Welcome back to Model Citizens - your semi-regular deepdive into the minds and creative processes of your favorite Pornhub Models.
This time, we spoke with Rock Mercury. He shared his thoughts on the ethics of the adult industry, simple ways to improve your videos, and the tenets that should be at the core of your pornographic ethos.
Let's go!
How did you get started in the industry?
I have always been sexual by nature, and figured with the many nudes and sex tapes that I already had circulating the web from past hookups (or bitter exes), it made sense to become a porn star. My first stop was Pornhub, which felt natural since I already spent much of my leisure time on the site. I began web camming with Pornhub in my bedroom, choosing not to show my face until I was certain that the industry would be an enjoyable and profitable career choice; which it most definitely has been, thanks to Pornhub!
Once I had a few amateur videos uploaded onto my Modelhub profile, I gained interest from erotic photographers and used those photos to submit to all of the top Porn Studios, which all have profiles on Pornhub. I received offers from nearly all of the studios, but chose to debut with Cocky Boys Studios because their scenes are filmed beautifully with passion, and I am a fan of their work. Clips from my scene with the award winning Devin Franco are available now on Pornhub.
What are your thoughts on ethics, inclusiveness, and politics in the adult industry?
I feel like we have a long road ahead in regards to making ethical, inclusive and politically fair environments the norm in the adult industry. I have been in communication with many studios, but so far Cocky Boys is the only studio I felt comfortable working with as a Black Man - because they were professional, and paid a fair rate, even though their model casting racial ratios are could be more diverse. I feel that the adult industry disrespectfully fetishizes men and women of color as if we are animals, and I find it disheartening and unnecessary. These companies create scandals that take attention away from the amazing people in the adult industry that truly care about the people they work with and truly love what they do. I feel that not supporting these low-integrity companies is a great way to create a safer more professional environment for sex workers.
If you remain your authentic self while communicating, you will attract real true fans and supporters.
How do you interact with fans?
I am extremely thankful for my fans and supporters! Not only do they support me financially, they also assist me in freeing myself from society’s restrictive judgements and fears. I treat every comment and message as if it is being said to me in-person. If the person is kind then I am kind back. If they are rude, they simply get ignored. The only time I block people is when they seem like a threat to my safety. 98% of my interactions on social media are genuine kind people, which makes me feel even more comfortable and confident in the world around me. Thanks to watching the TV news, I previously thought the internet was filled with spiteful trolls. I feel that it is important to remember that the messages you receive are from real people with real feelings and real lives, and if you remain your authentic self while communicating, you will attract real true fans and supporters. It is also very important to prioritize your close relationships with family and friends, so that you do not become unbalanced while navigating the loopy world of social media.
How do you market yourself?
I am active on nearly every social media platform, although Twitter is my favorite for adult content and for sharing my unfiltered thoughts. Social media is excellent and I post often and consistently to build my fan base. The only thing I feel is more powerful than social media is real life interactions with fans, and collaborations with fellow sex workers or blogs; this exposes you to new fan bases and grows your audience. The Art of Marketing is constantly evolving, so I continue to experiment with new promotion ideas which keep my mind and creativity stimulated and sharp. I am thankful Pornhub has so many useful ways to interact with fans and allows me to reach an audience unparalleled to any social media platform, since nearly everyone in the world watches porn.
Tell us about your camera and lighting setup.
I mainly use my iPhone camera, since it shoots high resolution and is always with me. I own a Professional Sony DLSR that I use for special scenes, but I suggest using whatever camera you own before making such a large financial investment. As a professional photographer myself, I have taken better footage with great lighting than expensive lenses. Natural light is superior to any light kit money could buy. I have spent thousands on lights and none compare to the free sun we all are blessed to enjoy. I like to experiment with light and at times I will post something that technically has bad lighting but I don’t believe there is such a thing as bad lighting; all light is unique and unique lighting creates one of a kind footage. I like to film anywhere I can, so I set my camera framing in a way that captures the aspects within the room that grab my attention and support the mood of what I am filming.
My husband is my greatest supporter, and I probably wouldn’t have entered the industry without him.
How do you choose makeup and outfits for the camera?
Whenever I am not naked, I enjoy mixing and matching whatever I have in my closet to create an outfit unique to how I feel in that moment. If I am wearing any brands, I will tag them on social media (especially sex wear brands, because you never know who is looking to collaborate or repost your content). I do not wear makeup often because I commit to eating healthy and staying away from stressful environments - plus my personal brand is more about being raw at the moment. Nonetheless, makeup is one of society’s greatest gifts - especially on camera. Have fun with it, and I suggest you apply your makeup the way you like it to be applied, and not how you think others would like it. You will feel more confident on camera, and confident people tend to grow faster.
Tell us a bit about your upbringing and how you got to where you are now.
I was raised in an extremely restrictive and sexually shaming family and religion, and did not come out of the closet until I was an adult and could fend for myself. Before I rocketed out of the closet, I was an ordained minister and praise and worship singer/leader. Ironically, most of the homophobic male church leaders at my church turned out to be closeted gays themselves. I lost faith in all religions and gained freedom mentally and sexually. After many years of fun random hookups, sketchy sex parties, and shitty relationships (Fuck ALL my Exes they were awful!) I met my husband of 2 years in the most hopeless place imaginable….Grindr. Surprisingly my husband is the leading reason I took the initial leap into the adult industry. My Husband is an extremely skilled artist and Porn Videographer that has worked with a few top gay porn studios and is passionate about male beauty & sexuality. My husband masturbates to my videos and gets turned on when he films me, he is my greatest supporter and I probably wouldn’t have been bold enough to enter the industry without him!
Fuck with people that fuck with you!
How did you build up your personal brand?
My brand is constantly evolving just like I am. My brand provides a platform for me to unapologetically be myself. Building a brand that empowers you is a great way to prevent burn out in this industry. Write a list of things you enjoy, and build your brand around the most solid, close-to-your-heart concepts on your list. I design all of my logos and marketing materials myself but there are many artists who are available to support you in bringing whatever you imagine to life.
What are some of your favorite products?
I love ManBrand.Store! They have really cool clothing, and are launching a sex-positive collection this summer that I am excited to buy! I collaborated with Man Brand to design my Rock Mercury collection which is available online now. Check it out.
What fetishes have you experimented with?
So far I’ve tried water sports, fisting, cum swapping, feet, whipping, dom master, pig play, masked groups, hot wax, biting, role play and I'm sure I'm missing a few. I am open and non-judgmental towards my partners’ fetishes, but I’m also completely comfortable with saying no if I am not turned on by something. I suggest not committing to fetishes just because it is popular. Instead, only film fetish content that would make you cum even if there was no camera rolling. Your audience can tell if you’re having a good time. This industry has more variety than you may think!
Fuck with people that fuck with you!
Thanks so much to Rock for sharing his story with us. Keep up with him on Pornhub, Twitter, and his website.
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