3D: The “wow-factor” in XXX films

Written by Marek Hoffmann, on Basic Thinking, August 16th 2010.
Translated by Ulrike Anderson. See the original article in German
Article also translated in:

In January of this year, within the scope of the Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE), I’d pondered the fact that the branch of the entertainment industry that specializes in offering primarily male consumers visual fulfilment of sexual fantasies (i.e. the porn industry) is skilled at two things. Firstly, the aforementioned, and secondly, the very early adaptation of new technical developments that serve that purpose. In this way, for example, VHS video systems, satellite tv or the Internet first found their way into consumers’ homes – and in fact faster and more successfully than in the mainstream. I then made the –admittedly easy- prediction that the porn industry would be in the lead with the “next big thing” as well: 3D.

As the news organization Reuters is currently reporting, producers of XXX films actually seem to be throwing themselves headlong into the plastic depiction of this intimate inter-human activity. And, as with televisions (and Smartphones), the Asians also want to set the bar for these films. From Hong Kong, the first “erotic film” is being announced as IMAX-3D.

The responsible parties are already outside themselves and are promising not just “erotica,” but a “wow-factor,” which they want to provide through “impressive images,” in fact, in a new “world, that [the client] has never before seen.” But it will come at a high price. At least in China, the tickets for the 3D skin flick will easily cost two or three times the normal price. Which finally leads us to the actual motivation driving directors and producers to offer porn in three dimensions: the struggle for survival.

Via the Internet and its often freely accessible, ubiquitous XXX content, the number of movie-goers is sinking. I don’t know if this audience can readily be compared to the typical movie-goer -and the problem with sinking audience numbers- but the accompanying shrinking sales figures, however, seem to be the same in both cases. And so, 3D films are now seen as the possible white knight, and not just in China.

Even in the USA, hardcore producers, lead by Playboy competitor Hustler, are planning such films. 3D fans are alright with this. After all, as previously mentioned, the more popular a format, the higher the probability that it will soon be available in-home at an affordable price. I’m primarily referring to the non-X-rated version.