Behind the scenes: Wealth of Whoredom

Published 23 November 2025

Lees dit artikel in het Nederlands

In September, Red Insight organised a three-day creative media retreat in the Netherlands for tired and artistic sex workers. We gathered in a house in the forest with a sauna, good food, campfires, and all the materials required to create the story we wanted to tell.

The retreat provided a rare, beautiful opportunity to share the unfiltered experiences of our work, our silly clients, and our creative ways of handling them. Every moment was filled with laughter, recognition, support and advice. Our lives can sometimes feel alienating because of stigma, so being among whores for a few days felt like a warm bath.

Together we created a short film, consisting of scenes with sets of actions that played out our work experiences, re–conceptualised within the natural woodland setting. We scripted the scenes with catchy voiceovers, offering suggestions for greater ease and efficiency at work. Hooker wisdom includes: “Money up front, count it, make sure the notes are real.” “Take it slow on the pole, you don’t want to get sweaty” and of course, “Have fun!” The film also reflected our experiences of the retreat, with its focus on community as a place to rest, learn, and hold space for each other.

Entitled Wealth of Whoredom, the film will soon be released and showcased at film festivals and other independent screenings. In the meantime, check out the behind-the-scenes moments of our creative process and surroundings, captured with an old digital camera. May we always find moments to come together in community, to rest and create. Storytelling is vital, and it will become even more critical in the political climate that lies ahead.

Red Insight is very proud to announce the premiere screening of Wealth of Whoredom! Do join us - everyone is welcome at 17:00–18:30 on Wednesday 10 December 2025 at the PIC, Amsterdam.

Images and words by Beau Velvet

Beau Velvet

Beau (she/they) is a stripper, erotic performer, and activist - fighting for the rights, freedom and dignity of sex workers and other marginalised groups. She's happiest dancing naked and alone at home, or when she's with her comrades.