Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Interview of Justin Ribeiro Dos Santos
Aired February 09, 2010 - 16:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's no longer just a matter of sneaking glances at racy videos or hiding behind the curtain at a peep show. Today, porn is just a click and a download away. And in an interesting paradox, adult film director Justin Ribeiro Dos Santos thinks this is very dangerous.
Dos Santos, who runs his own pornography company, believe that with easy access to porn sites and cyber sex chat rooms and even virtual reality simulations, young people are driving a skewed sense of sexuality. And the 32-year-old Englishman believes this concern should be incorporated in school curriculums to show kids that porn is a vice and like drugs or alcohol or eating, it can get out of control -- a view no doubt sparking more controversy.
Porn is the number one money maker on the Web, but many believe the world would be better off without it. While Dos Santos argues that moderation is the key, some may agree. Others disagree.
Justin Ribeiro Dos Santos is our Connector of the Day.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON: And earlier, I spoke to Justin from his studio in London. And I asked him why he decided, in the first place, to go into the industry of porn.
This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUSTIN RIBEIRO DOS SANTOS, ADULT FILM DIRECTOR: I got into it, really, because I wanted to be a film director since I was kind of about six or seven. And I also wanted to make better porn films. So that was my reason for getting into the industry.
ANDERSON: OK, you have generated an awful lot of talk and chatter online. Let's get to viewer questions, because they're -- it's their part of the show, not mine.
Will says, "There is," Justin, "a big difference between having sex and making love. Will soft porn -- the sort of soft porn that you want to make -- convey that message?"
SANTOS: Yes, I think that's a good point. And I think that soft porn is better because it's not about the penetration. And, therefore, you've got a better platform to develop characters and build a plot.
And so, yes, I think that actually, unlike hard core pornography, through soft porn, you actually can get that message across.
ANDERSON: Dana writes in. She says, "Whatever happened to letting the parents be responsible for what their children are taught so far as sex education is concerned?"
SANTOS: I think that now is the time for -- for parents to kind of roll up their sleeves and -- and, you know, and take this by the . And, you know, this needs to be bolted onto the -- the sex talk, the alcohol talk and the drugs talk. It now needs to be -- and pornography, as well.
ANDERSON: Josh asks, "What do you think is the overall impact of the digital age on sex?"
Then he says, "Do you think it is going to get worse?"
SANTOS: The down side -- I'll start with the down side -- is that, you know, kids, I think, you have to grow up faster. I think that it fuels the thirst for more content. And like anything, you know, TV, books, food, you know, we want more. And prolification (ph) of pornography on the Internet means that it's getting greater exposure. And with that, I think that kids are getting a false perception of sex and relationships.
Now, the up side, though, is -- and I kind of touched on this before - - it's giving youngsters, I think, an outlook to express themselves and it's great for sexual discovery. And I think, together with guidance from parents and schools, they get a -- a more rounded idea of sex.
And, lastly, again, there are -- there are a handful of fantastic female producers who are making brilliant films. And -- and that's setting -- A, the quality of the film is great, but I think that's also setting a really good example for kids, as well.
ANDERSON: You went to a private, I assume, all boy's school, correct?
SANTOS: Yes.
ANDERSON: How would soft porn movies have gone down in the classrooms that you were in 14, 15, 16 years old?
SANTOS: It's a difficult one, because that was 15 years ago. And 15 years ago, the Internet wasn't anything like it is today. And the Internet really is the reason why there's so much porn around.
Before the industry regulated itself, you had to be 18 or look 18 to go and buy a porn mag. Now, you just know how to work a mouse. So it regulates it itself.
ANDERSON: Which brings me to Alicia's question: "Why in the world would someone propose this for kids?" she says. "I'm trying to imagine what the curriculum would look like. Would they show videos, pass around magazines? Sorry, but this is so retarded," she says.
Your thoughts.
SANTOS: Yes, I mean this, perhaps, is somebody that -- I hear what she's saying completely. This sounds like somebody who is very anti-porn and if she isn't, not make accusations, she
Are not -- I'm not even going to try and convince her that porn is good.
But I think some sort of -- not, you know, sort of...
That sounds like a curriculum, but it actually sounds almost quite cool that, you know, kids would almost want to go and attend. And it would teach them about the realities of life not on the street, but as in literally, you know, on
Street. And -- and I think something that -- that -- that tells the educator about drugs, alcohol, sex and, again, pornography and how innocent you -- you're going to find it. But when you do find it, you need to know that it's highly addictive. It's not what real relationships are based on. It's not even what real sex is often based on.
And if you want to find a partner, unlike in porn films, you've got to make the effort. Now, as long as kids know that and they can take it with a pinch of salt, I think that, you know, how you show them is -- it's just a mechanical byproduct of -- you know, and someone -- a specialist would need to sit down and work that out.
But I think that it -- it's the essence of a life class.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON: Hmmm.
Justin Ribeiro Dos Santos speaking to us.
And your connect line which is up there and shows Mr. Donald Trump has got nothing to do with Justin, of course, and his soft porn.
END
