Porn 101 (video by The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee)

[seksi]

Here's a new youtube, that was probably shot during AEE/AVN 2014: Porn 101, by The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee

As the video description says:

The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee advocates to maintain and improve safety and working conditions in the adult film industry by giving adult performers organized representation in matters that affect our health, safety, and community.

The mission of APAC is to provide representation for performers in the adult film industry and to protect performers' rights to a safer and more professional work environment. We do this through education of each other and the greater community, development of ethical best practices, and fostering of solidarity. We review existing health and safety protocols, and will initiate new ones as needed. We are committed to working cohesively with all aspects of the adult entertainment industry and the public, strengthening unity between all performers, and maintaining a work environment where workers are valued, respected, and educated.

Find out more at http://apac-usa.com

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Awesome! Should be required viewing for all new people considering entering the adult industry.



ADG

[seksi]

It deserves a different thread, but I got great video about name brand performers becoming affiliates, almost as a way of collecting royalties from scenes they've already shot. When I get around to editing or reviewing it, I'll check to see if this APAC is the group Jiz Lee was talking about when she gave voice to that idea in one of the AEE educational sessions. In one of the interviews I did Siri, who always seems very sharp and innovative, also talks about affiliate programs, saying she got a note from a director she shot for, on her affiliate check, that she was the first talent to receive a check from their program.

I think if adult talent gets into using affiliate programs it could breathe more life into some of the webmaster shows, responsiveness/fairness of affiliate program managers, and talent could help speak up and get payouts/hold programs to their agreements better than isolated webmasters can alone. In any case, more voices being heard from all segments of this industry will lead us closer to free and fair trade porn.

[RevSand]

Originally Posted by AsianDivaGirlsWebDude

Awesome! Should be required viewing for all new people considering entering the adult industry.



ADG

I agree it should!

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Originally Posted by seksi

It deserves a different thread, but I got great video about name brand performers becoming affiliates, almost as a way of collecting royalties from scenes they've already shot. When I get around to editing or reviewing it, I'll check to see if this APAC is the group Jiz Lee was talking about when she gave voice to that idea in one of the AEE educational sessions.

In one of the interviews I did Siri, who always seems very sharp and innovative, also talks about affiliate programs, saying she got a note from a director she shot for, on her affiliate check, that she was the first talent to receive a check from their program.

I think if adult talent gets into using affiliate programs it could breathe more life into some of the webmaster shows, responsiveness/fairness of affiliate program managers, and talent could help speak up and get payouts/hold programs to their agreements better than isolated webmasters can alone. In any case, more voices being heard from all segments of this industry will lead us closer to free and fair trade porn.

Please post the info when you get it.

BTW, I love Jiz Lee. She is a real force in the Bay Area adult scene.



ADG

[mikesouth]

Im interested in who these people are, who is behind this APAC?

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Originally Posted by mikesouth

Im interested in who these people are, who is behind this APAC?

Try contacting Nina Hartley, as she appears to be a defacto spokesperson for the group:

The video, which was posted to the APAC site earlier this week, is the group's first attempt at a major initiative. Hartley said that in the future, the group would focus on performer rights, health care and performer pride.

I see that several performers have been tweeting the link. I recommend everyone in the industry to give the video a watch, no matter what their role is in the industry, and if you agree this info needs wide dissemination, then please pass it along.

BTW, if you talk to Nina or someone at APAC-USA, they should either actively try to obtain apacusa.com too (which is currently parked at GoDaddy), or consider a name change with a better domain name.

Honestly, I think APAC hyphenated USA (or hyphenated anything) is a terrible acronym to start with. There are numerous organizations already using that acronym. Additionally, I've noted that people are already calling it simply APAC, which will add to the confusion.

Since it is a new group, I would suggest scrapping the name altogether and come up with something more search engine/type-in friendly.

As for the video itself, the info contained, and the stated goals of the organization, all I can say is great work!!!



ADG

[mikesouth]

Ive been doing some research on them...The message is generally good np with that but the production and presentation is shit....but more interesting to me is that whoever is funding it is staying hidden.

the domain is on James deens server and IP addy

but I smell the FSC in this, not sure what their goal is with it but if they are involved itll be likely be dirty. JMHO of coirse

[mikesouth]

full story at
http://www.mikesouth.com

For anyone interested the party behind this org is Karen Tynan, FSC, PASS and APHSS attorney.

Her practice focuses on Osha and workers comp law, representing employers, making this a rather flagrant conflict of interest.

I am ALL FOR a talent organization but not one that is a shill for the FSC and sells out talent.

[$tandaman]

Sounds like they have a good pitch. It's exactly in line with what we are trying to bring to the industry via www.ModelCentro.com - empowering models to get their own content, and to monetize their fan base by establishing an online brand for themselves.

[CourtneyR]

very nice! it would be wonderful if something was made like this years ago.

[mikesouth]

Originally Posted by CourtneyR_FFN

very nice! it would be wonderful if something was made like this years ago.

actually it was...AIM did it.

[NEW XTC]

good video if you want to scare off new talent

they all look like oxyed out zombies (with about 2 exceptions)

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Saw this on Mike South's Blog:

PORN 102 ? The Adult Industry Testing System Explained
By Lacey Blake
January 28th, 2014

The newly formed ?Adult Performer Advocacy Committee? (APAC) recently released an educational video known as PORN 101. The premise of the video is to give new performers a place to find comprehensive information regarding the adult industry. It showcases many of porn?s biggest performers discussing various issues such as limited future career opportunities, personal relationship issues, the myriad of sexual diseases, set etiquette and even a few general business tips.

As the roughly 15 minute video came to an end my initial impressions were quite positive. Everyone did a great job and gave some excellent information and advice. But, something was missing: a detailed explanation of the industry?s testing system. I would hope leaving an explanation of the testing system and how it works out wasn?t a calculated decision to avoid discussing the semantics.

The industry?s favorite motto of ?Our testing system works? was noticeably absent from the video. There were very few details included such as ?We have testing protocols in place? and some suggestion about ?checking performer ID?s against test results to confirm a match.? That seemed to be about it.

As usual, a firm request for performers to practice safe sex, including condoms, in their personal lives was stressed including protected sex with spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, escort work or casual encounters. Although, according to Nina Hartley, condoms don?t work 100% of the time and have been known to break on occasion so I?m still unsure what the industry determines to be safe sex at this point?

With that said, any performer currently active or those individuals considering the option of working in the adult entertainment industry deserve an accurate, detailed and comprehensive explanation of the industry?s testing system to assist them in making a fully informed decision. After all, their health is on the line here.

I?ve tried on numerous occasions to find some sort of guide to the industry?s testing system with no luck. Therefore, here are some key points to at least get you started until the industry decides to make another video and includes a more detailed explanation of the testing system:

THE ADULT INDUSTRY TESTING SYSTEM

WHY should I get tested?

The testing system is used to inform performers whether or not they have been infected with one or multiple sexually transmitted diseases and/or infections. A blood test is performed to determine, only at the EXACT time your blood is drawn, whether you have been infected with any diseases or infections that were included in your particular test panel. The benefit of using the testing system is to catch any diseases or infections as soon as possible in order to start a course of treatment, if treatment is available. The sooner the disease or infection is detected, the faster any treatment options can begin.

WHAT does the testing system NOT do?

The testing system is 100% not a form of protection. The system wasn?t created or even designed to offer any form of protection. The testing system is used for the after-the-fact detection of any sexually transmitted diseases or infections. The testing system offers roughly the same exact amount of ?protection? as the common pregnancy test. With a pregnancy test, you have unprotected sex and then test for pregnancy. The testing system operates under the same premise. For the industry testing system, you have unprotected sex and then test for a specific panel of sexually transmitted diseases or infections. The results will determine whether you have now tested positive or negative for each disease and/or infection included in your test panel.

HOW is the testing system classified?

The testing system was created to serve as a ?Harm Reduction Program.? These programs are used as a system of last-resort recommended for at-risk individuals participating in highly dangerous activities which contain a high level of risk. They are set-up with the unfortunate theory that highly at-risk individuals will continue these dangerous activities regardless of the well known potential dangers.

Other examples of ?Harm Reduction Programs? include the ?gun buy back? and ?needle exchange? programs. A ?gun buy back? program is used as an attempt to get as many illegal guns off the street as possible by buying back guns from the public in exchange for cash. The ?needle exchange? programs are generally used to trade out ?dirty? needles in exchange for ?clean? needles for either low or no income IV drug users as a way to limit the spread of disease through the use of contaminated needles.

These programs are generally set up by either government groups or non-profit organizations as an attempt to reduce risk to these individuals and also to help protect the surrounding local communities as well.

The adult industry testing system works exactly the same way. Although, the industry has established its own additional recommended procedures to further reduce performer risk:

1. Performers were previously advised to get tested every 30 days. After the recent increase in positive testing results it was determined by the FSC that the guidelines should be changed and they now recommend performers to get tested every 14 days therefore limiting the amount of time between exposure periods from 30 days to 14 days.

2. Most performers are encouraged to get tested at a PASS-approved testing center. Once test results are determined, the positive or negative test results will be entered into the PASS database by an employee of the testing center as either ?Pass? or ?Fail? to inform producers whether performers are currently infected or tested negative for each test. On set, performers will then use these same test results to verify clean test results for the next 14 days to work with other talent.

There is always a possibility that a performer could become infected within that 14 day period between testing dates and then not find out they had been infected until their next test date. This also means any performer who works with the (unknown) infected performer could potentially be infected as well and will not find out until their next testing date which could be anywhere between 1 or even 14 days later.

This cycle continues until the disease or infection is caught before infecting anyone else or a moratorium is issued to shut down the industry (see below). The performer test results you will be given ONLY show that the performer tested negative on the DAY of their test. It doesn?t mean they?re not currently infected.

3. For many of the more serious diseases such as HIV, the FSC may issue a moratorium on all filming. This essentially serves to shut the industry down in order for the infected performer and their doctor to track all sexual partners.

The exposed performers who are currently included in the PASS database will be re-tested and if they test positive also then their exposed partners will be re-tested until all current PASS performers have tested negative. Before the moratorium is lifted, all current PASS performers must re-test before shooting any new scenes.

Since the FSC is not a regulatory agency moratoriums cannot be enforced and are sometimes ignored.

4. The FSC strongly recommends that adult performers practice safe sex in their personal lives by using condoms (or only engaging in sexual activity with other tested performers within the industry). Unless your partner is currently being tested within the industry, you are urged to always use condoms. This includes spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, escorting and/or casual encounters.

As you may have noticed, the testing system relies heavily on the usage of the age-old ?honor system.? The most important aspect of the testing system to remember is that just because you are being diligent about your health by using condoms or avoiding IV drug use, etc. DOES NOT mean your partners are as responsible as you.

You should have an enormous amount of trust in every other performer you will have any contact with. It may benefit you to also look up who they have recently performed with to ensure you have a level of trust in them as well.

I began writing this article last week after viewing the Porn 101 video. Recently, I?ve heard statements from industry leaders saying that Measure B wouldn?t have passed if the industry wouldn?t have waited so long to act. The industry leaders have mentioned that the public just didn?t understand the industry?s wonderful testing system. I would kindly argue that maybe the public actually DOES, in fact, have a better understanding of the industry testing system which may be exactly why Measure B passed. Just a thought.

**Please note: I welcome feedback on any portion of this article. Whether you think I have incorrectly stated something or would like to see something important added that I may have missed, please let me know.

You can always leave a comment below, contact me via Twitter or even e-mail Mike and he will forward to me. I am more than willing to change, correct, update or clarify any information contained in this article as I see fit. Also, this is not medical advice. I?m an accountant, not a doctor. I can?t answer your medical questions. Sorry. **

~Lacey

ADG

[seksi]

Measure B passed because the adult industry does not understand elections or lobbying, and relies solely on litigation to defeat laws that infringe on First Amendment or similar constitutionally guaranteed rights, that involve contract law, etc.

The Free Speech Coalition's hired help were political consultants from the GOP who did not construct a useful plan to win by garnering 50% +1 of the votes cast on the measure, and framed the issue in a way that did not match the generally "some government is good" liberal Democratic base of Los Angeles county.

Most ballot measures in the county and city previous to Measure B were levies to expand services like public transit and public schools, and those were successful. AHF's framing about protecting a vulnerable & exploited class of people from harm in the work place and capitalists/pornographers better matched the bias, though neither side organized conventional grassroots Get out the vote efforts.

You gotta talk to voters and ask them to vote for you or vote your way. Twitter visibility efforts maybe influence the media and fans and result in retweets, not commitments from people to register to vote and show up committed to your cause to vote on election day. Even better would be finding highly motivated people - fans or performers - to do disciplined voter contact through phone banks and door knocks.

You know, it was an election - actual election related activity would have made more sense than hiring "War on Porn" GOPers as consultants, and studies show billboards and other "visibility" like the semi-billboards are almost useless compared to direct voter contact.

Unless the lawyers deliver a victory on March 3rd, the LA-based porn industry and fans should consider a ballot initiative to repeal Measure B... a ballot measure can't be substantially modified by lawmakers without an equivalent publicvote, though it could be unfunded and unenforced, if more vital programs need scarce resources and there's not enough to go around.

[seksi]

On the Porn 101 video specifically:

My casual survey found the most common response to the video on blogs is really "Stoya doesn't look that good" or "Stoya needs to shower".

She did seem pretty confused, alone and useless at AVN/AEExpo based on my brief encounter with her. It looks like the video was shot the day I ran into her or she was still wearing the same outfit.

Digital Playground said nothing at all about Stoya or Stoya's official site when I asked them. I eventually found a press mention about Stoya parting ways with them and going it alone. I had thought about promoting it as an affiliate knowing about a sort of long tail that associates her with Sasha Grey, punk rock and the raunchy new feminism on the streets but now I think that group is largely missing Sasha and associating Stoya with James Deen. I really only know her from a Razordollls release and need to be reminded she wasn't at the release party where I made my personal Sasha Grey discovery.