Papi Chulo's BLOG

In the News :: Porn Studios Resume Production, Stars Test Negative

AIM Healthcare announced that all performers (two generations of partners of the HIV+ patient) tested negative for HIV on two occasions using multiple testing methods. AIM has established that Patient Zero acquired the virus through private, personal activity and there was no transmission of the HIV virus from Patient Zero to any performers.

AIM released this press release:

This event affirms the efficacy of AIM Healthcare Foundation's testing protocols, as voluntarily implemented by the adult entertainment industry. It is regrettable but inevitable that people continue to acquire the HIV virus in their personal life. The protocols and other industry practices have resulted in only one incident of HIV transmission on set in more than a decade. That is a remarkable record. AIM Healthcare Foundation is proud of its contribution to the health and well-being of the adult industry and wider community.

In related news... Vivid Entertainment announced that it will resume production on Monday, November 8, 2010, after being shut down for almost a month due to health safety concerns. Vivid suspended production immediately (and voluntarily) on October 12 after AIM announced the existence of a Patient Zero.

Steven Hirsch (Vivid founder/co-chairman): "We made the decision to halt production as the health and well-being of our performers is of utmost importance to us. We can now confirm that all performers who were on the quarantine list as a result of being exposed to the HIV positive performer have gone through two rounds of testing and the results are negative. We believe that AIM acted professionally and thoroughly and proved that their system works. We will, of course, continue to require recent test results for all performers in our movies and will continue to take all necessary precautions to assure their health and safety."

Digital Playground resumed production last week.

Guyleen Rose (director of marketing and public relations for Digital Playground): "We retested all of our performers and determined they were all OK."

Hustler Video is also back in production.

Michael Klein (LFP President): "We have resumed production at our studios, continuing to make sure every precaution is taken to protect everyone involved with the filming."

Kick Ass Pictures resumed production on Thursday.

Mark Kulkis (founder of Kick Ass Pictures): "I'm glad that the AIM system worked exactly the way it was supposed to. In this case, it looks like somebody contracted HIV outside the business, and because of the testing, they were not allowed to bring it inside the business, and I think it's proof that the testing works just fine."

Wicked Pictures productions are now back on schedule as well.

Steve Orenstein (Wicked Pictures President): "Thanks to the efforts of AIM and how they handled this situation, we have now resumed our shooting schedule. Of course, continuing to use condoms like we have been for the last 11 years."

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Major Studios Suspend Production After Male Performer Tests HIV+

Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures were the first porn production companies to publicly announce that they would halt production on adult films in the wake of news that a male porn performer tested positive for HIV. Several other porn studios have followed suit, including Hustler Video, Digital Playground, Jennaration X Studios, Girlfriends Films and Kick Ass Pictures.

Mark Kulkis (Kick Ass Pictures President): "I'm still playing it by ear right now. For next week I haven't decided because I don't know what's going on yet. We're taking a wait and see approach for the next few days because we have a bit of time before our next shoot dates."

Jennaration X Studios wrapped its most recent title and canceled two scenes scheduled for later on in the week. Jenna Haze, owner of Jennaration X Studios, has suspended production for 30 days.

Samantha Lewis (Digital Playground CEO): "I want to take the time to talk to all my performers before I make any big announcement, but we are canceling all of our shoots for the foreseeable future."

Hustler Video is wrapping production on its current project and will suspend all production until it receives more information.

Rob Smith (Hustler Video Director of Operations): "While we have suspended all future production plans in the short term, we will conclude our current shoot which will wrap within the week. We have no plans to begin additional production until we get a better overview of the current situation."

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Vivid, Wicked Pictures Halt Production

In response to news that a male porn performer has tested positive for HIV, two of the industries' leading production companies (Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures) have halted production.

Steven Hirsch (Vivid Entertainment founder/co-chairman): "When Vivid was first made aware that a performer had tested positive for HIV we immediately suspended production. We did this as a precaution and will continue to monitor the situation. AIM Healthcare acted appropriately to quarantine all adult talent who may have been exposed. We will wait for all of the facts to emerge before we resume production."

Even though Wicked Pictures is a condoms-only company, they are following suit as well.

Wicked Pictures issued this statement:

Even though Wicked is condoms-mandatory, we have postponed our upcoming productions to give AIM a chance to create a comprehensive quarantine list. Thanks to the continued efforts of AIM the entire industry was all made aware of this possible threat on the same day.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has used this situation to demand that there be mandatory condom requirement for porn produced in California.

Michael Weinstein (AHF President): "That a performer tested positive for HIV [yester]day—and that more may be infected—was totally preventable. It is also living proof that testing is not adequate protection against HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases among porn performers. How many more people have to be infected with HIV before Los Angeles County steps in to do its job and protect performers' and the public’s health and AIM stops being a 'fig leaf' for the industry?"

~Papi Chulo~

Wicked Pictures' Studio 69 Now Streaming on Papi Chulo's VOD Theater

Wicked Pictures has released Studio 69 through Video on Demand.

Directed by Laurent Sky, Studio 69 stars Laurent Sky, Alektra Blue, Alan Stafford, Brynn Tyler, Eric Masterson, Kristina Rose, Madelyn Marie, Manuel Ferrara, Marco Banderas, Mick Blue and Ryder Skye.

Studio 69 is also available on DVD.

View more information on this title (including a photo preview) AFTER THE BREAK...

Wicked Pictures' The Watcher Now Streaming on Papi Chulo's VOD Theater

Wicked Pictures has released The Watcher through Video on Demand.

Directed by Brad Armstrong, The Watcher stars Kirsten Price, Asa Akira, Bridgette B., Charisma Cappelli, Devon Lee, Mason Moore, Raylene, Zoey Holloway, Brad Armstrong, Chris Johnson, Danny Mountain, Eric Masterson, Jerry, Marcus London, Mick Blue, Tommy Gunn and Tony de Sergio.

The Watcher is also available on DVD.

View more information on this title (including a photo preview) AFTER THE BREAK...