I'm shooting in LA today, and it's a light day, so I'll answer anything I can about-
 

Shooting original content. Anything I can. From how to get models to releases to what do you do when a model starts to cry and says she's sending her counsins after you...

Ask away!

that sounds like an interesting one, lets hear it.

Do you use a sponge when models are on their periods or do you call off the shoot?

Never, ever call off a shoot. I've shot 5 man gangbangs when a girl's at her heaviest.

Get the sponges that look like little pieces of pie. They work wonders.

Also, have a box of surgical gloves around, too...cause trust me, the talent won't be able to fish them all out, afterward...
:(

How much does a decent make up person run per day?

Yea, when I was shooting amateurs in Phoenix, male talent's condom broke, and she flipped out. Male talent pulled her aside and said he was a "male escort" and "not to worry" cause he gets HIV tested all the time. This was his feeble attempt to make her feel good.

You just don't get mad or say stupid things back. Just remain calm and ask them what EXACTLY they want. "What do you want to make things better?"

In this case, she just wanted a kill fee. And then she was as happy as a clam...cause she thought she wasn't gonna get paid anything.

What do ya do when the cousins/bfs come after ya.

LA rates are $300 - $400 a day.

In Phoenix I found a decent one for $100 a girl.

I cannot stress this enough - find a way to budget make up artists for your content.

I haven't actually had that happen, yet. But I suppose I'd run.

what do you do when you shoot tranny models and your brother tony insists that he fucks them off camera?

What percentage of the talent doesn't show up for a photoshoot?

Tricky one here. Since he's a power bottom, and most trannies can't top, it usually doesn't work. And you know what's funny? He's been lurking around the Blacks On Boys shoots lately...

:upsidedow

Whats the craziest thing thats happened at one of your shoots.

What kind of crazy do you want? Scary crazy or sexual crazy?

Was it difficult to shoot bmk for this scene? I hear he can be finnicky!


http://www.lordzofarizona.com/bmk.jpg

1 story of each :winkwink:

Your blog is a interesting read btw, bookmarked :thumbsup

When you discussing working with a new model, how do you not get into trouble talking about various acts and money involved. What makes it legal certainly not the fact that is being filmed?

This is a funny scene...cause it's for NoWayAmIGay.com, and I was kinda doing him a favor just shooting him...well, cause, look at him.

Anyway, this is a site for straight guys that jack it on camera, and 1/2 through he admits to some gay encounters with a coworker in a walk-in refridgerator at the convience store they were both working at then...so, needless to say, it didn't come off as well as I would have liked it to...

:upsidedow

Nothing. When you book talent to shoot in a dirty movie ANYWHERE in the US (with the exception of California) you're pandering, and in my home state, it's a class 6 felony that carries a fine and/or jailtime.

This is part of the reason I now shoot only in LA.

C'mon Billy, you know what I want...

The BEST Spring Thomas story you can muster for the board.

Thanks for the kind words!

Crazy sexy: when we were shooting at Dogfart's secret mansion in Malibu, we were shooting these insane anal scenes for a site that still has never materialized. Anyway, we were shooting Bella Donna, and Brandon Iron was shoving this enourmous dildo up her butt, and he had it about 1/2 in and was wiggling it around, and Bella was cool, and then ALL OF US heard this audible popping noise come from her tummy. And for a split second we were all worried...but she said "I'm OK!" Then she smiled and said "push it all the way in" and Brandon slid the last 9 or 10 inches of it right to the hilt.

Crazy Scary: I cancelled a scene on a brand new Brotha I had booked for Blacks On Blondes. He was pissed. He was over an hour late, and I told him not to bother coming. He came, anyway, and someone had left the studio door unlocked (HUGE MISTAKE) and he walked on set and wouldn't leave. This was a guy I had never worked with - didn't even know with the exception of a phone call or two - and he wouldn't leave. 6'4" 225 pound brother carrying a back pack. And no matter how loud I yelled, or even when I called 911, he refused to leave. Instead he say things like "I WANNA SUCK AND FUCK!" or, in a real calm tone, he'd just tell things like "I'm really disappointed in you." Needless to say, 991 was useless, and the cops never even came, and he finally left.

Hmmm. There's a lot of these. I dunno...gimme a few to think here.

Thats some crazy shit right there :thumbsup

What video camera do you use most in your shoots? Is the Panasonic DVX100B a good camera to shoot with or is it overkill?

How to get model releases?

When finding new models how do you start the interaction? Do you do phone interview first? How to go about setting up an interview? Do you have them come to you or do you ask her where she would like to meet/interview? I'm asking this one because I'm sure it is very important to make a new model feel comfortable and just wondering what the best way to do that is?

What do you use for a capture device? Do you just use the camera or do you use a seperate palyback device?

Any suggestions for hardware for someone that is starting out/interested in shooting their own content?

What software do you use for editing? Vegas? Adobe? Other?


I know that I have a lot of questions, but I'm seriously thinking about doing my own thing real soon. Any adice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Bump for Billy

1) I use a GL-2. The only camera I've ever used. I love it.

2) The best model release comes from a lawyer. If you can't afford that, join the FSC, and they'll give you theirs...and finally, if you google "model release" you'll be able to find them.

3) I used to post ads in the Phoenix New Times Weekly. I met them at a public place, I allowed them to bring their boyfriend/friend if they chose to, and I always act in a courteous and professional manner. And I offer fair pay rate. If your motive is to shoot them in a professional way, they'll know. If your motive is to fuck them, they'll know.

4) I use a cheaper camera to cap. No device.

5) I love Canon products. It's like being a Ford or Chevy guy. There's Nikon and Canon people...you know?

6) I use Adobe Premiere. 6.5 and Pro 1.5

Thank you for the reply. Much appreciated :thumbsup

how much does typical "talent" (male and female rates please) make per day and how much video/photo do you take of them?

males -
$100 an hour softcore/stills/solo masturbation.
$150 - $300 for BJ's.
$250 - $1000 for b/g sex.

I'm not quoting gay rates, and since these are LA rates, you might want to deduct 10 - 30% for other places.

females -
$100 an hour (or per set) softcore/stills.
$250 - $300 BJ's
$300 - $700 g/g rates
$600 - $1000 b/g rates (add $100 per dick up to their limit)
$1100 - $1300 anal
$1200 - $1500 DP/Double vag

I'm not going to quote fetish/BDSM stuff, cause I don't know. And again, since these are LA rates, you might want to deduct 10 - 30% for other places.

thanks man, good info!

I'd say that's the best, most accurate breakdown i have ever seen. Some bigger named girls are going over $1000 for BG now! :( They know they are a selling point.

Most guys that are $400 or under ... are not worth your time. They won't get wood or they won't pop. And don't forget the agent fees, people ... that shit adds up quickly and can take a nice chunk out of your budget! Ok that's my :2 cents: Nice read billy!

xoxo,
Megan

Power bottoms....

nice.

Thanks Megan!

Yea, agents typically charge $100 for any act $500 and above, and $50-$75 for anything you book that costs less than $500.

Yeah pimps ... i mean agents suck. Actually i shouldn't say that, there are alot of really good agencys in LA that really help us, make sure the girls are on time etc. But it always seems the bad agents/suitcase pimps stick in my mind!

So who are you shooting today? And what type of scene? BG, GG, BBG, GBG, BG-A, BBG-A, DP, ATM?? I just wanted to see how long i could do that ... i think i could go alot longer, sadly LOL

xoxo,
Megan

Do you freelance or only shoot for your own sites?

Wow, this is a great thread! :thumbsup

Yo Billy, you stated you post ads in the Phoenix New Times Weekly. Is that the newspaper of choice for the metro area of Phoenix? They tell me it's better to post ads in alternative mags? (weekly or monthly ones). Also, when you post your ads. What kind of feedback you get? Lot's of calls? If possible, can I see one of your ads or the words you put in them?

when doing a shoot, do you prefer shooting video or shooting stills?

do you mainly shoot using a single video camera or use 2?

are there times when your not happy with the still photographers work and had to pull screen caps as stills?

I shot a g/g/boy...interracial. I really can't mention who it is, yet...cause the site is still in development.

Sorry!

I have one client, and then I shoot for my own sites. I might take on more work...but I'm not really looking.

I shoot both.

I shoot single camera.

I shoot stills, and nope. So far my stills have made it to the site!

:winkwink:

Not really the newspaper of choice, but any underground/alt paper in any city is a good place to place ads.

I post an ad that says I'm looking for future porn stars, and I will tell you this - state "couples girls only" or every single horny guy in your city is gonna call you, and usually at 3 am.

1/10 calls turn out to be usuable talent.

Maybe.

1/15 more like it...

What do you do when, say, Jeremy Steele is getting his ass eaten out, and "accidentally" blows a fart in the chick's face- who then gets pissed and accuses him of having "just eaten onions"?

pertaining to my last question - you do both vid and stills - when your shooting a scene, when do you shoot the stills, before or after the video? (if your a one man operation) or do you work with a trusted assistant/partner?


:thumbsup

Great question.

I am a one-man operation. Talent likes that, especially the male talent.

I prefer to shoot stills first. I shoot the whole scene up to what I call a "posed" pop. Basically that means the girl(s) is/are on her/their knees, with tounge out, waiting for the pop...IF it's a facial.

If it's a creampie, then the last fuck position.

Then, I put my still camera away and give the talent a 5 minute break. They smoke, pee, and get ready to perform.

Unless it's an anal scene. This is where it can get tricky. Some girls don't mind sticking it in their ass...others, when it's in the ass, it's in the ass...and it's a one-time thing (ie: Spring Thomas). If it's the former, I stick to the plan I just told you about...if it's the latter, I skip the anal pics until we're at that point in the video, and then I snap anal stills.

I used to shoot some stills, then vid, then stills, then vid, then stills...it's really not an efficient way to shoot, for a couple reasons:

1) Stopping and starting doesn't make for good sex

2) More wood problems for the guy

3) Make up. If you want all your stills to have nice make up on the girls, then my way is best.

4) Time. My way is fast and efficient. I can't tell you how many times talent have said they love the way I shoot my stills.

Whew.

That was a long answer.

Someone knows about EatSomeAss.com - even though it isn't live (unless you're a member of Spunkmouth or JOMG.com)

And I have a funny feeling this person already knows the answer.

Seriously, there are times when something embarrassing/awkward happens. Just briefly acknowledge it, say it happens all the time, laugh it off, and keep working.

Hahaha that scene was hilarious. The girl actually grabbed a can of compressed air and blows the dude's cornhole out after the fart- i laughed my ass off with that one.. you gotta see it

EatSomeAss.com is gonna be a great one

Do you ever deal/encounter issues concerning condoms?

Sure. Especially shooting amatuers. Some really won't shoot without them. I have a horror story where a condom broke and the female talent freaked.

And when the HIV thing hit a couple years ago, I was shooting condom again for a spell.

Consumers just don't want to see condoms...especially interracial consumers.

An AIM test is good, but it's not 100% guaranteed.

thanks for your answers billy - :thumbsup

i might as well keep this going :1orglaugh


whats your opinion on shooting stills while video is being shot?

Thnx a milly for the answer... I can tell its an experienced answer too... Thnx! :)