If I had the opportunity to share one message with young people about positively impacting our environment or society, it would be this: Your voice matters, and your actions can create meaningful change. Embrace your power to shape a better world. Find your passion, stand up for your beliefs, and use your influence to make a positive impact.
As a part of our series about “Filmmakers Making A Social Impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing Erika Lust.
Erika Lust is an award-winning indie erotic filmmaker who creates sex-positive adult cinema by portraying relatable characters going beyond gender stereotypes and harmful fetishisations to offer a groundbreaking alternative to mass produced mainstream porn.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you share your “backstory” that brought you to this career?
When I was studying Political Science and Gender Studies at Lund University in Sweden, I came across Linda Williams’ book ‘Hard Core: Power, Pleasure, and “The Frenzy of the Visible”’, in which she argues that porn is a way of communicating specific ideas about gender and sex, while it doesn’t reflect any truth about sex.
After my studies, I moved to Barcelona in 2000 and I soon realized I loved the atmosphere of a film set, so I started taking film classes. When I was given the assignment to create a short film, I felt the need to do my own thing, and what I wanted to do was shoot an explicit film! I wanted to create something different within the genre; a porn film according to my taste, expressing my values, and showing the importance of female pleasure.
So I made this short film called ‘The Good Girl’, a humorous take on the classic pizza delivery boy porn trope, and I posted it online, available for free download. I wasn’t really expecting anything but the next thing I know, it had over 2 million downloads in less than two months! I was receiving emails from people worldwide telling me that they loved the film and asking when the next one would be out. That’s when I realized other people out there were looking for alternatives to mass-produced pornography. I decided I would keep making adult films that reflected my taste and values on sex and gender… and so ERIKALUST was born!
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I don’t know. I keep on making mistakes. In the beginning I obviously made lots of filmmaking mistakes from not having enough experience. And I made many business mistakes. I would honestly say that the hardest thing has been to grow the business, finding the right people and knowing when a cycle changes for a new one. In the beginning I went with my instinct but the bigger an organization grows, you need to make more data driven decisions. Maybe I could have stayed smaller but my dream was, and still is, to change attitudes towards sex, to spread sex positivity and to challenge mainstream mass produced porn to become better, safer, and more respectful towards women, LGBTQI+ communities and POC. And to do that I have to make people aware of the fact that not all porn is the same, and that to pay for your porn is the only way of consuming porn supporting the community who makes it!
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
I worked with Nina Hartley in my series SAFEWORD (on Lustcinema.com) and she is one the most interesting people I’ve met in this Industry. I wish I had met more women like her growing up. She is such a powerhouse! We had a screening a few weeks ago of episode 3 of SAFEWORD with Nina being the Dominatrix of the main character’s journey exploring her desire to be dominated and during the 45 min session the audience was all submitting to Nina’s spell.
Another person who I long admired and met last spring is no one less than Stoya. Her persona, her performances and her work as a writer has inspired me for many years. When I first discovered her work I was fascinated by her strong sense of transmitting real pleasure on screen. I think especially women feel that she has that thing that you can identify with as a woman, you don’t feel that she is there for the men, for their pleasure but for yours.
I believe that women still have lots to explore in adult entertainment, not only as performers, but as creators and as business owners and as consumers. But for us to feel really engaged we need to see portraits of sexuality that talk to us, that represent us, that inspire us!
That’s why at ERIKALUST Films we are working with many guest directors so together, we can show our stories of sex.
Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?
As a feminist filmmaker and advocate for sex-positive culture, I have found inspiration from many individuals who have shaped my journey. These are the people who have influenced and guided me along the way:
Dr. Betty Dodson holds a special place in my heart. Known as the “Mother of Masturbation,” her groundbreaking work in promoting sexual liberation and prioritizing women’s pleasure has had a profound impact on my understanding of female sexuality.
I also draw inspiration from the sex-positive pioneers who have fearlessly challenged societal taboos and fostered open conversations about sexuality. Icons such as Annie Sprinkle, Susie Bright, and Carol Queen have paved the way for a more inclusive and shame-free approach to sex. Their fearlessness has encouraged me to push boundaries and reshape the adult entertainment industry.
Feminist activists and thinkers have played a pivotal role in shaping my understanding of gender equality and social justice. Authors like Audre Lorde, Simone de Beauvoir, and Bell Hooks have inspired me to challenge patriarchal norms and promote diverse representations of pleasure and desire through my work.
And then of course a wide range of filmmakers, Joey Soloway, Catherine Breillat, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, Kimberly Pierce, Ava DuVernay, Susanne Bier, Isabel Coixet,
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Michaela Coel to name a few.
However, my ultimate inspiration comes from the everyday people who connect with and support my films. I am humbled by the experiences, feedback, and stories shared by viewers and collaborators, for example, through one of my projects, XConfessions. At XConfessions, individuals have the opportunity to share their sexual fantasies, and my team and I carefully select some of them to bring to life. Your voices inspire and empower me to push boundaries, creating content that authentically reflects and celebrates our audience’s diverse desires and realities.
Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact causes you are working on right now?
I started my business 20 years ago because I wanted to do my part in changing the rules of porn from within. I wanted to prove that we can represent sex in which everybody is treated as equal sexual collaborators, with credible stories and characters that don’t follow tired stereotypes and gender based power imbalance.
With my films and overall mission, I want to spread the joy of sex-positive feminism. I want to inspire people to see sex as a healthy, natural part of life worth celebrating. I want women and LGBTQ+ people behind the camera in all key positions; that’s why I support their talent by producing and financing female and queer guest directors across the globe. I love the diverse and constantly growing (online & offline) global community of sex-positive creators and artists we’ve built over the last 20 years.
I created The Porn Conversation together with my husband Pablo to guide families and educators on how to start talking to younger generations about porn, to critically think about the content they consume, and to examine the harmful messages free online porn most of the time promotes. To accomplish this, The Porn Conversation Guides uses a porn literacy framework to guide these discussions.
The main goal of porn literacy is for individuals to critique porn and construct their own meanings from the content. As one of the primary concerns regarding youth pornography engagement is the impact it can have on forming sexual expectations, developing porn literacy skills could assist young people to anticipate sexual outcomes that are realistic for their lives instead of the fantasy that porn creates.
Remember that it’s never too late or too early to have The Porn Conversation; it’s certainly better than no conversation at all! Try to stay calm: take deep breaths, drink water, make sure you wear comfortable clothes, and create a relaxing and private space. Also, try and keep the tone of the conversation casual; don’t use a tone that might suggest your child is in trouble. Remember that you want them to feel comfortable coming to you as a teenager, so be aware of any negative cues in your body language when listening to them speak. Keep in mind that this is a non-judgmental conversation — try and tell your child: “I’m not here to judge you for your curiosity. I’m here to support you.”
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?
As I mentioned above — that moment came after I released my first film, ‘The Good Girl’ and it massively resonated with people from all over the world. I knew then that my passion had just become my cause and that was my ‘aha’ moment.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
One powerful story that stands out involves a woman named Sarah (name changed for privacy), who reached out to me expressing her gratitude and the impact my work had on her life.
Sarah had struggled with body image issues and self-confidence related to her appearance for years. She felt immense pressure to fit into society’s narrow beauty standards, which affected her relationships and intimacy. It was difficult for her to embrace her desires and express herself authentically and fully.
After stumbling upon my films and the messages of empowerment they conveyed, Sarah felt a newfound sense of liberation and acceptance. Seeing diverse bodies and authentic portrayals of pleasure helped her realize that her desires were valid and that she didn’t need to conform to societal expectations.
She shared how my work empowered her to embrace her body and feel confident in her skin. Through the narratives portrayed in my films, Sarah discovered new possibilities for pleasure and learned the importance of open communication and consent in her relationships.
Sarah’s transformation inspired her to advocate for body positivity, sexual empowerment, and consent education. She began hosting workshops and creating safe spaces for discussions surrounding these topics, spreading the message of self-acceptance and empowerment to others.
Sarah’s story exemplifies the transformative power of ethically produced adult content. It showcases how my films’ inclusive and empowering messages can profoundly impact individuals’ lives, helping them embrace their desires, gain confidence, and create positive change in their communities.
It is stories like Sarah’s that motivate me to continue pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and advocating for a more inclusive and authentic representation of sexuality in the adult entertainment industry.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
I have three I live by:
- Life is the path, not the destination
- Mistakes are part of the learning process
- Without mistakes, we can not improve
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
If I had the opportunity to share one message with young people about positively impacting our environment or society, it would be this: Your voice matters, and your actions can create meaningful change. Embrace your power to shape a better world. Find your passion, stand up for your beliefs, and use your influence to make a positive impact.
In my journey, I discovered I could make a difference even within adult entertainment by promoting ethical practices, embracing diversity, and fostering a sex-positive culture. It taught me that regardless of the industry or field you’re in, you have the power to challenge norms and bring about positive transformations.
Your actions have the power to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. By actively engaging with environmental and social issues, such as advocating for climate action, promoting gender equality, and supporting marginalized communities, you can make a meaningful impact beyond yourself.
At ERIKALUST, as part of our mission as a company, we are committed to being a more sustainable company and being respectful of our environment. For instance, during our events, we prioritize offering vegan or vegetarian food options, and on our shoots, we provide vegetarian catering for both performers and crew. Our office has established a feminist library where our team can share and borrow books that foster discussions and learning. We actively seek opportunities to contribute to improving the environment in any way we can.
Together, we can pave the way for a brighter future by embracing sustainable practices, fostering inclusivity, and taking actions that align with our shared values. Let’s join forces and make a meaningful impact in creating a world we can all be proud of.
We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
There are many! I would love the reach of many of the outstanding women who are now influencing new generations. For me and other people working in adult entertainment, or in anything sex-related, we are heavily censored and have such a hard time getting our message out there. We get our accounts shadow-banned, and we get de-platformed. Most people, when they think of porn, they imagine what they’ve seen on the tubes online; they don’t know that it can be liberating, empowering, and beautiful. So yes, I would love any collaboration to help us spread sex positivity and the female gaze to a bigger audience. The bigger, the better. Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Rihanna, Beyonce!
And then, of course, there are filmmakers and artists who I would love to see getting their take on adult entertainment. What films would they create if there was no stigma and they would dare to work in this influential genre?
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Done is better than perfect.” Like many women, I struggle with wanting to be perfect and do great things. But sometimes, that leaves you feeling that nothing is good enough, and I learned that it is crucial to stay active, move, deliver, and get better by doing. Not waiting for your masterpiece to be conceived in your mind before trying, but working towards excellence by doing.
The biggest mistake you can make is doing absolutely nothing because you’re too scared to make a mistake. And you know who is fearless? MEN, they think they are the shit. So if we do not get out there challenging and taking space, they will continue ruling the world.
How can our readers follow you online?
You can follow our work across all of our platforms from www. erikalust.com.
This was great, thank you so much for sharing your story and doing this with us. We wish you continued success!
Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Filmmaker Erika Lust Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.