Sex work is an ever-hot topic – but hardly ever covered by those who actually live its realities.
While film studios, directors and journalists profit off our stories, sex workers' voices remain silenced and gaslit.
Views on sex work are shaped by a distorted caricature of our industry produced by mainstream media. Those mindsets lead to harmful legislation, discrimination and violence.
This Sex Workers' Pride, the European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance (ESWA) invites all sex workers to counter the Hollywood stereotypes with the truth – whatever that means for you.
Record a message of what you wish the world knew about sex work. It can be something often overlooked, not highlighted enough, or something banal that needs to be repeated over and over again.
The messages will be compiled into a community video project that will be published on ESWA channels, and used for further advocacy.
Let's reclaim our narratives! Sex workers deserve media justice.
How it works:
Record a 1-minute video responding to the prompt question:
What do you wish the world knew about sx work?
Send it to [email protected]
We will contact you about the compensation!
Tips:
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Record in horizontal format
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Make it personal, refer to your own experience
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You're welcome to be anonymous – e.g. by looking away from the camera, aiming it at your hands, or filming in extreme close-up
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Aim to connect with the viewers
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Let your surroundings help tell your story. Record in a place that is meaningful to you (home, station you often travel from, favourite park)
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If needed, we can edit your voice to protect your identity
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For the best sound result, avoid background noise, empty rooms and bathrooms. Use an external microphone if you can
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As the video will be published on YouTube, we kindly request you avoid nudity
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Interpret the prompt as freely as you like. If you are inspired to perform a poem, sing a song, record yourself preparing for work – go for it!
As we are still celebrating 50 years of sex workers' day, we are aiming to collect videos from 50 various sex workers.
Terms of Reference – Red Light to Red Carpet Video Project:
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Participants are invited to submit a horizontal video, up to 1 minute in length
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Selected submissions will receive a €30 voucher as renumeration.
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By submitting, participants consent to their video being used in Red Lights on Red Carpet: Sex Workers' Pride Community Video, a video art project by ESWA, to be showcased on ESWA channels, streamed during events, and submitted to festivals.
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ESWA reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, or format, and may use full or partial content in combination with other videos.
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The deadline for submissions is extended untul 30th November 2025.
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A maximum of 50 videos will be selected. Priority will be given to participants from marginalised groups.
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Submitted messages must align with ESWA’s core values: recognising sex work as work, supporting sex worker self-determination and self-organisation, and opposing all forms of criminalisation and legal oppression of sx work.
- If you are speaking a different language than English, please include a translation with your submission
How to participate:
- Send your video via wetransfer to [email protected].
- Please include 2-3 sentences about yourself and which communitites and perpectives you represent
- In the message please include the line: I give my consent for my submitted video to be used by the European Sex Workers' Alliance on their channels, streamed during events, and submitted to festivals.
Criteria for Selection and Compensation:
1. ESWA has 50 30€ Amazon vouchers to distribute as renumeration for submissions.
2. If by October 15th we receive 50 or fewer submissions, all performers will be compensated as soon as possible. For the unused vouchers, the call will be reopened.
3. If by October 15th we receive more than 50 submissions, we will prioritise marginalised identities and underrepresented perspectives.
This project takes inspiration and build on the tradition of previous community movies: Every Ho I Know Says So by Scarlet Edition, and Sex Work and Relationships.
The video will premiere in 2026.
If you have any questions or remarks, please contact Wszebor at [email protected].
We look forward to receiving your creativity!
Thank you for taking the time to read the article.
Your support means the world to us!
