AN AMERICAN DIRECTOR and his team of local 'partners' who have been busy scouting the island for "sexy females" to star in 'x-rated' videos may end up on the wrong side of the law if they fail to comply with Jamaican regulations.
A recently placed advertisement in a local newspaper invited qualified girls to call for the opportunity to appear in the videos.
But in the quest to make big bucks and for stardom, the director has apparently shirked his responsibility to uphold the Jamaican law. The company has not been registered and no film licence has been sought from the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO).
When THE STAR spoke to the film director anonymously, he said this would be his first solo move in the industry and that the project was being sponsored by a company based overseas. He said girls would be paid "$60,000 per video" and that it would be very confidential. He also said that interested girls would have to be interviewed. "We will ask them questions like would you do same sex scenes, oral, anal or threesomes." He added that the films would be streamed on the Internet and persons would have to use a credit card to gain access.
He defended the production saying all girls would have to be able to prove their age and that all applicants would have to do a blood test.
The STAR also learnt that some scenes would be shot on location in Jamaica and others would be filmed overseas. He spoke also of his intentions to set up an escort service where girls would accompany men to various events. He added that although he would not be responsible for this aspect, sex could also be a part of the package and girls would have to negotiate their own prices. The response to the ad, he said, had been overwhelming. "I had to put my phone on silent", he said.
A senior police officer from the Constant Spring region, told THE STAR that he was unaware of such activities. He said an escort service "would be like operating a brothel, which is tantamount to prostitution, which is illegal."
When THE STAR covertly went to one of the interviews, much more was revealed. The team discovered that the interviews were being held at Weekenz, a popular entertainment venue on Constant Spring Road. The team was introduced to two men who were said to be co-ordinating the project. The overseas director had pointed the team to the men.
One of the men revealed that most of the scenes for the movie would be shot outdoors in "places like Dunns River Falls and Castleton Gardens, places where it's obvious that it's Jamaica."
Del Crooks, Film Commissioner at JAMPRO, told the STAR that anyone wanting to film anything in Jamaica would need a licence from the organisation. She said in a case such as this, where public nudity would be a feature, no license would be granted, as it would be against the law. She also added that she received no such application to date. She said that in cases where licences are granted, a local co-ordinator or production assistant would have to be on set.
But when the director was contacted again, this time with the reporter identifying himself, he denied having intentions to film in Jamaica. He also admitted that he tried unsuccessfully to register the company and said he did not approach JAMPRO for a license. He however said he will not allow this to stop his production as "I can still do business out here even if I'm not registered."
When THE STAR contacted the manager of Weekenz, Winston Watkis, he denied involvement in the production. He said he only gave the director permission to use his courtyard for interviews and was not a part of the production team.
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