Posted by: @mcm666

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@spartans9312 and pork steaks in Mo

You damn right

Posted by: @boogie

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Posted by: @bradstevens

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Posted by: @ohio-guy

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[

Posted by: @co-hoosier

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I know a life coach, a former social worker he became a LC.  Skied and spent time on chairlift with him.  Some people need that kind of guidance.  Others don’t.  My personal opinion is if you need a life coach, a life coach won’t help.  

Fair enough. I’m just weighing the pros and cons and was curious if anyone has had any success with coaches. There are some positive reviews out there, but you never can tell I guess. 

 

If you are seriously looking into this, before you spend a lot of money, I'd recommend you go ask Claude, ChatGPT, and one other AI.  You'd be surprised at what they will be able to do.  Upload your resume and be as specific as possible with what you want.  Hell, you can even ask them to ask you a series of questions to better tailor their advice for you. 

After fooling around for an hour or so with them, you'll have an idea of what a career coach might do for you.  A sample prompt:

"Please act as a career coach and give me specific, actionable advice and steps for me to consider.  I want to  . . . [change careers, live in Chicago, make at least $X, etc.].  I will upload my resume and then I would like you to ask me questions to help you tailor your advice to my situation."

 

 

AI acting as a career coach now?  

 

First it was self checkout lines, now AI can do almost anything you ask of it.

 

When does it become to much?

 

AI acting as a career coach now?  

First it was self checkout lines, now AI can do almost anything you ask of it.

When does it become to much?

Never:

scary.....

@bradstevens 🤣

@spartans9312 pork steaks and Busch beer. Bring your own diaper

Posted by: @bradstevens

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Posted by: @boogie

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Posted by: @bradstevens

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Posted by: @ohio-guy

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[

Posted by: @co-hoosier

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I know a life coach, a former social worker he became a LC.  Skied and spent time on chairlift with him.  Some people need that kind of guidance.  Others don’t.  My personal opinion is if you need a life coach, a life coach won’t help.  

Fair enough. I’m just weighing the pros and cons and was curious if anyone has had any success with coaches. There are some positive reviews out there, but you never can tell I guess. 

 

If you are seriously looking into this, before you spend a lot of money, I'd recommend you go ask Claude, ChatGPT, and one other AI.  You'd be surprised at what they will be able to do.  Upload your resume and be as specific as possible with what you want.  Hell, you can even ask them to ask you a series of questions to better tailor their advice for you. 

After fooling around for an hour or so with them, you'll have an idea of what a career coach might do for you.  A sample prompt:

"Please act as a career coach and give me specific, actionable advice and steps for me to consider.  I want to  . . . [change careers, live in Chicago, make at least $X, etc.].  I will upload my resume and then I would like you to ask me questions to help you tailor your advice to my situation."

 

 

AI acting as a career coach now?  

 

First it was self checkout lines, now AI can do almost anything you ask of it.

 

When does it become to much?

 

Never:

I'd like to transition careers into a director of pornography. Could you give me step by step advice like a top notch career coach?

 

ChatGPT said:

Short direct answer

Yes — you can transition to directing adult films, but treat it like directing any other film: acquire industry-specific knowledge (legal, health, consent), sharpen filmmaking & people-management skills, build a safe, legal portfolio, and move up through on-set roles while protecting your and performers’ legal/physical safety and reputations. Below is a coach-style, step-by-step plan you can act on immediately.

How I reached this answer (concise reasoning)

I combined standard career-transition coaching (skill gap analysis, network, portfolio, entry roles) with the adult-industry specifics you must know before directing: rigorous age verification and recordkeeping, performer health/consent protocols, contracts/insurance, and distribution/marketing realities. The plan emphasizes safety, legality, and reputation management because those are the dominant constraints in this field.

Step-by-step path (practical, actionable — treat each as a checklist)

1. Self-audit & goal clarity

   • Decide what “director of pornography” means for you (hardcore, softcore, fetish, gonzo, narrative/feature, ethical/consensual porn, VR, etc.). This affects platforms, budgets, and legal/regulatory needs.

   • List transferable skills (directing actors, lighting, camera, editing, budgeting, production management, negotiation) and gaps to fill.

2. Learn the craft & industry rules

   • Study directing fundamentals: shot composition, working with performers, blocking, continuity, coverage, pacing, and editing for erotic content.

   • Learn production management: budgeting, scheduling, call sheets, AD duties.

   • Learn laws and compliance: age verification, recordkeeping, consent documentation, and local/national obscenity or distribution laws. (Plan to consult an entertainment attorney experienced in adult industry law.)

   • Learn health protocols: STI testing regimes, condom/PrEP policies, and best practices for on-set safety and hygiene.

3. Get hands-on film experience (on and off adult sets)

   • Work on any small film sets (shorts, music videos) to get directorial and AD experience.

   • Seek PA / 2nd AD / camera operator opportunities at studios that produce erotic content to learn set flow and adult-industry expectations.

   • Observe experienced adult directors and how they manage performers and the crew.

4. Build credibility & a safe portfolio

   • Start by directing tasteful, consensual erotica or simulated scenes with legal, willing adult performers or models. Make sure all paperwork and age verification is airtight.

   • Create a professional director’s reel that demonstrates blocking, coverage, pacing, and comfort directing intimate scenes (avoid gratuitous explicit stills; focus on craft).

   • Keep all performer agreements, releases, and age verification records organized and backed up.

5. Establish legal & safety infrastructure

   • Retain an entertainment lawyer to draft contracts, model/performer releases, and advise on recordkeeping (U.S.: 18 U.S.C. §2257–style compliance and equivalents elsewhere).

   • Put performer safety policies in writing: consent checklist, right to stop, private counsel/contact, testing schedule, emergency medical plan.

   • Secure production insurance and consider a production company entity to limit personal liability.

6. Develop ethical on-set protocols

   • Institute consent-first culture: clear pre-scene consent meetings, boundaries, safe words/signals, and aftercare.

   • Use (or help establish) intimacy coordinators for scripted or complex intimate scenes.

   • Never pressure or coerce; watch for exploitation/trafficking red flags and be prepared to report or refuse work.

7. Network & find mentors

   • Attend industry events, workshops, and trade shows (AVN, Exxxotica, regional meetups) and meet producers, performers, DPs, and editors.

   • Find a mentor — an experienced AD/director or production manager who will let you observe and assist.

   • Build relationships with reputable performers and agencies who prioritize safety and consent.

8. Understand distribution & business models

   • Learn how the product gets monetized: studios, tube sites, subscription platforms, agency sales, clip stores, affiliates.

   • Plan content with distribution in mind (length, camera language, metadata, thumbnails, SEO for adult platforms).

   • Consider branding and audience: ethical porn, niche fetishes, luxury erotica, POV, immersive (VR), etc.

9. Scale up responsibly

   • Move from small shoots to larger productions: bring on a cinematographer, dedicated sound, AD team, makeup, and legal/compliance person.

   • Hire experienced production staff (AD, line producer) so you can direct.

   • Keep excellent bookkeeping, tax compliance, and performer payment records.

10. Protect long-term reputation & personal life

    • Decide how public you want to be about this career (social media, legal name vs. stage name).

    • Prepare for stigma and its possible effects on future employment outside the industry, housing, relationships, banking, or background checks.

Alternative perspectives / routes

• Ethical/independent porn: cooperative models with revenue sharing, performer-run studios, transparent pay and consent — often lower risk reputationally and aligned with safety/ethics.

• Mainstream film with sexual themes: direct erotic scenes for mainstream films / TV — keeps broader industry credibility and avoids some adult-industry stigma.

• Specialize technically: become a DP, editor, or producer for adult content first — then transition to directing with strong technical reputation.

• Education/advocacy angle: direct educational or erotic wellness content for couples; fewer legal pitfalls and easier platform access.

Short, practical action plan — immediate next steps you can do today

1. Write a one-page objective: what niche you want to direct and the top 5 skills you must gain.

2. Enroll in a short directing/AD workshop or take a few online courses that cover blocking, coverage, and set management.

3. Reach out to one local indie filmmaker or adult production (email or LinkedIn) offering to PA or assist — get on a set and take notes.

4. Book a consultation with an entertainment attorney (ask specifically about age-verification and recordkeeping for erotic content).

5. Draft an on-set consent checklist and a sample performer release (label it “for attorney review”) so you start thinking like a director who protects performers and the production.

Warnings & ethics (non-negotiable)

• Never work with anyone under 18 — verify ID and keep records.

• Never coerce or pressure performers; consent must be informed and revocable.

• Avoid working with parties who show signs of trafficking, coercion, drug dependency, or who can’t produce valid ID. If in doubt, stop and report.

• Consult legal counsel before publishing or distributing content in any new territory.

If you want, next I can (pick any one — I’ll do it now)

• Draft a director’s reel shot list for a tasteful, legal erotica scene (includes coverage plan and safety checklist).

• Create a sample performer consent/release checklist you can show an attorney.

• Map a 6-step networking email template to reach producers/DPs to get on set.

Which of those would you like me to do right now?

 

I hate myself for reading all that. 

@ohio-guy 

Seriously, I think there are some decisions one simply must make on your own.  Almost 60 years ago I was faced with deciding whether to accept an offer from a large Indianapolis law firm, or move to Colorado with no offers, and where competition for good jobs was tougher.  This would be a life altering choice. We moved to Colorado, turned out well and it was great decision.  That was before life coaching was a thing, but I don’t know how a life coach would have helped.

I think the most important thing about decisions is once you decide, don’t ever second guess and don’t ever look back.  Look only ahead.  

Posted by: @co-hoosier

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Seriously, I think there are some decisions one simply must make on your own.  Almost 60 years ago I was faced with deciding whether to accept an offer from a large Indianapolis law firm, or move to Colorado with no offers, and where competition for good jobs was tougher.  This would be a life altering choice. We moved to Colorado, turned out well and it was great decision.  That was before life coaching was a thing, but I don’t know how a life coach would have helped.

I think the most important thing about decisions is once you decide, don’t ever second guess and don’t ever look back.  Look only ahead.  

I get all that and am fine with making big, life altering decisions. In the short term after my house sale is final I decided to rent where I am now to save a ton of money. Conservatively I think I’ll save $700 a month just by renting a place that’s cheaper than my mortgage and other random costs that will go down. 

I’m thinking I want to know more about decisions I don’t currently know about or some think-outside-the-box ideas I can explore over the next year as I plan my next move. 

I’ve set a goal to change things up by the end of next year and just wanted to see if an objective perspective might help in getting from point A to point B

@ohio-guy how old are you?  you lose that child support and downsize and all that shit you have wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more options career-wise

Posted by: @mcm666

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@ohio-guy how old are you?  you lose that child support and downsize and all that shit you have wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more options career-wise

yeah - I’ve thought about that too. No child support here either way, but my son does get free tuition as a perk of my job. That’s factoring into things a bit as he’ll be a senior next year. 

My issue is that I fully expect the dip in expenses to be relatively short-lived after the next year or so. I have plenty of friends where I am, but I’m not long for here. I actually thought Chicago was in the cards when I started selling my house - still might be, but that’s not happening on the same budget I’m living on in the coming year. 

Indy is on the short list too. 

@ohio-guy 

The world is your oyster.  

@ohio-guy i was VERY impressed with indy when our crew got together for homecoming.  tons of great restaurants.  walking traffic.  buzzing.  it was great.  chicago winters are too much.  great summer city, obviously, but i'm not dealing with snow that often and freezing weather

@mcm666 I like Indy a lot too. I almost signed a lease in Columbus, but I wasn’t crazy about the place and felt kind of rushed. I’m going to take my time to figure out my next move.

I think I’d like to be reasonably close to family and probably will be - my mom isn’t doing well - but who knows? If the right opportunity presents itself I could land anywhere. 

I like the idea of renting, not having much responsibility for upkeep and saving a boat load of money for a bit. That said, I hope I’ve moved or have a move in the works by this time next year. 

@ohio-guy move to a city by this time next year.  by that same time the following year you'll be a republican.  and by the same time the following year you'll open your mailbox and find one of those coveted invitations to the annual

@boogie 

I hate you for reposting all that.