Please comment on our new PSA

[gaybucks_chip]

We are experimenting with producing a series of public service messages that we will be putting up on Youtube, blogs, and various other places.

This first one was shot with the help of our exclusive model Jesse, who is now a social worker helping underprivileged and at-risk youth. It's still a somewhat rough cut; we may add some links to resources and other things.

http://www.18weststudios.com/psa/

We also have another version that promotes one of Jesse's videos (where we're giving a contribution to HIV research for every copy sold) but that one will probably be of more limited release.

I'd like your honest opinions on it... the setting, the editing, the audio, Jesse's performance, and the effectiveness of the message conveyed.

I'd also like ideas and suggestions on where we could distribute it, or other things that should be included.

I realize that the message of the PSA is in conflict with the viewpoint of some of the regulars here and I'm not trying to start another philosophy controversy or flame war. We understand and respect the differing viewpoints of others. We are just following our hearts with this one.

We're also open for suggestions on future PSAs that could be helpful for our collective customers, members and community. We have quite a number of models who are willing to do them.

[CorbinFisher_BD]

Jesse could be in a PSA about how much he loves clubbing baby seals with synthetic bats made from Middle East fossil fuels and I'd be all for it.

But seriously, I liked that it was short. With the setting being nothing more than his sitting there talking, any longer and it woulda lost me. Quick and to the point is good. I think he did have a "verbal typo"? Saying "purching" instead of "purchasing" about 4-5 of the way through.

I'd definitely consider throwing in a link to an informational website or something like that, as you'd mentioned. Maybe even creating such a thing on your site? So that the floating boyfunk.com URL on the screen in back doesn't look so wierd ("Is this a PSA or shameless plug?!" asked Mr. Cynical Viewerman).

[gaybucks_chip]

Jesse could be in a PSA about how much he loves clubbing baby seals with synthetic bats made from Middle East fossil fuels and I'd be all for it.

Yeah, well... I sorta know how you feel about Jesse... and so does he, I told him when he was here in December.

I think he did have a "verbal typo"? Saying "purching" instead of "purchasing" about 4-5 of the way through.

There's that and a couple of other oddities that I think we have to correct with a final edit. There are about 9 takes of that PSA, some of which were near perfect as single camera shoots, so we have some material to play with.

Maybe even creating such a thing on your site? So that the floating boyfunk.com URL on the screen in back doesn't look so wierd ("Is this a PSA or shameless plug?!" asked Mr. Cynical Viewerman).[/QUOTE]

That's a really good point which I sorta tuned out to. We were going to turn of the monitor for the noncommercial one, but forgot to do it. I do think it would come across as rather crass the way it is, but our new editor guy is pretty magical with what he can do with Premiere, so maybe he can make it go away.

Thanks for the input!

[CorbinFisher_BD]

Yeah, well... I sorta know how you feel about Jesse... and so does he, I told him when he was here in December.

Tell him I adore his hair. If he ever gets it cut, I will cut the stylist with a shiv!!!

Most of all with the PSA, though, I think that so long as Jesse or whatever other models you might have make one come across as genuine and speaking from the heart, it'll look fine. No editing or graphics or text or camera angles can make up for that. So the key is getting guys like Jesse who can speak well and look comfortable. Not someone who is all stiff and obviously reading from cue cards or sounding like a robot or something. Natural, sincere and genuine and you're good to go. IMHO. Oh, and Jesse. Should be illegal for guys to be that attractive.

[Lazer]

It's a fantastic idea. If i had one major criticism, it would be the background. It's a very honest, to-the-point PSA and I like the "honesty" of being at a desk in an office-like setting, but at the same time it also looks cold and a bit uninteresting. Maybe if, for example, you did it with Jesse sitting on the edge of a bed.. it's attention-catching (hot boy on bed) and relevant to the message...

$0.02

[gaybucks_chip]

It's a fantastic idea. If i had one major criticism, it would be the background. It's a very honest, to-the-point PSA and I like the "honesty" of being at a desk in an office-like setting, but at the same time it also looks cold and a bit uninteresting. Maybe if, for example, you did it with Jesse sitting on the edge of a bed.. it's attention-catching (hot boy on bed) and relevant to the message...

$0.02

That's a great suggestion! We plan to do more of these, so perhaps we'll have a couple of the guys do one as they start a scene or something.

Jesse's sort of unique because he is actually working in the field and is really passionate about it, and so we plan on getting a bunch more PSA material with him the next time he visits.

[Matt 26z]

I'm inclined to think the average reaction will be, blah, blah, blah I hope there is a porno after this bullshit.

PSA's have to be shocking to have any effect, but people have become so immune to them that what it would take these days probably wouldn't get past the TV or radio censors. An egg in a frying pan just doesn't do it anymore. This is the internet though, so you can push the limits.

I liked your whack at bareback studios though. I'd add this, "Each time you purchase barebacking videos you are contributing to putting model's lives at risk. A model's life is not worth your entertainment."

Also, the video was half way done before he even said anything of substance.

[A_DeAngelo]

content aside (I mean really) - this looks more like an ad to me with the web address running in the background in a loop - its way too blatant a plug for the producer - I would suggest a little more modesty... (unless the intent IS to advertise the sites)

[gaybucks_chip]

I liked your whack at bareback studios though. I'd add this, "Each time you purchase barebacking videos you are contributing to putting model's lives at risk. A model's life is not worth your entertainment."

Also, the video was half way done before he even said anything of substance.

Matt, I think all the comments you made are important, but both of the above really struck me. I like the barebacking quote; I think it might make people think a little more. It's a little more edgy and "in the face" of the barebacking studios than what we've typically said, but it does get the message across.

content aside (I mean really) - this looks more like an ad to me with the web address running in the background in a loop - its way too blatant a plug for the producer - I would suggest a little more modesty... (unless the intent IS to advertise the sites)

Yes, as I mentioned above, we have two versions, one of which does sell one of Jesse's DVDs, and this one was intended to be entirely non-product focused, but we forgot to turn off the monitor. I'm going to see if we can reedit to either eliminate or minimize that.

[Dzinerbear]

Nice idea. However, may I suggest you remove the word "clean." As an HIV-positive man I am profondly offended and hurt when I hear things like "I'm clean, UB2," or "disease and drug free."

The implication is that if you're "clean" I must be dirty. Or that if you're "disease free" you're somehow better than me who is what, "disease ridden?"

Also, you don't contract HIV/AIDS, one becomes infected with HIV; AIDS is the set of conditions that appear later when an immune system has been compromised. People who are HIV-positive do not necessarily have AIDS.

I understand what you're trying to do, Chip, but it might be a good idea to run these things by someone who is positive to catch stuff like this. I think mistakes like this could call into question whether this guy really is a social worker in the field. He should know these things, at least I think he should.

Cheers,
Michael

[Xstr8guy]

Adverstising your porn site in a PSA removes all credibility.




.

[gaybucks_chip]

Nice idea. However, may I suggest you remove the word "clean." As an HIV-positive man I am profondly offended and hurt when I hear things like "I'm clean, UB2," or "disease and drug free."

The implication is that if you're "clean" I must be dirty. Or that if you're "disease free" you're somehow better than me who is what, "disease ridden?"

Also, you don't contract HIV/AIDS, one becomes infected with HIV; AIDS is the set of conditions that appear later when an immune system has been compromised. People who are HIV-positive do not necessarily have AIDS.

I understand what you're trying to do, Chip, but it might be a good idea to run these things by someone who is positive to catch stuff like this. I think mistakes like this could call into question whether this guy really is a social worker in the field. He should know these things, at least I think he should.

Michael,

I really appreciate this, though I also feel about 2 inches tall right now You're totally right about the language. When I think about it, it's no less insensitive than having a straight company write content for a gay site and unintentionally say a lot of incredibly offensive things, or people making racist remarks, or anything like that.

Jesse really is a social worker and does really work with HIV positive people every day, though it's with at-risk youth and youth who are very newly diagnosed, so it's likely that he isn't as familiar with the language because he hasn't so far worked with many people living with HIV longer term.

He's very sensitive to language about things like "client" vs "patient" and using language that empowers and so I'm certain he will be horrified. When we pass on the comments to him, I'm sure he'll do his own research and talk with the staff at his youth center to learn the correct terminology.

AJ and I wrote most of the text of what he was saying, so we are the ones that take the responsibility for the insensitive language.

But... this is EXACTLY why we put it out for input from the GWW community. So far, we've gotten a lot of very helpful and useful criticism. which we really appreciate. Please keep it coming.

[IdolKnights]

Adverstising your porn site in a PSA removes all credibility.

I couldn't agree more.

A PSA is not a means of advertisement.

[gaybucks_chip]

I couldn't agree more.

A PSA is not a means of advertisement.

I've addressed this several times. I completely agree, and it was an oversight. We produced another version that included a plug for one of Jesse's videos and the monitor was to have been turned off, but we forgot to do it.

[Dzinerbear]

Chip,

Thanks for your remarks back. You know, as you've said, it really is just a matter of people not knowing what it feels like on this side of the fence. Sometimes when I cruise online I send people messages about their "clean" and "disease free" notes in their profiles. Most of the time I'm greeted with "I had no idea" or "it never occurred to me," sometimes people just tell me to fuck off. But not very often.

I also wonder about the message that you encourage people to buy from non-bareback producers because they promote safe activity. That could give surfers the idea that what they see in non-bareback porn is actually safe all of the time.

For instance, I was watching a hot suck scene from one of our board member's sites and one guy sucked off four of his buddies. In the final moment each guy pulled out of the bottom's mouth and jacked off all over his chest and face. As a final gesture of "buddy love" the cock sucker licked each of the guy's post-orgasmic dicks.

Now this site has never had any bareback sex on it ever. And while this guy didn't take any cum in his mouth, he certainly had enough of it spewed all over his face (eyes and nostrils are mucous membranes) and he licked cum off his buddies's dicks. By your suggestion, surfers could be thinking that either activity is safe when it might not be so safe.

Cheers,
Michael