from http://www.8newsnow.com/story/17037285/i-team By Nathan Baca, Investigative Reporter
LAS VEGAS — Some pornography filming does take place in Las Vegas but it’s not highly publicized. Now, a new law in Los Angeles could lead some of the adult film industry to look more closely at Las Vegas.
The I-Team visited the red carpet of an adult movie premier in Hollywood last week. It was there that they asked whether the studios will remain in California or move to Nevada.
Despite the familiar costumes, although it looked like a premier for Star Wars, it was actually Star Wars XXX — the porn movie. Star Wars XXX is one of the last parties before a new Los Angeles law changes the porn industry. After a 2004 HIV transmission, condoms will now be required on many porn shoots.
"Consumers really aren’t interested in movies with condoms. The sales of those movies are much, much lower," said Diane Duke who is with Free Speech Coalition, an adult industry trade group.
"We have government stepping in and telling us how to produce our films. We have government stepping in trying to intervene between sexual behavior between consenting adults. We have government stepping in trying to compel us to create a product that the consumers don’t want," Duke said.
Hollywood may consider itself the entertainment capital of the world but parts of the adult industry — worth billions — may move to Nevada. Las Vegas is already home to adult video awards and conventions. But it’s Hollywood where these decisions are made.
"There’s a lot of scenes that are shot already in Las Vegas, under cloak and dagger," said porn director Will Ryder. He added that current restrictions would need to be relaxed to make it easier for the porn industry in Las Vegas.
The producers, directors, and performers in this industry say they are like any other workers.
"Ninety-nine percent of us are all very educated people. We have families that we support, we pay our taxes. We’re normal people. We have a normal life. The only difference it is, instead of going to an office and sitting in an office from 9 to 5. We go to a set, where there might be an office and we f— from 9 to 5," said porn performer James Bartholet.
"I’m a UCLA graduate," porn performer Helly Hellfire said.
Porn earns profits. Profits mean tax revenue and jobs. Nevada has often been known for it’s live and let live creed. But with it’s stigma and legal challenges, will the porn industry find that home means Nevada?
"I heard the conservatives in Las Vegas don’t want us over there. I love Las Vegas, don’t get me wrong, I love that city but it’s going be very expensive for us to go out there," said Bartholet.
"Whether it’s Vegas or another state or city, we’re just going to continue to find somewhere, conquer the United States and just show those people that are haters to go eff themselves," porn performer Alexis Ford said.
"If I was Las Vegas, I wouldn’t underestimate the drawing power I have and the ability I have to bring people to Las Vegas to shoot adult movies. But it’s going to take a consensus effort on the part of Las Vegas to ask us out on a date. That’s what’s it’s going to have to take. We’re not going to ask Vegas out on a date. It’s got to come the other way," said porn director Will Ryder.
The adult industry seems to be waiting to find out if similar condom laws are enacted throughout Southern California. With a few porn studios already located in Phoenix and Miami, some adult movie companies are looking to those cities as well.
Palm Springs, Ca has been home to several of the largest gay studios for the past 20 years… AHF would have a hell of a fight on their hands trying to pass condom legislation in a city that is home to mainly gay men… they even have a gay mayor. Its a very liberal community that has allowed the gay porn industry to operate openly without any backlash from the community.( an even better environment than L.A has been for the straight porn industry) It could be an interesting alternative. Plus there’s a lot of “tribal land” in and around Palm Springs that could make regulating shoots that much more difficult. ( I’m not too sure on the last part, I’d like to hear Michael Whiteacres take on it)
Weinstein is pushing for this condom mandate to be applied to the whole state (and probably eventually the whole country). Palm Springs won’t be spared. Neither will San Francisco or anywhere else that porn movies might be shot in the state of California.
Interesting take, Roman, on the idea of filming on Indian territory. That’s a really interesting idea.
I’m not too hot on Nevada…
I think as long as the production companies band together and make condom CHOICE an enforceable standard (a performer can choose condoms without fear of financial repercussions) there is room for multilateral negotiation with CalOSHA and AHF and nobody has to move ANYWHERE.
origen — OSHA has given every impression of late that it’s looking for a way out of this mess. They know they were manipulated by AHF, and they are cognizant of the fact that both OSHA and AHF have lost every single court case on this issue. However, before there can be any negotiation with the adult industry, OSHA has to use a different paradigm. As long as they view sex performers as actors who are being incidentally exposed to sex-related risks of harm (as opposed to sex workers who have contracted to do a job which, in itself, is what OSHA considers “exposure”) the OSHA problem is not going away absent litigation. A paradigm shift is required to guide the parties out of this mire.
Interestingly, Cal/OSHA had predicted (in June) having new draft rules ready in six months. These new rules have failed to emerge..,
Secondarily, the illegal LA condom ordinance makes no distinction between employees and independent contractors, and would remain in place even if OSHA backed off. The local ordinances will require litigation to block enforcenent and/or to have them invalidated.
Finally, condom choice already is the standard. OSHA complaints can be (and have been) filed anonymously, so this “blacklist” angle is a red herring. Will performers who are willing to do less receive fewer offers? Of course, but that’s the market. Porn production is not immune to the laws of supply and demand.