Hi all,
I've posted before re: my first amateur attempt at filming next year. Received a lot of good advice that time, (was about lighting), so thanks again to all who helped.
A thought's just crossed my mind, it's to do with staying within the law and just how at risk you really are, (or aren't as the case may be), if you don't. Let me explain...
I shoot my film next year, it'll be nothing amazing, solo girl playing with toys, food etc. I keep the film for private viewing but have got a model release form signed on the day of shooting. X amount of months or even years down the line I think, 'that film wasn't bad, I could probably sell a good few copies.' So, I copy the film onto CD and start selling it, by placing small ads here and there.
What I'm wondering is, in reality, how likely is it I'm going to get into any trouble? It's not a blockbuster being released around the world in 5000 cinemas, it's a hopefully not too badly shot amateur porn film that might sell a few dozen copies here and there. The only people who know about the film are me, the model and anyone who buys it.
Taking it further, let's say whoever the authorities are in this area get a copy of the film. How much trouble is the maker of the film in? Obviously it goes without saying the movie shows nothing other than a 20 something model playing with toys.
Let me know your views on this. I've maybe not explained it that well but all I really mean is in reality how likely is it anything would happen to me if I decide to sell the film at some point down the line? Not in porn shops etc, but off my own back.
Dave
Making a buck o/t
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Darren
Re: Making a buck o/t
I'm not an expert on law but I think that it would be illegal to sell your Videos/CDs to the public if they aren't certified (that's definite if they contain hardcore content) even if the girls you shoot are legal. It's fine if you keep them for your own amusement but selling it would probably be a crime and you'd probably be held fully responsible. I also think that you need a licene to sell sexually explicit videos. Don't take my word for it as I dont know the full details but it's always better to be safe than sorry so you should ask someone at the BBFC or a person who is licnesed to practise law before you think about selling.
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Always Happy
Re: Making a buck o/t
Hi,
I agree with all you say. What I'm really wondering though is, in reality, how likely is it anything would ever happen, due to the fact it's not being widely released etc. Imagine you have a film, you sell it via small ads etc and let's say you sell 40 copies. Surely the chances of being chased up about it are slim, right or wrong?
I agree with all you say. What I'm really wondering though is, in reality, how likely is it anything would ever happen, due to the fact it's not being widely released etc. Imagine you have a film, you sell it via small ads etc and let's say you sell 40 copies. Surely the chances of being chased up about it are slim, right or wrong?
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Elmer the Aylmer
Re: Making a buck o/t
How likely is it when you go shopping to Calais and bring back
50,000 fags and a couple of dozen crates of booze that HM
Thieves and Excise are gonna sniff around the back of your
Transit van? If your house gets burgled, how likely is it that the police will catch the guy and get your stuff back? It's one of those 'piece of string' questions.
Technically, as I understand it, if you sell uncertificated
(hardcore) material to the general public you are in breach of
the Video Recordings Act, but apart from that your probably okay
content-wise (though 'misuse of vegetables' is a possible grey area ).
El.
50,000 fags and a couple of dozen crates of booze that HM
Thieves and Excise are gonna sniff around the back of your
Transit van? If your house gets burgled, how likely is it that the police will catch the guy and get your stuff back? It's one of those 'piece of string' questions.
Technically, as I understand it, if you sell uncertificated
(hardcore) material to the general public you are in breach of
the Video Recordings Act, but apart from that your probably okay
content-wise (though 'misuse of vegetables' is a possible grey area ).
El.
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Officer Dibble
Re: Making a buck o/t
Yes, he would be in breach of the vide recordings act and by extension the law.
Chances of there being any consequences? Slim, I would say. It's not a big deal at all and the authorities have got their plate full with thieves, scrubbers and scumbags of all description - the brainless lowlifes that create real problems in society, like nicking your car, burgling your house, hassling you on the street, and of late setting fire to anything and everything that's left unattended. And if you were unfortunate enough to get captured you would probably only get a ?5.00 quid fine for 'selling uncertificated.'
HOWEVER, since in the eyes of the law you had now committed a CRIME you could now be liable to forfeiture of any assets and chattels the authorities deemed you had acquired through said crime, i.e. they could totally ruin you and your family and physically throw you out on the street! "That's absurd, cruel and totally over the top for such a trifling offence where no one was harmed, hassled or stolen from" I hear you cry. Indeed, but that is Britain today. Someone once said, "All evil needs to flourish is that good men stay silent." The state takes on new powers like the one outlined above on an almost monthly basis and nobody says a dickie - All the usual suspects can whine about are the fucking Palestinians. But I digress.
Anyhow, whether you go ahead or not is up to you. You will have to go a least semi-public to actually tell folks about your wares, so it won't only be you and the punters who know about it (though I fear there won?t be many of those.) But hey, if all the British people were supine, forelock tugging, cap dothing serfs you would be paying more for your petrol now, you would be paying the Poll Tax now, you and your lady wouldn't have a vote now. Hell, you?d still be toiling in the fields at the pleasure of William of Normandy!
Officer Dibble - your legal eagle.
Chances of there being any consequences? Slim, I would say. It's not a big deal at all and the authorities have got their plate full with thieves, scrubbers and scumbags of all description - the brainless lowlifes that create real problems in society, like nicking your car, burgling your house, hassling you on the street, and of late setting fire to anything and everything that's left unattended. And if you were unfortunate enough to get captured you would probably only get a ?5.00 quid fine for 'selling uncertificated.'
HOWEVER, since in the eyes of the law you had now committed a CRIME you could now be liable to forfeiture of any assets and chattels the authorities deemed you had acquired through said crime, i.e. they could totally ruin you and your family and physically throw you out on the street! "That's absurd, cruel and totally over the top for such a trifling offence where no one was harmed, hassled or stolen from" I hear you cry. Indeed, but that is Britain today. Someone once said, "All evil needs to flourish is that good men stay silent." The state takes on new powers like the one outlined above on an almost monthly basis and nobody says a dickie - All the usual suspects can whine about are the fucking Palestinians. But I digress.
Anyhow, whether you go ahead or not is up to you. You will have to go a least semi-public to actually tell folks about your wares, so it won't only be you and the punters who know about it (though I fear there won?t be many of those.) But hey, if all the British people were supine, forelock tugging, cap dothing serfs you would be paying more for your petrol now, you would be paying the Poll Tax now, you and your lady wouldn't have a vote now. Hell, you?d still be toiling in the fields at the pleasure of William of Normandy!
Officer Dibble - your legal eagle.
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marcusallen
Re: Making a buck o/t
OD,
Why waste your precious time when you can/should be doing much better work -like attending to duty.
The porn world needs examples ,not policing, and you are poss Englands finest at exampling, i.e. -Producing in all senses of the word.
Forget the social misfits and concentrate on those who seriouslusly need your help - THE PORNO DEPRIVED - Give them a soupcon of your goodness, for a measly fee, and rest on your laurels as a true benefactor of the (I assume) Human Race).
Why waste your precious time when you can/should be doing much better work -like attending to duty.
The porn world needs examples ,not policing, and you are poss Englands finest at exampling, i.e. -Producing in all senses of the word.
Forget the social misfits and concentrate on those who seriouslusly need your help - THE PORNO DEPRIVED - Give them a soupcon of your goodness, for a measly fee, and rest on your laurels as a true benefactor of the (I assume) Human Race).
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Officer Dibble
Re: Making a buck o/t
You have a point Marcus old chap - all this public correspondence is keeping me from my duties. But I just can't help it. Whenever I hear porno cobblers being talked it's like a red rag to a bull. I have to wade in, keyboard blazing, and scratch that itch.
Officer Dibble.
Officer Dibble.
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George
Re: Making a buck o/t
You are many things, Officer Dibble, but one thing you are not is a legal eagle. We are a very long way from a situation where for any criminal offence you can have all your possessions confiscated, so please don't worry the poor man unduly.
I am not even sure that it is a criminal offence to break the law in connection with the Video Recordings Act, but I don't know, and it is too late to look it up.
Regards
George
I am not even sure that it is a criminal offence to break the law in connection with the Video Recordings Act, but I don't know, and it is too late to look it up.
Regards
George
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Officer Dibble
Re: Making a buck o/t
That's right George, you "don't know' but I do. I've been in this business over ten years and seen it all. In that time I've even found myself fronting the State up from the wrong side of the Dock due to my involvement in adult entertainment - fortunately I came out on top. But some of my colleagues have not been quite so fortunate. A close friend was recently charged you supplying uncertificated videos. He was bang to rights, but as it wasn't such a big deal he pleaded guilty. He duly had his wrist slapped and was fined a token sum of ?200.00 or thereabouts and thought that was that. He was sadly mistaken, as he had committed a crime, even a trifling one, say like nicking a bottle of milk of someone's doorstep, the law now allows for any assets that were the result of said crime to be seized. And as those at the treasury are heartless beaurocrats who jump at any chance to fill the government coffers they suggested that in confiscation cases the prosecuting authorities should press for the maximum amount of the defendants assets, whether it was right, reasonable or just. The upshot of my friend?s case was that they took EVERTHING HE HAD. He lost his cars, his flat, and his beautiful country home that he was ready to retire to and, quite late in life; he was cast onto the streets. This is fact, this is my experience. Hence my previous post. The Officer doesn?t take bollocks but others do. He knows about this shit, these are not airy-fairy ideas or delusions plucked out of the air! Hey, other colleagues have been cast into prison (and not so long ago) for simply printing video covers with pictures of fisting on them. So I do think I'm a little more qualified than most folks here to make such pronouncements.
It's true that these punitive punishments would probably not be levied on Always Happy for selling a couple of girly discs. But the point is they could be. The law allows for it. The state is like a sleeping lion. If you don't draw to much attention to yourself you'll probably be OK. But if you rouse the lion and he fixes his steely gaze on you your going to find yourself in a world of hurt and to those that are not used to it it can be very frightening indeed.
Officer Dibble.
Would you credit that George geezer, casting doubt on the word and wisdom of the Officer, a recognized expert in his adult entertainment field? Pah!
It's true that these punitive punishments would probably not be levied on Always Happy for selling a couple of girly discs. But the point is they could be. The law allows for it. The state is like a sleeping lion. If you don't draw to much attention to yourself you'll probably be OK. But if you rouse the lion and he fixes his steely gaze on you your going to find yourself in a world of hurt and to those that are not used to it it can be very frightening indeed.
Officer Dibble.
Would you credit that George geezer, casting doubt on the word and wisdom of the Officer, a recognized expert in his adult entertainment field? Pah!
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Always Happy
Re: Making a buck o/t
All of you,
thanks for the feedback, especially OD. I think you've terrified me into doing everything above board if I ever do sell any film I make in the future. Apologies if you guys are getting fed up with OT posts, but I knew I'd get at least some decent feedback which is why I asked.
Dave
thanks for the feedback, especially OD. I think you've terrified me into doing everything above board if I ever do sell any film I make in the future. Apologies if you guys are getting fed up with OT posts, but I knew I'd get at least some decent feedback which is why I asked.
Dave