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'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Hi everyone,
My name's Nick, and I'm a journalist. I've been recommended this site by lots of models!
I'm making a short documentary on webcam models, and I'm looking for contributors and people I can interview - mainly from around the UK (and preferably someone from London!).
I'd like to know why people get into webcam modelling (specifically) and whether it's a hobby, a part-time job or your true calling!
I've had some contact with models on MFC and xPeeps, but I also wanted to ask if you think there are issues that need covering? My documentary is nothing sinister, I promise.
I'm a professional, too, so I am more than happy to accommodate any requests for anonymity, and I can provide my full press credentials.
Hope to hear from some of you, soon!
Nick
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
sounds interesting - would it be broadcasted
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KateSwallows
sounds interesting - would it be broadcasted
It'll form part of my MA final project, but primarily this is my own work as a freelance journalist - I have pitched the idea to some commissioning editors.
So I can guarantee it'll primarily be shown to my markers as a matter of course.
Then if anyone else shows interest, it'll probably be back to the drawing board and I'd have to start all over again for a longer-form documentary/series.
So digital/terrestrial TV is out of the question, for now...
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
So this is for school and your professors. And when you say TV Documentary you mean it is primarily for you to attain your degree. 'prospects' & 'pitches' =/= there is no guarantee itd even be on televised, so your title is (intentionally, lbr) misleading.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nmsonline
I'm making a short documentary on webcam models
I'd like to know why people get into webcam modelling (specifically)
Why?
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
false advertising.. end of
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Wanted to add that I reported you for spam in mid February for tweeting: "Hiya, I'm doing a documentary on #camgirls & #MFC - would you be interested? Would love to talk to you,DM me for more info!" over and over and over and over and over again to as many camgirls as you could find. It doesnt look like you stopped, but you coming here probably means..... that that strategy didnt work?
There *must* be some unofficial best practices written by SWOP or something around journalists and researchers approaching sex workers for their projects. I hope someone develops them at some point because it is like a biweekly thing here --- and in a year and a half Ive only every seen one journalist/blogger do it right.
Just a tip - being deceptive and spamming doesnt work. Spamming especially doesnt work if youre trying to interview camgirls. We're online ALL of the time and get spammed ALL of the time and deal with ppl 'just curious' (for no discernible reason) abt camming ALL of the time. Trying to solicit camgirls (en masse) to chitchat with you via Skype and Twitter to help you for no remuneration largely wont produce a large volume of quality results. Try to be innovative if you want responses. Deception doesnt really do it.
Second tip - as a member of the media, just reassuring sex workers that you dont have a 'sinister' agenda largely isnt enough encouragement.
Good luck with your project
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
roast
Why?
So this is for school and your professors. And when you say TV Documentary you mean it is primarily for you to attain your degree. 'prospects' & 'pitches' =/= there is no guarantee itd even be on televised, so your title is (intentionally, lbr) misleading.
So, why webcamming, why this specifically, what is your final project about, etc.
Hello roast - thanks for engaging with me.
This isn't entirely misleading, nor is it just a school project. I haven't just sent faceless e-mails off into the ether pitching my idea, I've had some good responses and at least one channel's documentary unit wants to see what my finished product will look like as a proof of concept for them. As for my MA - yes, it will form part of my 'final project' but that's secondary - my postgraduate is actually more of a certified traineeship qualification than simply an academic degree.
The end project will be a broadcast-quality five-minute documentary. It will be showcased to media professionals (ones I haven't emailed, who are specifically invited to screenings).
I picked it because I've done a lot of research, I find it interesting and I have a lot of unanswered questions. I think there are some great stories to be told.
I won't bore you with stats, and I can't speak for all the case studies in the world, but I'd like to find out whether models hold down a relationship in tandem with their double-life online? And do the men who frequent these sites just look for perverted pleasure or are they after a ‘girlfriend experience’? Some people organise meets - do they feel safe? SW is a great resource for this - the guides that are published on these forums have pretty much everything anyone needs to know starting out!
Also, the income is interesting - I've spoken to people who do it as a hobby, who do it part time and who do it to furnish their new apartments and pay their rent. Of course, that raises the issue - what about tax? Would people like some sort of regulation so they can earn more money (but potentially have to pay tax). There's loads of avenues that could be explored - and also I hope some that might be suggested.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KateSwallows
false advertising.. end of
Sorry you feel that way, Kate - I didn't set out to intentionally mislead. Thanks for showing interest though!
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
roast
Wanted to add that I reported you for spam in mid February (the 17th especially) for tweeting: "Hiya, I'm doing a documentary on #camgirls & #MFC - would you be interested? Would love to talk to you,DM me for more info!" over and over and over again to as many camgirls as you could find. It doesnt look like you stopped, but you coming here probably means that that strategy didnt work?
There *must* be some unofficial best practices written by SWOP or something around journalists and researchers approaching sex workers for their projects. I hope someone develops them at some point because it is like a biweekly thing here --- and in a year and a half Ive only every seen one journalist/blogger do it right
Oh, this isn't setting a very nice tone, and precisely the reason my research didn't start with starting threads. I have had a good response from people on Twitter, and have had some great replies from a wide variety of people. I haven't harassed anyone, and I've been totally transparent. I abide by CIoJ and NUJ standards of conduct at all times.
I've contacted SWOP, and I've contacted the admins of this forum (and others) to make sure I wouldn't be banned and whether I'd be allowed to do what I'm doing. I genuinely do not set out to hurt anyone or engage in bad practices - I'd like to hear what you liked about that one blogger, though!
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
For some reason my last point was cut off. I don't engage in chequebook journalism - it's point blank bad journalism. If I had the money and a guideline to pay contributors. But journalism doesn't involve paying someone to say what you want them to say. I've had a few people decline because I don't have the funds to pay them, but others have been quite helpful.....I had another point, but Ron Swanson's face distracted me.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
I wanted to link to a journalist who did a great job getting interviews from camgirls:
http://www.stripperweb.com/forum/sho...-about-camming
Youll see in that thread she got a warm reception
What she did right:
1. Stated her purpose and explained (in detail) what she was planning to write about
2. Said why she was interested in camming specifically (and in a way that was relevant and interesting)
3. Offered compensation
4. Transparency: said her full name, linked to her other works, linked to the site she appeared on and offered to send additional information off the bat
5. Explained how the interviews would be shared BACK to the ppl she garnered interviews from (which is best practices in most research projects) and then promptly did so once it was posted on her blog
There was also a student doing a project who did something similar (even without #3) and got positive / interested responses, I cant find it at the moment but essentially followed the above guidelines.
Also the guy behind ExtraLunchMoney.com posts interview vlogs from camgirls and he has asked for ppl to contribute here before and has gotten many positive responses. Search around and see how he did it.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
roast
I wanted to link to someone who did a great job getting interviews from camgirls:
Youll see in that thread she got a warm reception
What she did right:
1. Stated her purpose and explained (in detail) what she was planning to write about
2. Said why she was interested in camming specifically (and in a way that was relevant and interesting)
3. Offered compensation
4. Transparency: said her full name, linked to her other works, linked to the site she appeared on and offered to send additional information off the bat
5. Explained how the interviews would be shared BACK to the ppl she garnered interviews from (which is best practices in most research projects) and then promptly did so
Thanks roast - I'm having a look through that thread right now! I sometimes envy writers who can just attribute their quotes without SOT (sound on tape) or assured post-production pixelating faces/darkening shots!!
Did you ever see her finished feature?
Ugh - I tried to put links to my things in a sig or a profile but it didn't work. Thanks for reminding me!
Quick question, though - why would being verified matter, here? Surely anyone can be a camgirl - and that's one of the core liberating principles? Or have you had imposters in the past on SW?
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Also, if anyone has got this far and doesn't hate me - I've been trying to contact some of the most popular camming sites and by far the least helpful have been Streamate - does this translate to their models' experiences, I wonder?!
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nmsonline
Also, if anyone has got this far and doesn't hate me - I've been trying to contact some of the most popular camming sites and by far the least helpful have been Streamate - does this translate to their models' experiences, I wonder?!
No... they are just well-known and aren't willing to help out some random person unless they're paid or get something out of it like free advertising (which Streamate does not need because they have heavy traffic). Same with camgirls. No one is going to help you for free or if compensation is not outlined. This is a business and in this industry especially, people can spot timewasters almost instantly. Time is money. Being blunt, upfront, and to-the-point will help you immensely in this industry if you want to actually accomplish your goals (your film).
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GlamourRouge
No... they are just well-known and aren't willing to help out some random person unless they're paid or get something out of it like free advertising (which Streamate does not need because they have heavy traffic). Same with camgirls. No one is going to help you for free or if compensation is not outlined. This is a business and in this industry especially, people can spot timewasters almost instantly. Time is money. Being blunt, upfront, and to-the-point will help you immensely in this industry if you want to actually accomplish your goals (your film).
Aside: interesting considering Streamate have been losing ground every month to MFC and Chaturbate...
How much would you expect to be paid for an interview (for example)?
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nmsonline
Aside: interesting considering Streamate have been losing ground every month to MFC and Chaturbate...
How much would you expect to be paid for an interview (for example)?
Not they haven't. While they're not my favorite site for other reasons, they have heavy traffic which is why they can afford to only pay models 35%. MFC does not cater to fetish at all, and Streamate is built primarily on a fetish platform as well as a pornstar platform. Its very different.
Models (well ones that do decent in the industry) would expect to get paid the same as their industry rate since they could be spending that time working. So I'd say for just an interview that remains anonymous... maybe about $75-100 I think is fair? If it is not anonymous, they would probably charge in the hundreds or thousands for everything as many girls in this industry wish to remain anonymous. You may be able to find a girl who will do it for a low rate or maybe even for just free promotion, but she is likely brand new, inexperienced, or will likely not take it seriously.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GlamourRouge
Not they haven't. While they're not my favorite site for other reasons, they have heavy traffic which is why they can afford to only pay models 35%. MFC does not cater to fetish at all, and Streamate is built primarily on a fetish platform as well as a pornstar platform. Its very different.
Models (well ones that do decent in the industry) would expect to get paid the same as their industry rate since they could be spending that time working. So I'd say for just an interview that remains anonymous... maybe about $75-100 I think is fair? If it is not anonymous, they would probably charge in the hundreds or thousands for everything as many girls in this industry wish to remain anonymous. You may be able to find a girl who will do it for a low rate or maybe even for just free promotion, but she is likely brand new, inexperienced, or will likely not take it seriously.
Thanks for the advice, Glamour - I only say that because comparing LJ, Streamate, Chaturbate and MFC on Alexa shows that daily traffic has plummeted for Streamate, while Chaturbate seems to be enjoying a bit of a surge in the last three to six months. LJ is obviously at the top and MFC (although wavering) has remained relatively constant.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nmsonline
Thanks for the advice, Glamour - I only say that because comparing LJ, Streamate, Chaturbate and MFC on Alexa shows that daily traffic has plummeted for Streamate, while Chaturbate seems to be enjoying a bit of a surge in the last three to six months. LJ is obviously at the top and MFC (although wavering) has remained relatively constant.
Just because they have traffic does not equal money.
In fact, it could actually make the sites go under due to excessive bandwidth charges. That traffic you see is likely mostly freeloaders, not paying customers (which is a big reason why many hosts are moving away from LJ.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
If Chaturbate traffic stats are rising vis a vis Streamate, I suspect it's probably cuz some of the guys who have no intention of paying for a private show find that 'free-for-all' style sites offer more of what they're looking for. No cam-chica is going to shed tears over the loss of that type of traffic. Frankly, it's laughable for you to compare your experiences of sm to Chaturbate and LJ and infer anything other than the fact that chicas working high paying-traffic sites are too busy earning $$$$ to indulge your unsolicited and unpaid questions.
Regarding your aversion to "check-book journalism"... I get where you're coming from in regards to journalists who refuse to pay for 'expose'/whistle-blower stories, in that as a journalist one doesn't want the offer of money itself to be the motivation behind someone speaking to the media (which can create doubt as to the legitimacy of the story), but what you're looking for is something entirely different. What you're seeking is to benefit from the experiences and perspectives of cam-chicas who have 'proven' their positions by virtue of where you find them...on cam, working as, ya know, actual cam-chicas. By your own definition, these women embody the knowledge from which you seek benefit. Why would any chica take time out of her work day to indulge you when you're essentially saying, simply by virtue of the method you've chosen in gathering material, that what they have to share has no value. When I was in school, the term for that was 'resource extraction journalism'.
Honestly, the only category of creepy time-waster I encounter more frequently than the budding journalist seeking my (free!?!) time is the "I'm the head of such an such porn company with a free gmail account, give me a free show so I can decide whether to offer you a photo shoot". Both types of propositions are equally ridiculous.
If you wish to create an ethical and professional research product, compensate your participants by taking them private to answer your questions.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
loveshooks
If Chaturbate traffic stats are rising vis a vis Streamate, I suspect it's probably cuz some of the guys who have no intention of paying for a private show find that 'free-for-all' style sites offer more of what they're looking for. No cam-chica is going to shed tears over the loss of that type of traffic. Frankly, it's laughable for you to compare your experiences of sm to Chaturbate and LJ and infer anything other than the fact that chicas working high paying-traffic sites are too busy earning $$$$ to indulge your unsolicited and unpaid questions.
Regarding your aversion to "check-book journalism"... I get where you're coming from in regards to journalists who refuse to pay for 'expose'/whistle-blower stories, in that as a journalist one doesn't want the offer of money itself to be the motivation behind someone speaking to the media (which can create doubt as to the legitimacy of the story), but what you're looking for is something entirely different. What you're seeking is to benefit from the experiences and perspectives of cam-chicas who have 'proven' their positions by virtue of where you find them...on cam, working as, ya know, actual cam-chicas. By your own definition, these women embody the knowledge from which you seek benefit. Why would any chica take time out of her work day to indulge you when you're essentially saying, simply by virtue of the method you've chosen in gathering material, that what they have to share has no value. When I was in school, the term for that was 'resource extraction journalism'.
Honestly, the only category of creepy time-waster I encounter more frequently than the budding journalist seeking my (free!?!) time is the "I'm the head of such an such porn company with a free gmail account, give me a free show so I can decide whether to offer you a photo shoot". Both types of propositions are equally ridiculous.
If you wish to create an ethical and professional research product, compensate your participants by taking them private to answer your questions.
Thanks loveshooks - honestly my comment about Streamate's response to me was poorly made off-the-cuff following a response from their internal departments (not the models themselves!) - I've clearly been put straight!
Interesting what you say about compensating subjects - one of the reasons I chose e-mail, forums and Twitter over direct chat is because I didn't want to be seen as disturbing you while you're working.
Although I sort of disagree with the idea that non-payment for an interview is equivalent to regarding work to one of no value (if you're an expert in your field you wouldn't give a press interview for money because you get paid to do your job not appear on the news, for example) - if I had the money I'd love to pay all of my contributors; I can see that the very nature of camming means any time 'free' would potentially mean a loss of earning. I suppose, then, that raises a few more questions - do people treat camming as a 9-5 or fixed-hour contract? Do people set aside x hours per week? The idea of all hours = 'billable' hours is one that I'm trying to get my head around.
For a thread that got off to perhaps the wrong start on my part, I'm definitely grateful so far to everyone who has posted - still learning lots after about six months or so!
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nmsonline
if I had the money I'd love to pay all of my contributors; I can see that the very nature of camming means any time 'free' would potentially mean a loss of earning. I suppose, then, that raises a few more questions - do people treat camming as a 9-5 or fixed-hour contract? Do people set aside x hours per week? The idea of all hours = 'billable' hours is one that I'm trying to get my head around.
For a thread that got off to perhaps the wrong start on my part, I'm definitely grateful so far to everyone who has posted - still learning lots after about six months or so!
Some of us have huge financial goals (early retirement, etc) and work way more than that a day. A lot of us work 7 days a week whenever we get the chance.
Seriously, did you really think most just play around on cam and don't treat it as a profession? Yes, most of make good money but with all the risks we take we earn every dime.
I'm really failing to see any benefit for a chathost to take time out to do an interview with you.
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Ah well I'm a cam model from London, but luckily I read Roast's post first :D
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
laurielegs
Some of us have huge financial goals (early retirement, etc) and work way more than that a day. A lot of us work 7 days a week whenever we get the chance.
Seriously, did you really think most just play around on cam and don't treat it as a profession? Yes, most of make good money but with all the risks we take we earn every dime.
I'm really failing to see any benefit for a chathost to take time out to do an interview with you.
No, I didn't think that at all - but there's a few people I've spoken to who do, so I just wanted to put it out there and get your view(s).
As for benefits? Well, they'd be helping me out, I suppose. I can't say how much more grateful I'd be than what I've already posted. But again, this isn't meant to convince you, just thanks for the info!
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MissKatie
Ah well I'm a cam model from London, but luckily I read Roast's post first :D
Hi MissKatie - thanks for joining in - what was it about Roast that convinced you I was so untoward? :p
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Re: 'Webcam Girls: The Girlfriend Experience' TV Documentary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nmsonline
As for benefits? Well, they'd be helping me out, I suppose. I can't say how much more grateful I'd be than what I've already posted. But again, this isn't meant to convince you, just thanks for the info!
I'm a mercenary Individualist. I don't care about helping you unless it helps my bottom line. Most of my colleagues share my sentiments. You're a broke nobody. No one you would show this to would care or fundamentally advance my career, in this field.
Why are people who make sex workers their pet-projects SO damn lazy?! Seriously, why not just attend every major sex-industry event and actually meet your subjects or solicit contributors? Wanna contact the bigwigs at SM, LJ, Clips4Sale or MFC? Go to Vegas and the AVN/AEE. They're all there every single year, hob-nobbing and bullshitting for investors and prime talent. Until you make the real effort to immerse yourself with people who actually interface with the industry, on the ground floor, you'll never receive the real facts and information you're looking for. So you know how to use Google and Alexa? BFD. If this is your Master's-level project and you aren't going further than spamming strangers on twitter or blindly posting on message boards, why the hell should I care about you or your academic success?