How does it feel for a porn cameraman?
Arnold Hermann, born 1965, works for various adult entertainment companies (including Eronite) as a cinematographer, editor and graphic designer. Often only the actors get to speak in front of the camera, but we wanted to know how it feels to be so close to the porn shoot as a porn cameraman.
The result is an absolutely readable and interesting interview with the “porn cameraman” Arnold Hermann alias Arni:
Eronite Arni, you are a cameraman in porn. For many men surely a dream job. How did you get into this in the first place? Certainly not via a placement from the employment office. ;-)
Arni Yes that’s me – and no, not through the employment office ;-) Besides my job I was still on the road as a photographer. Through acquaintances I got in touch with the porn industry, where I was eventually booked by productions as a set photographer. On one job, the producer/cameraman suddenly asked me if I could also film and finish the scene in progress because he had something to do. No sooner said than done. And that one scene became the entire rest of the movie. After that I was booked as a cameraman and photographer for some of his other productions.
Eronite Do you also have professional experience as a cameraman outside the erotic industry or have you “always been” in porn?
Arni I shot some music videos and commercials as a cameraman. Since I used to work in television, I have gained a lot of experience behind the camera, which is very helpful for porn shoots.
The more natural the shooting partners, the more fun everyone has
Eronite Are/were you exclusively active behind the camera or did you also act in a porn film yourself? If not, would you be attracted to working as a performer?
Arni Oh, now I have to come out, or do they say “I was young and needed the money?” ;-) No, seriously, my entry into the porn industry was actually as an amateur performer. As I mentioned, I got in touch with a producer and since I’m a very open person, I thought why not combine the pleasant with the useful and – bang – I had my first shoot in front of the camera. But after a few productions in front of the camera, I realized more and more how exhausting this job is as a man. In addition, I was often booked for “behind the camera” and so I decided to leave the job in front of the camera to the professionals.
Eronite Do you have any advice for aspiring porn performers on how best to act in front of the camera?
Arni Best as natural as possible, so the viewer has the feeling of being an observer or voyeur to the goings-on. In contrast, the viewer would perceive it as a fake dispatch of a sexual act if it looks too artificial and posed. The more natural the shooting partners are in front of the camera, the more fun they have, which you can see later on the screen.
Porn cameraman used to wreck trucks as a stuntman
Eronite Are you “only” a cameraman for porn or do you also edit the filmed scenes for DVD and/or TV formats?
Arni Both and. On some productions, a second or third cameraman is needed (for example, if it’s a larger and more elaborate film), then I’m booked as the cameraman. For other productions, I not only do the shooting, but also finish the entire film for DVD and/or television formats. This means that I then also take on the complete post-production such as editing, lighting and color matching, sound and sound as well as VFX, etc.
Eronite You’ve been in film for a long time. We heard you used to be a stuntman? That sounds pretty cool. Is that right? What were you doing there?
Arni (laughs) What you don’t hear :-) Yes, as I said, I used to be in television before porn, as a stuntman, stunt coordinator and stunt director. As a stuntman, I’ve flipped cars, crashed buses and trucks, or run around on fire. Of course, in addition to my work there, I also learned an incredible amount about filming itself, such as scene construction, lighting and camera work, editing, etc.
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Eronite What are your favorite scenes to film?
Arni Hmm… good question! Actually, I like the play scenes the best, because they have a plot that can be staged, be it from the acting of the actors/actresses or also from the camera work etc., in order to shoot beautiful pictures before the actual sex takes place. Unfortunately, these are mostly in porn always kept very short :-( Otherwise, I like to film scenes in which the actors / actresses are very natural, because these scenes always come across best.
It already happened that performers fell out of bed
Eronite Is there anything (legal) that you wouldn’t film? For example, gay porn or caviar scenes?
Arni No, I don’t think so, but caviar scenes, I think, I don’t have to have either. Fortunately, however, these were also not yet required ;-)
Eronite Was there ever a scene or a shoot that you would have preferred to abandon?
Arni Yes, that has happened, too, and it’s because there were actors on those shoots who didn’t work out despite multiple attempts. There is nothing else to do than to stop the shooting and continue with another actor or to shoot the scene again. As I mentioned before: the job as a performer is not easy and fortunately it happens pretty rarely that you have to quit.
Eronite What was your funniest experience as a porn cameraman?
Arni Actually, most of the shoots are fun because we’re always a great team and we also laugh a lot on set. Otherwise, it’s always smaller things that make us laugh. For example, once the director asked the actress “Did you just come?” and she replied “I think so, at least it felt like it.” Or that the performers fell out of bed during the act has also happened.
Why the porn cameraman specially made a diving license
Eronite What appeals to you most about this profession?
Arni That we are usually a great and fun team, like a small family, and can also visit great locations where we shoot. These include shoots on a yacht or abroad and by the sea or in the mountains, etc.
Eronite What has been the most challenging shoot for you so far?
Arni A film was to be shot on a yacht in the sea, in which there was also to be a scene in which the actor-couple had sex in the water. This scene should be filmed not only from the yacht, but also from underwater. Well, you could rent the appropriate equipment, but hold your breath until the recording was in the box, was difficult ;-) So I made a diving license for recreational diving to 20 meters depth and could film the shots themselves. These shots gave the film that certain something, as something like this is very rare in porn.
Eronite What stresses does a cinematographer face, what skills are expected of a prospective cinematographer, and who is more unsuitable for the job?
Not wanted on set are “horny bucks” behind the camera
Arni The stresses are more of a mental nature, so that even after a few hours of shooting you can still concentrate and hold the camera steady, which already weighs a lot. As far as skills are concerned, the first thing the person should have is an idea of the camera and its technical settings and handling. Since in the end a corresponding quality should come out with the film. Some idea of camera work wouldn’t be bad either.
Then he should also have a steady hand, as most of the shooting is often done out of hand. It would also be of great advantage that he doesn’t get distracted by what’s going on – talks sex in front of the camera – but focuses on his work of capturing great images. In any case, people who are primarily interested in watching live sex or even think they can grope performers are unsuitable. Because that is an absolute no-go in the industry!
An erection while shooting? Does something like that happen?
Eronite What other advice would you give to a young professional?
Arni Provided that he masters a camera and knows how to use it, that he should perhaps try to be there first as a camera assistant or second cameraman on some porn shoots to get the approach to porn. Since making porn is a bit different than making a feature film or a movie.
Eronite And of course the question of all questions: Do you get off on filming actors having sex? Have you ever had an erection on set? You’re pretty close to the action!
Arni I have been waiting for this question, because I get this very often! :-) Close is right, often only a few centimeters in the close-ups. I think anyone would be lying if they claimed that an attractive couple wouldn’t turn them on during sex. But I’m professional enough not to get involved in that from a mental point of view, but to concentrate on my images and the sections I need. Therefore, I did not and do not have an erection while working as a porn cameraman. But I want to tell you that a cameraman also enjoys the sight of an attractive and naked actress on the set. ;-)
Eronite Arni, thank you very much for the insightful interview. We are sure our readers could learn some interesting things about your work as a porn cameraman!
Arni I have to thank for being able to do this interview with you! Because mostly you only read reports about the performers from the porn industry. These films would not even exist without the more or less many people behind the camera, who are responsible for the production and organization up to the catering during the shooting.
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