Snuffed by the recession?

[Algenon5]

I had thought the snuff porn business would be reasonably recession proof - but apparently not. Some producers have reduced their output. Others are re-releasing old titles instead of producing new videos. A few producers have stopped all activity, though their existing videos still are available for sale. There are bright spots. A few producers like KHP and COH continue to turn out 4 to 6 new clips per month.

What about you? Have you temporarily reduced or stopped your video purchases?

[Nyghtfall]

I've significantly reduced my spending over the last couple of years, but not because I can't afford any of the material. No one's producing anything I want. Unfortunately, I can't afford to have my own custom videos made, either.

[Algenon5]

I tend to agree with you, Nightfall, about the general quality of production.
Nevertheless a few well-acted gems have been released recently. In the
main I've become much more selective about what I buy. In this regard I
would like to see a lot more user reviews.

[Algenon5]

Paul, I thoroughly agree with your philosophy of video making, and in particular your comment on producers who load up their videos with junk filler, just to extend the runtime. (Of course there may be a few who honestly think they're making "Gone With the Wind.") It's also great to hear the new girls are working out well and are enthusiastically into production. There is absolutely no doubt that in something like this enthusiasm is the key to everything. Quality lasts. Crap fades. You have nothing to worry about.

As for what we the great unwashed public wants, I plan to post a series of basic polls on our snuff fetish likes and dislikes. The response to these kinds of open polls usually isn't great. Nevertheless, I hope they will be of some help to conscientious producers in figuring out what we want. Of course, we shouldn't always be listened to. Video makers do need to follow their own visions.

[Algenon5]

You know you meant you, and I know you meant you. Guess I just over-extended your thought to if the shoe fits…

It is a mystery why people are so reluctant to respond to anonymous polls, even when it's in their interest to do so. Well, we'll see what happens this time. The first of what could stretch to 5 or 10 polls is up.

[JohnM]

I have done polls on my own and other forums. I think I was up to 70 votes one time. Still, they are fun to create and answer. I enjoy reading the followup responses.

JohnM

[Nightposter]

Before I closed my XXXratedgroup.com site I had three standing polls:
Favorite uniform type ( cop,nurse, military,etc) 25 total votes
Favorite method of peril (of 10 selections, strangle and beat down were ahead - 55 total votes here)
Should I draw new or continue to repost collection? ( 10 votes 5 for each )
90 total votes out of 165 members at shutdown

When I was at Yahoo we had 5500 members ( not counting bouncing e-mail members, I weeded them out monthly, all members had to at least get daily digest to join) only 45 all time posters, and less than 10 regular posters, any poll we set up drew less than 50 total votes.

I've always had members who e-mail me at my outside address (Gmail now) and comment or send me pics to post for them anon. They just wanted to look and enjoy with out being required to say something. ( I had several admitted cops - female, from Switzerland, Germany, England, Cleveland? and a state trooper from Illinois, two lawyers, one who tried to help when we were dropped by Yahoo, a judge, and two women who claimed to hold office, one in Germany, one in G.B. all requesting to remain anonymous)

Due to the recession, I am still out of work, I have had to stop all paid memberships in sites, and haven't bought a video from any producer or site this year. I won't give out banking info, so haven't tried to buy anything from anywhere that doesn't take pay pal or credit cards

[Den-CnB]

Due to the recession, I am still out of work, I have had to stop all paid memberships in sites, and haven't bought a video from any producer or site this year. I won't give out banking info, so haven't tried to buy anything from anywhere that doesn't take pay pal or credit cards

Just to Posters on FF that have posted before the date and time of this post.

If you are 18 or 21 - of legal age where you live and the material is legal to view in your area.

Email me in confidence about your financial hardship(short) that prevents you from getting a paid membership and I will give you a 30 day membership to my site CnB.
I announce this from time to time but rarely and do it whenever a person has a hardship since I opened 11 years ago. Since I posted this on a public forum I have to limit it to 5 free memberships.

Den@cnbhorror.com

Dennis

[bellystabs]

Dennis, again I am impressed by another generous producer/provider here on FF. Thanks for offering a terrific 30-day membership during this difficult time. I wish you continued success at CNB.

[Bluestone]

Thanks, Dennis,

This is what really makes this community a wonderfully fun and caring place to hang out!

I'd like to encourage those who are somewhat recession-proof to support producers such as Dennis who really put the consumer first

Blue

[kevin67]

Way to go Dennis. You set a great example for the community.

[JohnM]

The recession has been an interesting time. For most of 2008, I was able to put away funds, not for a 401k or a 521 plan (that would be fiscally responsible and un-American) :-), but for a big shoot. I wanted to do a shooting and an asphyx with a big cast. In fall of 2008, I was able to do that with three movies: Sleepover Massacre, Rival Gang Shootout, and Sorority 9. And, they actually broke even by December of 2008. Then January of 2009 hit and things got bad. With income dropping, I cut loose my production manager and dug in. I keep producing and because of a huge backlog of things shot over the previous year or so, I was able to release content at my current level. The way I survived was to cut funding my own productions and rely more heavily on custom productions. Making a large movie like Sorority 9 now seems like an impossibility in today's economy. Luckily, I am blessed with great customers that continue to support me as best they can. Recently, one of my customs customers ordered a huge project which resulted in a movie called Webcam Massacre.

Like Dennis, Paul, Blue, PT and others I have been doing everything I can to help out the very customers I depend on for support. I have reduced prices, maintained sales, and offered multi-purchase incentives through the mail.

Right now, there is a buy 1 movie, get one for $5 and a by 3 get a 4th free for snail mail download orders.

A few months ago, I had to discontinue DVD sales as part of a cost cutting and time saving measure.

Just last week, after finding what appears to be a reliable download service, I put together a 40min movie with a bunch of good, long scenes:

PKF Showcase, 344MB 39minutes, 720X480 WMV
http://www.filedropper.com/pkfshowcase1

So far, 2853 people have downloaded and hopefully enjoyed it.

I hope to do more of those as I can, even when things get better--especially when things get better.

Like many other good producers here, we have been around a while and the sole reason that is--is you. So, times are tough for many, and we can all help each other out. Buy a little--give a little. It can't hurt.

Take care,
JohnM

[Bluestone]

Thanks, John,

Again, this is what it's all about. FF is called by some a producer-friendly site, but that doesn't just mean that we welcome and encourage producers here, it means that we are a site that allows customer-friendly producers to interact with the general community. As a result, we all win! Thanks for all you have done and continue to do for our community, John. You and Dennis have now challenged the rest of us producers to come up with our own anti-recession snuff programs. The sale idea sounds good. I'll see what I can put together and announce it here

Blue

[Bluestone]

Right on, Paul!

Okay, here's the deal! A 90 day membership to Bluestone's Silk Videos is $50 for 90 days which gives you at least 4 videos immediately and 2 per month during the 90 day membership period. So, it is very reasonably priced already. For the next 24 hours, I have slashed this 90 day membership in half to only $25.00 as my way of helping those who have not been able to afford a membership in these tough times. A membership can be purchased using all major credit cards here: http://www.silknblood.com/store/product ... cts_id=125

Enjoy

Blue

[Algenon5]

JohnM, I much appreciate the price reductions and additional incentives you and other responsible producers are offering. Not only are they generous - they're the sensible thing to do.

I've become much more selective in my purchases. Not so much for financial reasons - though there is a bit of that - but because I was buying too many videos that turned out to be disappointments. (Alright, so I'm a picky bastard.) Another reason is I've thoroughly gone through virtually everything that's currently available, and have already bought all the older productions I want. On average, I now buy 1 to 2 downloads a week. Will this increase when things improve and the number of new productions increases? Probably. I only hope that too much talent isn't lost in the meantime.

As an aside, I've noticed that a few producers are still turning out new videos in the $40 to $50 price range. I haven't taken a flyer on any of these, because to date I haven't found price to be much of an indicator of quality. If, and it's a big if, these prices are working out for these producers, they must have incredibly loyal fans.

Actually I'm upbeat. Through personal experience and business contacts I see that the economy definitely is improving, though the full effects of this probably won't be felt for another six months. An additional good sign is the current political push to extend broadband to all areas of the country. (That this hasn't been done already is nothing short of criminal.) Once this happens the future can only be bright.

Regards