My thoughts on AVN / TS Awards

[Vicki Richter]

Personally, I would like to see them cap the number of times someone can be nominated. This would dissuade people from nominating themselves during weak years when they aren't likely to win. The performer should also have to be in no less than 3 videos with a nomination year Date of Production in the calendar year that they were nominated. For example, and no I am not going after Buck specifically, but it looks like (on adultdvdempire) all of Buck's titles for this year were produced in 2006. If AVN did it for straight the way they do it for TS stuff, Tara Patrick and Jenna Jamison would be nominated for performer of the year every year. That would be a joke.

I mean legitimately, performer of the year is supposed to be about the body of work someone does for that year. What did that person do that was pushing the boundaries or was the best of the best in their genre. I could give a list of things I did in my scenes that fit into this criteria. That isn't me being conceited, it is me knowing the kind of movies I make, my diversity, and flexibility as a performer.

Here is an example, in my 2005 winning year, I had devirginized more GG's to TS that year than any other performer. Julie Knight, Arianna Jolie, Christie Lee, Ava Devine, Cemmy, and others. I performed in many 3-ways. I topped. I bottomed. I worked for the biggest and best companies several times. I worked with AIM tests for bareback scenes. I swallowed other people's cum. I swallowed my own cum. I worked with guys, other TS, and as stated GG's. I did gang bang movies. I was in a straight feature/gonzo. I didn't just do solo scenes or condom only scenes with a guy. What is innovative about that? What is the "best in class" for the other performers on the list for this year?

Similarly, when Vaniity won, she was pushing the boundaries hard. She was working with GG's as much as men. She did a reverse gang bang that would have been brutal for any performer. She did an Interactive that made it into a nom against mainstream performers, a feat only accomplished by one other TS to date - Danielle. She headlined/featured in almost every shemale title by Evil Angel that year. There is no question she deserved it and stood out from her peers... She nudged out Joanna that year who was doing the same type of stuff, even a double anal, and TS on TS, but for companies with less clout.

This year, two performers who meet that criteria that were not on the list were Holly Sweet and Danielle Foxxx. Both of them made some cutting edge porno this past year. They aren't sexually into other TS, but they did TS on TS scenes. They did BDSM/fetish scenes. They worked with AIM testing without condoms. This pushes our genre forward people... at least in terms of being peers with straight porn.

I would also like to see a Best TS Newcomer award category. While we don't have many newcomers in our genre, perhaps they could expand it to be the first two years of someone's career in TS. This year we would have a really tough race. Khloe, Jesse, Jade and a bunch more I am probably forgetting.

My point is, the award isn't supposed to be a popularity contest among our community or about feeding people's egos. That wasn't the spirit it was created in.

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

Grammy's does the same thing

folks make an album and release it in November of say '06, they might not win until '08

[tsntx]

good post

[justatransgirl]

Here is an example, in my 2005 winning year, I had devirginized more GG's to TS that year than any other performer. Julie Knight, Arianna Jolie, Christie Lee, Ava Devine, Cemmy, and others. I performed in many 3-ways. I topped. I bottomed. I worked for the biggest and best companies several times. I worked with AIM tests for bareback scenes. I swallowed other people's cum. I swallowed my own cum. I worked with guys, other TS, and as stated GG's. I did gang bang movies. I was in a straight feature/gonzo. I didn't just do solo scenes or condom only scenes with a guy.

Wow - nice to know you aren't a nasty girl or anything...

Giggle,
TS Jamie

I want to be a nasty girl too...

[bezane]

Very informative. Don't know anything about the industry but I feel like I understand it better and agree. Really great point about pushing the genre forward. Don't think it's quite as relative in other genres.

Excellent darling.

[WendyWilliams]

Vicki I hope we as professionals can discuss this without our dislike for each other too come through.

My problem that I have is that you always "assume" that I nominated myself. But lets look at this. Gia Darling, Joanna Jet, and myself all own our own production company. Therefore a majority of our work is released via our own company. So if I produce a dvd that I feel was amazing and release it why shouldnt I allowed to nominate myself for that piece of work? For your information Joanna nominated me for SHemale Fetish Extreme which received 2 nominations for Most Outrageous Sex Scene and Best Transsexual Release therefore wouldnt you assume since the dvd was NOT the norm and received good praise I would be nominated. I dont see why you continue too take punches at me when I really have worked hard and try to promote our genre in a positive manner.

Last year I had more releases than any ts nominated and I must say some of my best work came from that year.

I do agree that there should be a minimum number of releases before you can get nominated and I agree with a newcomer category.

Vicki I honestly have nothing against you and in all honesty admire your work and beauty I am only human and react to your constant little slams towards me.

I hope you can atleast understand where Im coming from as a Independant Producer that if I control the majority of my releases than why wouldnt I nominate myself for a title which was NOT the case this year or last year.

Wendy

[hondarobot]

That was a lot to read before I've even had breakfast, but all good points.

[Vicki Richter]

It's about the nominating process in general. There is no criteria. I don't really know how to respond to the thing about how one perceives their own scenes. What would be neat, would be if the individual nominated could either accept or deny the nomination... based upon said criteria about only 3 noms in a lifetime. If they accept, they submit 3 pieces of their work that they considered the best they did for that calendar year. The award process is then decided based upon the outcome of a small committee's opinions of those scenes. Of course the committee's selection would have to consist of industry insiders. It would be great to see people like Seanchai, Joey, Sammy, Mark, and Bob be the four. Of course, girls would be trying to fuck the judges for favors, but then this happens in straight porn anyway.

Of course this is much too complex for the AVN to pull off and I realize that it is not going to change just because I write a stupid note on a porn site.

And Wendy, this isn't just about you. Although, I would question your other nominee selection as well. I really don't think one movie justifies nominating someone for performer of the year. Maybe you can describe what you feel she did to stretch the boundaries of porn in that release. By all appearances, you hooked up a friend instead of honored the spirit of the process. I am keeping this an open dialog, so don't get defensive.

[ironx]

.... so don't get defensive.

opcorn

[goldtop]

why shouldnt I allowed to nominate myself for that piece of work?

modesty ?