Falcon Entertainment
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Gay pornography |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Chuck Holmes |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Products | Pornographic films and sex toys |
| Website | www.falconstudios.com |
Falcon Entertainment (also known as Falcon Studios), a United States company based in San Francisco, California, is one of the world's largest producers of gay pornography.
Founded in 1971 by Chuck Holmes,[1] the company is one of the most recognizable brand names in gay pornography. The owners/managers of several of its major American competitors, Hot House Entertainment, Colt Studios, Channel 1 Releasing and Titan Media (Steven Scarborough,[2] John Rutherford,[3] Chi Chi LaRue,[4] Bruce Cam,[5]:262 respectively) previously worked for Falcon.
Products
Falcon has issued more than 400 pornographic films [4] under several brand names comprising The Falcon Family of Companies:[6]
- Falcon Studios is the group's flagship brand
- Jocks Studios focuses on younger models
- Mustang Studios features more mature models
- Massive Studios focuses on muscular and rugged models
- The Falcon International Collection shoots films in Europe and focuses on European (mostly Eastern European) models
- The Alone With Series includes interviews with performers that masturbate alone rather than having sex with another performer
The company operates a website which serves as a retail outlet for its DVDs and sex toys. Video on demand is also available, as well as the ability to purchase and download videos. Live webcast sex shows are available in a membership area called Falcon TV; membership also includes discounts on other products.[7] Several of the dildos offered for sale are modeled on the penises of Falcon's performers.[8]
Corporate history
Prior to 2004 the Falcon Family of Companies was owned by parent company Conwest Resources Inc.. Conwest was, in turn, owned by the Charles M. Holmes Foundation, a charitable foundation based in Portland, Oregon.[9] The foundation supports a wide range of organizations, including groups protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights, organizations which provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS, and others that help homeless youth or fight pediatric cancer and autism.[10]
In 2004, the company's management bought Falcon from Conwest through 3Media Corp., a company that was formed by Falcon executives Terry Mahaffey and Todd Montgomery. 3Media will eventually assume the Conwest name. The buyout was arranged in order to separate the business from the Charles M. Holmes Foundation, which continues to function as a nonprofit organization.[9]
Terry Mahaffey died on October 31, 2005. Todd Montgomery left the company on May 22, 2008. Steve Johnson became the president and chief executive officer of Falcon and Conwest.[11]
On December 19, 2010, video-on-demand company AEBN purchased Falcon Studios for an undisclosed amount of money.[12] AEBN merged Falcon Studios and Raging Stallion, although the company said that both brands would remain distinct and AEBN's output would remain constant at sixty DVD titles a year (forty from Raging Stallion).[12] Falcon Chief Executive Officer James Hansen would remain with the company as the chief financial officer of Falcon Studios.[12]
Notable directors
- Chi Chi LaRue
- John Rutherford - Flashpoint 1994,[13]
- Steven Scarborough
Notable performers
The company, like other studios have performers known as 'Exclusives', meaning though only work for one studio per contract time. In 2005, they released Heaven to Hell (directed by Chi Chi LaRue) which was only cast with Falcon exclusives.[5]:331
(alphabetical by first name)
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See also
References
- ↑ Spencer, Jeremy (November 2000). "Chuck Holmes, Founder of Falcon Studios, Passes Away at 55". Boneyards. AVN Publications, Inc. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. Retrieved December 29, 2007. Archived by web.archive.org.
- ↑ "Company Info". Hot House Entertainment. June 11, 2003. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
- ↑ Buchanan, Wyatt (February 23, 2007). "Rescued by New Muscle, a Home to Erotica Rebounds". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- 1 2 Gallen, Gretchen (April 6, 2005). "Falcon To Release 65 Films in 2005". XBIZ. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
- 1 2 Jeffrey Escoffier Bigger Than Life: The History of Gay Porn Cinema from Beefcake to Hardcore at Google Books
- ↑ "Company Profile". Falcon Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
- ↑ "www.falconstudios.com". Falcon Enterprises. Retrieved November 29, 2006.
- ↑ "Supercocks". Falcon Enterprises. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
- 1 2 Gallen, Gretchen (August 19, 2004). "Falcon Purchased by 3MEDIA Corp.". XBIZ. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
- ↑ "Falcon Studios Joins ASACP as Corporate Sponsor". ASACP Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. February 28, 2006. Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2006.
- ↑ Jansen, Brady (April 27, 2006). "Company Profile: Falcon Studios". GayVN Magazine / Website / Events. GayVN, Inc. Archived from the original on May 8, 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2007. Archived by web.archive.org.
- 1 2 3 Press release (December 19, 2010). "AEBN Acquires Falcon Studios and Merges with Raging Stallion". Raging Stallion Studios. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ Brett Beemyn (Editor)Creating a Place For Ourselves: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Histories, p. 252, at Google Books