Interview with Red Light District Director David Luger by Derek Wells

Red Light District Video has quickly built a reputation for providing completely unrestrained all-sex hardcore DVDs. Constantly pushing the envelope many of thier DVDs have seemed to elicit a 'Love it or Hate it' response from DVD viewers. As Adult DVDs seem to be pushing harder towards the 'mainstream' Red Light District has come up with a formula that they think works "non-stop action with an edless number of fresh faces"

I had an opportunity to sit down with Red Light District Video Director David Luger (Director of Just Over 18 #4, Straight to the A #3 and Hardcore Training ) to talk about Red Light District, the future of hardcore, and what makes a great adult DVD.

Red Light District films have become known for pushing at the limits of what we've seen in adult films (including internal, ATMS, double anal, etc). Do you think you've reached the 'outer limits'? If not what's the 'next frontier'?

When it comes to actual sex acts, I think it's all been covered over the last few years to a degree. To me, "the next frontier" is the quality. That is, capturing the aforementioned acts that has both energy, excitement, and is visually pleasing. One way that shooting porn has changed in the last three years since I started, though, is that a lot more girls are coming in willing to do more...internals, atms, etc., so I think nowadays there are more choices than ever before for the consumer. However, there's only a small amount of quality porn being shot right now.

So far all your Red Light District films have been 'all sex films' do you have any plans to any adult 'feature' work?

The success so far of Red Light District has been based on a formula of presenting movies heavy on hardcore (6 scenes and 2 hours and 20 minutes each). Right now there are no plans for a feature, but who knows what 2003 will bring. Myself, I wouldn't mind shooting something with a story, but I'd want to do it right with adequate budget.

You seem to shoot many of your movies outside of the US (i.e. Prague, Budapest, Montreal) what lead you to chose to shoot in these countries?

We choose these countries because they provide us with a fresh talent base and the accessibility of the talent via the agents allows us to shoot an entire production, with all hot girls, in a week. This is very difficult to do in L.A., as most of the movies here are shot over a month or so, depending on the availability of talent. Also, in L.A. you have like 30 or more shooters trying to grab the same new girls. It's not like that in the foreign countries as they're not as many shooters, especially gonzo ones.

How is working with women in Prague, Budapest, etc different from working with women in the US?

The main difference is the language barrier. Most of the girls can understand a little English. Sometimes we have to hire a translator. Other than that there are the same positives and negatives....sometimes girls are really good and into fucking and sometimes they're just looking for an easy "payday." For me, there's a certain excitement derived from shooting people from two different cultures (American guys with foreign girls).

How do you find the women in other countries to be performers in your films?

I find the girls through agencies and managers in whatever city we go to do. It is very similar to how business is done in L.A. just there are a few less resources.

Of the films you done so far, which is your favorite and why?

I think I've been steadily improving over the last two years. I'm just concentrating on the best stuff I can and building a name for myself. I'd like to be looked at on the same level as the top couple gonzo guys...people like Vince, Joey Silvera, Jules Jordan. These guys have all earned their place and aiming for the same. I don't get the respect they do, but I'm working on it. I have my own style that is still evolving but I'm confident in what I do. Now it just depends on whether enough other people like what I like.

As far as recommendations, for Red Light District Hardcore Training and Someone's Daughter are my personal favorites for the heat and horniess level. It's hard for me to single out movies though. I think more in terms of individual scenes that were good.

What do you do to 'tap in' to the trends in adult films, and what things do you think are 'hot' right now?

I don't look at trends or really concern myself with what others do. I think with the exception of a few shooters, most of the stuff I've seen over the last few years bores me. It's "assembly-line" porn with no personality done by people trying to collect a check. There are a very artists left. I like shooting hot new girls who like to fuck and perform. It's that simple.

Anal seems to have become a very popular focus for adult films, why do you think it has?

I think anal is popular because it's still something kind of taboo for people in their normal lives. Anal still has that mystique of being something really special.

Red Light District Video has quite a buzz about it, why do you think it's been such a successful label?

The success is do to the fact we get hot girls for the box and shoot good quality content consistently. It is what it is...non-stop fuck action with fresh faces. People know what they're getting with a Red Light District movie and they like it.

How do you decide what your next film will be about and what's the process from idea stage to finished DVD?

The themes for the movies and breakdown of what kind of scenes they will be are decided by Dion Giarrusso and Vince Vouyer. I cast the movies myself, but the girls are approved by Vince and he chooses the boxcover girl. I piece the movie together scene by scene and only shoot one scene per day. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to finish a project with the right combo of people.

What do you think makes a good adult film (what elements,etc)?

A hot girl, energy from the male and female, camerawork that flows from angle to angle with a minimal amount of cuts, clean lighting, and a little personality in the sex.

Are 'special features' important on an Adult DVD? Do you see doing more of them for your films?

Special features are essential for a DVD to stay at the top. I like the bonus scenes and behind-the-scenes. It gives people a change to see more of the girl and away from the basic set-scene element.

Some studios seem to be working hard at crossing over to reach more of a main stream audience (ie Vivid's Peach DVD line and Digital Playgrounds recent features) do you think adult films can cross over? Will middle America embrace it?

Middle America will never fully embrace movies with hardcore sex. There's still a certain negativity attached to being associated with making porn. Really, though, if so many people are watching, renting, buying porn now haven't we in essence already crossed over?

Many of our readers don't consider themselves porn aficionados, what advice would you give to someone who has decided to take the leap and pick up some adult DVDs?

Read the websites to see what's hot, then rent it and see if you like that style. I used to rent movies based on the box, but what got me coming back for more was the content.

Is There an Email address people can send you comments or questions about you films?

Yes, People can send their comments about my movies to [email protected]