Friday, February 29th 2008

Interviews:  Tera Patrick

Antiquiet Talks To Tera Patrick

By Johnny Firecloud

Antiquiet: Since you started your company, how has the atmosphere changed in adult films?

Tera Patrick: There are more and more companies today being run by women, which I think is really really nice. The business is definitely changing- more and more people are going to VOD (Video On Demand) and buying their stuff on the internet, so DVD sales are changing. They’re kind of up and down right now. I’d like to consider myself a positive role model to women in the industry, and hopefully I’ve inspired more and more women to take charge.

Antiquiet: Do you think DVDs will eventually become obsolete?
Tera Patrick: I do, I think they will, because everybody can get whatever they want off the internet. A lot of people are getting things for free on the internet. But I also think that not every guy can be on the internet, cause you know, maybe you’re at home and your wife walks in, “What are you looking at?” That sort of thing. If she shares the computer with you and has a problem with it, that’s not necessarily a good option for you.

Antiquiet: There are so many stories of girls who get into the industry without knowing what they’re in for, and they fall apart. Stories of girls who get ground up and spit out by the industry. What advice do you have for someone who wants to break in and do it right?
Tera Patrick: My number one piece of advice for girls who want to get into the industry is, first and foremost, put yourself first and take care of yourself. And by that I mean work out, take good care of your face, take good care of your body, because that’s your livelihood. That’s what you’re going to be making your money off of. I try to promote a really healthy lifestyle, and I have vices like everybody else but I try to take care of myself first and foremost because I make my living off the way that I look. So that’s what’s important. Also, do not sign anything, any contract of any kind unless you have a lawyer first. That’s probably the most important advice I can give. Because you can get locked into a bad contract.

Antiquiet: Sounds a lot like the music industry.
Tera Patrick: Exactly. And I guarantee a lot of people would have given me the same advice had I asked them.

Antiquiet: Any regrets?
Tera Patrick: I don’t know if I would use the word regrets, I mean I do wish I would’ve been smarter, but I think that I’ve gotten smarter as time has gone on. You know, I did make some decisions when I was younger that weren’t in my best interests. I just didn’t have anybody there, I didn’t have an advisor, I didn’t have a lawyer.

Antiquiet: Do you have any advice for guys who want their girlfriends or wives to either be more understanding or open them up to it a bit?
Tera Patrick: That’s the thing. There’s so many different facets of porn. I understand the way some women feel the way they feel, because before I got into the porn industry I watched some porn with a boyfriend of mine, and I was like “Ewwww! It’s so degrading to women!” But there’s so much porn out there, including my company TeraVision and the stuff that I make, that’s really beautiful and is very empowering to women, and makes women look good. And I’d have to say to guys, that’s the reason most girls don’t like porn. They think it’s degrading to women. I would say just educate your girl on porn. Pick something that she would like too, and watch it with her.

Antiquiet: There are websites for every kind of fetish imaginable these days. Does anything shock you anymore, or are you desensitized to it all?
Tera Patrick: I don’t watch a lot of the super hardcore porn, just cause it doesn’t appeal to me. I remember that ’2 Girls 1 Cup’ video that was going around for a while- I never even watched it. Why would I watch that if it’s not something I’d be into? That kind of stuff, I don’t know if it shocks me, I’d just say it grosses me out. I just don’t think that it’s sexy, I don’t think that it’s erotic… I can understand the appeal, but in a freakish way, because people are always interested in what’s gross or what’s different for the shock value. But it doesn’t turn me on, it doesn’t interest me.

Antiquiet: What inspires you in a shoot when you’re the subject?
Tera Patrick: All kinds of things. Sometimes when I’m shooting, actually a lot of times I’ll think of someone I have a crush on. Whether it be a rock star or an actor, and to get myself in the mood I’ll envision that they’re watching me.

Antiquiet: Can we get some names here?
Tera Patrick: Nope, that’s my little secret!

Antiquiet: No fun. I heard you’re getting out of the business soon.
Tera Patrick: I wouldn’t say I’m getting out of the business, I’d say I’m transitioning into doing other things. I’ve got the clothing line now which is really good, I’ve been moonlighting as a DJ for the past year… I do a lot of fashion shows, and I’m just going down different avenues because you can’t be in front of the camera forever- although I would like to be. (laughs) You’ve just got to focus on other things eventually. It just makes more business sense for me, because I would like to expand my company and put it more into the mainstream.

Antiquiet: Where would you like to see TeraVision in the next 5-10 years?
Tera Patrick: If we went public, that would be really cool. That could be a really cool thing. I would like to see it more in the mainstream. I’d like it to be a household name. That would be fuckin’ awesome.

Antiquiet: Dave Navarro did a film called Broken with you guys too, right?
Tera Patrick: Yeah! Dave came to TeraVision about a year ago. He’s known Evan for a long time in the music industry, and he expressed interest that he wanted to direct a film. Evan said “Yeah, we can definitely make that happen for you.” Rockstars, pornstars, there’s always been a connection there. And we came up with Broken. He wrote the script, and our producer helped direct the movie with Dave. They picked out all the talent, which was a great cast. They got Sasha Grey, Lisa Daniels, Jenna Haze… they got a really, really good cast. The movie is shot kind of how the viewer would see it. It’s shot from the viewers point of view.

Antiquiet: In all of your film experience, of all the scenes you’ve done, is there one specific moment you’d call your favorite?
Tera Patrick: One that really sticks out in my mind actually is when I was shooting Where The Boys Aren’t, which is an all-girl series, and I was hanging out with my good friend Brianna Banks. I didn’t really know Lanni Barbie too well, but she was hanging out with Brianna, so we chit-chatted on the set for a little while and I went over to get a glass of champagne, and I noticed that they were talking, and they were looking at me. I’m like “Oh man, Brianna’s planning something.” Brianna always has something up her sleeve. I’m like “Alright, what is this bitch gonna do?” So I walk over there and ask what’s going on, and she said “Oh nothing, nothing, we’re gonna have a great scene together. It’s gonna be the three of us.” And I was all for that! But Brianna’s known for being a little rough, so as soon as our scene started I grabbed them both by the neck and threw them both down. And they were both shocked, ’cause I’ve always been known for being submissive. So I was like “Yeah, you guys thought you were gonna fuck with me today, well I’m gonna fuck with you.” It was really fun, we had a great scene. Glasses were breaking, feet were up in the air and clothes were being torn off… it was really amazing. It was a great time.