In an industry once thought to entertain men only, can a feminist filmmaker create movies that champion female sexuality? Of course, and she can do it with top notch storytelling that is Hollywood worthy. But there is a further question to ask. Will mainstream entertainment open up for a talented adult film writer/director who is of the fairer sex? The possibilities do exist despite cultural headwinds that always buffet any woman who talks about sex.
University educated Jacky St. James ditched her corporate America job to follow her instincts for movie making. Frustrated with Hollywood as an actress, she entered a script writing contest sponsored by a “Porn Valley” production company seeking fresh ideas and clever plot lines. The result changed the direction of Jacky’s career.
Addressing adult film’s underserved female audience, Jacky St. James puts her own spin on a woman’s sexual experience in this modern age of erotic preferences and fetishes. Her film narratives challenge the outdated feminist argument that porn, if suitable for women at all, ought to appeal to their romantic interests.
An integral part of Jacky St. James’ filmmaking also concerns her compadre and early mentor, Eddie Powell. A widely admired cinematographer and director in his own right, Eddie’s influence on Jacky’s film narratives is undeniable. Together they weave innovative camera work and dialogue into the scenes they shoot, cultivating an on-set environment adult performers love. It’s real acting, something not always evident in porn.
The St. James Magic verifies that Jacky’s sharply written scripts and skillful directing is Hollywood quality stuff. A close look at the best of her productions reveals topics mainstream entertainment often references but never intimately examines from an on-screen perspective.
Throughout the pages of Jacky’s story, interviews with adult film performers and behind-the-camera personnel shape how the industry interprets this feminist influence in today’s pornography. Jacky’s own words describing her “Me Too” moment and her conversations with the late porn feminist Candida Royalle are only of few of the gems in this book.
In the end, The St. James Magic is honest in its assessment of filmed pornography and its Hollywood possibilities. Is XXX in Hollywood just around the corner?
