Is LFP's Head Of Production, Drew Rosenfeld, A Puppet?

XXX writes me:

Mark Kramer's lil Judas Drew was embarassed at the LFP booth when a performer loudly contradicted his claim that the reason Tom Zupko, with ten nominations, wasn't at the show was that he was "in detox," the stud citing instead that LFP was too cheap to put the poor bastard up, though they certainly had enough suits there in Vegas surrounding Drew. Drew immediately called Zupko & cried at him like a bitch over being embarassed in front of his staff & overlords, as if it were Zupko's fault that Drew's conniving, ethics-free management style is already becoming legendary in the business in his freshman year since making the rise from building sets to corporate hatchet man.

Speaking of LFP, wonder how they're feeling about their big hype J. Angel signing with the unfriendly competition over at Pulse for her website output, including the 20 minute short that LFP put its name on so that AVN would bend the rules in search of an award to grant her?

LFP's publicist, Jeff Mullen of AllMediaPlay.com, responds 1/13/06:

Hello Luke,

I was amused by some comments posted on your site and felt inclined to briefly respond. LFP Video’s Drew Rosenfeld is nobody’s puppet man and anybody who has known Drew over the years understands that he is the type of guy that can be counted on to stand by your side when needed and that he is also an executive who can make up his own mind without the assistance of outside input. Regarding the asinine comments that the reason Thomas Zupko and some other directors where not at the AEE show was because “LFP was too cheap to put the poor bastard up” is remarkably short sighted.

LFP Video has about 25 directors working on projects and to make the distinction of who should receive an expense paid trip over another director would only cause problems. LFP Video loves Thomas Zupko and the company did supply an AEE badge to any of their directors who wanted to attend the show.

What was over the edge were the derogatory comments regarding Drew’s management style as this type of post seems to me to be nothing more than a performer or producer whose own career has not gone as well as they hoped for lashing out at somebody who truly belongs in his position. What amazes me is that there are still grown men acting up and talking smack when they should be busy trying to get their own business affairs in order so that one day, they too might make something of themselves. The house that Larry Flynt built is in great shape as 2006 looks to be a banner year.

3/31/06

Hustler Blacklisted with Top Modeling Agency LADirectModels.com?

Derek, owner of LADirect says: "This is untrue. I have not blacklisted Drew or any LFP directors or LFP or Hustler. LA Direct Models enjoys a solid and professional working relationship with LFP/ Hustler and Drew Rosenfeld."

Drew Rosenfeld responds:

In response to your comments (normally I never respond): You obviously prefer not to have a relationship with Hustler/VCA. I don't need to defend my position at LFP. Those who work with me and know me personally know exactly how I run things at LFP video. LFP video is currently releasing some of the best product it's ever had and our sales reflect exactly that. While your story is fun to read it bears no merit and reads like a diary from a director who cannot contain his or her jealousy's. Things are going very well at LFP Video. We've given alot of opportunities to some newer directors while continuing to work with some long time LFP directors. We're about to launch a new gonzo line called Hustler Hardline featuring some of the most talented gonzo directors out there. Finally, LA Direct Models and LFP have always had an excellent relationship. We continue to work together on many projects. I'm quite sure Derek Hay would agree with me that your comments regarding our working relationship is untrue. Just be sure your getting ALL your facts straight, LUKE.

Drew Rosenfeld (drosenfeld at lfp.com), Creative Director of LFP Video, and Richard Sankey (rsankey at lfp.com), Production Coordinator for LFP, email:

To All Directors:

Re: booking talent in advance for shoots. Please note that we are not advocating 'Blacklisting,' nor are we refusing to work with ANY agency in regards to booking talent. Much to the contrary, it is important for LFP, inc. to use every agency, management company, and independent contractor at our disposal in a continuing effort to find the best possible performers for our product.

If you plan on using talent from LA Direct Models, we simply ask that you make sure your complete budget proposal is turned in to us a minimum of three weeks in advance. That will give us adequate time to process your budget and approve your production check so that you can properly book your projects. LA Direct has requested that production funds be secured prior to booking their models, and we are attempting to honor that request. We look forward to continuing our outstanding relationships with every agency long into the future.

If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your budgets, or the proper booking of your talent, please don't hesitate to contact us here at LFP.

A porner writes (and this email was widely circulated around the industry before I got it Friday afternoon):

Drew Rosenfeld, creative director for LFP Video, has managed to alienate probably the best talent agency [Derek Hay of LA DirectModels.com] in town.

This came after Rosenfeld continually booked and cancelled shoots and after Rosenfeld's disorganization and arrogant manner became too difficult to work with. Rosenfeld was required to notify all directors to seek talent elsewhere as LA Direct Models refuses to work on a Hustler production. The directors were already frustrated as they were often given a green light at a very short notice, forcing them to be left with the dregs of Talent that nobody else wanted for their Hustler productions.

So how is it that Rosenfeld with no experience with a camera goes from set builder and runner one day to having arguably the most powerful job at LFP the next? Like most jobs given away at LFP, Rosenfeld got his by accident and he’ll probably stay there for some time until Larry Flynt eventually wakes up and sees the damage that he’s done.

After Mark Kramer left, Rosenfeld was moved into his position simply because he was there and no one else at LFP knew the business. Then came along Tyler Goldman, the mainstream mistake that cost Larry dearly. With Goldman having no experience in the adult industry whatsoever and Rosenfeld ass kissing Goldman, Rosenfeld was moved up the corporate ladder.

Rosenfeld now makes all production decisions, deciding which of his buddies to hire and how much they get paid. Probably the most wooed and bribed position in the whole company.

Luke says: I've been on set with Richard Montford many times and I've never noticed anything inappropriate in his behavior.

First order of business, Rosenfeld hired long time friend Richard Montford as top Hustler director. Of course Montford had never picked up a video camera before Rosenfeld gave him the Hustler gigs. Montford has been around the industry for a while, known as an adequate production stills guy but more famously despised by talent and companies alike for his nasty demeanor and abusive behavior towards the talent. He was fired from his last work as stills guy for Sin City for his behavior as well as several others. Most memorable was his treatment of actress Chloe, which, after she walked off the set, caused him to be banned from ever working for VCA and any of their directors, that was of course until Larry bought VCA and Rosenfeld brought him back. Most talent describe him as “nasty and demeaning to women..."

Rosenfeld seems to have some affinity for this director. While award winning directors with successful shows at Hustler cannot get Rosenfeld on the phone, Montford seems to get every opportunity. Larry doesn’t realize he has already lost two of his best directors to competitors simply because they don’t want to deal with Rosenfeld.

To strengthen his position, Rosenfeld just hired an assistant Richard Sankey, and in keeping it all in the Rosenfeld family Sankey happens to be Montford's assistant.

And how does Larry miss all this, once again? Jeff Hawkins heads up video. A likable guy who has managed LFP magazines for many years but who admits the video division is a great learning curve for him.

Acquiring Rosenfeld along with the division, Hawkins puts faith in Rosenfeld, besides there is no one there that knows adult video production.

So once again it’s the blind leading the blind at Hustler. Meanwhile Rosenfeld gets to choose the directors who get the work and their budgets. He gets to prevent talent, directors and others from working, all to the detriment of LFP while he lines his own pockets.

Side story, Angela, who headed up box cover art, quit this week. Had enough of the BS. She plans to go to a competitor.

Publicist and pornographer Jeff Mullen writes:

I have read the amusing posts on your site regarding Drew Rosenfeld’s service to Hustler Video. The person who wrote that long winded attack must be a disgruntled director who has nothing better to do than air his distorted view of Hustler Video. I have seen the entire evolution at Hustler Video very closely for well over the past 15 months and I can tell you that the company is moving in a very positive direction contrary to those negative words. LFP creative director Drew Rosenfeld has never been anybody’s ‘boy,’ ‘runner,’ ‘bitch,’ or mere ‘set builder’ so that completely takes any credibility away from this guy. Tough decisions have been made that are not always to everybody’s liking but that is why some guys are leaders and others have time to sit around and criticize their moves.

First off, there is no beef with Drew, Hustler or Direct Models. Derek runs a very tight ship at Direct and both he and Drew are handling their business to ensure that no shoots get canceled for any reason. How this email writing myth of a man that lacks the courage to sign his name can talk such BS on your site makes me believe he might lack a set of balls. I have an extra set, so stop by my office anytime to pick them up.

Drew is a good man who is respected and well liked by most (hated by at least one) and has done just about every job in the adult business with the exception of being talent. That is the reason why he is in a top position with a world leading company such as Hustler. Larry Flynt wasn’t born yesterday and as a true leader standing tall among us, understands that guys like Drew and Jeff Hawkins are what make companies great. You can’t please everybody all the time and if this anonymous e-mailer doesn’t want to work with Drew and Hustler, I understand they are hiring fiction writers in the UK. Thank you for the entertainment, I can skip Seinfeld tonight and go to bed early.

P.S. Boy, I sure hope that the girls from Direct Models show up on our Hustler shoot tomorrow morning. I can rest easy because I know they will.

7/3/06

Luke: "What kind of job do you think Drew is doing with LFP Video?"

Greg Zeboray: "Wonderful.

"We've insured LFP for a while. We've had some issues that probably would've resulted in the severing of our relationship. Dustin Flynt worked with us to renew the relationship. But LFP was on the watch. We kept an eye on what was going on. We were very uncomfortable having directors who were horribly drunk -- drunk all day, drunk all night -- being in charge of sets. Ultimately, we pay for that risk.

"When Drew Rosenfeld took over the video division, LFP was removed from the watch list. That's how comfortable I am with Drew's ability to make the hard decisions and see to it that things get done properly such as getting rid of directors who think they should be able to drink all day.

"As long as Drew is running that company, they're a model client.

"He's made hard decisions. Some people have gotten their feathers ruffled.

"I worry to death that Drew physically can not handle this kind of stress and that it is going to kill him."

Knock, Knock, Drew's There

Jack, an LFP insider, writes:

Many days Drew carries himself with just a touch too much confidence. That does not take away from the fact that he has had a profound impact on the video division at LFP.

The reality is that they should be dead. Last summer the place looked like a it was the set for Scary Porno a parody movie about Porn. Let us remember that Drew was brought in at a mid level at best position Marc Kramer, Christina Peters, Noel Bloom, and the fancy pants guy [Tyler Goldman] Larry brought in who was clearly out of place were full throttle toward the wall until Drew slammed on the brakes.

Drew has attacked his responsibility like it were his company. For that reason, I think he should have a larger role in "running" the place as it was stated (for the record Jeff Hawkins runs Hustler Video with Drew playing a heavy role in the management). In a time when the market is struggling Rosenfeld is taking on his role with the enthusiasm of a guy who sees nothing but blue skies in a time when many video companies are in a fear stricken frozen panic..

If this guy is given a little more room to operate and shape the video division as he sees fit, I think LFP will have dodged the bullet.

A word of caution to team Hustler.

You have someone making a name for himself there. He has shown that he has taken a Rubik's cube and finished a couple sides that the industry wrote off as a lost cause. This means he is going to be attractive to others. From companies that will pay what someone of his caliber is worth without all of the ancillary bureaucratic brouhaha.

Greg said he worries about the stress load. With good reason a guy like Drew can only play company for so long before it will start to wear away at the very core of his being that allows him to have the kind of passion for what he gives to the projects he produces.

Drew is a good guy, he can act like a arrogant, know it all at times, but that is exactly the kind of person Larry needs in the batters box. If Larry had more trust in Drew than he does with some of the other laughable characters he has in high power positions, the place might actually show some signs of a heartbeat.

They need to hold on to this guy. True to form the powers that be will likely replace him with someone who has never worked in the industry.

You have some big fans Drew, work on your snotty kid demeanor and you just might be in line to take on a leadership role.

...What happened to Tyler Goldman the guy who thought the adult industry was a lay down. Is the industry aware that he was canned after AVN and Jim Chamberlain is now the HMFIC at LFP

>What's HMFIC?

Head Mother F--ker in charge.

Man, you do need to get out more. Actually, no you do not. It is your bland and often times poor sense of pop culture that gives your writing its personality and flare. A naive innocence that allows you to seem like an accidental observer providing commentary to Sodom and Gomorra. A bit like Les Nessman covering the great Turkey giveaway.