Raging Stallion Studios, the leading gay movie studio owned by video-on-demand leader AEBN, says it will release a mainstream-friendly version of its highly acclaimed film “Focus/ReFocus” along with a RealTouch version that gives men the virtual sensation of what they are seeing on the screen.
The original hard-core version came out last year and the new mainstream NC-17 version, distributed by cutting-edge firm Breaking Glass Pictures, stars Cole Streets and former mainstream soap opera star and Abercrombie & Fitch model David Taylor.
“We are offering customers a multi-level approach to a great film noir thriller that will let them enter at their comfort level, and go far beyond simply watching an adult film,” says Suzann Knudsen, AEBN director of communications, publicity and social media. “Along with the mainstream version of the film the full X-rated version is also available, both on DVD and through video-on-demand, so customers can choose to watch it with or without hardcore scenes. We’re also very happy to announce that, unlike most films, many of the scenes are available through our RealTouch system, which means customers can actually feel what they see in the film.”
“Most gay adult films are all-or-nothing and are rarely released in an NC-17 retail version,” Knudsen said. “And this is the first time customers can choose three distinct iterations of the film – mainstream, hardcore and the RealTouch version, where they can actually experience the action in the sex scenes, not just watch it.” A high-tech personal pleasure device, RealTouch gives men the virtual the sensation the actor is experiencing in the films. It was developed by a NASA engineer.
Focus/ReFocus was nominated last month for 12 Grabby Awards, the major awards celebration for the gay porn industry scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend. Among them are Best Picture; Best Director for Chris Ward, Tony Dimarco and Ben Leon; and Best Acting for Streets, Taylor, Steve Cruz and Bruno Bond.
In the old-style Hollywood film noir, the camera tracks porn-obsessed Joe Wilder (Streets) on a sexual adventure as he gives in to his exhibitionist and voyeuristic desires. A recording of him and his boyfriend, Eddie (Taylor), having sex turns up on the web and Wilder lands in the middle of a dangerous mystery that threatens to engulf him as much as his other obsession has.
Taylor is a former mainstream model and actor, with credits ranging from Passions and General Hospital and TV shows such as CSI Miami, CSI Las Vegas, and Alias. A former Abercrombie and Fitch model, he has also appeared in major films such as Bewitched and The Island. He joined Raging Stallion in 2009.
“We are really excited to be entering the indie film market,” says Ward, who both acts and manages Raging Stallions. “We have a great production team and we all came to this business to make movies — and this is our first real chance to go mainstream. All of us are hopeful that this will be the first of several crossover projects.”
The DVD releases of Focus/ReFocus also contain a “Making Of” feature that explores the award-winning work that went on off-camera, as well as behind-the-scenes footage.