L.A. Stories- Common Whores Sense

In the world of Porn, paychecks come out on Wednesdays. Usually. Unless the company can't pay the perfomers, in which case the "talent" (a dubious distinction) drives all the way out to Chatsworth, only to be turned away empty handed and pissed off. Or pissed on, depending on the genre they participate in.

Our performers engage in a variety of "skill sets." When they come in to be photographed for a "go-see," they fill out a form stating what they're willing to do on camera and the types of scenes they're interested in performing. Here is the information we ask:

Legal Name

Stage Name

Date of Birth

Agent's Contact Info

How Many Scenes Performed

Weight/Height/Shoe Size

Breasts- enhanced or natural?

Ethnic Background

Measurements

Tattoos/Scars/Piercings? Where?

Please circle what you will do on camera- Boy/Girl, Girl/Girl, Toys, Boy/Girl/Boy, Anal, ATM, Anal Toys, Double Anal, Double Vaginal, Double Penetration, Cum Swallow, Internal Cum Shot, Facials, Bukkake, Gang Bang, Squirting, Rough Sex, Interracial Scenes, or "Everything."

Please circle any other talents you have- Dancing, Singing, Play Musical Instrument

(Then they sign a contract stating that we can use their go-see photos for any reason, at any time, for any purpose, and never pay them anything. We're awesome like that.)

Each girl has this on her "permanent file," so we know what she'll do and what she won't do.

Often, an agent will bring in a herd of "ladies" and have them fill out paperwork. Many of these girls are from Eastern Europe, or South America, and don't speak English. I remember one Latin beauty asking her sleazeball agent, "What... bukkake?"
He answered with a jerk off motion close to her had. "Many guys. Come. Your face."
"Ohhh," she answered, eyes wide with confusion.

When they ask me what "ATM" stands for, I tell them that if they have to ask they probably shouldn't circle it.

A lot of girls circle that they'll perform Interracial Scenes, but only if they're paid a significant extra amount of money. Like they don't want to disappoint their parents or something. This happens frequently with our Asian performers, and I have to point out that a scene involving any actors who aren't also Asian is technically "Interracial."
"No," they explain, "White dudes ain't interracial."
"Ohhh," I say.
"I just don't wanna do no Black dudes."
"Ohhh," I say, checking my facebook.

...Last Wednesday was a great day- we could actually pay people for the jobs they did- hand, rim, blow- all kinds of jobs! Around 3PM, a pair of breasts walked in, followed by a giant pair of lips and a girl.

She told me her stage name and asked me if she had a check available, and sure enough, she did! Usually, the girls just smile, wave thanks and bounce out the door, but this girl frowned as she signed for her check.

"The amount's not right," she said.

Uh-oh.

I called our payroll lady, and was told to tell the girl to take it up with Jose Vega, the director. Apparently, Vega handles all the contracts and vouchers. Since each girl's daily rate is determined by the amount of skills she displays on the video, there is no one "standard" rate. Oral sex pays $150. Just intercourse nets the girl another $50. If she performs a "solo," (a masturbation scene,) that's another $50. Same with a verbal interview or peeing on camera. If a girl engages in anal sex, the price goes up a lot more. She can get $300 total if she does Anal. Special talents like "DP," (double penetration) or gang bangs earn a girl an additional $100 on top of that. Each performer negotiates ahead of time with the director, and signs a contract stating what she will and will not do on camera that day.

I encouraged the girl to take it up with Vega, who, sadly, is a notorious spaz and kind of flakey. Cocaine's a hell of a thing.

"Make sure you stay on him- I know you worked hard for that money," I said.
"You don't know the half of it!" she said. "Do you know what he did to me???"
Um, nooo?

She explained. These are her exact words:

"It was my first Anal scene, right? ANAL. No crazy shit, right? Ok, so I'm riding Manny Gaspacho, and Vega tells the other guy to DP me! Without even warning me first! Anal's anal, but DP? Oh HELL no- he's gonna pay me extra for that. You don't just DP someone without asking first!"

"God damn right you don't," I agree. "Get your money honey!"

We high five in girl-power solidarity. You do NOT DP someone without asking first. Everyone knows this.

She leaves and I bathe in hand sanitizer.

It's a Wednesday in Chatsworth.