Long before superstar Ariana Marie was crowned Vixen Angel of the Year in 2020, when she took those brave first steps into the world of adult, she confessed, “To be honest, I really didn’t know what I was signing up for, but as I learned more and decided to move forward with my career in adult work, I did it because ... well, I had already started!”
Now, however, she is the very epitome of focused confidence and has become a powerhouse name in the biz. Her filmmaking credits stretch back to 2013 and span more than 400 titles for mega brands across the board, and in the past year, she has truly spread her wings in the realm of indie content creation via OnlyFans and ManyVids.
I have learned a lot over the years from shooting studio content. For starters, when hiring the models, I try to preplan my shoots a week or more in advance.
What fans and colleagues may not know, is that she actually got into the biz via camming before she ever shot a film "and at that time, clips were not the big deal they are now,” she noted. While she took a break from streaming and self-made footage amidst her skyrocketing studio fame, she soon realized, “I needed to regain control of my income instead of waiting for the phone to ring; plus, being on set and working with some of the big boys was exhausting and left me sore for days.”
By the time OnlyFans started to become a mainstream recognized brand, “It all just clicked, and I was able to really connect with my fans, have fun, create cool custom content and be compensated in a way that felt right. This has allowed me to live the life I always wanted and to live where I want to live and never take a job or do anything because I felt like I needed the money.”
With such a well-rounded career background, Marie has learned a variety of skills and lessons that help her continue to thrive, no matter the shifting landscape. So, to discuss her unique insights and spotlight her captivating history, XBIZ sat down with the Clip Star of the Month for October 2020 in this exclusive interview.
XBIZ: What important lessons from your many years of shooting studio content, have you incorporated into your homemade movies and live performances?
Marie: I have learned a lot over the years from shooting studio content. For starters, when hiring the models, I try to preplan my shoots a week or more in advance. I make sure all the proper paperwork is ready and complete, I record entrance and exit videos to be sure it is on record that the model was happy with the production, I hire professional crew, pay everyone fairly and keep costs to a minimum.
When I do live performances, I pay extra attention to the background and lighting as well as prepare myself in advance mentally and physically for the show. When you go live, you never know if it is going to be busy or slow or what bizarre questions you might encounter, so I try and have a plan for everything.
XBIZ: Talk about the ways your personal and professional lives are entwined with your partner.
Marie: It can be very challenging to separate personal and business time in this industry, because it is not like you ever “clock in or clock out.” Just like the fact that you must remain self-motivated because nobody is telling you to be at work, it is important to remind yourself to take time off and schedule personal time just like you would schedule a live show or a content shoot.
Fortunately, so many of the new platforms allow you to keep making money while you’re spending personal time. Another fun thing I do is to incorporate some of the naughty games I play for work into my personal sex life to keep it spicy. It all takes a little extra effort and self-discipline, but when you have someone special in your life it is worth it.
XBIZ: How do you go about marketing your content to attract new fans and retain loyal ones?
Marie: I use the traditional outlets to advertise my content to fans like Twitter and Instagram, but as we all know, we must be careful with certain platforms. I think it is important to constantly seek out new fan bases, so currently I am trying to get more involved with Twitch and YouTube. At the same time that I seek out new fans, I make sure my current fans feel loved and appreciated. Oftentimes, I will give discounts and free gifts to my top fans almost like a virtual hug and kiss saying thank you.
XBIZ: What site(s) do you mainly use for selling videos, streaming and/or creating a premium social media feed. Why do you prefer those particular platforms?
Marie: Of all the platforms out there, OnlyFans.com/ArianaMarie is my go-to first for everything; my fans know if you want to chat with me or see my newest personal content, that is where to find me. Another great platform is ManyVids, I put some of my older content there, but ManyVids is great when it comes to selling merchandise and housing your clip library. It seems like different girls do better on different platforms, so I am not knocking any of them, I just know what has worked well for me.
XBIZ: What other stars do you most often socialize or perform with in the industry these days?
Marie: With everything that has been going on and being based in Tampa, Florida, I have been creating content mostly on my own or with my husband, but he has been busy with the launch of our branding company lately. Fortunately, we have an open marriage and I have found a guy close by who I call my boyfriend and he I have been doing a lot of content together. Once we can start shooting in L.A. again, I hope to reconnect with one of my favorite female partners Abigail Mac.
XBIZ: How has the power balance shifted in adult between companies and stars?
Marie: I do think there has been a power shift between the adult companies and adult stars, but I think like most things, it is a matter of adjusting to the times. As wonderful as it is to have control of my income and not necessarily need the big studios to pay my bills, it is still worthwhile to work with them because of the exposure you gain.
That being said I do think the big companies might need to consider paying the models more or giving them some sort of residual or even share portions of the content in order to justify the one time rates and having a model on set for 8-10 hours when she could be making her own content, selling it and making a profit the same day on OnlyFans and then owning it forever.
Personally I am very happy with the exclusive contract I have with Vixen Media Group; Mike Moz and the owners are so professional, they are truly amazing to work with and they always take good care of me.
XBIZ: Discuss your strategies for navigating the challenges of COVID-19 during the lockdown.
Marie Well, one thing that being on lockdown has shown me is how important it is to have access to a good cock or two, haha. I mean, after months of this, I am so grateful to have a partner in the industry I can rely on. It is funny; for years, the husbands or boyfriends got such a bad rep, but look at them now … more important than ever.
Besides shooting content, I have also realized how important it is to one’s sanity to get out of the house every now and then. It is funny; with all the time at home, you would think that you would get so much done, but it is so depressing it makes you not even want to get out of bed sometimes, so when we get a chance we go on bike rides and explore the local parks … you see it on the news, nobody can stop us Floridians from going to the beach, haha.
XBIZ: What technology and techniques do you use to capture your content?
Marie: When I first started shooting content for myself, I was so programmed to think everything had to be so high-end. I mean, I was hiring a stills guy and video guy, a lighting crew, etc. …when I look back, it was a bit nutty. Now, I pretty much shoot everything on my iPhone or a GoPro. Both shoot in 4K, which is higher quality than what is really needed. With all the stands and gimbals, it always comes out great. The biggest challenge in shooting POV is just trying to stabilize the shots. I am no expert on lighting, but the new LED lights are so affordable that I just fill the room with light and it usually does the job. I also edit most of my own content, so it is easy for me to know what I need and don’t need. I also really enjoy the post-production.
XBIZ: How do you balance a professional look in your content, with the amateur authenticity that consumers seem to crave?
Marie: Good lighting, plus no makeup, equals professional amateur, haha. Seriously, though, it took my husband six months to convince me to not wear makeup in some of my content, because that is what my fans wanted. I get it now, it makes them feel more connected, but again, I was so used to high-end studio shoots, it made me very uncomfortable for a while. When I do get dolled up for my fans, I think I do a pretty good job with my makeup and outfits, so I will do my best to keep a balance between amateur and professional-looking content.
XBIZ: Talk about your process for monetizing DMs on platforms and how other stars can better capitalize on this revenue stream?
Marie: I often try to imagine Angelina Jolie getting asked to sit around and chat with her fans for free and if she didn’t do it, someone calling her a bitch. Not that I could ever compare myself to her, but think about how unreasonable a fan would have to be to expect that. The point is, I have worked hard to increase my value and if I know I can be on webcam making 1K an hour, why would I give that time away for free? We all want lots of fans, but there must be an equal exchange of compensation vs. time spent, my favorite fans understand and value my time and are happy to tip me in exchange for good content or my undivided attention. The pizza guy doesn’t work for free; you’ve got to tip for that hot, warm delicious pie to be delivered to your front door … you understand.
XBIZ: Any grand plans for the coming year?
Marie: We all had great plans for this year, but 2020 is starting to feel like one of those bad infomercials where it says, “But wait, there’s more!” Haha. As soon as things settle down a bit and we can get back to filming, I have a few big surprises for my fans; I will give you a hint … during this down time, I have had time to practice “opening up” to some things that I used to not do very often.
