Underage Gay Performer Worked for Cobra Video

[MisterMark]

Yikes. Bad, bad, bad - for all of us, really.

In defense of the producer, it should be up to producers to have to verify whether or not an identification is legitimate or not. Its one thing to request an ID and keep it on file; it's quite another to turn the producer into a temporary policeman or detective.

Woops - I meant to say that it should NOT be up to producers to have to verify IDs... Sorry about the confusion. :dunce:

[MisterMark]

and when the same model presents 4 different ID's to the same studio.....it definately IS the producer's responsibility to see this and call the model on it, and demand more proof of the model's age...

Yes, absolutely, 4 different IDs would make me suspicious.

But I maintain that a producer should not be held responsible for a fake ID that looks completely legitimate.

[citiboyz]

There's a defense that's built into the law concerning this. You, as a producer, are indeed not liable for accepting a fake ID, if you reasonably believed it to be real. After all, we don't have the ability to authenticate ID's we're presented with. But if the model turned out to be underage, then you can't legally use or sell the product you created. The Jeff Browning case in didn't result in any criminal penalties for the producer, if I'm correct, but the product was recalled and destroyed. Do you guys remember the Jeff Browning case?

http://www.gayvideodad.com/columns/c...ckey.skee.html

PS: This is not meant to diminish the argument for due diligence that Tom Barr correctly speaks of.

[tombarr]

Yes, absolutely, 4 different IDs would make me suspicious.

But I maintain that a producer should not be held responsible for a fake ID that looks completely legitimate.

SUSPICIOUS? 4 Id's from the same model should make you run for the hills!

The producer IS the certifier that the model's ID is correct and correctly represents the model. That is why there is accountability built into 2257. 4 ID's from the same model....come on...it was very much his responsibility to demand to see other validating forms of ID's to verify which, if any, of the 4 represented the actual DOB for the model. Suspicious? He should have been downright disbelieving of this model's ID's as soon as the second Id was presented. At the very very least, the producer should not have used the model again as soon as the second valid appearing ID appeared without verifying which of the two presented were the actual and correct ID and DOB for the model ( if either actually were). To produce 4 titles, and accept multiple ID's from the same model without demanding further proof of ID is nothing more than blatant irresponsibilty and reckless abandonment of his responsibilities to certify that the model was over 18.

[BDBionic]

So, you're just going to assume they're guilty, huh? Have you considered getting a job with the Bush Administration's Department Of Justice?

I already have... assumed they're guilty.

And I'm quite confident in my assumption.

We'd all be better off were they not guilty, and there's no doubt the model is to blame for going forward with something all the while knowing he was underage.

But after my own dealings with Cobra Video - including ongoing ones over the duration of the current situation and leading up to it - I'm left with no other choice but to confidently assume they're at fault for having committed a serious screw up here and breaking the law. And it's my personal opinion they've made this current situation inevitable through their own actions.

I do think producers should be shielded from repercussion when they're presented with what they have no option but to believe are legitimate forms of IDs by an underage performer intentionally going about misleading people about their age and misrepresenting their birth day. But I'm also of the belief that, with regards to this particular situation, Cobra screwed up big time.

I'd sure as shit like my opinion to be wrong because we'd all be better off were that the case. But over the course of the last 3 weeks receiving tons of legal threats from Cobra Video directed towards me, baseless accustations made by its owner against me, strange 4am instant messages from people claiming to be Cobra Video's lawyer (yet unable to spell his own name or the word "counsel" and making up laws to then allege I'm breaking them), Cobra or their agents trying to dig up personal information about me and post in on boards, so on and so forth, I'm left without much capacity to give them the benefit of the doubt. I've been witness to some pretty interesting behavior or their part. Irrational, even. So pardon me for being unable to expect much from them.

I think this is a case of karma coming back to bite an unscrupulous individual who knowingly and willingly disregarded teh law in the behind.

Again, these are just my personal opinions. And I'm a professional enough to know I'd rather this situation resolve itself in a way that's best for all of us. But given what I expect to be the truth here, I likewise expect the outcome of this situation to not bode well for Cobra and demonstrate they're a good part responsible for what's taken place.

And I know someone from Cobra will read this and send me threatening e-mails about it this evening as they've done before. Maybe they think I'm violating trademark laws by saying "Cobra Video" in this post. Or that I'm guilty of libel and defamation in expressing an opinion about a very public situation. Or that I'm not allowed to talk about supposedly privileged and confidential IMs received by me from the hacked AIM name of the model in the midst of a legal dispute with the client of the lawyer who hacked that AIM name to send me a message (obviously it wasn't the actual lawyer who IMed me, but whomever with Cobra's organization that did needs to find better things to do than run around online pretending to be Cobra's lawyer). Or that using PHPBB's IP-tracking functions on a discussion board I moderate to see that someone in the US Northeast posting under more than 1 name attempting to trash the individual who went by the name "Brent Corrigan" and post his real name and hometown on the discussion board I moderate somehow violates the law. Or that by editing those posts so that the model in question's real name and where he lives don't appear on the board somehow constitute a violation of their first amendment rights over which I can be sued. Or that ICANN anti-cybersquatting domain name policies somehow mean that people in a discussion board I moderate can't use the phrase "Brent Corrigan".

I can't say much to the situation that led to this Brent Corrigan fella getting cast in Cobra's films. Whether he set out to commit some elaborate deception or whether Cobra was aware of it then. Who knows. Really, on that issue, I hope the best for Cobra because that in turn is what's best for us all. If a production company gets nailed here, some punk is gonna use that as an excuse to label us all evil-doers.

But as to my personal opinions of how Cobra Video represents itself to some, including me, and the tactics they've attempted to use to try and intimidate me over the last 3 weeks? I won't miss them in the least, I am unable to expect anything but unwise behavior from them, and am unable to fathom how they could not be at least somewhat if not significantly at fault for the spot they're in right now.

So, yes. I'm going to assume they're guilty.

[Happysucks]

A quote from 8mm:

Dino Velvet: If there was no honor among perverts and pornographers, the whole fucking business would fall apart.

[Matt 26z]

At this point I must wonder how many of the facts have been shredded by the webmaster rumor mill.


There's just so much stuff that doesn't fly....

Why shoot a 17yo when there are plenty of 18yo's out there who still look 16 or 17?

If he was a "franchise model" that could help take a company to the next level, why not wait a year for what would become such a long term commitment for both sides anyway?

If he really was 17 and they knew it, why allow him to take it this far now? Why not just meet whatever demands he has under the table instead of risking 10 years in prison if he goes public?

Why did Brent get investors for his own production studio if he was under exclusive contract with Cobra? Did they know beforehand of his prior commitments? Did they play a role in initiating these claims?


I think the most interesting pieces to this story are yet to come.

[gaybucks_chip]

I seriously doubt that Cobra willingly and intentionally shot a 17 year old model. Even judging by the actions BrianBP has stated, I seriously doubt they'd be that stupid.

But I do think that Cobra probably at some point in the past two years figured out that Brent was most likely lying about his age. I mean, it was pretty widely known in SoCal what Brent's real age was, and it would be hard to claim total ignorance of the rumors that were floating around... all one has to do is look a the production dates on the videos and Brent's real birthdate, and do the math.

What most likely happened is Cobra suspected there might be a problem, but feigned ignorance, showered Brent with a lucrative deal and various other things given essentially as unspoken compensation for keeping things under wraps. But even if that *isn't* the case, Cobra was certainly aware that Brent was underage before Monday, when the ASACP was notified. There's evidence that will show this. And Cobra did nothing. Pacific Sun is the one that sent the faxes and withdrew the titles, not Cobra. And Pacific Sun did so without notification from Cobra.

Indeed, when AVN reached Cobra, their official response was "Those are just allegations" and there was no statement about withdrawal of the videos or anything else. That's certainly not a responsible thing to do for Cobra's distributor, or hundreds of retailers, let alone buyers or anyone else. Either say "Take these down until we find out what's up" or "Yes, there's a problem" or "No, there's no problem." But not "Those are just allegations." And several days later, there is STILL no official statement from Cobra.

So, while Brent, if he did indeed provide fake IDs to Cobra, was a complete and total piece of shit that should be punished for his actions, Cobra's actions, at least as they appear so far, are much more despicable. It's irresponsible as a company, and incredibly irresponsible to the industry as a whole to play along in a charade, hoping the truth won't come out.

[allboysvideo]

This is a very interesting topic and its sad to hear what is going on with such an established studio, it makes me wonder how this can happen.

I'm not taking sides or making any assumptions, WE don't know what really happen and the rumors are flying around and creating assumptions. Once we read the facts in AVN magazine or some publication that reports the truth then WE will know exactly what has happen. If its true the studio did film an underage actor/model then the truth will be told and I'm sure the Feds will be auditing the producers records and we will be certain to hear more about this situation. Currently you have two sides telling two different stories and WE don't know who is telling the truth or can seperate the facts from the fiction. It will be very interesting to see how this whole situation unfolds.

The best thing to do is not to spread rumors or assume the worse until it has been reported by a magazine like AVN or other magazine or newsgroup.

[MisterMark]

Currently you have two sides telling two different stories and WE don't know who is telling the truth or can seperate the facts from the fiction.

The best thing to do is not to spread rumors or assume the worse until it has been reported by a magazine like AVN or other magazine or newsgroup.

Absolutely. Thank you for your rational thoughts. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

[EonFilms_Rocky]

Popcorn, anyone?

*takes another handfull into mouth*

[chadknowslaw]

Chad

What is your part in this? How does his birth certificate end up in your hands and how were you notified of this situation?



I read that as well and it said alligations, which means innocent until proven guilty.. that's why I was curious how Chad was involved and why he had a birth certificate for this kid.

I have been retained by the model to represent him and assist in the disclosure and removal of the illegal material from the market.

[Lee]

So, yes. I'm going to assume they're guilty.

There i was thinking we used the innocent until proven guilty mindset in the US.

There are always 3 sides to every story, the victims, the perpetrators and the truth.

I doubt we'll ever hear all 3.

Regards,

Lee

[chadknowslaw]

Also, I am in Amsterdam at Webmaster Access so I have not gone online since Tuesday.

An attorney can only disclose certain facts publically--"no comment" seems to be the favorite phrase. Right now, I can only confirm the model's date of birth and that I represent him. If he decides to make any public statements those will come through my office.

I do not represent any investors or any other persons where I could have a conflict of interest--I only represent the model.

[tombarr]

Sure would be great to know why the model can present himself for adult video work, and knowingly present an Id that may or may not have represented his real age.... but he himself knowing he was under 18 at the time, and now suddently has developed a conscience ( or a dispute generated conscience, whichever is appropriate ) and wants all his underage works removed from circulation because they are illegal because he was underage at the time?

Smells like a skunk.....but still a colossal failure of due dilligence on the part of the studio....

We don't know the facts but this sure smells like payback....