{{short description|American adult entertainment studio}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2012}} {{Infobox company | name = Vivid Entertainment | logo = Vivid Entertainment logo.svg | type = Private | industry = Pornography | founded = {{Start date and age|1984}} | founders = {{Ubl|Steven Hirsch|David James}} | hq_location_city = Los Angeles, California | hq_location_country = United States | key_people = <!---Steven Hirsch (Founder/Co-Chairman)<br> Bill Asher (Co-owner/Co-Chairman)---> | products = Pornographic films | owners = {{Ubl|Steven Hirsch|Bill Asher}} | website = }}
'''Vivid Entertainment Group''' is an American independent pornographic film production company,<ref name=Forbes>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050618235714/http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2005/0704/124.html "The (Porn) Player"] by Matthew Miller, ''Forbes'' magazine, July 4, 2005.</ref><ref name=digitaledge>[http://digitaledge.excite.co.uk/adult-film-studio-blames-google-N1481.html Adult-film-studio-blames-Google] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313161947/http://digitaledge.excite.co.uk/adult-film-studio-blames-google-N1481.html |date=March 13, 2012 }} DigitalEdge, February 18, 2008.</ref> featuring <!-- a catalog of DVD? and --> internet content.
==Overview==
Vivid Entertainment is privately owned by Americans Steven Hirsch and Bill Asher, and Welshman David James.<ref name="PrivCo.com Private Company Financial Report on Vivid Entertainment LLC">[http://www.privco.com/private-company/Vivid-Entertainment-LLC PrivCo.com Private Company Financial Report on Vivid Entertainment LLC] – 'PrivCo.com Private Company Financial Report on Vivid Entertainment LLC'.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Porn in the USA|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/porn-in-the-usa-2413769|website=WalesOnline|access-date=January 8, 2017|date=December 31, 2004}}</ref>
In 2006, Vivid Entertainment was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry.<ref name=tvnz>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411423/646884 |title=Porn stars strut their stuff at awards|date=January 9, 2006|agency=Reuters|work=Television New Zealand|access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> It is based in Los Angeles, California. Founder Steven Hirsch is co-chairman, along with Bill Asher, who is also a co-owner.<ref name=BUSINESSWEEK1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100918035451/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/people.asp?privcapId=959496 "Vivid Entertainment LLC: CEOs and Executives"], ''BusinessWeek''</ref>
In February 2006, Vivid changed its condom-only policy to a condom-optional policy that lets performers decide whether to use them.<ref name=LAWEEKLY_CONDOM>[http://www.laweekly.com/2010-01-28/news/rubbers-revolutionary-aids-healthcare-foundation-s-michael-weinstein Rubbers Revolutionary: AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Michael Weinstein] by Patrick Range McDonald, LA Weekly. January 28, 2010</ref><ref name=AIDSHEALTH>[http://www.aidshealth.org/news/in-the-media/la-weekly-profiles-ahfs.html "LA Weekly: Profiles AHF's "Adult Film Condom Campaign"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928065403/http://www.aidshealth.org/news/in-the-media/la-weekly-profiles-ahfs.html |date=September 28, 2011 }} by Patrick Range McDonald, LA Weekly. January 28, 2010</ref> In October 2010, Vivid stopped production as a precaution when an actor tested positive for HIV.<ref name=HIVscare>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/13/porn-actor-tests-positive-hiv|title=Porn actor tests positive for HIV|access-date=October 13, 2010 | location=London|work=The Guardian|date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> An October 2012 open letter, from Steven Hirsch, took aim at a Los Angeles County plan that would require performers to wear condoms on set. Hirsch said the proposal would be costly and ineffective and was an example of unnecessary government intrusion into private bedrooms.<ref name="Crime Scene Blog">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvcrime/2012/10/vivid-entertainment-owner-says.html|work=Frank C. Girardot|title=Vivid Entertainment owner says condoms bad for porn biz|date=October 2, 2012}}</ref>
==Divisions and ventures== *'''Alt-porn''': In 2009, the company won the AVN Award for Best Music Soundtrack for ''The Bad Luck Betties,''<ref name=AVN09/> and in 2010, for the musical soundtrack of ''Live in My Secrets''.<ref name=AVN10/> *'''Vivid Radio''': Vivid supplied content for a channel on the Sirius XM Radio network that features its various stars. The channel moved to online only on July 17, 2014.<ref name=2014VividRadio>{{cite magazine|title=Vivid Radio Hosts Want To Hit A Home Run With Alex Rodriguez|url=http://business.avn.com/company-news/Vivid-Radio-Hosts-Want-To-Hit-A-Home-Run-With-Alex-Rodriguez-594532.html|magazine=Adult Video News|access-date=May 11, 2014|archive-date=May 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529091332/http://business.avn.com/company-news/Vivid-Radio-Hosts-Want-To-Hit-A-Home-Run-With-Alex-Rodriguez-594532.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=VividRadioSite>{{cite web|title=Vivid Radio hosts|url=http://vividradio.com/hosts/|publisher=Vivid Entertainment|access-date=May 11, 2014|archive-date=October 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020175336/http://www.vividradio.com/hosts|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==List of Vivid Girls== [[File:Sunny Leone- on set 2009.jpg|thumb|Sunny Leone]] The following is a list of notable Vivid actresses (known as "Vivid Girls") during the first thirty years of Vivid.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jared Rutter|work=Vivid Entertainment LLC|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/Vivid-s-25th-Anniversary-How-Steven-Hirsch-s-Company-Thrust-Porn-Into-Mainstream-America-359979.html|title=Vivid's 25th Anniversary: How Steven Hirsch's Company Thrust Porn Into Mainstream America: Meet the man behind the brand|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=2015-04-15|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308003352/http://business.avn.com/articles/Vivid-s-25th-Anniversary-How-Steven-Hirsch-s-Company-Thrust-Porn-Into-Mainstream-America-359979.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The most recent Vivid Girl, Allie Haze, terminated her contract with Vivid in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Allie-Haze-Vivid-Part-Ways-Amicably-475493.html|title=Allie Haze, Vivid Part Ways Amicably|work=avn.com|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-date=September 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926093723/http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Allie-Haze-Vivid-Part-Ways-Amicably-475493.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{columns-list| * Asia Carrera * Barbara Dare * Briana Banks<ref name="avn.com">{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/Tera-Patrick-Directs-the-Vivid-Girls-in-Vivid-Red-52763.html|title=Tera Patrick Directs the Vivid Girls in 'Vivid Red'|work=avn.com|access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082446/http://business.avn.com/articles/Tera-Patrick-Directs-the-Vivid-Girls-in-Vivid-Red-52763.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Chasey Lain * Chloe Jones * Christy Canyon * Deidre Holland * Devon * Dyanna Lauren * Ginger Lynn<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-06-tm-20634-story.html |title=The Actress, the Producer and Their Porn Revolution |author1=Ralph Frammolino |author2=P.J. Huffstutter |date=January 6, 2002 |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426152610/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jan/06/magazine/tm-20634 |archive-date=April 26, 2017 |url-status=live<!-- dead in the EU, not worldwide -->}}</ref> * Heather Hunter * Hyapatia Lee * Janine Lindemulder * Jenna Jameson * Julia Ann * Kayden Kross * Kobe Tai * Nikki Charm * Nikki Randall * Nikki Tyler * Racquel Darrian * Raylene * Savanna Samson<ref name="avn.com"/> * Savannah * Sunny Leone<ref name="avn.com"/> * Sunrise Adams * Taylor Hayes * Tera Patrick<ref name="avn.com"/> * Tiffany Taylor * Tori Welles }}
==Legal controversy== On December 6, 2007, Vivid Entertainment filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against PornoTube.<ref name=LAT_PornoTube>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-vivid11dec11,1,2232727.story |title= Porn producer sues YouTube knockoff | access-date=2007-12-11 | date=December 11, 2007 | author = Joseph Menn |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref name=GuardianUK>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/dec/16/film.usa "Home porn gives industry the blues"], guardian.co.uk, December 16, 2007. Retrieved March 4, 2009.</ref> The lawsuit alleged that the YouTube-like site profits from the illegal posting of Vivid's copyrighted films, and failed to comply with the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act, a federal age-verification and record-keeping law that applies to the adult film industry.<ref name=FINDLAW>{{cite web|url=http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/ip/vividaebn120607cmp.html|title=Adult Film Company's Copyright Lawsuit Against PornoTube|access-date=2007-12-11 | date=December 11, 2007 | work=FindLaw}}</ref> The case was settled out of court.<ref name=NEWTEEVEE>[http://newteevee.com/2008/10/24/copyright-lawsuit-against-pornotube-withdrawn Copyright Lawsuit Against PornoTube Withdrawn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831115915/http://newteevee.com/2008/10/24/copyright-lawsuit-against-pornotube-withdrawn/ |date=August 31, 2010 }} by Janko Roettger. October 24, 2008.</ref>
==Awards and recognition== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * 1987 AVN Award – 'Best Video Feature' for ''Blame it on Ginger''<ref name=AVN87>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1987 1987 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622053951/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1987/ |date=June 22, 2010 }} – 'Best Video Feature' for ''Blame It on Ginger''.</ref> * 1991 AVN Award – 'Best Vignette Release' for ''Beat the Heat''<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1991 1991 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622054006/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1991/ |date=June 22, 2010 }} – 'Best Vignette Release' for ''Beat the Heat''.</ref> * 1992 AVN Award – 'Best Vignette Release' for ''Scarlet Fantasy''<ref name=AVN92>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1992 1992 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622054011/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1992/ |date=June 22, 2010 }} – 'Best Vignette Release' for ''Scarlet Fantasy''; Renting Release of the Year' for ''The Masseuse''; 'Best Film' for ''On Trial''.</ref> * 1992 AVN Award – 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for ''The Masseuse''<ref name=AVN92/> * 1992 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''On Trial''<ref name=AVN92/> * 1997 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''Bobby Sox''<ref name=AVN97>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1997 1997 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622054032/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1997/ |date=June 22, 2010 }} – 'Best Film' for ''Bobby Sox''.</ref> * 1998 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''Bad Wives''<ref name=AVN98>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1998 1998 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622001404/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/1998/ |date=June 22, 2010 }} – 'Best Film' for ''Bad Wives''.</ref> * 2000 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''Seven Deadly Sins''<ref name=AVN00>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2000 2000 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510134104/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2000/ |date=May 10, 2010 }} – 'Best Film' for ''Seven Deadly Sins''.</ref> * 2002 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''Fade To Black''<ref name=AVN02>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/20022002 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202741/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/20022002 |date=March 3, 2016 }} – 'Best Film' for ''Fade To Black''.</ref> * 2003 AVN Award – 'Top Selling Release of the Year' for ''Brianna Loves Jenna''<ref name=AVN03>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2003 2003 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617015331/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2003/ |date=June 17, 2010 }} – 'Top Selling Release of the Year' and 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for ''Brianna Loves Jenna''.</ref> * 2003 AVN Award – 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for ''Brianna Loves Jenna''<ref name=AVN03/> * 2004 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''Heart of Darkness''<ref name=AVN04>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2004 2004 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130132827/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2004/ |date=November 30, 2009 }} – 'Best Film' for ''Heart of Darkness''.</ref> * 2005 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''The Masseuse''<ref name=AVN05>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2005 2005 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614005726/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2005/ |date=June 14, 2010 }} – 'Best Film' for ''The Masseuse''; 'Best Video Feature' for ''Bella Loves Jenna''.</ref> * 2005 AVN Award – 'Best Video Feature' for ''Bella Loves Jenna''<ref name=AVN05/> * 2006 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''The New Devil in Miss Jones''<ref name=AVN06>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2006 2006 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305182722/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2006/ |date=March 5, 2011 }} – 'Best Film' for ''The New Devil in Miss Jones''; 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for ''The Masseuse''.</ref> * 2006 AVN Award – 'Top Renting Release of the Year' for ''The Masseuse''<ref name=AVN06/> * 2007 AVN Award – 'Best Gonzo Release' for ''Chemistry''<ref name=AVN07>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2007 2007 AVN Award] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622054052/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2007 |date=June 22, 2010 }} – 'Best Gonzo Release' for ''Chemistry''; 'Best Interactive CD-ROM – Game' for ''Virtual Vivid Girl Sunny Leone''.</ref> * 2007 AVN Award – 'Best Interactive CD-ROM – Game' for ''Virtual Vivid Girl Sunny Leone''<ref name=AVN07/> * 2008 AVN Award – Top Renting Title of the Year – 2007' for ''Debbie Does Dallas ... Again''<ref name=AVN08>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2008 2008 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171344/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2008 |date=March 3, 2016 }} – Top Renting Title of the Year – 2007' for ''Debbie Does Dallas...Again''; 'Best Film' for ''Layout''; 'Best Pro-Am Series' for ''Filthy's First Taste''.</ref> * 2008 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''Layout''<ref name=AVN08/> * 2008 AVN Award – 'Best Pro-Am Series' for ''Filthy's First Taste''<ref name=AVN08/> * 2009 AVN Award – 'Best Music Soundtrack' – ''The Bad Luck Betties''<ref name=AVN09>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2009 2009 AVN Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207200826/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/2009/ |date=December 7, 2009 }} – 'Best Music Soundtrack' – ''The Bad Luck Betties''; 'Best Educational Release' for ''Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2''; 'Best Film' for ''Cry Wolf''.</ref> * 2009 AVN Award – 'Best Educational Release' for ''Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Oral Sex 2''<ref name=AVN09/> * 2009 AVN Award – 'Best Film' for ''Cry Wolf''<ref name=AVN09/> * 2010 AVN Awards – ''Throat: A Cautionary Tale'' won five awards<ref name=AVN10>[http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/201 2010 AVN Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173425/http://avnawards.avn.com/winners/201 |date=March 3, 2016 }} – ''Throat: A Cautionary Tale'' won 5 awards; 'Best Overall Marketing Campaign – Company Image'; 'Best Music Soundtrack' – ''Live in My Secrets''; Vivid Ed for 'Best Educational Release' – ''Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes''; 'Best Pro-Am Series' ''Brand New Faces''.</ref> * 2010 AVN Award – 'Best Overall Marketing Campaign – Company Image'<ref name=AVN10/> * 2010 AVN Award – 'Best Music Soundtrack' – ''Live in My Secrets'' – Vivid-Alt<ref name=AVN10/> * 2010 AVN Award – Vivid Ed for 'Best Educational Release' – ''Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Threesomes''<ref name=AVN10/> * 2010 AVN Award – 'Best Pro-Am Series' ''Brand New Faces''<ref name=AVN10/> * 2010 XBIZ Award Nominee – Studio of the Year<ref name=XBNoms2010>[http://www.xbiz.com/news/115720 XBIZ Announces Finalist Nominees for 2010 XBIZ Awards], ''XBIZ'', Wednesday, December 16, 2009</ref> * 2010 XBIZ Award Nominee – Feature Movie of the Year for ''Faithless''<ref name=XBNoms2010 /> * 2010 XBIZ Award Nominee – Feature Movie of the Year for ''Throat: A Cautionary Tale''<ref name=XBNoms2010 /> * 2010 XBIZ Award Nominee – Feature Movie of the Year for ''Live In My Secrets'' (Vivid-Alt)<ref name=XBNoms2010 /> * 2010 XBIZ Award – 'Marketing Campaign of the Year' – ''Throat: A Cautionary Tale''<ref name=xbizwinners>[http://www.xbizawards.com/winners.php XBIZ Award Winners], ''XBIZ'', February 2011</ref> * 2012 XBIZ Award – 'Marketing Campaign of the Year' – ''Spider-Man XXX''<ref name=xbizwinners2012>[http://www.xbizawards.com/winners.php XBIZ Award Winners], ''XBIZ'', January 2012</ref> * 2013 XBIZ Award Nominee – 'Studio of the Year', 'Parody Release of the Year-Comedy' for ''Star Wars XXX: A Porn Parody''; also 'Parody Release of the Year-Drama' for ''The Avengers XXX: A Porn Parody'' and ''The Dark Knight XXX: A Porn Parody''. Additional nominations include: 'All-Sex Series of the Year for ''Brand New Faces'', 'Vignette Release of the Year' for ''Allie Haze: True Sex'' and ''Goddess''<ref name=XbizNoms2013>[http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/nominees.php XBIZ Nominees 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130151526/http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/nominees.php |date=January 30, 2013 }}, ''XBIZ'', January 2013</ref> * 2013 XBIZ Award – 'Vignette Release of the Year' – ''Allie Haze: True Sex''<ref name=xbixwins13>{{cite news|title=2013 XBIZ Award Winners Announced|url=http://www.xbiz.com/news/158425|access-date=January 12, 2013|publisher=XBIZ|date=January 11, 2013}}</ref> * 2013 XBIZ Award – 'Parody Release of the Year – Comedy' – ''Star Wars XXX: A Porn Parody''<ref name=xbizwin2013>[http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners.php XBIZ Award Winners 2013], ''XBIZ'', January 2013</ref> * 2014 XBIZ Award – 'Parody Release of the Year – Drama' – ''Superman vs. Spider-Man: An Axel Braun Parody'' and 'Couples-Themed Release of the Year' – ''Orgy University'',<ref name=xbizwin2014>[http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners.php XBIZ Award Winners 2014], ''XBIZ'', January 2014</ref> * 2015 XBIZ Award – 'Feature Movie of the Year' – ''Wetwork''<ref name=xbizwinners2015>[http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners.php XBIZ Award Winners], ''XBIZ'', January 2015</ref> * 2015 XBIZ Award – 'Best Art Direction' – ''Wetwork''<ref name=xbizwinners2015 /> }}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{official website}} * {{IAFD studio|2960}}
{{American pornographic film studios}} {{Authority control}}
Category:American companies established in 1984 Category:1984 establishments in California Category:Mass media companies established in 1984 Category:2007 controversies in the United States Category:American pornographic film studios Category:Companies based in Los Angeles Category:Pornography in Los Angeles Category:Film production companies based in California Category:Entertainment companies established in 1984