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WIA Profile: Kim Kysar

What did you do for a living prior to working in the adult industry?

I worked for a major accounting software corporation in the operations department. Needless to say I didn't find it very fulfilling, so I also worked as a freelance writer for Carbon 14, which is a pretty amazing international Art/Music/Smut /Wrestling magazine, that I still write for on occasion. [I also wrote for] a sex column for the now-defunct CrimsonandCherry.com, and toured the US and Europe as a merchandise girl, driver, and all-round road-hand for a few underground rock bands — The 440s, Cretin 66, The Lastcall Brawlers, and Cocknoose. I also played guitar for The Sintillators.

I don't think DVD is dead.

How big a problem is content piracy for Pink Visual? Is it a major issue, a minor nuisance, or somewhere in between?

I would say that [DVD and Internet] content piracy is a major issue for the industry as a whole, including PV. I think if every piece of content out there were branded with its source company or URL, it would be the most rampant and successful viral marketing tactic to date, while helping to thwart piracy. Then you could offer rewards and hold contests for the web community to report links to instances of improper use. Also, if someone sees the content and likes it, they know exactly where to go to get more. I really believe the people who never pay for porn never will, and those who are just surfing for kicks will purchase a site membership or DVD if they stumble across something they really like.

There has been a lot of talk about DVD being 'dead,' and about the need for DVD producers to diversify and adapt to the modern market. What is Pink Visual doing to ensure its own longevity?

I don't think DVD is dead. It has another good 5-10 years. However, now is definitely the best time to be entrenched in other distribution methods like VOD, broadcasting, hospitality, and other licensing opportunities, like IPTV. PV's main focus for the past two years has been diversification both on- and offline. Perhaps that's one of the benefits of coming from the Internet; we move fast, adapt to new and emerging technology, and react quickly. We don't wait for something to die before moving on to new technology, we simply add it to our delivery methods. To be successful in any business I believe you have to always have one eye on the horizon and one ear to the ground, be ready for what's next, then move on it. There's no time for hand wringing about what might happen or when it will happen, you just have to be ready to move, and move fast.

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.

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