Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry

A documentary based on the shooting for the book and directed by Michael Grecco premiered in April 2009. The film was a production by Lantern Lane Entertainment in association with KHG Documentary.Barker, Andrew (1 May 2009 ). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160222182847/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-200843845.html "Review: Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry"]. Variety.

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Michael Grecco
• Tera Patrick
• Evan Seinfeld
• Heather Veitch
• Jesse Jane
• Paul Fishbein
• Sunny Lane
• Joanna Angel
• Nautica Thorn
• Rob Rotten
• Luc Wylder
• Alexandra Silk
• Janine Lindemulder
• Julia Ann
• Peter North
• Randy West
• Steve Hirsch
• Brittney Skye
• Greg Fitzsimmons
• Evan Stone
• Stormy Daniels
• Ron Jeremy
• Mary Carey
• Paul Thomas
• Jenna Jameson
• Larry Flynt
• Cytherea

{{div col end}}

Containing over 200 photographs of actors, filmmakers and personalities in the world of adult entertainment, it is published by Rock Out Books ({{ISBN|0979331404}}). Grecco photographed his subjects during the 2006 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, the convention which surrounds the annual AVN Awards.Santoro, Henry (18 May 2010), [http://thephoenix.com/boston/movies/102258-peep-show/ "Peep show: Michael Grecco's Naked Ambition"]. The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 27 March 2014. The book's forewords, written by rock musician Dave Navarro and Hustler magazine editor Larry Flynt, discuss modern culture's acceptance of pornography into the mainstream, which allows an overtly sexual work like this to be considered a coffee table book.

Included among the portrait subjects are Larry Flynt, Jenna Jameson, Ron Jeremy, Chi Chi LaRue, Tera Patrick, Alexandra Silk, Katsuni, Dana DeArmond, Sunny Lane, Kurt Lockwood, and Michelle Aston. Uncommon in pornography-related works, the photographs do not seem to have been altered with any significant image editing or photo manipulation, thus avoiding the layer of fantasy usually applied to actors in this field.Blue, Violet (15 November 2007). [http://www.sfgate.com/living/article/One-photographer-s-Naked-Ambition-Violet-Blue-2491560.php "One photographer's 'Naked Ambition'"]. SFGate. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

The book was edited by former RIP magazine editor Lonn Friend and former FHM editor Rob Hill.

Variety wrote "In contrast with Grecco’s evocative photos, his film is scattered and platitudinous, skimming the surface of his subjects and betraying his high-art aspirations with a shallow E! aesthetic. Reliable interest in the subject matter should land the film, which opens theatrically May 1, a home on an adventurous cabler, though such a contentious substratum of American culture deserves more thoughtful treatment."{{cite news|last1=Barker|first1=Andrew|title=Review: 'Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry'|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/naked-ambition-an-r-rated-look-at-an-x-rated-industry-1200474350/|accessdate=3 January 2014|work=Variety|date=28 April 2009}}

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "Grecco's book is filled with stunning portraits and nicely captures his subjects' personalities", but it was felt the film was too tame and seemed more an extended infomercial for the book.{{cite news|last1=Riley|first1=Jenelle|title=Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry -- Film Review|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/naked-ambition-r-rated-x-93126|accessdate=3 January 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=8 May 2009}}

DVD Verdict made note that Grecco appears to "play the pornography-as-free-speech card," in his depicting pornography as "just regular folks who express themselves through public fornication." The reviewer wrote "the fact that Grecco glosses over the negatives of a business rife with them makes his documentary disingenuous—and worse, boring." It was concluded "in the end, Naked Ambition is as dreary and pedestrian as its punny title. Consenting adults or not, Grecco's subjects are fringe players who doth protest way too much about the wonderfulness of the porn industry, but their rah-rah cheerleading in support of it is more sorry than celebratory."{{cite news|last1=Claro|first1=Chris|title=review Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look At The X Rated Industry|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/nakedambition.php|accessdate=3 January 2014|publisher=DVD Verdict|date=28 April 2010}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Book premiere Naked Ambition|the Naked Ambition book premiere}}

• {{Official website|http://www.nakedambition.com}}
• [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1404702/ Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry at IMDb]
• [https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2010/04/19/naked-amibition-x-rated-industry-dvd/ "Powerful Peep Show: 'Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry' on DVD"]
• {{Metacritic film}}

Category:2007 non-fiction books

Category:Books of photographs

Category:Non-fiction books about pornography

Category:2000s English-language films