Casey Calvert's "Primary" series for Lust Cinema is concluding with its third and final season, set for release in late July. The season explores themes of work, money, and polyamorous relationships, featuring a blend of mumblecore aesthetics and more complex cinematography.

Production and Aesthetic Evolution

Calvert, an award-winning adult performer, producer, writer, and director, began her directing career in early 2019. Her series "Primary" for Lust Cinema is her first feature-length story. Calvert established a mumblecore, lo-fi cinematography aesthetic in Season 1 of "Primary" in 2019, which she states was influenced by her status as a new director and her aesthetic preferences at the time. This aesthetic continued through Season 2, which concluded in 2021.

Following the completion of Season 2, Calvert took a hiatus from "Primary." During this break, she focused on projects like "Sorrow Bay" and "Going Up" in 2022, aiming to enhance her cinematography skills. "Going Up" was described as a complicated shoot influenced by "Birdman," featuring intricate Steadicam work and a large cast. Calvert's efforts in cinematography during this period were recognized at the 2023 XBIZ Awards, where she won Feature Director of the Year and Best Screenplay. "Going Up" received Feature of the Year, and "Sorrow Bay" was awarded All-Girl Movie of the Year.

For Season 3 of "Primary," Calvert decided to merge her earlier lo-fi approach with the more elaborate cinematography techniques developed for her 2022 projects. The final season maintains influences from early 2000s mumblecore indie films and limited-run Netflix productions like "Easy," characterized by two-shots and fewer tight close-ups. However, it also incorporates roaming Steadicam shots, including scenes filmed at a 19th-century Western town location. Calvert noted that the production selectively used more creative coverage and inserts while preserving the established aesthetic of the "Primary" world.

The shoot for Season 3 was atypical for mainstream porn schedules, spanning almost two weeks. Calvert mentioned that the Western town location was her most expensive, costing approximately $10,000 per day, requiring RVs, bathrooms, a water truck, and a fire safety officer. Some "Primary" crew members also doubled as crew for the movie-within-the-movie, with additional extras and two leads, Codey Steele and Ryan Keely, playing crew members for the Western.

Characters and Polyamorous Dynamics

Season 3 of "Primary" is set one year after the events of Season 2. The season centers on three main couples: Abigail (Ana Foxxx) and Parker (Derrick Pierce), Eva (Kira Noir) and Olivia (Victoria Voxxx), and newcomers Dean (Codey Steele) and Violet (Siri Dahl). Other characters include Phoebe (Casey Calvert), who lives with Abigail and Parker; Joyce (Ryan Keely); Patrick (Michael Vegas) and Elliot (Leo Vice) as hookups; Zoe (Vanessa Vega) as Abigail’s friend; Sid (Alice White); and recurring characters Joe (Cam Damage) and Jacob (Small Hands).

The relationships explored include Abigail and Parker, who are married, with Phoebe as their partner living with them. Calvert clarified that this arrangement is not presented as a triad, but rather as a platonic friendship with occasional sexual intimacy. Eva and Olivia's relationship is also central, with Olivia being monogamous but allowing Eva to explore other relationships in a "don't ask, don't tell" manner. This dynamic reaches a climax in Episode 5. Dean and Violet are introduced as an open couple, described as "swingers," but the series focuses on exploring polyamory rather than swinging.

The plot of Season 3 is structured to connect different character groups through a "leitmotif" of relationships. For example, scenes may transition from Parker to Dean, with Dean texting Violet, shifting the focus to other characters. Calvert created a flowchart to manage the complex interconnections of the characters and their relationships.

Themes of Work and Relationships

Calvert designed Season 3 to explore the intersection of work and relationships, including one's relationship with work and money, and how these factors affect personal connections. She noted that contemporary discussions about polyamory often question whether every relationship needs to be romantic, suggesting that relationships with work and friends are also significant.

Examples within the season include Abigail and Parker, who are financially stable. Parker received a substantial payment for his script, and Abigail received a promotion. Phoebe moved in with them partly for financial reasons, as they had a spare bedroom. Eva has also achieved financial success, buying a house and developing her social media presence, with plans to open a yoga studio. This success impacts her relationship with Olivia, who is still experiencing financial struggles. Calvert stated that these changes in work and money, and their effects on established relationships, fall under the umbrella of alternative relationships and lifestyles, which is the core of "Primary."

A significant plot point involves Olivia's music career. Victoria Voxxx, who plays Olivia, is the leader of a real-life band called Voxxx. Calvert integrated this into the series by depicting Olivia as an ambitious musician whose career is progressing. Season 3 includes the shooting of an actual music video for Voxxx's song "Without You," directed by Calvert for both the series and the real band. Jacob, who dated Eva in Season 1 and met Olivia in Season 2, is now helping Olivia with her career, funding the music video and suggesting a tour. This development creates tension in Eva and Olivia's relationship.

Another storyline involves Parker's book, "Talking to Ghosts," which was being adapted into a movie in Season 2. In Season 3, the movie is being made, and Parker is unhappy with the changes to his script and the portrayal of his characters. This frustration affects his relationships. Calvert noted that the movie-within-the-movie serves a dramatic purpose, making Parker miserable and forcing him to prioritize his relationships over his work. Calvert praised Derrick Pierce's performance as Parker, highlighting a scene in Episode 3 where Pierce and Calvert's character, Phoebe, are by a pool at night.

The series concludes with a montage featuring an original song, "Pollock Pines," commissioned by Calvert from the band Marni, with whom she has worked across all three seasons of "Primary." Calvert stated that Season 3 provides a definitive conclusion to the project, aiming to maintain the show's focus on polyamory, relationships, and intertwining lives.

Key Facts

  • "Primary" Season 3 is the final season of the Lust Cinema series, set for release in late July.
  • Casey Calvert won Feature Director of the Year and Best Screenplay at the 2023 XBIZ Awards.
  • Her 2022 projects "Going Up" and "Sorrow Bay" won Feature of the Year and All-Girl Movie of the Year, respectively.
  • Season 3 merges the mumblecore aesthetic of earlier seasons with more complex cinematography, including Steadicam shots and a Western town location.
  • The season explores themes of work, money, and their impact on polyamorous relationships, featuring characters like Abigail (Ana Foxxx), Parker (Derrick Pierce), Eva (Kira Noir), and Olivia (Victoria Voxxx).
  • An actual music video for the band Voxxx's song "Without You" was filmed as part of Olivia's storyline in the series.