Erica McLean Pens Novel, Returns to <i>Barely Legal</i> Series

It all started with white, cotton panties. Late director Clive McLean's seminal gonzo series, Barely Legal, always included the colorless undergarment. "The white panties are sort of like a trademark for the series," the late lensman's widow, Erica McLean, told AVN.com. "I'm not sure, but it may have been an English thing…he always included them, and I still try to do it now, in every one I direct. They can't always wear white, but ninety nine percent of the time, I try to put them in there."

Clive, a native Scotsman, was a fixture at LFP and Hustler, before succumbing to cancer in 2005. During his twenty-nine year tenure as Senior Photographer, Clive shot nearly every recognizable starlet in adult. Erica, Clive's wife of eleven years and "right hand woman" was with him every step of the way, including Barely Legal, Clive's most memorable adult work.

Though she was no stranger to an adult set, Erica bravely picked up where Clive left off in November of 2005, and jumped behind the camera for Barely Legal 53. She had already produced numerous volumes of the young girl series and was hands-on in about every aspect of production with the company's flagship line.

"We started by trying to bring Barely Legal magazine to life, and bring these young girls to life, and create real stories and fantasies," explained Erica. "I still do that now. I try to be precise and put as much effort as I can with what I've got. Clive had a great attention to detail, and he was really passionate about what he did; I think that's part of the reason why the series was so popular."

Erica was then removed from the project at Barely Legal 57, but made a triumphant return with the series' 68th installment. "If the series had been good that whole time, I would have stepped back [and let someone else continue directing it]. But I know I can do things better, so you're going to see some changes," said Erica of her eventual return to the project. "The series keeps getting better and stronger, and I know I can keep making it better." She just wrapped on the production of Barely Legal 71.

Erica moved to Southern California in the early 80's, landing a make-up job for Playboy. "I was doing make-up in San Francisco at the time, and to challenge myself, I thought I'd move down here. Playboy was the first company to hire me...it was one of those times that things just worked out for me, organically. One day the stylists had a fight with the producer, and they asked if I could fill in, so I started styling for them.

"At one point somebody couldn't work for Clive at Hustler," Erica recalled. "They called me and asked me if I wanted to work, and I said 'sure.' That's how [Clive and I] met. We were friends for a long time, and we did a lot of traveling and working together...and then, all of sudden, I was only working with him."

Erica has recently finished a book called No Ordinary Love, loosely based on her relationship with Clive, with fellow author Jan Robbins. "We're going to have the book published, as well as a mainstream movie adapted," she said. "We're finalizing the deal now. I don't think this is going to be a great project, just because it's all about me. We went through a lot of crazy and pretty amazing stuff...if I read it, and it was about two other people, I'd be like 'holy shit, I can't believe she's still standing.' It's a story that I needed to tell other people.

"In the end, it's a beautiful love story, and it shows people that the adult industry is full of all kinds of good people."

Erica said she always looks to her late husband as inspiration, and the influential series they built together for inspiration. "Back then, we had a tiny little crew, and we were lucky if we could just get the talent to show up," said Erica. "There wasn't really any young girl lines out at that time. Now, everybody knows what Barely Legal is, and pretty much every production company has a young girl line.

"I'm just always trying to bring that love that Clive and I had, and put it into all of my projects...to bring the passion we had for each other and the passion we had for bringing things to life, and put it into everything that I do."

For more information on Erica, Clive and the Barely Legal series, go to www.clivemclean.com or www.hustlerworld.com.