Sunday, October 8, 2006
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Bryn Pryor's MySpace Blog (As Eli Cross)
He used to be known in the industry as Mark Logan, the managing editor of Adult Video News (he left in 2000). For the past few years he's been with Kylie Ireland (her lover and cameraman, not necessarily in that order).
Here's a snippet from his blog:
Y'see, it's been a very badly-kept secret that Eddie [Van Halen] has, for the last year or so, been funding his own porn company. The thrust of the company is to produce high-end features for the couples market, so naturally they needed a classy-sounding name.
Sllab. The company is called Sllab. (If you don't think like a 14-year-old you might not immediately crib the joke that it's "Balls" spelled backwards. Ha. Ha.) That certainly says "big-budget plot-porn" to me.
If you haven't heard of Sllab, don't feel bad. To my knowledge they've produced one movie since last summer, a $100k feature called The New Neighbors
A Rejoinder To Donovan Phillips
Christopher Gregory writes:
Hey Luke, It's been an exhausting week for me and my company, having just did a FOX NEWS interview defending my current film (which by the way not a fucking frame has been shot) as well as it's becoming known in mainstream I do horrorporn or what I like to refer as grindhouse porn, I'm getting a little frustrated and a little bit irritated by those, especially the XXX Church group that keeps rearing its ugly head everytime a former christian finds God and comes to its senses that porn is evil and wicked and just plain wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of gonzo, never have been, and I resent ANYONE who shoots gonzo as calling themselves filmmakers as they are not, their shooters, loafs who simply aim a camera and shoot girls fucking and sucking and then by some reason they think their the Coppola of porn. Irritating. having just wrappd up another mainstream erotica film and with my past erotica vampire series being praised in Europe as a artfully done romance horror (I find that amusing by the way), and with my first horror film Blood Lake with VCA coming out Oct. 31st, I'm so tired of individuals blaming porn as their downfall.
Now, I'm no angel, far from it, but it's striking how far we as a culture in America has come compared to that in Europe when it comes to sex. I've lived in Europe and I know fully well how much the europeans embrace their sexuality, but in this country we still get in an uproar over Miss Jackson and a tit exposure and focus on the industry as a moral sign of our decay as a nation. WTF?
I would tell Donovan that what he is going through is probably his own issues of sexuality and issues of guilt from something that happened to him when he was younger, like say becoming brainwashed in a religious right environment that teaches sex is wrong, evil, sick and twisted. Make no mistake, XXX Church knows exactly what they are doing when they see someone like Donovan slip and fall and starts to feeling regret, they leap at the chance to claim another victim to their politically motivated agenda.
Believe me, XXX Church and those behind such groups have an agenda, and it's not a good one. These individuals will do or say whatever they want to get their views heard, and convert the next followers to their right wing cause. Yes, Donovan is an example of the fight between the left and the right and he made a choice. Good for him. And let me just say, that every girl I have in my films are there by choice, not becaue of circumstances and not because of vice, but because they have made a choice. Look to Hollywood and see how much that industry treats their own and look to the adult industry and see how much they take care of their own. Tells me a lot. Tells me that the adult industry does more in support of a girls private life than what some Hollywood Studio does.
It's true, I've been successful in both media right now, but as for me I have no regrets about doing adult work, actually when I met with Lionsgate recently concerning my upcoming horror film, they actually didn't care. So Donovan needs to make up his mind where he wants to be, but don't blame an entire industry simply for his own failures in his own life.
Erik Everhard Leaves Evil Angel
He's going to Jules Jordan.
Preacher's Kid Donovan Phillips Quits Porn
I'm weary. This has been a tough year. Mostly because I've been struggling with some "personal demons" (as Hollywood so artistically puts it) within myself. Perhaps, over time, I'll reveal more of those details as the others involved in my life grow more comfortable with my apparent need to speak publicly of private matters.
I've always questioned the faith my father tried to teach me. There are so many things about Christianity that just make no sense to me. Right here in this blog you've seen me ridicule various aspects of it. But, like many of you probably do, I still pray from time to time. It just feels good once in awhile, doesn't it? Even if you're not entirely sure anyone's listening. It's a psychological thing, ya know?
This past week I finally decided to stop fighting some of the turmoils I've had inside. I prayed the following prayer, almost word-for-word:
"God, you know that I have trouble believing the sacrifice was ever truly made. But I want to accept it anyway and hope that you somehow help me reconcile those doubts. I'm inviting you back into my life."
At that point I turned on K-Love (Christian radio station) in my car. This song was the very first song that played. I am not really sure why I mentioned that part of the story because, to be absolutely honest with you, I'm a bit embarrassed by so many parts of it. I've ranted against Christianity for so long now that it feels almost hypocritical to be talking about Donny praying and listening to Christian radio.
Part of the "blame" for me coming to this decision must be layed on the Pastors of XXXChurch.com. In fact, JR flew out from Michigan to spend a day at my house and is currently sleeping in my guest room as I type this (more on that in a future blog entry).
I feel a huge sense of relief and happiness for the first time in a LONG, LONG time. This blog's not going anywhere. I'll have to change the title to "Donny's Ramblings: Diary of a FORMER Pornographer" or something similar, but I'll still be blogging. And I don't intend to remove any prior entries, as I think that would take away from my story.
There's a lot more detail to share with you, but right now I'm dead tired and need to get some sleep. Earlier in this blog entry I mentioned being scared, and I still haven't told you exactly why. Here it is:
At this point I don't know where I'm going, what I'm doing, or what the future holds.
That terrifies me.
Donny got this email:
Your posts about the experience sounded good on the surface, "this guy is living the dream!", but the thought that always came after it was, "but man, I could never do that." And it's not a judgement thing, not a morality thing, not a condemning kind of thing. Not a religious thing. In my gut, I would just have a problem doing what you did, taking pics of girls who needed money, filming myself doing things with them, and trying to tell myself that this is okay, this is what I wanted for myself. Does it make me a hyprocrite? Maybe, I don't know. I'm not going to stop surfing for porn. But taking the step to produce it myself, in addition to the other things you've done, I just couldn't do. It seemed wrong, no matter how much of a fratboy fantasy it seems. Again, the 10-year-old me, seeing me as a pornographer, would probably cry at the sight of it. He wouldn't understand. Wasn't the idea to get married, and come home and eat apple pie? Work hard, do my best, and set an example for my own son? My dad was my hero. What if he'd been a pornographer? (not putting you down at all, here) Would I still feel the same?
I'm glad you're quitting the porn gig. You seem too sensitive, too aware, too willing to share your thoughts and doubts with others for this to be what you're really meant for. Somewhere along the line, I think you'd be asking yourself, "when did this stop being a juvenile era in my life, and become the crass heart of who I am?"
Donny writes:
In the 8 years I've been involved in this business my strong point has been recruiting models. I have recruited hundreds of girls who would never have taken their clothes off for a camera if they hadn't met me. Lately we're becoming so well known that almost every model we recruit ends up found by family members. Now, I can tell myself it's their own fault, they were warned, they signed a 5 page model release telling them exactly what was going to happen, whoop whoop whoop. But none of that stops the pain every time another girl calls on the phone asking what to do now that daddy and mommy are telling her she's shamed her family. In LA things are different. Girls go there to be porn stars. Up here I advertise and pay referral fees. Models come in, see my fancy house and nice things, and want to be involved. The nice things are intoxicating. These same girls would never have been involved in this business if it weren't for me. Guilt? Yeah. You can say that. But it also got me thinking about exactly what I'm doing. And why. And I came to the conclusion that my role in this industry is very selfish. I'm not going to insult any of the rest of you for what you do in this business. But I am going to tell you that, for me, I am done. And I need help getting out, because God knows I've tried to do it myself a few times. But this time I'm making it public and making it happen. And I have to tell you I feel really good about it. I'm going to lose everything I have, yet I feel warm inside. I'll still be around. I'm just out of the porn business myself. You do what's right for you and your family and I'll be happy for you. But this isn't good for me anymore.
I hung up with Belinda and called the girl back from my cell to see what she needed. She answered in tears. I knew right away what the problem was: someone she knows found her photos online. She begged me to do something to get her off the internet, but there's really nothing I can do. The companies who own the copyrights will not remove them. I know this from experience.
When interviewing models I tell them it's very likely someone they know will find them. But no matter how often a model hears this, she either doesn't care or never thinks it will happen to her. Yes, perhaps someone else will be found, but not me. My dad doesn't even own a computer. My uncles would never be surfing porn sites. Etc. Etc. Etc.
On top of being told verbally, models have to sign a five page release that makes it clear what they can expect. For some reason it seems the more they are warned, the more they want to pose. I guess that's just human nature.
The girl this morning told me some of her friends found her photos, which somehow led to her father finding out as well as her employer. She works at a business owned by a Christian woman who is now implying she may be fired. Her father is disappointed in her. Her boyfriend is telling her that he's "not going to date a porn star".
The model herself doesn't think posing was that big a deal and can't understand why everyone is making it to be one, but her life at this moment is very stressful, to say the least.
This has happened before, of course. If this particular incident follows the patterns of the past it will blow over in a few days and settle down. But it illustrates exactly what I mean when I tell people that I have little personal attraction to pornography. When asked why I say this I tell them, "When I see a pornographic image or video, instead of seeing what the model is doing in the photo or video I see her two weeks after it was shot. The money has been spent and she's crying on the phone asking that her photos be removed because her family has found out and are telling her that she's shamed them."
I used to reconcile these problems by reminding myself that the model had been warned and made her own decision. Even so, it would take a very cold person not to feel her pain. I take responsibility for the part I played.
I am so glad I won't be producing porn anymore.
I Hear Don Hollywood And Brooke Hunter Broke Up
What happened?
Tyra Banks Show
Marc, a producer (Marc.nicolas@tyratv.com), emails me: "TYRA BANKS SHOW IS CREATING A SHOW ON THE LIVES OF FEMALE ADULT FILM STARS FOR TOMORROW’S SHOW. IF YOU ARE A FEMALE ADULT STAR WHO WANTS TO COME TO THE SHOW WITH THEIR HUSBAND OR BOYFRIEND, PLEASE LET TYRA AND THE PRODUCERS KNOW. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FLY YOU OUT TO HOLLYWOOD FOR TOMORROW’S TAPING. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME TODAY."
A Pornographer Makes An Exit Plan
Porner: "He has a problem with me because I don't worship the ground he walks on. Just like most people in porn. If you don't go along with the fantasy, 'Oh yes, you are a great film director,' 'Oh yes, you are a beautiful woman,' they get mad at you. You would know better than anybody. That's why you've developed that nice style where you just let people speak for themselves and let that say everything."
Luke: "Easier than sticking my own neck out."
Porner: "I'm working on my exit strategy. I can't take it anymore."
Luke: "Congratulations."
Porner: "Yes, for making the mental change."
Luke: "Acknowleding you have a problem."
Porner: "Acknowleding that being in this business is a problem for me. I hate to sound like you, but mentally, spiritually... Despite the financial [challenges], I'll put more years on to my life either starving or doing some [mainstream] independent projects... Better than begging people I can't stand for another shot."
Luke: "How's the love life?"
Porner: "Nonexistent. That's part of the reason I need to get out. Not because the love life is nonexistent, but because I don't care. I've burned out physically and emotionally. That was part of the wake-up call.
"I've been in this depressive, pre-suicidal mood for about three months now. It's easy to pinpoint the issue. My mother says she's never seen me this unhappy."
Luke: "What role did the passing of Jon Dough play?"
Porner: "It definitely had a part. I'm still angry about that. The low attendance at his funeral. The people who made money off him did not show up. They can show up to Eddie Van Halen's booze and broads party, but they can't show up to a memorial? Some of his fellow performers came out.
"Jon was fated for where he was going. His childhood. Any guy who holds off the LAPD for fun obviously has a death wish [circa 1997]. Porn did not create his problems, but it was such an exploitive and unfriendly environment that he had no hope of curing them."
Luke: "How's the state of the industry?"
Porner: "A lot of people are hurting like never before but it is hard to judge because nobody wants to admit that they are not working."
"I hate to agree with that old saw, but if people could've done something else, they would've. If they had been a great car mechanic, they would not have entered porn."
Luke: "What medication are you on these days?"
Porner: "I should be on something but I'm on nothing."
Many of the Vivid Girls Are Acting Like Crackheads
If it's not drugs, it's alcohol. Time for an intervention. Are they still shooting that Vivid girls reality show?
De’Bella Celebrates Birthday with First DP
The AVN story does not mention that De'Bella is Jewel DeNyle's mom and that the two have had a nasty (and public) falling out.
Monstar writes on XPT: "debella. DEBELLA! the name. it haunts me so. she entrances me. what is this spell she has over me."
The Return Of The Anal Creampie
A "creampie" in porn talk means multiple internal ejaculations. It's a great way to spread HIV and many companies, such as Evil Angel, won't shoot it because of its health risks.
Jules Jordan is back shooting it according to his press release:
Meanwhile, Isabel Ice delivered a double-anal that ended in an ass creampie. Cindy Crawford got d.p.’ed by Erik Everhard and Steve Holmes and also received an anal creampie, and not to be outdone, Jasmine Tame did a d.p. with Everhard and Jerry. Jaime Elle met Mr. Holmes and was also the recipient of an internal anal pop.
“This movie also marked the return of the anal creampie for Jules Jordan Video,” Jordan pointed out."
Four performers were diagnosed with HIV in the Spring of 2004 as a result of these types of risky sex practices. Shooting cream pies was rare for about a year. Now it is like nothing happened. The female talent has cycled around enough so that most of them don't even know about 2004's outbreak.
Mary Carey Finds Christ
Kendra Jade calls me back Wednesday morning. "Mary's had a rough couple of days," she says. "Mary's trying to be a Christian.
"She shot for Legend yesterday.
"She came over to my house the other day for a karaoke party. Everybody else was drinking. She's trying to be sober. At least she's got something to believe in and it's good for her spiritually. She's not taking xanax.
"She spends [her spare time] with one of the guys from the church we go to. They do Bible study. He's stayed with her, life-coaching her."
Luke: "Except for when she went on set yesterday."
Kendra: "She wants to get out but she's obligated to the rest of the contract. She doesn't even want to dance any more.
"She's been looking for something for a long time and unfortunately she's found it in the form of idiot guys."
"I've been sleeping only a few hours a night. I only fall asleep around 7 a.m. My sleep is messed up from traveling."
Teagen Presley Pregnant Again?
According to this report, male performer Tyler Durden is the father.
Who'll save TMZ from this smell?
The tape begins with Diamond in a bathtub, narrating what's to come. It ends with Diamond introducing one of the women to a "Dirty Sanchez." Suffice it say, it is unbelievably graphic... To say the least, the video is unique and, dare we say, entertaining.
That's how the megacorporate gossip website TMZ.com describes the "Screech Sex Tape," a premeditated outrage featuring a sad former child star that's being promoted as the most disgusting, repulsive, appalling, insulting, debasing, degrading, unhealthy, unnatural, unkind, anti-feminist heterosexual celebrity sex tape yet: one that’s built around a coprophiliac act so beyond the bounds of human decency that most civilized persons who've heard the term assumed it to be a nasty fantasy used for a laugh in a profanisaurus or a one-upping gross-out gag by Andy Dick in The Aristocrats.
Chyna and Kendra Jade at the Coffee Bean
The former wrestler turned reality TV star [Chyna] was accompanied by her friend, porn star Kendra Jade, and we think they were still wearing their same outfits from last night. Cuz they're hardcore like that! (We also smelled the alcohol on them.) But they were very sweet. And polite. And Kendra told us all about her wild weekend in Vegas with Kevin Federline last year.
John T. Bone To Pakistan?
I am off to Mexico again this morning. Mr. Big wants some more tranny movies and I need the money so it is a perfect match. I have spent the last two days searching the internet for information on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in preparation for the next real trip. Every report I read contradicts the one I read last last. I read that prostitution is legal in India then I read about a bunch of arrests in India for prostitution. I read that they are making porno movies in Pakistan then I read that they shoot you for making porno movies in Pakistan, confusing huh? Next week I have to book my tickets and pick my crew so I need to make some decisions this week-end. So there will be no posts for a few days, finding a place with internet in Mexico is like finding a whore without a drug problem.
...One of the joys of shooting in Brazil and Thailand is that there are so few 'professional' egos on the set. When was the last time your 'star' helped out in the kitchen washing dishes, or your top male talent worked with the lighting crew for fun. All of the pictures accompanying this rant are of girls who were a joy to work with. They cleaned their own rooms, they helped out in wardrobe and make-up and yes even the kitchen. The guys moved furniture and helped build sets. We shot for nine days and lived like a family. When the shoot was over many of the the girls cried and hugged each other like real friends do. Does that sound like an American shoot?
Kami's Cry For Help
...My father found his father swinging at that age and didnt go hmmm lets give it a go. I saw my neigbor and I didn't do it.
How do you get that stuff out of your head. I have a friend who is having awful war like images from people he saw die, and he just gets high all the time, but is there a way to help him?
my uncle did three tours, he stayed in the military (green beret) until they said if he didnt get more school he wouldnt make any money or got demoted or some shit (he spoke 7 languages like a native). Since he got home i never saw him without a drink and he was always the psyco uncle,and it hurt my family who came here as Germans and were treated like shit, to have a son here send him to war and have him come home and be treated like shit. But he drank it all away, there has to be a healthier solution.
Kamie emails me: "babe it's more of a request for advice from people I think would know, there are a ton of different back grounds and age brackets on there and I was surprised no one had the solution. It's not my problem as I have never had to watch people die (literally anyway) and have never been to war! I have a friend who has and I wanted to help him. not newsworthy!"
Chyna Denied from Hyde ... "Idol" Reject Watches
Our new favorite train wreck, Chyna Doll, has officially joined Tara Reid and Brandon Davis in the I-can't-get-into-Hyde club.
After leaving Shag, another club in Hollywood, the wrestler-turned-Playboy model-turned-walking disaster showed up at trendy Hyde with porn star Mary Carey and their entourage, expecting to waltz right in. The group had no reservation, of course, and was quickly denied admittance.
Bishop Retires From Porn
He calls me Tuesday evening from his new home in the Mid-West. "I'm out, man. I'm out for good."
"I had a friend. We had been friends for almost a year. She visited me in L.A. Things were slow, I used the opportunity to take a short vacation and drive to her home. In the course of that, I realized that I did not want to be apart from her and that I'd finally met somebody that I did not want to lose to the business.
"It's been a couple of months now.
"This was the slowest summer ever. I dipped into my savings, the money I swore I would never touch. It seemed like the right time to get out.
I'm so crazy about this girl, last night, I spent three hours making love to her my own way.
"One thing about the business is that it takes away from your personal life. I am myself again.
"Ninety nine out of 100 girls who decided they didn't want to be around the industry, I let them walk away, but this one, I walked away for. My plan is to marry her before I impregnate her.
"She's a white girl with red hair.
"I have learned the value of a good woman. When you get a hold of one, it is best to do everything in your power to hang on to her.
"I am selling new cars for a widely known corporation. The money I'm making is competitive and there's no performance anxiety. Most people who come on a lot want a car and it's just a matter of you finding a way for them to be comfortable with the purchase.
"I had been afraid to let go of that whole lifestyle but when things dried up this summer, it wasn't much of a leap."
Luke: "Do you get recognized?"
Bishop: "On two occasions.
"I told my boss where I was coming from. Car salemen are open-minded."
"I saw some things [in porn] that will stay with me, like the couple of guys who tried to conceal they were on the restricted list [after working with someone with HIV] and tried to work anyway."
"There's no doubt in my mind that Sharon Mitchell is saving lives. Without her, [HIV] would've spread like wildfire."
"I'm relieved that it's over. It was getting competitive. There were a bunch of guys coming and due to the drugs being available... All the wonder and surprise were gone.
"Anybody that would pass judgment on somebody for that line of work should be grateful that that person did not make other choices that may have affected them. I have a son to feed. He will never look at me and tell me he's hungry and me not put food in front of him. That person [who entered porn] could've been selling drugs to somebody they love or climbing in the windows of their house and stealing their things, because everybody's got to eat. Nobody can judge but God.
"If I had to do it all over again, I would, but if I had met this lady first, it would not."
"Tomorrow is walk your kid to school day and I'm going to do that."
"I don't worry about my kid if he is not in my sight. It's completely different than L.A. I don't miss the cops, the helicopters, the gun fire, the gang members, the $1200 one bedroom apartments."
"My daughter's about to turn two and my son turns seven in July. I'll get the pleasure of explaining to them what I used to do."
Can you imagine a well-dressed Bish slangin' autos?
"Look, homey, anyone who knows anything 'bout cars knows the 04 Corolla is a badass motherf---in' ride. I know it ain't new-new, but it's just about. And the car is tiptop, that s--- ain't even an issue. But just in case it ain't -- and I'm stressin' JUST IN CASE -- that's what the 10000 mile extended warranty is for. Nigga, I gotcha covered!"
I would pay good money to see Bishop sweet talk whitey into spending too much on a car he doesn't want.
Belladonna Update
Since I am not able to do much more today I will blog away. I forgot to mention to you all that I have acute bronchitis. I cannot remember ever having it before but let me tell you it is just plain annoying. I feel great most of the time except for a little chest pain and when I lay down at night I cannot stop coughing. I have read up on it and I know what to do to get over it. I just don't like not being able to work out and not getting sound sleep can be bothersome as well. On another note tommorow I will be shooting for a German Documentry on the Adult Business and guess who will be joining me?? Sasha Grey my latest infatuation... The documentry is featuring Sasha Grey, John Stagliano, Andrew Blake and many more..
Gary Kremen (Former Owner of Sex.com) Hosts At His Mansion A Break The Fast Post Yom Kippur Party Oct 2 For Jewish Bigwigs In San Diego
Only 5% of Gary's business is still related to porn.
How Will Online Gambling Restrictions Affect Porn?
Brad Shaw writes on JBM: "Clamps are getting tighter, clamps on porn can not be far behind. I see zero positive from it."
WiredGuy writes: "It demonstrates to me the ability to cut off a multi-billion dollar industry. That cannot possibly be good for porn as its next on the cutting plate. People have always said porn is too large for Visa/MC to say no, well gambling is even bigger and the US Government just forced the decision onto the credit card companies."
Closed For Yom Kippur
Much of the industry was closed Monday.
AVN Not Mentioning XBiz?
AVN increasingly refuses to mention its competitor XBIZ.
In the recent issue of AVNOnline, they wrote up a blurb on the XBiz event in July in Las Vegas, the XBIZ Summer '06 Forum, but deliberately omitted the word "XBIZ" from the entire piece - strange.
And here, in listing the people in attendance at this event, they deliberately avoided mention that XBIZ staff, including Alec and his wife, were at this party.
I believe AVN thinks that XBiz is ripping them off and imitating their business model and undercutting them on advertising sales.
Tommy (who works for one of porn's biggest companies, it has no affiliation to XBiz) writes:
It is almost sad to see the cattiness of AVN with the rise of Xbiz. It would seem that the industries leading trade publication and industry resource would look at Xbiz as a young hungry company but obviously the success Helmy has had shakes the complacent veteran publication to the very core. The fact is Xbiz spends far less time behind closed doors comparing themselves to AVN as AVN does to Xbiz.
This is by no means a war. If it were a war, the war has been fought and AVN lost. The only thing AVN has to complain about is that a company came into the industry trade biz and created a better monthly magazine, a better website, making huge strides in the industry event space, and has approached the industry with enthusiasm, respect, and good old-fashioned humble appreciation of the people who support the brand. AVN has been treating its client base and supporters with an air of entitlement for years. The ONLY thing AVN is edging Xbiz on at this point is the awards. Xbiz recognizes the industry as a whole not just the talent. Let’s be honest. The AVN awards are more than anything a legacy event. People attend because people always have. AVN’s lack of acknowledgement is what we all suspect it is. A silent admission of defeat, inferiority, and an arrogant snub that is intended to show dignity when in fact they show the true side of the company culture that has allowed the once mighty to falter.
AVN charges about $3000 per page for an ad, about twice what XBiz charges. AVN has far more advertisers shelling out far more dollars than does XBiz. AVN has over 60 employees, about three times the number of XBiz. AVN runs the biggest and most important trade shows.
The fact that AVN has 60 emplyees is proof positive they are top heavy. If the comments are true "60 people" working at AVN, now that is just absurd. The artwork is supplied by the advertisers, the trade show is run by one point person and a few other hourly wage types, and if you listen to what people in the market have been saying for years about ad rates for the magazine, the irony regarding the comments about the rates and number of employees support the fact that between the two Xbiz is a better deal and uses a fraction of the staff to get it done. The plain fact is many people have been frustrated with AVN for a very long time. This is a widely known fact and cannot be refuted. NEVER have I heard anyone say AVN is a tremendous value and words cannot express how well I thought my money was spent by advertising with the magazine. I hear we spend a F**kload of money with AVN in ads, tradeshows, and we get treated like crap, and they have employees who treat the customers like they are above them. Facts are facts and the above is a collection of opinions from many years from a variety of people. AVN has some good people, the product they put out is quite good. The point here is that some of the hangers on over there have pissed off many, advertising has become expensive, they have too many employees, and an upstart rag is beating them at a game they have stood uncontested for decades.
Porn pro responds: "You don’t have to be a Freudian to see that “Tommy” obviously has an ax to grind against AVN, and thus his laughably oversweeping remarks are hardly to be taken seriously. But he does write pretty good marketing copy: the Xbiz PR department should definitely make the guy an offer."
Tommy responds:
Who is to say that me is a he? To be a Freudian is to be devoted to the study of Freud's theories often considered by today’s modern psychology as dated and un-founded but, I digress. My comments to Luke are often too confrontational to be spoken freely among industry peers. I admit even for me. I suppose on a general overview, the ax to grind is the ten plus years of the AVNitude; the industry is tired of poor treatment, little cooperation or attention after the check clears, and the smug shoulder shrugging problem solving that most receive when faced with some crisis on a show floor, a problem with an ad, and the obvious cronyism giving very clear advantages to certain people and or companies. If Xbiz follows the same path, they will get the same kind of harsh criticism. I know some of the staffers personally at both AVN and Xbiz and have very friendly relationships. I have attempted on many occasions to tactfully convey some of the common complaints among the many, or point out areas where the company could use a push in a new direction to satisfy a growing "dis-satisfaction" among clients. Sure my comparisons to Xbiz might lead one to believe that I have some form of allegiance to the publication, but in reality, there is none, zip, zero, and it makes for a good strong argument to make my point to use Xbiz as a solid apples to apples comparison, a point many have had for a very long time and simply do not have the guts to say it out loud in fear of being alienated by the mighty cronies. I include myself in this group. This is Luke Ford; the postings are supposed to be provocative, opinionated, and tabloid-esque short of blatant lies. Consider my opinions the silent majority. If you think for one minute there is not a soft golf clap around the valley after a read like this I am afraid you are sadly mistaken. Obviously this has hit some nerves deeply and personally. Until next time, the anonymous truth is bitter as there is nobody to destroy for revealing it. Which we know is also, the bitter truth.
Porn pro responds: “Tommy” asks “Who is to say that me is a he?” Well, nothing, other than that you’re using a male name. But if you’re implying that that is a deceit and that you’re really a female, well, that calls into question the veracity of everything else you maintain. After all, if you’ve demonstrated that you can lie about one thing, then you can lie about others as well. The anonymous “truth?” Not so fast “Tommy.”
Jack writes me: "I have difficulty distinguishing your site from Gene’s site because you are now both using that X-Biz wallpaper background… I don’t know what the sponsorship agreement is between you two, but I’m certain it won’t color your reporting on them or AVN."
Jeff Steward posts on XPT: "Xbiz is total crap.When me and 5 Star got busted they did a story about it and just made up there own facts.50% of the article was complete bulls---.On the other hand AVN also did a story but they actually took the time to call me and my attorneys to find out what was really going on so dont believe what you read in XBIZ because its horses---."
Party chairman's firm pours millions into sex movie industry.
TORY chairman Francis Maude heads a firm which invested millions in a porn star’s hardcore empire.
The father-of-five is the non-executive chairman of Jubilee Investment Trust plc which bought into busty Jill Kelly’s business, selling hundreds of filthy DVDs.
Mr Maude, 53, who leads the Tories’ drive to clean up their tarnished image, blustered yesterday: “It’s not my company.”
Porn and Drugs
AVN's Mike Albo responds to my latest nonsense:
"Like drug dealers, pornographers offer porn for free to get people addicted so they can upsell them to DVDs and dating sites."
Written like somebody who greedily and uncritically swallowed every bit of hysterical anti-drug propaganda spoon-fed to him. As one whose credentials were impeccable in the world of illicit narcotics for many years, please believe me when I tell you that drug dealers don't offer free drugs in the hopes that innocents will become enslaved to their product. Everybody pays. But nice try to link a perfectly legal business like adult entertainment with a perfectly illegal one. I'm now convinced that the only people who are more dense than you are the ones who seek out your specious "expert" knowledge.
Daniel Metcalf writes: "Luke, even a casual listen to the Lou Reed/Velvet Underground classic "I'm Waiting For The Man" would have saved you from making such an ill-informed observation. Just more proof that it really is time to throw those Air Supply and Little River Band CDs away."
Ninn Worx Sacred Sin Party Attracts Industry Leaders Saturday Night
Paul Fishbein, Steve Orenstein, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hirsch came to the release party at Eddie Van Halen's home. "It was unbelievable," says a source. "The biggest of the bigwigs were there."
Porn yearns to be free but everywhere it's in chains
Emmanuelle emails:
Hey Luke, Hope that you've been doing fine since the intervention and the zipper incident.
I was thinking of you because I'm doing a story for Max Magazine about all these YouTube-inspired sites offering free porn: pornotube, xtube, yuvutu... And I'm surprised at how the porn sites and the newsy sites such as lukeisback don't discuss them at all (unless I didn't look in the right places... but nothing on rame, AVN...): these sites are run by X professionals promoting their products (teasers for pro videos and a lot of the "amateur" stuff is totally staged or just plain pro porn) but they make it easier than ever to watch free porn. Why would you buy anything?
Don't the online porn producers who have nothing to do with these sites fear that these porn YouTubes are providing too much free porn too easily? Granted, these sites may find themselves soon under attack (bandwitdh overload, lack of restrictions to enter them) and Pornotube is already getting sued (see below) by this gay porn prod company; IO Group, Inc, for copyright infrigement. It's the same company that sued Veoh Networks Inc in June
Anyway, as I'm interviewing a few experts on online porn on this subject, I wanted to ask you if I could fire off 2 or 3 questions to you. Basically: do you think that offering free porn so easily, including user-generated content, may distabilise the porn industry and its economic model? As a XXX expert, how would you rate the qualify of the content on these sites: exciting, fresh, boring (yuvutu being more international and more user-generated... many French couples post their video romps there.) As a theologian of distinction and a man of deep spirituality, what thoughts do these sites inspire you?
There's nothing new about free porn. About the only thing that's changed here is the nomenclature. Porn wants to be free but everywhere it's in chains. Porn is largely free because it is inexpensive to produce and to pirate and to swap and to publish online.
Like drug dealers, pornographers offer porn for free to get people addicted so they can upsell them to DVDs and dating sites.
Why pay for porn? Because you want a particular niche with a particular quality and reliability (and you feel a connection to the producer/star) and are willing to pay for it.
I'm afraid to check out yuvutu.com because I might stumble on to a niche that turns me on and then I might waste my days wanking to porn and that in turn could distort the way I view women and how I relate to them, not to mention adversely effect my relationship with my higher power.
"That's a risk. You start browsing the site and here goes the afternoon! They have everything, from this German guy documenting his trysts with Turkish immigrants to little animated clay characters. It's insane."
These sites remind me of how long it has been since I've experienced a live woman.
Overall, porn, whether it be free or pay, is not how God wants us to express our sexuality.
Webmaster: "Those porn YouTubes are replacing search engines as a way to find porn thus, they are a huge threat to xxx websites, especially boy/girl stuff that's not extreme."
Judith Regan Shops for No-Tell Motel
"I've published Jenna Jameson and Tommy Franks. My vision is to have both of them sitting side by side at the pool."
Mary Carey Hanging Out With #1 (2004) NBA Pick Dwight Howard
I call her Saturday night.
Mary: "There's a great clip of me on CNN.com and on TMZ.com."
Here's a news report on her appearance at San Diego State University.
"I've been talking a whole bunch to Dwight Howard the past couple of days."
"I'm going to the Man of the Year premiere."
"I've been doing good. I'm not using xanax any more."
Steve York (who produced porn as a UCSD student) comes on the phone: "Did you ever find that article you wrote about me?"
Luke: "I didn't look."
Steve: "You called me a spoiled rich kid."
Steve says to Mary: "Why was he talking s--- without even knowing me?"
Steve: "I want to see Mary with winners such as Dwight Howard. I hung out with Shifty. I'm meeting the new men in Mary's life.
"Mary's having a problem with men who are busy because they have jobs and careers."
Mary: "I'm going to church tomorrow with Kendra. The religious people want to help me. I'm worried about my mother. Her male doctors are fans of mine and want pictures with me. My mom's moved to a rehab center and I'm dealing with old Jamaican women who aren't fans of mine."
Luke: "I've got to run."
Steve: "You're not f---ed up enough for lukeisback.com anymore."
Mary: "I'm in the same financial position I was in three years ago, maybe even worse. I'm more well known. You'd think I'd have more money."
Bounced Check From Ztod
Tara emails: "Guess who bounced an affiliate check on me? Clement who runs Videosz.com, ZTOD.com (Zero Tolerance On Demand), and DeluxePass. The really s--- part is that it was a $70 check. Does he really not have enough overdraft protection to cover that? I got a replacement check, but no compensation for the bounced check fee charged to me by my bank."
Amber Peach Defends Herself
I understand the use of the website PSP and I believe it’s a great idea to report when a performer is a flake or doesn’t do a job he or she has been hired to do. Though I’m not perfect, I want to make it perfectly clear that I’m not a flake and I give a quality performance when I’m hired.
Jon Dough's Final Days
He descended into a drugged haze, addicted to crack and crystal meth. He was living in a house rent free. His water and electricity had been turned off for non-payment of bills, so he used a generator. He was paranoid, convinced that various friends of his were out to get him.
On his final Sunday, he was taking a nap with his wife. When she woke up, he was not there. She wandered into the garage and found him hanging.
How to Make Money Like a Porn Star
Falcon Foto Sues Porn Kings Over Copyright Infringement
The multimillion-dollar lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Wash., alleges that the owners of Porn Kings infringed on its rights by using Falcon images on websites and free hosted galleries without a license.
Mary Carey's Campaign Appearance At San Diego State University Wednesday
Dave Cummings emails: "Mary had what one of last year's graduates described as the largest crowd he's ever seen there for a rally event. The campaign-for-governor event was organized by Steve York and was covered by numerous television stations/reporters; Mary did a super job at the podium, and later while helping us register students as voters. She was well received, and students seemed extremely enthusiastic about her appearance on their campus. She excelled."
Tommy writes:
When the CNN anchor discussed Mary Carey's visit to a San Diego campus my first thought was "brilliant" in terms of marketing, this will be as big a deal this time around as it was the last time. This time there are far less misfits lampooning the political process and hoping to wave in the camera for htheir fifteen minutes of fame. Clearly this is a "publicity stunt" and the news likes to run the story for the sexy appeal and for the shock and awe to the the moral police in the bible belt.
The counter point is that Mary Carey better take her careeer as far as Jenna. I often wonder if talent like Mary understand that she will not be in her 20's forever. To raise a child would be cruel because it is innevititble that she will be uncovered as the Porn Star Governor candidate. She better like the community of Porn because she will forever be remembered for the high profile Governor stunts. I wonder does she realize that she has forever altered her life. The chance to have a normal home life, a normal circle of friends, is gone forever. She is now at the mercy of her efforts in Porn. For now that is great. Will she be so excited about her choices at 34 or 40? Will she still let vermin suit case pimps slap her around? I will say that she had never looked better. She was as hot as any Porn Star ever working in the business. If it were me who were in her inner circle I would sit down and sign her to a long term (3 years) agreement and truly develop her branding. Get out of the trades with the trailer park drama and antics, get off the drugs and making an ass of yourself. Get some quality people with some brains to surround her and take this "gift" of public notarity and go find some serious big money films to do. Get a publicist who will get her out there and discuss the transformation of idiot party girl f---ing on film, to Mary Carey Inc. Big money heir to Jenna J's throne. You cannot un-ring the bell now and if you ask me she is at a cross road...straighten up, get real brains behind you or fade into a sad cautionary tale that will see a fog horned voice leather skinned brown toothed wash out f---ing fat guys at Sardos in five years. She looked absolutely gorgeous though, stunning.
Why Did Aaliyah Brown Freak Out At Saturday Night's Party?
Aaliyah, Bob from Dane, Nya Knoxxx Aaliyah Brown, Bob from Dane, Nya Knoxxx Aaliyah Aaliyah, Bob from Dane, Nya Aaliyah, Bob from Dane, Nya Aaliyah, Bob from Dane, Nya Aaliyah
I call Bob from Dane Wednesday afternoon.
He says: "I wanted to clear up something. I've known her for over a year. She's done a few movies. She doesn't drive. I pick her up Saturday night and take her to the party. I told her, 'Meet me outside your building' so I wouldn't have to wait. She was a little bit strange. She said she was with some people and a guy gave her weed and it tasted weird and she smoked it.
"As I'm driving her to the party, she's acting strange. We get out of the car and she really starts to act weird. She's talking to the car, she's talking to the wall, she's talking to the pole.
"She goes to the building and has a fight with one of these guys. She runs down the street screaming.
"She was on something.
"She's a kid. I don't want this ruining her life. She needs the money to work. Nobody will shoot her now. They're afraid to even talk to her.
"I drove her home.
"I do this a lot. I take girls back and forth.
"My other girl, Nyema Knox, she decides halfway through the party to strip totally naked. She was running around naked. I'm watching over her to make sure she's OK. You give these ladies free drinks and that's the end of the whole evening. They were putting them away... I don't drink when I'm driving.
"I've known Aaliyah. She's not that way. She's dependable. She shows up on time. She does the job and she leaves."
Mike Thompson emails:
that chick is a complete nutcase, don't let her on your set she will freak out walk outside and start talking s--- on her cell phone about porn etc. every time, like a clock she acuses people she does not ever know of crimes against her I think for attention should seek proffesional help
Derek Hay Vs. Alec Metro
The owner of LADirectModels.com emails:
For the record as the agent of Rita Faltoyano.
Mr Alec Metro has ignored and hidden from all calls from us and those of his production manager Jim Steel regarding the bouncing of his talent fee check to Rita and to us for our booking fees on this movie.
As one of the most respected production managers in the business Jim is embarrassed that he agreed to work for Mr Metro whose reputation is no better than appalling in this industry and for whom we would never normally supply talent but did so because (a) it was indeed a Hustler movie, and (b) it was Production managed by the venerable Jim Steel.
We were mistaken in believing this would protect us from Mr Metro’s usual and well known nefarious activities with financial matters. Neither Mr Metro nor Mr Steel has ever been in direct contact with Rita who to this date has been paid not a penny for the work she did in this movie, though I have offered to pay her myself.
We remain in contact with management at Hustler and are optimistic of a solution through them for this. Rita has agreed to hold out for this for the moment.
One might reasonably assume, if this section of Mr Metro’s story is so patently untrue and on that I can speak knowledgeably, much else of it likely is also.
Needless to say if Mr Metro secures a directing gig from any other adult studio or even Paramount or CBS we shall not be providing talent to him.
I just finished reading Goldstein's new book I, Goldstein: My Screwed Life.
Al seems bitter that Larry Flynt took many of his ideas, employees and lawyers such as Cambria.
I emailed Paul and received this reply:
He is very bitter about a lot of things but I do not know of any problems we have personally. I remember him as a great First Amendment fighter and a great client. When he had money he was generous to a fault. As the years went by, he failed to keep up with the times and that is probably why (along with divorce settlements) he lost it all. It is a shame because he was fighting the federal Government when it was nearly impossible and he always came out on top(must be his choice of lawyers). I wish him the best. Behind that nasty facade he really is a sweet guy.
Larry did hear about us from one of Al’s cases, but so did a lot of other companies and it helped that we won so many trials and appeals as we continue to do today. I do not think he expected us to just work for him, and we were always there when he needed us. We are a different kind of law firm. Everybody else in the adult field has a small shop and not as much heavy duty criminal experience as we have. The bulk of my practice is major criminal defense from tax to anti-trust to murder to the Supreme Court of the United States and we are over 60 attorneys who practice in every field of law except patents. We have depth that other firms who work with the adult industry do not have. That is why Al chose us in the first place. Nothing dumb about Larry Flynt he wanted the power our firm provides and that is probably why he fired Alan Isaacman and hired us to be his general counsel again, added to the fact that we tried everyone of his criminal cases in the past. And besides all of that, Larry and I have grown to be friends over the years. Remember we represented him when he was shot and they shot him and our local counsel right in front of me. Events like that develop strong bonds.
Red Rose Indicted for Obscenity Over Stories About Children
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A federal grand jury has returned an indictment for a woman accused of disseminating alleged obscene fictional stories on her website describing the torture and sexual abuse of children.
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced the charges Wednesday, saying that Karen Fletcher, who uses the pen name “Red Rose,” violated federal obscenity laws despite the fact that no pictures of children were displayed on the site.
Alexis Devine Interview II
I read her comment in this MySpace thread.
The former nude model calls me Sept 26.
Luke: "When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?"
Alexis: "A Christian singer. I went to Rayma Bible College in Texas."
Luke: "What did your parents want for you and from you?"
Alexis: "My dad left when I was just a baby. My mom raised me. She was evil and abusive. I wanted to become a pastor."
"I got married young to a man who turned out to be abusive. I had a couple of kids and developed post-partum depression and became agoraphobic. I got into porn to save myself and have an income and escape that marriage. I was mad at God.
"I was in porn from 30 - 32. I'm 32 now. I did several movies. I only did solo scenes. All the producers let me work from home with my own equipment.
"I was doing snuff films for a while. We did it out in the yard. In the middle of the snow, I would lie out naked with fake blood. One movie was called, 'No Angel.' And 'Cam Girl.' They ran them on cuddlynecrobabes.com.
"They are based out of New Jersey. They're always getting into trouble with the law. Things had to be done in a certain way.
"I booked models for Playboylive and Hustlerlive -- webcam sites. I was pretty successful for a long time with everything I did."
Luke: "Tell me about your life from 18 to 30."
Lisa: "At 18, getting out of highschool, I was pregnant with my first child. My life is kinda weird because I went through different phases of being homeless and being sold on the streets when I was a teen, and then I would clean up and go back to God. It was back and forth.
"I met my husband at 19. I had my daughter at 23. That's when I developed agoraphobia from the post-partum stuff. I've been in my house for ten years. I have to move today and I go doctor's appoints a few blocks away. I just pop a xanax and I go.
"There's no cure for agoraphobia. I'll never get better."
Luke: "Did you work as a prostitute?"
Lisa: "I did from 15 - 18 [in Northern California]. It was crazy. I never knew what was going to happen, if I was going to get brutally murdered or raped. One of my best friends got killed."
Luke: "Why did you leave porn?"
Lisa: "I just woke up one day and said, 'I'm done.'"
Luke: "How does it affect your dating life to be agoraphobic?"
Lisa: "I'll probably live the rest of my life as single and I'm OK with that."
Luke: "Do you have custody of your kids?"
Lisa: "Yes, I'll do. I've always made sure to be a good parent and keep them separated from my whole [porn] life."
"From all the other women I've talked to in the industry, women who've gone deeper than I, not one relationship has survived. It's a sad life. I used to hire models for productions and webcam work. They'd be fine for a long time and then boom, their relationship would fall apart. They'd lose their kids. They're on drugs. I made a boundary for myself and stuck to it. I'm probably rare. Ninety percent of the women I've talked to in this industry have had drug problems or they've been abused as children. I've yet to meet a mentally healthy woman who works in that industry."
Alec Metro's LFP Story
Alec writes in response to my questions:
I went in Hustler in March of this year and after negotiations, the production staff agreed to to have myself and Mr. Eric Lasher, shoot several wall to wall videos at $25,000 per movie plus $2,500 for post production. I shot the first movie called "Ghouls Gone Wild" all went well, movie was turned in on time and no over cost occurred. They loved what I did. It was an excellent product with the best talent, sets, costumes and overall production value and quality. They gave the go ahead for the second production, it went into effect, and another $25,000 was granted. I informed them I would be shooting a 1940's Pin Up style movie. This time I used the Hustler studios. At the Hustler studio I ordered the following props. Life size battle ship, a life size fighter jet, boxing ring, beach with a Cadillac, and a living room scene. The studio was to cost $1,200.00 for 12 hours and the props $800.00 was the quote and amount told to me for Hustler studio and props.
After hiring all talent, locking down studio time with props being built, Hustler staff even did a walkthrough and was very impressed with what was being created. One week before I am to receive the check for $25,000 I was informed by Hustler staff that my budget was being cut by $5,000. By then the entire budget, was to the penny. So production manager Jim Steele and my self started cutting corners. In the end I still went over budget by $2,700 initially. Studio and props, ended up costing more then the original estimate I was quoted, due to overtime created by Mr. Eric Lasher the co-director of the film, there were problems with the tie together of the movie, the wrap around (dialogue), by the non-sexual role "hostess" of the film, which had to be shot, re shot, and re shot a third time. With make-up and locations, overtime and rental of props I spent another $1,000 dollars, fixing the dialogue and the tie in scene problems.
Mr. Lasher was insistent that these shots of the hostess be re-shot and then reshot again, as well as causing the overtime charges on the original studio time. Mr. Lasher was also the editor on this film and with the time being wasted on such a trivial part of the overall film, it was delaying the actual editing and rendering of the film and delaying the product being turned into Hustler on time, which created a sittuation within its self, between Mr. Lasher and Hustler.
At one point, Mr. Lasher did not have the appropriate type deck to render the finished editid version of the film onto, which Hustler had requested and I personlly took the expense of renting this very expensive deck and buying the actual tapes so that the finished product could in fact be turned in to Hustler. Mr. Lasher recieved $2500 editing fee from Hustler, which he did not use towards the deck or tapes or overages he cost with all of the delays and reshoots.
At this point my supposed duties where over, it was now in the hands of the editor. But, I was very concerned with the overall integrity of the project so I continued to keep a daily watch over the editing process and to put in even more of my personal time and money to assure the outcome of the film. With this being said, the film was turned in, late due to Mr. Lashers issues, but Hustler was very pleased regardless with the final product "Pin Up Pussies". So I reported back to LFP with my project "Pin Up Pussies" and they loved every minute of the trailer I submitted. The final cut of pin ups, was still in the process of being editied by Mr.Lasher. I informed them I was over budget with the studio, but they were happy with the results of Pin Ups, thus far, and they offered another $25,000 to shoot my 3rd movie, "Kink" and I could pay the overages from pin ups with the new "kink" budget. So I then asked, "I thought that all budgets are now $20,000?" Hustler staff then informed me that that was only a "TEST" to see how I would do under the pressure of a budget cut. And then they proceded to cut me another budget for $25,000.
So I then went into production for "KinK" mind you all my sets, wardrobe, and talent are all high end. Top dollar goes into my productions, I get paid $3,500 per shoot which comes out of the original $25,000 making my budgets actually $21,500. My production manager is forwarded all budgets for review and he knows where all the money goes, I've never made my full $3,500 check because I care more about production more then my check. In the end I have always put a good portion of my pay back into the overall budget of the films. Well the roll over cost from Pin Ups caused a domino effect into "Kink" and in the end Mr. Lasher was not allowed to edit "kink" and once the final copy of "Pin up Pussy" was turned in, Hustler informed Mr. Lasher that they would not be requiring his services anymore and that he would not be getting any further projects from them, they even ended up cutting part of his final editing fees, to pay for corections that needed to be made prior to the final "pin up" product being released.
After the third film "Kink", was shot, and the masters given over to Hustler, a month after we wrapped production, I was informed that three checks had returned relating to the shoot. 1) One to Film Werx which was covered in full imeadiatly . 2) Rita Fayltiano returned for $1,400.00 3)Jayna Oso check returned for $1,000. Making that a total of $2,400.00. My production manager contacted those parties and informed them that I would cover those checks personally, shortly after that Hustler shut down all production for everyone, including myself, leaving me with no future income. There had been a prior promise of a forth budget made to me, that did not include Mr. Lasher, due to the problems he created with the other productions. It was implied that there was no problem with my returning to direct a fourth project, and so on. And, that it was understood that Mr. Lasher, being co- director of the first three projects and editor, had created the problems which had occured to this point and that I would be gettting the next budget within days, of that final meeting at Hustler.
I was then told several times on the phone numerous reasons for the delay of my fourth budget, and then finally was told that my next budget would be dependent on the numbers that "Pin ups" generated, and also the numbers on "Kink". I figured they would stand by their word that they took the sittuation at hand as a problem with Mr. Lasher and the delays and editing mistakes and overages where to be his burden. I was told that they loved the overall products I had thus far turned in and they loved the style and creativity that my films showed, and therefore I would have a future directing for Hustler. Which today, in light of their statements does not seem to be the case.
I've stayed in contact with these two parties to which there are outstanding fees, to this day as I figure out how to pay them back. If you do the math it is exactly half the amount I went over on the Pin Up budget that was cut from me last minute. This is not an issue about me over spending it was an unfair decision to cut money from me last minute and quote "test" me, thus causing a domino effect into the "Kink" budget. Mr. Lasher seems to have been given co- director credit and also recieved his fees, but it seems that no blame is being placed on the person that was the source of the problems, and in the end it all falls upon me, my reputation and my integrity.
I would not have encountered these problems if Mr. Lasher had not been given director status, and failed to keep things on track by creating unneccasary problems with the productions and timelines. It is a lie to say all crew and talent were stiffed, only two (2) people are owed and I'm working on that problem as I write this. I am in communication with both parties on these issues. And, they have agreed to be patient with me due to the nature of the sittuation, and knowing that my directing income had completely and abruptly come to a halt, and based on the fact that the entire business nearly came to a halt this summer, and that I was working as talent if need be to cover these two small debts, which I was only partly responsiable for they have been very accomidating and understanding and they know I'm a man of my word they will get the money that is owed to them, wheter owed by me or not. But it is a slightly frustraiting to be left with these claims and stories that are surrfacing, when I was not alone on these projects and I was not the cause of the delays or overall expenses and I guess the one question everyone should be asking is where is Mr. Lasher in all of this?
I've contacted Mr. Spiegler agent to Jayna and she has been paid by him personally, so I owe Mr. Speigler the amount of $1000. And production manager Jim Steel is in communication with miss Rita Faltiyano about her $1400, in fact I just e-mailed him 2 weeks ago to inform him I'm working as talent to get her the money, per his words she is fine with the situation. No one has been ignored or stiffed. As for the source at Hustler's quote" they have contacted other agents and distributors", not to hire me or deal with me.... makes it even harder for me to find a job, and make good on these two outstanding amounts. This would have never happened if Hustler staff had not cut money from me last minute just to watch me struggle with the overages. These movies are great product, they invested a full page ad in the AVN for it... and have done press releases on Pin Up's. All my money goes into production value, it is clear when you see these movies, lighting, cams, locations, wardrobe and the best talent avaiable in the industry...
These are not cheezy low budget porno's..shot with some $300 video camera at the local cheap motel.. these are sexy artistic and creative films that are put together with attention to every detail....and they are exactly what Hustler Video wanted, and what Hustler video in the end recieved.... What this is really about, is a letter from a Mr. Philip J Starr, current CEO/Chairman of Jill Kelly Productions who is a man trying to cover his tracks and his checkered past. He claims to be a Louisiana based lawyer, but upon looking him up on the Louisiana State bar assc. website that name does not exist.
The only Philip Starr, not Philip J Starr that pops up is a Beverly Hills based lawyer, that is a member in good standing with the California state bar I contacted him to double verify it was not in fact Philip J Starr, and he says that he had heard of, and had past dealing with Philip J. Starr as an IRS lawyer and had one dealing 15 years ago in a tax dispute type case and since then the only thing he has heard about him was one year ago he read about a fraud based interview regarding this Philip J. Starr, who shares the same name minus the middle initial, in an adult industry related situation, but does not recall what he read, but he did say it was "not good" and told me to "Google" Phillp J. Starr's name for the information. He said it was easy to recall these details due to the resemblence in simularity of there names and professions, but that seems to be where the simularities end.
My on staff photographer Vladimir, has information on how several years ago, in a mainstream industry situation, Mr. Philip J. Starr committed unfair and unethical practices involving conflict of interest and other legal unethical practices on his shoot. Back in December 2001, a situation happened with me on the first day of my shoot, Mr. Starr was my executive producer. Equipment owner and sound man, Kenneth Hurt, informed me he was quitting and taking his equipment and crew with him cause he recognized Mr. Starr from the year previous, (2000) where he (Kenny) and another cameraman were defrauded of their money and worked with out pay. Mr. Starr informed them that when he sold the movie they would be paid, that was 5 years ago that crew is still not paid. If Mr. Starr is in fact a lawyer, he is clever, but has a reputation as an unethical business man and I am confidant that more negative information will surface as this investigation goes further and deeper into the past and practices of this man. And as soon as my bank conducts their investigation on his said deposit into my account which may reveal several ways that one can defraud banks and institutions individual accounts, and since he may have been an IRS attorney or some type of attorney he might be very skilled in his ways, but there is always something that is out of place or done incorrectly or innappropriately.
I will continue to pursue this investigation and I will continue to research into the past acts and dealings of Mr. Philip J. Starr. I will do all the digging, investigating and background history into his past which I'm sure I will find he is linked to several other wrong doings. The bank statement he sent is an account for one month only with a balance of exactly $25,000 from a credit based on line banking firm. My bank statement read "line of credit" which I feel he cancelled once he received the 2 movie masters and left town. T hat caused me to spend "Pleasure productions money on his shoot, thus resulting in Pleasure Productions shoot money to bounce. With a combined $40,000 0f "Pleasure Productions money in my account and the $25,000 from Mr. Starr it is hard to believe checks would start bouncing (3) days later during my shoot with Pleasure.
I shot two days with Mr. Starr took one day off and shot two days with Pleasures money, now unless everyone from all three shoots ran down the next day and all cashed their checks it would be impossible to empty an account in less then 3 days, talent will cash checks asap,but crew usually submits their check in their accounts and it is a matter of time before they are paid off. On the first day after I wrapped the Pleasure shoot, I submitted a personal check for $1,000 and it bounced, at that time my bank informed me I was $3,500 into my overdraft. In the following weeks I will parade witness interviews to confirm all of these statements on this site.And I will also submit proof and source of any info I obtain in the future relating to Mr. Philip J. Starr.
Finally, it should be noted: When Hustler cut the $5,000 from my budget I should have cancelled the shoot and regrouped and made double sure that everything was in order before continuing the shoot, therefore it was my responsibility and my decision to figure the best way to bring it it under budget and I didn't. I was convinced that my hard work and talent as a director would make up for any small mistakes I made monetarily, but the $2,400 ended up blowing up in my face. Therefore I assume full responsibility for my actions as well as those of Mr. Eric Lasher it seems and will pay the people owed. I feel this doesn't make me a bad person just bad at accounting and a bit to trusting of people I have entered into business relationships with in the past ....I guess I will be a bit more sceptile in the future as to whom I choose to have dealings with and as to whom I allow to be part of future projects ....... my goal is and always has been to deliver a product that is both something to be proud of and profiatable ..... I plan to continue to always see outside the box and to make movies that people both enjoy and remember.
PS. If you really do the math after receiving close to $70,000 from LFP $2,400 over budget works out to about $800.00 each feature and I would say that's not that bad.
Porn Girls Who Show Up To Set Drunk
Shooter: "She asked for $1,200 for a boy-girl anal scene. It was high but I agreed because I just wanted to get it done. She showed up three hours late, no make-up and drunk off her ass. The first thing she says is, 'You dragged me out of my bed and made me drive all the way here so I can get f---ed?'
"She says that she can't perform anal because last night she drank too much and ate too much.
"She just lay on the couch and said, 'Do what you want with me.'
"I wasted my whole weekend on this and at the end of the day I got nothing.
"These girls live inside a bubble of fame and fortune created by the industry and their fans. They don't realize that their head gets too big and the bubble blows up. They also don't realize that the people who created the bubble in the first place can blow it up at any minute. They don't realize how vulnerable they are.
"Shooting porn is a team effort. There's no 'I' in porn."
Kendra: "When I was younger, every little thing that would go wrong, I'd say, 'That's it. This is over. I can't do this anymore.' I'd break up with him every three days. In therapy, I learned that it's not that you really want to break up. You want reassurance. I grew up f---ed up. I wanted people to prove that they cared."
"I'm aggravated with you. You call everybody a porn star, girls that I've never heard of."
Luke: "What else am I going to call them? Porn model? Porn actor? I don't like calling every porn performer a porn star but what do I call them?"
Kendra: "Wanna be porn stars."
Luke: "I don't call people names. When someone's fat, I don't say they're fat. I just post their picture.
"When you were in the National Enquirer for your thing with Jerry Springer, you were called a porn star even though you'd only done a couple of movies."
Tod Hunter writes:
I use "performer" every time. Very few performers are "stars" -- Jenna Jameson and Ron Jeremy come to mind at once -- and few are "actors."
They are "porn performers," whose job is to have sex on camera. Acting and sex performing are different skills, like singing and dancing. Some people do one, some people can do both.
For what it's worth, nobody has taken issue with my use of "performer" and I've used it for years.
Luke: "What are you reading these days?"
Kendra: "I'm reading Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. It's touched me in a lot of nice places. I need to read things that are in agreement with what I'm feeling. I'm also reading The Count of Monte Cristo."
Luke: "Have you read Aphrodite Jones?"
Kendra: "I love her. She has a way of writing for an unintelligent reader. It's not complicated. It draws you in. The reader can relate.
"You need someone who can relate to what you do. That's a problem in my relationships because I don't even know what I do anymore. I'm not a porn star. I'm hardly a dancer."
Charlie emails:
Hey Luke, I can't tell you how much I look forward to seeing this on the back of an Aphrodite Jones paperback in the future:
"She has a way of writing for an unintelligent reader."—Kendra Jade, Porn "Star"
[Aphrodite's] quite good on TV too. Haven't seen her much since Scott Peterson, though. She'd be a great person to hook up with for a PROPER "porn crimes" or scandals book. I'd love to do that. It would sell like crazy. Would be ideally done by those of us who've worked among the subjects...rather than by a Columbia Journalism grad, right?