There are certain professions that when outsiders look at the individuals involved, they struggle to see any more than what is visible on the surface. I can remember growing up and thinking that my teachers did nothing other than teach, that their lives revolved around their profession, and the idea that they had a life outside of the school building was taboo. Police officers often face the same thoughts and ideas from those who come in contact with them, as those who cross paths with police officers often view them as just that and not as people. A profession that often slips the minds of the masses, but faces the same sort of misunderstanding is the porn industry. It seems obvious that someone in this profession is often viewed as what viewers see on screen. After Porn Ends is a documentary that examines the lives of former porn stars, and attempts to shatter the stigma that they are their profession. It dives into their pasts and attempts to unfurl their lives in a way that opens audiences’ eyes to the reality of the porn scene and the fact that the people who participate in this particular industry are as much normal people as you and I.
Knowing what After Porn Ends is about creates a preconceived notion of what audiences will see. It is clear that director Bryce Wagoner understands this and does his best to shatter those thoughts and ideas in the early going. The film opens with a series of interviews from former stars of the porn industry, but, rather than introduce each person as a “former porn star” he introduces them as what they currently are and attempts to separate them from their former profession. Audiences see these individuals introduced as a nursing student, mother, counselor, Christian activist, golfer, etc. Wagoner immediately changes the tone of the documentary and has audiences begin to appreciate the subjects of the film without knowing the entirety of the background. He makes it possible for audiences to connect with these former adult stars, something I thought would be off the table. He humanizes them, and, of course, they humanize themselves, and viewers are able to see parts of themselves in the subjects of After Porn Ends.
Those who participate in and provide interviews for After Porn Ends express the troubles that befell them prior to joining the porn industry, but also the hardships that came (and come) as a result of them having been part of that industry in the past. They express the constant pressure to be “the best” and the belief that they cannot pursue certain careers because they have ruined themselves in the public eye. I never expected to understand and/or appreciate the hardships of these individuals, but the interviews, the camerawork and the direction of Wagoner helps to express to audiences how human these stars are, and that they, like us, have to navigate the harsh realities of this world.
Unlike what one might surmise from the title, the documentary is not about the sexualization of these individuals, but about their humanization. Wagoner successfully destroys any stigmas that people might have about people who participate and engage in porn, and he takes it further and allows audiences to feel connected. After Porn Ends provides such an emotional release, far more than I ever thought would be possible before watching. Every aspect of the documentary works, and, oddly enough, audiences are provided the opportunity to find solace in the stories of the former actors.
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