Mike Hunt is the director behind new label Demon Seed UK, which aims to combine the action of his homeland America's gonzo porn with the attitude and setting of Brit hardcore. SB caught up with him to get the behind-the-scenes story of directing his first adult flick, Tails From The Dark Side.

So Mike, what made you decide to make a porno? I've got a filmmaking background in music videos and promos, and I wanted to get into film in the UK. I was faced with having to work my way up from the bottom in TV drama or commercials, or do porn. Porn seemed a more honest way of doing things.

How long ago was that? My investor and I decided it was definitely happening in November 2005. I then shot three scenes in January and three in April.

Wow, so things happened really quickly. Yeah, but I was doing everything myself, so I could control the workflow. I directed, shot, and cut everything and even did the music under a pseudonym. It meant I could take all the blame if something went wrong but all the credit if it went right. That was a good incentive to do well.

So there weren't many people on the sets? No, just me and sometimes a lighting guy and stills photographer. I mostly used natural light - it brings out flesh tones better than artificial light, as a cameraman it means there's more freedom to move as there are no lighting stands in the way, and you can do longer takes. The girls did their own hair and make-up, and brought along their own costumes. I tried to make the shoots as low-key and natural as possible.

What were the surprises once you were finally on-set? Well, I had been DJing at a strip club so I was used to seeing people naked, and I'd worked in a porn store so was used to people being about fucking so it wasn't a shock. But I found I was a lot shyer than I though. It took about two scenes before I could start a conversation with "ok, so first you go for cowgirl and then to anal". Then I realised it's the same as in a music video shoot - direction is direction. Just be frank.

Did you find it easy dealing with the performers? Very - they have no airs and graces. Plus they were kind to me; they didn't take advantage of it being my first shoot. The whole thing was very laid-back - the amount of stress between regular film and porn is leagues. In porn everyone knows what they are there for and gets on with it. I haven't seen any prima donna antics from performers; I guess there's a limit to how up-themselves they can be while they're standing there naked trying to keep a hard-on.

You've got some real stunners, like Roxanne, and top performers like Poppy Morgan in the film. How did you choose them? I looked at online modelling directories and stuff, but most of it came because I met Poppy at the Erotica show in November and she gave me details of girls and guys. She took the time to help out a new guy. The performers in the first scenes I shot liked working with me and recommended me to others. If I had worked with people less open to new faces I may not have had the easy ride I've had. No-one was weird or resentful of a new guy on the block.

What did you set out to do differently to porn that's currently out there? Well, there are only so many ways to skin a cat, right? But I want to make movies with interaction between the performers. I don't over-direct - lots of my favourite stuff in every genre is improvised and I like to let the performers move into whatever positions come naturally for them. That also requires that they invest themselves in their performance. What turns me on when I watch porn is when there appears to be a genuine interplay and human contact between the characters.

Something I liked about the film was that interplay - it was noticeable. That's what I wanted. Too often the girls in porn are there just to be penetrated in whatever way the job requires - it's all insert, pound for 20 minutes then repeat. But if there is some kind of balance of power, some kind of interplay which demands the performers must think about what they are doing, then they get involved in it. And that is what turns the viewer on, seeing the performers are actually into it. Our job at Demon Seed is to plant just that seed of doubt over whether it's all acting.

Did you get turned-on on set? That's a difficult question. In some ways on set you can't afford to get turned on as there's too much to think about when you're filming and directing. But later on when I'm editing or cutting, if there is nothing that gives a rush of blood to the little head then I've not done a very good job. I only want to put out stuff I'd be willing to jerk off to.

So, now you're a director do you still enjoy watching porn? I thought working behind the scenes would ruin my enjoyment of porn but it's actually heightened my appreciation of good porn. I can now see very quickly where someone is running a good set or not. When I see a scene that is really hot I enjoy it more because I know how much good energy went into creating it.