Vivid Entertainment Group is the world's largest adult video producer,[1] [2] featuring a popular catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content.[3] In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry. [4]
Vivid specializes in high-production-value movies, shot in exotic locations with professional lighting and quality cinematography. Vivid also produces gay porn movies under the names "Vivid Man" and "Vivid Video."
Vivid Girls
The company is known for the pioneering 'Vivid Girls'[5] concept of contract stars that inspired other studios to follow suit.[6] Vivid is often the first studio that the girls have worked with.[7] The Vivid Girls are retained on exclusive contracts much like those of bygone days of the Hollywood studio system. They command a higher salary than do free-agent performers and produce only a handful of films per year (in 2004, Jenna Jameson told an interviewer "you probably have more shags than I do - I only film a couple of scenes three or four times a year"). They are well known for their sex tape of Kim Kardashian and Ray J, which they paid Kim five million dollars for.
Vivid and Alt-Porn
In February 2006 Vivid made its first foray into Alt porn with the signing of Director Eon McKai and the formation of the Vivid-Alt imprint [8]. Vivid-Alt in turn hired erotic photographers— Dave Naz and Octavio "Winkytiki" Arizala[9] to direct features for the imprint.
The first film directed by Eon McKai under that imprint "Girls Lie"[9] was nominated for a 2007 AVN Award under the Best Director Non-Feature [10]. There were a total 13 nominations for various Vivid-Alt imprint releases.
Vivid Ed
In March 2007 Vivid signed award-winning author, columnist, editor and sex educator Tristan Taormino[11] to head up the Vivid-Ed imprint whose line has produced several how-to DVD sex guides including "The Expert Guide To Anal Sex," "The Expert Guide to Oral Sex, Part 1: Cunnilingus" "The Expert Guide to Oral Sex, Part 2: Fellatio" and "The Expert Guide to the G-Spot." On April 4, 2008 Vivid Ed's two oral sex instructional titles and director Tristan Taormino received an Emma Award from the Feminist Porn Awards in Toronto, Canada. [12]
Policies and production values
In the past, Vivid has had a strict policy mandating condom use (see below), and the sexual activities shown are generally "milder" than those of Vivid's competitors. Scenes of bondage are rare and particularly mild. Vivid did not follow the path taken by much of the rest of the U.S. porn industry in the late 1990s toward more explicit and extreme activities. Intercourse almost always involves a heterosexual couple. These policies are intended to appeal to a wide, mainstream market (including women and heterosexual couples) that may not rent or buy pornographic movies frequently. Vivid now produces many G/G films.
Vivid produces over 60 titles a year. The company has a small number of high budget movies that it produces and aggressively markets.[13] This is different from many other San Fernando Valley production companies, who routinely film, edit and release a two-hour title in less than a week, spending relatively little on advertising or promotion.[citation needed] According to Forbes Magazine Vivid produces 60 films per year and its annual revenue is $100 million USD.[14] The same estimate was given by Business Week in June 2006.[15] However, Vivid also aggressively repackages its original material in compilations which are relatively inexpensive to produce. Forbes also claimed that approximately one third of all the titles sold in U.S. adult DVD stores are Vivid films.
Its titles are sold through retail stores across the United States, the rental market and direct to consumers through its online mail-order site. Vivid also distributes the films to cable and satellite channels and offers its Internet subscribers full access to hundreds of titles. Steven Hirsch and David James started the company in 1984. Currently, Steven Hirsch and Bill Asher run Vivid.
In February 2006 reports alleged that Vivid had terminated their condom-only policy and would let performers decide whether to use condoms or not. Main competitor Wicked Pictures retained their condom-only policy.[16] Director Chi Chi LaRue left Vivid due to this change.[17]
Vivid also runs several websites, including websites featuring its "Vivid Girls." These websites prominently promote the "Vivid Girls" and their various videos. The site also allows users to view scenes from various Vivid productions, as well as much internet-only content.
Licensing Program
In 2005 sex toy company Phallix joined Vivid in an exclusive deal resulting in the creation of the Vivid Vixen Series of glass dildos. Top Vivid starlets such as Briana Banks, Nina Mercedez and Savanna Samson were among the many starlets to receive their own signature glass toy. Currently in 2007 Phallix was the sex toy of choice in the Vivid feature Where the Boys Aren't 18 Featuring Tera Patrick, Briana Banks and a host of other starlets together in one film. Also, in 2007 Schecter Guitars releases a limited line of Vivid Guitars.[18] Vivid also launched "Vivid Comix," a series of adult graphic novels featuring Vivid Girl performers. The company's publishing program includes the best-selling How to Have a XXX Sex Life: The Ultimate Vivid Guide from HarperCollins, plus a line of erotic novels.
Legal Controversy
On December 6, 2007, Vivid Entertainment filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against PornoTube. [19][20]. The lawsuit[21] alleges that the YouTube-like site profits from the illegal posting of Vivid's copyrighted films, and failed to comply with the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act, a federal age-verification and record-keeping law that applies to the adult film industry.
Awards
The following is a selection of some of the major awards Vivid films have won
- 1987 AVN Award - 'Best Video Feature' for Blame it on Ginger [22]
- 1991 AVN Award - 'Best Vignette Release' for Beat the Heat [22]
- 1992 AVN Award - 'Best Vignette Release' for Scarlet Fantasy [22]
- 1992 AVN Award - 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for The Masseuse [22]
- 1992 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for On Trial [22]
- 1997 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for Bobby Sox [22]
- 1998 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for Bad Wives [22]
- 2000 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for Seven Deadly Sins [22]
- 2002 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for Fade To Black [22]
- 2003 AVN Award - 'Top Selling Release of the Year' for Brianna Loves Jenna [22]
- 2003 AVN Award - 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for Brianna Loves Jenna [22]
- 2004 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for Heart of Darkness [22]
- 2005 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for The Masseuse [22]
- 2005 AVN Award - 'Best Video Feature' for Bella Loves Jenna [22]
- 2006 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for The New Devil in Miss Jones [22]
- 2006 AVN Award - 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for The Masseuse [22]
- 2008 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for Layout [23]
- 2008 AVN Award - 'Best Pro-Am Series' for Filthy's First Taste [23]
- 2008 AVN Award - 'Top Renting Title of the Year – 2007' for Debbie Does Dallas...Again [23]
- 2009 AVN Award - 'Best Educational Release' for Tristan Taramino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2 [24]
- 2009 AVN Award - 'Best Film' for Cry Wolf [24]
List of Vivid Girls
The following is a list of notable current and former Vivid actresses.
See also
External links
References
- ^ "The (Porn) Player" by Matthew Miller, Forbes magazine, July 4, 2005. Retrieved February 1, 2007.
- ^ "Adult film studio blames Google". digitaledge.excite.co.uk. 4 March 2009. http://digitaledge.excite.co.uk/news/1481/Adult-film-studio-blames-Google.
- ^ "Vivid Entertainment corporate website". Vivid Entertainment. July 2008. http://www.vividentertainment.com//.
- ^ "Porn stars strut their stuff at awards". TVNZ. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411423/646884. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
- ^ Vivid Entertainment Video Sample
- ^ "Vivid Studio Profile". GameLink.com. http://www.gamelink.com/display_studio.jhtml?id=236. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ "Vivid Entertainment corporate website". Vivid Entertainment. June 2008. http://www.vividentertainment.com//.
- ^ "Eon McKai Goes Vivid" Fleshbot, February 16, 2006
- ^ a b Chris Thorne. "Behind The Scenes at Vivid-Alt". XCritic. http://www.xcritic.com/columns/column.php?columnID=147. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ^ "Vivid Lands 168 Noms" Adult Industry News, November 28, 2997
- ^ "Tristan Taormino Debuts Vivid Ed Line" by Eddie Adams AVN Mar 30, 2007
- ^ "Vivid-Ed Wins Emma Award" at Feminist Porn Award show in Toronto April 8, 2008
- ^ VIVID ENTERTAINMENT GROUP is the world's leading adult film company..
- ^ Pulley, Brett (2005-03-07). "The Porn King". Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/business/2005/03/07/cz_bp_0307vivid.html. Retrieved 2005-03-07.
- ^ "The Pornographers vs. The Pirates". Business Week. 2006-06-19. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_25/b3989088.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ Fishbein, Paul (2006-02-01). "Vivid Quietly Goes Condom-Optional". AVN News. http://www.avn.com/index.php?Primary_Navigation=Articles&Action=View_Article&Content_ID=257928?. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ Romaine, Jason (2006-02-02). "Chi Chi Leaves Vivid Over Condom Policy". xbiz. http://www.xbiz.com/news_piece.php?id=13242. Retrieved 2006-03-14.
- ^ Vivid Guitars
- ^ Joseph Menn (2007-12-11). "Porn producer sues YouTube knockoff". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-vivid11dec11,1,2232727.story. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ "Home porn gives industry the blues", guardian.co.uk, 16 December 2007. Accessed 04 March 2009.
- ^ "Adult Film Company's Copyright Lawsuit Against PornoTube". FindLaw. 2007-12-11. http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/ip/vividaebn120607cmp.html. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "AVN AWARDS PAST WINNERS". AVN. http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=pastwinners. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
- ^ a b c "2008 AVN AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED". AVN. http://business.avn.com/articles/2759.html. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
- ^ a b "THE 2009 AVN AWARDS WINNERS". AVN. http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=winners09. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
