The Last Blog Post (of 2005!)
Saturday, December 31st, 2005What a year 2005 has been for Comstock Films!
In 2005 we went from being a quirky little indie company with one cult hit, to to a quirky little indie company with two certifiable breakout best-sellers. We went from shoe-string, DIY, handicam productions to shot-on-film production methods that rival anything in the mainstream adult industry, and we went from being almost totally unknown except within a very few sex-positive circles, to national recognition for breaking new ground in erotic film.
In January, “Marie and Jack” received a warm review in Penthouse Magazine:
…Through well-done, thoughtful interview segments, they describe their meeting and initial attraction, and give insight into their sex life. Their sex scene, which runs half an hour, is considerably different from what Aria’s fans have seen before. From slow, sensuous kissing to genuine, real-life orgasms, she and Bravo open up in a way few in this business have ever done.”
That same month, we shot two new scenes, one gay (Damon and Hunter) and one lesbian (Ashley and Kisha). Both used the same intimate documentary style established in “Marie and Jack” and “Xana and Dax” , but with the growing commercial success of our work, we were able to move from shooting on video to shooting on film.
In February, Comstock Films travelled to San Francisco, where we shot five more couples (three straight, two lesbian) — burning nearly 16,000 feet of film in the process.
In late May we released “Xana and Dax”, and it immediately became a bestseller, with some of our wholesale customers making six and seven re-orders in as many weeks.
In the early Summer, the mainstream press began to take notice of Comstock films. Writing in the July issue of Esquire Magazine, Stacey Grenrock Wood said:
“You may want to try a title from Comstock Films, a company that specializes in films of real couples having real sex, documentary style. Founder and director Tony Comstock offers an alternative for those people who find themselves turned off by the established porn aesthetic.”
In the August issue of Men’s Fitness, adult superstar Tera Patrick put “Marie and Jack: A Hardcore Love Story” at the top of her list of adult films she’ll watch with you for a “passionate time together”.
The next month, in the article “Was That Movie Good for You?” Tango Magazine name “Marie and Jack” and “Xana and Dax” to the top of their list of films couples should watch to spice up their relationship:
“Marie and Jack, porn stars married in real life, have the genuine chemistry and knowledge of each other’s bodies to make this film sizzle. It starts slowly, with the couple discussing the intimate details of their love, before getting down and dirty. Xana and Dax: When Opposites Attract, offers a similar scenario.”
Of course September also brought the shocking tragedy of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast, and like many of our colleagues we felt moved to respond. Starting at midnight on September 14th, we held a one day benefit, with all proceeds from sales going to the American Red Cross. The response from our customers was unbelievable, and in 27 hours we raised over $4,000.
October found us in the pages of TimeOut New York in their article “The New Pornographers”:
“One feature of the local aesthetic is that it avoids the stereotypical silicone-enhanced Barbie types. Comstock Films finds real couples willing to do the deed on camera.”
That mention led to an invitation to meet with HBO, which may or may not mean something in 2006. Whatever the case, it was fun to hear them say nice things about our work, and it was exciting to tell them about what we do!
In November we stuck our toe in the shallow end of the video podcasting pool, begining by offering “Marie and Jack” in a serialized, syndicated format. If sales numbers since then are any indication, this is turning out to be a great way to bring the Comstock Films vision of sexuality and filmmaking to an even wider audience!
That same month, encouraged by our own assessment of “Damon and Hunter: Doing it Together” as well as enthusiastic feedback to rough-cuts, we decided to re-transfer the negative to HiDef and master the project in HD. This may well make “Damon and Hunter” the first adult sexually explicit movie shot on film and mastered in HD.
December found both Comstock’s offerings on the Eros Magazine Holiday Shopping Guide:
“Comstock films released the excellent Xana & Dax: When Opposites Attract, the follow-up to their award-winning Marie & Jack: A Hardcore Love Story. Also depending on an interview format — by now a hackneyed gonzo-porn cliche — Xana & Dax is far from standard-issue porn. The sense of emotional intimacy throughout this exceptional feature is enough to set it apart — but even if it weren’t, the gorgeous performers and intense sexuality makes Xana & Dax compete with the hardest of hardcore on its own terms.”
And of course this is all beautifully capped off by finding “Xana and Dax: When Opposites Attract” on Violet Blue’s “Best Porn Films of 2005″ list!
On a personal note, one of the most satisfying aspects of all of this, is that it’s been an entirely independent effort. Our projects are independently financed, independently produced, and independently distributed. That independence comes at a cost, and the cost is increased risk – I’ve got a few more wrinkles and grey hairs than I did a year ago.
But that independence has also given us the freedom to go our own way, to shoot sex the way we think it should be shot, and to give our projects the budgets, time, and attention we think they deserve. This isn’t always the easiest way to do things, and it may not even be the best. But it lets me make the kind of films I want to make, and hopefully give people the kind of films they want to watch. And as I’ve taken the time to review what we’ve accomplished in 2005, I think we might just be doing something right!
None of this would have happened without you, the people who buy our films, tell your friends “I’ve found something different and special!”, leave comments on this blog, and send us notes of encouragement. I see each and every notification of a new sign-up for this newsletter or blog comment, and every one of them encourages me to keep going, and keep making these films, even when that gets difficult or discouraging. Without all of you, this vision that is Comstock Films would have withered away long ago. Instead it’s blossomed into something that I’m very proud of. I hope you are too!
From Peggy and me,
Thank you, and Happy New Year!
