Eclectic ArtsA personal publication

Eclectic Arts
A personal publication for a global audience.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Tia Tanaka Interview - Beyond Adult
Greetings!

So, for those that have a copy of issue #3, they know that the most popular interview in that issue was with adult star Tia Ling.  I say popular based on the feedback I got on the issue.

What many don't know is that I had three interviews lined up with adult stars and, of those, Tia Ling happened to come through with her interview first.  Approximately 6-9 months later the second interview was completed:  former adult star Tia Tanaka.  The third interview never materialized (I'll leave it to your imagination who that interview was with - all I'll say is that I had already sent preliminary questions and then got a lame excuse back as to why she couldn't answer them just now - and would it be alright if she did them about 9 months later - yeah 9 months later - wtf?).  But I digress.

Tia Tanaka's interview took a long time to complete.  After many unsuccessful tries to contact her, I finally got a "yes" to do the interview.  Then she disappeared for many months.  One day, on a whim, I tried contacting her again and, much to my surprise, she replied back.

The following interview was conducted between December 2011 and February 2012.  So, yes, it is dated BUT it is also probably the only "recent" interview she's done for print/web in a long time.  I left everything as is (dates etc were not updated or altered).

Much thanks to Ms. Tanaka for taking the time to do this interview!

Cheers!
Mark

*Warning - some of the content is graphic in nature - adults only*

 ***

 
EA:  What's keeping you busy these days, Tia?

TT:  Well I’ve been going to school, working a regular job, and a few photo shoots here and there.

EA:  Do you plan on keeping your stage name alive via photo shoots and such then?  Or do you just want to live a normal life and let your old "Tia Tanaka"  persona fade into obscurity?

TT:  It’s weird because I’m not sure what I want to do. I’ve always been a very indecisive person and I base my decisions on my day to day feelings. Which I guess isn’t really a good thing.

EA:  What kind of work are you doing now (retail, education, hospitality, business)?  Is it something you're happy with?

TT:  Education wise I’ve been in school finishing up my associates and I will continue to go for my bachelors. Yes it makes me very happy to be back in school because I was always saying that I was and I kept procrastinating and I’m just so glad I finally got the courage to make my education a priority. It’s really hard it’s not easy going to school and working full time. There are days when I’m happy and days when I’m not. School is a big challenge for me.

EA:  It's good to hear that you're continuing your education.  It's  important in my opinion to make it in this world.  Has school always been a challenge for you (i.e. your public school years)?

TT:  No school has always been fairly easy for me and I was always a good student. I always got A’s in English or History but I did poorly in Science and Math. I think it was because I just didn’t like it.

EA:  What type of work do you do (not specifics but in general)?  Is it a job you like or is it just a job?

TT:  It’s just a job…I don’t really like it. *laughs*



EA:  Where were you born?  Raised?  What was life like for you growing up?

TT:  I was born in Indonesia but my mother left very shortly after I was born so I have no recollection of Indonesia nor I consider it my home. We first came to New York when arriving to the US and moved to California when I was around 4.  I would have to say my home is Los Angeles because we’ve moved all around the area. My life was pretty confusing growing up without a father and living among only white people or Hispanics. I didn’t know many people like me and was teased a lot for being the only Asian girl in the complex I lived in. Most of my friends were either white or hispanic.

EA:  Do you know why your mom moved to the States?  Do you have siblings that came with you and/or other family?

TT:  My mom came to the states to be with a man that got her pregnant and he ended up being married to another woman and had several children of his own. My mother came to the states alone with me when I was less than a year old.

EA:  How would you describe your childhood then?  Confusing?  Happy?  Bad?

TT:  Confusing I guess. My mom always had a new boyfriend. They always came and went. All my friends didn’t have fathers either. I was always teased for looking different but when I looked in the mirror I didn’t understand so confusing would be right.  *laughs*


EA:  I read in another interview that you had a fear of dating Asian men due to your dad's reputation of being a "player".  Is this true?

TT:  Yes, I did say that and I got so much hate mail for it so I just wanted to clear that up that I don’t think Asian men are gross or undesirable. I’ve had many of my friends say that they wouldn’t date their own race because it’s like dating a brother or sister.   

EA:  You received hate mail for saying that?  Really?

TT:  Yes it got, I guess, many “asian men” upset. But obviously it was taken the wrong way. Thank you for seeing what I meant!

EA:  Do you feel your dad's behavior indirectly influenced your decision to go into porn - the stereotype about not having a father figure, acceptance, etc, leading a girl into the porn world?

TT:  I don’t know.  I always ask myself that. I think growing up without a father has definitely given me some issues but I don’t think that applies to all girls who have entered the industry.

EA:  How long have you been out of the adult industry now?  When you look back on it now - what comes to mind?  Glad you did it?  Regrets?  Hindsight is always 20/20 they say. 

TT:  Most people don’t know but I was only in the industry for about a year and a half. I left the business very early and I read up online that I was active in the industry for 4 years but that’s not true. I started in 2005 and quit late 2006 or perhaps early 2007. I think that a lot of these porn companies put my old content as new for sales or they counted compilations as new content. So I’d like to clear that up. I’ve been out of the adult industry video wise for about 4 years.   

When I look back at it I see a girl that just stopped caring about what people thought of her. A girl that just was giving everyone she knew a big “FUCK YOU.” Am I glad I did it? Yes and no. Yes because in the industry I learned so much about people and myself and it was one hell of an adventure. It was really, really fun. No, because I am too sensitive. And to be in that business you can’t be. I think those porn veterans and porno super stars are actually some of the strongest people in the world. You kind of have to be meant for it. I don’t know if I was.

EA:  That's interesting - about the amount of time you spent in the industry.  You're right - every site I went to to do research for this interview stated something along the lines  that you had been active for about 4 years.  If you had to ballpark it, how many scenes would you say you shot, total?

TT:  I’d say around 150 scenes? I think if I was in the industry for 4 years I would have a lot more money right now, hemorrhoids, and fans. *laughs*  Just kidding.



EA:  So it sounds like when you entered the industry, you were rebellious, yeah?  Just doing what you wanted, didn't give a shit what others thought, and went for it.  Would that be accurate?

TT:  Pretty much. Sometimes I wish I still had that mindset.

EA:  The average person has this misconception that every porn star is a star - making big money, living large, etc.  What was it really like working in the porn industry for you? 

TT:  In the beginning yes. I was this 18 year old with everything I ever wanted materially.

EA:  And the longer you stayed in the industry, then things changed?

TT:  You can say that.

EA:  Did you have a manager that handled your business - like which companies you'd be shooting for, what kind of scenes, etc? 

TT:  Yes, I had an agent at the time. He got me work with a lot of companies. I worked for almost everyone you name it. I did b/g scenes, g/g scenes.

EA:  How do the contracts work?  Is it X amount of money for a particular scene - what you do in the scene, etc?

TT:  Yes you get a certain amount for what you do. There are always contracts that you sign to make sure you know what you’re there for and how much you’re getting paid.

EA:  Did you ever work with any talent (male or female) that you were like, ewww, I really don't want to work with them but you didn't have any choice?

TT:  Not really. I mean if they were ugly and you got to talk to them and they seemed super cool then you’d forget about it and most of them were pretty cool.

EA:  Were you ever high or drunk when filming a scene?

TT:  High but never drunk.

EA:  Drug of choice?  Do you still get high these days?

TT:  I smoked a lot of weed.  When it becomes legal I can’t wait to see the commercials!

EA:  What were some of the memories you have - good or bad - from your time in porn?

TT:  Good memories let’s see. I liked the money and sometimes making cool friends. Bad memories yes. Maybe at the time they didn’t seem bad but when I think about them now they do.


EA:  What variables influenced your decision to leave the business? 

TT:  I’m just an indecisive person and I didn’t know what I wanted any more. But at the time being a regular person sounded better.

EA:  Do you have any plans to return?

TT:  No.


Switching gears……

EA:  You're tattoo collection has grown.  I remember reading you got the dragon on your back early on when others were getting small tattoos - so you went for something big.  But, also, that you don't like it.  True?

TT:  Yes I hate it and it’s in the process of being removed. And yes it is painful!

EA:  How many sessions have you

Kết quả (Việt) 1:

Chiết trung nghệ thuậtMột xuất bản cá nhân cho một đối tượng toàn cầu.Thứ hai 23 tháng 6, năm 2014Phỏng vấn tia Tanaka - ngoài người lớnChúc mừng!Vì vậy, đối với những người có một bản sao của vấn đề #3, họ biết rằng các cuộc phỏng vấn phổ biến nhất trong vấn đề đó là với người lớn sao Tia Ling. Tôi nói phổ biến dựa trên thông tin phản hồi tôi đã nhận về vấn đề.Những gì nhiều người không biết rằng tôi đã có ba cuộc phỏng vấn xếp hàng với sao dành cho người lớn, và những người, Tia Ling đã xảy ra đến thông qua với cuộc phỏng vấn của cô lần đầu tiên. Khoảng 6-9 tháng sau cuộc phỏng vấn thứ hai được hoàn tất: cựu dành cho người lớn sao Tia Tanaka. Các cuộc phỏng vấn thứ ba không bao giờ vật hoá (tôi sẽ rời khỏi nó để trí tưởng tượng của người phỏng vấn đó là với - tất cả tôi sẽ nói rằng tôi đã gửi câu hỏi sơ bộ và sau đó có một cớ lame trở lại như lý do tại sao cô không thể trả lời họ chỉ cần bây giờ - và nó sẽ là alright nếu cô ấy đã làm họ khoảng 9 vài tháng sau đó - có 9 tháng sau đó - wtf?). Nhưng tôi digress.Cuộc phỏng vấn của tia Tanaka mất một thời gian dài để hoàn thành. Sau khi cố gắng không thành công nhiều liên hệ với cô ấy, tôi cuối cùng đã nhận một "có" để làm các cuộc phỏng vấn. Sau đó cô biến mất trong nhiều tháng. Một ngày, trên một whim, tôi đã cố gắng liên hệ với cô ấy một lần nữa và, nhiều đến ngạc nhiên của tôi, cô trả lời trở lại.Các cuộc phỏng vấn sau đây được tiến hành tháng 12 năm 2011 đến tháng hai 2012. Vì vậy, có, nó là ngày nhưng nó là cũng có thể là cuộc phỏng vấn chỉ "gần đây", cô đã làm cho in/web trong một thời gian dài. Tôi để lại tất cả mọi thứ như là (ngày vv đã không Cập Nhật hoặc thay đổi).Much thanks to Ms. Tanaka for taking the time to do this interview!Cheers! Mark*Warning - some of the content is graphic in nature - adults only* *** EA: What's keeping you busy these days, Tia?TT: Well I’ve been going to school, working a regular job, and a few photo shoots here and there.EA: Do you plan on keeping your stage name alive via photo shoots and such then? Or do you just want to live a normal life and let your old "Tia Tanaka" persona fade into obscurity?TT: It’s weird because I’m not sure what I want to do. I’ve always been a very indecisive person and I base my decisions on my day to day feelings. Which I guess isn’t really a good thing.EA: What kind of work are you doing now (retail, education, hospitality, business)? Is it something you're happy with?TT: Education wise I’ve been in school finishing up my associates and I will continue to go for my bachelors. Yes it makes me very happy to be back in school because I was always saying that I was and I kept procrastinating and I’m just so glad I finally got the courage to make my education a priority. It’s really hard it’s not easy going to school and working full time. There are days when I’m happy and days when I’m not. School is a big challenge for me.EA: It's good to hear that you're continuing your education. It's important in my opinion to make it in this world. Has school always been a challenge for you (i.e. your public school years)?TT: No school has always been fairly easy for me and I was always a good student. I always got A’s in English or History but I did poorly in Science and Math. I think it was because I just didn’t like it.EA: What type of work do you do (not specifics but in general)? Is it a job you like or is it just a job?TT: It’s just a job…I don’t really like it. *laughs*EA: Where were you born? Raised? What was life like for you growing up?TT: I was born in Indonesia but my mother left very shortly after I was born so I have no recollection of Indonesia nor I consider it my home. We first came to New York when arriving to the US and moved to California when I was around 4. I would have to say my home is Los Angeles because we’ve moved all around the area. My life was pretty confusing growing up without a father and living among only white people or Hispanics. I didn’t know many people like me and was teased a lot for being the only Asian girl in the complex I lived in. Most of my friends were either white or hispanic.EA: Do you know why your mom moved to the States? Do you have siblings that came with you and/or other family?TT: My mom came to the states to be with a man that got her pregnant and he ended up being married to another woman and had several children of his own. My mother came to the states alone with me when I was less than a year old.EA: How would you describe your childhood then? Confusing? Happy? Bad?TT: Confusing I guess. My mom always had a new boyfriend. They always came and went. All my friends didn’t have fathers either. I was always teased for looking different but when I looked in the mirror I didn’t understand so confusing would be right. *laughs*EA: I read in another interview that you had a fear of dating Asian men due to your dad's reputation of being a "player". Is this true?TT: Yes, I did say that and I got so much hate mail for it so I just wanted to clear that up that I don’t think Asian men are gross or undesirable. I’ve had many of my friends say that they wouldn’t date their own race because it’s like dating a brother or sister. EA: You received hate mail for saying that? Really?TT: Yes it got, I guess, many “asian men” upset. But obviously it was taken the wrong way. Thank you for seeing what I meant!EA: Do you feel your dad's behavior indirectly influenced your decision to go into porn - the stereotype about not having a father figure, acceptance, etc, leading a girl into the porn world?TT: I don’t know. I always ask myself that. I think growing up without a father has definitely given me some issues but I don’t think that applies to all girls who have entered the industry.EA: How long have you been out of the adult industry now? When you look back on it now - what comes to mind? Glad you did it? Regrets? Hindsight is always 20/20 they say. TT: Most people don’t know but I was only in the industry for about a year and a half. I left the business very early and I read up online that I was active in the industry for 4 years but that’s not true. I started in 2005 and quit late 2006 or perhaps early 2007. I think that a lot of these porn companies put my old content as new for sales or they counted compilations as new content. So I’d like to clear that up. I’ve been out of the adult industry video wise for about 4 years. When I look back at it I see a girl that just stopped caring about what people thought of her. A girl that just was giving everyone she knew a big “FUCK YOU.” Am I glad I did it? Yes and no. Yes because in the industry I learned so much about people and myself and it was one hell of an adventure. It was really, really fun. No, because I am too sensitive. And to be in that business you can’t be. I think those porn veterans and porno super stars are actually some of the strongest people in the world. You kind of have to be meant for it. I don’t know if I was.EA: That's interesting - about the amount of time you spent in the industry. You're right - every site I went to to do research for this interview stated something along the lines that you had been active for about 4 years. If you had to ballpark it, how many scenes would you say you shot, total?TT: I’d say around 150 scenes? I think if I was in the industry for 4 years I would have a lot more money right now, hemorrhoids, and fans. *laughs* Just kidding.


EA:  So it sounds like when you entered the industry, you were rebellious, yeah?  Just doing what you wanted, didn't give a shit what others thought, and went for it.  Would that be accurate?

TT:  Pretty much. Sometimes I wish I still had that mindset.

EA:  The average person has this misconception that every porn star is a star - making big money, living large, etc.  What was it really like working in the porn industry for you? 

TT:  In the beginning yes. I was this 18 year old with everything I ever wanted materially.

EA:  And the longer you stayed in the industry, then things changed?

TT:  You can say that.

EA:  Did you have a manager that handled your business - like which companies you'd be shooting for, what kind of scenes, etc? 

TT:  Yes, I had an agent at the time. He got me work with a lot of companies. I worked for almost everyone you name it. I did b/g scenes, g/g scenes.

EA:  How do the contracts work?  Is it X amount of money for a particular scene - what you do in the scene, etc?

TT:  Yes you get a certain amount for what you do. There are always contracts that you sign to make sure you know what you’re there for and how much you’re getting paid.

EA:  Did you ever work with any talent (male or female) that you were like, ewww, I really don't want to work with them but you didn't have any choice?

TT:  Not really. I mean if they were ugly and you got to talk to them and they seemed super cool then you’d forget about it and most of them were pretty cool.

EA:  Were you ever high or drunk when filming a scene?

TT:  High but never drunk.

EA:  Drug of choice?  Do you still get high these days?

TT:  I smoked a lot of weed.  When it becomes legal I can’t wait to see the commercials!

EA:  What were some of the memories you have - good or bad - from your time in porn?

TT:  Good memories let’s see. I liked the money and sometimes making cool friends. Bad memories yes. Maybe at the time they didn’t seem bad but when I think about them now they do.


EA:  What variables influenced your decision to leave the business? 

TT:  I’m just an indecisive person and I didn’t know what I wanted any more. But at the time being a regular person sounded better.

EA:  Do you have any plans to return?

TT:  No.


Switching gears……

EA:  You're tattoo collection has grown.  I remember reading you got the dragon on your back early on when others were getting small tattoos - so you went for something big.  But, also, that you don't like it.  True?

TT:  Yes I hate it and it’s in the process of being removed. And yes it is painful!

EA:  How many sessions have you