“People can make change happen,” 3 Vision CEO Allan Smith told XBIZ, “and we have to make changes for the positive. All we’re talking about is proactive responsibility. BPAV is a simple change that could make Washington a little more sympathetic to the industry.”
3 Vision joins companies such as Platinum Media, which has so far released two titles with the seal on their box covers as well as at the beginning and end of the DVDs.
Launched by XBIZ Publisher Alec Helmy, BPAV exists to send a positive message to critics of adult entertainment and the public at large by promoting professionalism and ethical practices in content production and the treatment of performers.
To endorse the idea of best practices within the industry, companies can download the BPAV seal from https://www.bpav.org/support.html. The seal can be placed on websites, box covers, printed material and video intros on DVDs.
Smith, who became 3 Vision’s CEO two years ago, said it is crucial for the adult industry to build bridges to government. He was elected the 2005 Businessman of the Year by the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Business Advisory Council. Unfortunately, he said, most adult professionals aren’t willing to make the effort.
“BPAV is a small part of making the right impression, not just in Hollywood but also in Washington,” he said.
3 Vision will begin using the BPAV seal with the July release of “Runaway Models” and “Back in Black 2.” It then will be used on all titles going forward, including the company’s European productions.
Fostering stars — and treating them like stars — is simply good business, Smith said.
“Look what happened today: Jenna Jameson became No. 1 on the online hit list; she has taken the lead over all other celebrities and passed Britney Spears as the most-searched person on the Internet,” he said. “It was all over the news. That’s good for the industry.”
Beyond helping the industry enhance its image, Smith said the standards of professionalism endorsed by BPAV are simply the right thing to do, citing his experiences in the mainstream movie business, where he won two Emmy Awards for "The Alaskan Experience" and "Cruising The World."
“We have a responsibility as producers to treat performers with respect,” he said. “We’ve all heard stories about girls being treated badly, and so has Washington. Our industry is the film industry. There’s no reason we can’t treat performers like mainstream Hollywood treats actresses. In fact, we should treat them with even more respect because of what they’re performing.”
