Paulita Pappel is the co-founder of the amateur porn site Lustery, the production company Hardwerk, and a curator of the Berlin Porn Film Festival
What was your first encounter with pornography like?
I was raised with feminist values, more aligned with second-wave feminism. I believed that pornography, prostitution, and sex work were tools of the patriarchy primarily exploiting women. At the same time, I had this conflict within me because I found everything around sex work and pornography fascinating and intriguing. I thought something must be wrong with me because it was such a taboo topic during my childhood in Madrid and within my family. What allowed me to engage with this topic was a gender mainstreaming seminar in Berlin. The two wonderful lecturers were active feminists. It was the first time in my life that prostitution, sex work and pornography were discussed in a feminist context—neutral, without judgment. There, I learned that sex work can also be self-determined work. That was the missing puzzle piece for me to accept: Hey, I can be a feminist and make porn!
"Hey, I Can Be a Feminist and Make Porn!"
What specifically drew you towards feminist pornography?
My fascination is based on my feeling that society’s portrayal of sex, sexuality, and relationships is very restrictive and oppressive—even in mainstream media. Music or Hollywood movies largely focus on one classic relationship model. I couldn’t identify with that. If you love someone, you must have sex; if you have sex, you must love. For me, pornography, as I see it, is a space free from all of these expectations.
How was your first experience in front of the camera?
Great! It was truly the best day of my life. There were very few people on set, and we performers were treated with great care and respect. It was a low-budget production, and none of us did it for the money—it was a clear decision by each of us to be part of this film. I came out of it feeling grateful for the experience and inspired by the atmosphere on set!
What does the preparation for a shoot look like?
In a professional shoot, there are rigorous standards—age verification is always done. No one enters the set without identification. Contracts are signed, and questionnaires are filled out. This is very important to emphasize. Additionally, there is a detailed conversation with each performer beforehand. This was also very exciting for me the first time. When does someone ask you, “What do you like and what are you into?” And I thought to myself, “Good question! I’m here to have sex on camera, but I don’t really know how or what.” If everyone communicated as clearly as they do at a porn shoot, we would all have better sex!
"If Everyone Communicated as Clearly as They Do at a Porn Shoot, We Would All Have Better Sex!"
You often speak of the term “performer” rather than the more common term “actor.” Is this distinction important to you?
A good question — “Performer” is the preferred term in the porn scene, but ultimately, it makes no difference. Personally, I see “performer” as the less biased term. A performance can be anything — art, music or even porn. And why should this form of representation be separated from other “performances”?
You work as a performer, but with Lustery, you have founded your own porn platform. What do you want to do differently with your films?
From the beginning, I wanted to create a representation of sexuality that I felt represented by and connected to — away from socially dictated ideals, body images, and values. That’s why I started working with queer-feminist filmmakers and later began producing myself. I wondered how new formats could rethink pornography. There are already many pornographic formats that appeal to different senses, such as audio formats. Age-appropriate content could be created for 16-year-olds to avoid equating porn with “dirty movies” and making it a taboo subject. According to youth protection regulations, any “legal” contact with pornography — and therefore education — is prohibited. But there are many ways this can be done differently, right?
But you’ve also founded your own production company, Hardwerk. What’s that about?
When I founded Lustery, I directed much less than before because they are documentary-style sex films. But I missed filmmaking — being with many people on set, doing a big production with lighting, costumes, and a setup design. And then I met my partner. With him, I founded Hardwerk, our own porn production company.
How did Hardwerk come about and what does it focus on?
Within the porn industry, I often had to confront my own prejudices — such as about gangbangs. For a long time, I only wanted to make queer-feminist porn and said to myself, “There is enough hetero porn.” At the same time, I also enjoy sex with cis-men, so why draw this distinction? When I met my partner Rod, who had experience with this, I was curious.
"Within The Porn Industry, I often Had to Confront my Own Prejudices."
What appeals to you about it?
In society, gangbangs are the ultimate taboo when it comes to sex and often involve suppression, humiliation, and power fantasies — that’s clear to me. And yet, some people have these fantasies. It’s always a matter of consent and mutual understanding. This should be self-evident. And from this fantasy came the idea for Hardwerk, where we exclusively focus on gangbang film productions.
What would you have liked to know at the beginning, before diving into this industry?
I wish I had known from the beginning how empowering porn can feel! For me, it’s political, empowering, and a piece of emancipation. When done right, porn can broaden your horizons and change the way you see yourself. Identity and sexuality are lifelong processes—we should enjoy this journey!