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emmanuelle · 2006-12-02, 12:30 PM

'Consenting adults' is a pretty subjective term. I can't tell you how many models give their 'consent' by signing a model release before a shoot, then have the shoot take a whole new turn than they had expected, or been led to expect. By that time, the girl just tells herself that she's already started, and only a couple of hours away from the promised payout, and grits her teeth. Even by the time she signs a closing addendum, she's not going to refuse to say what they want her to, when her paycheck is still in the producer's hand.

In far too many cases, she needs that payout more than she needs her dignity and self respect. Maybe she needs to pay her rent. Maybe she needs to hand it over to her 'boyfriend' to make him happy and avoid a confrontation that night. Maybe she needs a fix (and help), maybe she needs milk for her child.

'Needing' this check constitutes a certain level of duress, or at the very minimum, pressure to perform. Very few of these young women (or men) have the inner strength to stand up and walk out the door without that money. It's easier to continue than to say no sometimes.

While I agree that as an industry we need to protect ourselves by not tolerating producers who push the envelope repeatedly; industry aside, do we not have moral and ethical responsibilities as well? What goes on between two truly consenting adults behind closed doors cannot begin to compare with the situation on a set where money, strangers and apathy are involved. Just what kind of message are we sending to society by glamourizing violence against women and men. We love to bitch about the double standards in the regulation of violence vs the regulation of porn, yet we condone and even promote it.

I will be the first to admit that I think models can be a pain in the ass, and sometimes deserve their position at the bottom of the food chain in this industry. Without them though, we are all nothing. We need our models to be treated with dignity and respect so that in turn maybe they will treat themselves with the same. This can only be good for everyone.

2006-12-02, 12:30 PM	#25
emmanuelle 0100011101100101011001010 1101011001000000100001101 1010000110100101100011 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,441	'Consenting adults' is a pretty subjective term. I can't tell you how many models give their 'consent' by signing a model release before a shoot, then have the shoot take a whole new turn than they had expected, or been led to expect. By that time, the girl just tells herself that she's already started, and only a couple of hours away from the promised payout, and grits her teeth. Even by the time she signs a closing addendum, she's not going to refuse to say what they want her to, when her paycheck is still in the producer's hand. In far too many cases, she needs that payout more than she needs her dignity and self respect. Maybe she needs to pay her rent. Maybe she needs to hand it over to her 'boyfriend' to make him happy and avoid a confrontation that night. Maybe she needs a fix (and help), maybe she needs milk for her child. 'Needing' this check constitutes a certain level of duress, or at the very minimum, pressure to perform. Very few of these young women (or men) have the inner strength to stand up and walk out the door without that money. It's easier to continue than to say no sometimes. While I agree that as an industry we need to protect ourselves by not tolerating producers who push the envelope repeatedly; industry aside, do we not have moral and ethical responsibilities as well? What goes on between two truly consenting adults behind closed doors cannot begin to compare with the situation on a set where money, strangers and apathy are involved. Just what kind of message are we sending to society by glamourizing violence against women and men. We love to bitch about the double standards in the regulation of violence vs the regulation of porn, yet we condone and even promote it. I will be the first to admit that I think models can be a pain in the ass, and sometimes deserve their position at the bottom of the food chain in this industry. Without them though, we are all nothing. We need our models to be treated with dignity and respect so that in turn maybe they will treat themselves with the same. This can only be good for everyone.