Problems with Hyde Park Productions studio

In the interest of getting this thread back on topic...

Jesse (the model) and Hyde Park have both acknowledged on another board that Jesse has still not been paid. Apparently Hyde Park is waiting for a signed statement from Jesse (which he has mailed), after which they say they are going to pay him.

I do think it's unfortunate that the studio has not been more proactive in resolving the situation (the payment issue) and speaking about it to the industry (both the payment and the 2257 issue), because in this case, silence only makes people speculate more.

As I've said elsewhere, in the eyes of the law, an ID that doesn't meet the requirements of the law is the same as no ID at all, which basically means the feds view a model with a bad ID as an underage model.

If some sort of incident came to our attention with our studio, we'd be all over it and immediately making announcements about what happened, the actions we were taking, and reassuring our industry counterparts... but that's us, I guess other studios don't feel the same need.

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Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip

In the interest of getting this thread back on topic...

Jesse (the model) and Hyde Park have both acknowledged on another board that Jesse has still not been paid. Apparently Hyde Park is waiting for a signed statement from Jesse (which he has mailed), after which they say they are going to pay him.

I do think it's unfortunate that the studio has not been more proactive in resolving the situation (the payment issue) and speaking about it to the industry (both the payment and the 2257 issue), because in this case, silence only makes people speculate more.

As I've said elsewhere, in the eyes of the law, an ID that doesn't meet the requirements of the law is the same as no ID at all, which basically means the feds view a model with a bad ID as an underage model.

If some sort of incident came to our attention with our studio, we'd be all over it and immediately making announcements about what happened, the actions we were taking, and reassuring our industry counterparts... but that's us, I guess other studios don't feel the same need.

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Its still spreading on the other board too. There are now 2 threads about it. What I don't get is how they handled the whole thing. It could have EASILY been resolved very quietly. I don't understand why they didn't pay the model quickly, then come out with an announcement saying it was a mistake or oversight. Instead they confirmed the models whole story, and still haven't paid him.

The thing he had to mail was really BS. Really, this all should have been handled at the time the shooting ended, not 2 months later via mail.

Its being handled now because Jesse was smart enough to come here and bring this to our attention. Which is surprising and unusual, how many models would do this,or know where to go? GWW is a Producers forum not one you would expect to be sympathetic (from his POV) to a models claim of of non-payment.

However the majority of people here ARE Ethical businessmen and understand how this HPP incident reflects badly on everyone.


Now if that is not back on Topic I don't know what is :)

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Originally Posted by Dilbertdidporn

Its being handled now because Jesse was smart enough to come here and bring this to our attention. Which is surprising and unusual, how many models would do this,or know where to go? GWW is a Producers forum not one you would expect to be sympathetic (from his POV) to a models claim of of non-payment.

However the majority of people here ARE Ethical businessmen and understand how this HPP incident reflects badly on everyone.


Now if that is not back on Topic I don't know what is :)

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It makes you wonder, how many other models are there out there with this same story. The way they have their confidentiality agreements set up, the models aren't even allowed to exchange so much as phone numbers, IM's or MySpace with each other. There is no way for them to keep in contact to get together and all figure out what is going on.

models, affiliates, employees - many people don't get paid or don't get paid what they're supposed to. unfortunately most don't know what to do about it. boards do seem to be very useful sometimes...

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Originally Posted by basschick

models, affiliates, employees - many people don't get paid or don't get paid what they're supposed to. unfortunately most don't know what to do about it. boards do seem to be very useful sometimes...

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Its really sad, you know, I think there would be much less of a stir had this been employees or affiliates, but models, come on now. The model said on another board now that they spent $40 to get the document to HPP to get paid. Sad that the model paid for it out of pocket, the least the studio could have done was put it on their FedEX account.

Having a model jump through hoop after hoop for payment is uncalled for, if a company cannot afford the people that they rely on for their very existence, then IMO they shouldn't be in business.

One thing that amazes me about this industry, is how fast some companies are to shit on their models when given the chance.

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Originally Posted by deanb

The model said on another board now that they spent $40 to get the document to HPP to get paid. Sad that the model paid for it out of pocket, the least the studio could have done was put it on their FedEX account.

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40 bucks is 10% of the total amount the model is being paid, and I get the impression this model is not financially well off, so it's a lot of money to him.

If the studio had the slightest amount of decency, they'd reimburse the $40 overnight fee simply as a gesture of goodwill. Of course, if I were in that sort of case, I'd probably pay the amount due, plus another $40, plus another $50 or $100 for the hassle of paying so late, just so the model walked away at least feeling like we made it right. But a lot of companies don't understand the value of goodwill.

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Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip

40 bucks is 10% of the total amount the model is being paid, and I get the impression this model is not financially well off, so it's a lot of money to him.

If the studio had the slightest amount of decency, they'd reimburse the $40 overnight fee simply as a gesture of goodwill. Of course, if I were in that sort of case, I'd probably pay the amount due, plus another $40, plus another $50 or $100 for the hassle of paying so late, just so the model walked away at least feeling like we made it right. But a lot of companies don't understand the value of goodwill.

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In all fairness Chip, I don't think you would find yourself in this situation. You represent yourself, and 18 West and Gay Bucks pretty well, and I don't thing you would be filming without funds to pay models. If you don't have money to pay a model, you shouldn't be filming, this goes for anyone.

What exactly is this studio doing with their money to not pay models? Perhaps they should re evaluate their business model.

I offered to loan Hyde Park the money to pay the model. Seems crazy they are making him sign YET another document to get paid. Actually, if I were Hyde Parks distributor, I may even pay to get this situation behind them.

What the hell is $500 to a studio? Doesn't seem like a lot of money to me.

Hell. The last shoot we did cost over $5,000 with just two models. Both were paid before the cameras began to roll.

If I understand this story correctly, the model was unable to perform on camera. So all they got out of him was just one scene where he doesn't get hard and a webcam show.

This is a tough one to call, it really is. Had he been a local model he probably would have been sent home with fifty bucks or whatever, right? But what do you do when you are already invested in a model's international airfare and accommodation?

Honestly, a part of me is saying that this model should just be thankful he got a free mini vacation and $100 for doing pretty much nothing.

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Originally Posted by Matt 26z

If I understand this story correctly, the model was unable to perform on camera. So all they got out of him was just one scene where he doesn't get hard and a webcam show.

This is a tough one to call, it really is. Had he been a local model he probably would have been sent home with fifty bucks or whatever, right? But what do you do when you are already invested in a model's international airfare and accommodation?

Honestly, a part of me is saying that this model should just be thankful he got a free mini vacation and $100 for doing pretty much nothing.

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The studio told him he was going to get paid for what he had done. They then didn't pay him. 50 bucks is cheap, and even when I have had models who cannot perform, I still pay them. I would much rather have a model walk away from a shoot happy, than to walk away pissed off and telling everyone they know what a horrible experience they have.

The studio confirmed that they do own him $450, they should pay it. Well it should have already been paid, now they are just running him around, and he has all of this other shit to do to jump through hoops to get paid.

Lets be honest here, no one here believes this is an isolated case of just one model not getting paid.

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Originally Posted by deanb

The studio told him he was going to get paid for what he had done.

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Which is why I too think he should get paid. It's pretty low to let him leave thinking he's getting paid.

I'm just saying.... There is a difference between this kind of story and one where a successful production didn't get paid off.

I don't think it warrants big gay drama, but I hear chapter two will be more juicy if it comes out. I can't wait!

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Originally Posted by Matt 26z

Which is why I too think he should get paid. It's pretty low to let him leave thinking he's getting paid.

I'm just saying.... There is a difference between this kind of story and one where a successful production didn't get paid off.

I don't think it warrants big gay drama, but I hear chapter two will be more juicy if it comes out. I can't wait!

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But how do we know who did or didn't get paid off. This just happens to be one model who found his way to GWW and other boards.

Whats Chapter two? It sounds juicy! PM me!

If a model can't perform whether it's giving a cum shot or getting hard... We do our best to work with that model, we've even left the room so that he can perform. If after a time has elapsed that he can't perform then we send him home. We may or may not use the video, but regardless the model knows that he's coming to a porn shoot. Don't apply unless you can perform.

If a model can't perform he goes home with no pay. Given, we don't fly models in. We either travel to their area or get locals.

Also, we pay much more than $300 per shoot. Some of our models have been paid up to $1000 per shoot.

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Originally Posted by derekt

If a model can't perform whether it's giving a cum shot or getting hard... We do our best to work with that model, we've even left the room so that he can perform. If after a time has elapsed that he can't perform then we send him home. We may or may not use the video, but regardless the model knows that he's coming to a porn shoot. Don't apply unless you can perform.

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Are you saying you may not pay models, then will still use the videos?