Clip Production from Start to Finish

When it comes to kinky content, it takes a bit more work than just turning on the camera.

Deep Dive: Virtual Play Deep Dive: Videos

When you watch a 10-minute video from your favorite sex worker, you probably don't put much thought into the work it required behind the scenes. This is by design: as content creators, we generally want our finished products to seem effortless.

An unfortunate downside to this perceived effortlessness, however, is that over time it leads to the consumer discounting our labor-- if we make it look easy, it must not be work at all. The unsexy truth of the matter is that no matter how basic a video seems, behind it is hours and hours of labor.

Recently, I filmed a 12-minute custom video. On my way to the dungeon, I asked porn consumers on Twitter how long they thought it would take to create the finished product.

Answers started rolling in immediately, most of which were painfully unrealistic. Before I even made it to the dungeon, I decided that for this video, I was taking detailed notes on how I spent my time from start to finish.

Creating that 12-minute custom video didn't take 4-6 hours, like a number of people guessed. Instead, betwen preparation, production, and distribution, it took 16 hours and 40 minutes.

To better explain what contributed to such a large number, below I detail where those numbers came from. I list factors that could have increased or lessened the total production time, and, just for fun, I also go into aspects of "forgotten" work that often goes into a video's release on a clip platform.

As you read on, keep in mind that every sex worker's approach to content creation is different, and my experience isn't necessarily reflective of the norm. At least 6 hours of my total production time came from elements I only started experimenting with over the past four months, like better lighting, color correction, and filming with two cameras. My way isn't the only way, even for me.

Preparation: 2 hours and 47 minutes

Note: This only accounts for same-day preparation and excludes my initial conversations with the customer.

Immediate preparation: 42 minutes
I gathered my filming equipment, tidied up my filming area, and collected necessary props. I reviewed the details of my customer's order and took handwritten notes on plot points and specified word choice.

Grooming: 1 hour and 7 minutes
I showered, did my hair and makeup, and got dressed. My look for the video was pretty simple: my standard filming makeup, straight hair, and a catsuit and corset.

Light and camera set-up: 58 minutes
Certain pieces of bondage furniture were moved to make room for my lights, tripods, cameras, and handwritten notes. Once setup was complete, I filmed a few seconds of test footage. Analysis confirmed my lighting and camera didn't need tweaking enough to bother changing anything. Hours later, I realized I only got test footage for one camera instead of both.

Preparation could have taken less time if:

I had a dedicated filming space with lights and tripods always set up properly. However, since I film at my dungeon, a dedicated filming space would negatively impact my dungeon's usability. It would also limit my options for a video's set, which would significantly restrict the types of videos I'm able to film.
I didn't test my lighting and camera angles.
I had more experience with studio lighting. Up until just recently, my lighting setup was basically just a single, worn-out ring light. More involved lighting adds so much to my videos, but it's still a new skill to me, and I imagine my inexperience impacted my total preparation time.

Preparation would have taken more time if:

I wrote out a script. I don't care for scripts, even when I'm the one writing them, so usually, my clips are improvised. Instead of writing out a detailed script or mapping out a plot, I take a one-sentence premise, start the camera, and hope for the best. Since this was a custom video, my customer provided a basic script, but other than that, I treated this video like everything else I film.
I hired a videographer, filmed with another Mistress, or filmed with a submissive. From coordinating schedules, outlining plans for the video, waiting for everyone to get ready, and otherwise making sure we're all on the same page, the more people involved in a video, the more time it takes to prepare.
I remembered to get test footage from my second camera.
The video required a specific errand, like a trip to the nail salon for a pedicure in a specific shade of polish.
I curled my hair instead of wearing it straight.
The video required different makeup. My makeup skills are relatively limited compared to the gorgeous looks I see on some of my colleagues, so one of the reasons makeup took as little time as it did is because it's a look I'm comfortable with.
I did my nails. I wore gloves, which eliminated the need to paint my nails or apply fake ones.
I messed up my makeup during application and had to start over.
I finished breakfast or stopped to eat lunch.

Filming: 2 hours

Filming: 1 hour and 39 minutes
Sometimes I get in front of the camera and everything goes smoothly from beginning to end, but this time the process was awkward and clumsy. I kept starting over, dissatisfied with the inflection of my voice or the way I phrased certain lines. When things were going well, I often had to start over due to being interrupted by airplane flyover noise in the distance.

Additional notes: 3 minutes
A little over an hour into filming, I took a break to confirm a detail in the script I'd forgotten to write out earlier.

Cosmetic maintenance: 11 minutes
On my way back to set after taking those additional notes, I noticed my lipstick had started to bleed. Bright red lipstick isn't an easy fix, so I had to remove it, apply some concealer in a few spots, and then reapply it.

Still photography: 7 minutes
After filming, I staged and snapped a few photos to use as cover images when this video eventually makes it to my clip stores.

Filming could have taken less time if:

It was a good filming day. Every now and then, I'll have a day where I step in front of the camera and everything that happens next is perfect the first time. Unfortunately, I haven't found a secret formula for making that happen. No matter how much time I spend planning a video beforehand, it doesn't guarantee a smooth filming process.
There was less disruption from outside noise. Outside noise isn't really something I can control on my own or fix when editing-- but even if I could, pausing for noise is so instinctive to me at this point that I can't film through it even when I try to.
I wasn't filming something scripted. This barely impacted my time in front of the camera, but I backtracked more than once because I realized I hadn't used the right word or phrase.

Filming would have taken more time if:

I started over completely when I noticed my lipstick had bled. Luckily, it's barely noticeable unless my face is directly in front of the camera, but if the lipstick issue had been any worse, I would have needed to start over.
The outside noise was even worse. I've lost track of how many times I've spent hours getting ready to film, only to be interrupted by construction, road work, leaf blowers, or noisy neighbors.
The script was more detailed.
I filmed with another Mistress or a submissive.
The video required multiple sets, wardrobes, camera angles, or lighting configurations.
I took breaks for water or food. Eating or drinking when I haven't finished filming yet runs the risk of ruining my makeup.

Clean-Up: 39 minutes

Cleaning: 27 minutes
I had another custom to film two days later, so I didn't bother giving the dungeon a proper clean like I usually would. Aside from taking my makeup off and putting my dirty laundry in the hamper, the only things I made sure to clean before leaving were my makeup brushes.

Organization: 12 minutes
I tidied up a bit, but not enough to really matter. Since I'd be filming again so soon, I left my lights and tripods up. I didn't bother putting away the makeup and toiletries I left in the bathroom, and I left props and wardrobe pieces strewn about the floor.

Clean-up could have taken less time if:

I didn't wash my makeup brushes before leaving. Every now and then I save my brush cleaning for later, but that wasn't an option this time considering I needed them again so quickly.

Clean-up would have taken more time if:

I put away my lights, tripods, cameras, and power cords.
My shoes and unworn wardrobe pieces were returned to my closet.
I put away my makeup and cleaned up the mess I left in the bathroom.
Dungeon furniture was returned to its usual place.

Editing: 10 hours and 37 minutes

File transfers: 24 minutes
The raw footage from both cameras was transferred to my laptop.

Audio synchronization: 12 minutes
After transferring the footage from both cameras onto my computer, I synched the audio and video.

Initial cutting: 1 hour and 26 minutes
My disaster of a filming day left me with a whopping 1 hour and 19 minutes of raw footage. After cutting what I knew I couldn't use, I was left with 16 minutes and 48 seconds to properly edit.

Editing: 2 hours and 46 minutes
I took the remaining raw footage, trimmed and reorganized it when necessary, and turned it into a cohesive video with a final run time of 12 minutes and 49 seconds.

Color correction: 5 hours and 49 minutes
The footage was then manually color corrected.

Editing could have taken less time if:

There was less footage to begin with. Usually, my idea of a bad filming day results in 40 minutes of raw footage for a single video. 1 hour and 19 minutes is a hell of a lot for me, no matter how much I struggled to get it.
I shot with one camera. Shooting with two cameras is an aspect of video production I only recently started to explore. I enjoy what it can add to my videos, but it adds quite a bit of time to my editing process.
I had more experience with color correction. Much like studio lighting, color correction adds so much to my videos, but it's still a new skill to me. I have a lot to learn, and I imagine my inexperience may have impacted my total editing time.

Editing would have taken more time if:

I used special effects or motion graphics.
I spent more time on color correction. The work I performed improved the footage, but still left room for improvement.
I edited the audio.
I planned to sell the video in my clip stores right away. Before I release a video for mass consumption, the finished product is edited down into a 60-second trailer, a 15-second preview, and a 6-second GIF. Sometimes I outsource this work.

Post-Production: 30 minutes

Rendering: 6 minutes
The edited video was exported as a finished product.

File compression: 24 minutes
After the completed video was rendered, I ran it through a compression software to facilitate an easier upload/download. This took the file size from 2.04 GB to 790.4 MB.

Post-production could have taken less time if:

I had a different computer. I'm sure rendering and compression could have taken much less time if I worked from a desktop computer custom-built for video production, but uh... have you seen the price tags on those things?
I didn't compress the file.

Post-production would have taken more time if:

My computer had a less-powerful processor. My laptop has an 8-core i9 processor, which has a huge impact on my post-production time.
I rendered as many versions as I usually do. A perfectly acceptable watermark on one clip site is likely banned on another. When I create a video for mass consumption, I always render three different versions, each with a different watermark.
The video resolution was higher. The video was rendered with a resolution of 1080p HD instead of 2160p 4K.
I used a different codec when rendering. The video was rendered in H.264 instead of H.265.
I converted the file format. Believe it or not, some folks prefer WMVs to MP4s. My editing software doesn't render to WMV, so if my customer requested a different file type, I would have needed to run the compressed video through a file conversion program.
I planned to sell the video in my clip stores right away. Before posting a video to my clip stores, it needs a well-written description and an eye-catching cover image, which I create using one of the stills taken after filming. Sometimes I outsource this work, too.

Distribution: 7 minutes

Uploading: 5 minutes
The compressed file was uploaded to my go-to file sharing platform.

Link sharing: 2 minutes
After upload, I emailed my customer a link to where his video could be downloaded.

Distribution could have taken less time if:

My internet plan had better upload speeds.

Distribution would have taken more time if:

I sent a longer email.
I published the video on my clip stores. In addition to the time it takes to upload the video itself, each clip platform has different rules regarding acceptable file size and type, what other files are required before publication, and what words are allowed in a video's title, description, and as site-specific key words. Accounting for these differences from platform to platform can sometimes impact distribution time.

Additional Work

Marketing:
People can't buy my videos if they don't know they exist, but marketing adult content is... tricky. Most sex workers use social media to promote our content and fan sites, but doing so is often what results in us getting our accounts shadowbanned or deleted. Most content platforms have strict rules that prohibit linking to other pay sites, which means I can't include a link to my JustForFans page on my Clips4Sale store.

Getting Paid:
Most clip platforms only pay their models once a month, and before that happens, we have to earn enough money to meet the platform's minimum payment requirements. This tends to range from $50-100, calculated after the site takes a hefty commission of each sale. Industry standard is 40%, so when you buy a video for $10, I only make $6... and that's before taxes.

Piracy:
Since my content will inevitably be pirated, I use a service that scours the web for stolen videos. Hundreds (if not thousands!) of links are discovered every day, and it's up to me to manually sort through the offending links and tell the company whether or not I'd like them removed. This takes hours of my time and doesn't always result in a video's removal.

I could save hours by using a service that sends automatic takedown notices, but the last time I did that, a glitch on their end resulted in my site being deemed a copyright violation of itself. My site was completely delisted from Google, and my SEO has yet to recover.

Tube Sites:
To combat piracy, I also upload content to tube sites like PornHub and XVideos, where I can at least earn money through ad revenue. Fun fact: in 2020, PornHub paid out an average of $0.604 per thousand views.

Acceptable Content Updates:
Credit card processors frequently tighten their restrictions as to what content they'll process transactions for. When this happens, I'm tasked with combing through my video library on each of my platforms to make sure both my content and the words used to describe it are within compliance. This takes hours, and the more restrictive the new rules, the more of my content I can no longer sell.

Platform Closures:
Video platforms come and go, often on very short notice. Sometimes, these closures are a direct result of credit card processor changes.

New Platforms:
Deciding to set up shop on a new platform requires plenty of research into their company history and reputation, the percentage they take per sale, and the content they deem acceptable. Uploading my entire content library takes weeks, and there's no guarantee I'll do well enough on the platform to make that labor worth my time.

Assuming you made it this far, at this point you're probably wondering why I even bother with video production to begin with. That's easy-- it's fun.