OCT. 24: See the $pread documentary + sex worker shorts in NY!

On Saturday, October 24th starting at 6 pm, UnionDocs (322 Union Avenue, Brooklyn) will host “Pay As You Go: Sex Worker Shorts,” two programs of short documentaries produced by sex workers and their allies from around the world. Curated by activists and media makers Audacia Ray and Sarah Jenny Bleviss, the two programs of short films and a panel of activist media makers will explore the possibilities of documentary media for furthering the human rights of sex workers and reducing the stigma and violence that sex workers face.


Program Information: Click here


NOTE: Limited seating available! The event may very well out so please, we encourage you
to purchase your tickets in advance. You may do so here.


This is not an official $pread event, however the $pread documentary will be screened! **

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sex Workers & Allies Screen Documentary Shorts, Discuss Advocacy Strategies

BROOKLYN, NY - On Saturday, October 24th starting at 6 pm, UnionDocs (322 Union Avenue, Brooklyn) will host two programs of short documentaries produced by sex workers and their allies from around the world. Curated by activists and media makers Audacia Ray and Sarah Jenny Bleviss, the two programs of short films and a panel of activist media makers will explore the possibilities of documentary media for furthering the human rights of sex workers and reducing the stigma and violence that sex workers face.

"We thought it was important to put together this program because sex workers and their allies are working hard at local, national, and international levels to represent their experiences and struggles in an authentic way that is not being captured by mainstream media," says co-curator Audacia Ray. Sarah Jenny Bleviss was inspired to create this program after the June premiere of "In Our Own Image: Sex Worker Made Media & The Story of $pread Magazine." "It quickly became clear to me that there were other people making documentaries about sex worker activism that portray the complicated range of experiences, deviating from single faceted portrayals and sterotypes. UnionDocs is the perfect place to host a serious exploration of this subject," says Bleviss. UnionDocs presents a broad range of innovative and thought-provoking non-fiction projects to the general public, while also cultivating specialized opportunities for learning, critical discourse, and creative collaboration for emerging media-makers, theorists, and curators.

A panel titled "Moving Image to Movement" will feature a discussion among Audacia Ray (International Women's Health Coalition), Nancy Schwartzman (director, The Line) and Violeta Krasnic (WITNESS) about video as an advocacy tool for sex workers and others working for sexual rights and justice. They will discuss their successes and challenges in building advocacy campaigns based around video and other multimedia.

The October 24th event will feature a screening from 6 - 7:30 pm, panel discussion from 7:30 - 8:15 pm, and screening from 8:30 - 10 pm. Admission to one program is $7, attendees can see both screenings and the panel discussion for $10. Visit http://uniondocs.org for more information and to buy advance tickets.

CONTACT:
Audacia Ray
aray@sexworkawareness.org
718-554-1714

Those of you in NYC should check out this sex worker reading event this Thursday at Happy Ending on Broome Street--it's free!!! It's hosted by former $pread editor Dacia and features a variety of great performers, including individuals previously featured in $pread. Find out more here.  

$pread desperately needs—we exist in an eternal state of desperation!—new design volunteers proficient in InDesign and Photoshop, located in New York, as well as a Communications Director and others willing to work with the press. (Media volunteers need not be located in NYC.) Please contact info@spreadmagazine.org if you'd like to be considered.

For issue 5.1, we're looking for the following pieces:

Positions—Review Boards
400 words
Do you use review boards as a marketing tool? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? We're looking for one worker to take the "pro" side and one to argue against using (or the mere existence of) review sites.

Hot Topic—Clients in Public
200-300 words
Have you ever run into a client in public? If so, how did you handle the situation? What would you do differently in the future?

Indecent Proposals
500 words
“What’s the funniest or weirdest thing a client has ever asked you to do?” $pread is always looking for sex workers to answer this question for our highly popular, illustrated column.

NEW: The Crafty Courtesan
In a new, illustrated column, sex professionals get their craft on. Welcome to your very own skillshare of by-and-for-sex-worker goods. Whether it be knitting, electronics, welding, needlepoint, or papier mache, we walk you through some tasty ways to mod your working (or recreational!) life. Send your diy recipes to The Crafty Courtesan!

Reviews
400-600 words
We're specifically looking for reviews of the following films: The Wrestler, Zach and Miri Make a Porno, Serbis, Spread, Humpday, and Finding Amanda. We're also interested in a review of the TV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl (season 1) and the book "Manhattan Madam." We have a long list of other potential review items; please email contribute@spreadmagazine.org for more information.

Consumer Report—Strap-ons
If you've tried your hand at a variety of strap-ons, we'd love to hear how the various brands stack up.

Double Take
If you live in New York, LA, or Washington, DC and would be willing to model for this column, please let us know! Double Take features one worker in his/her work clothes as well as a personal, everyday get up.

All submissions and inquires about 5.1 content can be direct to contribute@spreadmagazine.org.

Hi $pread friends! We urgently need some last minute pieces for our upcoming issue, 4.4, and we're hoping you have some holiday downtime you can spare for us.

Hot Topic: Stealing from Clients (200-300 words)
Our Hot Topic for issue 4.4 is "Have you/Would you ever steal from a client?" Please include your location (city and state) and whatever name you'd like to go by.

Consumer Report: Pre-paid Cells and Plans
We're looking for brief and occasionally humorous product reviews of pre-paid cells and major plans (just pick three!). Please provide one to two sentences per product and be specific about its usefulness, or its incompatibility, with your work (e.g., phone sex, S/M or escorting appointments).

Positions: Craiglist.com Crackdown (400 words)

We're also looking for someone to write a Positions piece on the recent Craigslist crackdown. ("Is the recent Craigslist crackdown justified/fair?") We already have some defending this decision, so we're looking for a counterpoint to argue against the change—i.e. "No, it is not fair."

Reviews (400-500 words)
Like to review a recent piece of sex-work related culture? Please let us know. Reviews should be between 400 and 600 words, but inquire before writing to make sure we haven't already covered your particular selection.

Scene Report (500 words)
Scene Report is 500 words, Where do you work? Send us a description of your local industry (e.g., brothels, clubs, parlors, dungeons, or street corners) and tell us about the venue where you work and how it compares to other locales. Past scene reports covered the New York street scene in the Village and escorting in Orange County, CA. Please include both personal and more industry-wide perspectives in your region.

Email contribute (at) spreadmagazine (dot) org with submissions or questions.

Hey Everyone,

Issue 4.3 has, at long last, arrived! Or rather, it's ALMOST arrived. We'll be throwing our first-ever Boston launch party this Saturday at the Midway Cafe from 9pm to 2am. Be sure to stop by, say hi, and grab a dance with some of our sexy $pread staffers!

While the 8th is our official launch date, subscribers may receive the issue early. Thanks to those of you who help keep $pread running and, as with every issue, let us know what you think!

Check our official blog over the next few days for excerpts from the new issue and calls for submissions for issue 4.4.

More soon!

Love,
$pread