Vivid Studio Insider for February 20, 2009

Vivid Studio Insider for February 20, 2009

Savanna & Sunny, Hanna & Meggan at Worldof Wonder Storefront Gallery Feb. 14.Photos courtesy of www.BootsBryant.com.

VIVID ART EXHIBIT OPENS WITH GALA RECEPTION - More than 400 people turned out on Valentine's Day in Hollywood for the opening of a stunning art exhibit that marks the 25th anniversary of Vivid Entertainment and also celebrated the debut of Vivid's third reality series on Showtime TV titled "Deeper Throat," which began at 11:30 pm that evening. The exhibit opening reception attracted an A-list of luminaries in the adult world, a sprinkling of bold face names and numerous journalists. Vivid Girls Hanna Hilton, Nikki Jayne, Sunny Leone, Meggan Mallone and Savanna Samson and "Throat" star Sasha Grey were the stars of the opening reception, greeting guests and posing for an endless number of photographs. There was extensive pre-show coverage in local media, including a front-page story in The Los Angeles Daily News and comprehensive coverage in L.A. Weekly.com Television cameras and still photographers from local and national media captured the opening from start to finish as preview footage from the seven-part reality series, produced by World of Wonder, was screened in the gallery. Steven Hirsch, co-chairman of the studio, hosted the evening, along with World of Wonder heads Tharin Smothers and Fenton Bailey. Titled "All American Porn: 25 Years of Erotic Photography from Vivid Entertainment," the show runs until March 13th at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery on Hollywood Boulevard. The exhibit features two box covers from each of the 25 years of Vivid's existence, along with candid behind-the-scenes photos covering the history of modern adult entertainment. The show is free to the public.

Ratings for the premiere of "Deeper Throat" on Saturday February 14th at 11:30 pm on Showtime beat last year's premiere of "Debbie Does Dallas....Again!" World of Wonder's Fenton Bailey said the audience was "really good for late night." Vivid occupied a full hour block on Showtime Saturday night, since a rerun of "Debbie" followed immediately after the premier of "Deeper Throat."

On February 19th at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery (6750 Hollywood Boulevard) Mr. Bailey hosted a panel discussion on the past 25 years in the adult industry. Topics include "How Vivid Became The World's Top Adult Studio," offered by Steven Hirsch; "How to Direct an Adult Film" hosted by Paul Thomas; and "What It Takes to be An Adult Superstar" with inside tips from the Vivid Girls. The panel earned high marks from participants and the audience.

Cover of DVD of "Throat" courtesy ofwww.vivid.com

BUZZ FOR "THROAT" IN LEADING GOSSIP COLUMNS - Vivid Entertainment was covered twice in a single week on the famous "Page Six" gossip section of The New York Post. The first item noted the debut of the World of Wonder reality series "Deeper Throat" on Showtime. It quoted Vivid Girl Savanna Samson as saying she thought about trying out for the Linda Lovelace role in the Vivid re-make of the classic adult film, "Throat," but she didn't want to "get into a my throat is deeper than your throat" competition with Shasha Grey. The second Page Six item concerned a legal claim being made by Ray Pistol of Arrow Productions, which controls the rights to "Deep Throat," contending that Vivid does not have the right to use the word 'throat" in its title. Studio head Steven Hirsch noted that Vivid was open and cooperative with Pistol throughout the filming of the "Deeper Throat" series, which documented the behind-the-scenes adventures that were involved in producing the remake of the adult classic into "Throat." Earlier, TMZ.COM ran an item on the Pistol vs. Vivid controversy and also had a segment about it on TMZ TV showing footage from the movie which won't be in stores until March 18th.

STEVEN HIRSCH COMMENTS ON "PORN TAX" GO GLOBAL - Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch talked to the Associated Press about a proposal by New York Governor David Patterson to tax downloads of music and software - and his comments were picked up immediately by media throughout the world. The tax has been dubbed the "porn tax" by reporters because it would tax x-rated Internet downloads. AP reporter Chuck Bennett quoted the Vivid chief as saying: "With all of the free adult content out there and all of the piracy that the adult industry is dealing with, the last thing any of us need is an additional tax...These are very difficult times and nobody can afford to lose even one customer." The story was picked up by The New York Post and New York Daily News, numerous television news shows, plus global websites like topix.net, USA Today and the San Francisco Examiner.