In the second part of our series “VR and the adult entertainment industry” (read part 1 here) we spoke with Pornhub, the industry’s leading company to take a look behind the scenes of VR porn.

Without further ado, let’s dive right into the interview!

Daydream District: “What cameras do you use to film VR porn?”

Pornhub: “Our production partners currently use 8 4K cameras (not GoPros).”

Daydream District: “Did you have to change traditional sets to make room for VR equipment? What are the challenges when filming VR porn?”

Pornhub: “Absolutely. According to our production partner, the biggest change is having to keep the room clear during filming. Recording in 360-degrees comes with many new challenges that both traditional and 180-degree porn do not have to deal with. These range from lighting to shoot locations to directing. The room must be kept clear for the shoot which makes lighting an immense challenge. The inability to provide direct lighting on talent makes shooting in this format challenging but at the same time forces creativity in the form of proprietary equipment and lighting fixtures.

Not being able to directly communicate with the talent is another hurdle which must be overcome in VR porn by our production partners. Traditional filming sets tend to be built around the viewer not being able to look around or behind them. When our production partners locate shoot locations they must also keep in mind that all parts of the shoot will be in the shot. Any incongruities run the risk of breaking immersion and all precautions must be taken. Numerous established shoot locations will no longer work for VR porn. This also includes most established studios. Since this style of filming is new for most talent there is a great deal of directing which must occur but cannot happen during the shot itself, making the “no-cuts” shot very difficult. Also, when our production partners are running 8+ cameras simultaneously they have an exponentially increased risk of hardware failure so having hardware redundancies on site is a must for them.

Finally, when filming 4K content, our production partner must not only have cameras capable of this but video capture devices which can handle the recording bandwidth. This means they must not only position the equipment properly, but craft their own wiring kits, capture hubs and power sources and keep them out of the shot. Filming 360-degree stereoscopic virtual content is a very new field and one which requires both patience and a desire for innovation.”

Daydream District: “What is the feedback from the male talent who films using the VR rig?”

Pornhub:”According to our production partner, shooting with the VR rig seems to be very challenging and taxing for most of the male talent. Our production partner has taken great steps to build their rig around the male talent’s needs though. Generally the biggest challenge is “keeping it up.” Basically the actors are laying back with their head straight back. Their inability to view the female talent in action has a direct impact on their ability to stay in the moment. It seems that as they get more experienced with this style of shooting the situation seems to diminish. At this stage in their development, our production partner has built up a solid group of male performers who have mastered the art of VR shooting.

All of the above was referring to POV style shooting which is what most of the market is requesting. Our production partner also shoots in “wide” style for those fans looking for a more voyeur type of experience. This comes with its own difficulties due to our production partner not being able to move the camera during the shot. Capturing the proper angles becomes very difficult and since the director is not present at all times informing them of how the shot looks it become increasingly difficult to get everything in one take. Since all footage is caught in real-time, cutting is not a good option and the actors have to give extra focus to their craft as it pertains to the viewer in a whole new way.”

Daydream District:”Have there been any other faux pas beyond male stars having trouble keeping it up due to heavy equipment?”

Pornhub: “Our production partner has just about seen it all to be honest. They have had male performers who couldn’t keep their arms still, heads in proper placement and the occasional couch/chair malfunction where the furniture breaks. Female talent has sometimes struggled with where to make eye contact as well as the occasional knocking of the cameras themselves. Every once in a while they have a “squirter” who douses some very expensive equipment.

Sometimes people walk through the scene (or outside a window) without realizing the team is capturing the full 360-degrees. Mirrors and reflective surfaces are a constant battle and usually require a decent amount of thought before any shooting can take place. All-in-all though, our production partner has had the pleasure of working with very professional performers who are fast learners, experienced directors who capture amazing shots and talented tech gurus who build proprietary solutions as problems arise. Their current content was captured on Prototype 1.0 and the footage turned out excellent. Prototype 2.0 will be crafted by mid-next month. They expect their content to reach new heights and set an absolute standard for 360-degree stereoscopic VR content, both within and outside the adult world.”

Daydream District: “Who came up with the idea of VR Porn? Is it something Pornhub has been exploring for a while?”

Pornhub: “It’s been on our radar for some time. We’ve kept a close watch on the development of virtual reality and wanted to offer our fans an opportunity to experience it firsthand, free of charge. Now they can.”

Daydream District: “What kind of VR porn innovations can users look forward to in the near future?”

Pornhub: “I imagine future innovations will attempt to provide users with deeper immersion. Users want to feel as though they are a protagonist within the scene they are watching. They want that gratifying connection. I think as emerging technologies continue to develop, a lot of them will attempt to provide users with unparalleled interconnectivity.”

Daydream District: “Will VR Porn reach a point where it interacts with sex toys and other non-VR elements?”

Pornhub: “Absolutely. Teledildonics have started making it possible to connect the virtual reality experience with a heightened sexual experience. It’s just a matter of time until there is total interconnectivity and users are having virtual sex with their favorite cam stars/porn stars.”

Daydream District: “How do performers feel about working in VR porn – does it make any major difference?”

Pornhub: “While I can’t speak on their behalf, I would imagine there are slight differences, mostly just new tech on set to get used to. But I’m sure the acclimation period is brief and performers adjust quickly.”

Daydream District: “Do you think VR Porn has the potential to replace more traditional content?”

Pornhub: “Time will tell. As the industry continues to evolve in accordance with emerging technologies, more and more people will begin to adopt virtual reality as their main form of adult entertainment consumption. While I think virtual reality will play a significant role within the industry moving forward, I think there will always be a place for traditional content. Either way, Pornhub has you covered.”

Daydream District: “In terms of further down the line, what do you see as the next major innovation in terms of VR porn? More interactive elements?”

Pornhub: “It’s tough to tell what the next major innovation in terms of VR porn will be. A large majority of people have yet to experience virtual reality for the first time. Once they do and companies are able to gauge their sentiments, it will be easier to conceptualize future innovations. I’m sure each will consist of more interactive elements. Everyone wants to feel as though they are actually there, having sex with their favorite cam star or pornstar.”

Daydream District: “You are giving away VR content free. Is that not letting a chance of making more money go?”

Pornhub: “Here at Pornhub we’re all about our fans. We have always provided them with instant accessibility to cutting edge technologies and virtual reality is no different. We wanted each and every user to have access to this groundbreaking technology and experience the immersive content firsthand. Now they can, free of charge.”

Daydream District: “You are the world’s biggest in porn. How important is VR to you, now and in the near future?”

Pornhub: “Virtual reality is especially important to us at Pornhub. It’s no longer “the next big thing.” It’s here, it’s now, it’s the future. We always try and cater to our community of users and provide them with cutting edge technology. With the introduction of a virtual reality category, we are ushering in a new era of consumption. It provides our fans with an immersive, 360-degree experience unlike anything ever before. We encourage all of our users to check out our VR page (NSFW) and check it out themselves. It’ll be well worth it, we promise.”

Daydream District: “Several porn companies are counting on VR bringing back more subscribers. Do you think VR will have this effect?”

Pornhub: “I think VR will have a positive effect on the adult entertainment industry moving forward. More and more people will gravitate to virtual reality for the mesmeric experience it provides. In turn, I think the industry will see a significant increase in user engagement and content consumption.”

Daydream District: “How important do you think porn will be as a driver for VR-hardware? (Porn is a notorious driver of tech, but who’s driving who in this case?)”

Pornhub: “I think it will be instrumental. As you said porn has always been a leading driver of new technologies and this is no different. It’s just a new vehicle.”

Daydream District: “Thanks a lot for this very interesting interview!”

Stay tuned for the next part of our series on “VR and the adult entertainment industry“!