15 years after Louis Theroux’s 1997 episode of “Weird Weekends” in which he studied the life and role of the American porn star, the journalist has turned his camera back on the US porn industry to explore the challenges faced in an industry in decline.
The new documentary, “Twilight of the Porn Stars”, takes a pessimistic view of an industry in crisis, and of the workers left with poor pay, lack of pensions, no health insurance and no long-term prospects.
Blogging on the forthcoming episode back in February, Theroux said: “The idea of an industry downturn struck me as an interesting backdrop for a story about performers in 2012. Porn had been enjoying a kind of gold rush for a while. But now the gold was all mined out, the miners all wandering around with shovels bought and paid for but nothing to dig.”
The decision to revisit the subject was made as a result of a conversation between Theroux and friend, JJ Michaels, regarding the suicide of star Jon Dough, who had featured in the 1997 documentary. The star’s death was largely believed by industry insiders to have been due to the pressures of the declining industry with the rise of free internet alternatives and piracy. Theroux explores whether or not this was truly the case and why such a presumption was common.
“Twilight of the Porn Stars” will air on BBC Two at 10pm on Sunday 10th June, after which it will be available to view on iPlayer.
