2257 – Who does it really protect?

In completing further research on the subject, a wise member on GFY brought up the subject of USC 2257. For those unaware of USC 2257, it’s a federal law that requires adult content producers to maintain records of the models that they shoot to verify their legal age of 18 and older. The government will have you believe that it is a way to combat child pornography  and that effort should be commended. Child porn is a problem in today’s society, even more so since the big internet boom. However, does it really do anything to PREVENT child porn? I believe it does not. And heres why:

If you produced adult content and kept records of ages, why would any producer who participates in child porn keep a copy of an underaged child on file much less divuldge the address at which records could be inspected as required by the USC 2257?

I believe the adult industry sincerely cares about keeping its product out of the hands of minors and keeping minors out of its production. Thats not to say that a model can use a fake ID to get work and slips through the cracks but does one honestly think that a porn producer is willing to spend money and time on a production only to have to pull its release because it discovered a minor had lied? This is a business and money rules all in this world.

This begs to ask the question, just how are these producers supposed to know what IDs are fake and which IDs are genuine? Further complicated by the fact that each state issues different IDs and no one state follows the same protections to ensure genuine IDs. Police are fooled all the time by fake IDs, especially IDs issued by a different state. So why punish adult producers because they fell for the same scam that an uninformed officer would? Maybe there is a positive reason to have a federal ID afterall.

While 2257′s intentions may have been pure in protecting chidren’s involvement in adult productions, it provides no protection for the producer or the talent invoved in such productions. The latest modifications to the law, which is still being argued in court, requires that regardless if you are the producer or not, if you handle or host such content, you should be legally bound by the requirements of USC 2257 as well. This could lead to safety issues for performers as well as producers.

I will provide two scenarios of how this requirement could very well endanger the lives of those in adult.

Scenario 1: Someone with an agenda discovers that porn is being produced in their area or simply wants to make an example. This person could sign up as an affiliate or license content from the producer. Now if all parties were compliant with the USC 2257 regulations, all parties that have anything to do wit the content would have copies of IDs. IDs that show people’s names, home addresses, birth dates, and in some states, social security numbers. Now this opens up the door for several things here. Identity fraud comes to mind. Or perhaps a bible toting zealout who wishes to expose said producer in their community and have the producer suffer from discrimination and attempts to run them out of their community.

Scenario 2: Some sick individual has taken a liking to a female talent. He signs up as an affiliate, sponsors the content, and gets a hold of the model’s contact information. He shows up at the model’s place of residence, breaks in and attacks her. He proceeds to rape and then kill her.

How does the USC 2257 prevent that type of stuff from happening? Afterall, the government is doing what’s "best" in the name of the children. But what about protecting all citizens in this country rather than just the citizens it decides need protections?

One potential solution would be to have a centralized database of all involved in the adult industry. While it is common, if not downright encouraged that all performers undergo routine testing for STDs and diseases, a simple database or collection warehouse could have producers submit new talent for age verification or cross check a performers ID against a verified and validated ID on file that has been cleared by the government.

Another solution would be to require all involved in adult to obtain a government issued license before working in the adult world. Its no different than driving a car. Violate the law, you lose your license.

This would only happen if the government was interested in protecting its citizens. Until then, the burden of proof will shift to the accused rather than the accusor.

Matt

First Update

Last night, I got to thinking about why so many people are leered into the adult industry. Could it be because many are sex fiends and this was the quickest way to score the hottest chicks or make some quick cash for doing something that they do for free already?  It is possible that many love the thrill of doing something that they know most people would frown on in society, rebels if you will. Could it be that these same individuals who work in the adult world were the social outcasts back in high school but find that they can now score the captain of the cheerleaders and make a video to document their conquests? Or could it be because these people simply have no other options in life and college wasn’t for them? Is it possible that they were absued as a child and this has carried over into their career choices?

What type of person goes into adult work? Do they wake up one morning and say "I want to be in the porn business" or were they sweet talked into posing for pictures by their boyfriend and figure why stop there when they can make money doing the same thing?

How much money is truly made in adult? Is it the billions of dollars that many press releases claim or is it a much smaller number inflated by bragging or the refusal to admitting the wrong choice of careers?

These are the things I intend to find out and much more. Saty tuned.

More Documentary Information

Ok, we have already received some email regarding the documentary and apparently I suck at making some things clear, so please allow me this chance to clear up any confusion.

We will be interviewing all different types of people in the adult industry. This is definitely not limited to all the big stars. Actually, we prefer to focus on the smaller stars as they stand to gain the most from this documentary. If you are interested at any level, email us and we can see what we can work out.

Next, some companies have already emailed us asking about purchasing spots in the docu for advertisement. I am unsure what direction we will go with that although ad sales would definitely help defer the costs of this production as this will be solely financed by myself. We possibly would consider accepting donations for the production and perhaps including these companies, webmasters, peformers, etc… in the Thank You portion of the credits. However, my concern is that if we were to do so, that it could possibly compromise the unbias stance we intend to take on the porn industry. Any companie that wishes to have their content included in the docu will be expected to adhere strictly to our requirements. Nudity is acceptable but absolutely no visible hardcore will be accepted because of 2257 requirements and model releases. Softcore or edited for cable is as far as we will go. NO IFS, ANDS, or BUTS! Don’t ask!

Some have asked if we need any additional equipment. The plan is to shoot this docu on HDV and capture using Decklink HD. The only true need that I could forsee would be a camera that would free us from having to use tape (SxS cards.) Unless someone would like to donate a Sony EX1, I don’t see tapeless workflow being possible.  Who knows. I’ll keep you posted. But if you insist, shoot us an email and we will see what we can work out.

Talent will not be expected to appear unclothed in any way nor will talent peform whatsoever. We do not mind the occasional web or company plug or even clothing suggesting such. Be advised that this is not a vehichle for an informercial. If you do not want information to be known, DO NOT SHARE WITH US! Any information, stories, arugments, problems, etc… you have with someone, some company, job, etc… can be used in this production. We will not be held liable because you shared information that you later regret.

From time to time, we plan to offer clips of our interviews here on this blog so that our readers can get some peaks at whats coming.

matt!

State of the Industry (AKA Porners Manifesto)

Last evening, I responded to Mike South’s weblog. Earlier he discussed why the adult industry is feeling the pinch with down sales across the board from distributors, major companies, programs, and webmasters. I offered my view on what is wrong with the porn industry and ideas on how to fix it. I wanted to share the same information with my readers but expand on it a little bit more. Now I do not believe it will completely fix what is ailing the adult world currently, but any little bit would surely help slow the bleeding some.

Webmasters

Problem: The first thing I mentioned was for websites that are feeling the pinch to lower their prices especially in the down economy. Webmasters everywhere are claiming that slow sales is hurting them and that some are even going out of business. Well, my friends, thats what happens when any business does not plan ahead. One needs to look no further than the GFY threads and you will quickly see threads based around foolish webmasters buying brand new cars, silly toys, etc… They fail to realize that their customers today are not as stupid as they once were. Many of their constant sales have found other avenues for their porn fix through torrent sites, newsgroups, etc… While the issue of piracy is simple enough to blame lost sales on, webmasters now have to worry about sites like PornoTube stealing what would be their next sale. Ever since I can recall following the adult industry, many webmasters could care less about the future. They cared about converting the traffic into sales for today. Like most, everyone considered porn would always be in demand. No one could forsee the recession that was headed our way. Still, these webmasters continued to spend their quick cash faster than many made it. These same webmasters would quickly screw over a customer in order to make a sale, sometimes even hidden cross sales without the customer’s knowlegde. Theres no quicker suicide for business than stealing from your customers. Add to it pages that were updated sporadically, if ever.

Solution: Quit screwing over your customers. Be straight with them. At least attempt to update information instead of insulting them. How long has Tawney Stone been 19? Umm, since the site started years ago? We are all happy to make money. But seriously, if you don’t provide any updated content, do you honestly expect to retain those customers after they have seen virtually everything on the site? Those webmasters with skills, help out the newbies so that they can do things the right way. Offer your services for free….yeah…I said it, for free. Not all of the time but pro-bono work sometimes has a way of finding more work coming back your way. You never know who will have huge success and one day, you might need a favor as well.

Female Talent

Problem:   Let’s get one thing straight. You have sex for money. Pure and simple. While I would agree this is an art form, it what it is. The only difference between a porn star and an escort is there is a camera involved. Yet, many of these stars tend to smoke the diva hash pipe. These so called stars are hot the day they arrive but once they have been around for awhile, a new girl comes right in to replace you. It doesn’t mean to get an attitude. I wrote on South’s page about a story that I once experienced with a porn star.

I overheard this porn chick one day at Starbucks in LA. Her and her agent were talking about how to increase her popularity and you can imagine the same bullshit. Go on KSex, web sites, radio, etc… So I mention the same things I just did above and the porner looked back at me and said and I quote: “Are you fucking stupid? Why would I ever want to fuck any of my fans? Have you ever seen my fans? They are fucking gross and fat. Why do you think they have to jerk off to me? The day I fuck my fans is the day I become a whore.” Now imagine that. I simply replied, you fuck for money, youre a whore.

Seriously, I have never seen an industry that ignores their fans the way porn stars do. Not to mention, these same stars are the ones who think they should be immune to the down times by charging the same rates to producers. I am unsure if anyone has tried to sit them down and explain that what they do isn’t that difficult to find someone else to do. Unless you shoot fireworks out of your vagina, you have sex on camera. It’s not something you went to college for. You do not need a special degree for it. You lay down, you have sex, and then take a brick in the mouth. But to listen to some girls, you would think they are curing world hunger or cancer. The only cancer they may be preventing is prostate cancer but thats still open to debate.

Solution: I know its hard but try to care about your fans. Afterall, if you did not have them, where would you be other than in some club trying to get noticed? Give something back to those who pay your bills and I am not talking about the director or producer. They get laid enough. You want to make a difference, try laying one of your fans. Get passed the fact that they do not look like your normal porn partners. So what? In a few years, you will not be as hot as the chick they will be supporting with their hard earned cash then. Build for your future. Ensure a fan for life. I promise you, one day your current fame or vision of fame will fade and what will you be? Unless your name is Jenna Jameson, you will pretty much be an afterthought to the new generation of porn consumers, not to mention having to compete with new Nicole Graves, Kerri Sables, Melissa Midwests, Allison Angels, etc… Remember, everything you do now will only help you in the future. Then again, you can go away like Janine and then come back and fizzle. Who really cared when she came back? I mean where else could you find tattooed girls that were hot? Oh yeah, suicide girls. No need for Janine. Imagine what a live phone call to one of your fans would do? Furthermore, unless you are an A list celeb, forget your limitations. I cannot count how many models has a list with a ton of don’ts or that they will work with only their own partner. Seriously, if you get hired to do a scene, you are getting hired. Not your preferred partner or boyfriend. Why should some director or producer change their niche or content just to get you on film? Furthermore, quit expecting kill fees. It comes with business. We know its important for you to make all the cash you can but if you are losing money on a shoot, I guarrantee the company, crew, producer, etc.. are all losing money as well. Why should you be treated any different? Do a free shoot once in a while for newbies in the business. Like webmasters, you never know who will be successful. How nice would it be once your career has ran its course and you find yourself needing work. You can always call back on the guy you helped out? Better yet, perhaps helping a new content creator out will prevent them from screwing over future models when it comes time to pay them. If you do not do a great scene you were hired to do, do not feel ashamed to not accept full payment. If you are a professional, you should always perform professionally. Leave your gossip and drama off the set. Show up on time and be ready to work. Quit charging directors for the time you spend in make up. Do you think McDonalds pays their employees to get ready to do their job? On the subject of makeup, STOP! If you need make up to look good, then youre not all that hot to begin with.

Producers/Directors/Content Creators

Problem: Please learn your craft. I cannot say it enough. Learn to white balance correctly. Use a tripod. We get it. You’re gonzo. You’re hip, happening, artistic, visionaries, etc… Ok. But hold the camera still. Rubbing one out to some of today’s movies is equivalent to jerking off in a car on a bumpy road. Build your scenes. Make people want to be the guy on the screen. There is a reason sites like Naughty America is doing great business. The chicks are hot and the video is usually pretty good. Sites like Amatuer Allure are always setting the bar for having the hottest chicks with the best quality. Give your customers something extra. Cut your scenes down some. Does it take the average guy 30-45 minutes to rub one out?

Solution: Even the reality porn sites incorrectly reflect reality. Less is more. Really it is. Provide some serious content rather than “Hi, my name is….” right into action. I am not saying write an actual scene but for the reality sites, why not make it seem like we actually to get to know the real girl (not her on screen persona) before rubbing one out? Let us see some genuine laughter and fun. How many times have you met a girl and then went straight into oral? If so, does she have a sister you can hook me up with? Seriously, provide your customers with something that they want to keep. Make them want to come back. Oh yeah, quit selling your content to every webmaster that is willing to pay. All you are doing is devaluing your content and worth not to mention over exposing the model with the same thing. (Sobegirl is notorious for this.) If you have content that isn’t up to your quality, donate it to someone else who can use it who is just starting out. Goodwill goes a long way. Kharma baby! Like webmasters and female talent, take someone under your wing and show them the ins and outs of this business. Success isn’t only what you acquire, its what you pass along to those lives you come in contact with. Why was Burt Reynold’s character so likeable in Boogie Nights? He generally seemed to care about his crew and talent. He fed them, housed them, let them swim in his pool. It wasn’t until he was an asshole that his stubborn ways began to cost him money…starting to see a pattern here? Build friendships, not business partners. If the porn industry ceased to exist today, what would many of you have left? Friends are priceless. Pay your crew and talent well, but most of all PAY THEM! If the girl does an awesome job, throw her some extra cash. Sure it cuts into your bottom line but think about that inevitable future where your talent flakes and you need a quick fill in. Who do you think will be the first to show up?

Programs

Problem: Perhaps its the “in” thing to do these days but why do you feel the need to offer all these trips, iPods, iPhones, dates, cash prizes, etc… to your affliates? I get that they make you money. That’s cool. But don’t you think your customers are more deserving? Imagine what would happen if once a month, a customer won $5000? Or five customers won $1000? You just made a sale for life. Oh yeah, they just called their friends and bragged that that they won something cool on a web site. What do you think their friend is gonna do? He’s going to join! He gets content and a chance to win something. Because right now, Joe Customer has a choice. I can join a newsgroup service and download all the porn I want for $20/mo or I can join a site and maybe get something back. What do you think a $5000 customer would do first? I bet he extends his membership for another year. Always reward loyalty. Whether he is a customer for a month or 10 years, he is considered loyal because he gave you money for something, you gave him nothing. He gave you his business, you did not give him yours.

Solution: Price your site to reflect the economy. Many programs and their affliates are bitching that sales are down. Well duh dumbasses. Did you really expect someone with less money today compared to five years ago to continue to paying the same price? Don’t even start with the inflation argument. Everything has gotten cheaper to produce. The problem is many of you do not want to lose your margins. Better to relax your margins today rather than close your doors tomorrow. PAY your affliates. Pay those who are working their asses off so you can make money. If they make you a sale, pay them. Pay them. Pay them. Oh yeah, PAY THEM! You might not think its a big deal shaving here and shaving there, but times are tough all over. They need to eat just like you. Only they wont be eating steak but at least they still eat. Here’s another bright idea, pay some newbie who just started extra once in awhile. Do you not think an unannounced or unexpected bonus will make that affliate work that much harder to drive sales and traffic to your site? There is a reason businesses offer bonuses. It helps employee morale. It inspires employees to work harder. Without your employees, you have no business! If a girl gives you an awesome scene and its driving customers to sign up because of it, try sending her a little extra cash down the road. Do you think maybe she’ll come back later on and work just as hard? Sometime it pays to share the wealth. Quit hiding cross checked sales from your customers. There is a reason Visa charges a startup cost and it rhymes with “largebacks”. Unauthorized sales are the number reason for chargebacks with poor/lack of quality content running a close second. Stealing from your customer is a sure death knell and speaks largely about the kind of assholes that run the company.

Overall Porn Community

Problem: You are not a family. You are nothing like it was back in the 70s and 80s. Back then, friends got together to make money. Nowadays, partners who make money become friends. Seriously, have fun. Make some friends, be a family. Take care of one another.

Solution: If you create a nice circle of friends and forget that you are all competing for the same business, then success will come for your circle. Forget making success about you. Make it about your family. Party together, barbecue together, fuck each other together. Combine your efforts for the common goal…NOT MONEY…but fun. The money will or will not come. Having fun is the only thing you can control. Quit selling each other out just to make a dollar. What you lose today is nearly impossible to get back tomorrow. Have fun and get each other laid. If you have skills or services, offer them to somone else out of the blue with no expectation of anything in return. FREE? “Screw that,” you say? This is why your industry suffers at every turn. You collectively belong to the same fraternity, better yet, sorority who continually back stabs one another. Sometimes its not even about money (read Amber Lynn), its just boredom and drama queen syndrome. Be proud of the life that you chose instead of hiding in secrecy. You chose this career. It did not choose you. Stand up for your rights and the rights of your customers (read FSC). Do something for others without expectations of press coverage, releases, or even a thank you. Have an extra video or digital camera, help someone out. You can give a man a fish…wait that sucks. You can give a man a chick and he can have sex for a day. You can teach a man how to score chicks and he can get laid for life. You know where I am going with it. Volunteer your time for things outside your business. Give people a reason to associate porners with something other being a blight. Many sleazy companies do plenty of charity work and are given a free pass because of it. Before all of you start crying about doing something for free, you are ensuring future business. the RIAA and MPAA have found out the hard way what consumers want and the consumers fought back. Just like them, the adult industry will suffer the same fate at the hands of the now-educated consumer.

I am sure I have pissed off nearly everyone. But if you have read this far and are angry, read back through it. Every point I have made makes perfect sense. Afterall, the way you have done it to this point isn’t exactly working any more now is it? I am sure there is a webmaster out there giving me the middle finger right now or a female talent telling me to GFY. I am sure there is a director or producer that will have a ton of reasons for doing what they do. Same for programs. Angry as you may be, this is the truth. This is all involved are suffering. Those that have prepared well will continue to do fine. Those that haven’t, perhaps now is a good time to rethink your business model or at the very least consider what I have written and give it a try. You could always tell me to piss off and I have no clue about what I am talking about. I mean afterall, I am a former porn customer, what do I know?

Matt!

The Documentary

Ok. I grabbed me some dinner. Now I am prepared to layout our plans on this documentary. In coming up with this idea, I had to decide on just who I planned on interviewing. It would be really simple to throw together a fluff piece that consists of only the good people in porn. However, that would not exactly be fair now would it? I would be guilty of the same thing the networks are and I refuse to sell out on this project.

Our goal is to interview as many people involved in the adult industry as we can. This will consist of male and female performers, producers, directors, photographers, crews, webmasters, distributors, and even talent agents. Our plan is to sit down with those in each category and get to know the real person behind the persona. We will ask the most personal questions even if we already know the answer. We will find out what kind of jobs these individuals had before their foray into porn. We will find out if they suffered any type of abuse early in life. We will talk to those who are married, have kids, have prominent positions within the community, etc… We will provide the human element that the news show refuse to display. We will find out once and for all if porn is the blight on society that politicians and Christian conservatives will have you believe.

Once our journey has been completed and we have multiple interviews with the different types of players in the game, we will cut together a documentary that will truly represent the porn community. While it would be foolish and down right arrogant to think that this will represent the entire industry, it will provide the aurgument visually from someone who shares no dog in this fight.

As far as getting the message out, that remains up in the air. We have several routes of distribution. We could author Blu Ray/DVDs for sale but frankly, there is very little money in documentaries, even one such as this. However, my goal is much more than making money off of this…it’s not. Someone once said the truth shall set you free. Well, I for one, am sick of the lies and the purposely skweded numbers that states porn, sex, nudity, etc… is such a bad thing. Maybe if people were armed with the truth, then at the very least they could make an educated decision. Afterall, isn’t that why everyone claims to be misunderstood.

So there you have it. If you would like to be a part of this project, email us . We will consider all positions within this industry and even those that oppose it. This will be an excellent chance for some amatuers to get their 15 minutes of fame or even exposure to receive additional work. For webmasters or programs/affliates, this is an excellent chance to pimp your content/sites/models and get exposure to an entire group of people that never knew your stuff existed.

The war on porn has already been declared. Will you be a part of the revolution or will you continue to remain silent and help their cause?

Matt!

Adult Documentary

Why is it everytime you see a report on the adult industry during a mainstream show that its usually so slanted that one has to shake their head and wonder if the horror stories are true? Off the top of my head within the last year, I have seen shows on network television claiming to “research” the adult industry only to provide horribly skewed numbers to support the slanted reporting?

Face it America! You love sex. You cannot get enough of sex. One needs to look no further than the internet or even Craig’s list to see all of the part time prostitutes shilling their assets for 80 kisses, raindrops, or whatever catchy name they can come up with. (I once saw someone require 250 dog bones. Damn Her dog must be really hungry!)

One only has to turn on their TV and instantly they are unindated with sexual innuendo in TV shows or a shot of a bare ass or the side of a woman’s breast. So what is the hang up with sex and porn?

We have all seen porn at one time or another. I remember when I was younger, I snuck into my parent’s room and swiped a peek at Playboy. I was forever under the hypnosis of all that is woman. Ever since, my life has consisted of a woman in my bed or at the very least, no more than a phone call away. I am positive that many in America share similar stories. The difference between them and myself? I can admit it.

Sadly, many porn consumers refuse to admit they like porn yet furiously run home after work on Friday’s to download the latest Milf Hunter video or to rub one out at the latest Bang Bros video. Yet if you were to stop one of these guys on the street, they would flat deny ever purchasing porn much less rubbing one out while watching it. The same religious groups that rail against the sight of a bare breast are the same ones that pick up hookers to do what their good Christian wives won’t do. The same people elected to high ranking positions, such as politicians are out trying to pick up gay sex in public bathrooms.

Before we go any further, let’s all say what every single marketing company has known. SEX SELLS! Sex has sold everything since the beginning of time. How hard do you think it was for Eve, standing there naked with only a leaf covering her vertical smile to get Adam to take a bite of the apple? Ive seen guys do much less and spend a lot more and end up with nothing in the end (see Sugar Daddies). We are sold sex from the time we first take a breath. Do you think we got erections in school because the teacher was hot? We got it because we are programmed to procreate.

Moving on, I was checking out a YouTube video of Chasey Lain recently. The same woman I used to stroke it to looked hideous. Dare I say cracked out? Then it dawned on me. This is what America associates with the Adult Industry. Its not secret that the adult industry suffers a black eye every time Max Hardcore produces another flick that makes a young girl cry, whimper, or vomit. The industry suffered every time Rob Black had another girl drink a “milkshake” from her ass. The last thing the adult industry needs is once popular stars being displayed well after their prime acting as a lunatic on YouTube.

I laid in bed that night and wondered why every single news report on porn seemingly cast a black eye on an already screwed up industry. Sure it can be said that these stations have an agenda. Everyone has an agenda. However, porners with the best intentions never let it be known about the good people that work in that industry. Then I became pissed off. Because I happen to know of a couple awesome people that are involved with adult work. They are awesome people who just like to have sex. Neither contribute nor suffered from the common cliches that refer to the sex industry. I decided it was up to me to be the voice for them.

I decided that I would put all of my years of video experience to use. No, I didn’t decide to go and shoot porn. Rather, I decided to embark on a journey so awesome that finally someone could present the porn industry for what it is. No agenda, no slants. Just one and his desire for the truth to be told. While I am not purely convinced that the industry as a whole is as pure and nice as I would like to believe, hell, even as nice as many in that industry would tell you. But at least they will get one thing they haven’t received from the start. Someone who has thrown preconceptions out the window and wants to find out who the real people are in the adult industry.

My next blog will be more detailed about what we are looking for. This entry was nothing more than some background information on why I decided on this project. While I could be out shooting some gigs for major cash, sometimes seeking the truth requires sacrifice.