What’s the outlook for 2015? That’s the big question in the minds of both producers and consumers of adult video entertainment as a new year dawns. An informal scan of future prospects reveals challenges and ample opportunities.
XBIZ contacted more than a dozen producers, from longtime powerhouses like Vivid, Wicked and New Sensations to new guys on the block like Airerose Entertainment and well-trafficked web sites like EvilAngel.com. What we found is that the industry’s major players are across-the-board optimistic for a productive and profitable year.
Our plan to enhance our presence on the web in different categories is already under way. We’re pleased with our expansion through Vivid Radio and the synergy it provides us with for other divisions of the company.” —Steven Hirsch Co-chairman, Vivid Entertainment
Game plans include not just continued DVD production but VoD, Internet projects, online series and social media activities. New delivery methods will be explored and developed. New niches, such as Hotwife, Swinger Positive and what has come to be known as Taboo Relations, will keep expanding with fresh content from several studios. Parodies will continue to nourish the market. Here are some New Year forecasts from a sampling of adult video’s busiest and most innovative creators and distributors.
ADAM & EVE PICTURES
“Adam & Eve Pictures will be rocking in 2015,” promised Vice President Bob Christian. “Our market for DVD held reasonably well, and we have done very well with AdamandEveVoD.com since we started working with Gamelink. Perhaps the biggest new development for Adam & Eve Pictures in 2014 was the launching of our first ever membership site, AdamandEveTV.com—styled in a NetFlix/Hulu feel, and seeking to reach new customer tastes and markets.
“In 2015, we are continuing to make good movies suited for our customers. We will be releasing about the same number of movies as last year, but you will see more higher-end features. Our biggest movie of 2015, in fact, the biggest movie we have produced in years, ‘Marriage 2.0,’ will be released. We believe it will be seen as a whole new genre of adult film—a bridge between explicit content and Hollywood style drama.”
AIREROSE ENTERTAINMENT
Airerose promises “quality new releases every month, social media promotions and giveaways, fan engagement.” The studio moved its distribution to Pure Play Media in November and wrapped up the year by designating Carter Cruise as Official Brand Ambassador (non-exclusive). The studio just wrapped a Cruise showcase, “All Access Carter,” with a 2015 release date to be determined (with “potential social media promotion” to accompany it).
Says Adam H., Pure Play Media vice president, “Airerose was born out of the desire to create pure gonzo content featuring fresh talent and genuine on-screen chemistry that feeds into what the fans really want in adult entertainment. June 2015 will mark the one-year anniversary of our very first release, and we believe we have made an impression on the industry landscape in a short time. We plan on entering the new year with the momentum and energy that marked our arrival, and surprising fans every step of the way.”
Airerose’s major 2015 releases will include “continuation of the bestselling ‘Pure’ series (Vols. 3, 4, 5 are coming up in early part of the year), a sequel to ‘Sorority Carwash’ (Vol. 2), and ‘Pure Ass’ (not related to ‘Pure’ series), out February 2015.”
AXEL BRAUN PRODUCTIONS
Producer-director Axel Braun revealed that in 2015 he’s “going to focus on the newly launched imprint Wicked Comix, which will feature several high-profile comic book and superhero-themed parodies, starting with ‘Barbarella XXX: An Axel Braun Parody.’ I’m also planning another big movie for Wicked Fairy Tales, as well as a high-budget original feature which I wrote with the late, great Henri Pachard. My contract girl Riley Steele will push her sexual boundaries even more in a new ABP showcase movie, and of course there’s the ‘Star Wars XXX’ sequel, ‘The Empire Strikes Back XXX: An Axel Braun Parody.’”
DREAMZONE ENTERTAINMENT
According to Adam H., Pure Play Media VP, “In 2015, the folks at DreamZone hope to play with more new directors, fresh scripts, and talent eager to exercise their acting chops in high production fantasy titles that’ll provide our fans the escape they are looking for.”
DreamZone customers can expect “more original features featuring imaginative fantasy, high-quality, nice parody releases, big-budget productions.” “My Sinful Life” with Riley Reid, Romi Rain, Steven St. Croix and Xander Corvus is due for release in late January/early February. Directed by Barrett Blade, it is an original feature, not a parody.
EVIL ANGEL
Evil Empire creator John Stagliano told XBIZ: “Evil is planning on further developing our Internet business, mostly through EvilAngel.com, which has been very successful. Also we have done well with our VOD partners, servicing those accounts in a uniquely better way though our program developed by Christian Mann. With the leaner more efficient organization spearheaded by Adam Grayson that we moved to since the downturn in business in 2008 we are now able to grow in terms of the amount of new content Evil Angel directors create.
“Our broadcast company is growing exponentially with our cutting-edge content, with recent launches on major cable systems. The Evil Angel model where the directors own their content, and come up with content ideas themselves has proved more innovative and efficient than other big clumsy porn companies.”
EXILE DISTRIBUTION
Exile president Howard Levine pledged that in 2015 the company “will continue to bring the best producers of high quality adult entertainment to our distributors. Forbidden Fruits will increase production to three titles per month. We will be taking on a new studio called Manipulation Media, which has previously released titles under Forbidden Fruits such as ‘Teen Manipulations,’ ‘Sibling Sex Stories’ and ‘Entrapments.’
“We also will be distributing Severe Sex’s educational line as well as their hardcore line. We are excited with the introduction of Gonzo Gods, as this has done very well out the gate. Our big studios like AMKingdom, Hot Mess, Pornstar Empire and Pounding Pink will continue with high-end productions.”
GIRLFRIENDS FILMS
For Moose, Girlfriends’ owner and general manager, “The trick to running a successful company is to always strive to be better each year — never be satisfied or remain stagnant. That being said, we’re looking towards 2015 as our best and busiest year ever. Without giving away too much, we are expanding operations across the board and on every platform.
“In 2015, we really want to focus on new international hotel and cable deals, as well as further improving our membership site, GFFMembers.com. B. Skow will continue to produce more of the critically acclaimed boy/girl movies he is known for. His movies are extremely pop culturally savvy and relevant to the times, so I think what he has in store for 2015 will really shock the industry and fans.
“We are also looking to further expand our Girlfriends Films Charity Program, as I think it’s important for our industry to give back to the community and show we can operate like other businesses, just sexier. Basically, Girlfriends Films is gearing up for another huge year!”
HUSTLER VIDEO
“Hustler will continue to deliver top-shelf content for 2015,” said Creative Director Drew Rosenfeld. “Our signature teen series ‘Barely Legal’ opens the year with a brand new theme called ‘Barely Legal: Amish Girls.’ Also, we have some very naughty titles like ‘Sister Swap’ featuring the Starr Sisters, and new sister act Kendall and Kayla Kayden. This is a super hot movie. We also have a feature called ‘Family Affair.’ (Told you we were getting naughty!) Hustler Video will also release a Web series called ‘Bonnie Rotten, Bounty Hunter.’ For Hustler.com, this project offers the viewer five separate stories tied together to make for great episodic sex.
“In 2015, Hustler Video has something for everyone, including a very sexy unique title, ‘BBW Nurses,’ featuring some of the hottest BBW models in the biz. We continue with our award-winning ‘This Ain’t’ parody features, such as ‘This Ain’t Modern Family XXX,’ and ‘This Ain’t Golden Girls XXX,’ starring an amazing cast of ‘mature’ ladies like Darla Crane, Nina Hartley, Luna Azul and Karen Summers. We will continue with our very popular ‘Hustler’s Girl on Girl’ films, such as ‘Jailhouse Lesbians.’”
IMMORAL PRODUCTIONS
“In 2015 Immoral Productions will continue to expand,” according to owner Dan Leal. “We will launch two more subscription based through our business partners Gamma and have a new interactive web based product as well. In addition we will continue to stream our live shows through our partnership with Streamate, update our web sites twice a day and release over 100 movies via Pure Play Media.”
NEW SENSATIONS
CEO Scott Taylor laid out his 2015 game plan: “The fact remains that we will shape our releases around what gets the best response. We can start the year with Plan A but then alter our course substantially if the market is responding to a different genre. That said, in an effort to evolve continually as a company, we will be focusing our new efforts around the Hotwife, Wife Sharing and Swinger Positive themes. We will explore more light bondage themes as well. “We will be releasing a sequel to our highly successful movie ‘The Submission of Emma Marx’ in time for the release of the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ mainstream movie. Most importantly we will evolve according to our customers response. We are not a company that produces a single type of movie. We simply try to be the best at what we do.”
“Emma Marx” writer-director Jacky St. James added, “The sequel is under way and I’m incredibly excited. I’ve never written a sequel before and it’s been a different challenge for me as a writer. I really wanted to do the story and the characters justice by making choices that honored their journey. I struggled with some choices—the biggest one being whether Emma was best meant to continue on her path with Mr. Frederick, or to branch out and find someone new to travel with. I feel very confident in the choice I made—for all of the characters and relationships in the story.”
PURE PLAY MEDIA
Pure Play Media became exclusive distributor for Airerose Entertainment in November and recently announced an exclusive distribution deal for new studio Sara Jay’s Wyde Syde, which had its first release in December.
According to VP Adam H., “Pure Play Media plays home to well-known studios like Naughty America, online to DVD houses like Trouble Films, and new powerhouses like Airerose Entertainment. Our success is due to our ability to answer to the desires of our customers and the industry landscape, and it is that sensitivity that will ensure our continued success in 2015.”
Pure Play’s current studio lineup is Airerose Entertainment, Wyde Syde, Trans500, Cum Louder, Desperate Pleasures, Naughty America, Score Studio, Immoral Productions, Porno Dan, Popporn, Swank, Private.
From Desperate Pleasures will come “high quality Taboo Relations content and high production value in 2015.” Customers can expect “20 releases a month, an aggressive press schedule, additional studio. The release date of Popporn (retailer) production “Sirious” is January 8.
VIVID ENTERTAINMENT
Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch told XBIZ, “Along with producing more of our high-quality movies, we’ll be further leveraging the Vivid brand by focusing on the growth of VividTV in both the U.S. and worldwide. Our plan to enhance our presence on the web in different categories is already under way. We’re pleased with our expansion through Vivid Radio and the synergy it provides us with for other divisions of the company. The foundation of our business will always be built on our content.”
WICKED PICTURES
President Steve Orenstein promised that “Wicked will continue striving to create the best content in 2015, whether it be a dramatic or comedic feature, a blockbuster, a parody, an all-sex project or releases in our Wicked Passions or jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex lines. Specifically, in time for the release of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ we will be releasing a volume of ‘jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex’ devoted to ‘BDSM for Beginners.’ Also on the way is a project Brad Armstrong directed starring jessica and Asa Akira called ‘Sinners.’ Jonathan Morgan is directing ‘Hotel No-Tell 2,’ also starring Asa.
“Axel Braun will be launching the first of several titles under the new Wicked Comix imprint in addition to continuing the successful Wicked Fairy Tales series. Stormy Daniels has a blockbuster in the works called ‘Pretty Dangerous’ as well as our first all-girl title in quite some time, ‘Girls Night Out.’ In addition to directing, she stars in both.
“Brad Armstrong is currently working on his next epic, and we will also add several new installments to both our ‘Guide to Wicked Sex’ and Wicked Passions lines. Consumers can also also look for top quality titles from the heavily nominated lines we distribute like Marc Dorcel, abbywinters.com, JoyBear Pictures and Axel Braun Productions.
“As for contract girls, we are very happy right now with our three superstars, Stormy Daniels, jessica drake and Asa Akira. Will we add new girls in 2015? Anything is possible.”
WOODROCKET.COM
Lee Roy Myers, whose company established itself as a major web presence last year, said that in 2015, “WoodRocket will concentrate on bridging the gap between adult and mainstream entertainment. We will be producing more parodies, starting with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: 50 Shades of Groot,’ more original web series, more scenes, and more photo shoots. But we also have very big plans turning content into merchandise.
“In 2015 we will release both WoodRocket branded merchandise and officially licensed VCX merchandise. We are preparing our first products, including clothing and posters and cell-phone cases and more, all featuring some of our biggest hits, like ‘Game of Bones’ and ‘SpongeKnob SquareNuts,’ and VCX classics like ‘Debbie Does Dallas’ and ‘Sex World.’ All in all, we are looking forward to a big 2015.”
