Sex BaysHow do you summarize a whole day dedicated to porn?
When I realized that Spit Exposed and Playground were putting on an event – I knew I couldn’t miss it. Smut in the 6ix is the first of its kind: a Smut conference in the afternoon and a celebration of everyone’s hard work in the evening with curated porn, performances and, of course, dancing.
People from all aspects of porn were present – performers, producers, curators, enthusiasts, etc. While many people knew each other from working together in Toronto, those who were from out-of-town were quickly welcomed and often met with “I know you – we’ve tweeted at each other!”
The event was organized by Caitlin K. Roberts (Spit Exposed), Sophie Delancey (Tell Me Something Good & Sex City Radio) and Samantha Fraser (Playground Sexuality Events & TMSG). I am sure it was not an easy feat organizing this for the first time, but they did an amazing job and the day was definitely a success. Throughout the event, they all kept making sure people were having a good time. The answer was a resounding YES!
As a porn enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed the conference panel subjects and speakers. I felt that the topics were relevant, informative, thought provoking and, importantly, engaged the audience.
smut in the 6ix porn conference toronto ethical porn – Sex Bays
The first panel discussed social issues in porn, and included two producers, two video curators, a performer and a psychotherapist. Two of the major topics were about the challenge in creating ethical porn (whether or not that was the appropriate title), and how watching porn can impact relationships. As the panelists came from a wide variety of backgrounds, it was really interesting to hear how these topics related to their experiences. Billy Autumn (performer) kept bringing real-life experiences to the discussion. Kate Sinclaire (Ciné Sinclaire) and Caitlin K. Roberts (Spit Exposed) brought up important points about the responsibilities of producers. The team from Make Love Not Porn (Sarah Beall, Ariel Martinez) talked about how influential their videos have been on healing relationships. Dr. Stephen Biggs had views on porn addiction that sparked a discussion from the audience.
For me, the first panel was so interesting because I have attended a porn shoot with Ciné Sinclaire and have been talking to MLNP for a while about creating my own video. Porn has been a huge topic in my current relationship and this panel made me excited about the future of “ethical” or “alternative” porn.
Panel 1: Social Issues in Porn #smut6 pic.twitter.com/RXioVZCCCF
— Sex Bays (@ACoupleOfKinks) May 14, 2016
The second panel focused on DIY techniques, which resulted in a large discussion about art and porn. There were tips given about how to experiment with filming at home, which ended up focusing on the importance of proper lighting. The conversation about ‘art vs porn’ gave us all something to consider when the topic of “classism” came up.
Having a conversation about art vs porn is really a class conversation. People who “care” about art, don’t like “porn.” @maxwellander #smut6
— SMUT In The 6ix (@smutinthe6ix) May 14, 2016
A large takeaway message from this panel was “do what feels right for you”. It showed that porn creation is significantly more difficult and time-consuming than we might have first realized. Questions were brought up about finances, and the same overall message rang true: “do it because you love it, not because you’re going to get rich”. Maron de Sade focused on the reality of venturing into the unknown. Ninja focused on the more natural techniques for DIY creating. John Bee and Maxwell Lander gave us a range of tips from budget-friendly equipment to gaining inspiration from other media sources (like music videos, sci-fi movies and wedding films).
“Let your inspiration guide you. Emulate the things that inspire you.” @NymphoNinjas #DIYporn #smut6
— SMUT In The 6ix (@smutinthe6ix) May 14, 2016
Of course, as someone who is considering venturing down the path of homemade porn for public consumption, this panel kept me intrigued and gave me plenty to research. I think it would have been interesting to hear from the Make Love Not Porn team, who curates hundreds of DIY movies. Sophie Delancy was an exceptional moderator for this topic and I can’t wait to visit Toronto again for a TMSG event!
The third panel resonated with every person at the conference. It focused around intersection, representation, stigma and diversity. The panelists all spoke about their lived experiences, their reasons for entering the porn world, as well as the problems they encounter from their jobs and societal reactions. A major theme was how each person did not see a representation of their bodies in mainstream porn without fetishization. After hearing about the more “production” side of porn, this panel was the perfect way to conclude the conference. Taylor J Mace talked about both sides of the process as both a performer and a producer. Andrew Gurza brought a necessary conversation around disability and his advocacy against the backlash of being a sexual human being. Malcolm Lovejoy and Toronto Trash Panda spoke from their hearts, laying everything out on the table about being tokenized. Caroline Fox spoke deeply about societal reactions.
“I love that push back because if you’re pushing back it means I’m doing something right.” @deliciouslydrew on porn. #smut6
— SMUT In The 6ix (@smutinthe6ix) May 14, 2016
The recording of this panel should be sent out to all porn producers around the world. The conversation was emotional, matter-of-fact and constructive. You can tell that the panelists spend their lives advocating for better representation. As a moderator, Kate Sloan (blogger & performer) asked poignant questions that allowed for deeper education and understanding.
This. Always this. Panel 3 at #smut6 pic.twitter.com/cH4CWLYFxS
— Sex Bays (@ACoupleOfKinks) May 14, 2016
It was perfect timing for a dinner break to allow people to soak in what they just heard.
Returning to the Gala, we were welcomed by a behind-the-scenes video of Ciné Sinclaire. This was followed by a collection of videos curated by Taylor J Mace and Rebecca DeVeaux starring all-Canadian talent and producers. It was super fun to watch porn in a room filled with porn-positive people. Whenever a video came on that starred someone at the Gala, there were encouraging cheers and huge rounds-of-applause. I sat next to Zella Tree at her first video debut – I mean, how much cooler could an event get?
We’re in a ballroom with a bunch of cool pervs watching porn on a giant screen. #pornlife #smut6 #torontoevents pic.twitter.com/Rpeh7qUteP
— SPIT (@SpitExposed) May 15, 2016
There was lost of mingling being done, and I had the pleasure of meeting even more people in this wonderful community.
The performers were just perfect for the event. There were songs about porn and kink from Dane Joe, Malcolm Lovejoy and Kate Sloan. There was hip-hop inspired belly dancing by Raishma Tigress, body-positive drag king burlesque by Spencer Munny and a scream-inducing burlesque performance by Ferrera Rose. Dane Joe (host) kept the crowd going!
Overall, my night was amazing and I know that I am not the only person who felt this way. I was welcomed into the community, I learned about larger porn production, small-scale DIY projects and the importance of diversity and representation. I shared in the cheers and the laughs at the gala among friends I had only previously met online. I left on a high – knowing that this community is out there and on the rise.
There is a whole community of people promoting sex positivity, proper representation and the importance of consent. I am totally thrilled to feel a part of it, and I can’t wait to get more involved. We all have a role in changing the discourse of porn and Smut in the 6ix is leading the way.
I recommend checking out:
–Ciné Sinclaire
–Fiesty Fox Productions
–Make Love Not Porn
–Purple Video Productions
–Spit Exposed
Thanks so much to everyone who celebrated w us at #smut6 last night! We love you! Our hearts are so full and warm right now. ❤❤❤
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