by Thea Voutiritsas
Actress, author, producer, singer and screenwriter Rashida Jones is back at it with her crew on another Hot Girls Wanted, but this time, it’s a series. In 2015, Jones produced the documentary film, which examines the role of teenage girls in pornographic films. Film was picked up by Netflix after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in May 2015. The film was reviewed as
“…an intimate and ultimately harrowing peek inside the world of amateur porn…” – Geoff Berkshire, Variety
The new Hot Girls Wanted is a six-part documentary series titled Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On, which was released April 21 of this year. Over the course of six episodes, the filmmakers demystify deep corners of the porn industry, as well as take a broader look at how technology plays a role in sex and relationships. The docu-series avoids passing judgement on sex workers and porn consumers (something that viewers were heavily critical of in the previous film). It’s more of a candid look at technology and sex. Technology has heightened our access and ability to watch, or even engage in sex, but it has not helped to progress our national conversation around sex.
“…I think it’s dangerous to declare anything as the road to female empowerment, period. Some girls are really self-possessed, and they know what they’re doing, and they love sex, and they’ve always wanted to do it, and they’re camming and they have control over what they’re doing. And then some girls are just not built for it. But I think there’s a pressure to feel like you should be empowered by it. And not everybody is. It’s different for everyone.”
In the end, what Jones wants to accomplish with the docu-series is to show people that there is room for discussion, conversation and representation with your partner, your friends, and with yourself. She says for women, there are a lot of themes about empowerment, and asking yourself: What makes you feel comfortable? What makes you feel power?
The documentary and the series are both available on Netflix now.