College Student Takes on the World of Cam Girls

Colorado filmmakers Isa Mazzei and Daniel Goldhaber have made headlines for their film Cam — now streaming on Netflix — in which a college graduate takes on the world of online cam girls. The film has drawn critical acclaim from critics, including a place on Paper’s list of “100 People Taking Over 2019.” They will speak to students at a screening of the movie on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at CU Denver.

The movie’s protagonist, named Alice in the screenplay, is a young woman with a college degree who struggles to find a job that satisfies her, so she decides to try her hand at camming — where users broadcast live sex videos for a fee and are tipped by viewers. She tries to improve her ranking, and attracts regulars and sexy clients. She may even get a tip of $1,000 or more from “whales” for private shows.

She spends a lot of time researching lingerie and toys, buying the right equipment and engaging with her audience when she’s off camera, but also chatting to viewers who call in to her spoofed phone number or text her. She becomes a savvy, manipulative chatterer with a sophisticated sense of her own sexuality and is able to create a comfortable rapport with her audience.

By the end of her first year, she’s earning $15,000 a month and six figures a year. She rents an apartment in a luxury building, drives two BMWs and has a manicurist at her disposal.