(New York, NY / October 12, 2022) — Red Umbrella Talk, the engaging and informative five-part video series from journalist Laura Desiree and photographer/director Ellen Stagg that invites powerful discussions about the persistent misinformation and stigmatization surrounding the topic of sex work, is set to start production on Season Two this winter.
After a successful Season One launch in August, where each weekly episode highlighted adult entertainers from different spaces within the industry – and provocative themes such as “The Strip Club”, “Professional Domination”, “Escorting” and “The Law” – Desiree says that Season Two will “introduce new aspects of Sex Work for audiences to further enrich their understanding of how today’s professionals manage their careers.
“Season One started many conversations in my inboxes and online platforms, and I was thrilled to see this series reach so many people who wanted to continue these conversations and, of course, go deeper with even more questions about this fascinating and misunderstood industry. I am excited about the legendary names on board reflecting on the history of sex work stigma and hearing from the allies who are making a positive impact in the lives of all workers.”
Stagg expressed pride in the success and positive impact of Red Umbrella Talk’s first season and says that she’s excited to explore a wide variety of subject matters in Season Two. “I loved hearing from people who watched Red Umbrella Talk say how strong our guests were, and the insight into their lives was amazing; they were so moved by the speakers’ candor and stories.
She enthused that the project is so important to her personally because she wants to “show the world that sex work is work, and it’s a great job that has freedom and agency over those who work it. It’s just like any job – it has its ups and downs.
“The war on Sex Work is heartbreaking, and the trickle-down from SESTA/FOSTA impedes on everyone’s First Amendment rights. It’s educational and an important subject matter, and the show removes all these stigmas to illustrate how empowering Sex Work can be.
“I can’t wait to dive deeper into different perspectives on Sex Work. Gay, Trans, Medical, Legends: how Sex Work was in the past and trafficking. The first season teased us to what we thought sex work was all about, now let’s get deeper!”
Sex work, long an underground industry, is in the public eye more than ever: Sex Workers are marching, lobbying and speaking out for their rights in unprecedented numbers; everyone seems to have an opinion, but too few speak to the actual workers about their experiences.
Red Umbrella Talk, a five-episode video series from journalist Laura Desiree and legendary photographer Ellen Stagg, starts that necessary, stereotype-busting conversation. Desiree – who explains that the show’s titular red umbrella is the global symbol of sex workers’ solidarity since 2001, when Italian Sex Workers marched through the streets of Venice in resistance to public discrimination and injustice – will bring questions from the public to Sex Workers themselves.
Filmed on location at New York City’s Museum of Sex, Red Umbrella Talk looks to destigmatize Sex Work, humanize those in it and bring clarity to a discourse that has too long relied on damaging misinformation. Season One’s first episodes featured interviews with professionals in the fields of stripping, domination, porn, escorting and law, and Season Two aims to further delve into the complex issues surrounding Sex Work’s past, present and future.
