Training people we work with is an important part of our company (you can review a lot of it). That training covers many aspects, including working with models. We also have our Models Charter that covers expectations models can have when working with us.
We make check-in calls after the first shoot each model appears in with us to get their feedback on their experience, we invite models to complete a quick online survey after each shoot, and we invite models to contact the business owner directly with concerns they have.
“My boundaries were definitely respected. If not, I would have made sure they were! That is the most important in porn. Boundaries is a clear term. Not being touched in ways I don’t want to or not being asked to do something I don’t want to.” (Flo, Apr 2021)
However, despite these standards, we acknowledge that people can make mistakes or behave inappropriately.
😐 We urge models who have had an inappropriate experience to contact us and let us know, so we can investigate. Email the owner Garion on garion@abbywinters.com, and/or Shoot Producer Trainer Masie masie@abbywinters.com.
Minor matters
In our experience issues are usually minor and could be based on a misunderstanding. For example;
We have a strict policy that Shoot Producers are not to touch models, other than a handshake upon meeting them, or to apply pressure to a bleeding wound (or similar life-saving requirement).
Jane was on an outdoors shoot with Mark the Shoot Producer. Mark proposed Jane walk along a 50cm / 16″ high fence while nude, and suggested she do a walk-through first to make sure the fence top was not slippery. He walked alongside her as she tested it.
Unfortunately, Jane did slip and fall. It was only a small distance, but Mark instinctually reached out for Jane’s hand to support her… and his elbow brushed her breast!
Mark apologised immediately, but Jane was uncomfortable for the rest of the shoot, and did not want to work with Mark again.
Different people will interpret this event differently. Our stance is that Mark reacted understandably and that ultimately, this is a learning experience. We guide Shoot Producers to work to anticipate these sorts of situations and discuss them beforehand with the model (ie, if there’s a risk of a model falling off something, consider not including that act in the shoot at all!).
Our approach to dealing with inappropriate actions
Our approach may vary depending on the apparent severity of the matter, but generally follows this path:
- Model reports something inappropriate happened on a shoot
- Shoot Producer is placed on a stop-work order: they are not to interact with other models until the matter is resolved
- Gather detailed information from the model; make a report
- Ask the model what she thinks is an appropriate response (for example, more training; probation; dismissal)
- Offer model option to not release the shoot concerned
- Gather detailed information from the Shoot Producer; make a report
- A committee (typically, the Owner, Shoot Producer Trainer, another Shoot Producer) reviews the information and makes a decision on how to proceed
- Report back to the model and Shoot Producer on the outcome
More serious matters
We do not have experience with matters much more serious than the example described above, but we plan to follow a similar process.
We’ve worked hard to make business processes and to select people who would never assault a model, and they have served us well for the last 20+ years. We frequently improve our training to further reduce risk for models (and to increase shoot quality for our customers – these are never opposing ideas!).
However, should such an event occur, we encourage the model to report the incident to the police (as well as us), and we commit to providing all information the police request of us.
