Sex,Lies and Pharmaceuticals: The Making of an Investigative Documentary about `Female Sexual Dysfunction'

Abstract

In this article, I describe my current documentary project, Orgasm Inc. This project came about initially because I took a job editing erotic video for a pharmaceutical company's clinical trial of a Viagra-type drug for women. This experience launched me on a 10-year odyssey following several drug companies and medical device manufacturers as they raced to win US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval for their products. Orgasm Inc. is a look inside `Big Pharma' and its marketing campaigns as it reshapes sexual health, illness, desire, and orgasm. The difficult search for funding for an investigative documentary on female sexual health is an important part of the story.

Keywords

documentary clinical trials funding erotic film

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References

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