NEW YORK — Pornhub has released its first ever non-adult film, the documentary "Shakedown" by filmmaker Leilah Weinraub. The film will screen on a dedicated landing page set up by the streaming service for the entire month of March.
A statement from Pornhub describes the film as "an experimental documentary film and time-based work of art" that follows the personal and professional relationships of female performers at the legendary black, lesbian-owned strip club Shakedown.
The documentary "explores themes of race, class, currency and identity through the lens of Leilah's boundary-breaking vision," added Pornhub VP Corey Price. "Here at Pornhub, we’re invested in celebrating artists and visionaries like Leilah and in sharing diverse narratives of human pleasure and sexuality. We are so excited to share her work with a wider public audience for the very first time."
The club's performers were known as the Shakedown Angels. Weinraub "maps out an all-cash economy run by black women rarely seen onscreen," notes a Pornhub representative. "She follows the party’s dancers and organizers, among them Ronnie-Ron, Shakedown Productions’ creator and emcee; Mahogany, the legendary mother of the scene; Egypt, Shakedown’s star dancer; and Jazmine, the Queen of Shakedown."
Pornhub acquired the rights to premiere the film online after it was shown at several film festivals in New York and around the world. "Weinraub saw an opportunity for an expansion upon the conceptual work that she has done with 'Shakedown' by collaborating on this premiere with the Pornhub team," said the rep.
Along with being an artist and filmmaker, Weinraub was formerly CEO and creative director of fashion brand Hood By Air, which collaborated with Pornhub in 2017 to create the SS17 collection. She began filming for "Shakedown" in 2002. The 15-year project included filming over 400 hours of footage.
"Shakedown" joins a growing number of non-adult-content-related initiatives Pornhub has embarked upon over the past several months. These include sponsoring a Los Angeles fine art exhibition, participating in New York Fashion Week and opening an SFW Valentine's Day pop-up store in New York.
With the release of "Shakedown," Pornhub will host a series of live chats with Weinraub throughout March.
To view the film, and for more information on the live chats, visit the "Shakedown" viewing page here.
Follow Pornhub and "Shakedown" on Twitter.
Image source: Pornhub