February 28, 2022
New videos prompt a surge of interest in DAP Health's free, at-home HIV test
Written by Lawrence Karol
A new media campaign promoting DAP Health's free, at-home HIV test is receiving a boost from the well-known adult entertainer Trenton Ducati, whose given name is Zach Ivey. Three other popular adult actors—Boomer Banks, Reign, and Masyn Thorne—appear alongside Ivey in videos that were launched in February on DAP Health's website, as well as gay dating apps and social media channels such as TikTok and Snapchat. Almost immediately after the videos were released, influencers shared them with over one million of their followers and DAP Health experienced a significant increase in requests for the tests.
The videos were directed by Bob Koherr, who has directed episodes of The Conners, Anger Management, Raven’s Home, and Dads, among many other television programs, and were shot at Snap Studios, a Palm Springs production facility owned by Ivey. "We wanted to shoot a variety of ideas to kind of tell the story," says Ivey. Those scenarios include a guy who checks his test results before having sex; another where someone gets a text message from a hookup but isn't concerned about his own status because he's done an at-home test; and a third one featuring Ducati getting ready for a date and going through the steps of his normal routine such as taking a shower, doing his hair, etc., and also checking his at-home test result before heading out the door.
This isn't the first time Ivey has collaborated with DAP Health. "Originally we were trying to figure out ways to make it safer for actors in the adult community to access health care," he says. "I went and spoke with them and had the best meeting ever because they were the most pro, open, thoughtful group of people and were so sex positive. I was really inspired to try to figure out ways that we could work together because they totally get it about sex work is work and let's just try to make it a safer place for our group of people."
One initiative that sprang from those meetings was the Next Step Program in which Ivey worked with DAP Health to connect adult performers to health care, STI testing, and PrEP. He also helped their Mental Health Clinic develop a questionnaire that adult models fill out on set before a shoot. For example, they answer queries about their current mental health and their living situation. "It's an overall checkup of their lives in general and I feel like that's a good [way to find out] if there are any issues that could be addressed," says Ivey. "The plan was to have sex-positive people [at DAP Health] answer the phone so [the actors] feel encouraged to call, they don't feel excluded, and they feel it's okay."
Another successful effort between Ivey and DAP Health debuted on the organization's website in March 2020 during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. It explored new methods of sexual expression that people could enjoy while adhering to social distancing guidelines. A personal video message from Trenton Ducati was embedded in the post which garnered more than 23,500 views. "I have a little bit of a following so I could really speak directly to the community that we are trying to get to," says Ivey. "And I do feel that a blunt statement like that coming from me makes more sense. I could pull that off because I'm a producer in the adult industry and I've been doing porn for 10 years. So I was happy to do it and I felt like it was a really smart thing to do."
On the personal front, Ivey, who lives in Cathedral City, is busy with Snap Studios. "It's a full-stop production company," he says. "We can handle productions from photo and film, from small to large, we have an equipment rental company in house, and we have a partnership with Palm Springs Grip and Lighting." A few of Snap Studios' clients have included Adidas, Nike, Nordstrom's, and eBay—as well as various fashion shoots. "The idea is that we want to attract more moviemaking out here to the desert and there isn't really a facility that has shooting space, gear rental, and then access to verify talent and editors and camera operators. So we are trying to cover all bases and then be the destination place in the desert for all of these services."
In the meantime, both Zach Ivey and his alter ego Trenton Ducati have enjoyed their partnership with DAP Health and seem ready to help out with future endeavors. “[They] been a close ally of mine and I just wanted to do anything where I was involved with them."
To receive your free, at-home HIV test, visit daphealth.org; or call 760-567-2431, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The self-tests are saliva-based and take about 20 minutes to process at home.
Free HIV testing is also available at DAP Heath’s Sexual Wellness Orange Clinic from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Call 760-992-0492 to make an appointment.