San Francisco is the new locale fyi- Kink.com is transforming the area. The city even gave them incentives to buy property here.

Um....

Because in most states it's illegal to wear headphones while driving but a single sided headset is allowed.

Some good points for and against Phoenix here. I'm curious to see what the future holds.

What was the good point?

You guys bitching about heat, It gets to over 120 in the shade every year hear in redding, dry heat and it sucks. Sacramento is nice, the San Fernando Vally gets hot, but the humidity has gotten out of hand. Smog doesn't help. But it's a trade off to eat at Tommy's.

One of the good points was made by Porno Dan and confirmed by Michael/Pornlaw (if Cali does make condoms mandatory, other States might follow suit).

The heat, to a point, is also a good argument, albeit only in the summer time and then it's also only an issue if you need to spend a lot of time outdoors. But I too dislike the summer heat here so I completely understand this might just be a deal breaker for some.

Statements like "people are assholes in Phoenix" and the like aren't really helpful. Guess what, people in other States say the same thing about LA. Personally I don't think you can generalize an entire area like that, there's good folks and some not so great ones everywhere. That shouldn't keep one from making a business decision I feel.

Allow me to rephrase:

The Phoenix area seems to have more assholes involved in the porn industry than most other cities. There are a lot of two faced back stabbing pricks living there who happen to also be in the porn business.

That being said, there are a few great people from the biz there too....Just more PORN assholes per capita...

Ah sorry to hear about that, Aaron. I've not had that experience myself, although I've been called an asshole myself (although never a backstabber) so maybe I'm part of the problem? LOL.

I sale cheap domains.

So then I'd like to ask California folks: what would you say are the five biggest reasons you will stay where you are?

Having shot a whole bunch in LA and a fair amount in Phoenix, here's my 2 cents:

It's a Class 6 felony to shoot porn in AZ. I'm defining "porn" as two people doing the naughty. I'm not sure if solo stuff is illegal, although I'm fairly sure the minute a girl sticks her fist (or a huge toy) up her crack you're breaking the law, too. Not that Sheriff Joe's gonna break any Porno Doors down, but it's still something to worry about.

AZ is a beautiful place and the heat is really tough to deal with only 4 months out of the year -- which isn't bad at all. 8 months out of the year there's no better weather in the world. When I lived in Chicago the weather was tough almost twice as much. Same in places like Portland.

Shooting in AZ is cheaper than LA as cost of living is cheaper.

I've experienced far more drama shooting in AZ than CA, and I'm not sure why. I think the girls -- being more amateur -- are getting themselves in deeper than they imagine, hence the issues. This could be just me.

Phoenix is a very conservative place when it comes to people in high places. Overall it's conservative, too, and most conservatives don't take too kindly to smut...even though they're our base consumer.

LA sucks cause people are VERY aware of cameras. When I shoot pick-ups ANYWHERE in LA, it's like I'm giving away free money.

Chicks in Phoenix are FUCKIN' SMOKIN'.

Way more male talent in the LA pool.

There's not a whole lot of Porno biz in Phoenix -- but there are a few good companies. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

It's fun to shoot on the beach.

It's fun to shoot in the desert.

I'm on vacation and reading and replying to GFY -- what's wrong with me?

Thanks brother that all makes perfect sense.
Nothing wrong with you btw, you're a workaholic. And one who does amazing work so it's all good :)

Baddog or anyone else.. san diego vs LA? which one would ya pick.. ive been leaning towards san diego.. moving there in a week.. visited both places and san diego was cleaner, nicer, cheaper, and less traffic

I know a guy that has been shooting 25 years who lives in Phoenix and refuses to shoot in that state. Says it can be extremely conservative.

I wasn't aware that there was Miller vs. AZ. Oh right, there wasn't.

Everyone, pick up your businesses from where you are guaranteed to be operating legally to a place where there is no such protections!

Doesn't seem to bother the ones who are shooting here already - and have been for many years without problems.
Also, AFAIK shooting adult is NOT legal in all of California, only parts of it (San Fernando Valley?) but any lawyer please correct me on this if I'm wrong.

Good points...AZ girls, esp in the Scottsdale and Tempe area (Arizona State University) are realllllly hot. Just found it tough dealing with shooting when we had to for a few weeks. Could have been the area I was in...who knows

I moved to San Diego 14 years ago from LA..I like it better for the reasons you mention..Safer, cleaner, less traffic, tons of hot chicks, and there are a ton of adult companies/webmasters based here also.

Which would I pick for what?

I was thinking that you already picked anyway.

Why would it be legal to only shoot in a small part of the state? That makes NO sense. This is what you need to know: the decision of the CA Supreme Court in California vs Freeman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_v._Freeman

It is legal in all parts of CA. It was a state case.

As for it not "bothering" others who shoot ... just because people are not getting popped doesn't mean that they do not run the risk.

Porn is shot just about everywhere these days (oftentimes without incident), but that doesn't mean it's legal, except in CA.

The two other areas where there is a ton of production as well as the presence of large companies is NYC and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. Perhaps Las Vegas, too.

AEBN is in NC, but do they produce anything there?

A lot of laws don't make sense. Like prostitution not being legal in Nevada except where it is. I might have mixed that up with Cali laws re:shooting adult. Thank you for clarifying.

We'll get more cases like that somewhere in the Nation sometime in the future I'm sure. Who knows, maybe it'll even be in AZ :)

You are validating my argument: a lot of folks don't 'care'/mind the risk. It's a gray area. A lot of people (A LOT) are shooting in Phoenix. I'm sure not everyone who currently lives and shoots in Cali is staying solely because of this (of course, it's a huge bonus).
Also, there were plenty of productions going on before it became legal in California. Again, it takes pioneers sometimes...

NYC/Miami/Ft. Lauderdale: liberal

With the exception of NYC (liberal in and around it), the areas surrounding them are conservative.

Edit: I do not know whether Vegas is liberal or conservative.

I've been in LA my whole life, I will agree, the air is cleaner in SD.
Not sure on your lifestyle, but I think there is a lot more to do in LA though.

Traffic is bad everywhere, even SD. Just not as bad.

Thailand is better than Phoenix or LA any day of the week or year..

There are tons here as well and we are a one hour flight or 4 hr drive from LA. :thumbsup

More than LE issues are the issues having to do with whether your model releases can be enforced in a court in AZ. If a model were to challenge your release you might quickly learn that a court will void the release and the model can then seek profits from your site as though you never had a release.

You might want to read this article published in the Georgetown Law Journal a couple of years ago. Its a great analysis of how difficult it is to enforce these types of contracts outside of California...

http://www.georgetownlawjournal.com/...den%5B1%5D.pdf

I doubt pandering will ever be legal in az and i dont think it will be in vegas

As i found out recently on another post on gfy somewhere, porn shooting is legal in New Hampshire.... not the best place though, I hate the northeast in the winter, snow sucks!

This is an issue NO ONE thinks about. Thanks for clarifying Michael.

I've had two girl flip out after a shoot -- and both were in AZ. I stood my ground and just let them re-read their releases...and offered to take down the material if they were reimburse me what they were compensated. It ended there.

Michael -- was it Vermont or New Hampshire that recently OK'd smut production?

billywatson.. true all dat

and

mike pornlaw.. even more truedat

so dere.

I love CA bcuz I was born in Norcal.. now residing across from some cows n horsees in porn valley.

When we shoot in northridge or in canoga park, no worries. Its porn valley.. I cant imagine AZ going porn.

In Phoenix, the fucking freeways have cameras on the back of cop trucks sittin on side of fwy takin
pics of me flashin like crazy tryin to get my license plate... wtf!?
they didnt bcuz I still haven't put them on.. not sure I ever will, I like my new car status w/o plates.
imagine porn tryin to go fast there.

LA has great weather, great babes when I want to go find them.. or if they find me..
why would phoenix expand? phallic cactus plants could be the state symbol.. lol

From that Georgetown Law Journal article: "If such agreements are not enforceable, an industry of immense economic value to California must be legally sacrificed for the sake of doctrinal consistency."

Likewise, if CAL/OSHA manages to chase porn production out of the state, California will be giving up the "immense economic value" of the porn biz, and also incurring significant costs when the newly terminated porn workers apply for unemployment or some other kind of assistance. And in the middle of a recession and budget shortfalls too.

Mandating condom use in adult movies will close down the porn industry in California. Can the state afford to lose the revenue the business brings?

Thank you for sharing this information, Michael. Highly informative.

It was New Hampshire....

As for condoms in porn, I doubt that this will pass. There are First Amendment issues. A performer might (I am not a First Amendment expert) have a free speech right to perform sans condom.

There are also less restrictive means to keeping performers safe - one test one shoot.

Price will come down on tests and more than likely producers and talent will share in the costs.

Based upon the revune, tax and legal implications of the industry leaving California, I just dont see it happening.