Tagged: Los Angeles

Posted Oct 13th, 2010 02:22 PM by Steve Javors

LOS ANGELES—In light of yesterday’s news of an unidentified performer testing positive for HIV, many adult studios in California are either halting production or taking a wait and see approach to shooting new material.

Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures were the first two major adult studios to publicly announce they would be halting production until further notice.

“When Vivid was first made aware that a performer had tested positive for HIV we immediately suspended production,” Vivid founder/co-chairman Steven Hirsch said. “We did this as a precaution and will continue to monitor the situation. AIM Healthcare acted appropriately to quarantine all adult talent who may have been exposed. We will wait for all of the facts to emerge before we resume production.”

Wicked Pictures, a condom mandatory company, also has temporarily suspended production.

“Even though Wicked is condoms-mandatory, we have postponed our upcoming productions to give AIM a chance to create a comprehensive quarantine list,” a Wicked official said in a statement. “Thanks to the continued efforts of AIM the entire industry was all made aware of this possible threat on the same day.”

AVN also has learned of several other studios waiting for the dust to settle before they resume production, including Hustler Video, Digital Playground, Jennaration X Studios, Girlfriends Films and Kick Ass Pictures.

Jenna Haze, owner of Jennaration X Studios, told AVN that while she recently wrapped her most recent title, Legs Up Hoes Down, she had two scenes scheduled for later in the week but has cancelled them. She said she plans to halt production for 30 days.

“We fully support AIM’s process,” Girlfriends Films Vice President Moose told AVN. “At Girlfriends Films the wellbeing of our performers is always first and foremost.”

Kick Ass Pictures President Mark Kulkis told AVN that his company has no new production scheduled for this week and is waiting to hear more from AIM before he will commit to or cancel next week’s scheduled shoots.

“I’m still playing it by ear right now,” Kulkis said. “For next week I haven’t decided because I don’t know what’s going on yet. We’re taking a wait and see approach for the next few days because we have a bit of time before our next shoot dates.”

Major production house Hustler Video told AVN that it’s wrapping production on its current project and then is suspending production until it receives more information.

“While we have suspended all future production plans in the short term, we will conclude our current shoot which will wrap within the week. We have no plans to begin additional production until we get a better overview of the current situation,” Hustler Video Director of Operations Rob Smith said.

Also add Digital Playground to the list of companies that are suspending production for the foreseeable future.

“I want to take the time to talk to all my performers before I make any big announcement, but we are canceling all of our shoots for the forseeable future,” Digital Playground CEO Samantha Lewis told AVN.

http://business.avn.com/articles/Major-Adult-Studios-Cease-Production-After-HIV-Performer-Report-415564.html