Ethics and portfolio question...

[popejoydesign]

I may have the opportunity to design DVD covers for an "adult" entertainment company. I am curious on what your thoughts are on taking on such a client.

Is it unethical? Would I even think about putting the end result in my portfolio? I haven't heard any one discuss this before, not saying that I have looked real hard, but I would like someone else's opinion.

Thanks in advance.

[urstwile]

You mean porn?

Are you talking about in the U.S. or in countries that are not as uptight about sex workers as we are here?

[popejoydesign]

Yes, I mean here in the U.S....and yes porn...DVD covers for the packaging.

[EC]

I really can't vote because I'd have to say "it depends." I personally think that people looking at your portfolio want to see things that are relevant to their own needs. If you want to do *more* adult entertainment graphic work, then I'd say it needs to go in the portfolio.

Is it unethical? Is what unethical? Porn? Depends on who you talk to. It's legal (well, most varieties), so I don't think it's unethical from a business standpoint. Personal ethics is well, personal.

Personally? Depending on the project I'd consider doing this type of work, and I have actually (though the project was put on back burner and we ended up doing something travel-related but the guy is an AWESOME client). But I wouldn't put it in my portfolio for fear of turning off certain segments of my client base.

I have a collegue that started a "division" of her business that caters to adult themes; that portfolio is kept separate.

[urstwile]

Then I probably wouldn't do it. Mainly because of the promotion of exploitation notion. Since it's generally illegal here to produce those movies, chances are the workers aren't getting treated well, and I wouldn't want to further that by promoting their exploitation.

[EC]

it's illegal to produce porn? that's news to me. exploitation from a feminist standpoint I can see, which is why it's definitely a personal issue. But from what I understand porn stars make decent coin.

[urstwile]

Maybe I watch too many crime shows. :D I always thought it was illegal. Not illegal to buy it, but illegal to produce it here, at least in terms of the full penetration stuff, etc.

At any rate, if I knew that the movies (or whatever) were produced where the people involved were being treated well (meaning access to regular checkups for STDs, etc.) it wouldn't bother me.

[EC]

I guess I watch too much pornucopia on HBO. :p (It's about the porn industry, they interview the workers and so forth.)

$10 bill industry http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/21/60minutes/main585049.shtml

[urstwile]

Interesting article. I came away with the idea that it's mostly legal, except for sometimes, and no one has figured it out except for child pornography.

Found this to be interesting, in the "oh my god, no he didn't!" kinda way:

When John Ashcroft was appointed attorney general, among his first acts were to hang blue drapes in front of a topless statue in the lobby of the Justice Department, and to promise a crackdown on smut.

[popejoydesign]

Yes, I do remember him doing that. I thought it was tasteless and ridicuous that he would do such a thing. Someone please tell him there is a difference between nudity and porn.

[urstwile]

Somehow, I doubt he'd even care. :rolleyes:

[budafist]

It's legal here. As long as there are no children or animals involved.

My boyfriend was approached to do some adult illustrations. He was torn on the issue mostly because of me. In the end the project fell through so he didnt even need to make the decision.

I might do it if the money was decent. I've done tastefully nude calendars before at work. Get staff looking over my shoulder while I work which is a bit annoying...

[captain spanky]

it's only sex.
... a friend of mine went for a job touching up gay porn... wouldn't particularly bother me to be honest... gay or straight, sex is one of the most natural things we do. but yeah, i wouldn't get involved in anything that was questionable or looked like it was exploitative/forced in any way...

and yes, if i was proud of a cover or similar i would put it in my portfolio (but I'd put it in a sealed section with an 18+ age warning on the front ;) :D)

[popejoydesign]

Well, I haven't officially been offered the work yet...thought I have thoughts that it's better than a 50-50 chance in me getting it.

I have done a little research on the company, and they are legit. No illegal going ons, no children/animals or expoitation, from what I can tell so far. It just looks like gold old fashioned adult entertainment :) And the current covers they have can use the help lol.

[PrintDriver]

And the current covers they have can use the help lol.

That can be said for most of the covers in the entire Porn Industry. :D

[patkennedy78]

Is it unethical? Would I even think about putting the end result in my portfolio?

Unethical, no, not IMO. As long as it's legal, and the company is legit. Porn is for adults, and adults can make the decision to watch or not to watch. Adults can decide for themselves and make judgements on what is degrading or not.

As far as putting it in your portfolio, I'd be 99% NO WAY! The other 1% is for any adult industries similar or related to this. I saw an ad the other day for a 'adult toy studio photographer' So if by chance this leads to other projects in the same industry, then and only then would I include it.

[patkennedy78]

Oh, and if you do get the gig, let us know if you get any good named parody porn movies. I can't think of one off the top of my head, but someone will chime in.

[popejoydesign]

lol yeah, I will definitely keep you informed :)

I am thinking of taking a suggestion earlier in this post to create a second portfolio that has only adult material in it. I have a magazine I design that is men's interest oriented, but it's nothing more than a kind of Maxim or FHM genre, that could go in both portfolio's, of course depending on who I show it to.

Wouldn't want to flash that at a church or special interest organization lol.

[captain spanky]

shaving ryan's privates
brassiere to eternity
moulin splooge
H.R. Muff n stuff
3 lesbians in a bodytop 4
:D

[MikeTheVike]

Do it, make some money. I probably wouldn't put it in my portfolio though.

[Kool]

Most porn covers aren't all that bad other than the compilation stuff. They're sexy but not usually explicit. Now the back cover on the other hand :D

[popejoydesign]

Yeah, I have noticed that most of the covers are actually pretty soft. Usually no nudity even, no "action" scenes lol...now the back I am not sure what they have planned!

X Men - 1 Woman (roman numerials people)

[patkennedy78]

shaving ryan's privates

That's it right there! Nice one Cap'n

[Ned]

I would not put it in my portfolio, but I would hang it on my bedoorm ceiling. :D

[Virgo Nightingale]

Mommy! Mommy! Look what I did in school today!!:D

[Ned]

I guess I watch too much pornucopia on HBO. :p (It's about the porn industry, they interview the workers and so forth.)

$10 bill industry http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/21/60minutes/main585049.shtml

Up here we have SexTV (http://www.sextelevision.net/) on Chum Television (A-Channel). Much better than Pornucopia. ;)

[Red Kittie Kat]

I would do it .. I have no problem with designing something sexy and risque' or even fully nude ... but I would not put it in my portfolio ... some people aren't as much as a free spirit as I am ;)

[distruktor]

shaving ryan's privates
brassiere to eternity
moulin splooge
H.R. Muff n stuff
3 lesbians in a bodytop 4
:D




shitty shitty gang bang? :eek:

[Red Kittie Kat]

:eek:



Roflmaooooo!! :D

[mac.FINN]

shitty shitty gang bang? :eek:

Hairy Twatter and the Sorcerer's Bone.

[Ned]

some people aren't as much as a free spirit as I am ;)
You and I both, Kittie Kat. <wink><wink><nudge><nudge>

[patkennedy78]

shitty shitty gang bang? :eek:

OMFG!!!! That's discusting.......ly great! :D

that'll keep me snickering all day. thanks!

[seamas]

I made this one up when the movie first came out:

Mister Quiver



(Mystic River)

[Seapony]

Haha, it's almost a shame I didn't post earlier.

I had the pleasure of designing my first website for an "erotica art" photographer. And being a woman, he apologized profusely, promising to minimize my exposure to the art...at first. Towards the end though..well...um, yea. I was largely indifferent because it wasn't me or anyone I knew, plus the featured model had an invested interest so that was that.

What poots was that the site came out really nice all things considered. Too bad I can't put it in my portfolio because of the contents...which incidently became more pornographic and less tasteful after the job was done, but I digress.

;)

[Jackimalyn]

Those covers break every GD rule... they use fat outlines and starbursts. They are a design mess! I cant imaging a porn producer has the budget to hire a graphic designer but not to find a male actor whos body isnt 95% covered in hair. I think were in the clear. (not that Ive ever seen anything like that... just waht Ive heard...)

If i was in theis position for some strange reason, I might do it but its too risque' for portfolio. You get a woman interviewer whos only al ittle modest or an embaressed man interviewer, your screwed.

[Broacher]

You never now when you're gonna' have to run for president, right?

Nopers.

[frankster]

Those covers break every GD rule... they use fat outlines and starbursts. They are a design mess!

That's the genre though. If you did something classy then it wouldn't appeal to the customer. Well it might appeal to a few lesbians looking for porn with a storyline I suppose, but I think you'd be limited to making something ugly and frantic looking in order for it to be sucessful.

[Jackimalyn]

good call Frankster. Then Id definately do it. Im always looking for an excuse to break out the starbursts and get away with it!

[budafist]

The Soporno's - I've seen that at the shop before.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Whoreback Mountin'

[frankster]

Something that might work is employing a kind of B movie feel to the design (I'm thinking "attack of the 50ft woman" or "Fire maidens of outer space". In Uni one of my mates mums threw out his copy of "Cannibal women in the avocado jungle of death" beacause she assumed it was porn.

[hewligan]

I'd definitely do it. It sounds like fun. You'd get to break out 700 different flavours of tacky.

I can't imagine it ever making it into my portfolio, though.

[undressedmonster]

All I have to say is that my "portfolio" changes depending on who I'm showing it to.

[urstwile]

I don't think that's unusual at all for most when showing their portfolios, undressed.

[distruktor]

Hairy Twatter and the Sorcerer's Bone.


ha ha ha....

Edward penis hands.

[distruktor]

bum-fight at the all gay corral

lawrence of a labia

[captain spanky]

... when showing their portfolios, undressed.

I might add tasteful nudity IN my portfolio but i'd never show it while undressed... that's just asking for touble... ;) :D :D

[distruktor]

ha ha ha

[Red Kittie Kat]

lmaooo Spanky :D

[DiskFaktory]

I worked for an internet porn site for about a year and a half. Doing GD, photo retouching, live motion camera work, etc. It's no big deal, as long as everything is legal. And let me tell you, i've seen some pretty gross stuff. haha.

And yeah, I didn't think anything of adding it to my portfolio. I warned my next boss when he interviewed me that, yes, I had worked for a porn company doing GD, and that it was up to him if he wanted to see that part of my portfolio.

I got the job, so no harm done.

And, to tell you the truth, I learned more and had more room to experiment at the porn place than at any other GD job i've had.

my 2 cents.

Jason

[frankster]

I had a job packaging porn mags in celophane including second hand ones! ewch! It was a holiday job in a collectables store that sold porn in a back room and I'd been painting murals and doing other odd job work for them. It was down a flight of stairs from the main street and one day a water main burst and the shop started flooding, so we all had to run around like crazy people rescueing stock to the cry of the boss man yelling "save the porn!" I've had some pretty weird jobs. They once sold a second hand medical anal probe kit and they had a XXXL rubber cat suit that huge women used to come into the shop and try on in the bathroom, but no one ever bought that.

[morea]

holy God... how many years of therapy did it take to get over THAT job? :eek:

[Kinkaid]

Do it if you're comfortable with it. Is it any less ethical than designing a new wrapper for a Big Mac or a crappy Disney tee (I've done the latter, and the filth still won't wash off). I would be cautious having it in my portfolio because you don't know the viewers stance. I had a great piece in my book that was a satirization of Christianity, and I swear it cost me a job. Since then, I show it only if I know a little about the person who's going to see it.

My title entry: The League of Extraordinary Genitals (coincidentally, also starring Sean Connery) :eek:

[Broacher]

Would annual reports be considered, "adult content"?

Just a little language tear for another otherwise good little word that used to be in places far away from the black hole of our culture's sexual obsessions.

Don we now our gay apparel.