Will HD Kill the Video Star?

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW Debbie, Diaz (inset)

Pornography producers know you like to watch, but do you like to see every blemish and razor bump when you do? In today's New York Times, Matt Richtel takes a close, detailed look at HDTV's impact on the porn industry. Adult producers are creating high-definition titles like Vivid's creatively-titled Debbie Does Dallas ... Again, and while HD has the ability to make viewers feel like they're "in the room" with the performers (in the words of one director), it also has the side effect of "accentuating imperfections in the actors—from a little extra cellulite on a leg to wrinkles around the eyes." This harsh new reality is forcing producers to come up with on-set and post-production workarounds and prompting many performers to get plastic surgery. (Cue: Floyd Gondoli's "video tape tells the truth" speech from Boogie Nights.)