The Porn Industry: An Expose
By Cameron Rowe
December 20, 2010
Note: Porn in California is basically shutdown to the Adult Industry Medical HealthCare Foundation’s closing. Vivid has halted production for the time being.
Porn is a Big Business
The worldwide adult entertainment industry is estimated to be a $97 billion business with California holding only $10-13 billion of the revenue with a lot larger impact on California’s economy. According to 60 Minutes in 2003, it is a $10 billion business in California and they pay $36 million in taxes. In 2010, TMZ reported Vivid paid Montana Fishburne, the daughter of actor Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), $1 million for one video. Later they offered $5 million for a multi-year deal. In 2006, according to UK’s Daily Mail Online, Jenna Jameson sold her porn empire to Playboy for $30 million. Jill Kelly had to sell her Jill Kelly Productions for a mere $2 million to avoid bankruptcy but still the money flowed. Jill Kelly Productions used condoms and fell out of favor with audiences that wanted Gonzo.
Undoubtedly, production companies like Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures are the most profitable. Vivid is a $100 million a year company. However, the 1972 classic porn movie “Deep Throat” was reputed to have made $600 million to $1 billion all by itself. If that movie cost $50,000 to make, the profit was so large it would boggle a calculator. The LA Times tried to debunk the figure but the article by Mark Hiltzik. The makers of the movie did claim $600 million or more but it was reputed to be made by the mob so who knows. It would be difficult to prove or disprove the figures since only a select few know. But, the $1 billion figure has been reported often.
Porn still makes a lot of money. If Vivid is willing to pay $1 million for a sex tape and sold 25,000 copies, it had to make a lot of money. The Paris Hilton sex tape made a fortune but wasn’t made by porn but an amateur. Porn videos are sold over and over again on different DVDs and websites. One scene could end up on hundreds of places making the figures almost unattainable. Basically, it is akin to cutting a scene from Star Wars and selling a twenty minute clip everywhere.
DirecTV reportedly makes $500 million a year on pornography. DISH Network’s figures are unknown but both satellite providers have an adult channel ($30+ a month) and Video-On-Demand (VOD) can cost you $9.95 or more. Comcast, the largest cable provider, has VOD pornography and it cost $9.95 or more. The San Francisco Gate said, in 2004, Comcast was cashing in on porn. The article said porn was the half of the cash flow of VOD. And, that was in 2004.
Florida Governor-Elect Rick Scott has investments in porn Quepasa, know as the Playboy Mexico that is a social networking site, according to an Orlando NBC station named WESH.
Another company called AdultVest, Inc. was supposed to allow millionaires the ability to invest in porn secretly. Basically, you had to have a $1 million net worth to even get in to invest. According to Business Insider, they claimed a 50% return by investing in porn domain names. None have sold. According to the same magazine, the hedge fund is broke and accused of fraud. It is being investigated by the FBI and SEC. An investor claimed Francis Koenig looted the company according to the article.
Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/21/60minutes/main585049.shtml
http://www.tmz.com/2010/08/10/porn-vivid-entertainment-montana-fishburne-multi-picture-deal-laurence-fishburne/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1329039/Porn-star-Jenna-Jameson-reveals-quit-industry-twin-baby-boys.html
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/comments/2623/
http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-02-13/business/17413578_1_comcast-adult-entertainment-cable-industry/2
http://www.wesh.com/news/24611467/detail.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/1/porn-investing-hedge-fund-claims-50-return
http://www.businessinsider.com/porn-hedge-fund-accused-of-fraud-2009-4
How Much Do Porn Stars Make?
The biggest porn stars are usually contract performers for a major production company like Vivid or Wicked. The average female porn performer working in one scene makes about $1,000-1,500 a day. The average male porn performer makes $200-$400. Both, in this case, are independent contractors not employees. Jenna Jameson, Shy Love or Belladonna can make more since they own their own production company. Residuals, getting a cut every time the scene is shown or sold, is not something porn production companies pay. Top stars can make a lot but most porn performers are your average ones chasing gold. Small studios probably don’t pay that much.
Jerry Butler’s book “Raw Talent” (circa 1980s) claimed the $1,000-$1,500 figure for women and $300-$500 a day for men. The legend Seka supposedly wanted $100,000 to do another movie. The late superstar Savannah supposedly made $10,000 a movie. This was in the 1980s but times have not changed for the average porn performer.
Female porn stars that basically build a brand of themselves can make up to $1 million or more but that includes conventions, movies, stripping, endorsement, personal appearances, clothing lines, etc. A lot make in the $400,000 range for top stars. They do work a lot to do so though. Branding is the new wave in porndom because movies don’t make the money, all the other things they do brings in the cash. Some of those endorsements are well-known companies according to insiders.
A lot of porn stars are not hard to “date”. It is expensive. Websites even gave figures on how much it costs. It is also known that some porn stars prostitute on the side. You can even book them through an agency via a website for “VIP Members”. Lela Star was listed at $2,000 an hour and it said, “Both. Full Service”. One porn star was $2,500 an hour. They will come to your hotel in specific cities. Prostitution? I think “Prostate Massage” might say yes. Champagne ready before they arrive is required. And, tips are appreciated. No, the website will not be published. As far as is known, it is not required to be reported to the police. Sure they know about it already. “Dating” seems to be way more profitable than making a porn video. And, no taxes if cash unless they are honest.
The rigors of prostitution, and it happens among porn stars and performers, is well documented. Prostitutes have always run the risk of murder, beatings, rape, injuries and sexually transmitted diseases. According to Hookers for Jesus, there is sex trafficking in America so they porn stars that claimed they were forced into prostitution could be telling the truth. Not enough information to know. However, it is real easy to get a “Date” if you have the money. And, I doubt a “prostate massage” (and others) is legal. Of course, you might just find an FBI agent in that hotel room rather than a porn star.
Independent contractors have to pay their own taxes. If one makes $1,000, they have to deduct an easy forty percent to pay state, federal, and Social Security taxes. Again, male performers make a lot less. That leaves an amazing $600 left. Talent still needs to keep themselves fit, tanned, etc. so that would eat into that pay as well. Jenna Jameson clearly is an exception to how big the business can be for a porn star.
http://www.pamelapeaks.com/Data/TalentEscortServices.htm
http://stason.org/TULARC/sex-relationships/sex-movies/19-4-How-much-do-porn-stars-make.html
How Long to Shoot a Porn Video?
Ex-porn stars have said it takes four to eight hours to shoot a twenty to thirty minute scene. That makes that pay now $250 an hour to as little as $125 an hour. Remove forty percent for taxes and that is $150 an hour and $75 an hour, respectively. Small porn production companies might pay only $500 a day so that is $300 after taxes. The performer still has the other costs of looking good. For the average porn performer that doesn’t sound like a lot of money when you can “date” and make $1500-$2,500 an hour. Not bad for an hour’s work if you delve into prostitution.
On porn bulletin boards where porn performers talk about pay and where to go to make a video, some have stated “Dates” are far, far more profitable and you just do a few porn videos a year to keep your star status.
The average video of twenty to thirty minutes takes four to eight hours to shoot. Even on porn bulletin boards they have admitted to taking that long. Former porn star Jersey Jaxin said the four to eight hours was the normal shoot time.
Are Their Downsides to Working in Porn?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV do happen. The real figures on the percentages of STDs and other illnesses are not readily known. In fact, it was almost impossible to find out. In California, it appears STDs are ten times more common in porn than in real life. That could be wrong or correct. Here are some stats according to New Scientist quoting LA County Health Department figures since 2004 (to 2009):
22 performers have tested positive for HIV
2,378 cases of Chlamydia
1,257 cases for Gonorrhea
15 cases of Syphilis
The LA County Director of Public Health said, “Sexually transmitted diseases are rampant [in the porn industry]”. It is questionable if those statistics were from porn or elsewhere among porn performers. Still, those numbers are shocking.
Lara Roxx went to California from New York to make an “easy” $1,000 for a porn shoot that her agent advised against. She claimed she was supposed to perform straight sex but they said the needed a double penetration scene or they didn’t need her. Since she needed the money to even get home, she did the revised scene and contracted HIV from porn star Darren James. He infected her and two other female performers. This happened in 2004 and shut down the porn industry.
Besides the STD fears, porn actresses have been murdered, raped and one was killed in a bondage scene. The legendary John Holmes died of AIDS (mostly because he was into sleeping with the lowest class of hookers). Many have committed suicide including porn superstar Shauna Grant and French porn star Karen Lancaume. Drugs seems to be prevalent even on porn sets. Former porn star Jersey Jaxin said, “85% of performers drink or use hard drugs before a shoot.” (paraphrase) She also said a lot of the men use Viagra due to the long shoot times to produce a video. Other ex-porn stars said the nearly the same.
Zoey Zane was murdered by Israel Mireles presumably in El Dorado after he raped her; the aggravated sodomy charge was dropped. She was found 50 miles from El Dorado after last being seen leaving a bar. He was convicted of capital murder and rape and sentenced to life in prison. He worked near the bar at an Italian restaurant and they found blood in his hotel room and his abandoned car. Emily Irene Sander, aka Zoey Zane, was only 18 years old.
Even Jenna Jameson has supposedly been gang raped three or four times. Porn superstar Haley Paige was most likely murdered by her husband after she disappeared for three weeks in 2007; her husband killed himself before police could question him. Ms. Paige’s father supposedly sent her to Asia to be a sex toy for men when she was in her teens. Vanessa Freeman was murdered by a prostitution client in 2007. Rebecca Steele died penniless from a drug overdose in a hotel room while dying of AIDS.
The worst might be Natel King, aka Taylor Summers, who did porn for college. She was murdered in a bondage scene by pornographer Anthony Frederick in 2004. She was found in a black fabric with duct tape, bound with straps, a ball gag in her mouth, and multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and hands. Police said she struggled. She was found in deep ravine in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. She was on her side but her chest was on the ground. Anthony Frederick was found guilty of murder in August, 2005 and sentenced to 24-51 years in prison. Some said it may have been a snuff film shoot. No video was found. It possibly could have been sold to a client if it existed. Frederick gave no motive for the murder. She was only 23.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17317-sexual-diseases-rampant-in-californian-porn-industry.html
http://skinflicks.blogspot.com/2009/08/keep-your-daughter-off-pole.html
http://askville.amazon.com/taylor-summers/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=61982772
AIM (Adult Industry Medical) HealthCare Foundation and “Doctor” Sharon Mitchell
Porn star Darren James sued AIM and some AIM officials in 2005 for invasion of privacy and his suicidal attempt after his name was released that he had HIV. The lawsuit was settled out of court with a confidentiality agreement. Usually, that means the plaintiff won. James did say he wished he was the only one that got infected. The LA Times reporter Rong Gong-Lin II covered the story. (Note: No link since I could not pull the article from the LA Times but I made a copy of it in 2009.)
The porn industry, Gene Ross of AdultFYI, claimed Lara Roxx was actually infected with HIV not James. This could be industry spin since they are not the LA Times. Gene Ross admitted to calling her and demanding an interview and claimed she wanted money for one. Now, that is his side of the story. He posted the conversation. The impression of his wording of the non-interview was that of being harassing. She hung up on him. He claims some picture was taken of her anus the same day she worked with James. Another shoot after James, was supposed to happen but she had a rash she claimed she got from working with James and Marc Anthony and waxing. She didn’t do the scene because the male performer refused to work with her. If the rash was herpes, Ross has no proof the picture was the day she shot a scene with James just someone’s word. Ross doesn’t even offer proof the picture was Lara Roxx’s either. Unfortunately for AdultFYI, Darren James ultimately claimed responsibility. That and it looks like horrible spin by Ross that should lead one to believe the LA Times and Darren James’s version therein.
According to NPR, AIM (Adult Industry Medical) HealthCare Foundation is being sued again by a mom and daughter who performed in porn and are alleging AIM allowed the mother’s results to go viral and someone posted her real name. The case is a class action against AIM. Highly doubtful lawyers would take on a class action unless they thought they would win. They claim AIM allows Much like the Darren James lawsuit, it’ll probably be settled out of court.
AIM was created in 1988 by Sharon Mitchell and Dr. Steven York, an internist, according to AIM to test performers to make sure the porn industry was safe. Just this December, AIM was shut down by the LA County Health Department after its application for a “medical clinic” license was rejected. AIM had been operating under a “doctor’s office” license till California said they needed the other license. That alone should tell anyone AIM was either incompetently run or the LA County Health Department was incompetent. Mitchell still wears a white lab coat walking around like a doctor.
Sharon Mitchell claims to be a sexologist. However, her Ph.D. in human sexuality comes from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. The Institute is still not accredited by a proper agency according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Last year, it had no accreditation whatsoever including a state run one that really doesn’t count anyway. California’s Bureau of Postsecondary and Vocational Education clearly states it is up to the student to see the Institute is a diploma mill, degree mill and/or meets their academic needs. It doesn’t. Unless it is accredited under CHEA, employers won’t consider it. California is lax about kicking out schools without national accreditation that counts.
According to the American College of Sexologists, Sharon Mitchell is listed as having HIV/SEX/Drug-Alcohol Addition specialties. California does not regulate sexologists and neither does any other state except Florida. How Ms. Mitchell has those specialties is beyond the scope of an apparent diploma mill/accreditation mill. Even in California, that could be illegal to claim medical credentials if that is what she’s claiming. A serologist in Florida has to have a real degree and pass a state exam to be called a doctor of sexology or you are committing a crime. Florida did that because of basically prostitution and “therapy” that was not regulated.
Sharon Mitchell is no doctor, no medical professional, and has an apparent diploma mill degree. The American College of Sexologists will accept anyone if you pay the fees and have such a degree. If you go to their website, those sexologist in Florida are MDs, MSWs and so forth. One sexologist in California I looked up had a website that looked mostly like a porn video store. If Ms. Mitchell used that degree to apply for a job with a private employer, they would laugh at the degree since it is not accredited.
She admitted she was addicted to Heroin for sixteen years. Not sure how many porn movies she was in since various places have said 900+ and over 2,000. Mostly in New York City’s tame porn industry. She did win awards for her work from AVN so she is a porn star just not a doctor of any flavor. Even she contracted STDs during her porn career including herpes. In 1996, which is sad, she was attacked and raped by a stalker who almost killed her. After that she basically quit the business and appeared only sporadically in porn. Mitchell was lucky since Chasey Lain has not beat crack (the person said she looked like a “crack whore”) according to reports.
AIM vs. LA County Health Department and AIDS HealthCare Foundation
AIM is losing the war of licensing according to mikesouth.com. AIM is reportedly going to drop its 501(c)(3) status and become a for profit company to get the “clinic license”. The website noted that the LA County Health Department might have big problems with the change and the AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF) might end up as the testing company for porn. The AHF, compared to AIM, is huge. A shocking turn of events. Mikesouth.com was critical of AIM, and so has some porn production companies, that it did it to itself. Even that website admitted AVN shouldn’t parade her “doctorate” in articles. It seems some in porn are turning on AIM. The website also said Vivid released all its contract girls and other staff and is basically shut down.
http://www.adultfyi.com/read.php?ID=22883
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128384918
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Mitchell
What is Legal in Porn?
Obscenity Laws
Max Hardcore was a crusty old geezer in a cowboy hat that violated federal obscenity laws a jury found. The St. Petersburg Times, on October 4, 2008, reported Paul F. Little, aka Max Hardcore, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for violating Obscenity Laws. He also has 3 years probation after his prison stint. Jurors convicted him on 10 counts of selling obscene material on the Internet and 10 counts of mailing it to Tampa via the United States Mail. The Judge didn’t give him the hardcore sentencing he deserved but he had to forfeit 3 websites to the government, pay a $7,500 fine, and Max Hardcore Entertainment was ordered to pay a $75,000 fine. Little was worth as much as $1.4 million but is now broke. The Judge did not care. In fact, the Judge went easy since he faced 4 years and 9 months in jail and between $1.2 to $2.4 million in fines.
The porn he produced was described as “messy” and violent. Some of the women in his videos claimed they were underage, one said 12 years old actually, then subjected to some violent, near rape actions at his hands. The fifty year old Max loved the “school girl” image and even put “Euro” on the label. He claimed that meant to be only sold in Europe not America but the Judge said that label “Euro” meant it was more hardcore than usual and only the naïve would believe otherwise. Some of his videos were “pretend rape with underage girls”. All the women in his videos were 18 or older but the Judge and Jury threw the book at him. Even Hustler’s Larry Flynt refused to help Max Hardcore in court.
The 1973 U.S. Supreme Case Miller v. California was used to convict Little. It says obscenity occurs if the work lacks “literary, artistic, political or scientific value” in a “community”. See CNBC’s video. Patrick Trueman, the former US DOJ Chief of Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, said porn producers violate obscenity laws everyday if they were enforced by state and federal laws. Cities use zoning laws to keep porn out. Watch the video for more.
New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani used zoning laws to clean up all the porn shops in Times Square. If it can be done in New York, it can be done anywhere. Also, apartment complexes and similar businesses can put a “no-porn clause” in the lease, which is perfectly legal to do. Zoning laws such as no adult business within 1,000 feet of a school or church can effectively kick porn out of a community.
Neesa, a porn actress, claims she was raped by Max Hardcore (see her YouTube video) in the summer of 2002. She also claims 12 other police complaints of rape were filed against him by other female performers. He’s rather infamous in the porn industry with only a few wanting anything to do with him; Hustler’s Larry Flynt didn’t. The other 12 police complaints could not be found, since rape complaints are usually protected till a prosecution, but Neesa is not releasing names. No proof but her claim so it is up to you to decide.
John Stagliano was charged with crimes with his companies associated with Evil Angel porn production company for trafficking obscene material in interstate commerce in 2008. Politico said, “U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ordered the acquittal of Stagliano and two companies related to his Evil Angel studio…” on July 16, 2010. Some say the DOJ under Eric Holder blew the case. We’ll probably never know.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/article838305.ece
http://www.salon.com/health/sex/urge/2000/01/18/hustler/print.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggfgyh429Ao&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gY6W8g4Ks
http://reason.org/news/show/trial-john-stagliano
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/April/08-crm-280.html
http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0710/DOJ_stumbles_prompt_porn_purveyors_acquittal.html
What is Illegal in Porn via California Laws?
Condoms are required in porn production in California. Just read the law:
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has established Vital information
for workers and employers in the adult film industry as follows:
“In addition to general health and safety hazards associated with film and video production,
workers in the adult film industry face particular hazards because actors perform sex acts in the
course of making the films or videos. Many diseases can be transmitted through blood, semen,
vaginal fluid and fecal material, or by mucous membrane contact.
One important group of diseases is those caused by bloodborne pathogens, including HIV,
hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In addition to actors, employees in this industry at risk of becoming
infected include people who clean up after scenes and people who assist in developing scenes,
whether or not they are shown on film. If any sharps, such as razor blades or wires, are used (for shaving, piercing, etc.), they pose a particular risk for spreading infection because they can
puncture the skin.
Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not considered bloodborne pathogens, but can be
transmitted through contact with mucous membranes, semen, vaginal fluids or feces.”
In addition, California has established explicit procedures for the adult film industry with regards
to blood pathogens (§5193. Bloodborne Pathogens) as follows:
“The Cal/OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard requires employers to protect workers from
serious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, which can be transmitted through
exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. The major requirements of this
standard include:
Controlling exposures
The bloodborne pathogens standard requires employers to use feasible engineering and work
practice controls to protect workers from coming into contact with blood or other diseasecarrying
body fluids (referred to in the standard as "other potentially infectious material", or
"OPIM"). Semen and vaginal fluid are always considered OPIM. Any other body fluid is
considered OPIM if it’s visibly contaminated with blood. Saliva is considered OPIM in
connection with dental procedures because these procedures routinely cause saliva to be
contaminated with blood.
The kind of contact prohibited by the standard is contact between skin or mucous membranes
and blood or OPIM.
The methods an employer will use to protect employees from contact with blood or OPIM must
be spelled out in detail in a written exposure control plan, which is described in the bloodborne
pathogens standard.
“The bloodborne pathogens standard is built on the rule of universal precautions. This means
blood or OPIM is always treated as hazardous, no matter who the source is. This is important
because the available testing methods do not always guarantee that disease will be detected. This
is particularly true right after a person has become infected. Depending on the test and the
disease, it may take anywhere from two weeks to six months to be able to detect an infection.
There is also a risk of "false negative" results, particularly if tests have not been properly
administered, or if specimens have not been properly stored. Also, many bloodborne diseases are
not routinely tested for.
Examples of engineering and work practice controls used in the adult film industry include:
· Simulation of sex acts using acting, production and post-production techniques
· Ejaculation outside the partner's body
· Use of barriers, which protect the partner from contact with semen, vaginal fluids,
mucous membranes, etc. Examples of barriers include condoms and dental dams
(Condoms and dental dams can also be considered personal protective equipment for the
partner who uses them)
· Plastic and other disposable materials to clean up sets
· Sharps containers for disposal of any blades, wires or broken glass.
· Personal protective equipment
If, after using all practical engineering and work practice controls, workers are still exposed to
hazards, employers must provide, and ensure employees use, appropriate personal protective
equipment. Personal protective equipment can include:
· Condoms
· Dental dams
· Gloves
· Eye protection.
Hepatitis B vaccine
Employers in this industry must provide the hepatitis B vaccine series to employees who may be
exposed to blood, semen, vaginal fluid or OPIM. This series consists of three shots, generally
administered into the arm muscle, over a period of six months. About one or two months after
the third shot, the healthcare provider will draw blood to ensure the employee has developed a
strong enough immune response (antibody titer, which refers to the concentration of antibodies
in the blood) to protect against infection. In some cases the healthcare provider will recommend
an additional series of shots. To learn more about the hepatitis B vaccine, click here.
Confidential medical record
Every employer covered by this standard must ensure that a medical record is maintained for
each employee, which must be kept confidential.
Procedures for exposure incidents
If an employee has unprotected contact with someone else's blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or
OPIM, the employer must provide them with a medical evaluation and follow up [5193 (f)] at no
cost to the employee. If the source individual consents, he or she can be tested, and the results
can be disclosed to the exposed employee, but that employee must be informed of requirements
to keep the person's identity and infection status confidential.
If there is reason to believe a person has been exposed to HIV, the doctor may recommend the
person be put on drugs to prevent infection (post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP), such as AZT. If
there is reason to believe a person has been exposed to hepatitis B, and has not been completely
vaccinated, the doctor may recommend hepatitis B immunoglobulin, and may start the vaccine
series. There is currently no post-exposure treatment recommended for hepatitis C.”
How Does Porn Affect Viewers?
Porn does have an effect on those that view it. It distorts the view of normal sexuality and even affects the brain. Sexuality is directly wired into the brain’s pleasure center. Porn actually releases chemicals in the brain while it is being watched that acts exactly like a drug. People that watch tame porn will eventually need a bigger “hit” to keep the same high porn does produce.
The drug in the brain porn release is called endorphins, which are a powerful analgesic, that directly affect the brain’s pleasure centers. In fact, someone loaded with endorphins in their brain wouldn’t want anything else. The psychiatric disorder “Bipolar” releases endorphins into the brain during mania and causes, just like porn, little self-control and limits inhibitions.
In the late 1990s, the psychiatric profession was talking about making Internet addiction a disorder. And, they did. Sexual addiction already is a disorder that is extremely difficult to overcome. Porn directly attenuates the imagination. It is described as a powerful addiction by literally hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet that would like to stop watching but can’t. It has a strong effect and the more you watch, and the more graphic it is, the more control it has on a person.
When I wrote the article last year on Porn, I watched porn. I felt its powerful effects. Even though I was studying porn, which was to examine porn stars actions and tell if they were real like orgasms, I found myself not able to erase the thoughts for awhile. It just sticks there. Some porn did not have much effect, such as very young women, but the ones I found attractive did. I will admit I got a high from it watching certain porn stars such as Ginger Lynn (80s porn) and Nicole Sheridan to name two. I actually was totally bored watching porn star Shy Love since her performance was so fake. It also made me feel dirty afterwards. And, their names stuck in my head as well. Odd. If I had to critique porn, I’d say the amateurs were more engaging than the ones like Vivid produces. Mainly because it was voyeurism.
Some people have said, on various shows exploring porn’s affects on their view of sexuality, that women like what porn has to offer such as rough sex, gangbangs, etc. Oral sex, in their minds, has to be as porn presents it. Swallowing is a requirement. Anal sex should be accepted by all women. Inhibitions went by the wayside in their minds after watching graphic pornography. Women should do what they want not what they are comfortable with—a huge departure from the norms of human sexuality. Porn, in a work, perverts the beauty of human sexuality. Porn does it so why not my wife or girlfriend? The fantasy becomes reality eventually.
Other distortions include breast size, since a lot are fake, and penis size. In human sexuality, four inches can please a woman. Also, feeling a man ejaculate inside a woman is impossible for most women so that is trickery. The vagina becomes warm during sex so feeling ejaculate, which isn’t as warm, is nearly impossible. And, ejaculating outside the vagina is actually harmful to a man’s sexuality. A little is a good thing but a lot is a bad thing as they old saying goes. Porn’s preoccupation with anal sex really denoted, to me, a homosexual experience. Most real women don’t find it appealing or pleasurable. Neither do men. The excessive use of tattoos was humorous.
Endorphins and Sexual Addition
http://www.treatment-centers.net/sex-addiction.html
Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack?
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/11/65772
http://men.webmd.com/guide/is-pornography-addictive
http://www.sexualrecovery.com/resources/articles/understanding-compulsive-masturbation.php
Is Porn Faked by the Performers or is it Real?
The porn industry actually exposes itself on this question. Videos called “Real Female Orgasms” did show female performers having real orgasms. However, the other ones did not. It is easy to tell. If a woman really had an orgasm, her breasts get fuller and her nipples get harder. Porn stars with real breasts, more often than not, did not exhibit that rule. Megastar Shy Love was having an orgasm the moment intercourse began. A bad fake. Except for amateurs and production houses not as sophisticated like Vivid, most of the female performers were not enjoying it. Intercourse with the male performers really looked more like they were in pain not pleasure.
Remember, porn videos take four to eight hours to shoot so the fakery, such as nipples that are always erect, is extremely common. The male performers, on the whole, were unattractive. When I watched porn for the article last year, I had it in my mind that those men doubtfully would ever be with those women in real life. And, why does porn have such older men with such younger women? Maybe porn can’t find men that can perform that are younger. I don’t know. Just think it is odd the guys are twice as old as most of the female performers. Yes, some of the women are not attractive at all but only a handful of men were. Ron Jeremy is a good example of how porn gets the bottom of the barrel for male performers and that was in the 1980s and 1990s.
Some of the women in porn have horrible breast implants since you can see the scars. Guess some use the worst plastic surgeons they could find. One of the things I did notice was that amateur porn was just as popular. Mainly because it was real people not professionals. A lot had too much makeup on. It was caked on. How does one’s hair remain so perfect in some videos, and makeup, during the acrobatic sex they have? I won’t name names though some female performers actually had me laughing watching the ordinary machinations of oral sex then intercourse then anal sex. No wonder Shy Love can write scripts and direct. No offense to Shy Love but her performances were so unrealistic they did make me chuckle. Sue me.
Conclusion
The porn industry in California is in flux since Gonzo is preferred by viewers. AIM being shuttered then deciding to become a for profit company probably will start a war with Cal/OSHA or the LA County Health Department. Porn suffers from self-inflicted wounds. They pushed the envelope so far that there is no turning back unless regulators make them. Of course, if that happens, porn moves out of California to other states. It might take a few years but those other states will probably end up regulating them as well.
It appears the AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF), which is powerful politically, could end up as the testing place for performers in California. That would destroy porn’s self-regulation with AIM. Already they threat has hit hard since, as mikesouth.com reported, Vivid released all its contract performers and its marketing personnel and some staff.
Piracy, which has hurt the music industry, is also hurting the porn industry. Free porn on the Internet, which is in other countries, is hard to stop. In fact, as the MPAA found out, piracy was impossible to stop. Why pay for it when you can get it for free? Even Vivid CEO Steve Hirsch admitted their videos are out there for free and they find new ones everyday. That has to hurt the bottom line. It is strange the advent of high speed Internet and the music industry’s decline happened at the same time. Porn is now feeling those effects. So is the mainstream movie industry.
Porn’s future might just end up being 3D simulations people can manipulate. One website is already incredibly advanced in that area. You can design your own performers and play out your fantasies. Another device even adds the personal interaction. The other future is that Europe and certainly Eastern Europe, where laws are really lax, will dominate the porn industry (it already does for the most part).
If porn in America is a $10-13 billion industry and the world total is a $97 billion industry, it is already happening. Most of the websites are overseas not in America. And, they don’t want kids on their sites. As one operator in Amsterdam told me, “We make fortunes off of adults. We don’t need kids and the problems that come with them using our sites.”
The future is simply the Internet and the technology that is making people’s fantasies easily obtained through software and hardware that requires no performers since they create them. Why watch when you can make your own with your own taste intact? That future requires no DVDs. That future may also not require the American porn industry either. Just like FireFox is ending Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as the dominant player, so is the Internet and software. And, prostitution is a bigger business anyway. Eventually, every business model is obsolete. Simple market forces. And, something new always takes the place of something old. As Agent Smith said in the Matrix, “It is inevitable.”
Copyright December 20, 2010 by Cameron Rowe Entertainment.
By Cameron Rowe
December 20, 2010
Note: Porn in California is basically shutdown to the Adult Industry Medical HealthCare Foundation’s closing. Vivid has halted production for the time being.
Porn is a Big Business
The worldwide adult entertainment industry is estimated to be a $97 billion business with California holding only $10-13 billion of the revenue with a lot larger impact on California’s economy. According to 60 Minutes in 2003, it is a $10 billion business in California and they pay $36 million in taxes. In 2010, TMZ reported Vivid paid Montana Fishburne, the daughter of actor Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), $1 million for one video. Later they offered $5 million for a multi-year deal. In 2006, according to UK’s Daily Mail Online, Jenna Jameson sold her porn empire to Playboy for $30 million. Jill Kelly had to sell her Jill Kelly Productions for a mere $2 million to avoid bankruptcy but still the money flowed. Jill Kelly Productions used condoms and fell out of favor with audiences that wanted Gonzo.
Undoubtedly, production companies like Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures are the most profitable. Vivid is a $100 million a year company. However, the 1972 classic porn movie “Deep Throat” was reputed to have made $600 million to $1 billion all by itself. If that movie cost $50,000 to make, the profit was so large it would boggle a calculator. The LA Times tried to debunk the figure but the article by Mark Hiltzik. The makers of the movie did claim $600 million or more but it was reputed to be made by the mob so who knows. It would be difficult to prove or disprove the figures since only a select few know. But, the $1 billion figure has been reported often.
Porn still makes a lot of money. If Vivid is willing to pay $1 million for a sex tape and sold 25,000 copies, it had to make a lot of money. The Paris Hilton sex tape made a fortune but wasn’t made by porn but an amateur. Porn videos are sold over and over again on different DVDs and websites. One scene could end up on hundreds of places making the figures almost unattainable. Basically, it is akin to cutting a scene from Star Wars and selling a twenty minute clip everywhere.
DirecTV reportedly makes $500 million a year on pornography. DISH Network’s figures are unknown but both satellite providers have an adult channel ($30+ a month) and Video-On-Demand (VOD) can cost you $9.95 or more. Comcast, the largest cable provider, has VOD pornography and it cost $9.95 or more. The San Francisco Gate said, in 2004, Comcast was cashing in on porn. The article said porn was the half of the cash flow of VOD. And, that was in 2004.
Florida Governor-Elect Rick Scott has investments in porn Quepasa, know as the Playboy Mexico that is a social networking site, according to an Orlando NBC station named WESH.
Another company called AdultVest, Inc. was supposed to allow millionaires the ability to invest in porn secretly. Basically, you had to have a $1 million net worth to even get in to invest. According to Business Insider, they claimed a 50% return by investing in porn domain names. None have sold. According to the same magazine, the hedge fund is broke and accused of fraud. It is being investigated by the FBI and SEC. An investor claimed Francis Koenig looted the company according to the article.
Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/21/60minutes/main585049.shtml
http://www.tmz.com/2010/08/10/porn-vivid-entertainment-montana-fishburne-multi-picture-deal-laurence-fishburne/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1329039/Porn-star-Jenna-Jameson-reveals-quit-industry-twin-baby-boys.html
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/comments/2623/
http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-02-13/business/17413578_1_comcast-adult-entertainment-cable-industry/2
http://www.wesh.com/news/24611467/detail.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/1/porn-investing-hedge-fund-claims-50-return
http://www.businessinsider.com/porn-hedge-fund-accused-of-fraud-2009-4
How Much Do Porn Stars Make?
The biggest porn stars are usually contract performers for a major production company like Vivid or Wicked. The average female porn performer working in one scene makes about $1,000-1,500 a day. The average male porn performer makes $200-$400. Both, in this case, are independent contractors not employees. Jenna Jameson, Shy Love or Belladonna can make more since they own their own production company. Residuals, getting a cut every time the scene is shown or sold, is not something porn production companies pay. Top stars can make a lot but most porn performers are your average ones chasing gold. Small studios probably don’t pay that much.
Jerry Butler’s book “Raw Talent” (circa 1980s) claimed the $1,000-$1,500 figure for women and $300-$500 a day for men. The legend Seka supposedly wanted $100,000 to do another movie. The late superstar Savannah supposedly made $10,000 a movie. This was in the 1980s but times have not changed for the average porn performer.
Female porn stars that basically build a brand of themselves can make up to $1 million or more but that includes conventions, movies, stripping, endorsement, personal appearances, clothing lines, etc. A lot make in the $400,000 range for top stars. They do work a lot to do so though. Branding is the new wave in porndom because movies don’t make the money, all the other things they do brings in the cash. Some of those endorsements are well-known companies according to insiders.
A lot of porn stars are not hard to “date”. It is expensive. Websites even gave figures on how much it costs. It is also known that some porn stars prostitute on the side. You can even book them through an agency via a website for “VIP Members”. Lela Star was listed at $2,000 an hour and it said, “Both. Full Service”. One porn star was $2,500 an hour. They will come to your hotel in specific cities. Prostitution? I think “Prostate Massage” might say yes. Champagne ready before they arrive is required. And, tips are appreciated. No, the website will not be published. As far as is known, it is not required to be reported to the police. Sure they know about it already. “Dating” seems to be way more profitable than making a porn video. And, no taxes if cash unless they are honest.
The rigors of prostitution, and it happens among porn stars and performers, is well documented. Prostitutes have always run the risk of murder, beatings, rape, injuries and sexually transmitted diseases. According to Hookers for Jesus, there is sex trafficking in America so they porn stars that claimed they were forced into prostitution could be telling the truth. Not enough information to know. However, it is real easy to get a “Date” if you have the money. And, I doubt a “prostate massage” (and others) is legal. Of course, you might just find an FBI agent in that hotel room rather than a porn star.
Independent contractors have to pay their own taxes. If one makes $1,000, they have to deduct an easy forty percent to pay state, federal, and Social Security taxes. Again, male performers make a lot less. That leaves an amazing $600 left. Talent still needs to keep themselves fit, tanned, etc. so that would eat into that pay as well. Jenna Jameson clearly is an exception to how big the business can be for a porn star.
http://www.pamelapeaks.com/Data/TalentEscortServices.htm
http://stason.org/TULARC/sex-relationships/sex-movies/19-4-How-much-do-porn-stars-make.html
How Long to Shoot a Porn Video?
Ex-porn stars have said it takes four to eight hours to shoot a twenty to thirty minute scene. That makes that pay now $250 an hour to as little as $125 an hour. Remove forty percent for taxes and that is $150 an hour and $75 an hour, respectively. Small porn production companies might pay only $500 a day so that is $300 after taxes. The performer still has the other costs of looking good. For the average porn performer that doesn’t sound like a lot of money when you can “date” and make $1500-$2,500 an hour. Not bad for an hour’s work if you delve into prostitution.
On porn bulletin boards where porn performers talk about pay and where to go to make a video, some have stated “Dates” are far, far more profitable and you just do a few porn videos a year to keep your star status.
The average video of twenty to thirty minutes takes four to eight hours to shoot. Even on porn bulletin boards they have admitted to taking that long. Former porn star Jersey Jaxin said the four to eight hours was the normal shoot time.
Are Their Downsides to Working in Porn?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV do happen. The real figures on the percentages of STDs and other illnesses are not readily known. In fact, it was almost impossible to find out. In California, it appears STDs are ten times more common in porn than in real life. That could be wrong or correct. Here are some stats according to New Scientist quoting LA County Health Department figures since 2004 (to 2009):
22 performers have tested positive for HIV
2,378 cases of Chlamydia
1,257 cases for Gonorrhea
15 cases of Syphilis
The LA County Director of Public Health said, “Sexually transmitted diseases are rampant [in the porn industry]”. It is questionable if those statistics were from porn or elsewhere among porn performers. Still, those numbers are shocking.
Lara Roxx went to California from New York to make an “easy” $1,000 for a porn shoot that her agent advised against. She claimed she was supposed to perform straight sex but they said the needed a double penetration scene or they didn’t need her. Since she needed the money to even get home, she did the revised scene and contracted HIV from porn star Darren James. He infected her and two other female performers. This happened in 2004 and shut down the porn industry.
Besides the STD fears, porn actresses have been murdered, raped and one was killed in a bondage scene. The legendary John Holmes died of AIDS (mostly because he was into sleeping with the lowest class of hookers). Many have committed suicide including porn superstar Shauna Grant and French porn star Karen Lancaume. Drugs seems to be prevalent even on porn sets. Former porn star Jersey Jaxin said, “85% of performers drink or use hard drugs before a shoot.” (paraphrase) She also said a lot of the men use Viagra due to the long shoot times to produce a video. Other ex-porn stars said the nearly the same.
Zoey Zane was murdered by Israel Mireles presumably in El Dorado after he raped her; the aggravated sodomy charge was dropped. She was found 50 miles from El Dorado after last being seen leaving a bar. He was convicted of capital murder and rape and sentenced to life in prison. He worked near the bar at an Italian restaurant and they found blood in his hotel room and his abandoned car. Emily Irene Sander, aka Zoey Zane, was only 18 years old.
Even Jenna Jameson has supposedly been gang raped three or four times. Porn superstar Haley Paige was most likely murdered by her husband after she disappeared for three weeks in 2007; her husband killed himself before police could question him. Ms. Paige’s father supposedly sent her to Asia to be a sex toy for men when she was in her teens. Vanessa Freeman was murdered by a prostitution client in 2007. Rebecca Steele died penniless from a drug overdose in a hotel room while dying of AIDS.
The worst might be Natel King, aka Taylor Summers, who did porn for college. She was murdered in a bondage scene by pornographer Anthony Frederick in 2004. She was found in a black fabric with duct tape, bound with straps, a ball gag in her mouth, and multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and hands. Police said she struggled. She was found in deep ravine in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. She was on her side but her chest was on the ground. Anthony Frederick was found guilty of murder in August, 2005 and sentenced to 24-51 years in prison. Some said it may have been a snuff film shoot. No video was found. It possibly could have been sold to a client if it existed. Frederick gave no motive for the murder. She was only 23.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17317-sexual-diseases-rampant-in-californian-porn-industry.html
http://skinflicks.blogspot.com/2009/08/keep-your-daughter-off-pole.html
http://askville.amazon.com/taylor-summers/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=61982772
AIM (Adult Industry Medical) HealthCare Foundation and “Doctor” Sharon Mitchell
Porn star Darren James sued AIM and some AIM officials in 2005 for invasion of privacy and his suicidal attempt after his name was released that he had HIV. The lawsuit was settled out of court with a confidentiality agreement. Usually, that means the plaintiff won. James did say he wished he was the only one that got infected. The LA Times reporter Rong Gong-Lin II covered the story. (Note: No link since I could not pull the article from the LA Times but I made a copy of it in 2009.)
The porn industry, Gene Ross of AdultFYI, claimed Lara Roxx was actually infected with HIV not James. This could be industry spin since they are not the LA Times. Gene Ross admitted to calling her and demanding an interview and claimed she wanted money for one. Now, that is his side of the story. He posted the conversation. The impression of his wording of the non-interview was that of being harassing. She hung up on him. He claims some picture was taken of her anus the same day she worked with James. Another shoot after James, was supposed to happen but she had a rash she claimed she got from working with James and Marc Anthony and waxing. She didn’t do the scene because the male performer refused to work with her. If the rash was herpes, Ross has no proof the picture was the day she shot a scene with James just someone’s word. Ross doesn’t even offer proof the picture was Lara Roxx’s either. Unfortunately for AdultFYI, Darren James ultimately claimed responsibility. That and it looks like horrible spin by Ross that should lead one to believe the LA Times and Darren James’s version therein.
According to NPR, AIM (Adult Industry Medical) HealthCare Foundation is being sued again by a mom and daughter who performed in porn and are alleging AIM allowed the mother’s results to go viral and someone posted her real name. The case is a class action against AIM. Highly doubtful lawyers would take on a class action unless they thought they would win. They claim AIM allows Much like the Darren James lawsuit, it’ll probably be settled out of court.
AIM was created in 1988 by Sharon Mitchell and Dr. Steven York, an internist, according to AIM to test performers to make sure the porn industry was safe. Just this December, AIM was shut down by the LA County Health Department after its application for a “medical clinic” license was rejected. AIM had been operating under a “doctor’s office” license till California said they needed the other license. That alone should tell anyone AIM was either incompetently run or the LA County Health Department was incompetent. Mitchell still wears a white lab coat walking around like a doctor.
Sharon Mitchell claims to be a sexologist. However, her Ph.D. in human sexuality comes from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. The Institute is still not accredited by a proper agency according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Last year, it had no accreditation whatsoever including a state run one that really doesn’t count anyway. California’s Bureau of Postsecondary and Vocational Education clearly states it is up to the student to see the Institute is a diploma mill, degree mill and/or meets their academic needs. It doesn’t. Unless it is accredited under CHEA, employers won’t consider it. California is lax about kicking out schools without national accreditation that counts.
According to the American College of Sexologists, Sharon Mitchell is listed as having HIV/SEX/Drug-Alcohol Addition specialties. California does not regulate sexologists and neither does any other state except Florida. How Ms. Mitchell has those specialties is beyond the scope of an apparent diploma mill/accreditation mill. Even in California, that could be illegal to claim medical credentials if that is what she’s claiming. A serologist in Florida has to have a real degree and pass a state exam to be called a doctor of sexology or you are committing a crime. Florida did that because of basically prostitution and “therapy” that was not regulated.
Sharon Mitchell is no doctor, no medical professional, and has an apparent diploma mill degree. The American College of Sexologists will accept anyone if you pay the fees and have such a degree. If you go to their website, those sexologist in Florida are MDs, MSWs and so forth. One sexologist in California I looked up had a website that looked mostly like a porn video store. If Ms. Mitchell used that degree to apply for a job with a private employer, they would laugh at the degree since it is not accredited.
She admitted she was addicted to Heroin for sixteen years. Not sure how many porn movies she was in since various places have said 900+ and over 2,000. Mostly in New York City’s tame porn industry. She did win awards for her work from AVN so she is a porn star just not a doctor of any flavor. Even she contracted STDs during her porn career including herpes. In 1996, which is sad, she was attacked and raped by a stalker who almost killed her. After that she basically quit the business and appeared only sporadically in porn. Mitchell was lucky since Chasey Lain has not beat crack (the person said she looked like a “crack whore”) according to reports.
AIM vs. LA County Health Department and AIDS HealthCare Foundation
AIM is losing the war of licensing according to mikesouth.com. AIM is reportedly going to drop its 501(c)(3) status and become a for profit company to get the “clinic license”. The website noted that the LA County Health Department might have big problems with the change and the AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF) might end up as the testing company for porn. The AHF, compared to AIM, is huge. A shocking turn of events. Mikesouth.com was critical of AIM, and so has some porn production companies, that it did it to itself. Even that website admitted AVN shouldn’t parade her “doctorate” in articles. It seems some in porn are turning on AIM. The website also said Vivid released all its contract girls and other staff and is basically shut down.
http://www.adultfyi.com/read.php?ID=22883
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128384918
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Mitchell
What is Legal in Porn?
Obscenity Laws
Max Hardcore was a crusty old geezer in a cowboy hat that violated federal obscenity laws a jury found. The St. Petersburg Times, on October 4, 2008, reported Paul F. Little, aka Max Hardcore, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for violating Obscenity Laws. He also has 3 years probation after his prison stint. Jurors convicted him on 10 counts of selling obscene material on the Internet and 10 counts of mailing it to Tampa via the United States Mail. The Judge didn’t give him the hardcore sentencing he deserved but he had to forfeit 3 websites to the government, pay a $7,500 fine, and Max Hardcore Entertainment was ordered to pay a $75,000 fine. Little was worth as much as $1.4 million but is now broke. The Judge did not care. In fact, the Judge went easy since he faced 4 years and 9 months in jail and between $1.2 to $2.4 million in fines.
The porn he produced was described as “messy” and violent. Some of the women in his videos claimed they were underage, one said 12 years old actually, then subjected to some violent, near rape actions at his hands. The fifty year old Max loved the “school girl” image and even put “Euro” on the label. He claimed that meant to be only sold in Europe not America but the Judge said that label “Euro” meant it was more hardcore than usual and only the naïve would believe otherwise. Some of his videos were “pretend rape with underage girls”. All the women in his videos were 18 or older but the Judge and Jury threw the book at him. Even Hustler’s Larry Flynt refused to help Max Hardcore in court.
The 1973 U.S. Supreme Case Miller v. California was used to convict Little. It says obscenity occurs if the work lacks “literary, artistic, political or scientific value” in a “community”. See CNBC’s video. Patrick Trueman, the former US DOJ Chief of Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, said porn producers violate obscenity laws everyday if they were enforced by state and federal laws. Cities use zoning laws to keep porn out. Watch the video for more.
New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani used zoning laws to clean up all the porn shops in Times Square. If it can be done in New York, it can be done anywhere. Also, apartment complexes and similar businesses can put a “no-porn clause” in the lease, which is perfectly legal to do. Zoning laws such as no adult business within 1,000 feet of a school or church can effectively kick porn out of a community.
Neesa, a porn actress, claims she was raped by Max Hardcore (see her YouTube video) in the summer of 2002. She also claims 12 other police complaints of rape were filed against him by other female performers. He’s rather infamous in the porn industry with only a few wanting anything to do with him; Hustler’s Larry Flynt didn’t. The other 12 police complaints could not be found, since rape complaints are usually protected till a prosecution, but Neesa is not releasing names. No proof but her claim so it is up to you to decide.
John Stagliano was charged with crimes with his companies associated with Evil Angel porn production company for trafficking obscene material in interstate commerce in 2008. Politico said, “U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ordered the acquittal of Stagliano and two companies related to his Evil Angel studio…” on July 16, 2010. Some say the DOJ under Eric Holder blew the case. We’ll probably never know.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/article838305.ece
http://www.salon.com/health/sex/urge/2000/01/18/hustler/print.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggfgyh429Ao&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gY6W8g4Ks
http://reason.org/news/show/trial-john-stagliano
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/April/08-crm-280.html
http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0710/DOJ_stumbles_prompt_porn_purveyors_acquittal.html
What is Illegal in Porn via California Laws?
Condoms are required in porn production in California. Just read the law:
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has established Vital information
for workers and employers in the adult film industry as follows:
“In addition to general health and safety hazards associated with film and video production,
workers in the adult film industry face particular hazards because actors perform sex acts in the
course of making the films or videos. Many diseases can be transmitted through blood, semen,
vaginal fluid and fecal material, or by mucous membrane contact.
One important group of diseases is those caused by bloodborne pathogens, including HIV,
hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In addition to actors, employees in this industry at risk of becoming
infected include people who clean up after scenes and people who assist in developing scenes,
whether or not they are shown on film. If any sharps, such as razor blades or wires, are used (for shaving, piercing, etc.), they pose a particular risk for spreading infection because they can
puncture the skin.
Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not considered bloodborne pathogens, but can be
transmitted through contact with mucous membranes, semen, vaginal fluids or feces.”
In addition, California has established explicit procedures for the adult film industry with regards
to blood pathogens (§5193. Bloodborne Pathogens) as follows:
“The Cal/OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard requires employers to protect workers from
serious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, which can be transmitted through
exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. The major requirements of this
standard include:
Controlling exposures
The bloodborne pathogens standard requires employers to use feasible engineering and work
practice controls to protect workers from coming into contact with blood or other diseasecarrying
body fluids (referred to in the standard as "other potentially infectious material", or
"OPIM"). Semen and vaginal fluid are always considered OPIM. Any other body fluid is
considered OPIM if it’s visibly contaminated with blood. Saliva is considered OPIM in
connection with dental procedures because these procedures routinely cause saliva to be
contaminated with blood.
The kind of contact prohibited by the standard is contact between skin or mucous membranes
and blood or OPIM.
The methods an employer will use to protect employees from contact with blood or OPIM must
be spelled out in detail in a written exposure control plan, which is described in the bloodborne
pathogens standard.
“The bloodborne pathogens standard is built on the rule of universal precautions. This means
blood or OPIM is always treated as hazardous, no matter who the source is. This is important
because the available testing methods do not always guarantee that disease will be detected. This
is particularly true right after a person has become infected. Depending on the test and the
disease, it may take anywhere from two weeks to six months to be able to detect an infection.
There is also a risk of "false negative" results, particularly if tests have not been properly
administered, or if specimens have not been properly stored. Also, many bloodborne diseases are
not routinely tested for.
Examples of engineering and work practice controls used in the adult film industry include:
· Simulation of sex acts using acting, production and post-production techniques
· Ejaculation outside the partner's body
· Use of barriers, which protect the partner from contact with semen, vaginal fluids,
mucous membranes, etc. Examples of barriers include condoms and dental dams
(Condoms and dental dams can also be considered personal protective equipment for the
partner who uses them)
· Plastic and other disposable materials to clean up sets
· Sharps containers for disposal of any blades, wires or broken glass.
· Personal protective equipment
If, after using all practical engineering and work practice controls, workers are still exposed to
hazards, employers must provide, and ensure employees use, appropriate personal protective
equipment. Personal protective equipment can include:
· Condoms
· Dental dams
· Gloves
· Eye protection.
Hepatitis B vaccine
Employers in this industry must provide the hepatitis B vaccine series to employees who may be
exposed to blood, semen, vaginal fluid or OPIM. This series consists of three shots, generally
administered into the arm muscle, over a period of six months. About one or two months after
the third shot, the healthcare provider will draw blood to ensure the employee has developed a
strong enough immune response (antibody titer, which refers to the concentration of antibodies
in the blood) to protect against infection. In some cases the healthcare provider will recommend
an additional series of shots. To learn more about the hepatitis B vaccine, click here.
Confidential medical record
Every employer covered by this standard must ensure that a medical record is maintained for
each employee, which must be kept confidential.
Procedures for exposure incidents
If an employee has unprotected contact with someone else's blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or
OPIM, the employer must provide them with a medical evaluation and follow up [5193 (f)] at no
cost to the employee. If the source individual consents, he or she can be tested, and the results
can be disclosed to the exposed employee, but that employee must be informed of requirements
to keep the person's identity and infection status confidential.
If there is reason to believe a person has been exposed to HIV, the doctor may recommend the
person be put on drugs to prevent infection (post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP), such as AZT. If
there is reason to believe a person has been exposed to hepatitis B, and has not been completely
vaccinated, the doctor may recommend hepatitis B immunoglobulin, and may start the vaccine
series. There is currently no post-exposure treatment recommended for hepatitis C.”
How Does Porn Affect Viewers?
Porn does have an effect on those that view it. It distorts the view of normal sexuality and even affects the brain. Sexuality is directly wired into the brain’s pleasure center. Porn actually releases chemicals in the brain while it is being watched that acts exactly like a drug. People that watch tame porn will eventually need a bigger “hit” to keep the same high porn does produce.
The drug in the brain porn release is called endorphins, which are a powerful analgesic, that directly affect the brain’s pleasure centers. In fact, someone loaded with endorphins in their brain wouldn’t want anything else. The psychiatric disorder “Bipolar” releases endorphins into the brain during mania and causes, just like porn, little self-control and limits inhibitions.
In the late 1990s, the psychiatric profession was talking about making Internet addiction a disorder. And, they did. Sexual addiction already is a disorder that is extremely difficult to overcome. Porn directly attenuates the imagination. It is described as a powerful addiction by literally hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet that would like to stop watching but can’t. It has a strong effect and the more you watch, and the more graphic it is, the more control it has on a person.
When I wrote the article last year on Porn, I watched porn. I felt its powerful effects. Even though I was studying porn, which was to examine porn stars actions and tell if they were real like orgasms, I found myself not able to erase the thoughts for awhile. It just sticks there. Some porn did not have much effect, such as very young women, but the ones I found attractive did. I will admit I got a high from it watching certain porn stars such as Ginger Lynn (80s porn) and Nicole Sheridan to name two. I actually was totally bored watching porn star Shy Love since her performance was so fake. It also made me feel dirty afterwards. And, their names stuck in my head as well. Odd. If I had to critique porn, I’d say the amateurs were more engaging than the ones like Vivid produces. Mainly because it was voyeurism.
Some people have said, on various shows exploring porn’s affects on their view of sexuality, that women like what porn has to offer such as rough sex, gangbangs, etc. Oral sex, in their minds, has to be as porn presents it. Swallowing is a requirement. Anal sex should be accepted by all women. Inhibitions went by the wayside in their minds after watching graphic pornography. Women should do what they want not what they are comfortable with—a huge departure from the norms of human sexuality. Porn, in a work, perverts the beauty of human sexuality. Porn does it so why not my wife or girlfriend? The fantasy becomes reality eventually.
Other distortions include breast size, since a lot are fake, and penis size. In human sexuality, four inches can please a woman. Also, feeling a man ejaculate inside a woman is impossible for most women so that is trickery. The vagina becomes warm during sex so feeling ejaculate, which isn’t as warm, is nearly impossible. And, ejaculating outside the vagina is actually harmful to a man’s sexuality. A little is a good thing but a lot is a bad thing as they old saying goes. Porn’s preoccupation with anal sex really denoted, to me, a homosexual experience. Most real women don’t find it appealing or pleasurable. Neither do men. The excessive use of tattoos was humorous.
Endorphins and Sexual Addition
http://www.treatment-centers.net/sex-addiction.html
Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack?
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/11/65772
http://men.webmd.com/guide/is-pornography-addictive
http://www.sexualrecovery.com/resources/articles/understanding-compulsive-masturbation.php
Is Porn Faked by the Performers or is it Real?
The porn industry actually exposes itself on this question. Videos called “Real Female Orgasms” did show female performers having real orgasms. However, the other ones did not. It is easy to tell. If a woman really had an orgasm, her breasts get fuller and her nipples get harder. Porn stars with real breasts, more often than not, did not exhibit that rule. Megastar Shy Love was having an orgasm the moment intercourse began. A bad fake. Except for amateurs and production houses not as sophisticated like Vivid, most of the female performers were not enjoying it. Intercourse with the male performers really looked more like they were in pain not pleasure.
Remember, porn videos take four to eight hours to shoot so the fakery, such as nipples that are always erect, is extremely common. The male performers, on the whole, were unattractive. When I watched porn for the article last year, I had it in my mind that those men doubtfully would ever be with those women in real life. And, why does porn have such older men with such younger women? Maybe porn can’t find men that can perform that are younger. I don’t know. Just think it is odd the guys are twice as old as most of the female performers. Yes, some of the women are not attractive at all but only a handful of men were. Ron Jeremy is a good example of how porn gets the bottom of the barrel for male performers and that was in the 1980s and 1990s.
Some of the women in porn have horrible breast implants since you can see the scars. Guess some use the worst plastic surgeons they could find. One of the things I did notice was that amateur porn was just as popular. Mainly because it was real people not professionals. A lot had too much makeup on. It was caked on. How does one’s hair remain so perfect in some videos, and makeup, during the acrobatic sex they have? I won’t name names though some female performers actually had me laughing watching the ordinary machinations of oral sex then intercourse then anal sex. No wonder Shy Love can write scripts and direct. No offense to Shy Love but her performances were so unrealistic they did make me chuckle. Sue me.
Conclusion
The porn industry in California is in flux since Gonzo is preferred by viewers. AIM being shuttered then deciding to become a for profit company probably will start a war with Cal/OSHA or the LA County Health Department. Porn suffers from self-inflicted wounds. They pushed the envelope so far that there is no turning back unless regulators make them. Of course, if that happens, porn moves out of California to other states. It might take a few years but those other states will probably end up regulating them as well.
It appears the AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF), which is powerful politically, could end up as the testing place for performers in California. That would destroy porn’s self-regulation with AIM. Already they threat has hit hard since, as mikesouth.com reported, Vivid released all its contract performers and its marketing personnel and some staff.
Piracy, which has hurt the music industry, is also hurting the porn industry. Free porn on the Internet, which is in other countries, is hard to stop. In fact, as the MPAA found out, piracy was impossible to stop. Why pay for it when you can get it for free? Even Vivid CEO Steve Hirsch admitted their videos are out there for free and they find new ones everyday. That has to hurt the bottom line. It is strange the advent of high speed Internet and the music industry’s decline happened at the same time. Porn is now feeling those effects. So is the mainstream movie industry.
Porn’s future might just end up being 3D simulations people can manipulate. One website is already incredibly advanced in that area. You can design your own performers and play out your fantasies. Another device even adds the personal interaction. The other future is that Europe and certainly Eastern Europe, where laws are really lax, will dominate the porn industry (it already does for the most part).
If porn in America is a $10-13 billion industry and the world total is a $97 billion industry, it is already happening. Most of the websites are overseas not in America. And, they don’t want kids on their sites. As one operator in Amsterdam told me, “We make fortunes off of adults. We don’t need kids and the problems that come with them using our sites.”
The future is simply the Internet and the technology that is making people’s fantasies easily obtained through software and hardware that requires no performers since they create them. Why watch when you can make your own with your own taste intact? That future requires no DVDs. That future may also not require the American porn industry either. Just like FireFox is ending Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as the dominant player, so is the Internet and software. And, prostitution is a bigger business anyway. Eventually, every business model is obsolete. Simple market forces. And, something new always takes the place of something old. As Agent Smith said in the Matrix, “It is inevitable.”
Copyright December 20, 2010 by Cameron Rowe Entertainment.
