Shooting Adult Videos

[chingon7]

I been wanting to get some info on how to start shooting adult videos. I obviously dont know alot about the business and want to learn more. I know there is alot of legal matter and the last thing i want to happen is to get sued.

First of all how much money do you think it takes to get started let's say shooting the 1 scene?

Of course there is cameras, booking locations, booking models how much would that add up to. And of course there is editing and production.

Does anybody have info on top agencies were i can book adult stars?

The only one that i know is LA Direct Models but i am pretty sure there are many more.

I am sure there is alot more stuff that i am missing any info would great.

 

[Vanessa_Blue]

Before you start you should really get the legal issues out of the way first...

My guy is a lawyer in the industry and has a website for people looking to start their own production companies.

He reps a lot of the pornstars, production companies and web companies.

www.AdultBizLaw.com

He works with a lot of newbies as well.

Good-luck, its not an easy business any more.

Kisses
VB

 

[Nina_Mercedez]

I am not sure if there is hope in DVD anymore now big companies and small ons like me are realizing going straight to the web is the best thing.
Legal matters out of the way first are good, you will need to have a distributor lined up before you shoot anything IMO. Without someone interested in pushing your product shooting is useless. And the wrong distributor will lose you money.
To shoot one scene the cost will vary depending on if your shooting big names or just shooting anyone if your shooting names say Voodoo and Gianna Lynn it will cost around 2200. for that one scene.
Production Assistant 1000.
Locations will run around 500.-1200. Plus for the day
License to shoot a porn 300. a day (I think)
Lunch is about 500. depending on the size of the crew
Camera guy and camera 500.-1000. plus depending the camera guy will also charge you a fee if you don't own your own camera
Still Photographer 500.
Booking fee's run 50.-100. per person
Editing 1500. -2000. plus any soundtrack cost say (100.)
Replication min. 2000 pieces cost 1700.
boxcovers (sleeves) 3000. min order 400.
Boxcover Art 400.-1000. depending on artist

These are the cost as I remember them. I shot 4 movies and found it more profitable to go directly to the web!
and these are just the things I could think of don't be like Pulpo inc. and not educate yourself in the cost and end up bankrupt! It happens all the time! They still have not paid me for my role in Dirty Queen!:fight:

use www.thefloatingworld.com for agency numbers and stuff they are good!

Good luck!!

 

[gunslingingbird]

Before you start you should really get the legal issues out of the way first...

My guy is a lawyer in the industry and has a website for people looking to start their own production companies.

He reps a lot of the pornstars, production companies and web companies.

www.AdultBizLaw.com

He works with a lot of newbies as well.

Good-luck, its not an easy business any more.

Kisses
VB

I am not sure if there is hope in DVD anymore now big companies and small ons like me are realizing going straight to the web is the best thing.
Legal matters out of the way first are good, you will need to have a distributor lined up before you shoot anything IMO. Without someone interested in pushing your product shooting is useless. And the wrong distributor will lose you money.
To shoot one scene the cost will vary depending on if your shooting big names or just shooting anyone if your shooting names say Voodoo and Gianna Lynn it will cost around 2200. for that one scene.
Production Assistant 1000.
Locations will run around 500.-1200. Plus for the day
License to shoot a porn 300. a day (I think)
Lunch is about 500. depending on the size of the crew
Camera guy and camera 500.-1000. plus depending the camera guy will also charge you a fee if you don't own your own camera
Still Photographer 500.
Booking fee's run 50.-100. per person
Editing 1500. -2000. plus any soundtrack cost say (100.)
Replication min. 2000 pieces cost 1700.
boxcovers (sleeves) 3000. min order 400.
Boxcover Art 400.-1000. depending on artist

These are the cost as I remember them. I shot 4 movies and found it more profitable to go directly to the web!
and these are just the things I could think of don't be like Pulpo inc. and not educate yourself in the cost and end up bankrupt! It happens all the time! They still have not paid me for my role in Dirty Queen!:fight:

use www.thefloatingworld.com for agency numbers and stuff they are good!

Good luck!!

^ & ^^ What they said. :thumbsup:

 

[raven_azrael]

Wow.. I knew it was not cheap, but didnpt think it was that expensive...I was thinking on moving to LA and trying, but it may be difficult...

 

[chingon7]

I am not sure if there is hope in DVD anymore now big companies and small ons like me are realizing going straight to the web is the best thing.
Legal matters out of the way first are good, you will need to have a distributor lined up before you shoot anything IMO. Without someone interested in pushing your product shooting is useless. And the wrong distributor will lose you money.
To shoot one scene the cost will vary depending on if your shooting big names or just shooting anyone if your shooting names say Voodoo and Gianna Lynn it will cost around 2200. for that one scene.
Production Assistant 1000.
Locations will run around 500.-1200. Plus for the day
License to shoot a porn 300. a day (I think)
Lunch is about 500. depending on the size of the crew
Camera guy and camera 500.-1000. plus depending the camera guy will also charge you a fee if you don't own your own camera
Still Photographer 500.
Booking fee's run 50.-100. per person
Editing 1500. -2000. plus any soundtrack cost say (100.)
Replication min. 2000 pieces cost 1700.
boxcovers (sleeves) 3000. min order 400.
Boxcover Art 400.-1000. depending on artist

These are the cost as I remember them. I shot 4 movies and found it more profitable to go directly to the web!
and these are just the things I could think of don't be like Pulpo inc. and not educate yourself in the cost and end up bankrupt! It happens all the time! They still have not paid me for my role in Dirty Queen!:fight:

use www.thefloatingworld.com for agency numbers and stuff they are good!

Good luck!!

Thanks Nina that was some great info. Yeah thats what i was thinking going straight to the website. Thanks for the help.

 

[Marlo Manson]

Its allot easier than what the previous posters told you. trust me.. all you have too do is take out your Adult video collection, neatly line them up, vertically of course, if you line them up horrizontally it would be a very difficult shot if your not very good @ shooting. then walk away from your target to whatever your desired distance might be, then safely load your firearm.. and then have @ it. :rofl2: sorry. I couldn't resist. but I do wish you goodluck with your plans.. :hatsoff:

 

[Vanessa_Blue]

I have heard my guy tell clients that if you want to start an exclusive membership website, be ready to invest $100,000+ before you see a dime in income.

You will need a minimum of 20 scenes to start which will cost you about $3000 per scene, as well as webdesign, legal, SEO and advertising.

Good-luck

Kisses
VB

www.VanessaBlue.com
www.AdultStarsLive.com

 

[Sicario]

I been wanting to get some info on how to start shooting adult videos. I obviously don't know a lot about the business and want to learn more. I know there is a lot of legal matter and the last thing i want to happen is to get sued.

First of all how much money do you think it takes to get started let's say shooting the 1 scene?

Of course there is cameras, booking locations, booking models how much would that add up to. And of course there is editing and production.

Does anybody have info on top agencies were i can book adult stars?

The only one that i know is LA Direct Models but i am pretty sure there are many more.

I am sure there is a lot more stuff that i am missing any info would great.

What genre do you want to shoot? Do you have any experience with video and digital cameras? Can you edit? There are a lot of sharks, scammers, and hustlers in the LA porn biz. If you have a super fresh idea for adult video, I would suggest that you market it on the web and forget about going DVD. You'll never see ROI. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of websites featuring the same porn stars doing the same thing. If you can recruit fresh new talent within a new genre, then you can have an edge over the competition.

Good luck amigo.

 

[Nina_Mercedez]

I have heard my guy tell clients that if you want to start an exclusive membership website, be ready to invest $100,000+ before you see a dime in income.

You will need a minimum of 20 scenes to start which will cost you about $3000 per scene, as well as webdesign, legal, SEO and advertising.

Good-luck

Kisses
VB

www.VanessaBlue.com
www.AdultStarsLive.com

What Vanessa says is true if you are starting with your own exclusive content. But if you look on webmaster boards and go to webmaster conventions you'll find alot of webmasters who had a site that failed and they are selling all their content cheap just to make some type of money back. Although the content is not exclusive it is still good content I buy it all the time. A webdesign like www.SophiaSanti.com will run around 3000. and something like www.heartbreakerfilms.com will cost almost 10,000. keep that in mind also. To cut down on cost I suggest you learn how to shoot yourself and pick up some books on Dreamweaver and Photoshop and learn about design it is not easy but it can be done. Also learn about SEO (search Engine Optimization) and get informed on Affiliate Programs very important something alot of webmasters forget! Ray is all self taught it has taken him years but he does it all himself from shooting to editing he does it all.
Good Luck!

 

[historylover]

Ladies, I'm happy that someone took this question seriously. It seems like whenever anyone asks a question such as this here, they get "beat down" for "being a noobie.".

I especially appreciate Mrs. Mercedez sharing the surprisingly (to me) staggering costs associated with shooting porn for DVD.

I think that people like myself assume that shooting is relatively easy, given that we have a woman willing and are adept at camera operation. But, everything that we cannot do for whatever reason has to be done by another and they'll likely charge a high rate.

I'd like to write and direct adult movies myself, but I believe that I'll have better luck producing non-adult screenplays. I want as well to go the Internet route, but obtaining willing talent becomes the issue.

On a final note, a saying keeps popping into my head whenever I deal mentally with cinema (non/adult): the right script/idea will bring people to YOU.

 

[chingon7]

What Vanessa says is true if you are starting with your own exclusive content. But if you look on webmaster boards and go to webmaster conventions you'll find alot of webmasters who had a site that failed and they are selling all their content cheap just to make some type of money back. Although the content is not exclusive it is still good content I buy it all the time. A webdesign like www.SophiaSanti.com will run around 3000. and something like www.heartbreakerfilms.com will cost almost 10,000. keep that in mind also. To cut down on cost I suggest you learn how to shoot yourself and pick up some books on Dreamweaver and Photoshop and learn about design it is not easy but it can be done. Also learn about SEO (search Engine Optimization) and get informed on Affiliate Programs very important something alot of webmasters forget! Ray is all self taught it has taken him years but he does it all himself from shooting to editing he does it all.
Good Luck!

I went to school and graduated with a degree in CIS so i am familiar with dreamweaver and photoshop as of right i am trying to learn all that i can about shooting and editing i have a friend that graduated with a degree in communications so i am learning from him. Thanks Nina And Vanessa for everything this is some useful information.

 

[chingon7]

What Vanessa says is true if you are starting with your own exclusive content. But if you look on webmaster boards and go to webmaster conventions you'll find alot of webmasters who had a site that failed and they are selling all their content cheap just to make some type of money back. Although the content is not exclusive it is still good content I buy it all the time. A webdesign like www.SophiaSanti.com will run around 3000. and something like www.heartbreakerfilms.com will cost almost 10,000. keep that in mind also. To cut down on cost I suggest you learn how to shoot yourself and pick up some books on Dreamweaver and Photoshop and learn about design it is not easy but it can be done. Also learn about SEO (search Engine Optimization) and get informed on Affiliate Programs very important something alot of webmasters forget! Ray is all self taught it has taken him years but he does it all himself from shooting to editing he does it all.
Good Luck!

Nina do you have info on some webmaster boards and conventions?

 

[Vanessa_Blue]

There is a convention coming up in beginning of June -- XBiz in Las Vegas. I and Michael will be there. There is one in August in Florida -- Internext. I am pretty sure Michael will be there.

As for Boards -- www.*******, www.justblowme.com and www.oprano.com are three good ones to start with.

Again, good-luck.

Kisses
VB

www.VanessaBlue.com
www.FemDomX.com
www.AdultStarsLive.com

 

[porno dan]

I am not sure if there is hope in DVD anymore now big companies and small ons like me are realizing going straight to the web is the best thing.
Legal matters out of the way first are good, you will need to have a distributor lined up before you shoot anything IMO. Without someone interested in pushing your product shooting is useless. And the wrong distributor will lose you money.
To shoot one scene the cost will vary depending on if your shooting big names or just shooting anyone if your shooting names say Voodoo and Gianna Lynn it will cost around 2200. for that one scene.
Production Assistant 1000.
Locations will run around 500.-1200. Plus for the day
License to shoot a porn 300. a day (I think)
Lunch is about 500. depending on the size of the crew
Camera guy and camera 500.-1000. plus depending the camera guy will also charge you a fee if you don't own your own camera
Still Photographer 500.
Booking fee's run 50.-100. per person
Editing 1500. -2000. plus any soundtrack cost say (100.)
Replication min. 2000 pieces cost 1700.
boxcovers (sleeves) 3000. min order 400.
Boxcover Art 400.-1000. depending on artist

These are the cost as I remember them. I shot 4 movies and found it more profitable to go directly to the web!
and these are just the things I could think of don't be like Pulpo inc. and not educate yourself in the cost and end up bankrupt! It happens all the time! They still have not paid me for my role in Dirty Queen!:fight:

use www.thefloatingworld.com for agency numbers and stuff they are good!

Good luck!!

I produce at least 4 titles a month out here in Porn Valley, these are my current numbers

Top female talent via Gold Star Modeling, Type 9 Models, or LA Direct $800-1,000 per scene plus $100 booking fee each
Male Talent $300-$500 per scene
Location $500 per day
Top Director $1,000 per day
Top stills guy $600
Make-up artist $350
Production Assitant $200
Food and Misc $200
Top editors $300 per scene
Top Box Cover Design $500
Replication for 2,000 units x $.55 each for DVD 9's with clear cases $1,100
Printing for 2,000 covers x $.08 $160

Things you need to have in place before you spend a penny

High traffic subscription based cash program
A Video on Demand deal,
A very strong DVD deal with a top distributor

I hope this helps

 

[DOA82]

Why does every guy who filmed his girlfriend sucking his dick with his cybershot camera phone think he has what it takes to film a porno...

 

[historylover]

I have a question for those with the numbers who have produced: at these seemingly staggering costs, how does anyone make a profit? Mrs. Mercedez? Immoral Productions? Intuitively, I'm thinking that the Internet must drastically reduce cost structures, but most mentioned costs are still variable costs, so how can they be spread over high volumes?

Thanks in advance for any and all answers.

 

[Nina_Mercedez]

I have a question for those with the numbers who have produced: at these seemingly staggering costs, how does anyone make a profit? Mrs. Mercedez? Immoral Productions? Intuitively, I'm thinking that the Internet must drastically reduce cost structures, but most mentioned costs are still variable costs, so how can they be spread over high volumes?

Thanks in advance for any and all answers.

Well lets just say I poured almost 100K of my own money into 4 movies and just made my money back and didn't profit. I got into it at the wrong time DVD sales are on a constant decline, I am now recouping my money through www.heartbreakerfilms.com and Hustler was distributing my movies if that tells you anything. They are a big distributor my movies got alot of nominations and won a few awards but the adult buisness is moving to the web. Tube sites are also to blame of the decline in DVD sales.

 

[Nina_Mercedez]

There is a convention coming up in beginning of June -- XBiz in Las Vegas. I and Michael will be there. There is one in August in Florida -- Internext. I am pretty sure Michael will be there.

As for Boards -- www.*******, www.justblowme.com and www.oprano.com are three good ones to start with.

Again, good-luck.

Kisses
VB

www.VanessaBlue.com
www.FemDomX.com
www.AdultStarsLive.com

what Vanessa said..she is the best!

 

[porno dan]

I have a question for those with the numbers who have produced: at these seemingly staggering costs, how does anyone make a profit? Mrs. Mercedez? Immoral Productions? Intuitively, I'm thinking that the Internet must drastically reduce cost structures, but most mentioned costs are still variable costs, so how can they be spread over high volumes?

Thanks in advance for any and all answers.

DVD sales are a supplement to our core business model which is via the internet.

Our three main online revenue streams

1. Subscription based sites
2. Live Broadcasts of our shoots
3. Video on Demand

In addition we have broadcast, foreign distribution, and cable deals.