PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sssh.com founder Angie Rowntree spoke at a Brown University class last week, discussing several topics related to adult filmmaking.
This was Rowntree’s fourth appearance at Brown classes in the last few years.
Rowntree said the students in attendance led the conversation, asking incisive and pertinent questions.
Concerning whether porn can be considered art, Rowntree told the students that it was a subjective issue.
“The conversation leading to the conclusion was fascinating,” she said. “People weren't simply offering knee-jerk reactions or reciting preconceived notions. Instead, they approached the topic with open minds and exchanged thoughtful points.”
Other subjects of discussion included the role and importance of the narrative in Rowntree’s filmmaking, consent and communication on set, the “female gaze” versus the “male gaze” in adult filmmaking, what a typical day of shooting entails for Rowntree, the use of scripted sex scenes versus a more organic approach, and what data from the long-running Sssh.com survey reveals about site members' demographics and interests.
The session included a screening of Rowntree’s award-winning 2015 film “Gone,” which prompted a discussion about the intersection of death and porn, and the blending of genres in the film.
The conversation also touched upon the artistic decisions made in Rowntree’s 2019 short film “Alla Prima,” which the attendees had viewed prior to Rowntree’s session.
“I loved hearing their perspectives on art, filmmaking and adult entertainment,” Rowntree said, noting that her conversations at Brown “have been every bit as educational for me as they have been for the audience.”
“I’m really looking forward to going back next year,” she concluded. “Conversations like these are so valuable, presenting an opportunity to talk about adult filmmaking as an art form, as opposed to a business. It’s so refreshing to have that conversation. It reminded me of what it is I love so much about making films in the first place, which is the opportunity to tell strong stories and draw a response from the viewer.”