Product Description

The first publication of "Raw Talent" created an extraordinary flurry of publicity. Jerry Butler appeared on dozens of talk shows, capturing audiences with his intensity and charm. Reviews of the book lauded Butler's honesty and remarked on the double standard that permits explicit violence on film - but not explicit sex. The book sold out four printings; nonetheless, reactions within the adult film industry included heated debate and an unofficial blacklisting of Butler. The former star of X-rated films and winner of many awards, Jerry Butler wrote the book that many warned would "finish him" in the business that had rewarded him with money and fame.But it is characteristic of Butler that these warnings didn't prevent him from producing this devastatingly honest appraisal of the adult film trade - and of himself. For, while Butler is frankly critical of an industry that treats actors and actresses like throw-away props, and allows unprotected sex in the age of AIDS, he reserves his most candid commentary for himself. "Raw Talent" tells the story of Butler's erotic voyage from average child to sex star. The epilogue added to this new edition answers the question: where will Jerry go from here?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #526756 in Books
• Published on: 1990-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 323 pages

Customer Reviews

Nothing Sacred
Jerry Butler dishes the dirt on his male and female co-stars. Between his snitching on their sexual proclivities, he does unload some useful and scary information that really makes guys like me forget about ever wanting to become a porn star! For instance, he asserts that 70% of the actors and actresses have some sort of disease. Some actresses, he states, are so "professional" that they'll cover up the penile sores during fellatio scenes so the camera can't see them. Gee...how nice of the gals. Overall, the book is highly readable in the same way passing a car crash is highly watchable. Butler's apparent honesty about the "glamour" of the x-rated movie world is both scary and poignant at the same time.

Raw Talent
This book is somewhat self serving, but it is a step above other porn star biographies (such as Porn King by John C Holmes, or Inside Linda Lovelace, by Linda Lovelace.)
It chronicles the career of a porn star after the advent of video in the adult film industry.
Paul/Jerry talks about his fears while working in the industry, the stigma attached to the industry, and his constant search to find love.
It gives a unique view from inside the industry, but a lot of the "intimate" details he gives about specific stars in the industry seem like they could have been ommitted, because they are very opinionated and biased.
I would recommend this book, but if anyone really is interested in learning more about the adult film industry, I would also suggest "the X factory," "Sinema," as well as the films, "the Girl Next Door," "Wadd," "Sex, the Annabel Chong Story" and "Porn Star" (each of which gives a perspecitve on a different era of the adult entertainment industry.)

ONE THE BEST SPEAKS OUT!
I was a big fan of Jerry Butler back in the eighties / early nineties. The guy had looks, skills and was popular with the ladies. At the same time, the man had moral and ethical issues about being in a business that renders the sex act to its lowest common denominator.
If you always wanted to know the gossip and the "deep in the down" about some of the women you spent your teens and early adulthood fantasizing over... buy Jerry's book! For me, it was great reading about Nina Hartley, Jeannie Pepper, Angel Kelly, Kay Parker, etc. in a non-porno context, finding out about what they thought, how they lived and what they wanted from the adult film business other than money.
Most importantly, although Jerry is no longer a supporter of the "porn industry", he isn't a basher either (like the hypocritical Tracy Lords).

Buy the book and relive those "golden days" of porn! Before silicone implants, bad bleach jobs, overwhelming tattoos and piercings and obnoxious Okie redneck performers became your standard porno fare!