Sabrina Deep asks: (Thank You Sabrina….Well Done!)
About APAC’s Identity
I’ve lurked around here for a while now. I’m in the industry since a while and to be honest i cannot say that i am impressed by what i see here. I try to imagine how a “newbie” can feel, when coming here. Let’s start from the forum. Excluding the APAC-media one, there are 9 topics to date, 5 of which unanswered, 6 of which unresolved (poster question didn’t receive a satisfactory answer), 24 posts in 5 months, one topic filled with rants. Moving to the general site, i could not avoid to notice that there are no info at all about who is behind APAC, but a quote from a Playboy article. I mean: who is on the board of APAC? Who is on the committee? Who decides what to do, what to say and how? I would be all in favor of raising money for APAC, if i knew where the money went and last but not least what the money was used for: i don’t see a defined agenda, a todo list, a code of conduct/ethics; i see a bank account where to send money to, but i have no idea who and how that money will spent; maybe i would like to see how much money APAC has raised so far, getting proof that the money is still their and it it has been spent on what. I think that we all agree that it is important to know where our money goes, before we spend it? How can someone volunteer to help APAC? What does APAC need to grow?
I watch the Porn 101 video and i learn that i have the right to say no, to stop a scene, to negotiate, to check my partners tests: how APAC can be of any benefit to me, when all the above leads, let’s say, to lose an assignment and in some cases even further assignments because now i’m on a producers blacklist just for having used a few rights which APAC claims to advocate? Shall i contact APAC when that happens? How do i contact APAC? Whom at APAC? What can i expect APAC to do for me about the above situation?
Could the above be one important reason why the forums are empty? How can APAC expect to become an important voice for performers when their shop is basically an empty garage with no products to sell and no owners to attend their clients? I know that APAC is an unprecedented attempt is this industry, but it will also remain as such if it appears to be nothing more than a shop sign. Someone might argue that these things take time and that APAC is working on the frontline as we can deduct by industry press releases with the APAC name mentioned, especially any time that there is a moratorium, but the truth is that all we see is APAC saying something: then, again, who is APAC? WHo is behind? Who decided to take a certain position rather than another one? WHo speaks for APAC? Whom APAC speaks for?
Could the above be one important reason why the forums are empty? How can APAC expect to become an important voice for performers when their shop is basically an empty garage with no products to sell and no owners to attend their clients? I know that APAC is an unprecedented attempt is this industry, but it will also remain as such if it appears to be nothing more than a shop sign. Someone might argue that these things take time and that APAC is working on the frontline as we can deduct by industry press releases with the APAC name mentioned, especially any time that there is a moratorium, but the truth is that all we see is APAC saying something: then, again, who is APAC? WHo is behind? Who decided to take a certain position rather than another one? WHo speaks for APAC? Whom APAC speaks for?
Imagine to be a new performer and to come over here: would you honestly feel lucky that APAC exists?
Now, because just pointing fingers is an easy task, let me throw also a few ideas over there. A few are implicit in what i have written above and they very easily and rapidly viable and doable and yet, in my opinion, essentials:
– Who founded APAC
– Who is behind APAC (board, committe, etc)
– Board composition criterias (why those board members rather than others; what are their “duties”; how they get chosen; how someone can get on board or why not)
– Real contacts
– Who is behind BoA Account 3250 2956 3290
– Who are the authorized people over that account
– Weekly or monthly disclosure of account balance
– Who founded APAC
– Who is behind APAC (board, committe, etc)
– Board composition criterias (why those board members rather than others; what are their “duties”; how they get chosen; how someone can get on board or why not)
– Real contacts
– Who is behind BoA Account 3250 2956 3290
– Who are the authorized people over that account
– Weekly or monthly disclosure of account balance
The above would help transparency greatly and it would encourage, at least me, to donate or/and to raise money and to be proactive volunteering to help APAC in any thing it might be needed for day to day operation and to grow in strength. Personally, for example, i would be more than happy to make my web development company services available for free to APAC to improve the website; but aain i need to know whom am i doing it for and why.
The APAC legacy. It would be nice to have an APAC logo to add to our websites and to our emails linking back to APAC code of ethics/conduct (surprisingly not yet existing, at least at an embryonic status): in time you would educate people about what to expect and what not to expect when working with an APAC performer and it would be also an incentive for newcomers to improve their professionalism.
Code of conduct/ethics. No: working out a commonly agreed code of conducts/ethics is not an easy task in an industry where most performers would stab each other in the back and where the power of producers and agencies to give you or to deny you an assignment based on your empathy towards their rules is immense. But it has to be done if APAC’s mission is to <em>advocate and to maintain and improve safety and working conditions in the adult film industry by giving adult performers organized representation in matters that affect our health, safety, and community</em>. I think we may easily all agree on some basic points and then to painfully and yet bravely take it from there to refine the code. Bravely, that’s the word. I would like to see less politically correct good looking (but empty) statements and more effective bravery in clearly stating what are the do’s and the dont’s of adult performers when it comes to their safety and working conditions. If you haven’t pissed anybody off, you probably haven’t been effective. Please, start giving us a mockup of a code to work on all together and then voice it for us. Or better, let’s voice it.
The other side. Open up to producers and agencies in here. Wars only lead to casualties and in the best of the scenarios to unsteady and unsatisfactory treaties. Let’s hear from them too and let’s listen to them to. Let’s know why a certain thing that seems reasonable to us it is not as such to them. let’s hear their proposals, if any, their concerns about our professionalism, if any, their needs along our needs. Speaking through press releases is not a bad thing, but dialoguing face to face is certainly better. We need them, they need us, we should have a common interest in improving things for this industry. In my opinion, they are our interlocutor, not AHF.
If you have read the above and it made you yawn, i apologize about that. The truth is that APAC potential is truly amazing and i have hope that it will not remain a mere attempt. You may disagree with all the above or/and not giving a flying damn about the opinions of an adult worker which little works in porn valley, but those who know me well know that i’m not easily discouraged by people disagreeing with me or not giving a damn about me. Like it or not, i’m part of this industry and i feel the duty of sharing my vision about certain things related to it.
Good work to all!
15 Responses
When one reads this I think it does a really good job of illustrating one of the primary differences between Europeans as a whole and Americans as a whole.
Americans seem to be more likely to accept what authority figures say without question, Europeans on the other hand are much more suspicious of the motives of authority figures. If you look at history it makes sense too, Europeans have had much more experience with authority figures whose motives should have had more scrutiny (which doesnt mean that Americans have not)
Americans would be much better served by questioning authority….Great job Sabrina, I am proud to have you as a reader!
@sabrina
Far from yawning, thanks for writing this up! Given APAC’s response to questions on their forum I’m not holding my breath that they’ll be answering your questions anytime soon.
Re COE (code of ethics) if APAC were operating by generally accepted non-profit COE the majority of your questions wouldn’t be the mysteries they are. If APAC were operating by standard non-profit COE a year into their existence the day to day performer issues you raised would be front and center as topics to be addressed in a performer COE.
It’s easier to define APAC’s mission reading FSC’s tirade against AHF protests this week. APAC will be held up as the voice of performers which is appalling given their forum activity. Forums are an amazing tool to garner voices and resources for non-profits to get people involved with the more tedious business related aspects of fulfilling the organization’s mission, defining intermediate goals and objectives and attracting support willing to pony up the cash or do the behind the scenes grunt work to make it all happen.
A year in and it’s evident that there has been quite a bit of cash and behind the scenes grunt work…sadly it’s tailored towards achieving FSC’s agenda. That makes APAC look like a well scripted act to appear as performer advocacy.
Btw if APAC is answering questions…I’d be curious to know how much they paid (will pay) panel members for this series they are presenting.
@Mike
Too many Americans are too busy running their mouths w/o considering what comes out. Saying ‘fuck that it’s illegal’ trying to hold the next person accountable for standards they themselves have no intention or willingness to apply to themselves. I see the European nuance but think it might be more related to traditionally living an artisan vs commercial lifestyle. Personal pride is much more related to personal accountability to standards than outside influences about how it ought to be.
“Americans seem to be more likely to accept what authority figures say without question”
This statement would have made more sense if you would have said, adult performers are more likely to accept what authority figures say then the average American citizen.
Sabrina is right. There is no information on that site. If you want to contact someone there is an email form you fill out but it doesn’t say exactly WHO you will be speaking to. There is no phone number. nothing. no way to contact these people other then this form.
Now if you click donate you are told to send your donation to the following address …
PO Box 6662 Woodland Hills, CA 91365 ..
They don’t even tell you WHO exactly you are sending the money to.
They even tell you where you can send wire transfers…
Bank Of America Account 3250 2956 3290 Routing Number 026009593
they don’t tell you whose account this is. so you may be wiring your money directly into Diane Dukes bank account. who knows. LOL
My point is the average American citizen would think this was a scam… porn performers on the other hand…
Saw the pretty mountain image but that’s it. After five (literally) five minutes and a retry gave up on site ever loading on iOS. Guess performers are supposed to carry a PC with them if they want to access site?
another thing? if you subscribe then they will send you educational material, legal articles, exclusive videos and more. – so they want YOUR information first before they send you THEIR information, articles etc? LOL This has SCAM written all over it!
on a side note.. when it comes to condoms there is NO choice. The producers make the choice. all condom company.. you HAVE to wear a condom or don’t let the door hit ya on the way out! Non condom company.. NO CONDOM! if you demand one You will be labeled “difficult” and they won’t hire you again. FACTS… not sure what this APAC would do for ya. It just seems like a scam!
@lurkingreader.. there is no info on that site whether it loads or not… SCAM.
other then the porn 101 video there is no real info on the site. BUT.. APAC posted this statement describing what they’re about…. lol
The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee advocates to maintain and improve safety and working conditions in the adult film industry by giving adult performers organized representation in matters that affect our health, safety, and community. The mission of APAC is to provide representation for performers in the adult film industry and to protect performers’ rights to a safer and more professional work environment. We do this through education of each other and the greater community, development of ethical best practices, and fostering of solidarity. We review existing health and safety protocols, and will initiate new ones as needed. We are committed to working cohesively with all aspects of the adult entertainment industry and the public, strengthening unity between all performers, and maintaining a work environment where workers are valued, respected, and educated –
so they’re saying that if a performer is working for say, VIVID and they want to use a condom but Steve Hirsch won’t let them… Then what? The performer calls up Jessica Drake or James Deen and they rush over to VIVID to tell Steve that he better allow this performer to use a condom or else? LMFAO!!! This is Hilarious!! #bullshit #scam
People,
DO NOT GIVE UP, OR WRITE OFF APAC.
There are people in that organization that do want meaningful change, and they outnumber those who want to keep the status quo.
One quick thing to APAC members,,,If you have recieved the Hep B vaccingation there is NO NEED for you to pay for a Hep test any longer. There is a simple form that the employer is supposed to have, but YOU can also provide it,.and it does not require you to give any test results or anything it simply says,
1. I have been previously vaccinted
2. I do not want to be vaccinted
3. Please provide me the vaccination.
APAC policy should ‘recomment’ every perfrormer be vaccintated,,,and it something EVERYONE should do anyway. DO NOT continue to pay every two weeks for a test you do not need. And if AVN wants you at their awards show they should make a donation to your organization.
@jilted: although I believe this organization is a scam I will play Devils advocate. let’s say they’re not. Ok. from what I can tell the members of APAC all still perform in the industry, right? So wouldn’t this be a conflict of interest? If these APAC members want to keep working in the industry they would have to take their marching orders from the company owners, producers, directors, FSC etc. not the other way around.
If a performer were to complain to APAC because they want to use a condom but the director won’t let them. … What could these people at APAC possibly do without fearing they will piss the director /producer off….therefore biting the hand that feeds them?
Don’t you think it would make more sense if APAC had ex performers as members or just people outside the industry? How can a performer actually think that Jessica drake, Nina Hartley, James deen etc would actually care enough about their Heath and safety…to risk being blacklisted for pissing off some company owner? This just comes across as a way to try and make michael Weinstein actually think they care when they don’t.
@jilted
Given APAC activities and lack of activities in their short tenure it would take something extremely impressive to change my mind. I have no doubt there are performers attending APAC with a serious desire and willingness to make real changes just can’t overlook APAC taking an 80% vote against PASS then essentially saying fuck you 80% we stand for FSC protocols AFTER another shutdown….not to mention APAC considers a series using a panel of sexologists to help performer integrate their family and relationships into their job as a higher priority than any of the pressing issues facing performers each day.
Using a panel to attract membership is absolutely useless if they neglect their online forum and want performers to put up their info before they offer the first thing any legitimate non-profit would have on their site. IG Why aren’t vaccinations listed front and center on their web page as something performers can do to minimize their risks?
There is a huge conflict between what performers want APAC to be and what APAC really is. It doesn’t matter what the majority wants when they are treated like mushrooms… kept in the dark and fed shit.
For the record Vivid was condom optional at least until Paul Thomas and Co. left. Now that Phil Varone (who does not have a good reputation, he sort of got into porn on performer Siri’s coat tails) is directing their movies I don’t know if that policy is still enforced. Yes, this is the same Phil Varone that had the rock band for years. Of course now that Dr. Flip Flop has gone off the deep end maybe we should call Phil and ask hom to give commentary here — he is Whiteacre’s worst enemy. 🙂
It never crossed my mind that this is a scam. I genuinely posted those questions and suggestions constructively. If i thought it was a scam i wouldn’t lose my time about it: i’d just pass.
What i think is that a good idea has been made public way too quickly and superficially thinking that using a bunch of very well known faces in a spot about safety during a very delicate moment could constitute APAC and put it on auto-pilot. Then when it comes to day to day operations even the smallest thing needs someone putting the effort to do it and the guts to take decisions which might collide with your own interests; then it becomes easier to have a quick talk among the well known faces, when needed, and shoot a more or less ambiguous press release or release a quote to keep the APAC name out there.
I know Jilted is right about the majority of performers willing to change things, down their heart; i know it directly for having spoken to some of those performers. But willing does not help, if it’s not followed by actions. If those people they haven’t come forward yet, if they are not coming forward now, i have little hope and belief that they will ever come forward, especially people who are well over their 40’s and have a couple of decades of career behind them. My feeling is that the problem is in the mentality, a cultural problem mainly caused by the small area which has been the theater of porn for decades. I’m pretty sure that if productions where spread out all over the country there would have been less silence, more open-mindedness and more chances to see someone igniting the changes for real.
@Sabrina: I didn’t mean to imply that you think APAC is a scam. I think it’s a scam. I also think a lot of the performers in the industry are extremely naive and they just believe what ever the authority figures/leaders of the industry spew without question…
I do believe you and jilted when you guys say that some of the performers care and want to change things, but I think the reason they don’t come forward and speak out is because they fear not only for their jobs but they also fear scumbags like whiteacre and Tompkins stalking and harassing them .. I can’t say I blame them for being afraid But because of this .them not speaking up etc…in my opinion, that means nothing in the industry will change unless someone from outside the industry comes in and forces change.
I just found out that APAC’S BOD for the 2nd year is chairperson James Deen. Lol I am guessing they picked him because he is someone people may have actually heard of. The president is Chanel Preston. VP is Connor Habib. Treas. Veruca James. and the sec is Ela Darling. Hmm and of course Nina Hartley is part of the APAC group. Hmmmm…
I also found out that APAC’S welcome email just features a login and no other information. Ya have to contact james deen or one of the other members for info… Say what?!? Ok. Sounds legit. 😉 I for one would love to eavesdrop on that conversation. Lol
So, what has APAC accomplished in the past year other then collecting money for AIDS? How have they helped the performers?
I also discovered that APAC retweeted Michael Whiteacre. Retweeting a criminal woman beater fanboi. Ok…. Sounds like a great idea.
So what do all of these APAC board members and Nina Hartley have in common?
They are all puppets of the FSC!!!
So I have come to the conclusion that the FSC is behind this organization. I could be wrong but my spidey senses are telling me I’m right.
But please! Any performers who actually attend any of these APAC meetings PLEASE let us know what it is you talk about and what it is YOU ACTUALLY DO! .. Enquiring minds want to know… Thank you. 🙂