Sean Carnage, a former editor for Unzipped, which is owned by Regent/Here Media, was notified by his former employer that commenting about the company on his Facebook profile is frowned upon. Especially when it’s a comment about a story Queerty published about the company — which Regent staffers cannot read, because their IT team blocked company computers from accessing Queerty.com.
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Says Carnage, who refers to the company as “these bullies,” on his website: “I used to believe in these guys. I really looked up to them. I even defended them against a threatened libel suit from Rockstar Energy Drinks last year. Ironically, they are now threatening to sue me for speaking out and expressing my opinion that I think they are a bunch of creeps—complete hypocrites who publicly defend the gay community but privately pull bullshit moves like sending the letter above. … With all this reporting going on about Regent/Here Media’s allegedly deceitful patterns of behavior, and apparently no one from the company—not so-called gay leaders like Jon Barrett and Aaron Hicklin nor any of the other editors and writers signing their names to Regent/Here’s products—stepping forward to refute these accusations, it’s my opinion that all these guys have become accessories to Regent/Here’s tactics, strategies and behaviors.”
Like what behaviors? Well, here’s one letter we received claiming Out magazine — owned by Paul Colichman and Stephen Jarchow’s Regent Media — owes Jed Root, a photo production outfit. Total bill? $35k. (You can see the itemized list of charges Jed Root claims Regent owes in this PDF.)
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In emails also dated April 2, Out editor Aaron Hicklin emailed Jed Root:
Dear Jed
I’d much prefer you called, since we haven’t spoken, and until Grant mentioned this to me the other day I was not aware of the outstanding amount. As Grant will have told you, I am sure, a check for $6,068.84 was drawn up yesterday to cover Matthias’s shoot that ran last September. There is not plan to deny you payment, and I apologize for the delay which has been out of my hands. Everyone here is committed to having you paid in full. We will be able to issue another check before the end of this month.
I regret that you are withholding post production on the Vegas story, and while I understand your frustration, we would have worked with a different photographer had we known this in advance.
Please let me know if we should proceed to send the check for $6,068.84, for I should be loathe to do so if we are not going to get any further co-operation from you. The Vegas story is specific to Out and to the June/July issue, and I’d like to run it, but if we don’t have images in time we obviously can not pay for it. Perhaps we can talk by phone and resolve this face-to-face, rather than by email. My number is below.
Jed responded:
Aaron,
I’d much preferred that Out had paid their bills & neither an email nor a telephone call would have been necessary. We have repeatedly tried to collect these debts, some of which date back nearly a year. It’s hardly my responsibility to keep you up-to-date on your accounts payable. I would assume you have staff in place to fulfill that particular duty.
Just last week, when attempting to collect on behalf of one of our vendors, we were told quite frankly that Out does not currently have the funds to fulfill their payment obligations. That hardly inspires confidence. While I’m certain that there is no “plan” to deny us payment, we are being denied payment nevertheless.
The $35,000.00 in invoices that are outstanding represent an investment made by my company, my artist & my vendors in your publication. These are direct costs, not fees or profit of any kind. As I mentioned, my vendors are now withholding services to my company due to Out’s continued & severe delinquency. Things are now out of MY hands. Neither my artists nor my vendors are willing to release the high resolution files unless this is all cleared up. I can hardly blame them.
We have all been extremely patient with the situation & I have tried to settle this amicably. I would still very much prefer to settle it amicably. But your comments below lead me to believe that is not a priority for you. If you settle these debts, you will certainly have the images in time.
Once again, this can all be settled quite easily and you will have your story for the June/July issue, if you simply settle these debts immediately. I absolutely do not wish to turn these over to an attorney for legal action, but if you leave me no other choice, I will not hesitate to do so.
Jimmy
There must be further developments here, because the Las Vegas photo spread did indeed run in the latest issue of OUT. So, did the deadbeats pay up? I hope?
Lex
While the top brass of Here Media seems to me unquestionably disgusting, for a long time I’ve been supportive of Here Media employees like Hicklin and Barrett. However, that support is now wavering, and it’s because of Aaron Hicklin’s arrogant and delusional e-mail. Nothing excuses the way he communicated with Jed Root.
The whole thing is disgusting and unsavory in the extreme.
GayFilmmaker
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Regent/Here Media owes money to EVERYONE – especially filmmakers who never see a dime from their DVD sales. More people need to stand up and talk about their business practices.
Unfortunately, threatening people for making negative statements about Regent/Here Media is standard for the company, and people have been too afraid to speak up in the past. But if Regent has no money to pay its employees and its creditors, it might not have enough money to pursue legal action “to the fullest extent of the law,” as their threatening letter states. It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out, and it is uglier than anyone realizes.
L.
“Please let me know if we should proceed to send the check for $6,068.84, for I should be loathe to do so if we are not going to get any further co-operation from you.”
Um. So you owe the guy $35k for past work and you *actually* say you’re not going to pay him if he doesn’t provide future work?
Someone please remind me of the meaning of “extortion”.
rrrr
whatever…he had to read a company’s ethics code before disclosing the information on public social media.
Mike
The idea that Regent/Here has an ethics code when its leaders clearly have no ethics is hysterical to me!
Blah
Regent/Here/Out is just carrying on a fine tradition of gay pubs and media screwing their vendors. They all do it yet project the illusion that life is all cocktail parties and fashion shows. They’ll be outta biz within the year.
Dan
They forgot to follow the number one rule in gay media (including advertising): never extend credit, always get payment in full upfront. Everyone knows that who has ever worked with gay media.
Gregory Pecker
The email from Hicklin is disgusting. Borders on extortion.
GayFilmmaker has got his/her facts.
When they stop paying Hicklin, I am sure he will “loathe” that too.
GayFilmmaker
FYI, if you want to contact Here Media to complain about or question its business tactics, following is the company’s contact info:
Here Media, Inc
10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Penthouse
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 806-4288
Fax: (310) 806-4268
kevin
WHERE IS THE FOLLOW UP TO THE MULTI-BANK FRAUD LAWSUIT AGAINST REGENT/HERE! NETWORKS???
WHERE IS THE REPORTING?