April 23, 2001 03:07pm
Hollywood Techs Consider Porn Work
Source: AP
(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- Mainstream movie technicians and actors are looking to the pornography industry to line up work in case of actors and writers strikes.
At Sin City Entertainment, a number of people have called inquiring about jobs, including a few mainstream film editors, grips, one director of photography and ``several B-movie actors and actresses looking for nonsexual roles,'' said spokesman Jeff Wozniak.
Jimmy Flynt II, director of marketing and public relations for Hustler, founded by his uncle Larry, said he's logged at least three dozen calls in recent months from Hollywood technicians inquiring about temporary work. Hustler produces about six videos a month requiring 120 film free-lancers, including cinematographers, production managers and line producers, he said.
``People of very high caliber are interested in finding work,'' said Flynt.
He said the pay generally is less than Hollywood union scale, noting that a line producer will make $2,500 for a three-day adult shoot versus $50,000 to $75,000 for a regular movie.
Contracts covering TV and movie writers expire May 1. A strike by the Screen Actors Guild (news - web sites), whose contract expires June 30, is also looming.
Union leaders told the Los Angeles Times that they hadn't heard whether members had been contacting the porn shops.
``It doesn't sound bad to me,'' joked Norm Glasser, business agent for Hollywood electricians, Local 728 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Seriously, he added: ``If there's a strike, everybody's on their own, more or less.''
Prolonged strikes by Hollywood writers and actors would cost the local economy nearly $6.9 billion and push the region into an economic slowdown, according to a study commissioned by Mayor Richard Riordan.
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