The legal issues surrounding porn...

[max_tranmere]

Apparently in America porn film making is illegal but because of the First Amendment they can't stop the distribution of it, and in order to distribute it you have to make it, so porn film making becomes something that is permitted and can't be stopped because it is distributed. You need some kind of permit to do it too. I was wondering what the situation is in Britain. Do you need some kind of permit, or can anyone with a movie camera make porn, pay the stars in cash, and sell copies of the movies?

[Essex Lad]

Yes as long as they are BBFC certified afaik.

[one eyed jack]

What Essex Lad said and if on the web you are 2257 compliant (ids and model release and std certs)

As for permit to shoot...What permit? Book a model, break out your wallet. Pick up a camera, mobile phone and you can make a movie.

The only permit I know of is the one you have to apply from the local council where you want to trade dvds for retail via a shop outlet which is ridiculous because its like an offical backhander to be allowed to sell porn. As far as I know, no other trade has to do this and what precisely do the local councils do with that money which is tantamount to gangsterism if you ask me

[frankthring]

I would be most grateful if one of you clever chaps could enlighten me
EXACTLY as to the current situation regarding the Obscene Publications
Act which, so far as I am aware, is still on the Statute Book ?
Has it been officially amended ? If so what are the exact amendments ?
Just because the police and authorities turn a benevolent/blind eye
towards porn does not make it legal in a legal sense.
The last time I shot a big feature in England about 5 years ago, thinking
times had changed, the Old Bill suddenly dropped in because the
neighbours had complained ! We cleared the matter up but I have not
repeated this fiasco ! The sheer number of cameras everywhere watching
you guys also bothers me ! Is it also an offense to offend someone ?
No one bothers us in mainland Europe !

[rgb]

The Obscene Publications Act is still there. Society's (i.e a jury's) idea of obscenity has changed.

[one eyed jack]

As long as you dont plan on shagging corpses or parking a car up a girls bottom then you should be fine...

Oh and no whipping your wanger out or sex in public places either. Otherwise its all good in the hood.

[Dave Wells]

Terry, think man ! You know who has already done those !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[max_tranmere]

So if a girl wanted to be a pornstar she could just get hold of the mobile number of a guy who shoots porn, agree a price, show up (and show her passport and recent certificates proving she is clean), shag, be paid, and go home. Is it that straight forward?

[one eyed jack]

Thats how its always been Max. Yes.

[one eyed jack]

Its also the most expensive and addictive hobby and the fastest way to go broke if you dont treat it with respect like you would any other business.

There is nothing closed shop about it. If you got the moeny then youre in. Simple as. If you dont have the means to earn money from it then you wont last very long.

Ive seen people lose everything because they thought they would make a fortune before long. That gold rush is over