Gurls Talk with Brooke Candy
My existence on this planet has been centered on the idea of what a woman is and more importantly her sexuality. I witnessed the world of “hustler” through the cracks of my fingers, as I was slightly shielded from the explicit nature of my father’s work. The idea of image being able to convey our deepest thoughts sparked an interest in me. It was a game to see how far one could push the envelope but men were the ones with their fingers on the button. My family profited from female sexuality but I never grew up in a sex positive home.
My queerness and curiosity for sex was only expressed through the music I would devour. It was expressed through the local punk scenes and drag shows. Two cultures that played with femininity on opposite ends of the spectrum. Punk girls shaved their heads and spat while boys pranced in dresses.
When I came into my own, I took solace in the artistry of queens like Lil’Kim, Wendy O. Williams, and Traci Lords people unafraid of sex and the implications that came with being an empowered woman. These women who were pushed to the margins of society, were succeeding by playing their own game.
For the last 5 years, my career has been influenced by the power of men. I have sat and watched men take credit for the commercial success of female sexuality. I’ve seen with my very own eyes, women working long hours to create art only to be dismissed for not being attractive enough. I’ve seen men use women’s bodies to sell sex and clothes like they were mere emotionless vessels for consummation. This has deep and painful consequences for women. It shows the world that we can tolerate being used for a little bit of fame and glory. It sets a dark example for the young girls out there who don’t feel like they fit in. The shadow of this industry has followed me throughout all the stages of my career. It has haunted me, making me doubt myself for too long. My sexuality cannot be defined by what a man decides is appropriate for me. My sexuality is only one facet of who I am but it has engulfed every avenue of my life. The last frontier for women to reclaim who they are would be the porn industry. Women here have such a powerful influence on the market but see little of the profits. My goal with this film called “Porn” is to awaken the idea that women can march forward and dominate this field. My crew mainly consisted of women and queer people, which aided in creating a positive environment around sex. It was the first time I got to stand on set and not cringe by who would be watching me express myself. We as a group encouraged each other to break out of our shells and just be who we are. While directing, I felt the courage of every women and girl I’ve met who was shamed for being sexual. I felt their pain, tears, and heartache from being undervalued and it motivated me to produce a body of work that could inspire not only future generations but also all women who have been treated unfairly because they just enjoy sex.
