Jim South

Last updated

Jim South
Jim South at World Modelling 20050215.jpg
South in 2005
Born
James Marvin Souter, Jr.

(1939-09-17)September 17, 1939
DiedAugust 28, 2020(2020-08-28) (aged 80)
Occupation Talent agent
Children2

James Marvin Souter, Jr. (September 17, 1939 - August 28, 2020), known professionally as Jim South, was an American recruiter and agent in the pornography industry. [1]

Contents

Early life

South sold insurance in Dallas, Texas for a few years and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1968. He opened a fashion modeling agency first, then formed World Modeling Talent Agency in Sherman Oaks, California in 1976. The agency represented many performers and models who worked in adult movies and magazines.

Career

World Modeling became infamous for unknowingly representing a then underaged Traci Lords. [2] Through South's agency, 15-year-old Lords started nude modeling; she had introduced herself with a fraudulent identification card in the name Kristie Elizabeth Nussman, which falsely showed her age as twenty two years old. [3] Lords became the September 1984 Penthouse "Pet of the Month," for which she earned $5,000, and first performed in pornographic movies in 1984. [2]

Following the May 1986 revelation that most of Lords' porn work was illegal, South was arrested on March 4, 1987, and was among those later charged by the U.S. government with pandering and child pornography. [4] [5] [6] The charges were eventually dismissed after the discovery that the government had issued Lords a passport under the name Kristi Nussman.

In an interview, South said, "The only reason [the charges were dropped] was that the federal government that saw the very same ID I saw gave Traci a passport to go to Europe to make an X-rated movie." [7] That movie, Traci, I Love You , which was made in Cannes soon after Lords' 18th birthday, is her only legal porn film in the United States.

In interviews and her book, Lords held him in perpetual contempt for what she sees as his (and others') unapologetic role in her sexual exploitation. She stated that she named him "Tim North" in her autobiography not for legal reasons but as a means to protect people from him, and to avoid giving him and his company any publicity, which could draw young women into the sex industry. [8] Lords wrote that South gave her cocaine and champagne during her first nude photo shoot at World Modeling, a charge that South denied. [9]

In 1991, porn producers discovered that Alexandra Quinn, a World Modeling talent, had entered porn in 1990 at age 17. Quinn pretended that she was born in 1968, the same year as Traci Lords' birth. Unlike the Lords case, Quinn did not generate a scandal with media coverage, nor did anyone face legal action. [6]

World Modeling went out of business in November 2006 because of declining profits. [10] On December 5, 2007, South announced the reopening of World Modeling with a change of direction as well as an intent to reduce the number of young women he would represent. [11]

Business model

South's female clients could earn up to $1,500 for a day's work (usually two scenes). Exotic acts, involving multiple partners or "bizarre fetishism" could fetch $3,500. South did not work on percentage basis, but was rather paid $65 a day per performer by the film's producer. In rare cases, when having negotiated an exclusive deal, he would get a cut from the profits. [1]

Personal life

South claimed he maintained a strict "no dating" policy with his clients, preferring his relationship with his talents to be strictly professional. South married his wife in 1975, and he had two sons. [1] He died on August 28, 2020. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ginger Lynn</span> American pornographic actress

Ginger Lynn Allen is an American pornographic actress and model who was a premier adult-entertainment star of the 1980s. She also had minor roles in various B movies. Adult Video News ranked her at #7 of the 50 greatest porn stars of all time in 2002. After ending her pornography career, she began using her full name and found work in a variety of B-movies. She had a late-career return to the adult industry and made a brief series of movies. Allen is a member of AVN, NightMoves, XRCO, and Urban X Halls of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traci Lords</span> American actress (born 1968)

Nora Louise Kuzma, known professionally as Traci Lords, is an American actress, singer, and former pornographic actress. She entered the adult film industry using a fake birth certificate to conceal that she was two years under the legal age of 18. Lords starred in adult films and was one of the most sought-after actresses in that industry during her career. When the FBI acted on an anonymous tip that Lords was a minor during her time in the industry, and that pornographers were distributing and selling these illegal images and videotapes, the resulting fallout led to prosecution of those responsible for creating and distributing the tapes, but the prosecutions fell through when it was revealed she was using a real federal passport as her proof of age along with a fake birth certificate and fake California drivers license. In addition, all of her adult films, and the September 1984 edition of Penthouse were banned as child pornography. Her last adult movie was filmed two days after her 18th birthday, by her own company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pornographic film</span> Films that present sexually explicit subject matter in order to arouse and satisfy the viewer

Pornographic films (pornos), erotic films, adult films, sex films, 18+ films, or also known as blue movie or blue film, are films that present sexually explicit subject matter in order to arouse, fascinate, or satisfy the viewer. Pornographic films present sexual fantasies and usually include erotically stimulating material such as nudity (softcore) and sexual intercourse (hardcore). A distinction is sometimes made between "erotic" and "pornographic" films on the basis that the latter category contains more explicit sexuality, and focuses more on arousal than storytelling; the distinction is highly subjective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christy Canyon</span> American pornographic actress (born 1966)

Christy Canyon is a retired pornographic actress and American radio personality. She is a member of both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame and a recipient of the Free Speech Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janine Lindemulder</span> American pornographic actress (born 1968–1969)

Janine Lindemulder is an American pornographic actress, often credited mononymously as Janine. She is a member of the AVN Hall of Fame and the XRCO Hall of Fame. In 1999, she was pictured on the cover of pop-punk band Blink-182's third album, Enema of the State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebecca Lord</span> French pornographic actress

Rebecca Lord is a French pornographic actress, director, and producer who has been active since 1993. Soon after her first experience in the porn industry, she moved U.S., where she achieved popularity, appearing in over 200 porn movies. She is the owner of Rebecca Lord Productions. In 2013, Rebecca Lord was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.

Traci, I Love You is a 1987 pornographic film directed by Jean Charles and starring Traci Lords, Marilyn Jess, Gabriel Pontello and Alban Ceray. It was Lords' final adult film in the industry. It was produced in Cannes, France, two days after her 18th birthday. As her only film produced after she turned 18, it is the only one legally available in the United States, due to child pornography laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra Quinn</span> Canadian former pornographic actress

Alexandra Quinn is a Canadian former pornographic actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Angel</span> American pornographic actress (born 1980)

Joanna Mostov, professionally known as Joanna Angel, is an American pornographic film actress, director, and writer of adult films. She founded the website BurningAngel.com in April 2002 with her roommate Mitch Fontaine, and has been credited with helping the growth of the alt porn genre. Launched as a response to websites such as SuicideGirls, the website featured alternative performers acting in exclusively hardcore scenes with a stronger focus on a punk aesthetic.

<i>New Wave Hookers</i> 1984 film

New Wave Hookers is a 1985 pornographic film that established the alt porn genre. It featured a cast of established performers from the era and was followed by a number of sequels and a remake. The movie starred Ginger Lynn, Desiree Lane, Kristara Barrington, Kimberly Carson, Brooke Fields, Gina Carrera, Jamie Gillis, Jack Baker, Tom Byron, Steve Powers, Peter North, Rick Cassidy, Greg Rome, and Steve Drake. Traci Lords appeared in the original version dressed in all-red lingerie and portrayed "the Devil."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirsten Price (actress)</span> American pornographic actress

Kirsten Price is an American pornographic actress, model, and feature dancer.

Women's erotica is any erotic material that caters specifically to women target-demographic of various sexual preferences. When erotica is specifically directed at lesbians, it is referred to as lesbian erotica. Women's erotica is available from a variety of media including video games, websites, books, comics, short stories, films, photography, magazines, audio, anime and manga. The content may cover many aspects of sexuality, from relationships to fetishes; the main idea being to convey sex-positivism from a woman's perspective, or to feature female empowerment and sexual fantasies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Margold</span> American pornographic film actor and porn film director

William Margold was an American pornographic film actor and porn film director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pornographic film actor</span> Person who performs in pornography

A pornographic film actor or actress, pornographic performer, adult entertainer, or porn star is a person who performs sex acts on video that is usually characterized as a pornographic movie. Such videos tend to be made in a number of distinct pornographic subgenres and attempt to present a sexual fantasy; the actors selected for a particular role are primarily selected on their ability to create or fit that fantasy. Pornographic videos are characterized as either softcore, which does not contain depictions of sexual penetration or extreme fetishism, and hardcore, which can contain depictions of penetration or extreme fetishism, or both. The genres and sexual intensity of videos is mainly determined by demand. Depending on the genre of the film, the on-screen appearance, age, and physical features of the actors and their ability to create the sexual mood of the video is of critical importance. Most actors specialize in certain genres, such as straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, bondage, strap-on, anal, double penetration, semen swallowing, teenage, orgy, age roleplay, fauxcest, interracial or MILFs and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter North (actor)</span> Canadian pornographic actor

Alden Joseph Brown, known professionally as Peter North, is a Canadian retired pornographic actor, director and producer. He has 2,155 credits as an actor and 77 as a director.

Amateur pornography is a category of pornography that features models, actors or non-professionals performing without pay, or actors for whom this material is not their only paid modeling work. Reality pornography is professionally made pornography that seeks to emulate the style of amateur pornography. Amateur pornography has been called one of the most profitable and long-lasting genres of pornography.

Caballero Home Video is an American independent pornographic film studio, based in Canoga Park, California founded by Noel C. Bloom. It was previously known as Caballero Control Corporation. The company was founded in 1974, making it one of the oldest U.S. porn studios still in existence. Caballero was one of the largest studios during the Golden Age of Porn, and produced several of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed pornographic films of the 1980s and early 1990s. Its dominance of the adult video market saw it called the "General Motors of Porn". Its films starred some of the most successful and best known performers of the period, such as Marilyn Chambers, Seka, Amber Lynn, Stacey Donovan, Ginger Lynn, John Holmes, Joey Silvera, Traci Lords, Nina Hartley, Ron Jeremy and Christy Canyon. Previous company Presidents include Al Bloom. Throughout the 1980s it was awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages due to its films being illegally pirated. It also acquired the U.S. rights to rival studio Cal Vista's entire catalogue of more than 150 films. Caballero is a contributor to the Free Speech Coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Spiegler</span> Pornographic talent agent

Mark Spiegler is an American talent agent for pornographic actresses and founder of Spiegler Girls, which is often regarded as being among the adult film industry's top agencies.

<i>Traci Lords: Underneath It All</i> Book by Traci Lords

Traci Lords: Underneath It All is an autobiography by American actress and singer Traci Lords, first published on July 8, 2003 by HarperCollins. It was reissued as a paperback on June 29, 2004, with an additional chapter and photos. The book primarily details Lords' career in the adult film industry, when she appeared underage in dozens of pornographic films and became one of the most notable pornstars of the 1980s. It also chronicles her childhood, transition to mainstream films and musical career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazmin Chaudhry</span> Bangladeshi pornographic actress

Jazmin Chaudhary is a Bangladesh-born American adult film actress. She is the first pornographic actor known to have been born in Bangladesh. Born on May 15, 1985, in Chattogram, Bangladesh, she moved to the United States with her parents at a young age. There, at the age of 19, she came into pornographic acting. In her five year career between 2004 and 2008, she featured in over 90 films, and worked for Spiegler Girls. At the 2005 AVN Awards Show, Jazmin won the award of Best Group Sex Scene, Video for Orgy World: The Next Level 7 by Evasive Angles. Bangladesh Booty, the first Bangladesh-themed pornographic film was made with Jazmin in the lead. She retired from the adult industry in 2008 with a husband and a son.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Konik, Michael (April 1997), "The Industry - Agent X", Los Angeles , USA, pp. 38–45
  2. 1 2 Lords, Traci (July 8, 2003). Traci Lords: Underneath It All. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN   0-06-050820-5.
  3. Krajicek, David. "About Sex". The Crime Library . Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2006.
  4. Alilunas, Peter (2016). Smutty Little Movies: The Creation and Regulation of Adult Video. University of California Press. p. 248. ISBN   978-0-520-96536-2.
  5. Ford, Luke (1999). A History of X: 100 Years of Sex in Film. Prometheus Books. pp. 181–185. ISBN   978-1-573-92678-2.
  6. 1 2 White, Ryan (2014). True Crime: Timeless Classics. Nischal Hegde. p. 18. ISBN   978-1-312-43496-7.
  7. Kapelovitz, Dan; Partridge, Giddle (September 2002). "Agents Pornographeurs: The Men Behind The Muff". Hustler . Larry Flynt. Archived from the original (reprint) on July 20, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2006.
  8. Bowman, David (August 1, 2003). "Traci talks". Salon.com . Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2013. It pissed me off, I can tell you. Because some girl out there who is confused will be able to find this idiot, and he is a menace.
  9. "Traci Lords". msnbc.com. December 8, 2003. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  10. Martinez, Carlos (October 31, 2006). "World Modeling Closes". AVN . Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  11. Warren, Peter (December 5, 2008). "Jim South Reopening World Modeling". AVN. Archived from the original on December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
  12. Kernes, Mark (August 28, 2020). "Jim South, Adult's First Full-Time Talent Agent, Has Died AVN". AVN. Retrieved August 30, 2020.