I don't know if the industry as a whole is moving forward in that regard. But I will continue to make movies as artfully as I can, using people who really do elevate sexual performance to an art form, and hope that my efforts will begin to have some impact on the general perception of porn.

Some people took issue with the fact that Amy has a very well-documented act of violence in her past.

I thought about this a lot when I was making the decision to cast her. But let me tell you what my thought process was/is.

First of all, Amy was a minor when she committed her crime. She had also been brainwashed by a much older man who later proved to be a criminal all on his own (he's been arrested for a variety of things in the years since.) That was the one act of violence Amy ever committed and it was committed when she was a child and while under the influence and control of an adult who was sexually exploiting her and committing statutory rape.

Amy did not kill Mary Jo, and Mary Jo has forgiven Amy, even publicly. Mary Jo has also denounced Joey B. as a "sociopath." Even his children now have nothing to do with him, according to a recent interview I saw where the family was interviewed about the incident and how it affected their lives.

You might be interested to know that a lot of performers in the adult industry come here with a checkered past. They may not have been on the cover of the NY Post or the National Enquirer, but that doesn't mean they don't have rap sheets.

I thought Amy could bring some truth and insight to the role, but at the same time I didn't feel that it was "crossing a line" because it happened so long ago, when she was a child and a completely different person. She has since become a Mom and a wife, and she's actually completely lovely and highly professional. It was a pleasure working with her, and I think she really did bring some depth to this role, and underplayed it in a completely appropriate way. She understands what happens to a girl/woman's mind when in a state of sexual infatuation, and she was able to call upon that to bring realism to the character.

I knew it was controversial to cast Amy, but I thought she was the right choice and I still do. I also think she has every right to work in this industry, and that she's turned in some amazing performances. But I realize that there will be some people who don't like it and who think she's being "rewarded" for her crime. You're welcome to your opinion, but I disagree.