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Vivica Rayy: Adult Film Entrepreneur Interview
October 22, 2006 | Interviews
Vivica Rayy Splashes Onto The Scene
Interview contributed by Tony “Rescue One” Samuel
Vivica Rayy is a woman that knows what she wants. With a thorough understanding of business and the skills required to be a success in the adult film industry, Vivica is on a mission to expand on her brand and to take the adult world by storm. She is a new adult entrepreneur who has set her sights on being the African American version of Jenna Jameson.
Growing up in Nigeria within a class-based society, Vivica learned early on that having finances was essential to her future. Now living in Atlanta GA, Vivica is ready to use her business savvy to reach new financial heights and to cash in on the reported $10 billion a year industry.
Her new film Analyze This… is already making waves in the adult industry and her determination to be a success cannot be underestimated. Introducing, Vivica Rayy:
Vivica Rayy Interview
Tony S: I understand you were born and raised in Nigeria. How was it growing up there?
Vivica: Nothing extraordinary. Pretty cool…I played a lot…I also went to boarding school for a few years. We live in a class society…where it is pretty much rich and poor, no middle class.
Tony: Did you fall on the rich side or the poor side?
Vivica: I would say…the rich side.
Tony: So you were one of the fortunate ones.
Vivica: Yes. Thank God.
Tony: At what age did you decide to jump into the adult film industry?
Vivica: I was 19, in college and needed money. So, I started off dancing. Then I started my website and one thing led to another. I started making movies last year.
Tony: How many movies have you made?
Vivica: I only produced 2 movies…I would say three, but the other one is not really a movie, it is more like a video. I produced two films and one video. I got another video that will be released at the end of the year. I am graduating this year, so I decided to release a graduation DVD.
Tony: I read you are taking business management. How do you plan to use your degree to further advance your career?
Vivica: I am already using a lot of things I have learned. I dabble in real estate. I own a couple of properties that I rent out. I run my own business. So, I would say I already use my degree. The main reason why I am doing this…finishing my degree is so I can say that I graduated from college. Other than that, I don’t think I am going to be working for corporate America. I think for the most part, I will be working for myself
Tony: Do you own 100% of your production company and website?
Vivica: Yes
Tony: That’s pretty good. Who in the entertainment field do you admire…male or female?
Vivica: I would have to say someone like Oprah because she has done a whole lot and now she is like a big billion dollar corporation. Just from the business aspect… I am not an Oprah fan and I don’t watch her show, but I do like the fact that she is a very good businesswoman. On the adult side, I would have to say Jenna Jameson…because she has found a way to make her own brand. Now she is just making money off of her name as oppose to actually working…which is a place I would like to be in a few years from now. Right now she has girls working for her I would like to be the coach putting players on the field. I am more interested in running my business as oppose to becoming a star. I have no interest in becoming a star.
Tony: Speaking of Jenna Jameson, what would it take for you to reach a Jenna Jameson level type of success?
Vivica: First of all in house (production). You want to make sure you start off with quality production. You want to make sure you work with some top names or some top companies. You have to take time and make your movies. Make sure you have an image for a particular market that you can actually cater to. When people start seeing that you have quality stuff…you can have…reviewed by companies such as AVN…you would need to go to conventions and network with other people. You have to be involved in the whole industry. I think the conventions are definitely the key. You can meet and talk to people face to face instead of emailing someone. You have to work with the top names in the industry. She started off dancing and then she started doing magazines, and then she worked for a very good company…Wicked…a top quality production company. Then she started her own company and website because she had already built a name for herself by working with Wicked. She did a lot of feature dancing tours. It’s all about promoting…Eventually she grew to the status that she is today…It took years. I would say it took her 10 years.
Tony: Why did you start your own company instead of signing on as a contract star with a bigger company?
Vivica: I am a businesswoman so I always wanted to start my own company. I could control my own product and that way reap most of the profits. If you are just a contract star, it is like working for corporate America. The top companies that I would actually consider being a contract girl for probably won’t even look at me simply because I don’t have a name in the industry and I am brand new. The fact that I am African American might also have a play in there…
Tony: Speaking of being a Black woman in the adult industry, what kind of professional obstacles do you encounter as a dark skinned beauty?
Vivica: It’s the same thing as corporate America. People tend to pay more attention to Caucasian women. There is some type of formula, but I still haven’t been able to work it out. I wouldn’t say that being Black has hurt me in any way. I think being new is what is kind of hurting me right now. You have the stereotype of Black girls not showing up for shoots and being irresponsible. If you work on your stuff and make sure you are top-notch…top quality to the best of your ability…then people will take note of that and want to work with you. If you do things in a professional manner, eventually it will pay off.
Tony: From a marketing aspect…being an unknown artist, how do you plan to build your brand?
Vivica: Wow! That is a very tough question. I do my research. I try to see what kind of trends are going on in the industry. Just like any other business. We have a pretty good strategy as far as marketing. We plan to do a lot more appearances and convention. I can’t do as much as I would like to because school ties my schedule down. After I graduate, I plan on attending more conventions…having a guerilla street marketing team…producing quality stuff…
Tony: What makes you different and why should the public support you?
Vivica: Well. The reason why I entered the industry is to show that just because it is coming from a Black owned company does not mean it is not quality. I am quality. There is no one known African American star out there…like Jenna Jameson… I think I am on my way to that level of success. I put out quality stuff that people love.
Tony: Speaking of your movie Analyze This…, were you trying to make any type of statements?
Vivica: (Laughing) I got my whole idea from the movie Analyze This starring Robert De Niro.
Tony: What are you short term and long term goals?
Vivica: Short term tends to annoy me. Long term, I want to make millions…
Tony: The adult industry is under attack in many circles. As an entrepreneur and a starlet, how would you defend your position?
Vivica: I won’t. I have nothing to say. You have to defend yourself if you did something wrong or whatever…I just won’t. It’s a business for me and I am just moving on.
Tony: What was your first job like in the adult biz…were you nervous? How did you feel?
Vivica: I was just ok let’s do it. I was not nervous at all. It was quicker than I expected. I wasn’t nervous at all. It was quite nice.
Tony: What kind of guy are you attracted to?
Vivica: Definitely people that don’t try too hard…educated definitely…people that I can learn from…educated older guys…intelligent, guys that own their own business…because I can actually relate to them.
Tony: Is there anything that you would not do in your biz?
Vivica: (Laughs) I won’t do drugs.
Tony: How does your boyfriend handle your being in the kind of business you are in?
Vivica: I don’t think he is a fan of it. He is not very thrilled about it. The fact that he knows it is a business for me and he knows I am not trying to be a star…kind of comforts him a little. He has seen my movie and he likes it. He gives me feedback and I try to get him more involved.
Tony: Is there anything else you would like to discuss?
Vivica: People can get my movie at my mall. It is in stores in Atlanta and will be coming to other cities.
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