The Power of the Press
Commenting on yesterday’s blog entry, Housewyfe echos my own mix of excitement and disappointment when she writes:
Frustrating that Ms. Woods seems more intent on writing something smart (couldn’t think of a better word) than actually providing the information so many of us are seeking. Regardless of her navel gazing, I hope the mention brings you lots of attention/business.
She’s not alone. This morning brings several notes that are similar in tone. Tony Comstock and his army of horny middle-aged women are enraged that Stacey Grenrock Wood has failed to use her platform at Esquire magazine to spread the good news – that sex is beautiful and films of sex can be beautiful too! Well okay – not enraged, but disappointed. I am pleased, and touched by this show of support; perhaps even a little startled to have “devoted fans”. But having (mostly) recovered from my own wounded pride, I do think it’s worth thinking about this from her point of view.
Ms. Wood’s wit not withstanding, she is in a bit of a bind. As I said to El last night, “If a friend asked you to recommend a sexually explicit film she could enjoy (with or without her husband) and you couldn’t offer them something from Comstock Films, what would you tell them?” The stock answers and the “established porn aesthetic” leave a lot of people cold. Even if Ms. Wood’s writing style usually brimmed with sincerity, I wouldn’t blame her for being flippant about porn.
The other thing to keep in mind is Esquire is “the big leagues”. Columnist are hired for their voice, their writing style; not to spend time talking to people like me. I was contacted by an intern researcher, who sent along his notes to Ms. Wood. She never spoke to me and (I’m guessing) she didn’t have time to follow up on the research info herself. (How else does a company that makes films of lesbians, by lesbians, and (mostly) for lesbians ends up in the pages of Esquire magazine?)
The researcher heard my whole rant about taking a cinematic (rather than pornographic) approach to explicit sex, saw Xana and Dax, and even sent me a note saying “I just got done watching Xana and Dax and it is good stuff.” By the time I was done with him, if he wasn’t actually a convert, he was receptive to the idea that seeing people have sex doesn’t have to mean lowering your standards and expectations (well) below the Sunday bassfishing show level. But he was in the New York office, and I’d be very surprised if the DVD ever made its way to the columnist, who lives out in Los Angeles. (I sent her e-mail offering to send her a copy of her own. We’ll see if she take us up on it.)
In any event, George is right: the important thing is that they spell your name correctly. In the overnight, we’ve see a 20-fold increase in the number of people finding their way to ComstockFilms.com using the search string “comstock films”. That’s probably a better response than if we had paid to run a full page ad!
-TC
June 10th, 2005 at 2:12 pm
“Tony Comstock and his army of horny middle-aged women”
Finally, an army I can join both with my middle age body and my conscience.
Charge!
June 12th, 2005 at 11:36 am
Count me in the front ranks, there, Housewyfe.
Army of horny middled-aged women. Sheesh. Fucking Puritans.
DTG xxoo
June 17th, 2005 at 11:54 am
I’m waiting on what the uniform looks like — khaki can do terrible things to a complexion. A fully nude army armed with vibrators…the world doesn’t stand a chance…:)
June 18th, 2005 at 2:15 am
No, no, no Ell! Not completely nude! We middle-aged horny women need our high heels! 4 inches minimum, I say. Preferably strappy black or red leather. Be sure your vibrator is color coordinated!
MT
June 22nd, 2005 at 7:07 am
To paraphrase Mr. Cohan, I don’t care what you wear, as long as you show up!
Over the past few years “Porn for Women” has seen a number of well-finance, high-profile launch. The typical approach is a gang of four attractive women in their mid-thirties, bring together “experience from diverse backgrounds to finally make erotica from a women’s point of view.”
Not to put to fine a point on it, but I’ve always thought that “from a woman’s point of view” missed the point altogether. Hetrosexual women lust after, are seduced by, and have sex with men. Men, at least some of us, are pretty good at figuring out how to get women hot and bothered.
Thanks to all of you, but especially thank to all the horny middle-aged women who continue to so enthusiastically support our efforts!
-TC