AIDS Healthcare Foundation Seeks to Stop All Adult Filming

The Aids Healthcare Foundation is seeking to stop the issuance of filming permits to adult film production companies after an adult performer tested positive for HIV. Representatives from the foundation were scheduled to attend the Los Angeles City Council meeting on Oct. 15 to formally make the request to the city and FilmL.A., the not for profit agency that coordinates on location filming in both the city and Los Angeles County. FilmL.A., however, was not aware of AHF’s attempt to shut down all adult filming until getting calls from reporters. The agency does not have the authority to stop issuing permits as they are actually issued by the city or county, said FilmL.A. spokesman Todd Lindgren. “At this point neither one of our client jurisdictions has asked us to not release adult filming permits,” Lindgren said. FilmL.A. encourages adult producers to get permits as there are extra conditions they must comply with, such as not being able to be seen or heard by the general public, Lindgren said. The agency does not separate permits by content so does not keep track of how many adult productions receive permits. Already four adult production companies – Vivid Entertainment, Wicked Pictures, Digital Playground, and Hustler Video – have voluntarily stopped filming. Foundation President Michael Weinstein said that a voluntary and partial suspension of production is not enough. “Certainly not while it remains unknown just how far the infection may have spread,” Weinstein said. The Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation in Sherman Oaks reported on Oct. 12 that a performer had tested positive for HIV. The foundation was not releasing the gender of the performer. The positive test comes more than a year after a female adult performer tested positive at AIM and at a time when the state is looking at making changes to workplace safety regulations specifically for adult productions.