Expert: Jim Boyd - 10/23/2007

Question
Jim,

Some guys on here recommend sites like adutstaffing and craigslist as a means to find talent. I have tried both of these and after 4 weeks I have nothing but more confusion. Most girls I tried to contact simply do not reply to my emails, and the ones who do, want to be paid more than even the most famous porn starlets. 2 of them even confessed to not using their real pictures in their profiles! WTF?

I have an investor who is getting very impatient with the fact I have been working on this project for months and still haven’t  made the first frame of film. I need girls who are ready to work ASAP. What do you suggest?


Answer
Yes, a couple of my colleagues often recommend sites like xpeeps.com, adultstaffing.com, sexyjobs.com and even craigslist.org, as sources of finding talent for adult projects. However, I most certainly DO NOT recommend these sites! Here is why.

1)   Adultstaffing.com and Sexyjobs.com:

First of all, these are membership sites that you have to pay $20 or so a month just to use. These sites make their money from the sale of registrations, NOT by providing contact between producers and talent. Once they have your money, they really don’t care if you find what you need or not.

Also, as you stated, the images you see may or may not be real. There are countless fraudulent profiles listed on these sites as they make no effort to confirm their authenticity.

2)   Xpeeps.com and Craigslist.com:

Xpeeps.com: Basically, xpeeps.com is now little more than “myspace” with dirty pictures, and totally useless to an industry professional as a source of finding quality talent.

It was originally set up for the purpose of providing a networking system for industry professionals. However, that was a very short lived concept. The site is full of fake profiles, fake people, fake companies (Someone even impersonated ME on a profile there)  and its original purpose has long been forgotten as the general public has pretty much taken over. The very few legitimate performers who use xpees.com, all clearly state on their profile, that if you are interested in booking them, to CONTACT THEIR AGENTS.

Craigslist.org: To me the fact someone even suggested craigslist is just simply absurd. This is a great site if you want to look for an apartment, buy or sell your car, hire an exterminator, or browse personal ads. However, it is NOT a place to find Adult talent.  If you are looking for drug addicted gutter trash willing to fuck for enough cash to buy their next crack rock, your odds of success are very good. However, finding any quality talent on craigslist.org is pretty much NOT going to happen.

Now ALL that being said, I’ll say this again. The BEST way to find QUALITY and RELIABLE Talent is to go through a REPUTABLE Adult Talent Agency. Here is why:

1)   It’s less complicated: Visit the agencies’ web site and have a look at the talent they offer. When you find someone that meets your needs, pick up the phone, call the number, and book your choice. No registration fees, no emails, no BS. All they ask is that you be a legitimate/established producer.
2)    All of the STD testing, IDs and other headaches are already taken care of. The girl you decided on shows up at the shoot with all this stuff in hand.. She walks in, hands you these documents, signs the contract and model release and you start filming.
3)   Agency girls DEFIANTLY reduce your chances of getting a girl who will freeze up when the shooting starts. These girls went to the agency for the purpose of getting into this business and know exactly what’s expected of them. Therefore, they will be much more reliable than the chick who posted an ad or a resume to some site on a whim, a dare, or just to see if anyone would respond. As a rule agency girls show up on time and ready to work.

Ok…I’m getting way to long winded here, I think you get the idea.

Now before I get into trouble here, let me say this. This information is based solely on my opinion of the facts as I have come to understand them over my 15 years of producing Adult Films. With every film I have released (314 now), I have ALWAYS used agencies to find my performers, and it has consistently proven to be the most effective method.

Take Care
Jim Boyd