Remember when making a porno was a bad move for an up and coming actress? The days when a scandal could ruin a career, not make one? Yea, I don’t remember those days, either.
Laurence Fishburne’s daughter, Montana (age 19), has decided that the best way to break into the entertainment industry is to pair up with Vivid Entertainment and release her own sex tape. She believes this will heighten her profile in the public eye and allow her to get her foot in the entertainment door. Call me crazy, but isn’t one of the perks of having a famous father include not having to sell yourself to get into the movie industry? Couldn’t he have made a few phone calls and got her a small speaking role in an indie film, instead?
Here’s what Montana had to say about her tape:
“I view making this movie this movie as an important firs step in my career. I’ve watched how successful Kim Kardashian became and I think a lot of it was due to the release of her sex tape by Vivid. I’m hoping the same magic will work for me. I’m impatient about getting well-known and having more opportunities and this seemed like a great way to get started on it.”
I don’t know who I feel more sorry for. Montana for being so delusional, or Kim Kardashian who just had her name dragged into this mess. Montana forgot to acknowledge, however, that Kim’s tape was leaked without her consent. She didn’t approach Vivid to make a porn.
Steven Hirsch, Vivid founder, agrees with Montana, stating:
“Montana made up her mind to make this dvd before we met her. She grew up in the entertainment business and was well aware of our company. In looking at the careers of many current leading female personalities, she saw a path to success and hopes to follow it.
When we first met, we were impressed with not just her beauty, but how self-possessed she is. Her performance in the movie is scorching, and we think that she will bring that same passion to all of her endeavors - whether in adult or the mainstream.”
Apparently, Montana’s dad, Laurence doesn’t feel as Steven does. He isn’t speaking to his daughter right now because of her decision. Montana says:
“My dad is very upset. I heard that he’s mad at me but I haven’t spoken to him yet. I feel pretty confident that I can work things out with him.” She adds, “I think he wants to support me in everything I do, and though he sees this now as a negative, I believe in time he will view it as a positive.”
I can definitely understand her father’s reaction. It seems as though that would be the reaction of any father upon hearing that his 19 year old daughter was selling a porn tape of herself. I get that. She is still a child in his eyes, and at 19, she really is so young to have put herself in this position. (No pun intended.) I am in no way trying to degrade porn stars or people in the sex industry. These professions are just as valid as any other in our society, and whether people agree with the industry or not, it is definitely here to stay.
However, what worries me is the message that Montana is projecting out towards young, ambitious, (naive) women everywhere. Instead of being patient, working hard and building a name for herself gradually, she has decided that she is too impatient and needs to be seen NOW.
But, seen as what? When she says that it worked for Kim Kardashian, what did she mean, exactly? Yes, Kim has built a brand for herself through her reality TV shows, endorsements, and appearances, but she isn’t an actress. She is a personality. What is Montana’s goal by making this tape? Does she want to be on informercials selling products? She could have easily achieved that with the weight of her father’s name and the right publicist. This lost little girl seems to be crying out for a different kind of attention.
It also frustrates me that in 2010 young women still feel that the only way up is to take it all off. Montana has reduced herself to being nothing but a sex object. She has pigeon-holed herself and doesn’t understand the negative backlash and parodies that are coming her way. Once that tape is out there, she can never take it back. Anyone can buy her and watch her in intimate situations exploiting herself for something as fleeting and as fickle as fame. Everyone wants their fifteen minutes and apparently there is no end in sight of pretty young ladies willing to parade themselves around in hopes of launching a career. Welcome to the modern version of the “couch audition”.
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