Originally Posted by Lord of the fungi

The male talent rates seem on par and typical, and it is very true about the expense in black talent.
What I do find slightly humorous is some of the comments on how everyone could or would do it cheaper. Many are thinking with a internet mindset and not an industry mindset.
There is ALOT more to the costs than just shooting the scenes and many seem to be missing this point. Trust me the directors/producers hit up Las Vegas, Brazil, Eastern Europe, and so on. Twenty three thousand may seem like alot, specially when few do not get the demand for good male talent and the costs. Just a basic run down would give you a good idea though.
If your shooting a very bland girl/guy video at 5 scenes, nothing but vaginal sex.
Girl costs: 5 times 800-1,000 (4,000-5,000)
Guy costs: 5 times 400-700 (1,600-3,500)
Total: 5,600-8,500 leaving 17,400-14,500

Now you got 5 scenes or do you? If your shooting POV you do, otherwise figure in another 500+ per scene for a quality shooter. (2,500) Budget left (14,900-12,000)

Not a bad amount or is it?
Subtract agent fee's say 100 per girl or another 500.
Well do not forget the following expenses:
Traveling expenses, Editing each scene, Making trailers, DVD authoring, Box cover design, Replicating the DVD's, Insert printing, and DVD blanks.
Make to many copies and you loose money, do not make enough and the stores have to reorder and you need to get more made which costs money.

Oh and do not forget that you will want trailers for your next movie on your current movie, so you better already have that shot right?

Then your titles get shipped off to the distributors, who then ship them to the stores which many are on a 90-180 day net deal with the distributor so you do not get paid until the distributor does, and well sometimes the stores are not exactly paying promptly either. Toss in the element of piracy and so on and well it gets very unpretty.