Expert: Jim Boyd - 5/29/2008

Question
Jim,

My father in-law has an amazing house in Orlando, Fl that he's upside down in and having a hard time selling due to the slowing housing market. He is desperate to offset his mortgage with some additional income so he'd like to make the house available for video and photo shoots.  What is the best way to market the place and what sort of rates are typically paid for a location?  Are there any legal issues we should be aware of?

Thanks

Answer
Actually there are a number of legal issues. The fist and foremost being that it is actually ILLEGAL to produce Adult Material in the State of Florida. The companies that produce such material in that area are doing so contrary to the law and could very well be arrested and charged with a variety of offences.

By knowingly renting out your father in-laws house for such productions, you (and your father in-law)could very well be considered as accessories and face the same charges as those who rented the house for the illegal activity. Meaning you/he could also be arrested and face charges related to pandering and prostitution.

California is the ONLY place in the United State where productions of this type are actually legal. Adult film production is legal in California due to a precedent created by a 1988 decision of the California Supreme Court (California vs. Freeman). As a result of that decision, California became the FIRST AND ONLY state where a person can be legally hired to have sex for the purpose of making adult films. However, producers are still required to obtain permits before starting any such production. NO OTHER STATE HAS SUCH A PRECEDENT therefore production in any other State is, and will remain, ILLEGAL!