September 20, 2007

Do Gay Porn Studios Exploit Models?

Thirteen minutes after receiving a press release from Dark Alley Media promoting their new movie "Passio" which mocks the crucifixion of Jesus, I received another email from "Former Adult Film Star Tony Bishop", who from last I heard, also works for Dark Alley Media.

The entire text of Tony's email is after the jump, but in essence, he is making a statement that the untimely demise of Danny Roddick last week was the fault of the companies in the gay porn industry "... that preys (on) the unsuspecting, overly optimistic, insecure, and emotionally distressed young men who get into the gay adult film industry - chattel, essentially subjugated to indentured servitude for the explicit gain of the studio. "

So, is he saying, Danny Roddick died for our sins?? Someone please tell me those two emails are not connected...

Danny Roddick was old enough to vote, drink, serve in Iraq, and sign legal contracts. He was paid to work a certain number of hours over a certain length of time, which over the course of a year, probably amounts to less than two weeks if he were a 9 to 5'er. From what I heard, he did not die on set or in the office of a studio, therefore he was on his own time.

Did the studios exploit him by putting out a press release that also promoted movies in which he appeared? You'll have to ask Miss Manners about the proper etiquette on such an occasion. I'm sure Emily Post has written something, too.

When Andy Dill died last year I was one of the first to know because he was my neighbor. While I debated the possible exploitation of a tragedy by spreading gossip, I started to receive press releases about it from other sources, so I finally put in my two cents. Even after careful thought and consideration, I still got negative comments for doing it.

Let's keep one thing in perspective. The entertainment industry, whether it's music, sports, films or porn, is built on hype and flash. Again, I am not going to speculate about what happened to Danny Roddick, but I think you only have to look at Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears to get a clue. Is Britney's record company at fault? Is Lindsey's director at fault? I don't know, but if you know it's a dirty business that could lead you astray, you shouldn't be in it.

Regarding the show business hype machine, a wise wizard once said, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." If you knew how hot dogs were actually made, you'd never eat one again. The same with porn. Some people can handle it, some can't.

I don't think this is the time for Sally Field to stand on a table with sign that says, "Union", but click CONTINUE to read what Tony Bishop has to say. He asks for your comments, so please do so here.

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Studio Thumb's Push the Plunger:

On Thursday September 13, 2007 I lost another comrade; Danny Roddick, a friend - pushed to the extremes of unconsciousness by another studio thumb pushing the plunger down - never to awaken again. May he now have peace??

In the week since Danny left us I am more convinced than ever that this should never have happened. Not to him or to any of the many others who were driven to similar extremes as a result of the often reckless behavior and overreaching demands of the gay adult film studios. I know from my 5 years experience in the industry that COLT is not the only studio out there that preys the unsuspecting, overly optimistic, insecure, and emotionally distressed young men who get into the gay adult film industry - chattel, essentially subjugated to indentured servitude for the explicit gain of the studio. This was the evolving nature of Danny's exclusive contracted relationship to his studios, COLT Studio Group and AMG.

Does there need to be more bloodshed? How many more deaths is it going to take before the studios wake up and do something - one, ten, a hundred, a thousand? And by do something I mean do something constructive to help curb this awesome and grotesque trend. Not, in Danny's case, a one-off contribution to a charitable organization to save studio face with consumers, pacify their guilt, or use a globally circulated obituary to publicize films in such a way that it only looks to serve the studio. Look at all the great work he did for us now check them out and buy a few. Lasting memories of a fallen soul - get them now their going to go fast. How fucking disgusting of COLT & AMG!

I know that the studios chew guys up and spit them out because they are only looking for the next best thing, the new shiny face, and an even bigger cock that will sell. When it stops selling, it's on to the next herd of chattel and the studio cycle repeats itself again, like a broken record.

In an industry worth billions upon billions of dollars, why are the studios not doing more? Exactly that, it's the money. It would mean less of it that they would have to push into their ever growing and greedy pockets. We put our flesh, blood, tears, physical and mental health, personal relationships, overall well being on the line for the studios because you can't work if you won't put it all on the line for them.
And at the end of the day we are a more fragile people. We too have hearts, minds and emotions. So give something back. Back the public, back to our communities, be a corporate citizen for a change.

Studios need to wake up and face the facts that with a few preemptive measures on their part, tragedies like Danny's can be avoided. And should be avoided!! There is no reason it can not be. It could be as simple as adding a targeted message addressing the systemic, if not an epidemic rise of substance abuse in the community and where to go to seek help. Studios should be actively sponsoring public health and mental health events and organizations that specifically help performers in the sex trade industry like St.
James Infirmary. Other organizations, like the one COLT has conceded to donating proceeds from some of Danny's films to are not good enough.

They are designed to help the general population and have little if any of the skill necessary to help with the specific issues garnering performers in the sex trade industry.

Now - stop spending it all on just sponsoring or throwing the next big circuit party - encouraging more abuse. Stop playing with people’s lives and do something that will actually help our community so tragedies like Danny's may be avoided altogether.

Thank you Danny, for sharing a part of you with me in the time you had
- A bright and giving spirit. I wish it was more. You are missed by all whom you touched. Be at peace my friend.

I welcome each and every one of your replies and or comments with in regards to what I have written.

Former adult film star: Tony Bishop
New York City, NY

Posted by lavenderlounge at 4:40 PM

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Posted by: markadamsvidioview at September 21, 2007 6:43 AM

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