BURNING ANGEL
OP/ED by Meow Misti Dawn from her blog http://www.meowmistidawn.com/?cat=1
Well, this blog was going to be slightly impartial and my experience with Burning Angel and joanna, but now that my twitter account has been mysteriously been hacked I dont see the point of playing nice, since for so long they have not. This is in pieces of experiences i want to shed light to. Sorry if it seems broken.
Lets start a while back…
Really things with BA started going south about a year and a half ago. Before hand i had no reference to normal set behavior and what to expect so it might be unfair to complain about that. One thing that sticks out in my mind is i wish i would have known better about the way her releases, they are made so that ANYTHING filmed that day can be used. So on my first trip out with Jessie Lee and I filming our 3 way scene, we started blowing James Deen off camera and fooling around, which he started filming. We thought we were just playing with the camera since we hadnt started shooting or anything yet. Couple months later, Joanna posted that 5 min video on her site. Jessie and I were very confused where it had come from since we were just fooling around off set. Thats called content. And if told before hand it was going to be used, i would have been fine. But instead they slyly did it. Fooled me. Shame on me.
Then AVNs last year i contacted a different company trying to find a place to sign because I thought it would be good to get my name out more. Joanna did not like this idea. Actually she was really upset when I first shoot for Belladonna as well. back to the story, I guess her started the anger with just me. She told me that AVN was “stupid” and “no one was ever there” and that it wouldnt do much for my career. I still wanted to go and i did. Also i ended up making some really good connections that I still use today. seemed very useful to have gone.
Then there was Vivid Alt before it was gone. Eon Mckai booked me for two scenes last minute. As we know Joanna and Eon never got along. But im not, nor was a ever a contract girl for Joanna, NO GIRL HAS EVER BEEN, so i wanted work. When she found out i was shooting for him she quickly called me to tell me how crazy he was, how hes drugged out, and again how working for him would do nothing for my career. So i canceled the scenes, trusting my who i thought was my friend. Then Eon called and yelled at me for about 30 mins about Joanna and he knew it was her while i quit. I denied it. Guess what, It was. I quit 2 jobs because Joanna asked me too.
Then the issue of my website. I had been building a site myself for a couple months and was ready to launch. Joanna asked if i wanted to have Burning Angel build it. I declined and said thanks but i already had it done. This was June of 2009. a couple weeks later joanna asked again, and gave me a list of things they could offer me by building my site. I agreed this time. fast forward to April 2010. The site STILL isnt up and i request a launch date, contract agreement of payments split for the site, or i walk. Then James Deen calls me and wants to know why i want a contract. I would think ANYONE with a website would want one. It simply needed to state that I agree to give you X amount of content in X amount of time frame and you split the profits 50/50. I refused to talk to James about it because the issue was with Joanna. He told me Joanna couldn’t talk to me now because I requested a contract so it had to be written by the lawyer and since that was the case I could only speak to the lawyer to speak to her. Well, logically I said if she cant speak to me with out a lawyer now, then i cant speak to you with out one. Why it went this far i dont know. He finally put joanna on a 3 way call and we talked. I thought things were fine. After the call the lawyer called and yelled at me for about 20 mins and told me if i didnt take the contract deal id never work again and I wasnt going to do any better than what they offered me. WAIT WHAT? how did a friendly conversation about writing up our business with the site turn in to this?! In this conversation James also told me that Burning Angel was never going to shoot me again. Why would they? they could take the videos i paid to make for my site and put them on burning angels site. Thus having new content of me for free. I wish i would have understood this “network” thing.
Also lets touch on the New Jersey convention and Jessie Lees wreck. As draven, bella, and i are pulling up to the convention we get a call about the wreck. Long story short, we wanted to visit her in the hospital but joanna told us we couldnt because they werent allowing her visitors but she was up and talking fine. A week later, bella spoke to jessies mom, she wanted to know why we never visited. NOT ONLY could we have visited, Jessie was in a fucking COMA not up talking around! they had to restate her on scene! Best part, immediately after the wreck in which JOANNA was driving, joanna tweets before EMTs even get there. What a friend. You might think talking about the wreck is tasteless since i wasnt on scene, i was at the convention but its a testament to joannas hearltessness.
**** After posting this blog Joanna “Jojo” who works for joanna and was in the wreck commented on this topic basically stating that it wasnt my business, she also brought up that i had asked to goto the hospital that Saturday. I wasnt even going to bring this story up but i guess I should now. That saturday i was feeling very sick, i asked draven to ask joanna to take me to a doctor. She stated to drave, and i quote “Misti is just trying to steal jessies thunder, tell her to call a cab” two days later, being in new jersey with no car i am back at Bella Vendettas house and pass out making dinner and have to rush to the ER. So yes jojo, I asked to goto the hospital, I didnt know my sickness was to be scheduled around joannas mistakes. Sorry my timing what inconvenient for you. ****
Fast forward 6 months after my site launch. It took 9 months to launch my site with burning angel. 9 months. after 6 months of being with them i wasnt happy with the way things were going. They were using me for anything or events, even though they make 50% of my sign ups, youd think theyd push me everywhere to get as much as they could. but no. and i didnt really like the image they wanted for me. So i gracefully asked “hey i was thinking you guys dont seem to really need the extra site on your plate and i want to do my own thing. how about i just take my site over?” seemed like no biggie and they agreed. But this is where is all went terribly down hill and fast. And i had recently moved to LA and was trying to get with an agency and get work. also i failed to mention to them that i knew math and my checks didnt add up…
I got signed with LA Direct models and joanna wasnt happy about that. She started calling my agent about me and saying i was too much hassle. Also I was signing at AEE/AVN. The last day on the convention i find out from the company im signing for, who i wont mention their name, Joanna had called them and asked them to drop me and to replace me with two of her girls. Now this signing had been set up since september on my own, nothing to do with burning angel, and i have worked with other companies at this point. I also hadnt shot for joanna in a year and a half at this point. Why she kept trying to get her fingers in my life, i dont know. The company told me the last day that joanna had called and requested i be let go and they thought i should know. Now tell me that this isnt that start of trying to ruin me. Of course im livid. I feared shed do this but i thought it was crazy to think. It wasnt till this point i put it all together, everything before i just brushed off as accidents. No joanna was trying to ruin me and the next few months would prove it.
**** After posting this blog, Lee Roy contacted me and asked me to take his name out of it because Joanna did not tell him that. I asked who it was that said it and he said he wouldnt release their name. Rather it was Joanna or not, the fact that this was said about a Burning Angel set makes the source pretty easy to find *****
The next situation was a simple tweet. I replied to Lee roy myers after seeing his tweet about shooting girls for content and i had worked with him before. Although i did no know him before October of last year when i just moved to LA. He replied to me “why should i hire you after the shit you talked about me on a burning angel set” I had to explain to him that at this point it had been a year and a half since i had even shot for burning angel and i just met him 3 months prior so that was impossible. That squashed that fast.
Next came the Misti vs Jessie movie party. I had no desire to go, they were all old scenes, some of which were already on other dvds. and at this point i wanted nothing to do with them I wasnt speaking poorly of them publicly i just wanted then to go away. Joanna had to call me and book me thru my agent to even get me to this party. which she paid 300$ and i told her to give to jessie for her bills. The meeting for this set up was fun. She called my agent and we all had to sit down and have a meeting. Finally a 3rd party that joanna would have to admit what she was doing to. I confronted her about the AVN situation and trying to get me dropped. She denied it at first but once i told her i had written statements. she finally confessed that she did say these thing, specially trying to get me dropped from signing at avn IN FONT OF MY AGENT .
Then for my birthday I was booked to work for Jenna Haze. Joannas good friend. I ran in to her the night of the xbiz awards and her casting guy Payso, now the shoot had already been set. Payso told me they had shot James a couple of days before and when he mentioned they were shooting me James tried to tell them i was no good. Payso told him to shut his mouth politely. Then two days before my shoot was too happen, it got canceled with Jenna. Never to be rescheduled. odd timing.
And here we are. There are countless other situations thats gone on. Shes called my agent a million times telling me to leave her alone. When i didnt even contact her, the only time i contacted her i asked her if she wanted to meet for coffee and talk about this, she told my agent i was harassing her.
So after months of things i know about and im sure more i dont even know shes successfully made sure she ruined me but now, with her success at it i have no reason to not tell the truth of what happened. What can she do make sure more people dont hire me? already has done that. What can this blog do? hurt me more? nothing left to hurt. Im sure shes going to try and sue me. Let her. I dont rally care at this point. I need to get this off my chest to let it go finally, and for others to know and be careful to not make the same mistakes.
People have the right to know the company they support and for so long i choose silence on this topic. I have been asked countless times in interviews, tweets, and emails why i have left and other than my close friends i never told the truth, I played nice for public sake. But thanks to the internet you can learn about the product you buy and what you support and i can tell you Burning Angel is not a “punk” rock company or anything better than Suicide Girls or Wal Mart. Burning Angel is just a porn production company that rides on girls that want the “status” of being a burning angel and not really supporting their endeavors to make a living at porn. They are just one of many shady porn companies that treat their employees like second rate.
There is more i could write, but this is the basic jest of it.
Joanna made porn what after school specials say it is. They use you, pretend to be youre friend, then try to get rid of you when they are done.
The worst part out of all of this is that i thought she was my friend. I did so much for her for free, offered help when her and james broke up and she moved out. Nothing. For reason she focused all her hate on me.
**********************
NL- I asked Joanna if she would like to tell her side of the story-
Joanna’s Reply- BurningAngel does not respond publicly to hearsay and opinions. We believe that everyone is entitled to their own voice. We wish Misti nothing but the best of luck in her future endeavors .
Wow I thought it was only guys that were douchebags running porn business? Good luck getting your website under your control. You can run it the way you want to and call your own shots. Also too bad you didn’t get the Star Wars job you wanted.
If you want my opinion, I loved when you had your own site back before BA. I’m not a fan of BA and I cancelled my membership when you stop being posted.
Really Misti? You’re going to use my accident in your favor??? Only family and CLOSE friends were allowed to see me in the hospital. You haven’t been a true friend since you let your mild popularity get to your head. You use to be this nice and sweet young lady from the south. Now you’re just fucking crazy. Know why you don’t get booked? BECAUSE YOU’RE BORING AND CRAZY. I’m pretty sure Michael is the only reason why you haven’t been dropped from LA Direct. It’s also funny that you were soooooooo concerned about me in the hospital during the accident. But I never once got a “get well” from you. You even asked me WHILE I WAS STILL RECOVERING, weeks after being released from the hospital, to smooth things over with you and Christian. So he’d book you!!!!!!! You’re fucking insane, and are probably on so many heavy drugs. Take my name off your blog. I want no association with you.
Hey Jessie,
Just to clear up that part of the story. I had shot Jessie Lee in a scene and she is just a wonderful girl. So as soon as I heard she was in an accident, I immediately wanted to send her flowers, candy, a teddy bear, something. It was late at night, and so I asked Misti for her real name, because I was at the gym and didn’t have my paperwork on me. Misti refused to give it to me and argued with me about it for like 10 minutes. Even though I told her what I needed Jessie’s real name for. Misti STILL refused.
So of course I just made a different phone call and found out her real name, called the hospital, found where Jessie was in the OR, and had a gift sent in to her.
And since then I just kinda knew Misti was kinda nutty. Glad to say that Jessie Lee has recovered too!
Okay, carry on with this story. 🙂
@Jessie, Im sorry you feel that way. It wasnt but a couple of months ago you were complaining to me on AIM about joanna not giving you all your money and that you were afraid youd never work again. And yes i did wish you well, I even talked to you on the phone when you were in the hospital with Bella but you were still confused about what was going on. Im sorry you feel to attack me via saying im addicted to drugs which obviously is not that case. I have never had issue with you jessie and how you decided to discuss the wreck is all your choice. I was just referring to what you said to me pretty quickly after you had started to come to after the wreck on aim each night.
@christian. Here is your drama you love so much.
I didnt give you the information because i didnt know you. I had met you once picking up michael from work and thats hardly enough to justify giving my friends personal information.
Allow me to preface this by saying i am not one to be drawn into drama very often but when someone is attacking my wife’s integrity, when i have seen everything that has gone on, i will not sit by quietly.
Jessie: Misti was one of the first people to try to find out how you were doing. i know this because she called me and told me that you were in an accident almost as soon as it happened. Genuinely concerned for your health. She said that she wanted to go visit you in the hospital. Bella, Draven and Misti even asked Joanna several times if they could visit you in the hospital but they were told that they were not allowed. You may not remember but Misti, BV and Draven all called you on the phone, but your injuries were so severe from your accident that you were barely able to form sentences. So instead of attacking Misti, instead of the person who put you in the hospital, how about you take a step back from craving attention (see band groupie/ star fucker Jessie lee) and open your eyes to what is really going on. Use some of that amazing Alt. Brain power that only tattooed people poses (according to you).
PS. Misti wanted you to try to clear things up Christian, because she wanted to work for naughty america. He had previously said he would hire her, but after he wouldn’t give out your personal info, he refused.
Christian: Did you order a gift while you were running on the tread mill? Would waiting another 2 hours until you got home to order the teddy bear have caused irreversible brain damage to Jessie? Misti refused to give you her number because she was afraid that you would start calling Jessie and hitting her up for sex like you have done to so many other girls who have you on their no list. Use some of that deductive reasoning you kept talking about and realize that it would have been a better idea to just say “ok, i understand why you wouldn’t want to give out another persons personal information without their consent” and then get it from your paper work.
Had to fix my spelling error:
He had previously said he would hire her, but after SHE wouldn’t give out your personal info, he refused.
Also I even saw the text that Jessie sent, thanking Misti for not giving out her personal information, after she had explained to Jesssie why she refused to give it to him.
So Misti said,
“They use you, pretend to be youre friend, then try to get rid of you when they are done.”
Yup, that’s porn in the USA!
Best advice I can give people in the industry?
Use the industry or the industry WILL use you!!!
“ooh la la”
peace!
Let me start out by saying that I am not party to all the facts in this so passing judgement on what I say will be kinda pointless.
Having said that, I support Misti in her endeavors and want nothing but the best for her. The quality of porn that she makes, and the nerdy brains that go into it are rather refreshing.
Smart girls always get picked on.
“Best advice I can give people in the industry?
Use the industry or the industry WILL use you!!!”
Could you clarify what you mean by this, Nick? Just curious.
OK this is gonna be a long one. I am gonna be as neutral as possible and comment on what I observed.
Well the model release thing is pretty much the same through out any industry where filming is in progress (especially in porn where there is behind the scenes and what not) so of course a company is going to use that footage, no one held a gun to your head and forced Misti to do anything she didn’t want to. Weather Misti was compensated for it properly I do not know, I didn’t write or cash her check.
The vivid alt thing, I know Misti personally asked me what she should do, I informed her I do not know Eon personally but had not heard anything good about him from several other people that weren’t Joanna. So I advised you to do whatever you want but I would cancel if I were you. No one but Misti herself cancelled that shoot. Take responsibilities for your own actions like an adult.
Misti’s website launch. It takes a lot of effort when anyone one is building a quality website and to through that on top of running another group of websites that are updated constantly is more effort, then through in the fact that a company basically comprised of five people there are some delays to be expected. No the site did not make as much money as both of you had hoped but I’m sure if Misti would have stuck it out and maybe had a positive outlook on things it would’ve been fine.
New Jersey. It’s already been said in other comments and I have nothing to add on the subject. Mostly because I was not there.
AEE/AVN. The first time Misti went there she was the ONLY BA girl that signed besides Joanna, if that’s not helping a girl out I don’t know what is. The second time when she was signing at HotMovies, right before the convention Misti had publicly stated that she wanted nothing to do with BA. Now I don’t know who contacted who, Joanna or Misti, about Misti signing there but I do know that the 8×10’s that were there for Misti had BA stamps on them idicating to me that Joanna had set it up for Misti to be there to represent BA and Misti herself. Any company that set up a signing for some one would want that person to represent that company and it’s no shock to me that if out right said “I want nothing to do with that company” that the owner of that company would try and get someone that supported the company to sign in their place.
Getting cancelled for shoots. In my opinion and what I’ve noticed from talking to several different directors. People book performers on all kinds of things. Some of those factors are how they are quite easily if they like the person. It’s not always fair but hey life’s not fair. Also a factor is a performers willingness to work with producers/directors on rates. Sometimes the company/budget is small and you gotta be willing to budge a little. You don’t have to work for less than your rate, but then guess what, you’re not working at all. Some hundred is better than no hundred. Joanna does not care enough about weather Misti gets work or not to call every one in porn to not book Misti. Maybe the reason Misti was not booked was her own doing. Again, take responsibilities for your own actions.
I personally have had issues while working for BA, but after looking back those issues were for faults of my own, not because Burning Angel is an evil company. They are a small company that try very hard to do the best with what little they have. I addressed my issues with Joanna, we talked it out how things weren’t working out with me working there and MOVED ON.
In my opinion I have seen a drastic change in Misti’s attitude from the day I met her till now. It’s bummer but people change. I hope the best for her and I hope she can move on from an issue I thought was dead.
I feel the need to say a word here in Joanna’s defense, not because I was privy to any of the dealings described in Misti’s blog, but simply because the picture it paints does not resemble the Joanna I know. As someone who has observed Joanna and BurningAngel very closely since practically the beginning—and who is in constant contact with a broad spectrum of talent and other industry players—I can honestly say I could probably count on one hand the number of negative remarks I’ve ever heard made about Joanna or her company. I would also add that several girls I can think of off the top of my head who’ve started out under the BA umbrella have gone on to have spectacular careers in the so-called “mainstream porn” arena. Now, I have nothing against Misti, and my intention here is not even to debunk anything she has to say; I simply wish to vouch for the good character of Joanna—who yes, is a friend—and I feel confident that many others in the industry would tell you the same.
Pete Warren
Wow this is very much a he said/she said situation only its she said/she said. I don’t think anyone is going to convince the other party that they are right and the other party is wrong.
Perhaps you might consider saying “fuck it” and just move on in a positive forward direction?
Brian street team.
One I’d like to clarify. Hot movies and I had set up the signing in September directly nothing to do with burning angel or Joanna. And if you noticed my 8×10 did not say burning angel and the banner for hot movies said I was appearing courtesy of meowmistidawn.com
Two. Joanna admitted to doing those thing in front of mike MoZ.
Three. Hot movies is the company that first alerted me to Joanna saying those things about dropping me.
And it wasn’t that long ago you, Michael Vegas, allie haze and I were in Arizona for a shoot and you discussed how Joanna owed you 500$ and when you confronted her about it and not following you on twitter and more her response was “I’ll follow you when you start making me money” so don’t forget the compaints you had and who you said them too because it was not just me.
BST I was in the car when you said that Joanna unfollowed you on Twitter. You asked her why and straight from your mouth in front of me misti and allie haze you said that Joanna told you she would follow you again when you started making her money again.
Aslo. I still to this day have not been paid for being an axtra on the set of joannas angels 3. I also know of at least 3 other extras that day that were never paid. Why does this say about her?
A website can only do better if it get promotion. It does take time to build a site but the new meowmistidawn.com was built in 2 months.
Who IS “Misti Dawn?” She’s a chick I saw on Burning Angel and nothing more. And, to be honest, for a site that rocks out some kick-ass amateur alt porn models (as Burning Angel does), I find it funny this ONE girl out of hundreds, this one flake wanna-be chimes in when it seems to me Burning Angel was the only site shooting this redheaded redneck from Tennessee or Kentucky or whatever. This all sounds like sour grapes for a chick with a nice rack and a high self opinion who flamed out fast in porn because she sucks at it.
I thought she was out of the bizz due to some lackluster fucking across the board (even by amateur standards) and the last I ever heard of her was when she had a site WITH Burning Angel. As a member of Burning Angel I tuned into her “cam shows” which consisted of watching her play video games or scratch her cat. And NOT her pussy. Her feline. Lame.
This chick thinks she’s a “porn star” and she’s just a broke ass geeky hoe who happened to have sex on camera. She’s lucky Joanna likes big tits and took mercy on her and her poor BJ skills. She’ll never be Joanna Angel, Jessie Lee, Belladonna or even a rad Burning Angel n00b like Juliette Black…who, if you haven’t seen on the site….you are missing out.
In closing, I’m sure all you Misti Dawn fans out there are shocked by this. Wait. What? You’ve never heard of her? Exactly.
I would also like to add I built my site from scratch in two months and it does far better now. Every time I asked why my site was delayed it was not because it was being worked on it was because they were working on network sites and didn’t have time to get to mine. And I felt it is wasn’t a priority that was fine. I wanted to do ot then because it is a priorty to me.
Talk to mike MoZ, cj, or Jess at hot movies and they can vouch for these things occurring
Leave Misti alone and let her go NOW. Otherwise deal with me – and that’s the DIRECT OPPOSITE of the best option.
Misti, whether you want to get your word out via an interview or ANYTHING else let me know through my website or otherwise (I’m easy to find). You’re above and beyond these idiots which is why they hurt you.
Misti Dawn Taylor,
You are a case study in ungrateful and my new poster child for Career Suicide.
First, if it weren’t for Joanna Angel & BurningAngel.com you would still be just another chubby redneck living out a life sentence of checking people out a Walmart back in Indiana. Joanna & That company gave you a name, a face and a chance to be something you wanted to be and paved the way for you to leave Hicksville and make it to a real city.
Secondly, your ability to act or have sex on camera sucks, watching you accept a penis into your body on camera is less like sex and more like watching someone get a vaccination at the doctor’s office. I have seen people look more turned on & excited writing a check to the IRS. I consider it to be a wonder and a blessing that you were even giving the opportunity to grace the box cover of a movie of any type.
Finally, If every cry baby bitched and went into autoblame mode the way you did about your failing career and brazenly flaunt the stupidity you did in slamming a prior employer, the world would be such a better place for talented people that were looking to get a job. This my dear Misti is CAREER SUICIDE. Granted you may have had an altercation, disagreement, misunderstanding, or even an disappointing experience with an entity that made you who you are, however to publicly slam them. Consider who the F@ck is going to even consider dealing with you from this day on. “Hey, its Musty, the loose cannon that bashes people that pay her, let’s give her a job.” NOT!
I look forward to running into you at McDonalds and reminding you that:
A) You couldn’t even manage a penis properly
B) Keep the apple pie, suggah’
C) YOU f’d up your career.
Good luck getting a job in a small industry as you look into the horizon AND over your shoulder at the bridges you set ablaze. Maybe next time around you’ll wait until you are a big enough deal to have a voice & make in impact.
guys- me and Joanna worked through our problems. Its totally unnecesary to bring up old shit . Its wasn’t easy for me having a friend as a boss- and it wasn’t easy for her to have a friend as an employee and obvious stumbling blocks occurred. You are bringing up shit from a year ago that isn’t relevant at all anymore. How many more people in the industry do you need to name drop to prove your point? What is the goal here? you already don’t work together anymore- what more do you want ?
Joanna and I are close friends- and work together all the time. I’m very happy with the money I have made from BurningAngel, as well as all the fun I have with the company on a regular basis while we work together. Most of my close friends in LA- and even my girlfriend, came from working with BA. I work with a lot of other porn companies now (many of which- came about from contacts i made through joanna ) and I always feel like BA is my home base. Hell, my name is Brian Street Team from being on their street team…
I don’t care about you guys reading this- you are obviously set in your ways and Im not trying to convince you otherwise. It is pretty obvious that neither of you will be working with BA in the future. I just want it on the record that BA is a great company to work for, and random hot alt chicks coming across this blog- please don’t be scared of these two psychos and their rants.
@Brian. Well I’m glad you could work your issues out with here. And it wasn’t even a year ago you had said that. I wish I could have worked problems out with here. Even after having a meetig with my agent and I both she still continued her problems for me. For whatever reason no matter how much I tried to please her she was never happy. Even when I invited her in to my home when I lived in Indiana. And all the companies I ended up working for were never contacts I made thru buring angel other than lee Roy. Penthouse, zero tolerance, braziers, etc. That was all my agents work
@monica. I’d love to. Contact me mistidawn@meowmistidawn.com
Extasy is a hell of a drug people…
Just wanted to put in my two cents. I’ve been working with Joanna and have known her now for some time. She has always been above board and not only pushed Misti and promoted her to us, but have seen her do that for many of the girls of Burning Angel — convention appearances, through the BurningAngel mag we publish, dance clubs, etc. Joanna’s a great girl, and my dealings with everyone else at BA (Mitch, Jojo, etc.) has always been great and nothing but professional and honest. Are mistakes made by people in life? Yup, we’re human people. But I don’t think differences of opinions on pay rates, misunderstandings or mistakes that may have been made by either party are grounds for grilling someone like this. Free James Brown!
What is this, GOOF PARTY USA?
BST please don’t take this as an attack on you because it is not. It doesnot matter if if the problems were worked out between you two. I am actually happy that they were worked out because I dont like you fighting with a friend. My only point is that she still said that you can only be her friend if you are making her money. She uses people. That is as simple as it gets.
Guy talking about misti being a redneck. You can have any opinion of misti that you like but we are having a grown up discussion here so you can leave the name calling at home. And misti did suicide girls long before she did BA and they still use her likeness so thinking that Joanna created misti is just plain incorrect.
Mike, doing a Suicide Girls Spread is like being in the local Pennysaver for having he best song in the Jamboree compared to being a Box Cover Burning Angel Girl.
That company did everything to make a star out of Misti. This is like the My Fair Lady Story, except the end of this story Eliza gets Body Snatched & turns on her makers like a can of bad squeeze cheese.
To say BA didn’t kiss her ass, PAHLEASE! BurningAngel.com has been around for over 10 years and there are… Count them, over 200 BA Girls, Misti was the first one they made a Network Site for! Duh, Duh, Duh – INGRATE!
Holy Fucking Ingrate Batman!!! Or should I say Spiderman MJ Wanna Be! (See Reference Below***)
Maybe if that hillbilly put down her f@cking video game controller and case of Doritos she could grasp a small dose of reality & learn the lesson of not biting the hand that feeds you.
***It seems like if she big enough to go out into the big girl world her following would have generated more than 369 Signatures in her I dont need you to tell me i’m MJ petition http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?Meow4MJ (Spelling Mistakes courtesy of Misti ‘Illiterate” Dawn.
***Or would have raised more than $150.00 to make the movie herself http://spidergirl.chipin.com/spidergirlmaryjane-parody .I know kids that can bang out that kind of cheddar in a weekend lemonade stand.
Perhaps we just let the tape tell the story.
Bumpkin gets discovered & a HUGE push up the career ladder by Joanna & Burning Angel.
Bumpkin thinks she’s all that and a Swanson’s TV Dinner
Bumpkin attacks her makers.
Bumpkin has no job & is peddling for $500.00 to get to Exxxotica!!! (Ref Misti Dawn Facebook “Want to see me at EXXXotica? Help me raise $500 to get a booth”)
Good Night Farewell, Game Over, start packing cause it won’t be long before you’re back to being Miss McDonalds Cashier, Evansville ID 47711.
Perhaps I will take that Apple Pie Now, and throw in an order of Super Size Fries for yourself Hunny, ya know, to go with your ego.
PS. Your new website looks like a 3 year old blind kid made it on an 8 bit Commodore 64, during a power outage. As for it “Doing Better Now” Check your Alexa Rank, Elly May Clampett, its doing worse & garnering less traffic now.
Stammer, Stammer, Stutter, get packing!
Misti, Regret is a decision often served in a cold, damp, lonely, and flat broke place, eating raw TV Dinners. Next time think your plans out. THOROUGHLY.
A Wise Man Once Said: It it better to keep your f@cking mouth shut & be thought a fool then to open it and prove everyone else right.
Have fun on the food stamp line.
KnowledgeIsPower, can you post more often? Thanks.
Usually, I take a step back in these situations, as I believe Misti holds enough strength and intelligence (much more than what has been displayed by some of the commentators, might I add) to defend herself. She doesn’t need an entourage of hangers-on and opportunists to tout her strong points. However, when my best friend’s integrity, intelligence, and personal character is called into question, I will not hesitate to speak on her behalf.
My name is Amber Lelak–I’m a nobody from Evansville, IN, and, since I’m sure that this fact will be called out in the proceeding comments, am not involved in the pornographic industry professionally. So I can’t really speak much on the technical aspects of the job, other than to weigh an opinion: “It’s a lot harder than it actually looks, folks.”
You might be laughing at that, scoffing, “How hard is it to have your picture taken, get banged, *and* get paid for it? Please. It’s not like a “real” job.”
And, on one aspect, you would be right–if it were a “real” job, Joanna would be fired as president for not being able to provide the money, benefits promised, and employee protection awarded in most jobs. Also, a lot of the employees would be let go for gross incompetence, bad attitude, and not being professional in the workplace as well. Misti, on the other hand, has all ambition, charisma, smarts, bravery and moxie to move up the ranks–if it wasn’t for the glass (ass?) ceiling she is coming up against. Frankly put, she is a threat in a business where competition is king. Unfortunately, the people dictating who gets the promotions and the jobs are also the ones who can’t stand to see someone else do well and grow.
It’s also a job with a short-shelf life–unless you find ways to stay fresh, interesting, and have something to offer than just looking good on camera and expecting that everyone is going to want you to see your naked ass after the 15th jack/jill-off session.
I can say, with no hesitation, that Misti has that staying power. Why? Because, as her best friend for the past 6 years, she has infinitely more to offer than just sexual thrills.
I met Misti when she was 19, and she was fresh from her stint at Suicide Girls (Sorry, BA–you didn’t “find” her first). I had no idea who she was, and what she did–we were just working at this shitty call center in bumfuck Indiana. The first time I talked to her though, the main thing I thought was, “Wow, this girl is so pretty, and so cool. But she is *so* fucking nice, too. And, OMG, she wants to hang out with *me*?!” True story. And that feeling has never changed, and I have never seen her act differently to any stranger or friend in the entire time I have known her. We have never had a fight (a miracle for two women), and never once has she ever made me feel bad about myself, or do anything to hurt my feelings.
She’s an amazing listener, she always gives good advice, she has a memory for faces and names like nobody I’ve ever seen, and she doesn’t sit around and talk a constant stream of bullshit. She doesn’t use people, is genuinely grateful and thankful when someone does her a kindness (which she never asks or angles for), and always tries to see the best of everyone. She would give a stranger the shirt off of her back–and in 6 years, I have never thought, “Wow, this girl has changed.” Despite her chosen profession, despite her opportunities/disappointments…she’s still that girl to me, and to everyone else she meets.
She is also the hardest fucking worker I have ever seen–she has never flaked out of a gig, comes to work on time and ready to work, doesn’t sit around and make demands or bitch at everyone around her, and doesn’t come to set fucked-up (or gets fucked up on set–been a bit of that going around lately). She has always worked hard to please her fans and her bosses-often times with no reward or acknowledgement, and even more instances where they take what she gives and tries use it against her.
I have always wondered why she would try and bend over backwards to please these people, especially when she has so many great fans–ones who she always, when meeting them, takes the time to talk to them like they aren’t just walking piggy banks to be shaken around. She really loves her fan base, and appreciates the people that enjoy her work. She takes the time to talk to them if they message her or meet her in person, sends personal “thank-you’s” for any gifts she might get, and is truly humbled by their praise. Misti really is as down-to-earth and nice as she says she is.
But, one thing I feared in this business was her letting everyone walk over her, and using that kindness against her. Her experiences above would have sent most people into rages a lot sooner– But Misti held her tongue, did what she was told to do, and tried to follow the guidance of people who she thought were her friends.
And sure, they were friendly to that new kid on the scene who didn’t have a name, didn’t have a big following, and seemed like another face they could exploit for a month and then never show it again, unless they could milk it for content that they had nothing to do with creating or paying for. But Misti quickly eclipsed that role, and became one of the site’s biggest draws–and that’s when her “friends” stopped answering their phones and began dripping poison into other ears. She did what she had to do to be able to stay in this business, and it has been a much, much rougher road than if the people she tried to help actually returned the favor.
There has been a lot of talk about “Misti being crazy”, and “Misti’s changed”. Well, you know what? Everyone has a limit of the amount of bullshit they can take. Of course someone is going to think you’ve gone nuts when they have accepted your bullshit for years without a word, and then suddenly, they stand-up for themselves and refuse to allow that other person to continue walking on their good graces.
Misti debated a lot about writing her article about the “Star Wars” debacle. She debated a lot about writing this one too. But you know what? I am so glad she did. Because it says to me, as someone who has watched her became an adult over the years, that she finally sees her worth as a person. That she finally realizes that for all the money, fame, and opportunities, there is no replacement for your values, your beliefs, and your integrity. For her to stand up and speak out against the treatment she has received was a very brave thing to do. If this is career “suicide”, then I’m glad she realized that there are things worth dying for.
Misti is a wonderful, smart, kind person who happens to work in the adult industry. And even if she never gets another job in this business…she can use those traits and build something else for herself. And you know what? She won’t take anybody’s crap while she does it.
**************************************************
Jessie–was your health and integrity really worth getting so injured for? Was it worth it later to have people throw you hush-up money and pity money? That train can only go so far, dear. Time marches on, and plan B doesn’t seem to be making an appearance. Remember, getting physically fucked for money isn’t the only thing that makes a prostitute. It wouldn’t hurt you to cut some unhealthy ties for good as well. Because, believe me, you’ll get dropped as soon as it looks like you won’t sue. (Personally, if it were me in that car? I would own Burning Angel right now and Joanna would be cleaning the toilets. But I’m not as easily-bought when I get fucked over).
KnowledgeIsPower–And before you say it, I have 1) never lived in a trailer, 2) am college-educated (hey, so is Misti!), and 3) actually work at the food stamp office where job skills are assessed. Misti is way overqualified to work at Wal-Mart or McDonalds.
Jeez, KnowledgeIsPower! Bitter and angry much? That must be why you watch so much porn. You have to be a real connoisseur when you are in your situation. Do you really think mindlessly defending Joanna Angel and Burning Angel will get you a date? Good luck with that. Oh, someone who is too cowardly to use their real name and posts as “Knowledge Is Power….” making fun of someone as fat, stupid and working at Wal-Mart. That’s IRONY. Well played, sir.
This is what I know. I briefly talked with Misti Dawn at the New Jersey Exxxotica convention last year. She seemed really nice, attractive and down to earth. Just a normal, intelligent young woman.
I talked with Joanna Angel at an appearance last weekend and after telling her my name, within 10 seconds, she had forgotten it.
I wish everyone the best. Life is too short. But I’m always suspicious of people blindly coming to the defense of someone. I don’t see anyone saying that what Misti Dawn is saying is WRONG. They sort of just ignore that and jump to saying how awesome Burning Angel has always treated them.
Thank you for your time,
Brian Wallace
Thank you Brian for youre well written reply. It was a pleasure meeting you last fall.
@Brian – Nice way to insult adult entertainment consumers as bitter, angry, hapless misfits. Way to go.
“Knowledge is power”
but still needs a conduit,
an outlet, an appliance,
a bulb, then an audience,
to start.
– J. Steele (keepin’ it real).
The beauty of fact & truth… It never has to be defended or substantiated. It just is.
Good Day Sirs & and ladies.
I, too, am going to speak on behalf of Misti. My name is Suzanne Sherrod, also a nobody from Evansville, IN. I am not in the porn industry so this is not from that angle either. I also worked with her and Amber at the same shitty ass call center here in Evansville. Misti was one I was immediately drawn to, as someone I had to protect and nurture. I’m a mother hen. I would do my best to do what I could for her, when I knew she was hungry or just needed a hug. Even now, she is still that same sweet, kind-hearted person that she always was. She deserves as much peace, happiness, and love as any good person does. We lost touch for a little while during some crises on my end (I just didn’t talk to a lot of people for a long time) but reconnected last November. She is still a person I love dearly and even if you don’t agree with her career choice, she’s still worked her ass off. I am very proud to know her and to be one of many who love her.
The rest of you who want to slam her, you aren’t worthy of knowing her. You are petty, insecure, mean, and heartless people who aren’t even in the same stratosphere as someone like Misti. Go find some streetwalker who’d be the only person to ever want anything to do with you. Amber, you couldn’t possibly be more right about what you said. You nailed it perfectly, so kudos, love. Misti, I love you. I always have and always will. If there’s anything you ever need, don’t hesitate to ask 🙂
Sincerely,
Suzanne Sherrod
Let’s cut the shit and get down to the important stuff.
“watching her play video games ”
Misti plays video games? Sweet!! Hey Misti, what games you playin’?
hell yes i do! mostly RPGs but im always on and with a chat pad 🙂 xbox mostly. XBL – meowmistidawn.
I have no horse in this race: I’ve never met Misti, and I’ve only met Joanna casually on three ocassions (once when she donated her time to participate in the anti-piracy PSA which you could say benefitted her as a producer of content).
That said, I find Ms. Sherrod’s recollection of Misti to be quite telling: she paints her as a nice person who is, or was at times, a needy loser. She was hungry and needed hugs from workmates? I’ve worked my whole life, and I never went hungry because I educated myself. My family didn’t have a lot of money for good schools, so I studied hard and earned scholarships. Sure, I had ups and downs, but I’d be embarrassed as a motherfucker if that kind of recollection featured so prominently in a tribute being paid to me.
I also find it interesting that all of Misti’s positive character references come from people from her pre-Burning Angel past (which may go a long way toward proving her detractors’ point that Misti has changed) or from people involved with her on a personal level now. Again, I don’t claim to know who’s right here — if anyone — these are merely my observations on what has been written.
As for Amber’s comments above, regarding Misti having all of what it takes to move up in the world, I guess we will see, won’t we. I have to agree that attacking BA and Joanna in this manner was probably not the wisest career move for someone who’s apparently still interested in a career in adult.
Again, I an not attacking anyone here personally, it’s the soundness of their arguments and the wisdom of their strategies I question. I sincerely hope for the best for all of them.
I love RPGs too, Final Fantasy 13 and Oblivion are 2 of my favortites for X-Box 360.
There are no good RPG’s anymore. I don’t really count RPG hybrids (Fallout, Oblivion, Borderlands etc.) as real RPG’s. The real RPG’s are the Japanese ones or those in the style of JRPG’s. Want a good RPG? Pick up Radiant Historia and Dragonquest VI on DS. Good old-fashioned turned-based goodness. Some contenders on the 360 would be Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Eternal Sonata, and Tales of Vesperia. Sorry, I grew up in the 80’s and saw the genre rise and fall. It makes me sad.
@Karma
We should keep this up. It beats the boring Misti sucks/Misti rocks bullshit above.
Oh, and every Final Fantasy after 9 sucked big time. If it aint Sakaguchi, it aint Final Fantasy. In my opinion, anyway.
I like the modern FF games as well but 8 was my favorite. You can get the earlier ones pre ff7 online using an emulator and play them on your PC.
Misti rocks 🙂 Other’s she may be at odds with may rock in their own way too, who knows.
My latest Monica @ Home vid features an interview with her – covers this posting and allows you to get a good idea as to her mindset. She’s very smart.
I think you’ll see more hardcore gamer girlz and guyz coming into hardcore porn (or at least outing themselves as gamerz) because the industry is the ultimate RPG.
@Michael: You are incorrect in your assessment of what I said. I did what I did because I gave a shit. It’s hard being a vegetarian in this particular town in the Bible Belt and I would just pick her up things from time to time that I knew she’d like. I cared about her, and I still do. Educated or not, college degree or not, it’s not always easy to survive. She wasn’t, and never has been, a “needy loser”. You know, sometimes it’s a comfort to know you have people who care and who love you. Nice to see what deducing skills you have there.
@Monica: You seem like a very cool girl and I’m glad Misti has found such an awesome supporter 🙂
Monica is awesome 🙂
sorry, I love Oblivion dont hate! I cant wait for Skyrim.
Also, to please crooked people in porn to get a job is not necessary. Have you heard of the internet? solo girl sites make plenty of money and steadily and its your money and you are portrayed the way you want to be.
So pissing off some no good users of others hardly effects that anymore.
People can make albums and sell them on itunes, major record labels aren’t needed anymore.
Movies can be made and shown to the world with no studio backing it.
Porn is no different.
The internet opens up the ability to do what you want the way you want to and find your market on your own.
@Michael Whiteacre
Ive followed your work. Good job.
For not sounding attacking though you did say some rather negative things about me with out even have ever met me and i wouldnt say you treated the other person in the story with the same “unbiased” approach. Id love to sit down and talk to you in person if youd like.
@Misty – Any time, if you like. I have no problem with you whatsoever, and I sincerely wish you the best of luck.
In a way, you are at a disadvantage here in that, as between you and Joanna, only you have commented directly, thus only you can be directly criticized for your comments.
It is for that reason, and for the reason I gave above, that I still think your approach with this story was unwise, but that’s merely a matter of taste and style, not a character flaw.
@Suzy – Thank you for the clarification, but please understand that it was not my personal opinion that Misty is a needy loser, only that your inprecise description could lead a reasonable reader to that conclusion. From your clarification I can now understand what you were trying to express, and I apologize to both of you for reaching a hasty conclusion rather than seeking clarification. I should also tell you that you sound like a decent person for doing that for Misti.
No, it’s not always easy to get by, however, I personally would have been embarrassed if someone, such as yourself, had described their assistance of ME in the manner you did originally. Especially in a thread like this, where people were likening ME to trailer trash. But, again, that’s only my opinion of someone’s approach.