London - The adult entertainment industry has prided itself in leading the way online, so it seems a bit sluggish of it to only just be catching up with the phenomenon of crowdfunding.
Offbeatr is a sort of Kickstarter for porn, but ideas must receive a certain number of votes before the fundraising process can begin. Although launched last year, it is only now beginning to take off.
Want to see a Game of Thrones-style orgy get made? Chip in five quid. Or an X-rated comic book featuring robots? Why not pledge a tenner? This could potentially have a democratising effect on porn, with previously short-changed fans (namely women) being given a say as to the sorts of films that get made.
Erika Lust, a feminist writer and director of porn, isn't quite so sure: “I don't think that will be the case. There is still a long way to go until women are considered significant porn consumers as it is. Also, it's my belief that change in the industry will come from film-makers who are dedicated to creating erotica and particularly their own vision, regardless of funding and popular opinion.”
In truth, those coming up with the plotlines on Offbeatr don't seem to be going off script too much. Actual suggested projects include The Bangover 3D, which has so far received only 5 per cent of votes needed. More popular is Stuffedface for “face sitting enthusiasts”, which has secured 40 per cent of votes.
There are some projects that have reached their target but, unsurprisingly, they tend to be on the unprintable side. Plus ça change. - The Independent