Male porn stars' awkward struggles - from 'keeping wood' to 'gay for pay' and 'stunt cocks'

Louis Theroux discovered that men have it far tougher in this explicit industry and many 'woodless wonders' don't have what it takes

Being a porn star may seem like the easiest job in the world.

But in an industry that mainly revolves around images of naked women, it's actually the men that have a far tougher job breaking in.

Performing sex acts in front of crews of 20 people under the hot lights for hours is not for everyone - so comes with rich rewards.

The hardest part of the job is 'keeping wood', which most men can't do for long enough, while having sex with someone you may not have met before on cue.

There is also the pressure of getting the 'money shot' and if a man doesn't orgasm he doesn't get paid and is replaced by a 'stunt cock' - a particularly humiliating part of the business.

There are also straight men reluctantly taking part in scenes with other men, dubbed 'gay for pay', who have to us female porn magazines to help them finish.

Louis Theroux discovered exactly what it takes during an explicit exploration of America’s porn industry on one of his Weird Weekends, which resulted in him attending a very awkward film shoot.

With fewer working male performers than astronauts, it seemed apt that Louis was in the control room of a space mission that descended into a strange encounter of the sexual kind.

After spending a few days getting to know JJ Michaels, who recently left the air force, Louis joined the rising star on set.

However, JJ is feeling nervous and doesn't rise to the occasion while performing with Jonni Black, while her husband surprisingly watches on from the sidelines.

They are forced to take a cut in filming, but when the director shouts "action" they are forced to halt again.

The director wants JJ to go on top but Jonni says it won't work and they have to go pack to the doggy position.

After they take yet another break, delaying filming, Jonni explains: "He's nervous cause he knows the pressure is on him now."

They get into position again for a different scene involving JJ having sex with a different woman alongside another couple, but the same issue arises.

Eventually he hits the jackpot, but the angry director slams the "woodless wonder".

JJ confesses: "I didn’t do as good as I'd like. Just so many people. He's this big director, you get nervous, it's hard to work.

"So many people and so choppy. They didn't wait saying are you ready. F*** I'm not ready. Once they do that it makes it ten times more stress."

A major concern in the industry at the time in 1998 was the rise in cases of HIV - with treatment not on the same level as it is today.

Claiming he had a "death wish", JJ claims he was not worried about having unprotected sex despite two cases in his industry in just a week.

He admits: "I don't think about it so I assume it's safe. I don't go home and worry everday. Otherwise you’d just quit. It's either this or be stuck in military again and I'd rather do this."

While attempting to join a porn agency run by big shot Jim South, Louis is told that pay for a feature film starts at $230 to $350, with some making $500, but girls always make more than guys.

"Girls can fake it. Guys can't. You don't cum you don't get paid," says Steve from World Modelling.

Louis discovers that if a man cannot orgasm to finish the scene then they are replaced - with even the greatest bedroom studs struggling under the lights.

Steve explains: "They hire a ’stunt cock’, which is a guy who comes in and just pops. Usually you give that stunt guy anywhere from 50 to 100 dollars for fixing that scene up.

"I started out a long time ago and I needed many a stunt cock to fill in for me. It's not a very good feeling. you don't even feel like a man.

"It's a long walk home or to the car when you need a guy to fill in for you. You don't feel like you can do your job as a man."

During filming of a movie called Snowbound, shot on location in the mountains, Louis gets a starring role as the ranger.

Troy Halston, who is straight, tells Louis he struggled with his sexual identity after getting paid to do scenes with other men.

He says: "It took awhile to get used to the idea of being with a man. You go through a period of time where you think i need the money so I'll do the work.

"And then you do it a few times and you’re like, 'If I'm doing the work what’s wrong with me?' You have a great back and forth in your head."

Troy admits he doesn't like kissing, oral sex with men and being penetrated - and he's paired up with another straight man for one scene.

When Troy's 'money shot' isn't happening, they take a break so he can use magazines with naked women to stimulate himself to finish.

Explaining the issues, director Bill says: "Whoever it is needs to be really secure in their sexuality. You can see people who explode you know commit suicide or go off an live in Idaho or kill their sugar daddies.

"The straight boys that can't handle it, the psycho straight boy they call them, it's terrible. But it's a fact of the business and because the models are conflicted in their sexuality and what they’re doing."

While on the set of Debbie Does Dallas, male porn star John Dough says people get cocky and don't take his work seriously.

On why some can't succeed, John explains: "They get afraid. A lot of men just don’t have what it takes.

"They think you’re supposed to make love, make some beautiful love. That's not what you’re doing here."

Paul Thomas, a porn actor turned director, claims it can be the best job in the world, but their are issues.

"I was a performer for a long time. I think while you’re in the flow it is the best job in the world," says Paul.

"To be paid hundreds even thousands of dollars to f*** beautiful women in movies that people love, when your support group is working, it's the best job in the world.

"But a lot of dynamics can break down. You’re not always in the place that you want to do it."

To fully immerse himself in the lesser known subculture of male performers, Louis pretends to be interested in becoming a pron star and takes part in a naked photo shoot.

He takes off his clothes alone in a room then pokes his head round the door to call Steve of World Modelling into the room with his camera.

Confessing there is an issue, Louis says: "Do you have a magazine? I’ve got a bit of a wood problem."

Assuring Louis that there is no pressure to be erect, Steve starts taking some saucy snaps as Louis poses.

When the wannabe porn star starts jiggling around, Steve warns: "Don't move like that, I'll get the wrong idea."

Louis' photo gets some interest when put in the collection for a few days - and he even gets an offer to star in a very provocative film.

23-year-old director Rob Black, of Elegant Angels, tells Louis he wants to toss him in a scene after discovering he has all the necessary paperwork and clean tests.

But Louis, going by the stage name of Sir Lance A Lot, says it won't fly on BBC2 despite being told he can make it big time.

When Rob gets hold of Louis' naked photo, he starts laughing and cries: "Look at that penis!"

Despite being offered $250, Louis says: "There’s no way I can do it. It's just not....something in Britain people want to se.

"I really do appreciate the offer, seriously. I'm honoured and flattered."

The producer tells Louis that if he is fired from the BBC then the door is open, but he hasn't accepted as of yet.

*Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends are on BBC and Netflix