I gots questions o’plenty about the business side of porn. Hopefully I get pointed in the right direction. I read through this threadearlier and I am going to watch the news journal report linked therein, later. So if the following questions are covered in the CNBC video later, just let me know.
Mostly I’m wondering about the actors and actresses regarding how they negotiate contracts, both performance-wise and for their other appearances. I know there’s a least one big company that handles bookings (LA Direct) and talent searches. Are there any companies or agencies that serve as the equivalent of a Hollywood actor’s agent, by handling contract negotiation and appearance fees? There is obviously only a few actresses that currently have the drawing to set their rates and say to a production company take it or leave it. But I would think even the mid-range performers could benefit from representation if even for a few hundred more per scene. Is there just too much of a supply of workers to make the idea non-profitable? Has their ever been any unionization talk in the porn world among the actors?
When I lived in West Hollywood, I knew lots of guys in Gay Porn.
There are always ads in the local newspapers, and often you hear of producers/directors going to the Gay clubs and gyms and simply asking certain guys if they would like to be in a porn film. If you look the part, and have the part, it is not difficult to get into a Gay Porn film.
There are always contracts, everything is done very legally and proof of age is required. Not a huge amount of money for a first-timer, but some guys earn a whole lot of money in following films if they have, uh, certain assets and perform well in the film. A few have gone on to become true porn superstars and make a nice jock full of change! Many of those guys go on to produce their own videos.
However, many guys just want to be in one film and that is all - just to say they were in a porn. One guy I know said he wanted to be in a porn so when he is older, he can look back and see himself back in the days when he was hot and horny. I think a lot of the stigma has gone - so many have been in a porn that it is no big deal and unless they intend to go into politics or a “real” acting career, it is pretty much “who cares?”. Speaking of politics, one of the first openly Gay mayors of West Hollywood had a full page, fully nude spread in a magazine and it was maybe the first time a city had seen their mayor fully naked, full-frontal, before electing him. He was a very popular mayor and did a great job while in office.
I know one guy who runs a very popular internet porn site and he has no problem getting guys to be in his films - he gets phone calls almost every day from guys who want to be in his next film.