Chapter 50

Sarah stepped forth when all eyes turned to her. She had presented her plan of starting a talent agency that focused on developing young performers who showed promise.

"As everyone knows with the exception of Mike," she began, "Allie has agreed in principle to a deal that will make her the spokesperson and feature performer for Daystar Studios. This will ensure her appearance in the features that Daystar, Dazzle and, we believe, Subarctic put together."

Mike raised his eyebrows and nodded in salute to Allie.

"I have been approached in the same capacity for Dazzle Video," Sarah continued, drawing the same reaction from Mike. "I expect to be offered a contract with them very soon. That will ensure my participation in those ventures."

"That and the fact you'll be writing most of them," Sean inserted. "And Allie will be doing set design for most of them."

"Perhaps," Sarah conceded. "But, while it is a worthwhile opportunity in any event, it is more important at this junction. Those of us who are involved in the industry – and even those of you on the periphery – agree. The situation in the business, as it now exists, in untenable. The long-term prospects for Subarctic dwindle as the available talent dwindles. We have agreed there is a large market share available. But we won't reach that market using performers who are jaded or broken or who lack the skills necessary to create a quality product.

"Yes, people will buy crap. The industry makes money now and that is largely what it produces. But it will flock to quality in droves. The scene Allie – as Ashley Malibu – shot a week ago with Adam – as Derrick Driller – was downloaded 12,000 times in 32 hours. It was posted at eight a.m. yesterday and, by midnight, it was the top single-day download in Daystar's history.

"That record might have fallen already, because by two p.m. this afternoon, it was already two-thirds of the way to eclipsing it. Before dinner, I did an informal check of known sites and it had already been shared 6,000 from the two-largest torrent sites and was uploaded on every major file sharing site I could think of. At the largest I know of, the poster had been 'thanked' by more than 75 other members in the five hours since he posted the link. That suggests that almost a thousand more people stole it during that time."

"Damn," Sean said, awed by the numbers. "How much did it sell for?"

"Unknown at this point," Sarah said. "Although Ben related that the site had close to 900 new members yesterday – paying at least $20 and probably $30 for access."

"That's more than $15,000 in a day!" Mike exclaimed. "At that rate, you'd bring in a million in two and half months."

"Most days they get about 50-75 new sign ups," Sarah said. "Daystar accomplished this feat in two ways. First, they promoted the upload in advance. I'm not just talking about a preview section. I'm talking about actually spending a little money. Their ad campaign was short and it was half-assed. But it was successful. The most important way they achieved such success was by hiring Ashley Malibu."

"And Derrick Driller," Allie added quickly.

"Yes, and Derrick Driller," Sarah said with a warm smile. "That shows us people in large numbers will actually spend their hard-earned money in smaller numbers for a quality product. But we cannot rely solely on Ashley, Derrick and me to provide the talent. Let's be honest, there is no one in the industry who is helping these people. The only one I know of was fired this week. We have the resources to invest in the human element.

"I'm not talking about signing these people to work as contract stars. I'm not even talking about signing them to long-term deals to represent them. I'm talking about using Melody Schott and Tate Benedict and Ben Benedict to find these young men and women and directing them to us where Tara Twain and Sheila Corvette help to find them jobs and people like Holly Ball and Randy Readywood teach them to become professionals.

"We make the investment in a small – like no more than eight to 10 men and women at a time – talent agency and we will reap the long-term benefits by having quality performers in our videos and developing a network of former clients who left on good terms helping us develop a reputation as a company who does things the right way and partners only with other companies who meet our standards."

Even Sean, who had protested fiercely against the financial aspects of the proposition, found himself nodding in agreement.

"What is the cost?" Mary asked.

"To be determined," Sarah admitted. "At best, this is 80-some days away from even being a remote possibility. Tara and Sheila are locked into contracts with non-compete clauses. Even if they didn't have those stipulations, it would take us that long to find the right people to represent. I picture a different structure than currently in place.

"Right now, the girls and guys pay almost the entire way for the agencies. The agents charge 13 percent and keep about four. The agency takes the rest. So for every thousand I make, the agency makes $90 and the agent $35. Consider Allie will make about $140,000 this year and I will come close to that in any 12-month period and you're talking the agency taking home $12,000 per client, because we are about mid-range. Some make as much as $400,000 in a year. And they rep literally hundreds of girls at a time, sometimes more."

"Ouch," Mike said. "How much is overhead?"

"Minimal," Sarah said. "Elite reps close to 300 girls in some form or fashion. The agents work for minimal salary, about $20,000 plus the commission they garner. They work out of a converted warehouse in the Valley. There is a front office and an office for Gloria Jackson. The rest are in cubicles. There are six phone lines and computers. I would guess their yearly overhead is less than $100,000."

"What do you propose?" Rachelle asked.

"A higher base for the agents first off," Sarah replied instantly. "That will take away the financial incentive to approach sites like 'Daddy's Little Fucktoy' and 'Ten Black Cocks in a White Box.' Sorry, Mike, those are actual sites. It will also allow the girls and guys to take home more money. I was appalled when I realized I stood to lose about $18,000 in agency fees – on top of taxes, Social Security and other mandatory deductions. But that is the way business is done and all agencies work the same way.

"The reps will be held responsible for where they send the talent. The first time one of our guys works for 'Gangland Slayings, ' he and his rep are done. The first time one of our girls ends up at Ass-Licking Angels, she and her rep are gone. There will be more responsibility than simply answering and dialing the phone. They will also be responsible for teaching these people how to rep themselves after the deal with us ends and for finding something else beside their bodies to fall back on."

Mike had listened avidly. It sounded like a good thing Sarah wanted to do. But he still had to ask.

"How does Subarctic make money?" he queried.

Sarah nodded slowly.

"Most likely, they don't," she confessed. "At least not a ton of it in the short term. We will set the fees high enough to cover our overhead. But we will see the ancillary benefits. After a couple of years, I can see our girls commanding a higher rate than those repped elsewhere. They will have a reputation for punctuality, professionalism and polish – or they won't work for us. Plus, we'll have a ready pool of worthwhile talent for our own projects."

"Which will save us money in the long run, particularly if we are successful in changing the perception of the industry," Shelly said. "Today is a prime example of that. A girl from across the street watched Allie's video. She said it was something she wouldn't be ashamed to admit she owned. It was something she could see herself watching with a boyfriend. This girl was quieter than I was two months ago. She is not the type to download what the public views as pornography. But when Dazzle video uploads 'Interludes' she'll buy it. If we make more things like that – sensual and erotic not smutty and dirty – and develop a solid reputation with the decent companies, this will make money for us."

"What about the guys?" Mary wondered. "Everything you've mentioned is focused on the females of the business. Is there some way we can help get more men like Adam in the industry?"

Sarah sighed, as did Allie.

"I truly doubt it," Allie answered. "What I expect we will do is use Adam as our standard-bearer. Guys like him don't go into the business. If they do, they don't last. Almost every guy over the age of 12 has seen pornography. The industry draws the one interested in treating women in a humiliating fashion and repulses decent guys. I think it will be up to Adam to help us bring decent men into the fold. I can think of only one guy I would actually consider for a spot in the agency."

"Which is one more than I can think of," Sarah said. "What I foresee, and this comes more from Tate Benedict than my own personal knowledge, is that within a few months, Adam's price will go up. Girls will insist that producers hire him to work with them. We've seen that to a small extent already. Some will even offer to offset the difference in fees from their own pockets if necessary.

"What I hope – but I doubt – is that more guys will see Adam pulling in big bucks – or bigger bucks anyway, he'll never get paid as much as Allie and I do – by being a solid professional and want to emulate him. I think it is more likely that Adam will become a sounding board for decent guys who might like to work in the business. That is one reason we've been pressing him to set up his own web site. Right now, the only way to contact him until earlier today was to sift through nine pages of postings on PornLife. I posted a comment today and moved it back to the top of the queue. He's booked to do Dazzle's cover in the morning and a scene for Judy Jackem on Saturday. But he has all next week free and he has nothing scheduled."

Sarah looked around the room.

"A good portion of that is because of how everyone here reacts to him taking work," she said plainly. "That has to stop. I think, if we all take a minute to think about it, we'll agree. Most of us could step away from this group and be replaced. Maybe not as effectively but without too much negative effect. But if Adam quits the business or quits the group, our entire venture is down the tubes. He is the one that showed each of us the real potential – financially and personally – of capturing this market share."

Mary and Rachelle glanced at each other with guilty looks. Walt and Sean sat quietly. Only Mike was brave enough to think.

"I will say this to the group now and I will tell Adam this as soon as I see him," he said in a voice that let everyone know he was serious. "This group can fail as far as I'm concerned. I'm not worried about the money. I'm worried about the people here. If the cost of success is Adam's happiness – and I mean if the only way for this to succeed is to break up the four of you – then I would rather see it fail."

"It won't break us up," Allie assured Mike, heartened by his thoughtfulness and kindness. "As we said, what Derrick Driller does with Jenny Cinnamon on Saturday will not affect what happens at 412 Falmouth Arms on Saturday night. The reason Sarah and I don't want to work with anyone but Adam is more complex than the fact we love him. Mostly, we like the way he treats Ashley Malibu and Sahara Rain when we're on screen. My decision was made when I barely knew him. Sarah made her decision after meeting him once. It was a professional decision on our part, not a personal one. However, now it is a personal one. It won't affect Sarah and I if we work with other women. We'll discuss those decisions just like Adam discusses his options with us. If we start to feel differently, we'll address it."

"How about you Shelly?" Walt asked with concern. "Are you OK with it?"

Shelly nodded.

"I am," she said. "I knew what he was going to do with Sarah and Allie. I didn't know he'd fall in love with them too, nor did I expect to love them. But I do. I'm not nervous about what Derrick Driller will do Saturday. I want to meet the girl, but only because it sounds like she could use a friend. I don't view her as competition and I don't think Adam is going to drop us and run off with her. My opinion might change if he still wants to do this sort of thing in five or 10 years. But for now, I'm fine with Allie, Sarah and Adam doing what they do with the people they have to do it with."

Rachelle cast a glance at Mary, who seemed to be pointedly looking away. So Rachelle bit the bullet.

"This has nothing to do with Subarctic, so may I suggest we adjourn for a moment?" she asked. When no one protested, she continued. "Shelly, do you plan to join the industry in a capacity outside of cinematography?"

"Yes," Shelly answered without a pause. "In a very limited way, though. I plan to work on Sarah's movies, and likely with only my three partners. I don't plan to do web shoots although I might do topless or nude modeling if the opportunity presents itself. How about you four?"

Sean and Walt immediately laughed.

"Well, we're not equipped for such work," Sean said.

"I think a series of videos depicting normally endowed men pleasing their partners would be a huge seller," Allie said. "It certainly would help dispel some of the misperceptions the industry has given to the general public."

Mike's eyes narrowed and he nodded thoughtfully.

"I think she's right, not that I'm interested in Rachelle doing that," he said. "No offense meant to you folks."

"None taken," Sarah and Allie said at the same time.

"None to be taken," Shelly said with a smile. "I haven't even had real sex yet. I had to get my hymen cut away Monday."

Mike appeared puzzled but he wasn't sure he wanted to hear more. That didn't stop Shelly, though.

"Let's just say normally endowed would not describe my former boyfriend," she told Mike – and apparently Sean and Walt, too. "And I don't mean that in a positive way."

"Oh, uh, wow," Sean said. Again he gave a quick shake of his head.

"I'd do it," Mary said. "I mean, I'd do a movie if it were with Walt."

"Really?" Walt asked. "I mean, your folks with absolutely shit."

"Maybe," Mary admitted. "Mike, do you plan to disown Rachelle if she chose to do a video like that?"

"No," Mike answered instantly. "I wouldn't want to watch it – or even probably hear about it – but it wouldn't affect my perception of her. I know she'd had sex before. If she helped guys get over feelings of inadequacy and she's comfortable with the set up, I wouldn't say anything about it."

"Thanks, Daddy," Rachelle said. "I'm not sure but it is intriguing. It's really losing some of it's squick factor. I mean, there are girls 13- and 14-years-old masturbating on a web cam to 300 guys at time. There are girls who are 11 or 12 with 40,000 members to their 'modeling' site – which consists solely of them showing every inch of their bodies except for their nipples and their vagina. I would bet almost two-thirds of the girls in my classes have made a video either with or for their boyfriends – who undoubtedly shared the video with all of his friends. Because that's what guys do."

Sean stiffened beside her.

"Not you, hon," Rachelle said. "And not Walt or Adam either. I'm talking about guys who are insecure about their manhood."

Mike found himself nodding and frowned.

"I was one of those guys," he admitted. "Rachelle, cover your ears unless you want to be embarrassed."

He continued when she smiled but left her hands clutching Sean's.