Are X-Rated Films Moving Out of the Valley to Avoid the Condom Law?

The exodus of X-rated film productions from the Valley seems to be underway in the wake of a law requiring condom use during filming.

Only two permits for adult films have been issued in Los Angeles County this year, Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, a nonprofit organization that oversees permitting throughout L.A. County, told the Los Angeles Times. His office usually handles about 500 permits annually.

"It's a steep drop," Audley told the Times, adding that "both of those applications came in January."

The Valley is home to many adult film studios, like Vivid Entertainment in Studio City and Caballero Video in North Hollywood, while filming takes place in west end cities like Chatsworth and Canoga Park. Even the industry's magazine, Adult Video News, is located in Chatsworth.

Over in Ventura County adult movie production may be on the rise, confirming pornography producers' warnings that condom regulation would cause them to exit, harming the Los Angeles economy.

But the relocating industry has caused a stir over the hill. Camarillo placed a 45-day moratorium on new adult film permits while the city council considers some form of condom regulations. "This happened after we received three phone calls in March inquiring about permits, and one asked if we had a condom ordinance,"  Camarillo City Atty. Brian Pierik told the Times. He said the city hasn't had pornographic filming in the past.

Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which called for the condom law, maintains that there is no evidence that the industry has started filming elsewhere.

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