YNOT – Brick-and-mortar adult entertainment studios increasingly find themelves turning to the virtual realm for inspiration and validation. Reseda, Calif.-based Girlfriends Films believes any conversation works best when it’s bidirectional. Consequently, the studio opened a direct line of two-way communication with fans. The project, which developed over time into an online community forum, turned out better than expected, a spokesman said.

“In the forum, thousands of performers and fans interact to form a supportive collective, void of prejudice and judgment,” a company statement noted. “Nearing 90,000 posts, forum discussions range from sexual fantasies to improving the company. There are areas to request performers, contribute story ideas, write movie reviews and participate in Girlfriends Films’ charity program.”

According to studio Vice President Moose, “Girlfriends Films’ emphasis on real lesbian sex and passion made it completely different from anything else the industry offers. We wanted our forum to be the same way. It’s a place where people feel comfortable being themselves. The internet is full of places where people are torn down and ridiculed. The Girlfriends Films forum is a safe haven where our company’s positive values are reflected and carried out.”

Through the forum, Girlfriends Films is able to maintain a relationship with its fans not only in the U.S., but also in Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, Sweden and France, Moose said. Pairings of performers often a result from model, scene and story suggestions first mentioned in an online discussion. Models posting regularly on the forum gain a lot of traction with fans and say the interaction leads to more frequent roles in Girlfriends Films movies.

Membership comes with unexpected perks, as well, Moose noted. Because performers and fans develop friendships on the forum, Girlfriends Films sponsored a breakfast meet-up during the 2011 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, and 10 forum members got to dine with their favorite stars.

For more about the company, visit GirlfriendsFilms.com or follow the studio on Facebook or Twitter.