will all be doing interracial scenes in the near future
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivid_Entertainment
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dogdays Deactivated User
66 Posts 8/05
Posted - Jun 3 2006 : 7:02PM
Vivid has drawn some criticism for the lack of racial diversity among their performers. Nearly all of the male actors in their sex scenes are white; in contrast, many other porn companies (or at least, those that do not "specialize" in one ethnicity) frequently use, at a minimum, both black and white male actors. Vivid has produced some scenes featuring a black woman having sex with a white woman or a black woman having sex with a white man, and even fewer with a black man having sex with a white woman. In a surprising turnaround in 2005, Vivid reversed its interracial policy by releasing a groundbreaking scene with superstar Janine Lindemulder and two black men in Janine's Been Black Maled. This trend will continue in 2006 and beyond with additional episodes in the continuing series such as Savanna's Been Black Maled, Cassidey's Been Black Maled, Monique's Been Black Maled, Stefani's Been Black Maled and Lacey's Been Black Maled.
Cassidey's already done IR before her Vivid stint, but I wouldn't mind seeing more. I also can't wait to see Savanna, Lacey, and Monique getting Black Maled!
I've closely followed Vivid's changing corporate policies over the last year, and as suggested by some other posts their motivation is most likely money-driven.
BTW, Vivid released their Janine IR sexvid only-after Janine had performed in an IR scene for Digital Playground (which was many months after Janine had done her Vivid IR work, which was sitting on the shelf). Some people question if Vivid would have ever released their Janine IR video if it wasn't for the pressure to beat DP with the "first" Janine IR sex scenes. In fact, Janine claims in interviews that she "demanded" that Vivid film an IR scene with her and black men, because she thought it would add to her sex appeal. She says they were very reluctant.
Since both the Digital Playground and Vivid Janine IR product sold very well, Vivid began (late last summer) re-negotiating all of their Vivid Girl contracts to stipulate IR work. Maybe because of this change in policy (which also included condoms-optional, anal scenes and "harder" b/g sex) there was an "exodus" of Vivid Girls beginning in the summer of 2005. Of the departed Vivid Girls those publicly citing Vivid's changing policies as reasons for not re-signing are (Nina) Mercedez and Lexie Marie. Sunrise Adams, Tawny Roberts and Kira Kener also left about this same time, but didn't cite Vivid's harder-sex and IR policies as reasons.
The Vivid Girl "hold-overs" are: Briana Banks, Savanna Samson, and Monique Alexander, all of whom will do anal and IR scenes. Also all of the new, Class of 2006, Vivid Girls will do anal/IR.
In addition to the above, Vivid is also introducing a new product line, "Vivid Alt," to allow them to take advantage of even harder sex markets...with non-Vivid Girl performers.
We'll see if Vivid can pull themselves out of that giant whole they've been digging themselves into. I can't wait until Stfani Morgan hits her stride. Because right now she is hot, but less then impressive.
I find it kind of odd that people complain about the lack of black male performers in Vivid product, but not the lack of caucasian male performers in the output of Black Ice or WCP (for example).
I know interracial is a big market (I run a site, IR Lodge , that is 100% dedicated to it), but I don't feel put out if Vivid or Wicked decide that white males/couples is the main audience they want to shoot for. There's a big market for white-on-white stuff (or 'vanilla porn' as some folk choose to derogatorily refer to it) too, just as there is a big market for interracial. I'm not about to label Vivid racist any more than I'm about to level the same accusation at Black Ice.
I think it's great that Janine wanted to do an IR scene, but if Steve Hirsch had turned around and said to her 'Well, that's not the market we're catering to, so I don't want to shoot it', I wouldn't be protesting too loudly. I guess the long and short of it is that I don't feel any company has any sort of 'social responsibility' to shoot any type of porn to make up the numbers. Affirmative action has never been anything but straight bullshit, whichever industry it's been in.
While I hear what you're saying, my point is to always let the girl choose who she wants to work with--in hope that she'll give a better performance if she's "interested" in the guy, and becomes more engaged in her work.
What bothers me about what Vivid "seems" to be doing is, first dictating "no" black males, then "you must work with black males"--in both cases because it serves their economic benefit.
IMO, porn has become so mechanical in the last few years precisely because the production companies cater to what they "think" the audience wants--not what the performers want. And, (again my opinion) what the audience wants to see a hot performance...which I believe is more likely to happen if the performers have more control over who they work with, and the action they perform.
Bottom line for me: Vivid is forcing (or at least attempting to force) their girls to work or NOT work with certain people. (And, I could also bring up Vivid pushing their girls to work with Rocco Siffredi, which sometimes produced disasterous results--but that's another thread.)
There is a slight difference there though. If you take a look at Black Ice website and compare it to Third Degree Films website, you'll notice that they both have the same layout. Which leads me to believe that like RLD & PXP they are one major company split into two smaller ones or vice versa. The only difference is 3DF is more of a mixture of all races but mainly white, spanish, european. Where as Black Ice hence the name "Black" Ice is geared towards black sex stuff. They also have quite a few Interracial titles there, though not many with white men.
The difference with Vivid is they don't have 2 subsidiary companies(1 for all sex and 1 for IR sex) under one main company. They are just Vivid. And for them to be one of the biggest most talked about companies in this industry, you would think they would try to cater to the wants of the fans and their employees. Also for the most part they work with nothing but contract stars. If a girl wants to do IR and Vivid says no then they are stuck with no IR, because they are under contract. However if they were not under contract and Vivid said no then they could just go elsewhere and do it. That's the differnce. Forcing company beliefs and policies on the girls. Now I in know way shape or form actually know what the true agenda is for Vivid or the full story. But to say that IR is almost non exsistent in that company is an understatement.
Terms like "dictating" or "forcing" are totally out of place.
Vivid makes the girls an offer for a contract. And the girls are free to sign or not. There isn't an IR clause hidden in a long contract nobody with a degree in law understands. Vivid is totally open about its new IR policy. And of course its all about their economic benefit. Just like at any company.
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ArinsystmaticX Deactivated User
1968 Posts 12/05
Posted - Jun 4 2006 : 10:12PM
Well don't forget guys, they've also contracted Sunny Leone...an East Indian girl.
Did I read somebody comparing a Vivid contract to slavery?
Are you telling me you think it's a right for people to make a lot of money doing whatever the fuck they want to do? Because you're confusing economic duress with something else. I would hardly call the opportunity to make a lot of money economic duress. If they feel like they are entitled to that money... I got news for you.
It just takes a lot of extra planning to fit all the scenes into a tight production schedule. The scenes are specific to each movie (at least for these features) because they have to fit in with their storylines. So, for example, on one day we might shoot scene 2 of the first movie and scene 1 and 5 for the second movie.
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the unknown pervert Deactivated User
I'd like to stay but I've got a plane to catch. 3243 Posts 5/06
Posted - Jun 5 2006 : 3:23AM
Midtown Deactivated User
299 Posts 7/05
Posted - Jun 5 2006 : 4:01AM
And why exactly is it necessary for Vivid to force white female performers to do scenes with black men?
Man, one of these days, these actors are going to catch a clue and unionize, grab themselves some rights (and some royalties to boot).
Sydnee Steele, Savanna Samson or None. 275 Posts 12/05
Posted - Jun 5 2006 : 11:21AM
The free will vs. coercion issue in porn is a thorny one. I would refer people to recent ADT thread on Devon's contractual issues with DP. Suffice it to say that not all contracts are mutually beneficial to both parties. And coercion can be very subtle--like the trade marking of a performers name.
In terms of racial diversity it is not just a quantitive issue of using non-white actors, but a qualitative one. How are non white performers used? My fear is that Vivid's Black maled series and IR as an entire genre create a symbolic ghetto.
what I would like to know is who submitted that inf. to wikipedia Cuz there is no Official Statements from Vivid Anywhere about this and I am sure AVN would have of had this news before wikipedia Would ever have of .
This doesn't fit into this discussion. Digital Playground gives the girls long contracts to sign. And when the contract is up the girls realize they have lost their name. Vivid tells the girls beforehand if you want to continue to work for us you have to do IR.
Vivid video get's no love, their girls no sympathy. They are a money machine, with corporate contracts with major cable providers and hotel chains. For many years Vivid engaged in Jim Crow arm twisting to keep it's product entirely free of Black male/white female penetration. They did this based on two motivations:
1) The inherent prejudices of the white males running the company.
2) The FALSE perception that interracial sex with white women is not marketable.
Now that they have no leg to stand on for number 2, they are forced to swallow their pride on number 1 for the benefit of the profit margin. Vivid has stockholders, people. Stockholders don't care about Black and white, they care about green.
I for one am glad to see the Great Wall of Bigots finally starting to crumble. I am further glad to see people like Mercedez (who isn't even white) and Devon getting their just desserts for the racism they aspouse. People should not be deciding who to fuck based on what color they are in the 21st century.
whoa, wait a minute. i signed my first contract in june 05, then renegotiated in march 06 because i wanted a new deal to benefit me more. i am not forced to do ir or anal. anal is in my contract, and i have planned on doing it. ir is something that has never even been brought to me by anyone in the company. the girls aren't forced to do anything.
well former vivid girl lexie marie said vivid did'nt offer her a new contract because she did'nt want to do anal and interracial. all vivid girls have to do anal now it's new company policy, monique alexander is now doing anal and lacie heart and tiffany taylor.vivid won't give contracts to girls who don't do anal now.
well, i won't say anything about that issue, it isn't my place.
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DanJustice Deactivated User
29 Posts 7/06
Posted - Jul 15 2006 : 9:13AM
I had to say who appears to be the best company out there at taking care of there girls it would be Wicked pictures. You dont see them pushing there girls to do scenes they dont want to do. You dont see them triing to copyright their performers names. They would have more reason to copyright contract stars names then any company. Could you imagian if they would have copyrighted Jenna Jameson name. They dont seem to be using the guys that are doing gay/tranny films amnd urging there girls to do noncondom scenes with them. So ya Id say that if a girl is looking for a contract Wicked would be the one
Well if you want my opinion i will say its about time !!!
Im glad to see vivid going anal and such, i mean if the big feature compagny known as the softest compagny get a turn like that, i think its a big step for us Viewers. Girls like Lexie that don't want to do anal can always go elsewhere without any probleme, don't forget krystal steal before being a clun jenna girls did some movies for Jules Jordan who is know for the Gonzo style, doing anal, swallowing series and such, but Krystal could perform for him whitout doing these things, so girl can always get a movie contract here and there. Vivid was just know as the "heaven of pornstar" if a girl was a choosen one and was able to get signed by vivid, then she could do the "good life" , times just changes.
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Jedi Porn Deactivated User
Baltimore,MD 92 Posts 9/05
Posted - Jul 15 2006 : 11:19PM
Ok Jenna I like to ask you a question, how do you feel about the impact Interracial porn, and the new Blackmailed series?
That's not Jenna. To the best of my knowledge, James Jameson is just a fan, not an industry insider of any kind.
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myadultgroups Deactivated User
Los Angeles 755 Posts 10/04
Posted - Jul 15 2006 : 11:41PM
There was another reason why Lexie Marie's Vivid contract was not renewed, but I won't hash it out here.
Tawny Roberts was also let go for another reason, not because of her refusal to perform certain acts. She pissed off someone at very important at Vivid.
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matricks Deactivated User
australia 136 Posts 5/06
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 12:11AM
I totally agree with you dude. MERCEDES is a dark skinned LATINA girl but her attitude has left me perplexed. She acts like a girl from the backwoods of VIRGINIA or some of those places. I have arready said enough about DEVON,and won't say any more. Its best to leave these stuck up girls alone and focus on the ones who are open minded. The stuck up girls will eventually get their KHAMA and they will get no sympathy from this end.
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matricks Deactivated User
australia 136 Posts 5/06
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 12:16AM
If I were you^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I would not even bother asking JennaJ a question like that. You need to do a bit more research about certain people before you ask them such questions about that IR word.
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matricks Deactivated User
australia 136 Posts 5/06
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 12:28AM
Well I gues they can find a new home at DIGITAL PLAYFROUND. The company does use black girls on some occasion and pairs them up with white dudes,but they almost never hire black dudes. The only time they used black dudes was in that propaganda film Mrs.Behavin. It was easier for them to let a fading performer do IR,but they won't let their young stars do it. Even though I'm a fan of both IR and non IR, I despise certain companies who play dirty politics.
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the unknown pervert Deactivated User
I'd like to stay but I've got a plane to catch. 3243 Posts 5/06
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 2:01AM
Sigh, can someone create a head beating against a wall smiley icon so that when these threads take a turn to an interracial debate I am at least prepared.
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myadultgroups Deactivated User
Los Angeles 755 Posts 10/04
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 2:12AM
Good idea!
Vivid is going in a new direction and the business is changing. They have to have employees that fulfill that mission, so certain girls had to go. In some cases, a particular girl's behavior had something to do with the dismissal.
Choosing to shoot interracial is the choice of the girls so don't blame Digital Playground for not shooting them. Girls get to choose which guys they want to shoot with. If they want it, that's their option. Janine wanted to do one so Digital Playground allowed it. If all Vivid girls want to do it, good for them.
The truth is there are goods and bads with every company you sign with and it's all about which company fits you the best. There are plenty of reasons if I was an up and coming girl why Wicked might be a bad fit. And if it isn't obvious, there are plenty of reasons girls would sign with Digital Playground because of its marketing power. It's all about what you want in being a contract girl.
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DanJustice Deactivated User
29 Posts 7/06
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 8:02AM
you honest think DP's marketing of girls is so much than anyones else? I dont think Stormy would say she has not been marketed well by Wicked.
This topic reminds me of Marlboro experiment with classy cigarette packages instead of classic "cowboy style" ones. It sucks! One of the oldest rules in any business is not to change something that works fine. I don't miss anal at all and I don't want Vivid to push the stars to do what they don't want to do. No sane person wants it.
I like Vivid films. There is no reason why there should not be black guys in them bud at the same time I can see no reason for this "blackmailed" series. It sounds almost racist to me....
The speculation about Vivid's policies, coercion, and racism are off base. I'm a new director for Vivid doing a reality porn series (Chemistry) and a sex ed series (released under the new line Vivid-Ed). When I pitched the series to Vivid, I pitched it with racially diverse casting, which is what I want to see more of in porn. NOT Interracial, but a multi-racial cast of people having sex with one another. So I disagree that all Vivid is doing is ghetto-izing their IR scenes in the Blackmaled series.
Cool. I just hate that "blackmailed" thing. It sounds like one of those "ghetto nigga fuckin' classy downtown chick" bullshit. I'm definitely looking forward to see "multi-racial cast of people having sex with one another".
Hookup Hotshot: Internet Sex Addicts 11 - review by Captain Jack
Posted - Jun 3 2006 : 6:55PM
