Surely you're familiar with the name, James Deen is well-known in the porn entertainment industry. With his slender build and boy-next-door good looks, he bucked the stereotypical image of the male adult actor and has enjoyed plenty of success as both a performer and a director in the world of porn as well as in the mainstream. So much so that Deen has won multiple awards for Male Performer of the Year, Crossover Star of the Year and Mainstream Star of the Year among plenty other titles. In 2013 he was the first male porn star to make it into the list of CNBC's “Dirty Dozen” where they rank the most popular stars of the year.
He began his career in the industry with only 18 years old, and has stated repeatedly that being in porn was all he ever wanted to do. During his 12 years in the porn business, James has worked in over 2,000 adult films as a performer and 50+ as a director. He also launched his own official porn site and production company (James Deen Productions), and has a cooking show/web series called James Deen Loves Food on porno site Woodrocket.com.
We had a few questions for James and he kindly answered all of them.
1. You have stated repeatedly that you've always wanted to be in porn, but did you have a fall back career of some kind in case things didn't work out? Was there anything else you would have wanted to do?
James Deen:
My back up plan was to go back to school and keep studying until I found another career that interested me. I always thought that being a lawyer could be fun but it was never a fall back career, it was just something I would explore if doing adult films didn’t work out.
2. Which part of your work do you enjoy the most? Is it performing, producing, directing, the creative process?
James Deen:
Performing is definitely my favorite. It’s fun to direct because I can make whatever vision I have come to life, however with adult I find you have most creative control as a performer and it is truly what I love the most.
3. Is there someone in the industry you have always wanted to work with but haven't been able to yet?
James Deen:
I am sure there is but off the top of my head I can’t think of anyone.
4. Is there a specific genre of porn that you prefer to make? Where do you usually find inspiration for your new films?
James Deen:
I like gonzo porn. I like when the camera is incorporated and people know what they are doing. I think that sex for the purpose of creating sex is always the best.
5. I'm sure you've heard about Rocco Siffredi's petition to make sex education mandatory in Italy. Do you agree with his petition? Would you like the US to have something like that?
James Deen:
I have not heard anything about it but that sounds awesome. I think sexual education is severely lacking in America, people are afraid and confused by sex. It is important to educate people about everything in order to make any real changes in the world, and there are a lot of problems due to sex and sexual ignorance.
6. Would you suggest yourself as a teacher?
James Deen:
I am in no way qualified to teach anyone anything.
7. Is there's something you feel needs to change in the adult entertainment industry nowadays?
James Deen:
There is always room for improvement in any industry.
I would love to see a licensing structure put in place. I would love to see some education for new performers and job training; it is very complicated and difficult to implement but I think it is important. Here are very few jobs where people just show up and begin; there is [usually] a training video, a test to take, something to educate people as to what they are getting into. APAC (Adult Performer Advocacy Committee - apac-usa.com) do a lot of great work for front end education for new performers. I would love to see them get more funding and be able to do more.
8. After 12 years of working in the industry, does the job still have the capacity to shock you or surprise you?
James Deen:
Every day is new and different and I am constantly excited to go to work and see what the day brings.
9. In your opinion, what is the most memorable moment of your career so far?
James Deen:
Too many to go over now. Right now I can’t think of anything specific.
10. Do you enjoy watching porn just for entertainment's sake? If so, what kind of porn do you prefer?
James Deen:
I usually gravitate towards amateur stuff that is submitted to websites these days. I like this for a few reasons; first it is people having sex for the sake of having sex and that creates a sexy element to me. Also, I don’t know the people. Sometimes it is hard to watch professional porn because I know all the players involved… the guys specifically. If I know the guys it is harder for me to just enjoy the movie.
11. Considering that you probably spend a lot of time watching your own porn while editing, have you ever been turned on by (and maybe got off to) yourself?
James Deen:
I have yet to get off to myself.
12. Have you heard that there’s lack of male actors in Japanese porn business? (They say there are only 70 male performers for 10 000 women) Would you say the US has the same problem (probably to a lesser extent)? Would you consider going to Japan and help to pick up the slack?
James Deen:
I have not heard that but it sure makes me want to go to Japan.
13. What would you say are some of the problems/difficulties that a male performer encounters in this job?
James Deen:
Hmmm. There aren’t many. Being a male performer is a pretty easy job; you get to have sex with women, what problems could there really be?
14. You've worked on several projects outside of porn in the past, do you have any mainstream projects in the works at the moment?
James Deen:
I have a few actually. If and when they come out I will happily talk to you about them but I prefer to not advertise projects until they finish.
15. What do you like to do in your spare time?
James Deen:
I love everything I do. I pretty much find ways to take all my hobbies and turn it into part of my job. Like James Deen Loves Food. I rarely if ever have spare time.
16. Some “short and sweet” questions:
In your opinion, what are your worst and best qualities?
James Deen:
I’m pretty short and neurotic. The height I can't do anything about, but the nerves make me talk a bunch and I can see how people would find that to be annoying.
Best… hmmmm I think that is something someone else would need to judge.
Your idea of happiness?
Your favorite movie or TV-show?
James Deen:
The Simpsons.
Who are some of your heroes in real life?
James Deen:
Batman… no? Doesn’t count? Dammit!!!
Does size matter?
James Deen:
Size of what? Every person is different, for some people it does, for some people it doesn't.
17. Is there anything else you would like to tell your fans?
James Deen:
Thank you for existing and being interested in all my work.
All the best of luck