Porn Not Getting 3D Theater Treatment Anytime Soon

(MoneyWatch)  The $1-billion earning Avatar has Caligula-director Tinto Brass all hot and bothered with bringing 3D porn to the masses - - immediately starting production of a new theatrical release - - but his timing really couldn't have been worst. Here's why:

• Porn is actually selling less: You can call it the Internet syndrome, but people aren't used to paying for sex. As I describe in my book Porn & Pong, the 1970s brought mainstream America to the pornographic theaters, the 1980s brought mainstream America to the pornographic video stores, and the 1990s brought mainstream America to the PC. Don't believe the hype, either - - behind the smoke and mirrors, people within the porn industry say that it has been adversely affected by both the free Internet model and the recession. Avatar tickets are going for $15 in major metropolitan areas. People are really going to pay for the pornographic version of that? Really?
• 3D can't go cheap anymore: Before Avatar, the attempts at a 3D porn film could be done with average technology and distributed in small art houses and porn palaces. Post-Avatar, thin 3D glasses or Dolby 3D knock-offs won't cut it - - regardless of who's nude on the screen. We now have expectations.
• Theaters aren't going to let them in: Even if a Tinto Brass could afford to James Cameron Deep Throat, the chances of it actually finding a place to play would minuscule, at least in America. In an excellent report from the New York Times on the 3D rush, Walt Disney Studios and other distributors are already chomping at the bit to get Avatar out of theaters so they can show their own potential blockbusters this spring. If Avatar continues its streak, it will be lucky if the highly-anticipated Alice In Wonderland gets some shine. Furthermore, these porn-based theaters can't do it on their own, as Avatar -level technology isn't going to be cheap enough anytime soon.

In short, it's both too early and too late for 3D theatrical porn.

The best bet? Take half - - heck, a third - - of the money that would be spent on a theatrical release and develop something amazing for private home markets, like through Boxee, cable pay per view and other outlets. Other 3D-conscious pornographers have been doing that for years, but a big name could change the game and make enough demand to bring pornography - - in 3D, nevertheless - - back into theaters.

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/alishav/ / CC BY 2.0