America The Broke
OP/ED By The Colonel
"And so, in your travels across the Las Vegas Valley, should you encounter a weary-looking man resting against a streetlight, one hand on a wooden cane, the other clutching a dog-eared paperback of a Georges Simenon Inspector Maigret novel — my escapist lit choice of the moment — you will be gazing into the face of one of the new homeless." – Rodger Jacobs
Rodger Jacobs’ story, the story of a talented American writer on the verge of homelessness, is a painful portrait of life in the 21st century America, where your education doesn’t matter, your talent doesn’t matter, and your hard work and experience doesn’t matter. It’s horrifying to see how the right to live a decent, human life in this country is turning into a dream of the past, a reflection in the rearview mirror. Where do we go from here and how far before we hit the rock bottom?
Rodger Jacobs is a gifted writer and filmmaker, anybody who has seen his John Holmes documentary or read his articles and books knows that. My favorite Rodger Jacobs book is “Mr. Bukowski’s Wild Ride”, the story of a group of unorthodox cartoon characters including a disillusioned movie star, a demented producer of classic children’s movies, and yes, the ghost of Boris Karloff, wondering in Los Angeles underground clubs. A true page turner. It’s hard to imagine such a brilliant writer is now in trouble over his grocery money, something that 20 years ago or even 10 years ago would have been unthinkable. But today, it’s a grim reality, perhaps because Americans do not need writers and storytellers and reporters anymore. A generation of catatonic zombies who have learned to express themselves through their MySpace and FaceBook pages, decorated with whatever music and video and picture they can freely take, or should I say steal, from the internet hole; and as for the art of writing, they all got it. Who needs to pay for a book when they can tweet each other 24/7 and exchange verbal diarrhea about what they had for breakfast and how they’re having fun doing the laundry and how they telepathically communicate with their pet and whatever stupid crap they type in broken English and half-ass sentences. So of course a professional writer like Rodger Jacobs will have a hard time making a living. One day, people may wake up from their slumber and realize it’s too late, they’ve gone too far and the damage is done. But today, they have more important things to attend to, like for instance obsessing over drunken celebrities mug shots on TMZ.
After reading Rodger Jacobs’ article on LIB, I checked it out on Las Vegas Sun, where it was originally posted. As I scanned through the pile load of comments on the article, I was amazed to see the level of ignorance and the depth of apathy: Some people question the truthfulness of the story, some offer Rodger Jacobs advice on how to save money by cutting back on his cell phone and internet services and some speculate on what they would do if they were in this situation. Nobody talks about what’s truly wrong with this picture, nobody asks why in America a writer should succumb into such misfortune, and what does that say about what this country is turning into? After all, if a 20 something junkie with a nasty heroin habit and no education and social skills ends up on the streets that should not surprise anybody. But when that happens to a hard working, experienced, talented writer whose career spans over nearly a quarter of a century, that’s frightening and tragic, and speaks in volumes about the wrong direction this country has taken; America the broke.
Let’s have some decency. Let’s get off our high and mighty horses. Let’s put aside our speculative opinions and do what we can to support Rodger Jacobs, that’s the right thing to do. If you like to contact Rodger Jacobs, you can email Cindi and she will put you in touch with him. God bless you, and God bless America, whatever is left of it.
Thank you, Colonel, your words are touching and most appreciated; you know, I realized a few nights ago that one of the great ironies here is that one of the last feature articles I wrote for X Biz Wolrd magazine before I quite freelancing for them (I quit when my editor Gretchen Gallen flew the roost) was a profile of Golden Age performer Eric Edwards, who had fallen on hard times and homelessness due to expensive cancer treatments. That article helped mobilize a lot of industry support for one of their original founding members. I gave over ten years of my life and talent to the industry as a screenwriter, journalist, ad copy writer, and content producer and with the exception of Cindi and Adult FYI, I’ve heard nothing from anyone down there, not even a quick e-mail of support.
i hate to point it out, rodger, but our own best intentions are rarely ever reciprocated. i’ve more than willingly taken it in the arse before (figuratively) rationalising that the deed would be recalled and i’d be paid back in the future if needed – it never happens.
people are cunts, that much is sure and none of us is that far from skid row. your tale reaffirms the steps i take steps to protect myself, but in reality you’re only one mistake away from living hell.
i do find it hilarious that so many were willing to backhand you for your troubles, yet you’re only one man – i can’t hold you to any financial standards. a company screws up, with all those ‘fantastic minds’ and it’s time to give them a break and socialise their losses.
What I want to know is this… I am a disabled wheelchair bound person on disability and I barely get by each month. I get just enough money to squeeze by to the next month and the govt. is extremely good at keeping us barely surviving and existing.
Yet these guys that have lots of money like Bernie Madoff stole or the guys that got govt. bailouts got huge bonuses. How is it the penny pinchers can put their foot on the lil guys neck but can’t get a handle on these guys that are stealing millions?
This country has so many homeless and not all of them are junkie homeless vets. Lots are whole families with no where to go and no money or food. Yet so much of Amerioa’s “riches” go to the wealthy or to invest in war all to supposedly keep us “safe”? Its like our countries priorities are whacked!!!
You’re very welcome, Rodger. The adult industry always abandons its own people at the time of their need, Buck Adams, Eric Edwards and now you. It’s wrong and unfortunate. I don’t expect this industry to form a union and get organized and create 401k accounts for its workers; but at the very least we have to support each other as friends and colleagues. By writing this article, I tend to raise awareness and remind the adult industry that when one of us is going through hard times, we must do what we can to support him. I hope that people listen and realize how crucial this is.
Do to others what you would want them to do to you.
Karmafan says:
‘How is it the penny pinchers can put their foot on the lil’ guy’s neck but can’t get a handle on these guys that are stealing millions?’
Because those guys that are stealing millions own the U.S government, among the other things. As George Carlin said:
‘This country has been bought and sold a long time ago.’
Sad but true.
Colonel,
Those are beautiful sentiments you express in the above comment(6:38)
I wonder if you would have those same feeling for another group of industry people who fell on hard times, namely the girls who got HIV in 2004.
Where was your concern for them? Not even one little email in support of them.
I think the Colonel feels a special kindred spirit with Mr. Jacobs, as he ses his own future unfolding infront of him.
CRY ME A FUCKING RIVER!!!
As usual Little G. I. Joe, you must show up to remind everybody what a piece of shit you are and get kicked in your old, ugly, wrinkled ass. How do you know whether I showed concern for other adult industry people who fell on hard times, namely the girls who contracted HIV or not? How do you know whether I supported them or not? And why there is nothing but STD diseases in your broken, delusional mind?
I respect Rodger Jacobs, because he is a talented writer and I believe he does not deserve this misfortune; but I don’t expect a bottom feeding scumbag like you understands that. After all, we know who and what you are: An old, demented fool, left to die alone, trying to amuse yourself and find something to do with your miserable, shameful excuse for a life; and that’s how you ended up to be a troll on porn message boards. I pity you.
Here, read your most favorite line before you hit the sack:
Fuck you, you fucking idiot loser. Suck my dick.
My original sentiments stated when Rodger’s write up appeared are similar to The Colonels. The government should be helping people who try to help themselves. The system is evil, rotten, rotting. Obama needs to start walking his talk.
Right you are, Jeremy.
The system is fucked up and rotten, and unfortunately the majority of people cannot see it for what it is. It’s one giant monster with two arms, one arm is called The Democratic Party, the other is called The Republican Party. Their difference is on the surface, but underneath they’re one in the same, they both are owned and run by a handful of corporations, and both serve the same agenda. However, the majority of people refuse to face this fact; hence they fall for the same tricks year after year, decade after decade. Whenever they get frustrated from Democrats, they vote for Republicans and vice versa. Does it even matter who people vote for in this country? I don’t think so. Considering how expensive it is to run political campaigns, it’s clear that any candidate from any party has to swear allegiance to the corporations that fund campaigns and own the media. The candidate must guarantee that he will serve their purposes, otherwise he could not even get to the primary elections and people would never get to know him in the first place.
Indonesian born Muslim Barack Hussein Obama is the best example: This puppet was virtually unknown to the masses before the summer of 2008. The powers that be created this cartoonish character and turned him into a false Messiah overnight; and here we are two years later. Looks like Hussein’s time is up, and in the next round we will have a Republican president. Same shit, different day; and the vicious cycle will continue and get worse until and unless people wake up from their slumber and reclaim their freedom, humanity and independence. But in all honesty, I don’t have too much faith in people. I’m not a religious person, but I get the feeling that we are truly in end times.
And some now say, Colonel, that the Big Apple is more the Big, Rotten, Over-priced Apple…
My friend has called it “New York Shitty”
We’re in an age where really good writers will get lost among the swill of everyone who thinks they are a great writer, and one of the latter will become a big hit based on hype and nothing else. An example of this, not from writing but from the comedy world is Dane Cook. Cook is unfunny but good looking and used the internet and such to promote himself to huge gigs and big movies. On the other side is the recently passed Bob Schimmel, funny man with a funny life, but outside of the Stern world no one knew the man. Look at porn today, we’ve got a bunch of clowns with cameras who think they are directors, like the creatively bankrupt Will Ryder, Axel Braun, the so called auteurs at Wicked and now the money mad Paul Chaplin and Nick Steele. I have tons of respect for folks like Rob Spallone who just shoot solid porn scenes, no great production values, just the 21st Century version of the porno loops of the past. Cindi, you ever interview Freddie Lincoln, love to hear what he thinks about porn now.
You’re absolutely right, Larry.
Porn parody is a joke, and a very bad one. I don’t know how somebody can rip off and steal other people’s movies and TV series without feeling like a scumbag. It’s just pathetic, plain and simple; and fortunately it’s on a decline, the bottom feeders have truly hit the rock bottom. There’s no shitty mainstream and TV series left to rip off and steal from, so they’re making porn parodies based on porn flicks. How fucked up is that? Among the recent releases, there are parodies based on Jenna Jameson and Max Hardcore movies. That’s the thing about the trends: They come and go and nobody gives a shit about them.
The future of porn, if porn is going to have a future, is 3D and interactivity: Get beautiful, nasty girls to do dirty things, shoot it on 3D with the right equipment, and find a way to interact with the consumers without charging them an arm and a leg. Naughty America had a decent idea with their live shows, but one of the reasons it did not work was that their prices were too high. I’ve been planning on doing live shows for some time, but I haven’t figured the right format yet. I had discussions with the folks at AEBN and HotMovies to see if I can broadcast my live shows on my VOD theatres, but things didn’t work out. They want a %60 cut, and I’m not going to give it to them. I won’t give away %60 of my investment to some middle men just because they provide the traffic. But eventually I’m going to figure out something which would be beneficial for me and affordable and convenient for the consumers.
Colonel, why do you need the VOD sites? Fuck em’. Just broadcast live on your own website. Use affiliates and link-buildbers to drum up the hype. Hell, I’m even a big believer of porn trailers on YouTube.
Isn’t that what Buttman does?
Why VOD websites? That’s a good question, Origen. It’s mainly because they provide traffic and generate revenue. Currently Pay Per View, clip sales and cable broadcast are the main sources of income for the majority of the adult producers. Porn DVDs are becoming a thing of the pat, and I don’t think anybody would even release porn DVDs in the near future, because nobody wants to buy them.
In today’s cyber space, traffic is everything, and no single producer can generate enough traffic on his own. 5 Years ago, people would have paid a monthly subscription fee to become members of one web site and have access to one company’s content. Today, they don’t do that. With so much free porn pouring through tube sites, they don’t need to. As for the affiliates, there is only so much they can do to generate traffic, and they also want a %50 cut. Live broadcasts are costly, and if I tend to broadcast live on a web site and depend on the affiliates to generate traffic and in return give them a %50 cut, then I won’t profit enough from my investment, and it would not worth it.
I’m trying to find a profitable, viable solution. Here is one of the possibilities that I’m thinking of: If a number of companies come together and form an independent VOD web site where they broadcast exclusive content and live shows, content that people can only view in streaming format, content that people cannot download and share, then with enough advertising and link building we might be able to generate a good amount of traffic and profit. The challenge is to find enough companies that are willing to participate. As any other adult producer will tell you, finding a common ground in an industry as diverse and volatile as the adult is the hardest thing.
Colonel,
You r idea of getting several producers together to form an indepemdant VOD site to broadcast your own content may sound googd intheory but their is one major flaw. The problemisnt finding enough companies to participate, the problem is finding enough companies that will deal with eachother honestly to pull this off. Business partners have to trust eachother, and I just dont see that happening here. The first chance someone gets to rip off one of the other partners, youknow theyre going to take it. How manyothers in this industry would you trust to take on this kind of venture, and more important,,how many would trust YOU to enter a business deal like this?
As far as ‘diversity’ in the industry. I dont see that either….You got a whole bunch of people putting out the same crap, thats not diverssity, thats saturation.
You are correct, Joe.
We have our disagreements, we even fight from time to time, but sometimes we are on the same page. Trust is a major issue in the adult industry, a place saturated with freelancers, freeloaders, sharks and thieves. The majority of the industry workers, whether performers or directors, producers, etc. cannot and do not think and plan in long terms, they’re like junkies who only care for the next fix; and that’s what gotten us in such a mess today. I have some plans, decent, viable solutions, but I don’t think I can ever get enough people on the same page to do anything fundamental.
Let me give you an example of how adult producers contribute to their own demise for the sake of some pocket change: Some companies sell their contents to tube sites for as low as $50 per scene. They give away contents like that and feed tube sites, and then complain about how tube sites are destroying the adult industry. Their ignorance, desperation and greed is unfathomable.