Obscenity,
we have learned, is a relative term. The first Amendment
stipulates Free Speech, yet concedes it is the community
that decides what goes too far and what is protected.
To
judge from all the fuss lately, it seems that porn --
as we are defining and producing it today -- is too close
to the line. But if the line moves in accordance with
community sentiment, isn't it logical that some types
of Adult material become more
acceptable, as others become less?
Let's
take a look at two adult paysite companies that have found
opportunity on Porn's softer side.
Steve
Lightspeed is the founder of LightSpeedCash,
which operates more than 30 paysites and specializes in
the solo girl genre. Some of his girls (like Jordan
Capri and Tawnee
Stone, to name just 2) are as recognizable as Hollywood
Celebrities. Steve's success is noteworthy because his sites
are among the least explicit paysites on the Web. When asked
why he thinks that is, Steve responded:
"I
grew up in a small town, lived in the same house until
18, and had just a few close friends. My best friend's
sister was a cheerleader, and I had a mad crush on her.
She knew it, and she used to tease me at every opportunity.
When
I finally got together with her, she had a rule that
we could do anything sexually, as long as her panties
STAYED ON. Ok, I can live with that!" - Steve
Lightspeed
At
a time when other Adult companies are chasing the ever-more-jaded
porn consumer's eye with bigger, deeper, harder... LightspeedCash
is raking it in with restraint.
Steve
is as much involved in the production of his 30 Web sites
today as he was in 1999 when he launched
LS-University.com, his first site.
"I
shot 100% of the content for LS-University, and I still
shoot much of the Lightspeed content myself"
As
CEO and Executive Producer for all the LightSpeed sites,
Steve Lightspeed has proven much more than just a former
AS/400 programmer who knew his f-stop from his cable release.
The Lightspeed sites are also a case study of exemplary
brand management on the Web. Born out of the nostalgic haze
of his college years, the Lightspeed sites convey nudge-to-the-ribs
naughtiness against a backdrop of cultural innocence that
seems far removed from the present. Lightspeed has felt
the push to make the jump to more hardcore content, but
he remains steadfast in his feelings on the subject.
"It's
not what we do, and I don't feel like we have to do
extreme porn. I don't feel like we have to humiliate
the girls. I think Playboy had the right idea.. You
get the best-looking girls and make them look sexy.
They don't have to turn into ultra-sluts."
STEVE
LIGHTSPEED: A PORN SUCCESS STORY
REASON:
Having the clarity of a vision, the pragmatism
of an old-school mainframe programmer, and the guts to
hold your ground as others chase the whims of the market
towards the cliff of osbcenity. Well done, Steve!
The Lightspeed network of sites receives an estimated
2million unique visitors per day.
Part
2: Smash Bucks
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