

Porn producers said they would consider leaving Los Angeles after a City Council vote mandating condoms be used on film shoots requiring a permit.

"If we're not shooting in the city of Los Angeles, we won't need those permits and that will be even less money the city stands to generate as a result of our industry," Steven Hirsch, founder of the adult film company Vivid Entertainment Group, said in an interview with The Times.

"The industry isn't going anywhere in terms of shooting movies, but if we need to move out of the city or the state, those jobs will go along with it," he said.

Hirsch said porn firms featuring condoms don't sell as well, because people who watch adult films "are interested in the fantasy aspect of it, so I think they'd rather watch films without condoms." Hirsch said Vivid lets performers choose whether they want to wear condoms.

Hirsch said Vivid had not made any immediate plans to begin moving filming shoots outside the city. "The vote was just as of yesterday. We'll be making decisions accordingly," Hirsch said Wednesday.

If the city puts "condom police together ready to go at a moment's notice, people will just stop shooting here," Hirsch said. L.A.'s San Fernando Valley is the headquarters of the multibillion-dollar adult film industry.