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Community => Politics and Government => Topic started by: CaseAgainstFaith on January 18, 2012, 04:20:16 pm

Title: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: CaseAgainstFaith on January 18, 2012, 04:20:16 pm
Quote
LOS ANGELES—Some of the most prominent purveyors of porn say they'll start packing up their sex toys and abandoning the nation's Porn Capital if authorities really do carry through with a nascent effort to police their movie sets and order that every actor be outfitted with a condom.

That effort took a serious leap forward Tuesday when the Los Angeles City Council voted 9-1 to grant final approval to an ordinance that would deny film permits to producers who do not comply with the condom requirement. The measure now goes to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for approval.

Before the measure can take effect, however, the council has called for the creation of a committee made up of police officials, the city attorney, state health officials and others to determine how it might be enforced.

"It's going to be interesting to see how in fact they do try to enforce it and whose going to fund it and all of the time and effort they're going to spend," said Steven Hirsch, co-founder and co-chairman of Los Angeles-based Vivid, one of the largest makers of erotic movies.

"Ultimately I think what they will find is people will just stop shooting in the city of Los Angeles," added Hirsch. "That's a given."

His company, founded in 1984, would be among those that would consider leaving, he said.

Other industry officials condemned the measure as an unneeded exercise in political correctness that cannot be enforced in the city known in the industry as the Porn Capital of the country.

"The only thing that the city could potentially achieve is losing some film permit money and driving some productions away, but you can't actually compel an industry to create a product that the market doesn't want," said Christian Mann, general manager of Evil Angel, another of the industry's largest production companies.

source - http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2012/01/18/porn_industry_mulls_leaving_la_if_condoms_required/ (http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2012/01/18/porn_industry_mulls_leaving_la_if_condoms_required/)

While I don't know Nevada's law or if they have something similar, since they have the Bunny Ranch, why not make them the new porn capitol, I bet they would love the extra money.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: gyeonghwa on January 18, 2012, 04:22:31 pm
This is one of those weird things. On the one hand, barebacking is bad in the porn industry. I have known that studios lies about the health condition of their actors. On the other hand, if they consent to the barebacking, it should be allowed to do it. I think we need to focus on making unprotected sex less glamorous.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Ian1732 on January 18, 2012, 04:25:20 pm
I say we outsource all the porn from LA and put it in Michigan. We need that economy.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: N. De Plume on January 18, 2012, 04:39:09 pm
Political Correctness? Creating a product? I thought it was just supposed to be a health regulation.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: RavynousHunter on January 18, 2012, 05:43:27 pm
This is one of those weird things. On the one hand, barebacking is bad in the porn industry. I have known that studios lies about the health condition of their actors. On the other hand, if they consent to the barebacking, it should be allowed to do it. I think we need to focus on making unprotected sex less glamorous.

And you hit the nail right on the head with that'un, brother.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: erictheblue on January 18, 2012, 07:33:43 pm
What I don't get is why they are so up in arms. It isn't like people won't watch porn where the actors wear condoms! (Not like I would know anything about porn actors using condoms...  :o )
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: largeham on January 18, 2012, 07:37:12 pm
They wear condoms in many older (90s-early 2000s) feature length films. But maybe now-a-days people don't want to see condoms and it's easier to get free porn so they won't buy porn films.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Jack Mann on January 18, 2012, 07:43:39 pm
This is certainly an interesting, and economically important, issue.  But I just can't get over the "whose/who's" confusion in the first quote from Hirsch.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: largeham on January 18, 2012, 07:47:10 pm
Is the porn industry that economically important? Sure it earns a lot, so the loss in taxes will hurt, but is the wealth spread around? I was under impression that most of the income was mainly confined to a few famous professionals and directors.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Osama bin Bambi on January 18, 2012, 07:52:08 pm
As long as the actors are guaranteed to be healthy and the company pays for any birth control the actresses may need, they should not be forced to wear condoms.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: gyeonghwa on January 18, 2012, 09:03:07 pm
What I don't get is why they are so up in arms. It isn't like people won't watch porn where the actors wear condoms! (Not like I would know anything about porn actors using condoms...  :o )

There is actually a debate among gay porn studios about that. A few outspoken studios say they do barebacking because they don't want to remind people of death. The anti-barebacking studios says that's bullshit because it gives viewer a false sense of security and that most of the barebacking studios have shaky records of providing their actors proper health care. Many studios have already enacted a condom only policy.

(This topic is featured in many gay magazine. Interestingly, AFA supports the measure but only because they believe all gay people don't use condom and therefore banning bareback will ban gay sex ::) )
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: N. De Plume on January 18, 2012, 09:06:03 pm
Seems to me having a bunch of your actors catching and spreading a potentially fatal disease would be a more potent reminder of death than a condom.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Witchyjoshy on January 18, 2012, 09:20:32 pm
On one hand, I can see why barebacking has the appeal it has...

On the other hand, condoms should be required.  Just like anti-slip shoes are required for working in a fast food restaurant.  Just like health regulations are required for any restaurant.  If you want this to be a job, then be expected for it to have regulations applied to it, just like the other jobs.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Osama bin Bambi on January 18, 2012, 09:28:13 pm
If an actor wants to do "barebacking" then they should be required to get tested after every shoot for STDs. I think it should be up to individual studios whether or not to force their actors to use condoms, but if a studio fails to disclose that an actor has an STD before a bareback shoot then they can be fined.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: largeham on January 18, 2012, 09:31:30 pm
Probably before the shoot would be better, especially for people just joining the industry.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Askold on January 19, 2012, 02:03:21 am
If an actor wants to do "barebacking" then they should be required to get tested after every shoot for STDs. I think it should be up to individual studios whether or not to force their actors to use condoms, but if a studio fails to disclose that an actor has an STD before a bareback shoot then they can be fined.

Except that HIV doesn't show up on tests immediately, it takes a few months after catching it untill it shows on test.

Anyway what problems would using condoms cause to the porn industry:
a) Some extra work, stop the camera, put on comdom, continue filming.
b) Some viewers might prefer bareback so they might lose some customers. (Maybe.)
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: RavynousHunter on January 19, 2012, 02:19:50 am
Is the porn industry that economically important? Sure it earns a lot, so the loss in taxes will hurt, but is the wealth spread around? I was under impression that most of the income was mainly confined to a few famous professionals and directors.

I dunno...I think it'd be like if a majority of movie studios up and moved out of Hollywood.  Porn is one of, if not the biggest earner(s) in the entertainment industry, after all.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Sylvana on January 19, 2012, 02:28:40 am
I cant help being of two minds about this.
However, for the most part I support the initiative. If I remember correctly, America recently had an increase in new HIV infections because the anti-HIV campaigns have been slowing down. People are not seeing HIV as such a risk anymore, and as a result it is starting to spread again. This measure can help that campaign out. Think of it this way, if condom usage in porn becomes normalized, it might help people who watch the porn to think more about wearing a condom when they have sex themselves.

I cant help but think that at its core, porn where people wear condoms is a really good thing. Perhaps though they should have taken another option. Provide massive tax cuts for all porn which uses condoms. This will allow the industry to continue like normal, but rewards those who promote safer sex.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: N. De Plume on January 19, 2012, 09:44:39 am
Think of it this way, if condom usage in porn becomes normalized, it might help people who watch the porn to think more about wearing a condom when they have sex themselves.
Wow. For once, we got something where  trying something because “I saw it in a porno” is a good thing! Who’d have thought? :D

Quote
I cant help but think that at its core, porn where people wear condoms is a really good thing. Perhaps though they should have taken another option. Provide massive tax cuts for all porn which uses condoms. This will allow the industry to continue like normal, but rewards those who promote safer sex.
I’ve always been in support of tax breaks for actual constructive measures.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Askold on January 19, 2012, 10:23:38 am
Think of it this way, if condom usage in porn becomes normalized, it might help people who watch the porn to think more about wearing a condom when they have sex themselves.
Wow. For once, we got something where  trying something because “I saw it in a porno” is a good thing! Who’d have thought? :D

Good point. Porn industry has affected society's view of sexuality and the things we consider "erotic" so what if porn could make putting on a condom look hot.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: rosenewock21 on January 19, 2012, 10:52:45 am
Think of it this way, if condom usage in porn becomes normalized, it might help people who watch the porn to think more about wearing a condom when they have sex themselves.
Wow. For once, we got something where  trying something because “I saw it in a porno” is a good thing! Who’d have thought? :D

Good point. Porn industry has affected society's view of sexuality and the things we consider "erotic" so what if porn could make putting on a condom look hot.

Or they could simply admit that most porn is cheesy as hell and do the magical disappearing condom act. I was having a porn and chicken night with friends not too long ago and the pirate themed porn we watched had no condoms when the penis was shown outside an orifice but condoms were clearly visible when it was sliding into something. Nothing was said about it in movie but we had plenty of laughs about the "magic condoms".
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Askold on January 19, 2012, 11:44:56 am
Think of it this way, if condom usage in porn becomes normalized, it might help people who watch the porn to think more about wearing a condom when they have sex themselves.
Wow. For once, we got something where  trying something because “I saw it in a porno” is a good thing! Who’d have thought? :D

Good point. Porn industry has affected society's view of sexuality and the things we consider "erotic" so what if porn could make putting on a condom look hot.

Or they could simply admit that most porn is cheesy as hell and do the magical disappearing condom act. I was having a porn and chicken night with friends not too long ago and the pirate themed porn we watched had no condoms when the penis was shown outside an orifice but condoms were clearly visible when it was sliding into something. Nothing was said about it in movie but we had plenty of laughs about the "magic condoms".

Bold mine. "A porn and chicken night with friends."

What?!

No that I got that out of my system. I too have noticed the "magically appearing condom" in some porn movies and I did reference it in my earlier post. Sure they could edit out putting the condom on and that would satisfy the new law. But what my point was that they could actually draw attention to the condom. Things like "creampie" have been made fetish by porn industry, why not use that power for good.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Vene on January 19, 2012, 11:50:43 am
It's about damn time somebody decides there needs to be condoms in porn. If studios relocate elsewhere and the new place doesn't enact a similar law, then that place is acting immorally. A little bit of latex (or similar) is far less of an inconvenience than incurable STDs.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: rosenewock21 on January 19, 2012, 11:53:42 am
"Porn and Chicken" was an original movie by Comedy Central a few years back about a group of students who got together to eat fried food and make fun of porn. I've taken to calling gathering like those "a porn and chicken" night.

I agree 100% with your position though. Why not try to do something good with all their power?
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: booley on January 19, 2012, 12:06:01 pm
Ok maybe the regs are cumbersome but opposing condom use on set?

Really?

The idea that  condoms in porn would kill customers is crap.  Just look at Gay porn (as an example that is   ???)  Many companies have a condom use policy.  Conventions like IML that show case a lot of gay porn won't let companies that do bare backing videos get vender booths.

And yet gay porn is happily whirling along making money.

Is it just me or are straight porn producers a bunch of whiners?
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on January 19, 2012, 12:11:40 pm
Honestly, I have no issue with this whatsoever. Some slight regulation for the safety of the people in the industry is hardly a bad thing.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: erictheblue on January 19, 2012, 05:05:09 pm
The idea that  condoms in porn would kill customers is crap.  Just look at Gay porn (as an example that is   ???)  Many companies have a condom use policy.  Conventions like IML that show case a lot of gay porn won't let companies that do bare backing videos get vender booths.

And yet gay porn is happily whirling along making money.

There is a site I check out occasionally that only makes gay male porn. The site is very open about the fact that their actors always wear condoms. (There is a blurb about it at the end of all the trailers.) They seem to be doing well, since they put up a new movie about every week, and have quite a large collection available for download.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: N. De Plume on January 19, 2012, 06:14:22 pm
I think that would work a lot better than the hypocritical “Actors depicted not wearing condoms, but you should always practice safe sex” disclaimers I occasionally see.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: gyeonghwa on January 19, 2012, 06:19:27 pm
I think that would work a lot better than the hypocritical “Actors depicted not wearing condoms, but you should always practice safe sex” disclaimers I occasionally see.

Those warning annoy me to no end. I'm glad that more major gay porn studios are doing condom only but the problem is those amateur and str8-for-gay studios that does barebacking.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Sylvana on January 20, 2012, 03:20:04 am
Think of it this way, if condom usage in porn becomes normalized, it might help people who watch the porn to think more about wearing a condom when they have sex themselves.
Wow. For once, we got something where  trying something because “I saw it in a porno” is a good thing! Who’d have thought? :D

Good point. Porn industry has affected society's view of sexuality and the things we consider "erotic" so what if porn could make putting on a condom look hot.

Given how pornography does affect our views on sexuality, actually showing condom usage and it being put on would probably be some of the better sex ed some kids could get. Not to mention that I am pretty sure that the porn industries could figure out how to make putting on a condom erotic. That would be a huge boost for condom usage and safe sex.
You would be surprised at how many fantasies that happen in the bedroom come from porn. People see stuff in porn and want to try it.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: Smurfette Principle on January 20, 2012, 03:27:26 am
Think of it this way, if condom usage in porn becomes normalized, it might help people who watch the porn to think more about wearing a condom when they have sex themselves.
Wow. For once, we got something where  trying something because “I saw it in a porno” is a good thing! Who’d have thought? :D

Good point. Porn industry has affected society's view of sexuality and the things we consider "erotic" so what if porn could make putting on a condom look hot.

Given how pornography does affect our views on sexuality, actually showing condom usage and it being put on would probably be some of the better sex ed some kids could get. Not to mention that I am pretty sure that the porn industries could figure out how to make putting on a condom erotic. That would be a huge boost for condom usage and safe sex.
You would be surprised at how many fantasies that happen in the bedroom come from porn. People see stuff in porn and want to try it.

Hey, the women's porn industry is already doing it. In the back of every issue of Cosmo is an erotica excerpt, and they always, as far as I have read, have condoms. It's the straight, cismale porn industry that thinks it's unmanly to wear them.

Any straight cismen have a perspective on this?
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: RavynousHunter on January 20, 2012, 03:42:20 am
I've heard talk that people are generally fed a LOT of misinformation about condoms, not just lying about the statistics of their efficacy, but about the overall experience of protected sex.  From what I've heard, it seems that people are under the (likely mistaken) impression that protected sex is without significant sensation, and is thus very dull.

Personally, well...I'd use a condom every single time, unless I was sure that both the missus (figure of speech, not implication of actual marriage) and I were both clean of any STDs and were totally unable to sire/bear children.  If neither of those conditions are met, I'm wearing a rubber come hell or high water.
Title: Re: Porn Industries threatens to leave LA
Post by: N. De Plume on January 20, 2012, 10:10:10 am
Not to mention that I am pretty sure that the porn industries could figure out how to make putting on a condom erotic.
I really don’t think it should be that hard. Really, in terms of erotic appeal, a condom can be treated little different from any standard sex toy.