Expert: Jim Boyd - 9/25/2007

Question
I noticed in one of your previous answers that you said the only state where it is legal to shoot adult material is in California. Can I please ask how you came to this conclusion? Is there anywhere I can find more info on the matter?

I would also like to ask your opinion on what is the best way for a start up production company to get a brand new DVD to market? Is there a best way to locate and identify legitimate distributors? Can you recommend any good ones?

I am also looking into web distribution, but I'm a little leery of some of these "We will build and promote your site, Provide your server, Handle your billing, and Pay you a commission" companies, as good as they may sound. What is a safe easy way to get off the ground on the web and make good revenue ASAP? What is the best way for a producer to promote an adult web site?

Thank you so very much for any wisdom you may have to share.

Mike

Answer
Hi Mike,

Rest assured that I did not “come to the conclusion” that it is only legal to shoot adult films in California. That statement is not based on my own opinion or feelings but is simply a FACT OF LAW.

Adult film production is legal in California due to a president 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.

Yes, before you ask, it is true that adult films are being produced in several other states everyday. However, this dose not change the fact that doing so is ILLEGAL in those states and those producers, if caught, may be charged with prostitution, promoting prostitution, and pandering among other things.  Again this is NOT my opinion but a simple FACT OF LAW.

If you have any doubts as to my expertise in these legal issues, please feel free to address your questions to an attorney who specializes in Adult Industry Law. But, be warned. You will be PAYING him/her to repeat the exact same information I just gave you for free.


The best way to get a new DVD to market is to find a good distribution company. It’s relatively easy to recognize a legitimate distribution company. Here are 2 really good methods:

1) The internet: Find one of the thousand or so websites that specialize in the sale of adult films. The majority of the time, information on the production company, director, and distributor can be found somewhere in the films description.

2) In the Movies themselves: Distributors are often listed in the credits, or at the very start of the film. You will also often find their info on the labels or boxes.

I do not give out contact information for these companies on the internet for many reasons. The biggest being that a lot of people read these questions and answers everyday, and I simply can’t have 500 people a day contacting these companies trying to pass off cheesy homemade films as quality productions by saying “Jim Boyd sent me.”


Your questions about websites are a little too complex to answer in this forum. Suffice to say, there are many schools of thought on design, and marketing of an adult web sites. In order to give you the information you need I will require a little more detail such as your planned content and a few other little things.

If you wish, feel free to email me directly and we can make arrangement to discuss these questions in more detail and in a more direct manor.

Jim