Music Biz Allows What Film Biz Eschews

French electronica band Air's racy new video for "Cherry Blossom Girl," directed by porn auteur Kris Kramski (Models, Klimaxx, An American Girl in Paris), is the latest in a string of music videos that have recruited directors from the adult film world.

It's not too surprising pop stars would turn to porn directors to helm their MTV clips, as these folks represent one of the only remaining arms of underground or alternative cinema that have not been absorbed by mainstream movie studios. Porn is hip, chic and cutting edge these days. But it is a little surprising that these filmmakers are so shunned by the mainstream movies industry, yet so accepted by the mainstream music industry, two businesses that usually go hand in hand. Record labels have no qualms about employing pornographers, yet movie studios ain't handing Michael Raven or Paul Thomas (NSFW) a deal any time soon (despite the fact that these two gents in particular could likely make a better flick than most Hollywood directors).

It will be interesting to se the reaction from Hollywood when lauded "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" creator/star John Cameron Mitchell unleashes his promised mainstream porn film (mainstream in that he's going to try to get it released theatrically, porn in that it will feature hardcore sex and penetration). Will he be heralded as a visionary, taking chances and breaking barriers, or will he be edited out of the business?