the call back and he was like, “You got it. It’s yours.”

Very cool.

Yeah. He was very concerned about the voice because he wanted to have that voice down.

You yourself have transitioned into directing quite a bit. Is that something you enjoy?

I love directing. I love the creative process of coming up with a vision and bringing it to life – every part of that. So, I really love directing and I love writing. I did quite a bit of directing for a little while and lately I’ve been doing a lot of writing.

Scriptwriting for films?

Scriptwriting, I’m also working on a book. And of course, I’ve written a few things for The Daily Beast and Newsweek.

Right. You mentioned writing a book – is that your autobiography?

It’s my book, yeah.

Nice. In 2009, you had a comic book devoted to you (Aurora Snow: True Stories of Adult Film Stars from Carnal Comics). What I thought was cool about it is that the books are biographical, is that right?

Yes. Actually, I wrote a lot of that too.

Nice.

Yeah, and there were a few different artists who illustrated it. They would illustrate it and I would add my own thoughts and writing.

How did it feel to have your own comic book?

I love it. It was so exciting. One of my favorite parts about it was going to Comic-Con. I am such a geek – I love going to Comic-Con and seeing everyone walk around in their costumes. It’s kind of a reversal for me because I’ll be running up to people saying, “Hey, can I get a picture?” And it’s neat. It’s neat to be part of that group and I love the kind of spirit that I see at Comic-Con.

It’s something really cool to be in a comic book. When I was a little kid I used to read comic books … I don’t know, there’s something really special about that.

Absolutely. You mentioned writing for The Daily Beast and there was one article just before the holidays last year where you addressed the Sasha Grey school controversy.

Yes.

When I saw that, it was really what made me think, “Wow, I have to get an interview with this girl.” (Laughs)

Thank you.

The article really personified what I believe and the word I try to spread about the industry. It bothers me when people retain what I suppose you could call an outdated view of the adult business.

Yes. They see the industry and they see something very negative. And I don’t know if it’s because they’re afraid of it or if it’s just because they are uneducated about it. When you are uneducated about something, you fear it because your mind will go to the worst place possible. That’s just what we do.

It’s a business just like any other business and I feel like we’re all very open about what we do in the business. It’s funny because I was watching Nancy Grace the other day and she was really laying into the schoolteacher who was let back to work – the male schoolteacher who they decided to hire back and decided the fact that he had done 25 movies in 5 years really wasn’t a big deal. And that doesn’t sound like a big deal – that’s what he did in his private time. He was on there and Nancy Grace just laid into him. She was like, “The ‘industry’ – you can’t call it an ‘industry.’” In fact, that’s exactly what it is: It is an industry. It’s an entertainment industry with adult people making very adult choices – most of whom go home and they have families and they have lives. They are not these degenerates that that old way of thinking makes them out to be.

Yeah.

It’s sad. Sometimes people in the business that I know are more responsible with their bodies and communicating with their sexual partners than some acquaintances of mine who are not in the business.

Definitely. You mentioned in the article that you yourself are enrolled in college and take care of your brother’s children because he was in a terrible accident.

Yes, he was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. He was in a coma for a long time. And my brother is a single dad. He has full custody of his three kids, so at that time – this was about three years ago – his kids were six, four and one. I was in and out of the hospital with him and my mom was in the hospital, and all of a sudden, I had these three kids. I was the only one in my family that had such a flexible job that I was able to drop my entire life in L.A., go on up there and have these kids: Take them to school, put them to bed and care for them. All of a sudden, they were mine twenty-four hours a day for a very long time. And then we integrated him back into the house and I learned how to be a caretaker for him. He’s now a quadriplegic and as a quadriplegic male, his mind is still very much intact, so he is able to be a very good dad to his kids mentally, he just needs some physical help. And kids do require some physical tasks, so I did end up taking care of them.

I don’t think there was anything in my business that made me ill-equipped for that job. If anything, it gave me flexibility so that I could be there for my family. If I had any other job, I don’t think that would have been the case.

Yes. The question you posed in the Daily Beast article was, “Because I am an adult film actress, does that make me unfit to be around children?” Many people would probably laugh if you were to word it in the context of somebody forever being unsuited to be around kids because they once made adult films, but when you think about it, that is essentially what they were saying (in regard to the Sasha Grey controversy).

A lot of people think that, too – they think, “Oh, you’re an adult actress, you must be some kind of sex offender,” or “You must have something wrong with you to do that,” when in fact, it’s more about being open-minded and a free spirit.

For sure. You have a foundation set up for your brother as well, is that right?

I do. (HelpHOPELive) help us collect donations and they take about three percent, but that way we don’t have to set up our own 501K. So we do it through them to help with medical equipment because he does have medical insurance, but insurance does not cover recovery, they cover maintenance. And that is so sad because if insurance companies would cover recovery, it would probably cost them less in the long run. It just doesn’t make sense to me. And because of that, for certain equipment, standing machines, E-stim gloves and all of these things we’ve been raising money for. A lot of what we raised money for we were able to buy him two E-stim gloves for his hands and that has actually helped him get back some arm movement and a little bit of wrist flex movement. He doesn’t have his fingers yet, but I think given enough time, the right kind of physical therapy and equipment, he is going to get those back eventually. It might be another five years or longer.

It is wonderful to hear that he is progressing nicely.

Yeah. I would absolutely love to plug his site for donations and they are tax deductible.

I’ve gotten to do a lot of really neat fundraisers for him. I did a wine tasting. It was in Southern California and there was this really sweet couple – they drove from Arizona to Southern California just to come to that fundraiser just to pitch in and help.

Oh, wow.

Yeah. I guess the husband had been in a motorcycle accident many, many years ago, so he felt very deeply moved by what had happened to my brother. I thought that was pretty neat.

Yeah, it definitely is. I also wanted to ask – because you have strong and intelligent views on the industry …

Thank you.

I wanted to get your opinion on a couple of the top stories currently involving the adult business: One is the newly ordered mandatory condom law for California porn shoots. The other would be a presidential candidate by the name of Rick Santorum, who has promised a “war on porn,” as he calls it, should he be elected.

I mean, why launch a war on porn? We have so many other issues. We have a broken system. I think anybody who wants to focus on porn is just looking to make a mountain out of a molehill. It’s not a big deal. If anything, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry that contributes to taxes, and taxes should be helping our broken system because we are a nation that is in debt. And so, that kind of seems like the wrong thing to attack. If anything, it’s a very negative way of looking at things – “I want to have a war on porn.”

(Santorum) is also anti-birth control, I think. That doesn’t make any sense. In some ways, I feel the birth control issue is sort of an attack towards women. Because women should still have a right to go out and have sex when and where they choose and with whom, and be able to take birth control so that they’re not getting pregnant, so they’re not bringing in kids they are not ready for. It just seems so silly and it doesn’t really matter to men. But that’s a whole different issue. (Laughs)

But his war on porn just seems pointless. I don’t understand how it’s going to bring about anything intelligent or good. If that’s the best issue he’s got and that’s his war, I don’t think a guy like that should be running our country. It’s already doing poorly. We don’t need to run it into the ground even more.

Whenever I hear a phrase like “war on porn,” I always think, “War on what, exactly?”

Right – a war on what? People making choices? The people that make (porn) are making the choice to make it. It’s a form of entertainment. It’s a creative vision brought to life and it’s a very intimate form of acting. You are definitely performing for a camera. And the people who are buying it are choosing to buy it and are choosing to watch it – nobody’s making anybody watch that.

So, it sounds like it’s a war on choices, not a war on porn. People can’t make their own choices? Aren’t we supposed to live in a country full of freedom? Where’s the freedom?

Right. If you want to live in a free country, you have to take the things you may personally not like with the things that you do.

Right. That’s part of it: You have to take the good with the bad. Your freedom can’t mean limits and control on someone else’s freedom. It just has to be freedom across the board.

Agreed. How about the new condom mandate?

That one is a tough issue for me because I can see two different sides to it and I’m not really sure which side I’m on because it’s just so tricky. On one hand, I do think people should be free to make a choice and it shouldn’t be mandated – people should not have to wear condoms if they don’t feel like it. They should be able to make that choice.

However, I do understand that in the adult industry there is pretty much only one company that uses condoms and that’s Wicked. All of the other companies don’t. So if you are a performer in the adult business and you choose to use a condom, it really limits you to one company because other companies aren’t going to hire you over somebody who is not choosing to wear a condom.

However, it should still be a choice and I don’t know that it always feels like a choice. And I do understand the safety issues. While we do have testing, there is such a thing as STDs and I imagine that condoms will certainly protect against that – with condoms and testing, that’s probably going to be a very safe environment. But I do understand that might detract from the creative vision that a producer or director has for their film. And I understand that might detract from the people buying it because sometimes when you’re buying porn, you’re buying a fantasy. And maybe you have to use a condom at home, but you want to have that fantasy of not using a condom. So I’m really split on that.

I see both sides of the issue as well. You have been in the business for over ten years. We did touch on this earlier, but what are some other common misconceptions about adult that bother you?

Tons. There are a ton. I feel like I’m a pretty decent human being. I’m pretty responsible. And for some reason when you get into porn, all of a sudden there are a few misconceptions. It goes from you could have been a perfectly good person, have no history of thievery – pretty honest. And then all of a sudden when you get into porn and people find out you’re in porn, they automatically assume you have become a liar and a thief. And I think that’s so strange because I’m not really sure where that comes from. All of a sudden you’re a liar, you’re a thief, you’re probably on drugs even if you don’t look like it or act like it – but after all, that’s why you’re in porn: To “support your drug habit.” I feel like a lot of people think that. And there are a lot of healthy, responsible people in the business.

You have accomplished so much in your career, including being named AVN Female Performer of the Year in 2003.

Yeah. I’ve won quite a bit of awards. And I just recently got into the XRCO Hall of Fame.

Very nice. Is there anything left you wish to do?

I don’t know. I do want to write. That’s what I’m working on, that’s my next big project is writing. But I’ve done a little bit more mainstream. I’ve done a few TV pilots and I have a production meeting in the middle of April to sign on for an action movie, which should be pretty cool. So I’m expanding my career and I feel like in terms of scenes I’ve done just about every type of scene I’ve ever wanted to do and I’ve even done more than that. Some scenes I never would have thought of and directors and companies would come to me and say, “Hey, would you be interested in doing this?” And I would go, “Well, I’ve never thought about that, but sure – why not?”

And I even tested my own personal limits. I did some bondage stuff – you know, the stuff that Kink does. Pretty much, I got beat. I wanted to see if that was something that interested me and it was not my thing. But I did try it out because I wanted to see, because I was curious. And that’s kind of been the method for my whole career: I’m curious and I want to see if I like something. And I’ll give it a fair shot. I will do something quite a few times before I determine, “Well, did I really like that or did I not like that?” And then I’ll make up my mind and not regret it. Even if I don’t like something, it’s not something where I’ll say, “Wow, I wish I hadn’t done that.” Because the only way I’m going to find that out is by doing it.

Can you tell us where you were born and raised and how you would describe yourself growing up?

I was raised in California out on the Central Coast. When I grew up it was a very small cow town. I lived on a cul-de-sac and it was right across the cow pasture to go to school. (Laughs) It was very, very small where I grew up.

I was a very quiet kid. During lunch breaks, recess or things like that, I always had my nose in a book. I was always reading. It was funny because this started at a very young age. I was reading by the time I was three and I just never could put down books. I cared more about books than about making friends. I had no interest in making friends, I just wanted my books. And my mom actually got called in. She would have meetings with the principal and they were like, “We don’t understand. We think she should go play. Every time she has recess, she just sits and reads her book on a bench.” And my mom was confused. She said, “Well, I thought that was a good thing. Aren’t you supposed to encourage kids to read?” And they thought I read too much.

I still am an avid reader. I love to read. But now I’ve learned how to be a little more social.

I was very, very quiet and shy, pretty much including when I went away to college. In high school, I was very shy. I got involved in drama and when I got up on stage – when I was able to get into character – I was able to become a lot more alive and social and extraverted. But when those lights went down and I walked off that stage, I was back to being just me: Very quiet and very shy. So, in some ways, the adult industry helped make me into a more social creature because it made me more comfortable with myself and helped me get over my shyness in a big way.

What are some of your interests and hobbies away from work?

I love to cook! My favorite room in the house is my kitchen. All I want to do is cook and I cook pretty much every day. I love to try and put a healthy twist on fun food.

Recently – and I have never gardened, so this is going to be a brand new hobby – but a few days ago I started putting soil in my garden beds and planting seeds. And I’m learning how to do all of these things – planting seeds indoors, letting them sprout and then I’ll move them out. I have a lot of non-GMO seeds from Baker Creek and I want to plant an entire well-rounded garden. And I’m thinking about getting chickens and guineas.

Oh, wow. (Laughs) Kind of like a mini-farm.

Yeah, kind of! I have a lot of land, so I was thinking I should be putting it to use, I should do something very rewarding and it’s rewarding to be able to go outside and pick fruit and vegetables from your own yard, bring them back into your kitchen and eat them. I love that idea.

And the chickens, mostly … I hate spiders. I was reading somewhere that chickens like to eat spiders and so I thought, “Wow, this is a great idea.” So I’m secretly hoping that the chickens eat all the spiders and that the spider populations goes down. I know that’s a little nutty, but I hate spiders. (Laughs) I’d rather have chickens than spiders.

(Laughs) For sure. Is there one thing about yourself that you think would surprise most people?

Hmm … I’m a bit of a homebody. If given the option to maybe go out and party or hang at home and read my book or watch South Park, that’s what I would rather do. I’m more of a one-on-one person than a group person. I love my girlfriends and I like to go out, but I can only go out for a limited amount of time before I’m done with that social crowd and I want to go home where it’s quiet.

Are there any upcoming projects in the works that you would like to mention?

Mostly I have been really focusing on my website. I’m really, really proud of that. It’s taken me a long time to get that up and I’ve put a lot of work into it. I had been burned by so many webmasters before that I gave up. I was like, “You know what? I’m not having a website unless I can do it myself.” And it took me a very, very long time to learn how to do it myself. And now I run everything and do it all and it’s fun. I’ve been doing a lot of really fun stuff on my website. So that’s my focus.

I’ve heard quite a few stories as well about performers getting burned by webmasters.

It’s horrible!

Yeah.

But I put a lot of work into my website. I’m on it all the time and I love it. It’s such a good feeling to see this site that you’ve put a lot of work into – that you’ve created – that’s actually functional and fans seem to love.

For sure. That’s a great thing about the Internet era and something performers of the past didn’t have: That … personal connection with fans, I guess?

Yes. That’s what I love about Twitter, too. I love to use Twitter to communicate with my fans. I do movie nights at my house and usually I’ll have three different options and so I’ll ask on Twitter, “These are the three movies I’m looking at. What do you guys think?” I love it. They have picked out some good movies for me. (Laughs) It’s awesome.

To finish up, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

Please come and see all of my hard work at AuroraSnow.com, of course. It’s a very personalized website and so I really love it when people check it out and give me feedback because, of course, I’m learning and always looking to improve.

And I just started a YouTube channel – it’s YouTube.com/AuroraSnowHD. Those are the two places I would love for people to check out.

Awesome. Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me today, I really appreciate it.

Absolutely.

And on a personal note, I really admire everything you do for your brother and family – taking care of your nephews and all that you’ve done for his cause. Everybody should have someone they can depend on, so that’s really great.

Thank you. I didn’t know I was going to do that. It was one of those weird things that if somebody had asked me if I would do something like that, I wouldn’t have known if I would have.

I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t do anything but that. It’s nice that he’s doing a lot better now.

Definitely. And from an industry standpoint, you are someone defenders of the adult business can point to as a good example when people trash the industry.

(Laughs) Exactly. Thank you.

But I certainly commend you for all of that. Thank you again for the time.

It was great talking to you. Have a good night!

Adrianna Luna has made a considerable impact in the world of adult entertainment since following her sense of ambition into porn less than one year ago. A California State University, Northridge graduate, the brunette newcomer of Mexican and Filipino descent already boasts an impressive resume, including film appearances for Zero Tolerance, Evil Angel and other top studios.

An avid fitness enthusiast, Adrianna has studied Muay Thai kickboxing for several years and also began CrossFit training this summer.

Adrianna kindly spoke with XXX Wasteland to discuss her blossoming career in the adult industry, possibly transitioning into MMA in the near future, her aspirations in porn and much more.

Adrianna Luna is available for bookings through Metro Talent Management. For interview requests, please contact Alexander Raymond at Alexander@TheStarFactoryEnt.com.

You can follow Adrianna on Twitter under the handle @AdriannaLunaXXX and check out her FreeOnes page here.

(Special thanks to Alexander Raymond of Star Factor PR. Photo #1 courtesy of Metro Talent Management; photos #3 and #4 courtesy of Adrianna Luna’s Twitter account)

Let’s start at the beginning: Can you tell us how you entered the adult industry?

Sure. It’s a pretty funny story, actually. I was working as an executive assistant for about three years and I just got to a point where I realized that I was kind of stuck in a rut and kind of where I never wanted to be in the sense that I was just stuck somewhere because it was safe. So, I was saying to my girlfriends that I needed to make a change and I needed to figure out what it was that I wanted to do – (something) that I was really passionate about because I wasn’t enjoying my job.

And so, one of my friends suggested that I get into porn. (Laughs) I thought that was the craziest thing ever because I had never really watched porn and I thought she was joking, but it turned out she was serious.

I was really hesitant, but I ended up meeting with my agent that I have now and she kind of explained to me all about the industry and settled a lot of the fears that I had in the sense that she explained all about the testing that everybody has to do every twenty-five days and she assured me that it was a really professional environment and that I was never going to have to do anything that I didn’t feel comfortable doing.

So, I thought, “Okay, why not? Let’s just try it out. I’ll do one scene and if I hate it, I never have to do it again and I‘ll just disappear.” (Laughs) But I ended up enjoying it a lot and I thought, “I could totally do this again.” So, I talked to her about it; I was like, “Let’s do another one,” and she’s like, “Okay.” I ended up getting another one and another one and there was just so much work that I ended up quitting the job that I was at and I’m just doing this now, which I’ve been very happy with.

Very nice. What are some of the things you enjoy most about being in the adult business?

A lot of the people I’ve met have been super cool. I love that it’s always different and that you kind of don’t know what to expect in regard to the sets and what not. You get to play a lot of different characters and they always keep it really exciting.

I like the flexibility in the days that I have also. And I just really enjoy sex too (Laughs), so that’s an added perk.

You entered the industry in March of 2011, is that correct?

Yes.

You have worked for a number of top studios – Jules Jordan, Zero Tolerance and Evil Angel, to name a few. Who have been some of your favorite companies and performers to work with so far?

I want to say my favorite scene still was one I did pretty early on in my time here in the industry and it was for Jules Jordan. It was a boy/boy/girl scene in a movie called Slut Puppies 5. It’s still my favorite scene. It was with him and Chris Strokes and he had me playing his assistant, which was really close to home (Laughs), which is funny. I walk in on Chris watching porn and I’m like, “I can’t believe you’re watching that!” (Laughs) And then it just evolves into the scene. But I’d never had a boy/boy/girl experience in my personal life before that and it was just a lot of fun. I just felt like I got to have two dicks instead of one (Laughs). It made it a lot better, I guess. (Laughs)

You also appeared in a film for Zero Tolerance that I’ve heard quite a bit about called Gym Rats Orgy. It stars a number of other name performers as well – Emy Reyes and Kortney Kane, to name a couple. Can you tell us a little bit about that movie?

Yeah! That was a lot of fun because it was an MMA scene and I actually train in MMA, so I had always wanted to do a scene involving some sort of MMA kind of theme.

It was a group scene. All the girls were there and they had us do little stretches and working on bags and doing pad work and actually doing kickboxing. And then we start wrestling and the wrestling turns really aggressive into … we start really enjoying it and one thing leads to the next and we’re undressed and the boys walk in – I don’t know if they were supposed to be our coaches or maybe they were just training there (Laughs) – and then it just unfolds into a wild group sex scene.

It was a lot of fun. I really liked the environment in getting to use my MMA training in a scene.

In regards to MMA, I heard you have taken up grappling and are planning to actually enter the MMA world soon, is that right?

Yes. I’ve studied Muay Thai kickboxing for about six years now and have had four fights; my record is 3-1 in kickboxing. The way things are now … my coach was asking me if I’d be interested in doing MMA. It just seems like there are a lot more opportunities for women in that sport. It’s growing a lot: A lot more competitors, a lot more different competitions that you can do.

I started grappling last year. I haven’t been doing it very long – I want to say maybe six months. So, I still have a ways to go, but I am definitely trying to transition into MMA fighting. I would love to take a fight maybe by the end of this year.

Nice. Do you have any main aspirations or perhaps a visual of where you see yourself five or ten years down the road in both MMA and adult?

When I initially got into this industry, I didn’t know how much I would enjoy it and I didn’t think it was something that I would want to pursue or stick around in for too long. But quickly, I realized how much fun I was having with it and how much I really enjoyed going to work. So, I would say in the next five years maybe it would be great to definitely build a name – build more of a brand – under Adrianna Luna, continue to shoot for more companies and bigger films, and now that they’re doing all of these features, I think that would be great. And maybe do some sort of partnership or sponsorship with toys or lingerie, something like that on the side.

MMA-wise, I also train in CrossFit, which I started in August and really enjoy. One of my goals this year also is to enter a CrossFit competition.

So, in regard to both sports, I think just continue to train really hard, get stronger, get faster. And I would love to take that as far as I can, competition-wise.

Excellent.

Yeah. (Laughs)

You mentioned earlier that before you entered the adult industry, you were apprehensive about the testing aspect of porn. Are there any other misconceptions that either you yourself had about the business which you discovered to be untrue once you were actually a part of it or one false impression others have about porn that you wish you could dispel?

Oh, sure. I think one of the things I was most surprised by is what a professional atmosphere it is and how everybody makes you feel so comfortable. When I showed up my first day, I was so nervous. I was just really quiet and I remember not really talking to very many people because I couldn’t imagine myself having to be totally naked in front of all of them. But it was really quick as soon as we started that you see – and everybody makes you feel really comfortable – but it’s very technical and it’s very professional in the sense that they’re telling you exactly what to do or how to pose yourself or you’re going to move this way or move that way. And they’re looking at you not in a way that is sexual – it’s more almost in a technical sense like, “Move your body forty-five degrees this way.” (Laughs)

Yeah.

So, I think that part. And just how cool and nice all the talent was also. It wasn’t this dirty or seedy industry that I think maybe a lot of people think it is. It’s not like there are people drinking or doing drugs – that is definitely not tolerated on sets. It’s very much like a working environment like other jobs. And I tell some of my friends, “It’s porn, it’s sex, but it’s almost like our uniform …” Like when you go into a hospital and you see people in scrubs, when you go to a porn set, you’re going to see people naked. It’s like … that’s what their uniform is. But I think that definitely surprised me.

That’s a good comparison – the uniform analogy.

Yeah. (Laughs)

I’d like to ask a few questions about you as a person if it’s okay.

Sure!

Can you tell us where you were born and raised and how you would describe yourself growing up?

Sure! I was born and raised here in Los Angeles, so I’ve been here all my life. I lived up in Northern California for about three years and went to school there, but I ended up finishing school down here.

Growing up, I have one other sister. We grew up in a very normal household – like mom and dad, like very wholesome. (Laughs) I was a very kind of curious and active kid and that totally still sticks with me now: Just trying a lot of sports, always getting into different activities. But actually, I was well-behaved – I was a good kid for the most part. (Laughs)

How about interests and hobbies away from work?

I would say the biggest is being really fitness-based. I feel like I can’t get enough of it. For now, I would say my biggest hobbies are the MMA and CrossFit. When I’m not at home or at work, you will find me either at my CrossFit gym or my fight gym. I’m just there all the time. I love it; I can’t get enough of it. (Laughs)

I understand also that you have a bachelor’s degree in public relations, is that right?

I do. I started school up in Northern California at Sonoma State University. I realized that I wanted to study P.R., but they didn’t have that program there, so I transferred down and graduated from Cal-State Northridge in public relations.

Is that a field that you plan to pursue in the future, possibly in the adult industry?

I never really thought about it that way. I definitely know that a job where I’d be in an office nine-to-six just doesn’t go with my personality and it’s not something that I could do.

I don’t know … I haven’t really thought of it that way. It gave me really good skills in the sense of learning how to present yourself and put your best foot forward. But I don’t know if I’d really pursue a career in P.R.

How about favorites – musical artists, movies, T.V. shows, etc.

I really love romantic comedies. (Laughs) I can watch those kind of movies every day. And because it was the holiday season, one movie that my family and I always watch is Love Actually. I can’t go a Christmas without watching it, so I would say that’s probably one of my favorite movies. (Laughs)

Music-wise, I really like pop music, mainstream music, so whatever is on the radio, like Rhianna or Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, stuff like that.

Is there one thing about yourself that you feel would surprise a lot of people?

Probably that I’m a really big scaredy cat. I think that when people learn about me fighting, they think I’m really tough. But actually, I’m super-scared of roller coasters – you can’t get me on a roller coaster to save my life – or scary movies. I can’t even watch the trailers – if the commercials come on the radio, I have to change the channel. I just get so scared. So, probably that: I’m just a big scaredy cat.

Are there any current or upcoming projects in the works that you would like to mention?

I’m working on starting a blog because I love to give my fans more of an in-depth look at me. And down the road, I want to start a website. But at least something short-term; something close would definitely be a blog, maybe within the next two months. Twitter is limiting in the amount of characters that you can put and there are only so many quick snapshots that they can see of me. (Laughs) So, I want to start a blog where I can put more pictures and videos and they can get more info about me behind the scenes at work and even when I’m off work and get to see my training and just what I would do on an every day kind of thing.

Very cool. To finish up, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

Sure! If they want to follow me or get to know me a little better, they can do that through my Twitter, which is @AdriannaLunaXXX.

I’m also going to be at AVN this year signing for Hard Candy Films – Nica Noelle’s company – so if they want to come out and see me, I’ll be there, too.

Awesome. Thank you very much for your time. It was a pleasure speaking with you and I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from you in the future. All the best in 2012.

Thank you so much.

Digital Playground contract superstar Kayden Kross has established herself as one of the premiere performers in adult cinema. Following her industry debut in late-2006, Kayden was exclusively contracted to powerhouse studios Vivid Entertainment and Adam & Eve before signing with DP in January 2010. That partnership has proven to be dynamic and lucrative for both sides, with Kayden starring in a slew of top-selling titles for the brand, including the recently released blockbuster film Fighters.

Kayden has also been keeping busy with a mountain of mainstream work recently, most notably traveling to Bulgaria to star in an independent film called As Wonderland Goes By, currently slated for a March release.

Of course, Kayden also remains widely recognized by the adult community and has been selected to co-host the 2012 XBIZ Awards along with industry icon Jessica Drake on January 10 in Santa Monica; additionally, the beautiful Sacramento native will return to the AVN Red Carpet on January 21 to handle co-hosting duties with fellow Digital Playground contract starlet Jesse Jane and rock musician Dave Navarro.

Kayden kindly spoke with XXX Wasteland to discuss her co-hosting gigs during adult awards season, training for her role in Fighters, current mainstream projects she has in the works and much more.

You can visit Kayden online at ClubKayden.com and read her official blog, UnKrossed. Follow Kayden on Twitter under the handle @Kayden_Kross and find her FreeOnes page at this link.

Kayden’s June 2011 interview with XXX Wasteland is available here.

(Special thanks to Jennifer Larsen of Digital Playground)

First off, congratulations on your AVN Award nominations, which were announced recently. You were nominated in several top categories, including Crossover Star of the Year and Female Performer of the Year. Is there any award in particular you would like to take home this year?

I just want to win something. (Laughs) I would like to win Best Actress; that would be awesome. I think I have a stronger shot at Crossover next year because the projects I’m doing right now are still in the works. But obviously, any AVN Award is an honor, so, fingers crossed.

You are going to have a very strong presence during awards season, as you have been selected to co-host the XBIZ Awards and will be handling Red Carpet duties for the AVNs as well. How did it feel to be named Co-host for the XBIZ show?

That was actually a surprise because I hosted that show a few years ago already, so I didn’t expect that at all. But I was honored. XBIZ is becoming a much stronger presence and their awards show is just top-notch. So, it’s going to be exciting.

I was wondering – because you also hosted the AVNs a couple of years ago – how the selection process for co-hosts works. Does the organization approach you or is it more something the performers express interest in doing?

It’s a little bit of a ritualistic kind of honoring. With AVN, they brought me in – they didn’t actually tell me why – and they kind of on camera asked if I would host, and Kirsten Price was there.

And XBIZ, it was something similar both times: Without telling the girl in question, they’ll talk to her publicist or whoever is working with her on her career and make sure it’s something that the girl would be interested in and offer the job.

In both cases, the publicist knew, was excited and couldn’t wait for me to find out – then I got the phone call.

Are you looking forward to doing the Red Carpet as well this year for AVN?

Yeah, I love doing the Red Carpet. It’s a chance to kind of be different with the microphone. I’m so sick of … you know, they ask you the same three questions on the Red Carpet every time. So, I can go in there and mix it up and have fun with it.

I noticed that you’ve been doing a lot of traveling recently and you mentioned an independent film that you appeared in or are in the process of filming.

Yeah, I’m still filming that. I’m actually coming home January 9 just to be able to do the January 10 hosting (of the XBIZ Awards) and then AVN. Then, I fly back the day after AVN to continue filming.

I flew out there for the first trip back at the end of October, so I think we’ll probably wrap in March. It’s a pretty big show and my character is a lead, so I have a lot of camera time – and that means a lot of filming time. (Laughs)

Definitely. Can you tell us a little bit about the film or is it kind of hush-hush for now?

It’s a political film. It’s … different. It can’t fall under one category because it’s meant to kind of … “go against the grain” is the description the director gave me when we first spoke, that the film turns left when every other action film would turn right. So, at the end, you don’t even know what’s coming.

Nice. I wanted to ask as well about the recently released Fighters movie from Digital Playground that you starred in along with Jesse Jane. I spoke with her about it a couple of days ago and she was telling me how the two of you actually underwent boxing training for the film. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Yeah, we were both training hardcore for about three months. Both of us, by the end of it, were so sick of the additional muscle that we had put on. (Laughs)

You added muscle mass as well?

Yeah, we both did and we were not happy about it. (Laughs) We were eating like every two hours because our metabolism was through the roof because of all the calories we were burning. It was a lot of fun, it was a great experience, but when the movie was over … I have not been back in the boxing gym since. (Laughs)

(Laughs) You wrote a very informative article this past summer following the collapse of the Porn Wikileaks website. As someone who obviously followed the story from start to finish, I wanted to get your view on how you feel the entire situation impacted the adult industry overall.

Lots of sites engage in online bullying: They’ll pick a target and they’ll hit that target over and over and over and beat a dead horse. This site just took it to such an extreme that people finally felt called to action.

I think the one really good thing that came out of it was that it showed you are not really anonymous online, especially when you get a vigilante who is good at hacking. It’s self-defeating and it’s evil in a way to just constantly peck at someone else – especially a stranger, especially at very personal and weak spots. So, to see these people kind of exposed and to have their names put out and have it turned around on them I think will potentially be deterrents to other people in the future who may have taken up that action.

I feel like the general blocks kind of came down a little bit. It was kind of a wake-up call. I don’t know how quickly we’ll forget it. I hope we don’t, but that’s just kind of the way it goes.

Sort of staying with the topic, it is a pretty well-known fact that you enjoy writing. Do you have any projects current or upcoming on that front?

I’m writing every day. The difference is that I’m not posting everything I write. I used to only write to post and now I’m writing pieces that are either too long to be one blog or are part of a greater thing that I’m trying to put together that I don’t want to spoil by putting out piece by piece; I want to release it as one longer piece.

Very nice. You have long been a very strong advocate for the industry overall. Is there one misconception about the business in particular that you wish you could dispel?

There are a few. The first is that to be in this industry there is something broken that needs to be fixed and that’s just obviously not the case.

The other is – this kind of goes hand-in-hand – is assume that we’re victims and we would get out if we could. But as I’ve been saying since Day One, if I wanted to stop today, I could – I just choose not to. It’s a job like anything else and it has a lot of perks and I think what happens is girls who end up substantiating those assumptions are just told that so many times constantly throughout their careers. And when they come in, they come in by choice, they come in by free will. It seems very easy to fall back on the age-old stereotype.

The other one … there is a stereotype that we’re all kind of retards and we really couldn’t have done anything else. There is a whole host of (misconceptions).

For sure. I read one of your blog entries from this past summer where you confronted some picketers outside an adult convention.

Oh, yeah! Some of the stereotypes are … less ignorant than others. (Laughs) But that conversation was … that blew my mind, that someone could believe that. It was fascinating to hear those things. (Laughs)

(Laughs) Yeah, it was pretty out there for sure. I’d like to ask a bit about you as a person if you don’t mind. Can you tell us where you were raised and how you would describe yourself growing up?

I was raised kind of on the foothills of Sacramento. I read a lot of books as a kid: I read books on the playground, I read books in class, I got sent to detention for reading books through math class and then I read books in detention.

I was quiet and always been living in my own little world and still do.

Cool. How about interests and hobbies away from work?

Besides books? (Laughs)

(Laughs)

I like to write. I have horses. I get into sports for spurts of time like bikram yoga or boxing or whatever happens to be “shiny” at the moment.

Right now, I’m into swimming. Clearly, I’ve gotten into acting more. I pick up hobbies and run with them until they get dull and then find other things.

Yes, I did notice when I was reading your blog that you have a passion for horses. How did that come about?

When I was five years old, my mom put me on a horse … and that was kind of the end of it. (Laughs)

(Laughs) You just fell in love with it from there?

Yeah.

I haven’t done much horseback riding. Is it a relaxation type of thing?

It’s relaxing if you ride a pony! (Laughs)

(Laughs)

My horse … he’s not really relaxing. He’s an Arabian and a stallion on top of that, so it’s more of a thrill.

Very nice. Is there one thing about yourself that you feel would surprise most people?

I think people get the idea that I’m super-social and outgoing sometimes just from things I’ll say on Twitter or whatever and I’m really more of an introvert. I can entertain myself for days. (Laughs)

Are there any current or upcoming projects in the works – adult or mainstream – that you would like to mention?

The big current one is this movie out in Bulgaria. It’s called As Wonderland Goes By and it will keep me booked up through March. I had that episode of The League air a couple of months ago and then I have another independent movie that I shot over the summer that I believe will be releasing in April.

I have other projects that I’ve done in that stage where we are planning and talking about schedules, but we haven’t begun photography – I don’t even have scripts yet. So, those are in the baby stages of production.

You are going to be on the Inside the Industry radio show next Wednesday as well, right?

Am I? (Laughs)

(Laughs) I was listening last night and that’s what they said.

Cool. (Laughs)

I may have misheard, which is possible, too.

It’s possible; I don’t always get my interviews with much notice.

To finish up, is there anything you wish to say to readers?

Yeah, everyone should go watch Fighters and obviously buy all my movies, all that jazz; visit my website, follow me on Twitter, you know. (Laughs)

Awesome. Thanks for taking some time to speak with me today and I wish you continued success.

Thank you.