What to Expect Before, During, After a Scene?

XCRITIC

February 11, 2020
CYBER5

Expectations:

General:

Open Communication between all parties involved. You should have access to emails and/or social media to the directors/producers that you will be working with during a scene. This is a key component to a good working relationship so that if any questions should arise then you will have a way to contact the parties involved. When communication fails then that is when bad things can happen. Always have an open line of communication before, during, and after a scene.
Be prepared to sign/provide paperwork to parties involved in the scene. All scenes require a 2257 and a Model Release Form. Basically one is allowing your image to be produced for film and distributed and the other is age verification that you are over the age of 18. Also, valid identification is required. Some directors require both a picture ID and Social Security Card.
Coordinate ahead of time with all parties involved what type of scene that you will be filming. What will the scene entail? Who are the other talent involved in the scene? This when talent should let the director/producer know if there is someone you do not want to work with or if you have any limitations on the type of talent chosen. Is it a paid scene or a trade content scene? What is expected from the producer/director and what is expected of the performer? Again communication is key for there to be NO misunderstandings or confusion on what you are agreeing to do before you arrive for the scene. Make sure to discuss your Do’s and Don’ts with the director/producer. Make your wishes known. Consent should always be given.
The newest trend is to shoot content scenes. The evolution of the porn industry has allowed performers to take control of their own creative art and sell it on the multitude of platforms available for content creators. When you agree to shoot content with others, you are not only the talent but the director/producer in many cases so you are responsible for all aspects of the shoot. You must all agree on how, when, and where the content will be produced, directed, and distributed so again communication is key.
As a producer/director or talent at any time, you can make the decision to kill a scene. What that means is that for whatever reason any of those involved chooses not to shoot the scene, that is their choice to cancel it. As a producer/director, you can offer talent a kill fee (small amount of money to compensate for the cancellation) however it is NOT required. A kill fee is at the discretion of the producer/director. As talent, if for some reason you do not feel comfortable shooting the scene then do not be afraid to express your feelings and choose not to shoot the scene. In both situations, the parties must remain professional. It is always best to let the other party know in advance if the scene is not going to happen if possible.
It is the responsibility of both the producer/director and the talent to make sure that all performers in any scenes are complying with testing procedures. Everyone on set should be aware of all safety precautions taken for the talents’ health. This is where the producer/director must communicate the requirements of all talent with each other. Some companies are condom only companies so they may require testing plus condoms or may just require condoms. This is where the communication comes into play again.

Directors/Producers:

Communicate with the talent all the requirements that are needed well in advance of the scene.
What type of wardrobe is required and is it provided?
Is hair/makeup provided or should they come hair/makeup ready?
Where will the scene be located? Will travel be provided?
If talent is traveling from another location, are you providing lodging?
What type of accommodations will be provided for the talent? (ie. Bathroom, dressing area, food, water, etc.)
What special instructions does the talent need before the scene (ie. Anal prep, squirting, etc.)
Let the talent know the estimated time they will be on set
Do your own research on the talent you are hiring. Have you discussed the type of scene you are wanting them to do, have you talked to them on the phone, video chat or seen them in person (go-see), are they prepared for what you are wanting them to do on camera? This is especially important the more extreme the scene is and the more you are expecting from the talent. You don’t want any issues.
If it is a paid scene, discuss the amount that will be paid with the talent before the scene and what exactly you will be paying for, then stick to that. Once the talent arrives to do the scene, do not expect them to do more than you have discussed with them or their representative. Stay professional and don’t take advantage of a situation.
Social Media: Make sure to discuss with talent how you want them to handle social media for the scene you are shooting. You may want the talent to promote your scene before or while you are shooting the scene or you may want them to not discuss it until it is released. Make sure to make your wishes clear to the talent. Don’t assume they know what you prefer because every set is different. Some producers/directors like to have talent promote behind the scenes of their photo shoots or before the scene is filmed so just make sure to let your talent know what you would like from them.

Talent

Communicate with the director/producer/agent all the requirements that are needed well in advance of the scene. DO NOT be afraid to ask questions.
Who is the other talent you will be shooting with? Express at this point if there is anyone you are not comfortable working with.
How much will the scene pay if it is a paid shoot? What type of scene is it? If working with an agent, you can ask these questions of your agent.
What type of wardrobe is required and is it provided?
Is hair/makeup provided or should you come hair/makeup ready?
Where will the scene be located? Will travel be provided or do you need to get there on your own?
Will lodging be provided or do you need to find a place to stay?
What do you need to bring with you to set & what will be provided? (DO NOT assume they are there to take care of your personal care. Bring whatever you need to take care of yourself.
Before agreeing to shoot for a company/director/producer/trade scene, make sure you have done your research on what type of content they shoot. What type of scenes will you be expected to participate in? If you have an agent, make sure you are also aware of who you are being booked with. You are responsible for your own career and your own choices. DO NOT shoot scenes just for the money. DO NOT choose scenes that you are not comfortable shooting.
It is your responsibility as talent to make sure to check the test of your fellow performers before shooting with them. Even though it should be something that the producer/director will ask for, in the end it is your health and responsibility to take care of.
When you are participating in a content trade shoot with other talent, you have to act as if it is your set. You are responsible for ALL the paperwork that a director/producer would be so make sure to have a model release form and a 2257 for the other talent to sign. You will also need to all agree on who is in the scene, what type of scene you will be shooting, where it will be shot, who will be filming and how/when/where it will be distributed.
Communicate with the director/producer if there are any changes to your appearance or any information you feel they should need to know ahead of time. You do not want to get on set and have a scene killed because you forgot to let them know about a change in you. (Ie. Periods, bruising, hair color) Just keep in contact with them.

Misconceptions

General

Once you are booked for a scene, you WILL shoot that scene and get paid for it. This is NOT necessarily the truth. There are many reasons a director/producer or talent can kill a scene. Hopefully it doesn’t happen frequently but it can happen.
As talent do not expect to be treated like a movie star. The reality is that you should not get into this business expecting to be treated that way. You are a performer. It is hard work. As a contract worker, you must make your own way in this industry. If you happen to work for a company who provides extra accommodations or cover your expenses then take that as a special exception. Do not expect that from every company you work for.
As a producer/director, be professional. The talent you hire is not required to perform with you unless this is something you have discussed and it is part of the agreement ahead of time. There are some producers/directors that are also talent. Ie: POV scenes, trade content. Keep communication open and stay professional. Whatever you choose to do personally is totally fine but do not feel obligated. Again you are a consenting adult.
You DO NOT get residuals from the scenes that you shoot. When you are hired for the scene, you shoot as a contract worker therefore the rights to the scene belong to the company you are shooting for. If it is trade content, then the rights to the scene belong to all the parties involved in shooting the scene.
DO NOT think that the company you are booked with will provide EVERYTHING for you. As discussed above, we are all adults in this industry. You are hired to do a job. DO NOT expect that the company will have everything you need to care for your personal needs. This is your responsibility and not theirs. Some companies will have everything and more which is awesome and a BONUS!!!
DO NOT expect the company that you filmed with to communicate when the scene will be released or share the photos with you. This is NOT their responsibility. If you want to market yourself based on that scene, then pay attention to their websites to know when your scene is released.