Adult filmmaker James DiGiorgio and XXXchurch.com co-founders Craig Gross and Mike Foster recently made a flick that warned parents about keep their adult materials from children's reach.
DiGiorgio, known as "Jimmy D.," is taping the public-service announcement for XXXchurch.com, a Corona-based Christian anti-pornography group.
The group's last commercial featured a dwarf and the tagline "Porn stunts your growth."
XXXchurch.com is the edgy brainchild of Gross and Foster, two youth pastors who saw a void in mainstream Christian churches' ministry: a lack of outreach to men who were struggling with pornography, at a time when pornography was becoming increasingly commonplace in modern society.
"The church for the most part has done such a poor job in getting the message out," said Foster, 32, who is on the staff of the Crossroads Christian Church in Corona. They "have made it so boring, so sterile, so institutional that nobody is paying attention. We up the ante."
In October, Gross and Foster wanted to do a commercial about keeping pornography away from children ?and they wanted the adult film industry to help out. They approached Vivid Videos, one of the largest producers of hard-core porn, as well as Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt. Both declined.
Meanwhile, their "Porn stunts your growth" commercial was under fire.
DiGiorgio heard about the troubles and e-mailed XXXchurch.com in December, offering his services for free. Within a few weeks, DiGiorgio, Foster and Gross were discussing scripts and logistics.
On Feb. 20, the trio, plus a porn lighting gaffer and a post-production editor, took the project to the studio, a small warehouse and office for Smash Pictures in Chatsworth.
They filmed the adventures of "Pete the Porno Puppet," who warns of the dangers of children discovering their parents' porn collection.
The footage has been edited into a 30-second public-service announcement, which will be aired in the Los Angeles and New York markets in April, as well as a longer, more risky director's cut that will be shown on XXXchurch.com's website.
DiGiorgio, who has directed more than 100 films has received harsh criticism from his industry because of his new film. In industry publications, he has been accused of careerism, as well as of being a turncoat for directing an anti-pornography ad, and he said he has lost work. DiGiorgio, a father of two, said he believes the industry has to take responsibility.
