I’m a porn director and make erotic films based on people’s real life sex confessions… there’s a very popular theme
EVER had a sexy encounter that wouldn't look out of place in an erotic movie?
Meet Swedish porn director Erika Lust, who makes racy short films inspired by real-life sex stories from the general public.
The 45-year-old - who recently made a film with Cara Delevingne - has made more than 250 erotic flicks which have been downloaded millions of times.
Erika concentrates on making ethical and loving porn, which she says breaks the mould of mainstream male-dominated erotica.
Her unconventional way of working also applies to the way she runs her business.
Erika gives her workers 30 minutes a day to pleasure themselves, and claims doing so has helped the 36 workers in her Barcelona office be less “agitated” since lockdown.
REAL LIFE STORIES
Erika says: "Many of my team are enjoying the perk.
"It’s obviously not mandatory to enjoy the benefits every day, every week, but we have a calendar where everybody schedules their 30 minute breaks - this way, we ensure our sessions don’t overlap.”
In the office, employees can use a dedicated “masturbation station” and are still allowed to schedule in pleasure breaks if working from home.
Erika added: “If we work from home, we just need to make sure we schedule our breaks out of meeting hours and enjoy them at home.
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"Since the masturbation work perk was first implemented, I’d definitely say it’s worked a treat.
“It's good to see your teammates' relaxed faces returning to work after their sessions.
“Masturbation is the perfect medicine for a stressful day at work.”
Since starting her career in 2004, the mum-of-two has launched female-focussed websites , , and .
But the filmmaker - real name Erika Hallqvist - got a degree in politics at university and nearly ended up becoming a politician.
It's good to see your teammates' relaxed faces returning to work after their sessions
Erika Lust
She admits to this day her parents are disappointed she went into porn and not policy.
“My mum was a nurse and very straight-laced,” she recalls. “She was so shocked when I produced my first porn movie, and she still struggles with it today.
“It’s hard to continue fighting. Sometimes she’ll turn and say to me, ‘Erika, when are you going to make a real movie?’"
Erika's first film, The Good Girl, was a take on the hot pizza guy delivering to a scantily clad housewife who’s run out of cash.
She explains: “The pizza boy has been done to death in mainstream porn, but I wanted to do it another way.
“I wanted it to be about her desires and her way. She’s not paying for her pizza with her body, which you see all the time in porn.”
The film was a hit, downloaded two million times in two months.
'Threesomes are very popular'
Her biggest project to date has been XConfessions, which makes short films inspired by sex tales from real people.
Fans can leave confessions of their romps on the project’s website for Erika and other directors to turn into short films.
Erika says the biggest turn-on for her fans has been the reality of her films - rather than the plastic fantastic nature of mainstream porn.
She says: “Threesomes are very, very popular. It’s no surprise that they’re my most popular download.
“What surprises me the most is that many people want to watch romantic sex.
"My members tell me that connection is really important to them. They want genuine, raw orgasms.”
My members tell me that connection is really important to them. They want genuine, raw orgasms
Erika Lust
Unlike mainstream porn, where movies usually end with a “money shot” of the man ejaculating, Erika says her performers are not under pressure to orgasm.
“If they do, brilliant!” she says. “But real sex doesn’t always end in an orgasm, so they’re under no pressure to do so. We still pay them regardless.”
Erika recently filmed an adult movie with supermodel Cara Delevingne, 30, as part of the BBC Three series Planet Sex.
The series saw Cara travel all over the world to explore female sexuality and end up directing a sex scene with Erika.
And the director says Cara lapped up the experience.
"I was filming a new film about a sex party, and she was quite impressed with the level of planning that goes into it," Erika recalls.
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“Before we start filming, all the performers discuss what they like and dislike. She enjoyed getting to know the performers and loved the sexy confessions.
“She was surprised by how many women we had on set and loved helping make it.”
