Documentary maker Eileen Yaghoobian recently launched
sendmeyoursexts.com, which is a pay-for-film service that turns your sexts (yes, explicit/horny/most definitely private texts) into videos for $80 (€59). Although I just referred to Eileen as a "documentary maker", the only thing documentary about these particular videos are their scripts. According to some other parts of the Internet however, Eileen’s videos are considered “performance art” but after spending some time watching them – and getting to grips with their contents – I'd say that they're basically funny sex scenes based on real (typed) conversations. I wanted to find out more about this brand new service so I called up Eileen on Skype and it turns out her passion isn’t limited to sexts. She loves talking, too.
VICE: Are you doing this project because sexting is huge part of your own life?
Eileen Yaghoobian: Yes I've been a participant. I was inspired by my own experience, of course. What I loved about sexting myself was that you have to be really creative. And the concept of re-enactments is something that I'm really fascinated about. I haven't used any in my own documentary and film-making, but I like the idea of combining the evaluation of text, with what you do with theatre, with the re-enactments in documentary. The Act of Killing kind of triggered that inspiration. And at the same time I was actually sexting a lot. I talked to my friends and the talk kind of came together and I decided to go for it and just do it. And when I did, it was just amazing. I couldn't believe it! I don't know, to have the actors read the texts and to actually act them out and re-enact them… it's endless fun, it's infinite what you could to with it. I feel like this is unexplored territory. Many of my sexts are fantasies I don't necessarily want to make reality. Aren't you destroying potential fantasies in a way with your videos?
If having sex is destroying the fantasy… Aren’t sexts the best sex of your mind? I think that fantasies sometimes are better than reality.
[Laughs] Yes. That's an awesome point. But I'm hoping that I'm serving the fantasy. That's my goal: To do the best with the fantasy. Do you change the names of the guys sending you their sexts or do you explore their names in creative ways, too?
I know it's different in Europe, but in North America it has to be anonymous because I don't know the intent of the person sending me the sexts. You know, it could be revenge-sexts, like a person sending me the sexts to get back at someone. And I don't really care about their intent. The whole idea of the website is to explore the challenge of transforming sexts into live action. What interests me is the narrative aspect of sexting. The sexy words people choose in verbalising their sexual fantasies are fascinating and say a lot about their character. I mean you can talk sexy when you’re having sex, but to talk sexy in a text to get to the act of sex is something else. And that's why I change their names, because in a funny way I think that when you're sexting – even if you know who you're sexting with – you're kind of hiding. I find your videos not safe for work. Do you create the characters and places based on the sexts as well?
No. I actually want to take them out of there. You said "not safe for work". Do you mean that you actually can't watch them at work? Yeah, I mean some jobs are pretty conservative. And in that context I'd say some of your videos are on the edge to soft porn.
Well, I don't know. I think the thing is this: Everything is porn now. I don't think there are enough websites out there that are sexy but not necessarily porn. But then again, I don't have a problem with someone getting turned on when watching this. And even better, cause [the actors] aren’t naked! There isn't a close-up macro-dick, or balls or ass or whatever. For me, what turns me on is great sex. For example, in Don't Look Now, which is one of my favourite films, the sex scene is incredible! Better than any porn movie you'll ever see. It's so inspiring. I got the actors to look at that scene over and over again for Dylan and Kacey because it's the best sex scene ever. And I want to get there. So the point of the videos is to get people turned on?
I think a lot of things are hot. I mean I like cars. Having sex on a hood of a car is hot to me. So those are the choices I make when I make these videos.Laura & Jamie Are you choosing particular sexts that you find sexier than others?
All sexts are good for video-making, so everybody can submit whatever they like. It's a service. People pay 80 bucks. I'm not going to get rich off this. So I have to figure that part out. But it's a concept. I like the idea of combining the world of sex with the world of indie. I want to go right to the audience and I want to offer them a service. It really is amazing to see your sexts come to life. I don't know how to describe it but it's a wonderful experience. And I want other people to experience it. And have the opportunity to because it's affordable. How did you figure out that this service was something people need?
First of all, I'm not a porn fan. Someone asked me why the actors aren’t naked. I was thinking about what I would actually reply back to that person, and that would be, "well, there is such a thing. It's called amateur porn. That exists already." There is an amazing space to explore visualising text about sex. Sexts are filled with creativity, tension, real drama and humour. Also, all the things that are in sexting are kind of default funny. But I also wanted to be sexy, so I want it to be sexy-funny. So the idea is kind of to be Saturday Night Live and sexy. That's what I'm trying to get to. Is there anything that you wouldn't want to re-enact or have in the script?
No I don't believe in that. I don't have a censorship. They’re people's stories whatever stories they are. That's part of being human. Some people are weird. And I'm not going to judge them. I'm taking what people are giving to me and it's my interpretation of it so I will definitely interpret it the way I feel would be best for the video. But I'm not going to censor what they choose to give me. Even the sickest things that people have with their fantasies are part of human nature. And that's part of me being a documentarian.That's good to know! Cheers, Eileen! Send your sexts to Eileen here. It's a bargain at $80 and ideal – I guess – for Valentine's Day.@caisasoze
Eileen Yaghoobian: Yes I've been a participant. I was inspired by my own experience, of course. What I loved about sexting myself was that you have to be really creative. And the concept of re-enactments is something that I'm really fascinated about. I haven't used any in my own documentary and film-making, but I like the idea of combining the evaluation of text, with what you do with theatre, with the re-enactments in documentary. The Act of Killing kind of triggered that inspiration. And at the same time I was actually sexting a lot. I talked to my friends and the talk kind of came together and I decided to go for it and just do it. And when I did, it was just amazing. I couldn't believe it! I don't know, to have the actors read the texts and to actually act them out and re-enact them… it's endless fun, it's infinite what you could to with it. I feel like this is unexplored territory. Many of my sexts are fantasies I don't necessarily want to make reality. Aren't you destroying potential fantasies in a way with your videos?
If having sex is destroying the fantasy… Aren’t sexts the best sex of your mind? I think that fantasies sometimes are better than reality.
[Laughs] Yes. That's an awesome point. But I'm hoping that I'm serving the fantasy. That's my goal: To do the best with the fantasy. Do you change the names of the guys sending you their sexts or do you explore their names in creative ways, too?
I know it's different in Europe, but in North America it has to be anonymous because I don't know the intent of the person sending me the sexts. You know, it could be revenge-sexts, like a person sending me the sexts to get back at someone. And I don't really care about their intent. The whole idea of the website is to explore the challenge of transforming sexts into live action. What interests me is the narrative aspect of sexting. The sexy words people choose in verbalising their sexual fantasies are fascinating and say a lot about their character. I mean you can talk sexy when you’re having sex, but to talk sexy in a text to get to the act of sex is something else. And that's why I change their names, because in a funny way I think that when you're sexting – even if you know who you're sexting with – you're kind of hiding. I find your videos not safe for work. Do you create the characters and places based on the sexts as well?
No. I actually want to take them out of there. You said "not safe for work". Do you mean that you actually can't watch them at work? Yeah, I mean some jobs are pretty conservative. And in that context I'd say some of your videos are on the edge to soft porn.
Well, I don't know. I think the thing is this: Everything is porn now. I don't think there are enough websites out there that are sexy but not necessarily porn. But then again, I don't have a problem with someone getting turned on when watching this. And even better, cause [the actors] aren’t naked! There isn't a close-up macro-dick, or balls or ass or whatever. For me, what turns me on is great sex. For example, in Don't Look Now, which is one of my favourite films, the sex scene is incredible! Better than any porn movie you'll ever see. It's so inspiring. I got the actors to look at that scene over and over again for Dylan and Kacey because it's the best sex scene ever. And I want to get there. So the point of the videos is to get people turned on?
I think a lot of things are hot. I mean I like cars. Having sex on a hood of a car is hot to me. So those are the choices I make when I make these videos.Laura & Jamie Are you choosing particular sexts that you find sexier than others?
All sexts are good for video-making, so everybody can submit whatever they like. It's a service. People pay 80 bucks. I'm not going to get rich off this. So I have to figure that part out. But it's a concept. I like the idea of combining the world of sex with the world of indie. I want to go right to the audience and I want to offer them a service. It really is amazing to see your sexts come to life. I don't know how to describe it but it's a wonderful experience. And I want other people to experience it. And have the opportunity to because it's affordable. How did you figure out that this service was something people need?
First of all, I'm not a porn fan. Someone asked me why the actors aren’t naked. I was thinking about what I would actually reply back to that person, and that would be, "well, there is such a thing. It's called amateur porn. That exists already." There is an amazing space to explore visualising text about sex. Sexts are filled with creativity, tension, real drama and humour. Also, all the things that are in sexting are kind of default funny. But I also wanted to be sexy, so I want it to be sexy-funny. So the idea is kind of to be Saturday Night Live and sexy. That's what I'm trying to get to. Is there anything that you wouldn't want to re-enact or have in the script?
No I don't believe in that. I don't have a censorship. They’re people's stories whatever stories they are. That's part of being human. Some people are weird. And I'm not going to judge them. I'm taking what people are giving to me and it's my interpretation of it so I will definitely interpret it the way I feel would be best for the video. But I'm not going to censor what they choose to give me. Even the sickest things that people have with their fantasies are part of human nature. And that's part of me being a documentarian.That's good to know! Cheers, Eileen! Send your sexts to Eileen here. It's a bargain at $80 and ideal – I guess – for Valentine's Day.@caisasoze