LFP has made a stunning move with its executive team, parting ways with industry veteran James Baes, the creative director/executive producer for Hustler Video and vice president of the company.
Jim Kohls, president of LFP, on Wednesday confirmed the change to AVN.com, but did not wish to comment on the move.
Baes was not available for comment at press time.
The Frenchman started his career with LFP in 1975. He established himself as a premier erotic photographer before managing the development of Hustler Video, which has become perhaps the largest adult video producer in the world in its five-year existence.
The news came as a shock to at least two Hustler Video directors.
"James was the creator of Hustler Video. It is his vision that gave Hustler Video its direction and it is because of James that prominent directors such as myself and Pierre Woodman joined this company," Kris Kramski told AVN.com. "As an artist, it has been a great honor to work with this man and I cannot see how anybody else could replace him at LFP."
Kramski, whose controversial film America XXX: A Tribute to Sex and Rock and Roll, earned two AVN Awards earlier this year under Baes' watch, called Baes "a visionary." Kramski and Baes also produced the 2002 AVN Award-winning all-sex film, Pornovision.
"He had a unique and wonderful way to deal with creative people. He was an asset to Hustler Video and was still an asset till the last minute he was there. I am very concerned as to the future of Hustler Video considering his departure will create an enormous void at LFP, a void that will not easily be filled."
Director Pierre Woodman, reached at his home in Paris, told AVN.com he was "very, very upset" when he heard about it.
"James is like a father for me. Fifteen years we are friends. What can I do? There's some times in life that we don't understand. I do not agree with this decision," Woodman said.
Woodman, who directs at least five different lines for Hustler, said he initially wanted to leave LFP.
"James didn't want me to do it. I told him, 'If you wish, I can do it.' I am with James, of course, deep inside. I know that if Larry (Flynt) makes a decision there is no chance that they can go back," he said.
It was Baes who traveled to the Cannes Film Festival in May of 1999 to recruit Woodman to Hustler. Woodman had built his reputation shooting for Private.
Woodman said that Kohls also asked him to stay with the company.
"I don't have any personal problem with Jim Kohls and Larry Flynt. … I like very much Larry. I like very much Jim Kohls. I love James."
Woodman said he didn't understand the move, but added that, "James is a cat. He will find something. He's not alone in this world. … Maybe it's time for me to help him out."
Kramski, meanwhile, also considered Baes a father figure.
"As a person, he treated me like his son. He was dealing with me as a father and in the process I can say he gained a son. I feel very close to James as many other creative people do. ... Years of my creative and professional life have been directly sponsored under his auspicious and open-minded creative support and he will be remembered dearly in the hearts of many creative people if his choice was not to continue in the field of adult.
"Furthermore, I know that he spent more than a quarter of a century by Larry Flynt's side going back to the early days of Hustler. And I must say I am puzzled and cannot understand why Larry Flynt did let him go."
Kohls indicated that LFP is looking for candidates to step into the position.
