educational

Crossing Over: 2

In part one, we began our look at the convergence of adult video production and the Internet. In this conclusion, we'll look at vignette shooting, the demographics of DVD purchasers and more:

Vignette Shooting
Lillo's description of the vignette-style of shooting — a collection of individual scenes with unique story-lines centering on a central theme — is an apt description not only for Naughty America's content, but also for every Internet company that is now in the DVD market.

Just take a look at any all-sex production studio and you will find similar DVD lines that fit into a particular niche, like anal, POV, blowjobs, big tits and numerous others. Most paysites follow the same formula, so in securing DVD distribution rights for Internet content, distribution companies are getting built-in, niche product lines with brand recognition.

While some companies might fear that distributing content on DVD originally released in its members area could cannibalize website memberships, both Naughty America and Pink Visual (the DVD arm of Topbucks), believe that customers in each market are cut from the same cloth but just wear different suits.

Allison Vivas, president of Pink Visual, believes the bright line that pushes fans to either the Internet or DVD side is no more complicated than analyzing their porn viewing habits. She believes the Internet consumer is looking for constant updates with fresh, new talent, while the DVD purchaser is more of a discerning fan of a particular girl or niche who will watch the same DVD numerous times and will add it to their porn movie collections. Vivas said some porn fans are "like baseball card or comic book collectors. They want to assemble a physical library of their favorite titles."

Lillo sees eye to eye with Vivas in breaking down the demographics of DVD purchasers.

"I am certain there are different audiences where the format speaks to certain preferences they have; some people may not be tech savvy, or those who live where there is a slow connection speed can't justify a lengthy download and see no better solution than to pick up a DVD," Lillo said.

Kim Kysar, Pink Visual's distribution operations manager, added, "I think all tangible products spawn collectors of some type."

Pink Visual, which handles its own DVD distribution in-house and hired industry veteran Dani Vargas and Michael Glaser to accomplish that end, started in July 2002 with its first exclusively shot site MILFSeeker.com. HerFirstBigCock.com followed, and then about five more sites each year since. The company shoots exclusive content for more than 30 sites and has 41 DVD lines on the market. Pink Visual doesn't plan on slowing down in 2007. It has slated four new lines to ship each month this year.

Simply put, at its core, the DVD is just another content delivery method for web publishers to exploit.

"There will always be customers who are 10 years behind the technology," Kysar said. "Mail order is still important to offer. Requests still come in for VHS. Not everyone who is a fervent consumer of quality adult entertainment will have an iPod, HD TV or Blu-ray player."

Added Vivas: "We redistribute our content in many different formats from website memberships, VOD, third-party content leasing, PPV broadcasting rights to DVDs. Hitting all these markets is important to us not only for optimizing revenue per shoot but for branding purposes as well. In some aspects, we are ahead of the traditional studio, and in others we are still growing, such as building an offline brand name. We actually came from a tough position where many of our sites were branded, but the production company was not. Expanding into DVD also meant bringing our production company brand online and associating it with our successful websites."

Securing Deals
Still other former Internet-only companies have such marketable and viable brand names that they produce a series of DVDs distinctly apart from their website content, save for the name. For example, Joanna Angel's Burning Angel secured a distribution deal with Pulse, and Danni's Hard Drive's has an arrangement with Pure Play Media are prime examples. Pulse also distributes re-purposed content on DVD from the Nasty Dollars network of sites.

Paysite network Hodough's production branch, Hush Hush Entertainment, employed an interesting twist to its brand of interracial niche sites. The company created a recognizable Internet presence through the unique marketing of three black male performers (complete with super-hero-style nicknames) under exclusive contract. Shane Diesel became Blackzilla, Boz turned into Daddy's Worst Nightmare and Richard Mann was re-christened the Abominable Black Man. All three of them have successful DVD lines distributed by Digital Sin built around their characters.

New Studios
But with new production studios springing up at a seemingly breakneck pace, and considering the recent downturn of adult DVD sales, have web publishers jumped the gun by creating even more of a glut of product on retailers' shelves?

Enter Black for some final words of wisdom.

"These web guys did it the smart way," he said. "Build your brand online where production costs are much cheaper, and then grow a following through affiliates and their surfers."

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

To Cloud or Not to Cloud, That Is the Question

Let’s be honest. It just sounds way cooler to say your business is “in the cloud,” right? Buzzwords make everything sound chic and relevant. In fact, someone uninformed might even assume that any hosting that is not in the cloud is inferior. So what’s the truth?

Brad Mitchell ·
opinion

Upcoming Visa Price Changes to Registration, Transaction Fees

Visa is updating its fee structure. Effective April 1, both the card brand’s initial nonrefundable application fee and annual renewal fee will increase from $500 to $950. Visa is also introducing a fee of 10 cents for each transaction, and 10 basis points — 0.1% — on the payment volume of certain merchant accounts.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Unpacking the New Digital Services Act

Do you hear the word “regulation” and get nervous? When it comes to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), you shouldn’t worry. If you’re complying with the most up-to-date card brand regulations, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

The Perils of Relying on ChatGPT for Legal Advice

It surprised me how many people admitted that they had used ChatGPT or similar services either to draft legal documents or to provide legal advice. “Surprised” is probably an understatement of my reaction to learning about this, as “horrified” more accurately describes my emotional response.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Free Agent Auteur: Casey Calvert Expands Her Directing Horizon

Now, having brought that highly-awarded polyamory trilogy to a close, Calvert is concluding the exclusive Lust Cinema directing chapter of her career and charting a new course out into open creative waters as a free agent.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

WIA Profile: Holly Randall

If you’re one of the many regular listeners to Holly Randall’s celebrated podcast, you are already familiar with her charming intro spiel: “Hi, I’m Holly Randall and welcome to my podcast, ‘Holly Randall Unfiltered.’ This is the show about sex, the adult industry and the people in it.

Women In Adult ·
trends

What's Hot Now: Leading Content Players on Trending Genres, Monetization Strategies

The juggernaut creator economy hurtles along, fueled by ever-ascendant demand for personality-based authenticity and intimacy — yet any reports of the demise of the traditional paysite are greatly exaggerated.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

An Ethical Approach to Global Tech Staffing

One thing my 24-year career as a technologist working to support the online adult entertainment industry has taught me about is the power of global staffing. Without a doubt, I have achieved significantly more business success as a direct result of hiring abroad.

Brad Mitchell ·
opinion

Finding the Right Payment Partner

Whenever I am talking with businesses that are just getting started, one particular question comes up a lot: “How do I get a merchant account?” It’s a simple question, but it has a complicated answer.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

The Taxman Cometh for Every Business

February may be the month of romance, but it is also a time when we need to think about something that inspires very little love: taxes. April is not far away, and the taxman is always waiting. This year, federal and most state income taxes are due Monday, April 15.

Cathy Beardsley ·
Show More