Joe Francis

Infobox Person
name = Joe Francis


image_size = 200
caption = Francis at his 33rd birthday party at Magic Mountain
birth_date = birth date and age|1973|4|1
birth_place =
birth_name = Joseph R. Francis
death_date =
death_place =
other_names =
known_for =
occupation = Entrepreneur/Owner of Mantra Films Inc

Joseph R. "Joe" Francis, born April 1, 1973, [cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1256270/|title=Joe Francis's IMDB page|accessdate=2006-08-15] to Raymond and Maria Francis,cite web|url=http://www.meetjoefrancis.com/mystory//|title=Meet Joe Francis - My Story- Page 1] is the founder of Mantra Films, Inc., which produces the "Girls Gone Wild" and "Guys Gone Wild" DVD series.

Early life and education

Francis grew up in Laguna Beach, California, USA.cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-gonewild32aug06,1,4548814.story?page=1|author=Hoffman, Claire|title='Baby, Give Me a Kiss'|date=2006-08-06|accessdate=2006-08-15|work=Los Angeles Times] He has three sisters; Babette Francis, two years older; Caroline Francis, a year and a half younger; and Christina Francis, 10 years younger.cite web|url=http://www.meetjoefrancis.com/mystory//|title=Meet Joe Francis - My Story - Page 3] He struggled with disciplinary problems and attended a string of strict military, boarding and Catholic schools before eventually graduating from Laguna Beach High School. In 1995 Joe graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration. He also completed USC’s Entrepreneur Program. [cite web|url=http://media.www.thehurricaneonline.com/media/storage/paper479/news/2004/12/03/Edge/Joe-Francis.One.Wild.Uncensored-820501.shtml?sourcedomain=www.thehurricaneonline.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com|title=Joe Francis one WILD UNCENSORED!|author=Kenney, Kris|date=2004-12-03|work=The Miami Hurricane|accessdate=2006-08-15]

Beginning of a brand

Joe Francis first video sold through infomercials was a series of private clips and news footage deletions of fatal accidents which were considered too graphic for broadcast. "Banned From Television" was considered a commercial success and it spawned other sequels. One of the videos which Francis had licensed contained footage of female college students flashing their breasts during Mardi Gras and Spring Break. Seeing the marketing appeal, he titled that footage "Girls Gone Wild (GGW)". He eventually stopped licensing the materials and began producing it himself.

In 1997, at the age of 24, Francis founded Mantra Films, Inc.cite web|url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/07/girlsgonewild.htm|title=Sellers of ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Videos to Pay $1.1 Million to Settle Charges of Unauthorized Shipping and Billing|accessdate=2006-08-15|date=2004-07-30] Building on the discovered premise that he could film college-age women "going wild," including baring their breasts for the cameras at spring breaks and other locales, Mantra has become a company with over 400 employees and has recorded sales in excess of $100 million per year. [LATimesBaby/] [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/12/13/entertainment/e102310S25.DTL Associated Press] , By: Melissa Nelson, December 13, 2006 $1.6M fine is "less than 3 percent of Mantra's profits since 2002 and only 12 percent of Mantra's 2005 profits"] Mantra also spun off the Guys Gone Wild" DVD series

In the world of pop culture, Francis' "Girls Gone Wild" is regularly referenced in today’s society and pop culture atmosphere and was recently cited as an example of "sexualization," number 23 on "USA Todays list of the "25 Trends that Changed America". [ [http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=73124#Comments USA Today"', "25 Trends That Changed America"] , 2007-03-27]

Controversies

Francis has attracted his share of controversies, including allegations of conspiracy to use minors in sexual performances, and allegations in the "Los Angeles Times" of aggression towards women, including rape, use of the word 'cunt' towards women, and death threats.

In a well-publicized case, Francis was kidnapped from his Bel Air home by an assailant who also tried to blackmail Francis.cite web
url=http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/west/la-tm-gonewild32aug06,0,2664370.story?coll=la-home-headlines
title=Joe Francis: 'Baby, give me a kiss'|accessdate=2007-06-14|author=Claire Hoffman|date=2006-08-06|publisher=Los Angeles Times] The assailant received a 10-year sentence.

Francis is often criticized by social commentators and third wave feminists for perpetuating what some consider "the new double standard," which equates the objectification of women with sexual liberation. [cite book | last= Levy | first= Ariel| authorlink= Ariel Levy| title= Female Chauvinist Pigs | year= 2005| publisher= Free Press | location= New York | id=ISBN: [http://www.campusi.com/book_ean_9780743284288.htm 9780743284288] | url= http://www.amazon.com/Female-Chauvinist-Pigs-Raunch-Culture/dp/0743249895 | format=Amazon.com ]

Mantra films has come under legal attack on a number of occasions. Recurring allegations include that women engaged in sexual activity were used without the consent of the women, that Mantra films engaged in sexual exploitation of minors and that incomplete records were kept of participants in GGW videos. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5934268/wild_thing Rolling Stone, "Wild Thing", By Vanessa Grigoriadis, 05-22-2002] ] ["ibid."] Today the videos contribute to a total sales figure of almost $100 million per year for Mantra Films, Inc.

Legal problems

Francis has been a party to several lawsuits. Some stem from activities during the filming of videos and others from the company's practices.

Civil

In 2002, Becky Lynn Gritzke discovered that she had been covertly filmed flashing her breasts at a Mardi Gras festival and that the image had been used without her permission on billboards advertising "Girls' Gone Wild" videos and on the cover of a video. She sued Mantra Films and settled for an undisclosed sum under an agreement according to which GGW agreed to cease distributing all material bearing Gritzke's image. [cite web|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/10/04/ggwild.settlement/index.html|title=Student settles with 'Girls Gone Wild' producers|accessdate=2007-06-14|date=2002-10-04|publisher=CNN]

In June 2007, Francis and Mantra Films became the subject of another lawsuit claiming that images had been used without the subject's permission. [cite web|url=http://www.newsherald.com/headlines/article.display.php?a=1699|title=Joe Francis faces new lawsuit|accessdate=2007-06-14|author=David Angier|date=2007-06-12|publisher=Panama City News Herald] The suit was subsequently dropped by Ashley Alexandra Dupré better known as the prostitute involved in the Eliot Spitzer scandal which led to his resignation as New York governor in March of 2008. Francis released footage showing the subject agreeing to be filmed. [cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/gossip/hum/detail/index.jsp?uuid=0d2a43dc-c414-437e-aabb-1a90c39a2c7d
title =The Hum: Joe Francis Off the Hook|accessdate=2007-10-15|author=Lia Haberman|date=2007-10-15|publisher=E! Online]

2003 arrest and 2008 conviction

In an incident at Panama City Beach, Florida, during spring break 2003, Francis was arrested and then released on $165,000 bond. He was initially charged with 71 separate counts, including racketeering, drug trafficking, and child pornography. Police confiscated his private jet and other property. [cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/ggwild1.html|title=The Smoking Gun|date=2003-04-04|accessdate=2006-08-15] At a July 27 2006 hearing, the judge threw out 200 hours of videotape and hundreds of other key pieces of evidence in the case. [cite web|url=http://travel.emeraldcoast.com/springbreak/news/article.showarticle.db.php?a=4968|title=Girls Gone Wild Catches Break|work=Emerald Coast|accessdate=2006-08-15|date=2006-07-27] On January 4, 2007, the judge dismissed almost all of the charges [cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,241910,00.html|title=Judge Drops Most Charges Against 'Girls Gone Wild' Producer Joe Francis|date=2007-01-05] stemming from the Panama City case [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,241910,00.html Associated Press, January 5, 2007] "Judge Drops Most Charges Against 'Girls Gone Wild' Producer Joe Francis"] ruling that "the evidence did not support the allegations," and the seized assets were returned.

On March 12 2008 Francis was convicted on child abuse and prostitution charges after pleading no contest in a plea bargain. He also pleaded guilty to charges related to having contraband in his cell during the time he was held in jail. Francis was sentenced to time served (339 days) and more than $60,000 in fines and costs. [cite web |author=Associated Press|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/03/12/joe.francis.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText?iref=werecommend|title= 'Girls Gone Wild' producer cops plea to go free|date=2008-03-12|accessdate=2008-03-13]

Charges in Florida

The Associated Press (AP) reported that on Thursday, April 12, 2007, Francis was accused of bribery, possession of a controlled substance, and introducing contraband (cash and drugs) into the Panama City, Florida jail. The AP reported that Francis (in jail for contempt of court) offered a guard one hundred, and then five hundred dollars, for a bottled water. Jailers allegedly found drugs including Lunesta and lorazepam in the jail cell. Francis reportedly faced up to five years in prison if convicted on these charges.cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/04/13/2007-04-13_girls_gone_wild_founder_joe_francis_hit_.html
title=Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis hit with new charges|accessdate=2007-10-15|date=2007-04-13|publisher=New York Daily News] After subsequent investigation, Francis was charged with possession of contraband [http://www.newsherald.com/headlines/article.display.php?a=3629] . A psychiatrist hired by Francis' defense team stated in his report that Francis demonstrates "significant psychiatric issues" and did "express a potential for suicidal activity if his incarceration is prolonged." [ [http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0514071joefrancis1.html Joe Francis Gone Suicidal? - May 14, 2007 ] ] In March 2008, the contraband charges were dismissed.

On March 25, 2008, four women filed suit against him in Florida for filming them while underage, with one girl claiming she was age 13 when filmed. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,341430,00.html FOXNews.com - 4 Women Sue 'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Joe Francis for Underage Filming - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment ] ]

Federal criminal tax problems

On April 11, 2007, Francis was indicted by a federal grand jury in Reno, Nevada on two counts of tax evasioncite web
url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-girls12apr12,0,1261512.story?coll=la-home-entertainment
title=Tax evasion charges add to Francis' legal woes|accessdate=2007-06-14|author=Richard Verrier|date=2007-04-12|publisher=Los Angeles Times] [cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265514,00.html|title='Girls Gone Wild' Founder Joe Francis Indicted on Tax Charges|accessdate=2007-06-14|date=2007-04-12|publisher=Fox News] under usc|26|7201 [Indictment, docket entry 1, April 11, 2007, "United States v. Joseph R. Francis", United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Reno Division; case no. 3:07-cr-00026-BES-RAM-ALL.]

Francis is charged with filing a fraudulent corporate tax return for a company for which Francis allegedly is the sole shareholder. The United States Department of Justice asserts that Francis claimed over $20 million in false business deductions. on his corporate tax returns during 2002 and 2003. [ [http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv07237.htm #237: 04-11-07 CREATOR OF GIRLS GONE WILD INDICTED FOR TAX EVASION ] ]

The "Los Angeles Times" has quoted his attorney, Jan L. Handzlik, as saying: "The government has chosen to make a criminal case out of what we believe to be, at most, a civil tax dispute...." A trial date was set and subsequently vacated in the case: a new trial date has not been set as of May, 2008. [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1401511/francis_to_seek_removal_from_lawsuit/ The News Herald, Panama City, Fla "Francis to Seek Removal From Lawsuit", Saturday, 24 May 2008, By David Angier] ] [Order to Continue, docket entry 45, September 7, 2007, "United States v. Joseph R. Francis", United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Reno Division; case no. 3:07-cr-00026-BES-RAM-ALL.] .

At a hearing on July 21, 2008, Francis pleaded not guilty to tax evasion felony charges. Francis' attorney, Robert Bernhoft, said that tax returns for the businesses were prepared and filed by a former corporate accountant without being shown to Francis. When the accountant left the companies, he contacted the IRS to report the accounting mistakes with the hope of collecting a bonus from the government Tax Whistleblower Program. His new trial date is set for March 31, 2009 in Los Angeles.

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

Francis is being sued by the Wynn Las Vegas casino for $2 million in gambling debt from February 2007. The lawsuit was filed on June 27, 2008 in Clark County District Court. A spokesperson for the casino claims that the debt has been in their collections department and the suit is a last resort to obtain the debt plus costs. In response to the lawsuit, Francis asserted that he had already paid his debt through agreements with the hotel including certain discounts. Francis claims that he was deceived by the hotel and its Chief Executive Steve Wynn. [cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-girls-gone-wild,0,2235333.story | title="Las Vegas casino sues 'Girls Gone Wild' founder" | author=Garcia, Oskar | publisher=Associated Press | date=2008-07-01 | accessdate=2008-07-02]

Articles

L.A. Times journalist Claire Hoffman wrote an article highly critical of Francis' treatment of women. The article describes an incident in which Francis allegedly had sex with a woman whose version of events included: "I said, 'No' twice in the beginning, and during I started saying, 'Oh, my god, it hurts.' I kept telling him it hurt, but he kept going, and he said he was sorry but kissed me so I wouldn't keep talking." [http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/west/la-tm-gonewild32aug06,0,2664370.story Joe Francis: 'Baby, give me a kiss' - Los Angeles Times ] ]

References

External links

* [http://mantraent.com/home.html Mantra Films, Inc.]
*imdb name|1256270
* [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303545,00.html "'Girls Gone Wild' founder Joe Francis on life in jail"] , transcript of Fox News's On the Record interview with Greta Van Susteren, October 19, 2007