Open email from the makers of UK Student House

[JackHorny]

So far nobody has addressed the issue that myself, Jayce and Libby hit upon...

This 30 day rule is absolutely great - can't argue with the theory at all. However, in practice - for guys like myself and many others it is going to be a logistical (and quite possibly a financial) nightmare.

My own health authority and many others in this country will NOT issue a HIV/STI cert - sure, they'll give you the tests, verbally give you the results - but ask for a certificate and you get a point blank refusal - not at ANY PRICE will they issue a cert.

So, we're left with using the widely used "industry" clinics in London - med express, regents park and Indigo... Use indigo and you get your certs free of charge but you've still got the ?90 train fare (or whatever it is from where you are) and a long, long day ahead of you....

Now factor that in with someone like myself - a male who isn't part of the "in crowd" - who isn't getting used day in, week out - who perhaps gets the call once a month or sometimes less...

To be quite honest - it's a non-starter for us. We're just not going to be able to afford or co-ordinate things under this new standard.

If this is going to be introduced as the new industry standard then I really think the agents PUSHING this standard should also be putting equal pressure on the health authorities and such like to get the testing infrastructure to a position where it can cope with this new standard.

[paul jones]

If you want 30 day certs then the perfomers need to go private, (to avoid huge waiting delays for appointments), and that means 2 trips to London - one for the tests and one a week later (at the earliest, my latest one was over 2 weeks after the test) for the results and ID verification with Passport.

Say 300 quid, and basically two whole days if you're outside London. (Which is nearly 4 grand a year, and 28 days in clinics). Now, how much do most performers get paid?

30 day rules might work for London based people working in the business full time, but not outside London, or for part timers.

Or are producers planning to pay the performers, esp the part timer guys, more to cover the extra expenses?

I reckon that it should be something like "full time industry pro, 30 day tests. Part timers, three month tests".

I'll tell you what I'm more worried about, and that is the new Eastern European girls, who will soon be entertaining us all over here. They are stunning and cute, but risky.

Last time I got a cert the clinic was very concerned about HIV and STDs in Eastern Europe, and had I had sex with anyone from there (EE, Russia and Africa).

So the producers and agents will soon be flying them over, getting them tested and getting them work, but for the first three months a girl could be very dangerous re HIV. Eastern European tests can be bought, so can't be trusted.

So basically if the industry wants to be about safety the producers and agents should be saying "Euro girls, no hardcore work until you have been here 3 months and had two sets of tests".

Pigs might fly.....

I'm happy to work in the Uk with UK girls on a three month test basis, and with new Uk girls on a single test, because they are low risk. But for the Euro girls I'm thinking condoms only until they have been here 3 months. I'd suggest that all guys do the same.

[sandie]

about flippin time. now maybe people like myself who have done the right/responsible thing for the last 2 years will be apprechiated instead of getting shit thrown at them from all directions.
No one should be thrown off a shoot for doing the right thing and i for one will look forward to seeing the shoe on the other foot now.

I dont see those models who made my life hell now coming forward and offering there support to this cause!!!

anyway my personal grip over.

if america can introduce a health standard then so can we. I understand that its hard enough in this country to find good and reliable talent along with all the other up hill struggles of filming this is the last thing alot of producers want to make things harder. But if i can enforce it as a performer and producer then so can the rest.

u have my full support.

[Cerberus]

I agree with what Jason is trying to achieve but as Phil points out it's fraught with problems.
Our regional GUMS/STD clinic is already operating beyond capacity so even the best planning will not get you an appointment let alone full test screening within 30 days. (6-8 weeks for appt, 3 weeks for results!)
Plus they WILL NOT issue you with any paperwork/certs regardless of payment.
Another question, why should the NHS pick up the tab for occupational testing? So who pays? the model, producer, punter?
Privately run clinics do offer same day testing & certs but they are mostly based in London & the cost of screening can be excessive/prohibitive.
Yes I know it's a safety issue but some models I know only work maybe twice a month so after paying for testing every 30 days what's the point in modelling when the fees cover testing costs......work for f**k all or go pole dancing?
So there's the next poser...by trying to make the whole thing safer & open are you in danger of killing your own industry? Because only accepting the girls that comply will severly restrict your options/numbers of girls available & as producers are always seeking "new talent" would this not be the final nail?

[JackHorny]

As I've said - I don't disagree with the 30-day rule, I just don't think it is practical for MOST performers in the UK.

It works in the US because they have the testing infrastructure - and lets not forget, there is a little more money in the industry over there!

If live in or around London and you are getting regular work, this 30-day standard isn't going to cause massive problems - its still going to be difficult to get the timing and logistics right for many - but for those getting work infrequently and living outside London it is going to be a non-starter...

If we're going to introduce the US standard, then we need to see a US style infrastructure in place to cater for it.

[Libby Ellis]

Hear hear Jack!!
I could not agree more that the industry standard should be set at 30 days for HIV and STDs testing and certification ...... BUT where are we going to get this testing done!

It will lead to a severe shortage of models as many, like myself, cannot afford to travel to London once a month for the testing. We will turn to making our money from other avenues such as pay-sites instead of doing videos.

If the producers are going to insist on 30 day testing then the fees will have to increase to cover the costs - even then for most porn actresses this will still be too difficult. I make maybe two or three videos a year - so a trip to London every four weeks would cripple me financially.

Again I repeat - I AM ALL FOR SAFETY but exactly the best way to go about this needs to be worked out carefully.

Libby

[paul jones]

One more thing.

Working on a 30 day rule will mean that all performers will need to be highly organised, with diaries stretching months ahead, clinics booked for test, for results etc.

The producers will also need to be planning weeks/months ahead.

I actually just told a producer (who uses a 30 day rule) that I got my test on the 3rd Feb, my Cert on the 19th, giving me an almost finished 2 week shooting time before the 30 days is up. They can't use me next week, so that's that on that cert. My next test will be late April, so if they want me within 30 days of my next, let's talk dates in early - mid May, and lets do it in late March/early April so that I can fix my testing diary.

Yesterday there was a no show girl, who had confirmed repeatedly that she would be there. How many girls (esp new ones) can plan ahead a week, let alone 8?

Not all producers are that well organised either.

Given the choice between shoots not happening, and shoots happening with last minute replacements with a 40-80 day cert, what do you think people will do?

[Kinky Kerry]

Hey Faye

WELL flipping said. As I have Just got my test done (Thursday) went back as told at 4.45pm to pick up my HIV cert and was not at all happy to find that all the health advisors had left at 4pm. And was not able to go today due to already having been booked for a NON B/G shoot and was not able to get their.

I feel that this has maybe happened due to a certain Contract model saying that she will NOT work with models who do certain things which has obviously influenced Mike Newcombe to ask his models to insure they have 30 day HIV certs. If this is so I also think that she needs to have the full facts of what those Models do to make it safe for them self?s and those they work with.