What if this happened...

[marcjacob]

If you ever joined a union you would know it's not a smart idea. The union would up the payment on an annual basis leading to a cost too high to pay. The models would have to make payments to the union to keep membership. The Adult industry would need to hire Union only models in a non-Right to work state and models who have been members longer would have first right to a job. A model would need to update their resume before being a bottom if they only have blowjob listed before they could do a bottom scene.

Granted - this is an extreme of what Union Models would be like ... but based on union agreements and member vote - could well become.

Yeah the Union model is an example. Ive personally never joined a union.

[DonMike]

I think that's why our models really like working for Randy. He treats them all with the utmost respect. He treats all of us in the office really well too. I just couldn't work for someone who would mistreat or take advantage of a model.

And to whoever said that the models should know better, keep in mind that we are used to the atmosphere of this industry and most of us know what is or isn't appropriate. Some young guy who has never had to deal with anyone in the industry might not know better. Ask some of your non-industry friends what they think the industry is like and you may be shocked at what you hear. I have had people make all sorts of comments about how cool it must be to have half naked models lounging around the office all the time and do I get to be the fluffer and all that. People can get so caught up in the fantasy of porn that they don't think about it as a business, and to some model who sees other guys his age getting fucked in all these movies and websites, the fact that he might need to "perform" on a casting couch might not be such a far out idea. It's a damn shame that someone would take advantage of a naive model like that. It's people like that who make it bad for those of us who work at having reputable company.

On the other hand, the idea of publicly shaming a particular business could open a whole other can of worms. Sometimes a single post on a message board can really hurt someone's reputation, and if it becomes common practice in the industry it could mean that anytime somebody wants to hurt a competitor's business all they would need to do is make some "alleged" accusation. I think I'm sensitive to this sort of thing because one time, years ago when I was at another company, one of my clients took issue over an order. I don't even remember what it was, but instead of sending me an email or an ICQ with their problem, they went to the boards and made a post that gave the impression that whatever this issue was it was a common practice at my company and that I made no attempt to remedy it. I was fortunate that enough people new me that a few well written words in my defense took care of the issue, and I was able to contact the client and fix things, but it could have gone the other way and done a lot of damage.

Please don't get me wrong, I am horrified at what had happened to this poor kid and I hope something gets done about it, but there has to be a better way than making accusations on a public message board.

[chadknowslaw]

Asking for sex in order to get a job or promotion is the purest form of sexual harassment, and can get the offender sued. It is humiliating and demeaning, and something that should not be tolerated by anybody. I personally do not want to ever work with someone that coerces models into having sex in order to get a job, and telling a model they must have sex with the producer in order to get paid AFTER the job has been done is most likely a criminal act in most jurisdictions.

If the report is credible and you merely state that "A model that interviewed with me said XYZ director wanted to have sex before consideration" that is not libel, slander, or any other actionable event, SO LONG AS IT IS TRUE THAT THE MODEL DID SAY THAT TO YOU.

If a model did tell you that, and you believe the model, I personally would like to have that producer's name publicly revealed. If it is true, then that is a person I would not want to do business with myself. However, if it is not true, then the model that told you in the first place has some explaining to do.

[XXXWriterDude]

Hypothetically speaking of course but I want to know your opinions about something.

What if you were casting models and a 21 year old want-to-be in porn guy asked if he had to fuck the director of the video for an audtion? AND What if he went on to explain how the last time he wanted to do porn he had to do that? AND what if, not only did 2 guys (one being the director) fucked him on the audtion, but also did so bareback? And what if then they told him basically that he wasn't good enough and to be in porn and that he was free to go?

How would you feel about the company? the director?

In my opinion, it is absolutely unacceptable behavior. I know the guy wasn't drugged, but a 20 year old guy (how old he hypothetically was at the time of the incident) trying to do porn, having no real idea how it works, gets basically conned in to a bare back fuck fest for the directors pleasure, then gets to be made to feel like a piece of used meat, when he wasn't a good enough fuck to get in the video.

That's pretty crappy behavior, I'd say. I mean, if the kid's gonna put out for you, the LEAST you can do is cast him in the movie... <evil grin>

[dbndc]

As someone who is new and still learning about the industry and still unsure of how I want to enter the industry, what is the standard professional way of conducting an interview session with a potential model?

I ask this because of several porn videos I have seen. From these videos I have seen, it looks like the models are being interviewed while they are "performing" solo. There is one scene I have seen in a video where the guy behind the camera actually reaches in and grabs the models dick and proceeds to squeeze it. I flinched when I saw this and found it disturbing to see this happen to the model. Especially since there was not even a warning of what was about to happen to him.

I know if I were to decide I wanted to produce my own content, I would definitely have the highest ethical standards when it comes to working with models. I want to establish a highly reputable name and company and thereby establish good business relationships in the industry.

When people behave like this guy does, it hurts everyone, himself included. It shrinks your pool of potential models, many who will never consider performing in front of the camera upon hearing a horror story like this.

Somehow information does need to be made readily available for potential models on what companies are the ethical ones to work with and what to expect when working in this industry. This way, the unethical ones will be run out of business from lack of models wanting to work with them. And reputable businesses need to terminate their business ties with these unethical companies as well.

Donnie

[IdolKnights]

I ask this because of several porn videos I have seen.

Donnie

You are watching, more than not... a scripted interview. Not the actual interview. This is "Reality porn"

A standard interview is set up to see the model in person and verify they have a real identification card with photo, name and DOB listed. Also to set up a head and body shot if photos are not provided by the model.

You also use this time to let the model know what to expect of your shoot and style. Answer any questions the model may have and supply them with the proper paperwork.

A good studio will also go over the risk of working in adult. With the twink market, people forget to remind the models they are still young and this could come back to haunt them when they are older.

Looking out for your models and earning their respect includes letting them say no because you gave them too much information about what they are getting into. And I welcome them to tell me know. We are not here to fuck models albeit actual sex with them or messing up their life.

Ever meet a stripper who does it to pay for school? They shoot porn to pay for school? Well you don't go to school to work at wal-mart.

Myself, I also have a sheet that reads like a real estate contract where I have the model initial bullet points that go into detail the ramifications of their reemployment. (even in fine art nude)

But the movies you see. The model knows before filming, this is going to be the script to follow.

[dbndc]

Thanks Idol.

I have reviewed many production sites model info/application pages to see how they approach model recruitment. The one area I have found lacking is the mention of the interview and what they can expect during an interview. I believe this would be a good first step in getting this information out to the models via the sites model FAQ’s on what they should expect during an interview with your company. And it will help the ethical companies stand out from the others.

Also to set up a head and body shot if photos are not provided by the model.

If you are planning on taking photos of the model during the interview, do you let him know beforehand? And are you taking a nude body shot of him?

I have seen where many sites require specific nude shots of models as part of their application process. I have decided if I go this route, I would only require a head shot with the application. And then at the end of the interview, when all questions have been asked and answered, if the model is still interested and comfortable with his decision to proceed, then take a couple of shots of him. And this would have been mentioned to him prior to the interview. I feel this may alleviate some models fears about sending in nude shots of himself to god knows who to do whatever with them.

I do like how Steve’s Citiboyz site allows the model to determine how many photos to send in and what shots they are. This probably puts the model at ease about what photos he sends in and in turn it could help you determine how serious he is about being a model for your company.

I do feel like full disclosure upfront with the model candidates would help to improve the perception of the industry and they will in turn be able to determine for themselves who are the more ethical companies out there to work with.

[citiboyz]

I do like how Steve’s Citiboyz site allows the model to determine how many photos to send in and what shots they are. This probably puts the model at ease about what photos he sends in and in turn it could help you determine how serious he is about being a model for your company.

We don't live in a large city that has a pool of potential models and, in fact, we purposely stay low-key and don't even recruit in our home town. So we don't have the luxury of being able to have potential models over for in-person auditions. Our models apply to us from all over the country, so what they supply to us in the way of self pictures and personal details, together with a phone interview, forms the basis for our decision. We have a very extensive online application which helps us greatly, and we expect to see pictures but we don't insist on nudes at first (maybe later). The process is all about weeding out the wannabees from the serious applicants. Once we think a guy is serious, we might ask for more, but especially with the younger models you have to consider their comfort level. After awhile, they'll open up and supply whatever you need if they're serious.

[deanb]

We don't live in a large city that has a pool of potential models and, in fact, we purposely stay low-key and don't even recruit in our home town. So we don't have the luxury of being able to have potential models over for in-person auditions. Our models apply to us from all over the country, so what they supply to us in the way of self pictures and personal details, together with a phone interview, forms the basis for our decision. We have a very extensive online application which helps us greatly, and we expect to see pictures but we don't insist on nudes at first (maybe later). The process is all about weeding out the wannabees from the serious applicants. Once we think a guy is serious, we might ask for more, but especially with the younger models you have to consider their comfort level. After awhile, they'll open up and supply whatever you need if they're serious.

Adding to that, another great thing to do to get to know your models a little better, and to get some more pictures of them is to plug in email addresses or names into myspace. Often it gives you a better idea of their personality, and more times than not, you get a few extra pictures of them that you haven't seen before to better get an idea of what they look like. It seems to help, expecially when flying models in, as when you fly them in, you don't get the opportunity to see them in person before hand.

[Clark]

When I cast a new male model, for straight or gay films, I let them know ahead of time what they can expect during the interview. I talk to them about why they want to be in the business, whats expected, what to watch out for, etc. I will then take the 4 "soldier" pics of them clothed and nude. And finaly I will ask them to produce a "money shot" for me. Its not filmed, photographed, or witnessed by anyone other then either myself or my wife (depending on who they feel more comfortable with) and they are aloud to bring someone with them if they want (as long as they don't help him with the money shot).

This helps weed out the guys with stage fright, but at the same time makes it as unthreatening as possible. I do understand that producers want to make sure a guy can perform before he sets up a shoot with a new model, but it disgusts me how some of them turn it into their own little sick game. Most of us produce porn because its profitable and its a business (even though it DOES have its little perks, but it really is seconday). Some use it as an excuse to abuse other people for their own sexual appetites. I wouldn't call it anything less then rape.

[desslock]

Asking for sex in order to get a job or promotion is the purest form of sexual harassment, and can get the offender sued. It is humiliating and demeaning, and something that should not be tolerated by anybody.

Chad's comment is right on the money!

For me, the details aren't relevant - if they used condoms would that make it somehow different? Or group sex versus one on one sex? People who use their work position to sexually harass others should get sued. If that happened to a friend of mine, I wouldn't tolerate it,

(Interestingly I watched 9 to 5 on AMC earlier tonight. Rat poison in the boss's coffee anyone?)

Now, let's not start dumping all over the adult industry. Sexual harassment in the workplace happens everywhere, from Fortune 500 companies to the White House in the 90s. It's not like it's peculiar to the gay porn industry.

From my very limitied experience, I've found the expectations of models to be all over the map. Guys have asked me "how to get in porn" and in some cases I've suggested some good studios who I know are always looking for talent... but what it boils down to is that they are looking at it as a way to get sex. And they take it as seriously as making an online hookup. When they realize that driving to this new trick's house is going to take 45 minutes on a cold night, they blow it off.

Steve

[samebb]

I think this whole issue boils down to people who start producing to grow their company, and people who start producing so they can get more sex.

Everyone has an underlying reason to do the job they do, im some cases with content production is must be simply the change of getting laid more.

IMHO

[SPACE GLIDER]

I have had people make all sorts of comments about how cool it must be to have half naked models lounging around the office all the time and do I get to be the fluffer and all that.

and they're SERIOUS when they say stuff like that??

[badpuppyben]

and they're SERIOUS when they say stuff like that??

Absolutely. I have a friend that works out of the industry and that is pretty much what he believes. Often times, especially the longer you are in this industry, it is very easy for us to forget that people that are not in the industry really have absolutely no clue what really goes on. I've even told my friend what really happens when getting a model, on the shoot, etc but he'd much rather live happilly with his fantasy.

Personaly I stopped using scouts several years ago for the same reasons cited above. There's a couple of photographers I won't buy from either, but they were small time people anyway. While I do think this case is extreme, it's not overly surprising. I've had many models that expected to have sex (several that were actually quite annoyed that they weren't) before the shoot. Talk to some of your friends outside the industry it's actually quite amusing to hear what they truly believe is going on.

[XXXWriterDude]

I always wince a little when I see so many people suddenly jump onto a bandwagon to denounce the unprofessional actions of other companies. To me, it often comes off as if some of those people are being so loud because they're trying to take the focus off their own actions.

I'm not saying that's the case here. Not at all. Everyone could be totally professional and have absolutely no blemishes on their careers in porn. I just get really tired of hearing people get all sanctimonious about what is and what isn't "right" in the porn business.

First of all, we need to acknowledge that there is a certain informalness to what we do. We're part of a business that has generally made up its own rules as it has gone along. Everyone knows that there are plenty of porn directors who, in fact, do participate in sexual activity with their models--sometimes during the process of an interview, and sometimes after the fact. We're in a business that is built around sex, for God's sake. If we can't have a bit of fun with that, what's the point?

Before anyone jumps on the attack wagon (AGAIN), that's not to say that I'm endorsing the actions of the company in question. I think that, no matter what the profession, it's highly inappriopriate to coerce someone into having sex in order to get hired. That's fundamentally "wrong" in my book, and it's not behavior that I condone by any stretch of the imagination.

But all this talk about "professional" and "unprofessional" conduct in the porn business just sounds like a bunch of people who doth protest TOO LOUD.

The porn business is a business that is built on the foundation of encouraging sexual activity among consenting adults. If a director and one of his models wish to engage in sexual relations during the course of their professional relationship, that's A-OK as far as I'm concerned. I can guarantee you that there are more than a few studio heads who have GOTTEN head from one or two of their exclusive models. The way I see it, as long as there wasn't any kind of promise of more work in return for sexual favors, then all the power to them.

Throw stones if you like, but at least that's how I see it.