Indie filmmaker Harry Sparks is a man without a niche, and that’s exactly how he likes it. After producing the 2007 Broadband Emmynominated documentary short “Shenandoah,” about the effects of global warming on Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the Maryland-born producer, writer, and director soon shifted gears — and genres — to produce the horror films “All Hallows’ Eve” and “Rotkäppchen: The Blood of Red Riding Hood.”
This year, Sparks shakes things up once again by helming his first adult feature “Revenge of the Petites” for AMKingdom. XBIZ caught up with the versatile auteur to ask him about the project, his inspiration and just how long he plans to stick around the adult industry.
My only concern was that I wanted the movie to be good and I wanted to do something really high-quality and unique.
How did the “Revenge of the Petites” story come about? Did you always imagine it as an adult feature?
Kim Nielsen, the producer of the movie, told me about this idea he had for “Revenge of the Petites.” He and I are big fans of the classic sex comedies from the ’80s, such as “Porky’s,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Revenge of the Nerds,” etc. He explained that where those movies stopped short in the sex and nudity department, “Revenge of the Petites” would really deliver.
How did you connect with AMKingdom?
I had worked with Sativa Verte on my previous film, “Rotkappchen: The Blood of Red Riding Hood.” She was modeling for the ATK websites and knew Kim Nielsen was developing the idea for “Revenge of the Petites” and suggested that we meet.
Most filmmakers would hesitate to put their name on an adult movie. What concerns did you have?
I wasn’t concerned at all about having my name on an adult movie because I had already decided I wanted to take my career in that direction. My only concern was that I wanted the movie to be good and I wanted to do something really high-quality and unique. That’s really my attitude about every new project I do. If I do have my name on something, I want to be able to stand back and be proud of it.
What was more challenging: shooting comedy with adult performers or shooting the sex scenes?
The sex scenes may have been more challenging because we have so many in this film and we were on a tight shooting schedule. I wanted them all to be good, unique, and memorable in their own way, which was a challenge to do. The adult performers were great with the drama and the comedy. The majority of them had done some acting before, either in skits or full feature films, so they were very comfortable in front of the camera. I think we were very fortunate to have the talented cast that we did because each performer made their role memorable.
Did anything surprise you on the set?
I was surprised by how smoothly everything went, considering the scope and complexity of the project. I have to give the credit to the cast and the crew. They worked extremely hard and by the end of the shoot it felt like we were all a family. I was a little sad to see it end.
You said that “Revenge of the Petites” is inspired by ’80s comedies. Which are your favorites?
My favorite is “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” because at the center of all of the craziness is this very sweet, personal coming-of-age story. That’s why that movie has stuck with me and why many of John Hughes’ movies, such as “The Breakfast Club,” have as well. That’s really something I wanted to bring to “Revenge of the Petites.” Along with the sex, comedy and drama, there is a real heart to the story.
Which pornos are your favorites?
There are so many; it’s impossible to name them all! I’ve been really nostalgic for the ’70s and ’80s lately — whether it’s music, movies, television, or porn — so anything from that golden age tends to be my favorite. The classic “Alice in Wonderland” is definitely on that list.
In addition to directing “Revenge of the Petites,” you wrote the script. How upset will you be if people fast forward through the dialogue to get to the BJ scenes?
We have a bonus disc that comes with the DVD that contains 12 full-length sex scenes. So there is something for everyone. But I think once you start the movie you will be hooked and hopefully won’t want to fast-forward because if you do, you might miss something.
Will there be a sequel? Will you work in adult again?
There is certainly room for a sequel in the story because there is a lot more I wanted to include in this movie but couldn’t. We’ll see what happens, but I will definitely work in adult again. I’m here to stay and I’ve already started working on my next project.
