Source: Britco Pictures
By: Brittany Andrews
(LOS ANGELES, CA) — On the heels of a particularly heated Presidential election, with results that would seem to bode poorly for the adult industry, I would like to step forward and announce my candidacy as a board member for the Free Speech Coalition (FreeSpeechCoalition.com).
As most of you may know, I have worn many hats in the adult entertainment community. I have never been one to shirk from controversy and I have always spoken my mind. These traits are likely to serve me well as one of your elected representatives at the FSC.
I got my start in adult work over twelve years ago, leaving Milwaukee, Wisconsin at age 18 for a career feature dancing, traveling all over the world and living in such exotic ports of call as Guam and Tokyo, Japan.
Upon my return to the States, I began booking photo shoots for magazines like Hustler and High Society, equally enjoying the work, the money and the chance to explore my own sexuality. One early photo shoot had me jet down to Spring Break in Jamaica, where I met and befriended adult superstar Jenna Jameson. Jenna was instrumental in getting my foot in the door of the adult video world.
I made tough choices early in my career, such as going it alone as a performer and refusing to be bound by the constrictions of the “contract girl” system as it was coming into vogue. I was determined to establish myself as a stand-alone star.
Another extremely controversial move was my decision to go “condoms only” early in my career. It cost me lost money and contracts, not to mention some friends and business associates, but I knew it was the right move for me. People told me I’d be laughed out of the business and “never work in this town again.” Ten years later, my company and dozens of top porn production companies have embraced “condoms only” as the only sane move to make in such a high-risk occupation.
>From dancer to talent, I worked hard, kept my focus and within three months
Of starting my porn career, I accepted an offer to guest host the adult-oriented newsmagazine Talking Blue. The day after we shot the show, the producers offered me a full-time job as the host which I accepted happily.
In the course of my duties as host, I worked on developing and revamping the entire show. To insure a high-quality product, I became increasingly involved in the off screen aspects of production, hiring and coordinating my own crew, pitching segments and even directing episodes. The hard work was rewarded in the form of becoming a co-producer that led the show to several Cable Ace Awards and the knowledge that I had more to offer the industry than just a pretty face.
With my newfound skills behind a camera, I took a chance and opened my own production company, Britco Pictures (BritcoPictures.com). Five years later, Britco Pictures boasts an impressive state-of-the-art facility in downtown Los Angeles, featuring a high-tech dungeon, plenty of studio space and even its own Avid post-production operation, Cave Post.
I have always enjoyed politics, especially as it relates to our industry. I have appeared on both the O’Reilly Factor and Dateline NBC to express my views on the recently overturned lap-dancing ban in Los Angeles. I caused an enormous stir in the United Kingdom on Channel 5 and the BBC when one of my movies, Making Whoopee, resulted in a court case which ultimately led to the legalizing of porn distribution in the U.K.
Women in Adult (WomenInAdult.com) also has named me to their board of directors as talent liaison. The WIA is an executive organization for women in adult. The first organization in the history of adult for female executives. I also work with ASACP, Adult Sites Against Child Pornography, to fight the growing amount of child pornography in cyberspace.
I have also been extensively involved in charity work, most recently when I organized a huge content trade photo and video shoot at BritCo Pictures. The content will be released on DVD and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the families of two adult industry models. One of the models, Taylor Summer was tragically killed after a photo shoot in Pennsylvania earlier this year. The other model, Shannon Getsit, was a relative newcomer who was terribly injured in a household accident and uninsured at the time.
I have been happy to donate time and money to such varied groups as Children of the Night (ChildrenOfTheNight.org), Para Los Niños (ParaLosNinos.org), the L.A. Mission (LosAngelesMission.org) and Beyond Shelter (BeyondShelser.org). I have also done extensive hosting and promotions for AIM Health Care (AIM-Med.org), the adult industry’s leading HIV prevention and awareness resource.
For the last ten years, I have worked very hard in this industry to get where I am. I’ve had to fight for respect as a woman in a male-dominated field and I am happy to say that I feel I’ve achieved that respect.
I am committed to the cause and the promotion of the Free Speech Coalition. I have been lucky to have many opportunities for interviews in print, television and online, usually two or more per week. I would gladly use this time to spread our message, promote our agenda and raise public awareness for current issues facing the organization.
I am extremely excited about working together with FSC’s own Kat Sunlove as she raises the issue of forming a union for talent. The possibility of an Adult Actor’s Guild, protecting its own and promoting safe, sane and non-exploitative production standards and health guidelines is going to be one of the most exciting issues our industry will face in coming years.
What better way to show those outside of adult entertainment that we do take the health and safety of our talent seriously and that this isn’t the same industry they were so worried about in the 1970’s. Porn is estimated to be a ten billion dollar a year industry in 2004 and it’s time that we started acting like it by owning up to our failings, but also by demanding our Constitutional rights as Americans.
The Free Speech Coalition is the front line between those who would arrest us, confiscate our product and restrict the rights of people to explore their own sexuality. I can think of no better place to be than on the board of the Coalition, fighting for our rights, as we face four more years of uncertainty.
I appreciate your time and your consideration for this position.
Miss Brittany Andrews
Britco Pictures
1001 E. First Street, #23
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 620-9383
