Just read about the latest celebrity who apparently has a sex tape problem. While I couldn't care less about the Hulkster's carnal shenanigans, the article started me wondering about celebrity sex tapes in general. Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian, Gina Lee Nolin, Shauna Sands and many others (you need only look at Vivid's 'Celeb' section to see many more) claimed--more or less--that they were violated, i.e., that their private lives were unduly exposed. But wouldn't Vivid, or any other studio who produced and sold such a tape, have to obtain signed 2257 information (copies of 2 forms of ID) from the 'actresses' in question in case of an FBI raid? Or would the studio simply take the chance that the profits from the video would outweigh any fine and/or sanction that FBI scrutiny would bring?
^The vast majority of celebrities probably never want to see their sex tape released but the problem is that once the tape is in someone else hands then their options tend to be very limited. If you are a huge celebrity with excellent lawyers and a big bank account then the tape is only rumored to exist and never makes it unto the net. If you happen to be someone like Paris or Kim who were not really celebrities until after the sex tape then your bank account is not necessarily very big and your lawyers can't get you out of the clusterfuck you manage to get yourself in. These celebrities choose the cash route as long as they can get believable deniability. That's when the celebrity tells anyone that will listen that they are outraged and will fight to prevent the release of the video. Of course that's an act because they have already signed the release form and know that they will make money from the sale of the video. The studio goes along with the celebrity because they know this is great publicity and that means more profit for everyone invloved. There are some celebrities that actually shop their own sex tape but these celebrities will still play the outrage card because it's now part of the game and they know that they get more money based on the number of tapes sold. Shauna Sand and Tila Tequila are 2 excellent examples of those type of celebrities. Tila shot a video with Kristina Rose so it's not like she didn't know it was going to be released as a sex tape. Courtney Stodden may be the first celebrity to shoot a professional sex tape so don't be surrpise when you hear there's one coming and even less when you see what she does in it.
For some of those "celebs" the "outrage" and saying they don't want the tape to be released interviews are done to get more exposure, airtime and talk about the tape out to the public. If it were only left to the porn company to get the word of the tape out there they wouldn't get as much attention. But having a "celeb" saying they don't want the tape to be made public draws more attention to the tape and gives it that extra forbidden quality of it being something that you were never supposed to have or see.
I agree. It seems more than not that those "Unauthorized" releases of sextapes seem to come either at the time one of them is trying to plug a project or movie or such or if their career seems to be stalling.
I don't think a sex tape can make a career but with the right people it seems like it can enhance it. But then again if you really think about it the only two people who seem to have really benefitted from their sex tapes are Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian....and perhaps Pam Anderson. I think Kim would've still become popular but it would've taken longer without the tape. It seems most of the others made money from selling the tape but it didn't help their fame/popularity in any real way. Amy Fisher made money from her tape and it lead to a porn career but it didn't really effect her fame. Same with Chyna, Shauna Sands, Tila Tequila, Lawerence Fishburn's daughter, Kendra, etc...All made sex tapes and it seems outside the porn world no one really cared. Edited by - draxxx on 3/14/2012 7:43:39 PM
^I agree with you that only Kim and Paris have managed to parlay their sex tape into serious money making businesses but I disagree that Kim would be where she is without that sex tape. I'd even add that neither would Paris. Paris was a socialite that did amazingly studpid things and that got her face in magazine but would she really have been elevated to where she is today without the exposure the tape brought her. It's probably even worse in Kim's case because she was mostly known as paris friend. None of the other celebrities managed to get serious media attention from their tape and none has managed to make their name a huge brand power. Of course money could be the catalyst that seperates Paris and Kim from all the other celebrities with sex tapes. They come from money and that money can open many doors.
You should actually research a guy by the name of Kevin Blatt nowadays in regards to the mechanics behind the "celeb sex tape". An earlier poster was correct - often times the public "outrage" is just a free marketing gimmick. There are VERY FEW sextapes that get released that don't have the primary party's consent. Celeb sextapes in many ways are one of the only lifelines that studios like Vivid have left...
Once a tape comes out those involved have two choices they can either react badly and stop publication but that will expose them to a worldwide free spreading of their video or have an agreement with a company and have the video published properly and protected by copyright laws , maybe it is not much , but at least they can earn money and have some kind of control about what is going on. Also a forbidden copy never lose its valor , a regular movie does , with time nobody will want to see you
It's impossible to prove but I'm pretty sure both both Paris and Kim would've been just as famous without their sex tapes because they already were somewhat famous. Yes, the sex tapes got them lots of attention very quickly but I think Kim in particular would've become just as famous without it. What people don't know or forget is that Paris was already appearing in the tabloids and getting tv coverage and had her reality show all set to go before the tape came out. The reality show got a lot of attention because of the tape but it failed after a big drop in ratings. People's facination with the tape only lasted a very short time. What made Paris' fame last was the attention of who she was dating, having her picture shot at clubs in sexy clothes, and her getting in trouble from time to time. Paris' fame was just like Linsey Lohan's is now. People don't give Linsey the same sort of grieve they give Paris because Linsey was an actress and that makes her "legit" in heir minds but Linsey's overall fame has very little to do with her acting career. I'm not 100% sure of the timeline but I'm pretty sure Kim had the deal to star in her reality show before her sex tape also. Kim was known for being Paris' friend, who she dated and her looks/big booty before the tape and was getting plenty of attention. Again, the tape made more people aware of Kim quickly but her fame is fueled by her reality show, what she's up to, her looks/butt and her endorsement deals. The vast majority of Kims fans have never seen her sex tape and could care less about it. Kim's fame is like Jessica Simpson's when she had her reality show. Jessica was a singer but no one cared about her music they were more interested in what she was up to and how hot she was. The lesson here is a sex tape can get you some attention but after you have it you need something else to offer otherwise there's no need nothing to keep the fame/attention going. Chyna, Tila, Shauna, etc., can all have a sex tape come out every week and it won't help their careers because they don't do anything interesting to keep people drawn in otherwise. The thinking is that once the sex tape happens people just start throwing offers at you because you're suddenly famous but it doesn't work that way. You get and sustain fame by doing things that people are interested in seeing.
I agree with you on that one - I think Montana Fishburne is a good example - she even went as far as to openly admit she was intending on being a "porn star" but he flame fizzled out VERY quickly...
What I've learned from watching a few celeb sextapes is that the celebs should leave the fucking to the pros. Most of them are supershitty lays, and that's including Pam Anderson. Flower Tucci may not be as beautiful as Kim Kardashian, but she can outfuk her by a mile on even her worst day.
It's unrealistic to expect a sex tape by pretty much anyone to look as good as professional porn done by professional pornstars. Even most pornstars wouldn't look that good on film if they weren't professionally lit and posing and playing it up for the camera. Real sex with real people usually isn't that exciting to watch.
I don't think Montana had any real plan to be a porn performer. I think she was either trying to get back at daddy or was trying to make sure that he would take care of her in a finacial way. I guess she won the daddy lotery because she barely made a ripple in the porn pool.
Introducing Lady LorReign
Posted - Mar 13 2012 : 1:10PM